Patents by Inventor Bruce A. Hotton

Bruce A. Hotton 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: 11906159
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a fluid heating device including a frustoconical combustion chamber and a heat exchanger that can include heating tubes. The combustion chamber can have a first end and a second end that is in fluid communication with the heating tubes. The surface area of the second end of the combustion chamber can be larger than the surface area of the first end of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Amin Monfared, Leonard E. Chambers, Miguel Mendoza, Arash Jafari, Babak Bagheri, Bruce Hotton
  • Patent number: 11754318
    Abstract: A baffle for a thermal transfer device can include a body having a multiple first apertures that traverse therethrough, where each first aperture has a first outer perimeter that includes a first base shape and at least one first protrusion extending from the first base shape. Each of the first apertures is configured to receive a tube. The first base shape of each first aperture has a first shape and a first size that is configured to be substantially the same as the first shape and the first size of an end of a tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce Hotton, Amin Monfared, Lee Chambers, Babak Bagheri, Arash Jafari, Tim Shellenberger
  • Publication number: 20230030298
    Abstract: Embodiments include various water heaters. In one example, a water heater includes a burner, an exhaust vent, a corrugated baffle having a first slit having a first length and a second slit having a second length that is less than the first length, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a first set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a first row, and a second set of heat exchanger tubes arranged in a second row, the second set of heat exchanger tubes having a third tube having a first angled surface and a second angled surface, where the first angled surface and the second angled surface together form a fin. The third tube can be arranged such that the fin is disposed at least partially between the first curved outer surface and the second curved outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Satya Gullapalli, Bruce Hotton, Juan Garcia, Amin Akbarimonfared, Juan Carlos Montanez, Kevin Williams
  • Patent number: 11499747
    Abstract: A water heater can include a baffle and a slab heat exchanger with at least two rows of heat exchanger tubes, each row comprising a plurality of heat exchanger tubes. At least one of the heat exchanger tubes comprises a tube and a plurality of fins on the exterior of the tube circumscribing the tube, wherein the outer edge of each fin of the plurality of fins is bent at least at the same three areas of each fin such that the bends form at least three flat or concave areas running along the length of the heat exchanger tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Satya Gullapalli, Bruce Hotton, Juan Garcia, Amin Akbarimonfared, Juan Carlos Montanez, Kevin Williams
  • Publication number: 20220268486
    Abstract: A baffle for a fluid collection portion of a thermal transfer device can include a body having an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and an asymmetric feature, where the asymmetric feature is configured to create a pressure drop within the fluid collection portion of the thermal transfer device. The inner perimeter can be configured to be at least as large as an inner surface of a first wall that forms the fluid collection portion of the thermal transfer device. The outer perimeter can be configured to be no larger than an outer surface of a second wall that forms the fluid collection portion of the thermal transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Amin Monfared, Bruce Hotton, Lee Chambers, Babak Bagheri
  • Patent number: 11333398
    Abstract: A baffle for a fluid collection portion of a thermal transfer device can include a body having an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and an asymmetric feature, where the asymmetric feature is configured to create a pressure drop within the fluid collection portion of the thermal transfer device. The inner perimeter can be configured to be at least as large as an inner surface of a first wall that forms the fluid collection portion of the thermal transfer device. The outer perimeter can be configured to be no larger than an outer surface of a second wall that forms the fluid collection portion of the thermal transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Amin Monfared, Bruce Hotton, Lee Chambers, Babak Bagheri
  • Publication number: 20220146091
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a fluid heating device including a frustoconical combustion chamber and a heat exchanger that can include heating tubes. The combustion chamber can have a first end and a second end that is in fluid communication with the heating tubes. The surface area of the second end of the combustion chamber can be larger than the surface area of the first end of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Amin MONFARED, Leonard E. CHAMBERS, Miguel MENDOZA, Arash JAFARI, Babak BAGHERI, Bruce HOTTON
  • Publication number: 20220074669
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a header assembly for a water heating system heat exchanger. The header assembly can have an inlet, an outlet, a first compartment configured to receive a fluid from the inlet and direct the fluid to a first heat exchanger tube, a second compartment configured to receive the fluid from a second heat exchanger tube and direct the fluid to a third heat exchanger tube, and a third compartment configured to receive the fluid from a fourth heat exchanger tube and direct the fluid to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Satya Kiran Gullapalli, Juan Garcia, Bruce Hotton, Amin Monfared, Juan Montanez, Eduardo Mena, Kaela Malaki, Art Markaryan
  • Publication number: 20220057110
