Patents by Inventor Gary A. Elder

Gary A. Elder 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: 12158287
    Abstract: A water heater has one or more heating elements and an internal wall that causes an increased rate of heating within a sub-volume within the water heater tank. Water from the sub-volume is directed to the tank outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jozef Boros, Arthur Y. Hinton, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Gary A. Elder
  • Publication number: 20230024550
    Abstract: A water heater has one or more heating elements and an internal wall that causes an increased rate of heating within a sub-volume within the water heater tank. Water from the sub-volume is directed to the tank outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Jozef Boros, Arthur Y. Hinton, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Gary A. Elder
  • Patent number: 11460220
    Abstract: A water heater has one or more heating elements and an internal wall that causes an increased rate of heating within a sub-volume within the water heater tank. Water from the sub-volume is directed to the tank outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jozef Boros, Arthur Y. Hinton, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Gary A. Elder
  • Patent number: 10330052
    Abstract: A water heater has a gas burner in a combustion chamber below a tank. The burner has a venturi tube oriented in a collection housing, which receives a mixture of air and fuel from a duct at least partially protruding from a periphery of an exterior wall of the water heater. In some embodiments, the duct abuts the venturi tube within a collection housing in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary A. Elder, Tanjir Ratul
  • Publication number: 20190003426
    Abstract: A water heater has a gas burner in a combustion chamber below a tank. The burner has a venturi tube oriented in a collection housing, which receives a mixture of air and fuel from a duct at least partially protruding from a periphery of an exterior wall of the water heater. In some embodiments, the duct abuts the venturi tube within a collection housing in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Gary A. Elder, Tanjir Ratul
  • Publication number: 20180051907
    Abstract: A water heater has one or more heating elements and an internal wall that causes an increased rate of heating within a sub-volume within the water heater tank. Water from the sub-volume is directed to the tank outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Jozef Boros, Arthur Y. Hinton, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Gary A. Elder
  • Patent number: 7849821
    Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater is provided with a premixing type main burner and an associated pilot burner for igniting it. A specially designed protective system is operative to detect a flame flashback burning condition in the main burner and responsively shut down the water heater. In one embodiment thereof, the protective system uses main burner body heat to melt a portion of a fuel supply line connected to the pilot burner during a flame flashback condition in the main burner. Such melting responsively causes an associated fuel supply valve to close and terminate water heater operation. In a second protective system embodiment a normally closed pressure switch is opened, thereby shutting down the water heater, when the switch detects a pressure indicative of a flame flashback condition in the main burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jacob A. Peart, Gary A. Elder, William J. Hall, William T. Harrigill
  • Publication number: 20100192873
    Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater is provided with a premixing type main burner and an associated pilot burner for igniting it. A specially designed protective system is operative to detect a flame flashback burning condition in the main burner and responsively shut down the water heater. In one embodiment thereof, the protective system uses main burner body heat to melt a portion of a fuel supply line connected to the pilot burner during a flame flashback condition in the main burner. Such melting responsively causes an associated fuel supply valve to close and terminate water heater operation. In a second protective system embodiment a normally closed pressure switch is opened, thereby shutting down the water heater, when the switch detects a pressure indicative of a flame flashback condition in the main burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jacob A. Peart, Gary A. Elder, William J. Hall, William T. Harrigill
  • Publication number: 20080251035
    Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater is provided with a premixing type main burner and an associated pilot burner for igniting it. A specially designed protective system is operative to detect a flame flashback burning condition in the main burner and responsively shut down the water heater. In one embodiment thereof, the protective system uses main burner body heat to melt a portion of a fuel supply line connected to the pilot burner during a flame flashback condition in the main burner. Such melting responsively causes an associated fuel supply valve to close and terminate water heater operation. In a second protective system embodiment a normally closed pressure switch is opened, thereby shutting down the water heater, when the switch detects a pressure indicative of a flame flashback condition in the main burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jacob A. Peart, Gary A. Elder, William J. Hall, William T. Harrigill
  • Patent number: 6964248
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is provided with a combustion shutoff system which precludes further combustion within the water heater's combustion chamber in response to a combustion temperature therein reaching a predetermined level correlated to and indicative of a predetermined, undesirably high concentration of carbon monoxide present in the combustion chamber. In various illustrated embodiments thereof, the combustion shutoff system is operative to terminate further combustion air inflow to the combustion chamber, or terminate further fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development Consortium
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, Bruce A. Hotton, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes, Garrett Doss, Michael W. Gordon, James M. Martin, James W. Mears, Thomas E. Archibald
  • Patent number: 6957628
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is provided with a combustion shutoff system which precludes further combustion within the water heater's combustion chamber in response to a combustion temperature therein reaching a predetermined level correlated to and indicative of a predetermined, undesirably high concentration of carbon monoxide present in the combustion chamber. In various illustrated embodiments thereof, the combustion shutoff system is operative to terminate further combustion air inflow to the combustion chamber, or terminate further fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development Consortium
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, Bruce A. Hotton, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes, Garrett Doss, Michael W. Gordon
  • Patent number: 6893253
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is provided with a combustion shutoff system which precludes further combustion within the water heater's combustion chamber in response to a combustion temperature therein reaching a predetermined level correlated to and indicative of a predetermined, undesirably high concentration of carbon monoxide present in the combustion chamber. In various illustrated embodiments thereof, the combustion shutoff system is operative to terminate further combustion air inflow to the combustion chamber, or terminate further fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development Consortium
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, Bruce A. Hotton, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes, Garrett Doss, Michael W. Gordon, James M. Martin, James W. Mears, Thomas E. Archibald
  • Patent number: 6814031
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development Consortium
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, Bruce A. Hotton, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes, James M. Martin, James W. Mears, Thomas E. Archibald
  • Patent number: 6776125
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development Consortium
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, Bruce A. Hotton, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes, James M. Martin, James W. Mears, Thomas E. Archibald
  • Publication number: 20040069248
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development Consortium
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, Bruce A. Hotton, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes, James M. Martin, James W. Mears, Thomas E. Archibald
  • Publication number: 20040069247
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development Consortium
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, Bruce A. Hotton, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes, James M. Martin, James W. Mears, Thomas E. Archibald
  • Patent number: 6715451
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development Consortium
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, Bruce A. Hotton, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes, James M. Martin, James W. Mears, Thomas E. Archibald
  • Publication number: 20030196609
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is provided with a combustion shutoff system which precludes further combustion within the water heater's combustion chamber in response to a combustion temperature therein reaching a predetermined level correlated to and indicative of a predetermined, undesirably high concentration of carbon monoxide present in the combustion chamber. In various illustrated embodiments thereof, the combustion shutoff system is operative to terminate further combustion air inflow to the combustion chamber, or terminate further fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, Bruce A. Hotton, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes, Garrett Doss, Michael W. Gordon, James M. Martin, James W. Mears, Thomas E. Archibald
  • Publication number: 20030000484
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, Bruce A. Hotton, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes, James M. Martin, James W. Mears, Thomas E. Archibald
  • Patent number: 6497200
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner s structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development Consortium
    Inventors: Gordon W. Stretch, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes