Patents Examined by Steven B. McAllister
  • Patent number: 11946655
    Abstract: A heating and hot-water supply apparatus includes a combustion means, a heat exchanger, a circulation passage, a circulation means, a bypass passage, a distribution means, a hot-water supply heat exchanger, a water entry passage, a hot-water supply passage, and a control means. The circulation passage connects an external heating terminal and the heat exchanger. The water entry passage supplies water of an external hot-water supply pipe and an external water supply pipe to the hot-water supply heat exchanger. The control means controls the distribution means to be adaptable to each of a heating operation and a hot-water supply operation. The control means prioritizes the hot-water supply operation when there is a hot-water supply request for warm water use in addition to a heating request, and prioritizes the heating operation when there is a temperature-maintaining request for maintaining a temperature of the hot-water supply pipe in addition to the heating request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 11944080
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to preventing or lessening ice in remote water tanks. The remote water tanks can include a body at least partially defining a chamber that receives a liquid and having an open top portion that provides one or more animals access to the liquid. Further, a heat exchanger can be at least partially received within the chamber, and can receive a thermal transfer fluid that is circulated therethrough to maintain a temperature of the liquid in the chamber. Also, an external heat collector can be in fluid communication with the heat exchanger to transfer solar or other heat to the thermal transfer fluid as the thermal transfer fluid is circulated therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Mike Lisk
  • Patent number: 11946654
    Abstract: A baseboard radiator (10) for use in perimeter heating has a heating coil (11), a chassis (25) and a cover (23). The heating coil (11) has at least one fin (12), defining a front edge (13), a rear edge (14), an upper edge (15) and a lower edge (16) of the heating coil (11). The lower edge (16) has front (21) and rear (22) notches formed therein. The chassis (25) engages with the rear notch (22) and extends from the lower edge (16) over the rear edge (14) and the upper edge (15). The chassis (25) is further adapted for mounting the radiator (10) on a wall (28). The cover (23) engages with the front notch (21) and extends from the lower edge (16) over the front edge (13) and the upper edge (15) to engage between the chassis (25) and the wall (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Smith's Environmental Products Limited
    Inventor: James Stanley
  • Patent number: 11939065
    Abstract: A compressing device for use in an environmental control system includes at least one turbine configured to provide energy by expanding one or more mediums. The one or more mediums provided at an outlet of the at least one turbine form a heat sink within the environmental control system. A compressor is configured to receive energy from the one or more mediums expanded across the at least one turbine. During a first mode of the compressing device, energy derived from a first medium and a second medium of the one or more mediums is used to compress a second medium at the compressor. During a second mode of the compressing device, energy derived from the first medium, the second medium, and a third medium of the one or more mediums is used to compress the second medium at the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Tony Ho, Aiden Coutin
  • Patent number: 11937736
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an oven body having an interior compartment and a door panel for accessing the interior compartment, wherein the interior compartment is sized to receive a food product; a removable heated tray positionable within the interior compartment, wherein the heated tray includes a top tray surface and a first heating source positioned below the top tray surface; and a second heating source positioned within the interior compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Alan Steiner, Jacob Daniel Smith, John Aaron Miller, Drew William Heidenreich
  • Patent number: 11933493
    Abstract: A tool includes a barrel, a guiding wire, and an electrically conductive member. The barrel is made of electrically conductive material. The guiding wire is disposed in the barrel. The barrel and the guiding wire are directly or indirectly connected to two opposite electrodes of a power source. The electrically conductive member is connected to an outer periphery of the guiding wire and is electrically connected to the guiding wire. The electrically conductive member is disposed between the barrel and the guiding wire and is spaced from the barrel. When the power source is activated, an electric arc is generated between the electrically conductive member and the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PRO-IRODA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Cheng Wu, Cheng Nan Yang
  • Patent number: 11933508
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an exhaust demand control system for measuring one or more contaminants at one or more exhaust locations within one or a plurality of exhaust ducts or plenums served by an exhaust fan system. Example systems and methods can include sensing the one or more contaminants within the one or more exhaust duct locations using a multipoint air sampling system having one or more sensors and flow control elements, comparing contaminant concentration measurements from the one or more of said exhaust duct or plenum locations against an action level to create a fan setback signal, and ensuring sensor accuracy and reliability by implementing a sensor protective mode when the contaminant concentration measurements from the one or more exhaust locations exceeds an action level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Measured Air Performance, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Desrochers
  • Patent number: 11927366
