Patents Examined by Kang Hu
  • Air outlet valve as well as a system and method for emergency ventilation of an aircraft cabin
    Patent number: 8915776
    Abstract: An air outlet valve for use in an aircraft is adapted during normal operation of the aircraft as a component of a cabin pressure control system for adjusting a desired pressure level in an aircraft cabin to remove air from an interior of the aircraft into the environment around the aircraft. The air outlet valve is further adapted during emergency ventilation operation of the aircraft as a component of a system for emergency ventilation of the aircraft cabin to introduce air from the environment around the aircraft into the interior of the aircraft. The air outlet valve comprises a nose-side valve flap, which is pivotable about an axis and is adapted to open or close a nose-side portion of an air outlet valve aperture, and a tail-side valve flap, which is pivotable about an axis and is adapted to open or close a tail-side portion of the air outlet valve aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Heuer
  • Apparatus for retrieval of vapor and fumes
    Patent number: 8915779
    Abstract: An apparatus for retrieval of vapors or gases produced during the hair styling process comprises: a vacuum nozzle housing, an attachment bracket, a styling iron, a vacuum and at least one filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph Jardino, James Duarte
  • Selective adjustment of heat flux for increased uniformity of heating a charge material in a tilt rotary furnace
    Patent number: 8915733
    Abstract: A method of heating a charge material by controlling heat flux in a tilt rotary furnace is disclosed. Combustion by the burner forms a heat release profile including a high heat flux region. The positioning of the high heat flux region is controllable by providing a controlled amount of secondary or staged oxidant. The burner is configured and controlled to position a region of high heat flux at a position corresponding to an area requiring greater heating, such as the area of maximum charge depth in the furnace to provide substantially uniform melting and heat distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Cao, Xiaoyi He, Aleksandar Georgi Slavejkov
  • Heating system
    Patent number: 8910880
    Abstract: A heating system comprising a fuel burner in co-operation with a primary heat exchanger, a reservoir for storing warmed water in, and a blending valve, and a controller wherein in use a user can signal to the controller to warm the water in the water store using a heater or by the primary heat exchanger, and when hot water is required water is removed from the water store and mixed with water from a cold main prior to being or after the water from the cold main has been admitted to a further heat exchanger for heating the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Zenex Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Christopher C. Farrell
  • Ventilating system and ventilating system control method
    Patent number: 8905829
    Abstract: To provide a ventilating system and ventilating system control method capable of advancing energy conservation. A controller sets a static pressure setting value based on the airflow of the system as a whole, calculated from the airflow of venturi air valves of fume hoods that are operating, and controls the speed of rotation of a fan based on the static pressure setting value and the static pressure within a main duct. Doing so enables control of the speed of rotation of the fan to be performed while ensuring the airflow of the ventilating system, thus making it possible to prevent wasted motive force of the fan, even when the airflows of each of the venturi air valves are not identical and even when the changes in resistance of the branched duct system relative to the various changes in airflow are not identical, with the result that it is possible to advance energy conservation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Xiangyang Chen
  • Pulse burner and liquid heating cooker
    Patent number: 8905015
    Abstract: A pulse burner includes: a combustion chamber provided in a liquid vat capable of storing liquid; a tail pipe that is connected to the combustion chamber and has a heat exchanging portion located in the liquid vat and bent in a predetermined shape; and a mixing chamber which communicates with the combustion chamber and to which fuel gas and combustion air is allowed to be supplied. When mixed gas including the fuel gas and the combustion gas is exploded and combusted, the combustion exhaust gas is exhausted through the tail pipe to allow heat exchange with the liquid, and the mixed gas is inhaled from the mixing chamber into the combustion chamber. At least the heat exchanging portion of the tail pipe is bent on a substantially horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Paloma Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Chikazawa, Tsuneyasu Hayakawa, Hideki Kijimoto
  • Room heating device capable of simultaneously producing sound waves
    Patent number: 8905320
    Abstract: A room heating device includes a supporting body, a thermoacoustic element, a first electrode and a second electrode. The thermoacoustic element is disposed on the supporting body. The first electrode and the second electrode are connected to the thermoacoustic element. The first electrode is spaced apart from the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Chen Feng, Li Qian, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Inter-stage attemperation system and method
    Patent number: 8904972
