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).
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Patent number: 12158287Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 3, 2022Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Jozef Boros, Arthur Y. Hinton, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Gary A. Elder
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Publication number: 20230024550Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Jozef Boros, Arthur Y. Hinton, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Gary A. Elder
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Patent number: 11460220Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Jozef Boros, Arthur Y. Hinton, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Gary A. Elder
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Patent number: 10330052Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Gary A. Elder, Tanjir Ratul
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Publication number: 20190003426Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Gary A. Elder, Tanjir Ratul
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Publication number: 20180051907Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2016Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Jozef Boros, Arthur Y. Hinton, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Gary A. Elder
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Patent number: 7849821Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 12, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Jacob A. Peart, Gary A. Elder, William J. Hall, William T. Harrigill
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Publication number: 20100192873Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Jacob A. Peart, Gary A. Elder, William J. Hall, William T. Harrigill
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Publication number: 20080251035Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Jacob A. Peart, Gary A. Elder, William J. Hall, William T. Harrigill
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Patent number: 6964248Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: November 15, 2005Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development ConsortiumInventors: 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
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Patent number: 6957628Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development ConsortiumInventors: 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
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Patent number: 6893253Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 5, 2003Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development ConsortiumInventors: 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
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Patent number: 6814031Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development ConsortiumInventors: 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
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Patent number: 6776125Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development ConsortiumInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20040069248Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development ConsortiumInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20040069247Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development ConsortiumInventors: 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
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Patent number: 6715451Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 22, 2002Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development ConsortiumInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20030196609Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20030000484Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 6497200Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 8, 2001Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development ConsortiumInventors: Gordon W. Stretch, John H. Scanlon, Gary A. Elder, James T. Campbell, Larry D. Kidd, Eric M. Lannes