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cold-storage instantaneous heat pump water heater (HPWH). The HPWH includes a cold-water tank, a main evaporator, a compressor, and a hot water heat exchanger. In the present invention, heat of a working medium in the cold-water tank is absorbed by the main evaporator, and bathing water is rapidly heated by the hot water heat exchanger (condenser of the heat pump), thereby realizing instant heating with small input electrical power. Cold-water tank replaces the hot water tank of conventional HPWH avoiding energy loss during hot water storage. The working medium in the cold-water tank absorbs heat from the environment, to further improve energy utilization. In addition, there are three energy recovery evaporators to recover the waste heat of bathing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
    Inventors: Rongji Xu, Yinshi Li
  • Patent number: 11927363
    Abstract: An air curtain containment system and assembly for data centers forms an air curtain over the server cabinets thereby separating hot air in a hot aisle from cool ambient air. The air curtain containment system includes ducts which include a hot air intake section that receives hot air discharged from servers, which are disposed in server cabinets. The ducts include heat exchangers for cooling the hot air and at least one air curtain discharge section. A housing is coupled to a wall of the ducts, and includes a cooling edge device fan. The cooling edge device fan is disposed along the ducts, and is configured to draw the hot air for cooling through the heat exchangers. An air curtain fan assembly is disposed along the ducts. The air curtain fan assembly expels cold air through the air curtain discharge section, and thereby forms an air curtain over the server cabinets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: INERTECH IP LLC
    Inventor: Ken Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11927365
    Abstract: A furnace includes a gas burner exposed to a heat-exchange tube. An inducer is fluidly coupled to the heat-exchange tube and configured to induce draft air through the heat-exchange tube. A regulator is fluidly coupled to the gas burner. A rollout shield is disposed adjacent to the gas burner. A rollout switch is disposed in the rollout shield. The rollout switch is electrically coupled to the regulator. At least one vent is formed through the rollout shield adjacent to the rollout switch. The vent provides a path for a rollout flame to the rollout switch. The at least one vent is disposed on at least two sides of the rollout switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventors: George Lee Joyner, Jr., Randall Moody, Jeff Butler
  • Patent number: 11920798
    Abstract: A heat deflector includes a first portion having a first outer edge and a center and a first surface extending from the first outer edge to the center of the first portion. The first surface sloping downward from the first outer edge toward the center of the first portion. The heat deflector further includes a second portion having an inner edge and an outer edge. The inner edge of the second portion is adjacent to the first outer edge of the first portion. The heat deflector further includes a third portion having a third outer edge and a third inner edge and a second surface extending from the third outer edge of the third portion to the third inner edge of the third portion. The second surface sloping downward from the third outer edge of the third portion to the third inner edge of the third portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Solo Brands, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Weilert, Alexander K. Maghsadi
  • Patent number: 11920821
    Abstract: A dual configuration ERV can be connected directly to an east facing wall or west facing wall without requiring unnecessary conduit to accommodate the different configurations. Ports 1 and 2 are interchangeable so that Port 1 can be configured as a outside air port or a return air port, and port 2 can be configured oppositely and similarly. Each of these ports has associated therewith a temperature sensor and a fan. A controller interrupts a fan when the temperature is below a predetermined value so thereby preventing or lessening frost buildup on the heat exchanger core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Nu-Air Ventilation Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Brian Keith Gibbon
  • Patent number: 11920801
    Abstract: A digital fluid heating system may include a solar collection system configured for focusing sunlight on a focal axis, an elongated flow element arranged and configured for transporting fluid along the solar collection system at the focal axis, and a flow-control assembly comprising a digitally controlled valve configured to control the flow of the fluid in the elongated flow element such that pathogens present in the fluid are substantially inactivated before the fluid exits the fluid heating system and at a maximized flow rate under the given energy providing conditions. The system may also include one or more digital controls and communication systems for remote and/or automatic control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: WTS LLC
    Inventors: Brian Plourde, Andrew Gikling, John Abraham, Richard Pakonen, Douglas Plourde
  • Patent number: 11913724
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a furnace for debinding and sintering additively manufactured parts comprising a unitarily formed retort having at least one open side, a heater for heating a sintering volume within the retort to a debinding temperature and to a sintering temperature, an end cap sealing the at least one open side, a forming gas line penetrating the end cap for supplying forming gas at a flowrate, and a heat exchanger within the retort, outside the sintering volume, and adjacent a heated wall of the retort, the heat exchanger having an inlet connected to the forming gas line and an outlet to the sintering volume, wherein the heat exchanger includes a heat exchange tube length sufficient to heat the forming gas to within 20 degrees Celsius of the sintering temperature before the forming gas exits the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: MARKFORGED, INC.
