Patents Examined by Kenneth Rinehart
  • Patent number: 10274220
    Abstract: If a load of an indoor space is higher than a predetermined value in a cooling operation, a controller performs a swing control operation to swing a wind direction adjusting slat so that a direction of blown air shifts in a limited possible range. The angle of a lowermost wind direction relative to a horizontal plane in the limited possible range is smaller than the angle of a lowermost wind direction relative to the horizontal plane in the normal possible range. The normal possible range is previously determined to be a range where if the load of the indoor space is lower than the predetermined value, the direction of the blown air can shift upward and downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kojima, Akira Komatsu, Ryouta Suhara, Masaaki Murata, Natsumi Furo
  • Patent number: 10267537
    Abstract: A dual energy electric and gas water heater with an igniter shutoff circuit provides the user with a quick connect by which the electrical heating system may be selectively enabled or disabled. A transformer and relay limit the function of the gas igniter to only function when the electrical heating system is not energized, whether by manual disconnection or power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventor: Erskin Johnson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10260775
    Abstract: A hot water system and method are provided. The system includes a tank configured to receive hot water, a heat recovery system for heating water, and a controller configured to use the heat recovery system to maintain the hot water in the tank at a temperature within a predetermined range of temperatures. The method involves receiving a flow of water and heating the water using the hot water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GREEN MATTERS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Sean Douglas Marte
  • Patent number: 10253981
    Abstract: A controller for a gas furnace, a computer-usable medium for implementing a method and a gas furnace are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a heating call and (2) a processor configured to enable an inducer of the gas furnace at a low speed based on the heating call and ignite the gas furnace at a high fire operation when determining a low fire pressure switch of the gas furnace is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn W. Kowald, Darcy Q. Easterling
  • Patent number: 10247416
    Abstract: In a modulating gas burner, the mixing ratio of a gas/air mixture is controlled over a modulation range of the gas burner by a pneumatic controller. During burner on phases, the combustion quality is monitored via a combustion quality sensor. The combustion quality is used to detect tolerances of the pneumatic controller and/or a potentially changing behavior of the pneumatic controller by checking if the combustion quality is inside or outside a defined combustion quality range. When the combustion quality is inside the defined combustion quality range, the mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture is not changed. When the combustion quality is outside the defined combustion quality range, the mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture is changed by adjusting a gas throttle to compensate for tolerances of the pneumatic controller and/or for a potentially changing behavior of the pneumatic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell Technologies Sarl
    Inventors: Wim Munsterhuis, Gerrit Jan Baarda, Piet Blaauwwiekel, Frank Van Prooijen, Gerwin Langius, Albert Hietkamp
  • Patent number: 10247410
    Abstract: Gas burner of the type having a cup of the burner accommodating at least one injector for fuel gas, a head of the burner coupled to the cup and including at least one distribution chamber for a first circumferential flame spreader, a mixing chamber for mixing primary air and fuel gas to set up a fuel mixture, the mixing chamber being fluidically connected to the cup and an injector, a duct for transferring the fuel mixture from the mixing chamber into the distribution chamber, and inflow duct of the primary air from the outer environment inside the cup of the burner, as well as a separating element of the transferring duct of the fuel mixture from the inflow duct of the primary air, wherein the separating element could be tightly constrained to the head, or cup of the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SABAF S.P.A.
    Inventor: Angelo Bettinzoli
  • Patent number: 10247418
    Abstract: A flame ignition and control system includes at least one gas burner, which is connected to a gas source via a flame control system, and a safety valve controlled by a flame sensor consisting of a thermocouple. The safety valve has an open state, in which the source supplies gas to the burner, and a closed state, in which gas flow is obstructed, the switching from the open state to the closed state and vice versa being controlled by the electric signal generated by the thermocouple. An igniter device is provided, which consists of an ignition electrode and a power supply unit thereof. Furthermore, at least the operation of the igniter device is controlled according to the current strength of the electric signal generated by the thermocouple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: CASTFUTURA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Raoul Bianchi, Marco Corbella, Mauro Canavesi, Marco Colatti
  • Patent number: 10247474
    Abstract: Microwave drying of ceramic honeycomb logs using a customizable cover that can take the form of a flexible wrap or a rigid cover is disclosed. The cover can be in the form of a wrap disposed directly in contact with the leading edge of the log surface. The cover can also be a rigid cover disposed adjacent but not in contact with the leading edge of the log surface. At least a portion of the trailing edge of the log can remain uncovered either by having windows in the wrap or by the rigid cover only covering the leading edge of the log surface. The customizable cover can be configured to compensate for log shape deformities as well as or in addition to the adverse effect on log shape cause by the drying differential created by passing a log through a microwave drying station leading-edge first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Colby William Audinwood, Brett Alan Terwilliger, David Robertson Treacy, Jr., Chauncey James Watches
  • Patent number: 10239618
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling airflow in a duct of an aircraft galley chiller includes first and second legs having ends connected together to form a vane, and free ends configured to be attached within the duct. A free end of one first leg may have a beveled edge, and the free end of the other leg may have a flat edge, and each leg may have one or more score lines to aid cutting lengths of the first and second legs. The legs are connected together at a predetermined fixed angle, or at an adjustable angle, such as by an adjustable hinge. A pair of opposing vanes may be attached within opposing sides of the duct to form a venturi within the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter John Leslie Burd
  • Patent number: 10234201
    Abstract: A complex type dryer includes a rotational cylinder, a drying material, a hot air provider, a hot air chamber and a scraping unit. The drying material provider is disposed over the rotational cylinder and coats a drying material on a surface of the rotational cylinder. The hot air provider is connected to both sides of the rotational cylinder, and includes first and second hot air tubes. The first and second hot air tubes alternately provide a hot air into the rotational cylinder or alternately exhaust the hot air passing through the rotational cylinder. The hot air chamber is disposed along an outer surface of the rotational cylinder outside of the rotational cylinder. The scraping unit is disposed at a side of the rotational cylinder, and removes the drying material from the surface of the rotational cylinder after dried by the rotational cylinder and the hot air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Korea institute of energy research
