Patents by Inventor David E. Seitz

David E. Seitz 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: 10024571
    Abstract: A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller connected to the first and second temperature sensors. The controller is configured to receive the signals generated by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and to detect a flow condition of water within the heat without using mechanical flow detection means and without supplying stand-by heating by adding an absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water at the first temperature sensor to the absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water at the second temperature sensor to yield a sum and then comparing the sum to a reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Inventor: David E. Seitz
  • Publication number: 20180106497
    Abstract: A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller connected to the first and second temperature sensors. The controller is configured to receive the signals generated by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and to detect a flow condition of water within the heat without using mechanical flow detection means and without supplying stand-by heating by adding an absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water at the first temperature sensor to the absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water at the second temperature sensor to yield a sum and then comparing the sum to a reference temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: David E. Seitz
  • Patent number: 9874373
    Abstract: A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller connected to the first and second temperature sensors. The controller is configured to receive the signals generated by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and to detect a flow condition of water within the heat without using mechanical flow detection means and without supplying stand-by heating by adding an absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water at the first temperature sensor to the absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water at the second temperature sensor to yield a sum and then comparing the sum to a reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: David E. Seitz
  • Patent number: 9664413
    Abstract: A water heater with a housing having an internal chamber, an inlet port, and an outlet port; a heating element coupled to the housing; a water inlet line; a water outlet line; an inlet temperature sensor within the water inlet line; an outlet temperature sensor within the water outlet line; and a controller electrically connected to the inlet temperature sensor, the outlet temperature sensor, and the electrically power heating element. The controller is operable to detect a flow condition without using mechanical flow detection means and without supplying stand-by heating by adding an absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water flowing upstream from the inlet port to the absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of the water flowing downstream from the outlet port to yield a sum and comparing the sum to a reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: David E. Seitz
  • Publication number: 20170130988
    Abstract: A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller connected to the first and second temperature sensors. The controller is configured to receive the signals generated by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and to detect a flow condition of water within the heat without using mechanical flow detection means and without supplying stand-by heating by adding an absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water at the first temperature sensor to the absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water at the second temperature sensor to yield a sum and then comparing the sum to a reference temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventor: David E. Seitz
  • Publication number: 20160025372
    Abstract: A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a tank housing (12) and one or more electrically powered heating elements (18). A water inlet line (20) and a water outlet line (24) may be molded as a unitary structure with the tank housing. The water outlet line includes a lower port (68) and an upper port (70) for mixing water in the outlet line. The housing may be mounted such that its axis is either vertical or horizontal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventor: David E. Seitz
  • Patent number: 9167630
    Abstract: A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a tank housing (12) and one or more electrically powered heating elements (18). A water inlet line (20) and a water outlet line (24) may be molded as a unitary structure with the tank housing. The water outlet line includes a lower port (68) and an upper port (70) for mixing water in the outlet line. The housing may be mounted such that its axis is either vertical or horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventors: David E. Seitz, James Dabney, Louis Everett, Thomas L. Harmon, Michael Carr
  • Publication number: 20130094840
    Abstract: A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a tank housing (12) and one or more electrically powered heating elements (18). A water inlet line (20) and a water outlet line (24) may be molded as a unitary structure with the tank housing. The water outlet line includes a lower port (68) and an upper port (70) for mixing water in the outlet line. The housing may be mounted such that its axis is either vertical or horizontal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: David E. Seitz, James Dabney, Louis Everett, Thomas L. Harman
  • Patent number: 7616873
    Abstract: A flow-through instantaneous fluid heater system is designed to satisfy the need for a heater not limited by being connected to a storage tank and which can be made using a plastic casing, incorporating cool-down when out of service and with features of venting and simplified flushing and draining. The system incorporates the use of one or more compartments, usually assembled in two compartment modules connected in series. Each compartment includes a casing having a hollow cylindrical interior region. An inlet aperture is located at one end of the casing and an outlet aperture is located at the other end of the casing. The lower end of each casing is closed by a removable base and the upper end of the casing is closed by a top plate and a heating element. The heating element is positioned axially in the interior region of the compartment. The heating element is activated by a control system which senses and compares temperatures of the water at the compartment outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Inventor: David E. Seitz
  • Patent number: 6246831
    Abstract: An improved system, method and apparatus for control of an instantaneous flow-through fluid heater system is disclosed. The control incorporates a logic control method providing modulation of power in small steps to a plurality of heating elements retaining responsiveness to closed-loop control needs without inducing light flicker. Further, the life of the coils of heating circuit electromechanical relays are extended by energizing the coils with a pulse-width-modulated drive decreasing in duty cycle and thus the latent coil heat when an increase in mains voltage is sensed. The life of the contacts of same relays are extended by inhibiting heating element triac drive immediately upon sensing loss of relay coil power, such as by an over temperature limit switch opening, thus ensuring that relay contacts open with zero heating element current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: David Seitz
    Inventors: David E. Seitz, David Paul Sharp, Thomas Lamson Harman, Louis J. Everett, Rodney H. Neumann
  • Patent number: 5216743
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flow-through instantaneous fluid heater system designed to satisfy the need for a heater not limited by being connected to a storage tank and which can be made using a plastic casing, incorporating cool-down when out of service and with features of venting and simplified flushing and draining. The system incorporates the use of one or more compartments, usually assembled in two compartment modules connected in series. Each compartment includes a casing having a hollow cylindrical interior region. An inlet aperture is located at one end of the casing and an outlet aperture is located at the other end of the casing. The lower end of each casing is closed by a removable base and the upper end of the casing is closed by a top plate and a heating element. The heating element is positioned axially in the interior region of the compartment. The heating element is activated by a control system which senses and compares temperatures of the water at the compartment outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Inventor: David E. Seitz