Patents Examined by Steven B. McAllister
  • Ventilation system for a vehicle and off-road vehicle including same
    Patent number: 11731489
    Abstract: A ventilation system for a vehicle can include a roll over protection system. The roll over protection system can include a bar. The ventilation system can have an air duct configured to selectively attach to and detach from the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Brandon E. Ricketts, Jacob Michael Ruemelin
  • Economizer
    Patent number: 11732885
    Abstract: An economizer having a structure capable of efficiently warming water and facilitating inspection and cleaning is obtained. In an economizer for warming water by combustion exhaust gas generated by a boiler, to a cylindrical water pipe in which an inflow port and an outflow port are formed on a side surface and through which the water passes, a plurality of gas pipes erected for circulating the combustion exhaust gas are arranged in corresponding fan-shaped portions of the water pipe. The combustion exhaust gas introduced from a bottom surface side of the water pipe folds back at an upper part of the water pipe and flows downward, then folds back at a lower part of the water pipe, flows upward, and flows out from an upper surface side of the water pipe, whereby the plurality of gas pipes efficiently warms the water in the water pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Tadayuki Ino
  • Streamer type flame simulation device
    Patent number: 11732897
    Abstract: A streamer type flame simulation device includes a casing, some cross-flow fans disposed inside the casing, a first streamer, a second streamer, a supplementary air-supplying device and a light source. The supplementary air-supplying device is arranged in the split joint area between the two cross-flow fans. Since a supplementary air-supplying device is provided between two cross-flow fans for supplying air, the deficiency where air was unable to deliver at the space occupied by the drive motor of the cross-flow fans can be avoided. Various parts of the first streamer and the second streamer can be blown, thus preventing the flame from being cut off and enhancing the overall coordination, which greatly improves the viewing effect of the flame area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO RICHEN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Yin Zhou
  • Propulsion control device
    Patent number: 11737235
    Abstract: A propulsion control device of the present disclosure includes: a housing; a gate controller disposed at one end side of an interior space of the housing in a longitudinal axis direction X, the gate controller being configured to control a power converter; a fan disposed under the gate controller, the fan being configured to feed air to the gate controller; and an airflow guide member disposed at the side opposite to the fan relative to the gate controller, having, on an interior face of a ceiling of the housing, an airflow guide face having a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction, the airflow guide member being configured to guide air passed through the gate controller to flow toward the other end side of the interior space of the housing in the longitudinal axis direction X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuta Matsumoto
  • Heat pump water heater systems and methods thereto
    Patent number: 11732905
    Abstract: A fluid heating device comprising a heat pump and an electric heating element can include a system and method that can receive current data from a current sensor and temperature data from a temperature sensor, determine whether the current is greater than or equal to a threshold current and whether the temperature is greater than or equal to a threshold temperature, and output a control signal to heat the fluid using the heat pump only or the electric heating element only based on the current data and the temperature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David I. Vega, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Troy E. Trant, Piyush Porwal
  • Overflow preventer
    Patent number: 11732903
    Abstract: A residential and commercial hot water and steam boiler safety system and device that includes at least one hollow pipe, with one plugged or sealed end and a fitting on the other end for connecting the pipe in a substantially vertical mounting position, and at least one two float switch disposed in the pipe and electrically connected in series with a limit switch in the boiler, where the pipe is adopted for the flow and accumulation of water, so that float switch activates as the pipe fills with water and shuts off the boiler by turning off the gas valve, promoting safer boiler and steam boiler operation. Additional float switches positioned above or below in the hollow pipe may provide additional functions, such as a warning light and sound to the owner, or a notification via a telephone or cell phone system or through the home network or Wi-Fi system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Louis Martire
  • Variable feed enclosed combustor system and method for its use
    Patent number: 11725813
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods for using a sensed combustion zone temperature to continuously control combustion of a first (main) gas within an enclosed combustor. The combustor is in fluid communication with a first gas line carrying the first gas, a second gas line independent of the first gas line carrying a second (assist) gas having a higher heating value than the first gas, and air dampers providing draft or assist air. The first gas may be vapors from a production source or tank. A computer control system monitors the combustion zone temperature of the enclosed combustor as sensed by a sensor in electronic communication with the computer control system and controls the combustion zone temperature by changing a condition of a first gas line valve of the first gas line, a second gas line valve of the second gas line, and the air dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rafiqul Khan, Herman C. Hatfield, II, Ankur D. Jariwala, Gary W. Sams
