Patents by Inventor Frank van Prooijen

Frank van Prooijen 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: 10591161
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a gas valve assembly and/or combustion appliance may include identifying a flow rate of gas to a burner of a combustion appliance and determining if the flow rate is sufficient for a burner load of the combustion appliance. If the flow rate is sufficient for a burner load, a position of the valve member of the valve assembly and/or the burner load may be adjusted such that the flow rate of gas meets a target flow rate of gas for the current burner load. If the flow rate is insufficient to meet the current burner load, the valve member of the valve assembly may be positioned in a fully open position to at least partially meet the current burner load. If the flow rate is below a minimum flow rate threshold, the valve member may be moved to a fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Willem Super, Jos Praat, Hans van der Mei, Frank van Prooijen
  • Patent number: 10520186
    Abstract: A method for determining an change in an operating condition of a gas burner appliance. In some instances, a calibration of a gas/air mixture may be performed when the combustion quality of the gas burner appliance diminishes. This may be accomplished by adjusting a throttle position of a throttle valve that throttles the gas to the gas burner appliance. After calibration has been performed, a throttle position of the throttle valve is determined, and based on the throttle position determined after calibration, a change of an operating condition of the gas burner appliance is detectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell Technologies Sarl
    Inventors: Gerwin Langius, Piet Blaauwwiekel, Frank Van Prooijen, Erwin Kupers
  • Publication number: 20190376687
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a gas valve assembly and/or combustion appliance may include identifying a flow rate of gas to a burner of a combustion appliance and determining if the flow rate is sufficient for a burner load of the combustion appliance. If the flow rate is sufficient for a burner load, a position of the valve member of the valve assembly and/or the burner load may be adjusted such that the flow rate of gas meets a target flow rate of gas for the current burner load. If the flow rate is insufficient to meet the current burner load, the valve member of the valve assembly may be positioned in a fully open position to at least partially meet the current burner load. If the flow rate is below a minimum flow rate threshold, the valve member may be moved to a fully closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Willem Super, Jos Praat, Hans van der Mei, Frank van Prooijen
  • Patent number: 10422531
    Abstract: A system for controlling activity in a combustion chamber. The system does not necessarily need to be mechanically adjusted and yet may provide precise control of a fuel air mixture ratio. A sensing module of the system may have a mass flow sensor that relates to air flow and another sensor that relates to fuel flow. Neither sensor may need contact with fuel. Fuel and air to the system may be controlled. Pressure of the fuel and/or air may be regulated. The sensors may provide signals to a processor to indicate a state of the fuel and air in the system. The processor, with reliance on a programmed curve, table or the like, often based on data, in a storage memory, may regulate the flow or pressure of the fuel and air in a parallel fashion to provide an appropriate fuel-air mixture to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Willem Super, Frank van Prooijen, David Kucera, Sybrandus Munsterhuis, Jos Praat
  • Patent number: 10288282
    Abstract: A method for commissioning a gas valve assembly for controlling fuel flow to a combustion appliance. An example method for commissioning the gas valve assembly may include initiating a commissioning mode in the controller of the gas valve assembly. Once in the commissioning mode, inputting a user defined initial air to fuel (A/F) ratio, activating the combustion appliance, setting a burner load of the combustion appliance to a set burner load, inputting a desired A/F ratio for the set burner load, running the combustion appliance at the burner load with the desired A/F ratio, and observing the operation of the combustion appliance. The method may further include saving the desired A/F ratio for the set burner load to the controller of the gas valve assembly and exiting the commissioning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jiri Senkyr, Frank van Prooijen
  • Patent number: 10274195
    Abstract: An improved air/gas admittance device for a combustion appliance. The improved air/gas admittance device is configured to provide a more uniform gas and/or air flow. This may help reduce noise in pressure and/or flow sensor measurements that are used by a gas valve controller to control the air/fuel ratio to the combustion appliance, which may help improve the efficiency and/or emissions of the combustion appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Gankema, Milos Trenz, Tieme de Jonge, Frank van Prooijen, Jens Wubkes
  • Patent number: 10247416
    Abstract: In a modulating gas burner, the mixing ratio of a gas/air mixture is controlled over a modulation range of the gas burner by a pneumatic controller. During burner on phases, the combustion quality is monitored via a combustion quality sensor. The combustion quality is used to detect tolerances of the pneumatic controller and/or a potentially changing behavior of the pneumatic controller by checking if the combustion quality is inside or outside a defined combustion quality range. When the combustion quality is inside the defined combustion quality range, the mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture is not changed. When the combustion quality is outside the defined combustion quality range, the mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture is changed by adjusting a gas throttle to compensate for tolerances of the pneumatic controller and/or for a potentially changing behavior of the pneumatic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell Technologies Sarl
