Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Alan Kern
Jeffrey Alan Kern 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: 11585034Abstract: A washer appliance includes an impeller and impeller interface. An agitator post is removably positioned upon the impeller interface. A plurality of latches are supported by the agitator post and spaced apart circumferentially. Each latch may be configured for pivoting in and out of one of a plurality of latch recesses provided by the impeller interface when the agitator post is positioned on the impeller interface. Biasing members urge the latch into the latch recesses when the agitator post is positioned on the impeller interface.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Kern
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Patent number: 11519122Abstract: A washing appliance including a removable agitator post having a recess configured for complementary receipt of an impeller interface. A plurality of apertures can be spaced around a bottom end of the agitator post. A plurality of alignment pins may extend from the impeller interface and into the plurality of apertures. The alignment pins can be movable in and out of the apertures so that the agitator post can be secured to, or released from, the impeller interface.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Kern
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Publication number: 20220298703Abstract: A washer appliance includes an impeller and impeller interface. An agitator post is removably positioned upon the impeller interface. A plurality of latches are supported by the agitator post and spaced apart circumferentially. Each latch may be configured for pivoting in and out of one of a plurality of latch recesses provided by the impeller interface when the agitator post is positioned on the impeller interface. Biasing members urge the latch into the latch recesses when the agitator post is positioned on the impeller interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2021Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Kern
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Publication number: 20220298702Abstract: A washing appliance including a removable agitator post having a recess configured for complementary receipt of an impeller interface. A plurality of apertures can be spaced around a bottom end of the agitator post. A plurality of alignment pins may extend from the impeller interface and into the plurality of apertures. The alignment pins can be movable in and out of the apertures so that the agitator post can be secured to, or released from, the impeller interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2021Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Kern
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Patent number: 10557229Abstract: A dryer appliance and a method of operating the same to detect blockages are provided. The dryer appliance includes an exhaust conduit that defines a flow restriction and is in fluid communication with a drying chamber. A differential pressure sensor is operably coupled to the exhaust conduit at the flow restriction and a controller is configured for using a measured pressure differential to obtain an air flow rate and determine whether a blockage is present in the exhaust conduit, e.g., by comparing the measured flow rate to a baseline, zero-blockage flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Zhiquan Yu, Jeffrey Alan Kern
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Publication number: 20190292716Abstract: A dryer appliance and a method of operating the same to detect blockages are provided. The dryer appliance includes an exhaust conduit that defines a flow restriction and is in fluid communication with a drying chamber. A differential pressure sensor is operably coupled to the exhaust conduit at the flow restriction and a controller is configured for using a measured pressure differential to obtain an air flow rate and determine whether a blockage is present in the exhaust conduit, e.g., by comparing the measured flow rate to a baseline, zero-blockage flow rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Zhiquan Yu, Jeffrey Alan Kern
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Patent number: 9845978Abstract: A heat pump water heater and systems and methods for its control. The systems are configured to heat water within a water storage tank of a heat pump water heater wherein a controller within the system is operatively connected to a plurality of heat sources including at least one electric heating element and a heat pump and sensors in order to selectively energize one of the plurality of heat sources. The controller is configure to process data representative of the temperature of water within the tank near the top of the water storage tank, and rate of water flowing out of the water storage tank, in order to automatically selectively energize the heat sources. The selection of heat sources by the controller is determined by a mode of operation selected by the user and the data processed by the controller in view of the selected mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan D. Nelson, Craig Lung-Pei Tsai, Jeffrey Alan Kern, Eliel Fresco Rodriguez, Michael T. Beyerle, Derek Lee Watkins, Timothy Allen Hamel, Marlin Zenther
