Patents by Inventor James W. Mears
James W. Mears 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: 10195473Abstract: A dry sprinkler for a fire protection system. The preferred dry sprinkler has a metallic disc annulus positionable within a passageway to skew a central axis of a face of the metallic disc annulus with respect to a longitudinal axis of the dry sprinkler so that an expected minimum flow rate based on a rated discharge coefficient is provided. The dry sprinkler operates to provide an expected flow rate over a range of start pressures. The expected flow rate is based on a K-factor rating. The dry sprinkler provides an acceptable level of fluid flow rate from the expected flow rate based on the K-factor for a range of start pressures.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LPInventors: Manuel R. Silva, Jr., Thomas E. Archibald, James W. Mears, Donald B. Pounder, Yoram Ringer
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Patent number: 9636531Abstract: A dry sprinkler for a fire protection system. The preferred dry sprinkler has a metallic disc annulus positionable within a passageway to skew a central axis of a face of the metallic disc annulus with respect to a longitudinal axis of the dry sprinkler so that an expected minimum flow rate based on a rated discharge coefficient is provided. The dry sprinkler operates to provide an expected flow rate over a range of start pressures. The expected flow rate is based on a K-factor rating. The dry sprinkler provides an acceptable level of fluid flow rate from the expected flow rate based on the K-factor for a range of start pressures.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LPInventors: Manuel R. Silva, Jr., Thomas E. Archibald, James W. Mears, Donald B. Pounder, Yoram Ringer
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Patent number: 8746356Abstract: A dry sprinkler for a fire protection system. The preferred dry sprinkler has a metallic disc annulus positionable within a passageway to skew a central axis of a face of the metallic disc annulus with respect to a longitudinal axis of the dry sprinkler so that an expected minimum flow rate based on a rated discharge coefficient is provided. The dry sprinkler operates to provide an expected flow rate over a range of start pressures. The expected flow rate is based on a K-factor rating. The dry sprinkler provides an acceptable level of fluid flow rate from the expected flow rate based on the K-factor for a range of start pressures.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LPInventors: Manuel R. Silva, Jr., Thomas E. Archibald, James W. Mears, Donald B. Pounder, Yoram Ringer
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Patent number: 8469112Abstract: A dry sprinkler for a fire protection system. The preferred dry sprinkler has a metallic disc annulus positionable within a passageway to skew a central axis of a face of the metallic disc annulus with respect to a longitudinal axis of the dry sprinkler so that an expected minimum flow rate based on a rated discharge coefficient is provided. The dry sprinkler operates to provide an expected flow rate over a range of start pressures. The expected flow rate is based on a K-factor rating. The dry sprinkler provides an acceptable level of fluid flow rate from the expected flow rate based on the K-factor for a range of start pressures.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LPInventors: Manuel R. Silva, Jr., Thomas E. Archibald, James W. Mears, Donald B. Pounder, Yoram Ringer
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Patent number: 8327946Abstract: A dry sprinkler for a fire protection system. The preferred dry sprinkler has a metallic disc annulus positionable within a passageway to skew a central axis of a face of the metallic disc annulus with respect to a longitudinal axis of the dry sprinkler so that an expected minimum flow rate based on a rated discharge coefficient is provided. The dry sprinkler operates to provide an expected flow rate over a range of start pressures. The expected flow rate is based on a K-factor rating. The dry sprinkler provides an acceptable level of fluid flow rate from the expected flow rate based on the K-factor for a range of start pressures.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LPInventors: Manuel R. Silva, Jr., Thomas E. Archibald, James W. Mears, Donald B. Pounder, Yoram Ringer
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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: 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: 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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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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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: 6308784Abstract: A flush fire protection sprinkler has a body with an outlet for delivering fire protection fluid under pressure. The body defines a seat about the outlet and a coaxial rim with an inner lip. A spring seal engages upon the seat. A thermal response assembly includes a plate with a conical rim having slots extending from the rim edge, a retainer having a hub and fingers terminating in fingertips defining engagement structure, the fingers engaging in the slots with the fingertips outside the rim, a thermal response element between the plate and hub, and a loading element mounted to the hub. Initial adjustment of the loading element draws the hub away from the plate, with the rim surface urging the fingertips outward, to engage with the lip. Further adjustment pressures the seal in sealing engagement upon the seat.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2000Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: Grinnell CorporationInventor: James W. Mears
