Patents by Inventor Craig R. Knotts

Craig R. Knotts 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).

  • Ice detection in ice making apparatus
    Patent number: 5761920
    Abstract: An ice making machine detects when to harvest the ice being formed on an ice forming plate. A circuit analyzes the response of a capacitor formed by the ice forming plate and a conducting plate positioned opposite the ice forming plate wherein the dielectric medium therebetween substantially consists at some point in time of the ice formed on the ice forming plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Larry E. Wilson, Craig R. Knotts
  • Ice detection system
    Patent number: 5761919
    Abstract: A system for detecting the formation of ice on a cold surface includes an electrical circuit for sensing the electrical responsiveness of a capacitor formed by a conductive plate positioned opposite the cold surface. The ice formed on the cold surface will eventually comprise most of the dielectric medium between the conductive plate and the cold surface thereby providing a distinctively recognizable electrical response that is sensed by the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Larry E. Wilson, Craig R. Knotts
  • Flame sensor verification
    Patent number: 5722822
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for checking the responsiveness of a circuit which senses the presence of a flame produced by a burner within a furnace. A programmed processor associated with the circuit measures the time the circuit takes to indicate the presence of a flame. A warning is generated when the measured time exceeds a predetermined allowable time. The allowable time is determined by taking into account the decreased responsiveness of an electrode that indicates the presence of the burner flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Larry E. Wilson, Craig R. Knotts, Daniel L. Kelly
  • Flame detection system
    Patent number: 5720604
    Abstract: A flame sensor senses the intensity of a pilot flame to determine whether main burner ignition has occurred in a gas furnace. The sensor includes a computer which is operative to trigger the sensing of the flame intensity following the provision of gas to the main burner. Circuitry associated with the computer preferably provides an indication of the pilot flame intensity to the computer through a measurement of the electrical conductivity of the pilot flame following provision of gas to the main burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Kelly, Craig R. Knotts, Larry E. Wilson