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling exhaust steam temperatures from a finishing superheater are provided. In certain embodiments, the system includes a controller which includes control logic for predicting an exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater using model-based predictive techniques (e.g., based on empirical data or thermodynamic calculations). Based on the predicted exhaust temperature of steam, the control logic may use feed-forward control techniques to control the operation of an inter-stage attemperation system upstream of the finishing superheater. The control logic may determine if attemperation is required based on whether the predicted exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater exceeds a set point temperature as well as whether the inlet temperature of steam into the finishing superheater drops below a set point temperature of steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajeeva Kumar, Darrin Glen Kirchhof, Gordon Raymond Smith, William George Carberg
  • System and method to redirect and/or reduce airflow using actuators
    Patent number: 8900040
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to ventilation systems and methods, and more particularly to selectively configurable climate control systems and methods for use in data centers and the like. A device includes a support element and a plurality of ducts connected to the support element. The device also includes a manifold in fluid communication with each one of the plurality of ducts and a plurality of valves. Each respective one of the plurality of valves is associated with a respective one of the plurality of ducts. Moreover, there is at least one actuator operatively connected to the plurality of valves, which is structured and arranged to individually actuate each one of the plurality of valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Vincenzo V. Diluoffo, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Michael D. Kendzierski
  • Fan type temperature control method and device
    Patent number: 8900042
    Abstract: A fan type temperature control method and device are provided. The device includes a fan unit including a plurality of fans and cooling an apparatus to be cooled, power supplies (v1,v2) supplying power for the fans in the fan unit, and a fan control unit which controls the fans as follows: when temperature t of the apparatus is lower than critical temperature t1 of a first temperature detect switch (k01), all fans stop; when t is higher than t1 and lower than critical temperature t2 of a second temperature detect switch (k02), all fans rotate at half speed; when t is higher than t2 while lower than critical temperature t3 of a third temperature detect switch (k03), a first fan part (M1) rotates at full speed and a second fan part (M2) stops; when t is higher than t3, all fans rotate at full speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Yanni Meng, Hui Rong, Mingming Liu, Baohang Zhou, Shuwang Wei, Lingqiao Teng
  • Solar collection system and solar collector therefor
    Patent number: 8893710
    Abstract: A solar collection system is described that includes an elongate central truss angled upward from ground horizontal and mounted on a plurality of ground support legs, a collector subsystem mounted at one end of the central truss, a cross truss perpendicular to the central truss and mounted at an end of the central truss opposite the collector subsystem, and a reflector subsystem mounted on the cross truss. The collector subsystem includes a truncated trapezoid-shaped housing with a front side facing the reflector subsystem, the front side including a glassed-in opening fronting a V-shaped core heat mechanism enclosed within the housing interior that captures reflected photon energy from the reflector subsystem which heats a fluent medium within the V-shaped core heat mechanism for output to an external source for thermal power operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Warren Geris
  • Heating system
    Patent number: 8893981
    Abstract: A heating system comprises a heater and a local heat exchange system in which the local heat exchange system comprises: a primary heat exchanger; a heat store having a secondary heat exchanger; a cold water inlet; and a hot water outlet, in which the local heat exchange system is remotely located from the heater, the primary heat exchanger and the heat store are arranged so as to be heated by the heater, and the primary and secondary heat exchangers are in fluid-flow communication with the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Zenex Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Christopher C. Farrell
  • Solar tower system with carousel heliostats
    Patent number: 8887711
    Abstract: A solar tower system including an array of individually controlled carousel-type heliostats, where each heliostat includes a rotatable D-shaped carousel, a mirror array including horizontal, elongated flat mirrors supported in a tiltable (e.g., louvered) arrangement on the carousel, and a mirror positioning system that is disposed next to the carousel and controls the tilt position of each mirror and a rotational position of the carousel to reflect light onto a solar receiver. The heliostats are arranged in a closely-spaced (e.g., square or hexagonal) pattern that both maximizes the effective ground coverage ratio of solar power harvesting system and facilitates the formation of service pathways that allow access to any of the heliostats in the array (e.g., by aligning the straight peripheral wall portions of adjacent carousels in parallel with each other).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Philipp H. Schmaelzle, Patrick C. Cheung
  • Water heater containing a phase change material
    Patent number: 8887672
    Abstract: An appliance includes a water heater storage tank, a heating assembly configured to heat water within the water heater storage tank, and a heat exchange device disposed within the heat storage unit in a fixed relationship relative to a position of the heating assembly. The heat exchange device includes a hollow object and a phase change material within the hollow object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, John (Jack) Joseph Roetker, Joseph Anthony Tobbe, Blake Philip Bomar