    Inventors: Wim Munsterhuis, Gerrit Jan Baarda, Piet Blaauwwiekel, Frank Van Prooijen, Gerwin Langius, Albert Hietkamp
  • Publication number: 20180058689
    Abstract: An improved air/gas admittance device for a combustion appliance. The improved air/gas admittance device is configured to provide a more uniform gas and/or air flow. This may help reduce noise in pressure and/or flow sensor measurements that are used by a gas valve controller to control the air/fuel ratio to the combustion appliance, which may help improve the efficiency and/or emissions of the combustion appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Erik Gankema, Milos Trenz, Tieme de Jonge, Frank van Prooijen, Jens Wubkes
  • Publication number: 20170370577
    Abstract: A method for commissioning a gas valve assembly for controlling fuel flow to a combustion appliance. An example method for commissioning the gas valve assembly may include initiating a commissioning mode in the controller of the gas valve assembly. Once in the commissioning mode, inputting a user defined initial air to fuel (A/F) ratio, activating the combustion appliance, setting a burner load of the combustion appliance to a set burner load, inputting a desired A/F ratio for the set burner load, running the combustion appliance at the burner load with the desired A/F ratio, and observing the operation of the combustion appliance. The method may further include saving the desired A/F ratio for the set burner load to the controller of the gas valve assembly and exiting the commissioning mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Jiri Senkyr, Frank van Prooijen
  • Publication number: 20170292698
    Abstract: A method for determining an change in an operating condition of a gas burner appliance. In some instances, a calibration of a gas/air mixture may be performed when the combustion quality of the gas burner appliance diminishes. This may be accomplished by adjusting a throttle position of a throttle valve that throttles the gas to the gas burner appliance. After calibration has been performed, a throttle position of the throttle valve is determined, and based on the throttle position determined after calibration, a change of an operating condition of the gas burner appliance is detectable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Gerwin Langius, Piet Blaauwwiekel, Frank Van Prooijen, Erwin Kupers
  • Publication number: 20170254536
    Abstract: A system for controlling activity in a combustion chamber. The system does not necessarily need to be mechanically adjusted and yet may provide precise control of a fuel air mixture ratio. A sensing module of the system may have a mass flow sensor that relates to air flow and another sensor that relates to fuel flow. Neither sensor may need contact with fuel. Fuel and air to the system may be controlled. Pressure of the fuel and/or air may be regulated. The sensors may provide signals to a processor to indicate a state of the fuel and air in the system. The processor, with reliance on a programmed curve, table or the like, often based on data, in a storage memory, may regulate the flow or pressure of the fuel and air in a parallel fashion to provide an appropriate fuel-air mixture to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Willem Super, Frank van Prooijen, David Kucera, Sybrandus Munsterhuis, Jos Praat
  • Publication number: 20160281984
    Abstract: In a modulating gas burner, the mixing ratio of a gas/air mixture is controlled over a modulation range of the gas burner by a pneumatic controller. During burner on phases, the combustion quality is monitored via a combustion quality sensor. The combustion quality is used to detect tolerances of the pneumatic controller and/or a potentially changing behaviour of the pneumatic controller by checking if the combustion quality is inside or outside a defined combustion quality range. When the combustion quality is inside the defined combustion quality range, the mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture is not changed. When the combustion quality is outside the defined combustion quality range, the mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture is changed by adjusting a gas throttle to compensate for tolerances of the pneumatic controller and/or for a potentially changing behaviour of the pneumatic controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Wim Munsterhuis, Gerrit Jan Baarda, Piet Blaauwwiekel, Frank Van Prooijen, Gerwin Langius, Albert Hietkamp
  • Publication number: 20040238053
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electromagnetic double valve comprising an electromagnetic coil disposed in a valve housing and two valve bodies disposed in the valve housing and shiftable in their directions of polarity. The valve bodies comprise permanent magnets which are shifted by a magnetization of the coil such that the valve bodies either move away from a valve seat or towards the same, thereby opening and closing a valve opening disposed in the valve seat, respectively. The double valve can be used as a servo valve for controlling main valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Jan Baarda, Frank Van Prooijen
  • Patent number: 5358005
    Abstract: A solenoid valve in which an actuator is located above a valve seat and closure member. A valve stem which carries the closure member has a particle diverting collar thereon located above a valve stem guide in the valve housing. The valve housing has an annular, upwardly opening well therein encircling the valve stem below the collar, the well functioning as a particle collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Frank van Prooijen, Wim Munsterhuis