  • Oven appliance spill plug insert
    Patent number: 11725830
    Abstract: An oven appliance includes a cabinet having a front portion spaced apart from a back portion and a left side spaced apart from a right side. The oven appliance also includes a cooktop defined on a top panel of the cabinet. A levelling leg extends through the cabinet from a levelling foot below the cabinet to an adjustment screw below the top panel. The oven appliance further includes a trough positioned below the top panel of the cabinet and above the adjustment screw. The trough includes an aperture located directly above the adjustment screw. The oven appliance further includes a resilient plug configured to be received in the aperture such that the resilient plug sealingly engages the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Patrick Todd, Cassandra Brady
  • Cooking plate for fire pit
    Patent number: 11719442
    Abstract: A cooking plate is mountable to and removable from a fire pit. The cooking plate includes support tabs that position the cooking plate above the upper rim of the fire pit to provide even heating to the cooking plate while securing it in place with respect to the fire pit. The cooking plate can be placed on the fire pit after the fire has been started and removed while the fire is burning. The cooking plate has support tabs that each has an angled surface to allow the cooking plate to be leveled with respect to the fire pit. The cooking plate is ring-shaped and provides a central opening for the flame of the fire pit. The cooking plate defines an indentation that accommodates an accessory post of the fire pit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Breeo, LLC
    Inventor: Amos Alan Allgyer
  • Actuator assembly for actuating air blocking elements of an outlet assembly
    Patent number: 11719313
    Abstract: An actuator assembly for actuating air blocking elements of an outlet assembly is provided. The actuator assembly includes an actuator arm and a selector member operatively connected to the actuator arm to rotate the actuator arm about an arm axis. The actuator arm is operatively connected to a first air blocking element to rotate the first air blocking element towards its air blocking position without moving a second air blocking element upon rotation of the actuator arm in a first direction from a neutral, non-blocking position of the actuator arm about the arm axis. The actuator arm is operatively connected to the second air blocking element to rotate the second air blocking element towards its air blocking position without moving the first air blocking element upon rotation of the actuator arm in a second direction opposite the first direction from the neutral, non-blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: JVIS-USA, LLC
    Inventors: Dan M. Bui, Darius J. Preisler, Donald Schaefer, Artem Timoshenko
  • Method and system for controlling an intermittent pilot water heater system
    Patent number: 11719467
    Abstract: A water heater may include a water tank, a burner, a pilot for igniting the burner, an ignitor for igniting the pilot, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with a flame of the pilot, a controller for controlling an ignition sequence of the pilot using the ignitor, and a rechargeable power storage device for supplying power to the ignitor and the controller. The rechargeable power storage device may be rechargeable using the energy produced by the thermoelectric device. The controller is configured to selectively ran only the pilot for at least pan of a heating cycle to increase the recharge lime of the rechargeable power storage device while still healing the water in the water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Young, Frederick Hazzard, Adam Myre
  • Apparatus for combustion of natural gas from pneumatic controllers
    Patent number: 11713879
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for capturing and combusting all vented natural gas and control natural gases from pneumatic controllers for oil field equipment are described. After an oil or gas well is drilled and completed, separators or treaters, as an example of oil field equipment, are installed on the surface to separate the liquids (oil/condensate and water) and gases (natural gas/methane). Pressure control valves, liquid control valves, temperature control valves, and the like, are pneumatically operated by the natural gas/methane that the separator is processing for sale, when electricity is not available to provide power for these operations. Presently, the pneumatic controllers discharge the pneumatic gas/methane to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: Derek L. Moore
  • Biomass heating system with optimized flue gas treatment
    Patent number: 11708999
    Abstract: A biomass heating system for firing fuel in the form of pellets and/or wood chips is disclosed, comprising: a boiler with a combustion device; a heat exchanger with an inlet and an outlet; wherein the combustion device comprises a combustion chamber with a primary combustion zone and with a secondary combustion zone provided downstream thereof; the combustion device having a rotating grate on which the fuel can be burned; the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber being fluidically connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger and the primary combustion zone being laterally enclosed by a plurality of combustion chamber bricks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SL-TECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Thilo Sommerauer