    Inventor: Gregory Thomas Mark
  • Patent number: 11913674
    Abstract: A planar, pliable sealing member is provided as a flexible seal for covering an upper opening of the well pit for any configuration of sump pump system. The sealing member forms a continuous membrane that provides a gas seal formed of any suitable non-gas diffusive or selectively gas diffusive material, including various elastomeric rubbers, such as butyl rubbers or other similar or functionally equivalent polymeric or co-polymeric rubbers. A seal at an outer periphery hat forms a continuous adhesive seal. The membrane further forms access orifices to allow for the passage of egressing structures such as pump discharge, ventilation, sump electrical connections, etc. A second sealing element is then applied or affixed providing an air-tight seal between the membrane at each orifice and a surface of any egressing structure. The second sealing element may be a similar adhesive, mastic or caulking material as with the first sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Nicholas T. Rak
  • Patent number: 11905099
    Abstract: A self-heating container includes a first substance and a second substance that are adapted to produce an exothermic reaction upon contact with each other, a soluble material between the first substance and the second substance, a frangible membrane physically separating the second substance from the soluble material, and a means for rupturing the frangible membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Tempra Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cullen M. Sabin, Alan James Maskell
  • Patent number: 11904657
    Abstract: A heat exchange system for a vehicle includes a refrigerant circulation loop for circulating a refrigerant, a compressor, a condenser, a first expansion valve, a second expansion valve, a first chiller and a second chiller. The first expansion valve and the first chiller form a group and the second expansion valve and the second chiller form another group. The two groups are arranged in parallel; a first coolant circulation loop comprising a first cooler, and circulating coolant which exchanges heat with the refrigerant via the first chiller; a second coolant circulation loop includes a second cooler, and circulating coolant which exchanges heat with the refrigerant via the second chiller. The first expansion valve and the second expansion valve are controlled so that the refrigerant passing through the first chiller during a cooling mode has a higher pressure, temperature, and rate of discharge than the refrigerant passing through the second chiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: In-Guk Hwang, Sung Je Lee
  • Patent number: 11904660
    Abstract: Air vent including mesh panel with improved directivity. In general, the disclosed subject matter relates to an air vent which comprises a mesh panel with vent holes to cover an outlet of the air vent, wherein the air vent provides for improved directionality of the outlet air through the mesh panel. The improvement in directivity is provided by that the air flowing towards the mesh panel is directed to flow substantially perpendicular to the mesh panel in at least some direction modes of the air redirecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Jonas Göthlin, Eric Gunnarsson Hörnsten
  • Patent number: 11906247
    Abstract: A reformer furnace having a reaction space formed with reaction tubes, a firing space fitted with burners and a flue gas channel in fluid connection with the firing space. The burners are arranged at a first end face of the reformer furnace and produce flames oriented towards a second end face to fire the reaction tubes. The flue gas channel has a transition region and a withdrawal region, wherein the flue gas channel is connected to the second end face of the firing space via the transition region and the transition region of the flue gas channel has a reduced channel diameter compared to the withdrawal region of the flue gas channel. The transition region has a constriction relative to the withdrawal region which results in a hydraulic decoupling between the firing space and the withdrawal region of the flue gas channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Expoitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventor: Antonio Coscia
  • Patent number: 11889837
    Abstract: A portable baking oven has an upper portion and a lower portion that define a baking chamber. A baking chamber opening may be defined entirely by the oven upper portion. The upper portion may pivot away from the lower portion to allow access to the interior of the oven for cleaning. The oven may include a gas-powered infrared bottom burner and a gas-powered curved back burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Halo Products Group, LLC
    Inventors: Paul J. Simon, Michael R. Giebel