    Abstract: A baffle for a thermal transfer device can include a body having a multiple first apertures that traverse therethrough, where each first aperture has a first outer perimeter that includes a first base shape and at least one first protrusion extending from the first base shape. Each of the first apertures is configured to receive a tube. The first base shape of each first aperture has a first shape and a first size that is configured to be substantially the same as the first shape and the first size of an end of a tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Bruce Hotton, Amin Monfared, Lee Chambers, Babak Bagheri, Arash Jafari, Tim Shellenberger
  • Patent number: 11236902
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a fluid heating device including a frustoconical combustion chamber and a heat exchanger that can include heating tubes. The combustion chamber can have a first end and a second end that is in fluid communication with the heating tubes. The surface area of the second end of the combustion chamber can be larger than the surface area of the first end of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Amin Monfared, Leonard E. Chambers, Miguel Mendoza, Arash Jafari, Babak Bagheri, Bruce Hotton
  • Patent number: 11162709
    Abstract: A baffle for a thermal transfer device can include a body having a multiple first apertures that traverse therethrough, where each first aperture has a first outer perimeter that includes a first base shape and at least one first protrusion extending from the first base shape. Each of the first apertures is configured to receive a tube. The first base shape of each first aperture has a first shape and a first size that is configured to be substantially the same as the first shape and the first size of an end of a tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce Hotton, Amin Monfared, Lee Chambers, Babak Bagheri, Arash Jafari, Tim Shellenberger
  • Publication number: 20210332976
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a fluid heating device including a frustoconical combustion chamber and a heat exchanger that can include heating tubes. The combustion chamber can have a first end and a second end that is in fluid communication with the heating tubes. The surface area of the second end of the combustion chamber can be larger than the surface area of the first end of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Amin MONFARED, Leonard E. CHAMBERS, Miguel MENDOZA, Arash JAFARI, Babak BAGHERI, Bruce HOTTON
  • Publication number: 20210190376
    Abstract: A baffle for a thermal transfer device can include a body having a multiple first apertures that traverse therethrough, where each first aperture has a first outer perimeter that includes a first base shape and at least one first protrusion extending from the first base shape. Each of the first apertures is configured to receive a tube. The first base shape of each first aperture has a first shape and a first size that is configured to be substantially the same as the first shape and the first size of an end of a tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Bruce Hotton, Amin Monfared, Lee Chambers, Babak Bagheri, Arash Jafari, Tim Shellenberger
  • Publication number: 20210190375
    Abstract: A baffle for a fluid collection portion of a thermal transfer device can include a body having an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and an asymmetric feature, where the asymmetric feature is configured to create a pressure drop within the fluid collection portion of the thermal transfer device. The inner perimeter can be configured to be at least as large as an inner surface of a first wall that forms the fluid collection portion of the thermal transfer device. The outer perimeter can be configured to be no larger than an outer surface of a second wall that forms the fluid collection portion of the thermal transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Amin Monfared, Bruce Hotton, Lee Chambers, Babak Bagheri
  • Publication number: 20210102730
    Abstract: A water heater can include a baffle and a slab heat exchanger with at least two rows of heat exchanger tubes, each row comprising a plurality of heat exchanger tubes. At least one of the heat exchanger tubes comprises a tube and a plurality of fins on the exterior of the tube circumscribing the tube, wherein the outer edge of each fin of the plurality of fins is bent at least at the same three areas of each fin such that the bends form at least three flat or concave areas running along the length of the heat exchanger tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Satya Gullapalli, Bruce Hotton, Juan Garcia, Amin Akbarimonfared, Juan Carlos Montanez, Kevin Williams
  • Patent number: 8069013
    Abstract: A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the recovery time for the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce A. Hotton, Troy E. Trant, Jozef Boros, Walter T. Castleberry
  • Patent number: 7996182
    Abstract: A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the overall efficiency of the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Hotton, Walter T. Castleberry
  • Patent number: 7818095
    Abstract: A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the remaining hot water availability of, the recovery time for, and the overall efficiency of the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce A. Hotton, Troy E. Trant, Jozef Boros, William T. Harrigill, Walter T. Castleberry
  • Publication number: 20100204957
    Abstract: A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the overall efficiency of the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce A. Hotton, Walter T. Castleberry
  • Publication number: 20100193593
    Abstract: A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the recovery time for the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce A. Hotton, Troy E. Trant, Jozef Boros, Walter T. Castleberry