  • Gas-fired water heater with an exhaust assembly
    Patent number: 8881688
    Abstract: An exhaust assembly for use with a gas-fired water heater that includes a hood for receiving exhaust gas from the gas-fired water heater, a housing, and a fan positioned in the housing to move exhaust gas from the hood out of the exhaust outlet. The hood includes a first hood mounting location and a second hood mounting location. The housing includes an exhaust outlet and a housing mounting location. In a first configuration, the exhaust outlet faces a first direction and the housing mounting location is aligned with and secured at the first hood mounting location. In a second configuration, the exhaust outlet faces a second direction different than the first direction and the housing mounting location is aligned with and secured at the second hood mounting location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen T. English, Michael R. Hasbargen, Anthony J. Coloma, Stephanie Marie Belko
  • Control of syngas temperature using a booster burner
    Patent number: 8882493
    Abstract: A method and system for fueling of a burner in a direct-fired device using syngas. A gasifier produces syngas from a carbonaceous feedstock such as biomass. The syngas is fed to a syngas burner. A booster burner disposed between the gasifier and the syngas burner increases the temperature of the syngas. The booster burner may be provided with an approximately stoichiometric or sub-stoichiometric amount of oxidant. Operation of the booster burner may be regulated based on the temperature of the syngas. The syngas burner may be used to direct-fire a device requiring a relatively high flame temperature, such as, for example, a lime kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nexterra Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hendrick Vandergriendt, Duncan Meade, Yan Li, Nebojsa Plavsic
  • Steam generator
    Patent number: 8881690
    Abstract: A steam generator having a heat transfer tube group formed of a plurality of U-shaped heat transfer tubes; an annular channel formed to cover the circumference of the heat transfer tube group; the annular channel having an opening that communicates with the heat transfer tube group; a water supply unit disposed at an upper portion of the annular channel and supplies water to a descending-side portion; a steam/water separator disposed above the heat transfer tube group; and an air bubble removing member for removing air bubbles provided in the annular channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kondo, Koichi Tanimoto, Toshiyuki Mizutani, Kengo Shimamura, Ryoichi Kawakami
  • Method and apparatus for removing dust particulates from preheated particulate material
    Patent number: 8876525
    Abstract: A method for removing sulfur containing dust particles from particulate material exiting a material preheater in which the particulate material is heated by kiln off gases may include a number of steps. Off gases from the kiln are directed through a gas conduit to the preheater to preheat particulate material traveling through the preheater in a direction countercurrent to the direction of off gas flow through the preheater. Material exiting the preheater is directed to a material bypass conduit that is separated from the gas conduit and is flow connected to a material inlet to the kiln. A stripping gas is directed through the conduit to entrain dust particles in the preheated material and to carry said dust particles away from the preheated material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: FLSmidth Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Euston
  • Glycerin fueled afterburning engine
    Patent number: 8858223
    Abstract: A Glycerin Fueled Afterburning Engine utilizes the power generation unit exhaust heat to pre-heat the glycerin, or similar difficult to combust fuel, and then utilizes regenerative burner heating to fully vaporize and superheat the fuel above the auto ignition temperature. The combustion inlet air is also highly preheated by the recuperative power generation cycle. The actual combustion process is then accomplished by hypergolic ignition from mixing the hot vapor with the hot air. The overall engine process operates on a cycle of (1) air compression, (2) indirect heating of air in an air heater, (3) air expansion, (4) air heating by combustion, and (5) air cooling by heat transfer to the incoming compressed air charge in the recuperator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Proe Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Alan Proeschel
  • Water heating system and method for using the same
    Patent number: 8851022
    Abstract: A water heating system includes a housing that defines a substantially enclosed interior region. A control panel is attached to the housing and includes a display that displays a particular condition of the water heating system. An access panel is attached to the housing for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein, in the first position of the access panel, a passageway to the interior region of the housing is provided, and, in the second position of the access panel, the passageway to the interior region of the housing is closed. The display is visible in both positions of the access panel such that movement of the access panel from the second position to the first position facilitates simultaneous access to the display and to the interior region of the housing though the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Laars Heating Systems Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. Jacques, Andrew Hodsdon