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Patent number: 5533576Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler is coupled to a pressurized fire extinguishing fluid supply line and positioned generally above a predetermined area to be protected against damage by fire. The sprinkler has a body with an inlet and at least one outlet, a divider defining bias and outlet chambers within the body, and a pilot valve assembly, forming an integral part of the body, is in communication with the bias chamber. The divider has a first "off" position substantially preventing fluid from exiting the outlet chamber and a second "on" position allowing fluid flow from the outlet chamber to be distributed over the area being protected. The pilot valve assembly includes a thermally responsive sensing element, e.g. a bimetal snap disc, disposed in a relatively horizontal plane generally below a main portion of the body for exposure to heat from all regions of the predetermined area to be protected by the sprinkler device.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1994Date of Patent: July 9, 1996Assignee: Grinnell CorporationInventor: James W. Mears
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Patent number: 5236002Abstract: A domestic water supply shutoff valve for use with fire protection system water supply piping has a body defining a volume for flow of water through the valve, with a supply inlet for connection to a supply of water, a first outlet for connection to fire protection system water supply piping, and a second outlet for connection to domestic system supply piping. A first passageway is defined within the body for flow of water from the supply inlet toward the first outlet. A second passageway is defined within the body for flow of water from the supply inlet toward the second outlet. A poppet valve is disposed within the body and mounted for movement between a first position for permitting flow of water from the inlet toward the first outlet and a second position for permitting flow of water from the inlet toward the second outlet, the poppet valve being biased toward the second position.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1992Date of Patent: August 17, 1993Assignee: Grinnell CorporationInventors: James M. Martin, James W. Mears
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Patent number: 5188185Abstract: A dry sprinkler for mounting on a piping system in a fire protection installation including an outer tube structure having an inlet end with an inlet opening, an outlet end having an outlet opening, and a tube axis that passes through the inlet opening and along the tube structure, a connecting structure that is mounted for movement along the axis within the tube structure, a thermally responsive component supported by the tube structure at the outlet end and supporting the connecting structure under normal temperature conditions and releasing the connecting structure during abnormal temperature conditions to permit it to move, a seal member that is caused by the connecting structure to seal the inlet opening when the connecting structure is supported by the thermally responsive component, the seal member being constrained to move towards one side of the tube axis when the connecting structure is released in order to provide a relatively large unobstructed flow area to permit passage of foreign matter on theType: GrantFiled: June 19, 1991Date of Patent: February 23, 1993Assignee: Grinnell CorporationInventor: James W. Mears
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Patent number: 5152344Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler including a frame having an outlet opening for fire extinguishing fluid and spaced apart frame arms extending from the outlet opening to provide a support at a location spaced from the outlet opening, a sealing member covering the opening, a thermally responsive member connected between the sealing member and the support to seal off the opening during normal temperature conditions and to release the sealing member during abnornally high temperature conditions, an adapter member attached to the frame, one or more pins that are supported by the adapter member, and a deflector that is slidably mounted with respect to the adapter member via the pin or pins. Also disclosed is a clip that retains the deflector in the retracted position in a releasable fashion.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1991Date of Patent: October 6, 1992Assignee: Grinnell CorporationInventors: Michael A. Fischer, Donald B. Pounder, James W. Mears
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Patent number: 4618002Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler head of the automatic type including a latch for retaining a valve closure in standby position until a thermally responsive element releases the latch at a preset temperature to thereby release the closure to allow flow of fire-retarding fluid, the latch including a catch, typically in the form of a lip extending radially inwardly from the sprinkler body, a radially inwardly biased spring detent, and relatively separable, detent restraining elements.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1986Date of Patent: October 21, 1986Assignee: Grinnel CorporationInventor: James W. Mears