Patents by Inventor Carl F. Fernstrom

Carl F. Fernstrom 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: 5199456
    Abstract: A gas valve includes two solenoid valves connected fluidically in series. A housing assembly contains a circuit board on which electrical components and a plurality of plug terminals and pin terminals are mounted. The plug terminals are adapted to be connected to the solenoid valves and the pin terminals are adapted to be connected to external circuitry. The housing assembly is adapted to be attached to the valve body either in a first position wherein the pin terminals extend in a first direction or in a second position wherein the pin terminals extend in a second direction. The housing assembly and the solenoid valves are adapted for enabling connection of the solenoid valves to the circuit board when the housing assembly is in either the first or second position. The solenoid valves are operated by direct current and are so mechanically constructed as to operate in a relatively quiet manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: John J. Love, Carl F. Fernstrom, Patrick S. Bauman, Ralph E. Banes
  • Patent number: 4932430
    Abstract: A solenoid operated fluid pressure regulating valve includes a valve responsive to outlet pressure to control the rate of fluid flow to a burner. The valve is biased to a first position to effect a low fire fluid flow rate and to a second position to effect a high fire fluid flow rate. The first and second positions are independently adjustable so as to enable independent field adjustment of the low and high fire fluid flow rates. Lower and upper limits to such field adjustments are established in the assembly of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Carl F. Fernstrom
  • Patent number: 4718448
    Abstract: A gas valve for providing two levels of flow capacity to a burner is adapted to enable easy conversion of the valve from use with one type of gas to use with another type. To this end, a low-flow passageway, which establishes the low-flow capacity, is sized to provide the desired low-flow capacity when the valve is used with one type of gas. An opening, axially aligned with the passageway, receives a screw means which simply prevents the escape of gas to the exterior of the valve. When the valve is to be converted to use with another type of gas having a higher BTU content, the pressure regulator and burner orifice screw are changed, and the screw means in the axially aligned opening is replaced with a metering screw means which, in addition to preventing the escape of gas, has a portion which extends into the low-flow passageway so as to reduce the effective opening area of the low-flow passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: John J. Love, Carl F. Fernstrom
  • Patent number: 4289476
    Abstract: In a direct ignition gas burner control system wherein two valves are connected fluidically in series with the burner, a make-before-break thermostatically actuated switch is effective, when a set of "cold" contacts are made, to energize an electrical resistance igniter and to open a first of the two valves which opening enables a pressure actuated switch to close its contacts. When the igniter is above a temperature sufficient to ignite gas, the thermostatically actuated switch makes a set of "hot" contacts while its "cold" contacts are still made. In this intermediate contact position, a second of the two valves is opened, allowing gas to flow to the burner. Continued energizing of the igniter causes the thermostatically actuated switch to break its "cold" contacts, effecting de-energizing of the igniter. When the "cold" contacts are open, the pressure actuated switch provides a hold-in circuit for the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Charles D. Visos, Carl F. Fernstrom
  • Patent number: 4243373
    Abstract: A gas burner control system wherein a burner is directly ignited by an electrical resistance igniter includes a pressure actuated switch effective to permit automatic re-cycle of the system in the event of an electrical power interruption or a gas pressure failure, and to prevent such automatic re-cycle in the event of an ignition failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1981
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Carl F. Fernstrom, Charles D. Visos
  • Patent number: 3975135
    Abstract: A gas burner control system in which closure of a space thermostat causes energization of an electromagnetic actuator to supply fuel to a pilot burner and effect the operation of an igniter to ignite it; a thermostatic actuator heated by the pilot flame then effects the flow of fuel to a main burner where it is ignited by the pilot burner. The electromagnetic actuator also jointly controls the flow of fuel to the main burner, so that when the thermostat opens, de-energizing the electromagnetic actuator, fuel flow to the main burner as well as to the pilot burner is immediately cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Howard R. Kinsella, Carl F. Fernstrom