Patents by Inventor Bernd Schwank

Bernd Schwank has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9080777
    Abstract: A reflector for an elongate radiant tube heater having a tubular conduit through which hot combustion gases flow comprises an elongate metal reflecting member that can extend along the length of the tube heater in order to cover the top and sides thereof and a layer of heat resistant insulation extending over the reflecting member. The reflector includes two central panel portions meeting along the longitudinal centerline and forming an outwardly facing angle ranging between 30 and 100 degrees, preferably between 45 and 80 degrees. A bisector of this angle extends substantially vertically and is vertically aligned with a centerline of the tubular conduit during use of the reflector. The reflector has several longitudinal panel sections extending outwardly and downwardly from the central panel portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SCHWANK, LTD.
    Inventors: Bernd Schwank, Samer Hassan
  • Patent number: 9080773
    Abstract: A pitot tube assembly is provided for a radiant tube heater having a blower for providing combustion air to a burner. The assembly includes a mounting plate for attaching the assembly to a wall of a housing of the blower. First and second, substantially L-shaped pitot tubes extend through the mounting plate and are connected thereto and have respective inner leg sections which are arranged within an outlet section of the blower during use of the radiant tube heater. These leg sections extend in opposite directions to their respective pressure sensing ends. The first pitot tube measures impact pressure created by the blower and the second pitot tube measures static pressure. These tubes are connectible to a differential pressure switch arrangement for controlling operation of the burner. As part of a burner assembly, there is a mixing cup unit mountable within the burner tube of the heater and capable of mixing primary air and combustible gas. A gas valve unit regulates flow of the gas to the cup assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Schwank Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernd Schwank, Samer Hassan, Fariborz Farshad
  • Patent number: 8568021
    Abstract: A method of measuring heat flux received on a selected area from a radiant tube heater includes providing an enclosing wall along side edges of the selected area and the radiant tube heater having a radiant heating tube mounted above the area. A heat flux sensor whose operating temperature can be regulated is used and is placed on a grid formed on the selected area, this grid defining a plurality of side-by-side sensor locations, each corresponding respectively to an area covered by one heat flux sensor. The heat flux received at each sensor location is measured and the sensor is moved sequentially from one sensor location to an adjacent sensor location after each measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Schwank Ltd.
    Inventors: Samer Hassan, Bernd Schwank
  • Publication number: 20130192590
    Abstract: A reflector for an elongate radiant tube heater having a tubular conduit through which hot combustion gases flow comprises an elongate metal reflecting member that can extend along the length of the tube heater in order to cover the top and sides thereof and a layer of heat resistant insulation extending over the reflecting member. The reflector includes two central panel portions meeting along the longitudinal centerline and forming an outwardly facing angle ranging between 30 and 100 degrees, preferably between 45 and 80 degrees. A bisector of this angle extends substantially vertically and is vertically aligned with a centerline of the tubular conduit during use of the reflector. The reflector has several longitudinal panel sections extending outwardly and downwardly from the central panel portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: SCHWANK LTD.
    Inventors: Bernd Schwank, Samer Hassan
  • Publication number: 20130083821
    Abstract: A method of measuring heat flux received on a selected area from a radiant tube heater includes providing an enclosing wall along side edges of the selected area and the radiant tube heater having a radiant heating tube mounted above the area. A heat flux sensor whose operating temperature can be regulated is used and is placed on a grid formed on the selected area, this grid defining a plurality of side-by-side sensor locations, each corresponding respectively to an area covered by one heat flux sensor. The heat flux received at each sensor location is measured and the sensor is moved sequentially from one sensor location to an adjacent sensor location after each measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Bernd SCHWANK, Samer HASSAN
  • Patent number: 7913683
    Abstract: A radiant tube heater has a tubular arrangement with an air duct portion forming a combustion air passage and a radiant tube portion which is heated by and surrounds a laminar flame. An inlet end of the air duct portion receives combustion air from a blower. A burner assembly mounted in the air duct portion includes a burner nozzle and a burner head for mixing gas and combustion air, this head having an inlet portion and an outlet portion wider than the inlet portion. A perforated restricting plate is mounted in the air duct portion and extends around the burner head. Air holes in this plate are sized and distributed so that the plate increases flow of combustion air through openings formed in the side of the inlet portion and allows combustion air to flow in the annular passage between the outlet portion and the air duct portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Schwank Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernd Schwank, Samer Hassan, Yuri Kyrychynskyi, Tibor Virag
  • Patent number: 7874835
