Patents by Inventor Bruce Dresner

Bruce Dresner 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: 11156383
    Abstract: A heater having a burner, a first heat exchanger associated with the burner, a second heat exchanger above the first heat exchanger in fluid cooperation with the first heat exchanger and an ambient air intake blower above the second heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger comprises angularly disposed finned section so condensate within the second heat exchanger flows to a collection point and is collected in a trap. The trap includes a sensor to sense buildup of fluid in the trap with feedback to the heater controls. The heater may include a collection pan below the heat exchangers in fluid communication with the trap. In one aspect the collection pan may include a heating element to vaporize the fluid so that heated, humidified air is expelled through vents adjacent the base of the heater. In another aspect, the pan includes an ultrasonic vaporization element to vaporize fluid in the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Empire Comfort Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Dresner, David M. Christensen, Scott G. Schulte
  • Publication number: 20180320928
    Abstract: A heater having a burner, a first heat exchanger associated with the burner, a second heat exchanger above the first heat exchanger in fluid cooperation with the first heat exchanger and an ambient air intake blower above the second heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger comprises angularly disposed finned section so condensate within the second heat exchanger flows to a collection point and is collected in a trap. The trap includes a sensor to sense buildup of fluid in the trap with feedback to the heater controls. The heater may include a collection pan below the heat exchangers in fluid communication with the trap. In one aspect the collection pan may include a heating element to vaporize the fluid so that heated, humidified air is expelled through vents adjacent the base of the heater. In another aspect, the pan includes an ultrasonic vaporization element to vaporize fluid in the pan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Bruce Dresner, David M. Christensen, Scott G. Schulte
  • Patent number: 10072872
    Abstract: A heater having a burner, a first heat exchanger associated with the burner, a second heat exchanger above the first heat exchanger in fluid cooperation with the first heat exchanger and an ambient air intake blower above the second heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger comprises angularly disposed finned section so condensate within the second heat exchanger flows to a collection point and is collected in a trap. The trap includes a sensor to sense buildup of fluid in the trap with feedback to the heater controls. The heater may include a collection pan below the heat exchangers in fluid communication with the trap. In one aspect the collection pan may include a heating element to vaporize the fluid so that heated, humidified air is expelled through vents adjacent the base of the heater. In another aspect, the pan includes an ultrasonic vaporization element to vaporize fluid in the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Empire Comfort Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Dresner, David M. Christensen, Scott G. Schulte
  • Publication number: 20150369518
    Abstract: A heater having a burner, a first heat exchanger associated with the burner, a second heat exchanger above the first heat exchanger in fluid cooperation with the first heat exchanger and an ambient air intake blower above the second heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger comprises angularly disposed finned section so condensate within the second heat exchanger flows to a collection point and is collected in a trap. The trap includes a sensor to sense buildup of fluid in the trap with feedback to the heater controls. The heater may include a collection pan below the heat exchangers in fluid communication with the trap. In one aspect the collection pan may include a heating element to vaporize the fluid so that heated, humidified air is expelled through vents adjacent the base of the heater. In another aspect, the pan includes an ultrasonic vaporization element to vaporize fluid in the pan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Bruce Dresner, David M. Christensen, Scott G. Schulte
  • Patent number: 9062881
    Abstract: A fuel burning space or zone heating appliance or heater rated or decorative fireplace (hearth appliance) and a method of operating a heater including a gas valve, a pressure transducer, a second pressure measurement device, a combustion fan, and a control. The control compares the signal from the pressure transducer to the signal from the second pressure measurement device. If the signals do not sufficiently correspond, the control prevents the gas valve from opening. If the signals sufficiently correspond, the control performs an ignition sequence and opens the gas valve. The control also compares the signal from the pressure transducer to a desired value based on a current input gas rate through the gas valve. If the signal is greater than the desired value, the control decreases power to the combustion fan. If the signal is less than the desired value, the control increases power to the combustion fan. If the signal is less than the desired value, the control turns the gas valve off to cease ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Empire Comfort Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Dresner, Frank D. Wurth, David M. Christensen
  • Publication number: 20130255664
    Abstract: A heater having an evaporating and humidifying apparatus therein, the evaporating and humidifying apparatus comprising a fluid pan with a heating element. In one aspect, the pan is in fluid communication with a condensate trap assembly. In one aspect the apparatus can include a base pan, the heating element, an insulator and an evaporation pan above the heating element. The evaporating and humidifying apparatus can include a fluid level sensor operatively associated with the heater controls. The condensate trap assembly may include a fluid level sensor operatively associated with the heater controls to determine fluid levels in the trap assembly. In one aspect the pan comprises an ultrasonic vaporization element in lieu of a heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: EMPIRE COMFORT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Dresner, David M. Christensen, Scott G. Schulte
  • Publication number: 20130216962
    Abstract: A fuel burning space or zone heating appliance or heater rated or decorative fireplace (hearth appliance) and a method of operating a heater including a gas valve, a pressure transducer, a second pressure measurement device, a combustion fan, and a control. The control compares the signal from the pressure transducer to the signal from the second pressure measurement device. If the signals do not sufficiently correspond, the control prevents the gas valve from opening. If the signals sufficiently correspond, the control performs an ignition sequence and opens the gas valve. The control also compares the signal from the pressure transducer to a desired value based on a current input gas rate through the gas valve. If the signal is greater than the desired value, the control decreases power to the combustion fan. If the signal is less than the desired value, the control increases power to the combustion fan. If the signal is less than the desired value, the control turns the gas valve off to cease ignition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Empire Comfort Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Dresner, Frank D. Wurth, David M. Christensen