  • Baffle assembly for vehicular air conditioner
    Patent number: 11707965
    Abstract: An air distribution assembly for a recreational vehicle may include a frame mounted within an opening of the recreational vehicle and a baffle positioned therein to sealing divide an air handling chamber into an air supply side and an air return side. The baffle may include mounting flanges for rigidly connecting the baffle to the inside surface of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Dustin Henderson, Joseph Robert Tobbe
  • Air vent and motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11707970
    Abstract: An air vent for a motor vehicle includes a housing with an air channel for feeding air and a partial hemisphere shell. The partial hemisphere shell is mounted in a rotatable manner within the housing such that air fed through the air channel is deflected on the housing before it exits from the air vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Marc-Lieven Heth, Andreas Schneider
  • Air vent for vehicle
    Patent number: 11701946
    Abstract: An air vent for a vehicle may include: a duct part having an internal path through which air is moved; a first adjusting part rotatably installed in the duct part, and configured to guide the discharge direction of the air while rotated in a side-to-side direction; a second adjusting part rotatably installed in the duct part with the first adjusting part, and configured to guide the discharge direction of the air or block an air flow passing through the duct part, while rotated in a top-to-bottom direction; and an airtightness maintaining part fixed to the duct part facing the second adjusting part, and configured to block the movement of the air while brought into contact with the second adjusting part for opening/closing the duct part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD, NIFCO KOREA INC.
    Inventors: Won Sik Kim, Geun Heung Kim
  • Water heating apparatus and method for controlling the apparatus
    Patent number: 11703253
    Abstract: A water heating apparatus includes a sensor to detect an inflow water amount flowing into the water heating apparatus, and a controller to determine connection or disconnection between the water heating apparatus and a water storage tank, based on the inflow water amount flowing into the water heating apparatus for a preset time duration. Thus, the water heating apparatus determines whether or not the water storage tank is connected thereto based on the amount of inflow water introduced into the water heating apparatus. Then, the water heating apparatus determines the operation mode of the water heating apparatus based on the determination result. Thus, even when the user incorrectly sets the operation mode of the water heating apparatus, the water heating apparatus may actively and correctly operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Chang Heoi Heo, Yong Min Song, Nam Soo Do
  • Method and shaft furnace for burning carbon-containing material in a shaft furnace
    Patent number: 11703280
    Abstract: A shaft furnace for firing carbonate-containing material may include, in a flow direction of the material, a preheating zone, a firing zone, a cooling zone, and a material outlet for discharging the material from the shaft furnace. Burner lances project into the firing zone. At least one burner lance has a first penetration depth into the firing zone and at least one further burner lance has a second penetration depth into the firing zone that is greater than the first penetration depth. A primary air conduit may be configured to convey combustion air and may be connected to at least one burner lance. An oxygen conduit for conveying oxygen into the firing zone may be arranged such that oxygen flows from the oxygen conduit at least one burner lance having the second penetration depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: MAERZ OFENBAU AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Hannes Piringer, Patrick Bucher
  • Fire tube
    Patent number: 11703282
    Abstract: A fire tube with three hollow tube sections, two of which are parallel to each other and one of which is perpendicular to and connects the ends of the first two tube sections. The bottom-most tube section, which contains the burner, has an inner ceramic liner that is made up of one or more separate ceramic tubular sections. An upper set of cooling fins surrounds the top part of the bottom-most tube section, and a lower set of cooling fins surrounds the bottom part of the bottom-most tube section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Trinity Endeavors, LLC
    Inventors: Ty Mitchell, Ricky Alexander
  • Roof vent
    Patent number: 11697324
    Abstract: A roof vent includes a roof disposed on a vehicle and a vent assembly. The vent assembly includes at least one vent unit disposed on the roof and configured to be popped up to the interior of the vehicle, a driving unit driving the vent unit, and at least one rack unit applying driving force of the driving unit to the vent unit. The vent unit is popped up or tilted by the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, NIFCO KOREA INC., DAEHAN SOLUTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Ho Cho, Jin Ho Hwang, Hye Kyung Kim, Seung Hyeok Chang, Choong Ho Kwon, Geun Heung Kim, Woo Hyuk Kim, Soon Kyu Lee