Patents by Inventor Bruce Gunner

Bruce Gunner 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).

  • Publication number: 20250327573
    Abstract: A furnace system includes a regenerative furnace with a melting tank and first and second regenerators. In a forward operating mode, combustion air enters and travels through the first regenerator before exiting the first regenerator into the melting tank while exhaust fluids exit the melting tank into the second regenerator and travels through the second regenerator before exiting the second regenerator. In a reverse operating mode, the flow is reversed. The system also includes a preheater for preheating materials supplied to the melting tank. Portions of the combustion air traveling through the first regenerator in the forward operating mode and the second regenerator in the reverse operating mode are diverted before entering the melting tank and mixed with fluids exhausted from the fluid outlet of the preheater for delivery to the fluid inlet of the preheater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Publication date: October 23, 2025
    Inventors: Bruce Gunner, Benjamin Brown, James Dimitry
  • Patent number: 10836668
    Abstract: A furnace system includes a mixing chamber that receives separate streams of raw material and cullet mix and discharges a combined stream. The mixing chamber tapers from an inlet end to an outlet end. One inlet in the inlet end is configured to receive one of the material and mix and is aligned with an outlet in the outlet end along a vertical axis. Another inlet is configured to receive the other of the material and mix and is offset from the outlet relative to the vertical axis such the material or mix is deposited on a sidewall of the tapered chamber before reaching the outlet. A charger receives the combined stream from the mixing chamber and discharges the mixture into a molten bath in a furnace. A duct system may be used to mix exhaust from the furnace with exhaust from the mixing chamber and charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Witold Mastek, Bruce Gunner, Jeff Alexander, Michele Furlan
  • Publication number: 20190225526
    Abstract: A furnace system includes a mixing chamber that receives separate streams of raw material and cullet mix and discharges a combined stream. The mixing chamber tapers from an inlet end to an outlet end. One inlet in the inlet end is configured to receive one of the material and mix and is aligned with an outlet in the outlet end along a vertical axis. Another inlet is configured to receive the other of the material and mix and is offset from the outlet relative to the vertical axis such the material or mix is deposited on a sidewall of the tapered chamber before reaching the outlet. A charger receives the combined stream from the mixing chamber and discharges the mixture into a molten bath in a furnace. A duct system may be used to mix exhaust from the furnace with exhaust from the mixing chamber and charger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Witold Mastek, Bruce Gunner, Jeff Alexander, Michele Furlan
  • Patent number: 10101090
    Abstract: A furnace system includes a furnace and a preheater configured to preheat material before it enters the furnace. The system further includes a duct system including a mixing chamber disposed between the furnace and preheater. The duct system further includes an exhaust duct in fluid communication with an exhaust fluid outlet of the furnace and configured to vent fluid exhausted from the furnace. The exhaust duct is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and configured to redirect a portion of the fluid exhausted from the furnace to the mixing chamber. The duct system further includes a preheater duct in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and a fluid inlet of the preheater and configured to direct fluid from the mixing chamber to the preheater. The system further includes a duct scraper configured for movement within the mixing chamber to move particulates from the mixing chamber into the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Gunner, Witold Mastek, Jeffrey Alexander
  • Publication number: 20180017330
    Abstract: A furnace system includes a furnace and a preheater configured to preheat material before it enters the furnace. The system further includes a duct system including a mixing chamber disposed between the furnace and preheater. The duct system further includes an exhaust duct in fluid communication with an exhaust fluid outlet of the furnace and configured to vent fluid exhausted from the furnace. The exhaust duct is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and configured to redirect a portion of the fluid exhausted from the furnace to the mixing chamber. The duct system further includes a preheater duct in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and a fluid inlet of the preheater and configured to direct fluid from the mixing chamber to the preheater. The system further includes a duct scraper configured for movement within the mixing chamber to move particulates from the mixing chamber into the exhaust duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Bruce Gunner, Witold Mastek, Jeffrey Alexander