    Abstract: A burner assembly for a radiant tube heater having an air duct portion for passage of combustion air to a radiant tube portion includes a mixing cup for mixing combustible gas and air and delivering the mixture to the tube. This cup has an inlet portion and a larger cylindrical outlet portion. Air inlet holes are formed in an upstream end wall of the outlet portion and air ports are formed in a peripheral wall of the inlet portion. An air diverter mounted at an upstream end of the inlet portion has a set of blade which divert a portion of the air through the ports for initial mixing with the gas while a second portion of the air flows through the inlet holes providing additional primary air for mixing. An airflow restricting plate can be mounted on the cup so as to extend circumferentially around the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Schwank Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernd Schwank, Samer Hassan, Fariborz Farshad
  • Publication number: 20090241942
    Abstract: A burner assembly for a radiant tube heater having an air duct portion for passage of combustion air to a radiant tube portion includes a mixing cup for mixing combustible gas and air and delivering the mixture to the tube. This cup has an inlet portion and a larger cylindrical outlet portion. Air inlet holes are formed in an upstream end wall of the outlet portion and air ports are formed in a peripheral wall of the inlet portion. An air diverter mounted at an upstream end of the inlet portion has a set of blade which divert a portion of the air through the ports for initial mixing with the gas while a second portion of the air flows through the inlet holes providing additional primary air for mixing. An airflow restricting plate can be mounted on the cup so as to extend circumferentially around the cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Bernd Schwank, Samer Hassan, Fariborz Farshad
  • Publication number: 20090241943
    Abstract: A pitot tube assembly is provided for a radiant tube heater having a blower for providing combustion air to a burner. The assembly includes a mounting plate for attaching the assembly to a wall of a housing of the blower. First and second, substantially L-shaped pitot tubes extend through the mounting plate and are connected thereto and have respective inner leg sections which are arranged within an outlet section of the blower during use of the radiant tube heater. These leg sections extend in opposite directions to their respective pressure sensing ends. The first pitot tube measures impact pressure created by the blower and the second pitot tube measures static pressure. These tubes are connectible to a differential pressure switch arrangement for controlling operation of the burner. As part of a burner assembly, there is a mixing cup unit mountable within the burner tube of the heater and capable of mixing primary air and combustible gas. A gas valve unit regulates flow of the gas to the cup assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Bernd Schwank, Samer Hassan, Fariborz Farshad
  • Publication number: 20080178860
    Abstract: A radiant tube heater has a tubular arrangement with an air duct portion forming a combustion air passage and a radiant tube portion which is heated by and surrounds a laminar flame. An inlet end of the air duct portion receives combustion air from a blower. A burner assembly mounted in the air duct portion includes a burner nozzle and a burner head for mixing gas and combustion air, this head having an inlet portion and an outlet portion wider than the inlet portion. A perforated restricting plate is mounted in the air duct portion and extends around the burner head. Air holes in this plate are sized and distributed so that the plate increases flow of combustion air through openings formed in the side of the inlet portion and allows combustion air to flow in the annular passage between the outlet portion and the air duct portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Bernd Schwank, Samer Hassan, Yuri Kyrychynskyi, Tibor Virag
  • Publication number: 20070221196
    Abstract: This invention relates to a heating device consisting of at least one burner for the combustion especially of a gaseous fuel, at least one radiant tube connecting to the burner, at least one fan generating a negative pressure or an excess pressure in the radiant tube, and at least one exhaust gas recirculation system with at least one exhaust gas recirculation passage through which an exhaust gas produced during the combustion of the primary fuel can be recirculated from the radiant tube to a transition zone from the burner into the radiant tube. In order to further develop a heating device of this type as well as a method for its operation the burner is adapted for being operated in at least two power stages and the exhaust gas recirculation system is controlled in dependence of the power stages of the burner in such a way that the volume flow of the recirculated exhaust gas is reduced with an increasing power stage of the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Bernd Schwank, Konrad Weber
  • Patent number: 4201184
    Abstract: Gas-heated, glass-ceramic cooking stove incorporating at least one improved gas heated radiation burner subassembly. Each such burner subassembly comprises an infrared radiation burner, a glass, a housing about a burner chamber, a burner plate, a nozzle and mixer pipe, an exhaust gas ring, a waste gas conduit, an igniter, and safety and regulating means. A glass ceramic cover plate is integrally associated with each burner subassembly and serves directly as a cooking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Jenaer Glaswerk Schott & Gen.
    Inventors: Herwig Scheidler, Dietmar Wennemann, Bernd Schwank
  • Patent number: 4083355
    Abstract: The range has one or more burners. Above these is arranged a glass-ceramic plate. Each burner has a perforate ceramic element that is spaced from the plate by a distance just sufficient to permit the combustion gas to travel through this space. A thermal securing arrangement detects the temperature of the plate, and an adjusting arrangement permits adjusting of the burners, and therefore of the plate, to a plurality of different temperature levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Assignee: Schwank GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Schwank