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Patent number: 8422870Abstract: A heat pump water heater and systems and methods for its control are disclosed. The systems are configured to heat water within a water storage tank of a heat pump water heater wherein a controller within the system is operatively connected to a plurality of heat sources including at least one electric heating element and a heat pump and sensors in order to selectively energize one of the plurality of heat sources. The controller is configure to process data representative of the temperature of water within the tank near the top of the water storage tank, and rate of water flowing out of the water storage tank, in order to automatically selectively energize the heat sources. The selection of heat sources by the controller is determined by a mode of operation selected by the user and the data processed by the controller in view of the selected mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2009Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jonathan D. Nelson, Craig Lung-Pei Tsai, Jeffrey Alan Kern, Eliel Fresco Rodriguez, Michael T. Beyerle, Derek Lee Watkins, Timothy Allen Hamel, Martin Zentner
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Publication number: 20120145095Abstract: A heat pump water heater and systems and methods for its control. The systems are configured to heat water within a water storage tank of a heat pump water heater wherein a controller within the system is operatively connected to a plurality of heat sources including at least one electric heating element and a heat pump and sensors in order to selectively energize one of the plurality of heat sources. The controller is configure to process data representative of the temperature of water within the tank near the top of the water storage tank, and rate of water flowing out of the water storage tank, in order to automatically selectively energize the heat sources. The selection of heat sources by the controller is determined by a mode of operation selected by the user and the data processed by the controller in view of the selected mode of operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventors: Jonathan D. Nelson, Craig Lung-Pei Tsai, Jeffrey Alan Kern, Eliel Fresco Rodriguez, Michael T. Beyerle, Derek Lee Watkins, Timothy Allen Hamel, Marlin Zenther
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Publication number: 20100206869Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a heat pump water heater (HPWH) are disclosed. The systems include an interface for accepting a user input and configured to indicate a mode of operation, and indicate at least one error condition when an error condition exists. The systems are operative to diagnose various failure conditions and as advise a user that maintenance may be needed and to adjust operation for varying environmental or other external conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2009Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jonathan D. Nelson, John Kenneth Hooker, Arti Arvindbhai Shah, Andrew L. Reder, Eric K. Watson, Irena Jozic McDowell, Almir Begovich, Jennifer Amy Floyd, Craig Lung-Pie Tsai, Jeffrey Alan Kern
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Publication number: 20100209084Abstract: A heat pump water heater and systems and methods for its control are disclosed. The systems are configured to heat water within a water storage tank of a heat pump water heater wherein a controller within the system is operatively connected to a plurality of heat sources including at least one electric heating element and a heat pump and sensors in order to selectively energize one of the plurality of heat sources. The controller is configure to process data representative of the temperature of water within the tank near the top of the water storage tank, and rate of water flowing out of the water storage tank, in order to automatically selectively energize the heat sources. The selection of heat sources by the controller is determined by a mode of operation selected by the user and the data processed by the controller in view of the selected mode of operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2009Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jonathan D. Nelson, Craig Lung-Pei Tsai, Jeffrey Alan Kern, Eliel Fresco Rodriguez, Micheal T. Beyerle, Derek Lee Watkins, Timothy Allen Hamel, Martin Zentner
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Patent number: 6717117Abstract: A cooktop comprising at least one cooktop heater and a controller coupled to the heater and operable to control operation of the heater, including cool down of the heater and drift detection, is described. In one embodiment, the cooktop further comprises a control interface coupled to the controller. The interface comprises a power setting selection unit for operator selection of a power level setting for the heater. The controller is configured to switch off supply of power to the heater if a second power level selection for the heater is a lower power level than a first power level selection, and to then resume standard heater operation once a temperature corresponding to the second power level selection is reached.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Cecilia Maria Blanchard, Scott A. Horning, Michael Paul McGonagle, Jeffrey Alan Kern
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Publication number: 20030080111Abstract: A cooktop comprising at least one cooktop heater and a controller coupled to the heater and operable to control operation of the heater, including cool down of the heater and drift detection, is described. In one embodiment, the cooktop further comprises a control interface coupled to the controller. The interface comprises a power setting selection unit for operator selection of a power level setting for the heater. The controller is configured to switch off supply of power to the heater if a second power level selection for the heater is a lower power level than a first power level selection, and to then resume standard heater operation once a temperature corresponding to the second power level selection is reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Cecilia Maria Blanchard, Scott A. Horning, Michael Paul McGonagle, Jeffrey Alan Kern