    Inventors: Sung-il Kim, Jong-Won Choi, Sang-Hyun Oh, Kye-Jong Lee
  • Patent number: 10233819
    Abstract: A system comprises a compartment, a fan, and a dual-pivot hinge. The compartment comprises an interior region and an access opening in communication with the interior region. The dual-pivot hinge mounts the fan to the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & COMPANY
    Inventors: Serena M. Darling, Robert Meyer
  • Patent number: 10228147
    Abstract: Device and method are described for operational control of a knob on a stove or range. In some examples, a safety device, a sensor relay device, and method are described for automatically positioning an operational shaft of a burner to an Off position such that the power supplied to the burner is terminated upon the occurrence of a safety event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Inirv Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ranjith Babu, Akshita Iyer, Patrick Thomas Bailey, Raeshon McNeil, Jeremy Losaw
  • Patent number: 10219652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable stove for burning multiple fuels comprising. The portable stove includes a burner body having a burner head, an exchangeable jet screwable into the burner head, a plurality of legs attached to the burner body, and a flame spreader detachably mounted on top of the burner head upstream the jet in the flame direction. The present invention is characterized in that the portable stove includes at least a second exchangeable jet screwable into the burner head, and the portable stove includes at least one mounting structure, wherein the second jet is supported within said mounting structure. The present invention is further characterized in that the flame spreader is attached to the portable stove with an elastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: FENIX OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT AND CSR AG
    Inventors: Magnus Hagström, Erland Brännholm, Niklas Liljedahl, Eric Svartström
  • Patent number: 10215442
    Abstract: A diverter duct for a ventilation system includes a main body defining an inner surface, a first portion including an inlet, a second portion located downstream of the first portion, a third portion including an outlet, an opening located between the first portion and the third portion, and an air deflector positioned within the main body downstream of the first portion to deflect a portion of the air from the inlet of the main body towards the opening. A first contoured section is formed in the first portion of the main body. The first contoured section may direct air received from the inlet towards the opening at a first operating condition. A method of installing the diverter duct includes coupling the inlet with an upstream fan, and coupling the outlet with an outlet fan, such that selective operation of the inlet and outlet fans cause vary airflow though the outlet or the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Scott Peterson Ellsworth, George Bates, III
  • Patent number: 10215409
    Abstract: A gas lighter valve assembly that can be fitted easily and tightly into a gas lighter body or a well as a free-floating entity not fixed to the gas lighter body or well. The valve assemblies integration as a free floating entity within the lighter body or well avoids the necessity of an interference fit. To avoid the necessity of an interference fit, valve assembly positioning and stability is achieved by the use of an o-ring which is compressed by downward force exerted by a pressing cover upon a bushing or directly upon the o-ring. By eliminating the stress and friction typically caused by an interference fit, the lighter body and reservoir can be made from a variety of materials including non-crystalline resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SOCIÉTÉ BIC
    Inventors: Guy Lefebvre, Yann Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 10215492
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drying salts with a water of crystallisation content in convective apparatuses that can additionally be indirectly heated. The invention is primarily characterised in that the drying process takes place with a moisture content of the drying gas above a determined level. The gas surrounding the salt particles during the drying process therefore has a specific humidity. In this way, the rate of drying is positively influenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Andritz Technology and Asset Management GmbH
    Inventor: Paul Bernhard Krohl
  • Patent number: 10208954
    Abstract: A locally powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include an igniter, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that produces an electrical signal having power when exposed to a flame, and a local power source for providing power when the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device is not exposed to a flame. In some cases, the intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a memory for storing information about an ignition sequence for igniting a pilot flame, and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller may be configured to initiate the ignition sequence of the pilot flame using information stored in the memory, determine whether the ignition was successful by monitoring the electrical signal produced by the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, and adjust the information stored in the memory based on whether the ignition sequence completed successfully.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Chian, Bruce L. Hill, Timothy J. Nordberg, Rolf L. Strand, Douglas Bird, Peter Anderson
  • Patent number: 10207804
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled payload container that may be used by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to transport perishable items and/or items desired to be at or near a specific temperature upon arrival at a destination. The temperature-controlled payload container may be used to maintain or adjust a temperature of a delivery item, such as a food item. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled payload container may be capable of heating items in a first portion of the container and cooling items in a second portion of the container. For example, the container may be divided by a Peltier junction, which is an electrified junction of two different conductors. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled payload container may receive heat generated from operation of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Kristofer Gentry
  • Patent number: 10203119
    Abstract: A damper system comprises a damper slide adapted to couple to a wall with a first outlet. In one embodiment, the damper slide has a first opening and is adapted to operate in a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first opening is at least partially aligned with the first outlet. The first opening and the first outlet are at least partially offset in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: FIELD CONTROLS, LLC
    Inventors: Cory A. Weiss, Steven E. Guzorek
  • Patent number: 10197292
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a burner module for a cooker and a cooker and a method for such a burner module. The burner module according to the invention comprises: a carrier with which the burner module can be placed as a unit on a worktop; an outlet for gas provided on the carrier; an inlet provided on the carrier for supplying gas; and control means provided between an inlet and the outlet for realizing a gas flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: PCS Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Martin Johan Van Der Sluis, Paulus Johannes Maria van der Kooi