Patents by Inventor Jim C. Smelcer
Jim C. Smelcer 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: 10208953Abstract: A modulating burner apparatus includes a variable speed blower feeding a multi-chamber burner having first and second burner chambers. A manifold system communicates the blower with the burner, and a flow control valve member is located between the blower and the second chamber of the burner. The flow control valve is configured to provide fuel and air mixture from the blower to only the first burner chamber at lower blower speeds of the blower and to both the first and second burner chambers at higher blower speeds of the blower.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: A. O. Smith CorporationInventor: Jim C. Smelcer
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Publication number: 20180172316Abstract: A water heater including a tank configured to hold a fluid, a burner configured to manipulate a temperature of the fluid within the tank, one or more sensors configured to sense one or more characteristics of the burner, a fuel injector position upstream of the burner, and a controller. The controller includes an electronic processor and a memory. The controller is configured to receive one or more signal from the one or more sensors corresponding to the one or more characteristics, and control the fuel injector based on the one or more signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Jim C. Smelcer, Benjamin J. Bolton, Billy A. Batey
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Publication number: 20170038067Abstract: A modulating burner apparatus includes a variable speed blower feeding a multi-chamber burner having first and second burner chambers. A manifold system communicates the blower with the burner, and a flow control valve member is located between the blower and the second chamber of the burner. The flow control valve is configured to provide fuel and air mixture from the blower to only the first burner chamber at lower blower speeds of the blower and to both the first and second burner chambers at higher blower speeds of the blower.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventor: Jim C. Smelcer
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Patent number: 9464805Abstract: A modulating burner apparatus includes a variable speed blower feeding a multi-chamber burner having first and second burner chambers. A manifold system communicates the blower with the burner, and a flow control valve member is located between the blower and the second chamber of the burner. The flow control valve is configured to provide fuel and air mixture from the blower to only the first burner chamber at lower blower speeds of the blower and to both the first and second burner chambers at higher blower speeds of the blower.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Lochinvar, LLCInventor: Jim C. Smelcer
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Patent number: 9097436Abstract: A dual chamber burner assembly provides a header, a first burner chamber adjacent the header, and a second burner chamber on an opposite side of the first burner chamber from the header. The second burner chamber is provided with a flame sensor portion extending back through the first burner chamber toward the header so that first and second flame sensors may be utilized to detect flame in the first and second chambers, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2010Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Lochinvar, LLCInventors: Jim C. Smelcer, Brian J. Iske, Neil W. Rolph, Mohamed M. Doura
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Patent number: 8844472Abstract: A fire tube heater apparatus includes a shell, with a tube bundle received in the shell and a burner section communicated with the tube bundle. The tubes in the tube bundle have circular inlet and outlet end portions with a flattened, serpentine intermediate portion. The intermediate portion has a width greater than the inlet outside diameter and a tube thickness transverse to the width less than the inlet outside diameter.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Lochinvar, LLCInventors: Jim C. Smelcer, Brian J. Iske, Neil W. Rolph
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Patent number: 8807092Abstract: A water heating apparatus includes a burner having first and second zones. First and second blowers provide premixed fuel and air to the first and second zones, respectively. An automated control system controls the two blowers.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Lochinvar, LLCInventor: Jim C. Smelcer
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Patent number: 8517720Abstract: A dual chamber burner assembly is provided for use with a heater apparatus having dual combustion air premix blowers. The burner assembly includes first and second interior zones communicated with first and second foraminous outer wall portions. First and second fuel and air inlet passages are communicated with the first and second interior zones, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2010Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Lochinvar, LLCInventors: Jim C. Smelcer, Brian J. Iske
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Publication number: 20130014708Abstract: A water heating apparatus includes a burner having first and second zones. First and second blowers provide premixed fuel and air to the first and second zones, respectively. An automated control system controls the two blowers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: LOCHINVAR, LLCInventor: Jim C. Smelcer
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Patent number: 8286594Abstract: A water heating apparatus uses a low range blower assembly and a high range blower assembly, each providing a variable flow of premixed fuel and air to a burner assembly. Appropriate choice of the operating ranges of the blower assemblies can provide a high turndown ratio approximately equal to the product of the turndown ratios of each of the individual blower assemblies. Turndown ratios as high as 25:1 are achievable.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2008Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Lochinvar, LLCInventor: Jim C. Smelcer
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Publication number: 20110146594Abstract: A fire tube heater apparatus includes a shell, with a tube bundle received in the shell and a burner section communicated with the tube bundle. The tubes in the tube bundle have circular inlet and outlet end portions with a flattened, serpentine intermediate portion. The intermediate portion has a width greater than the inlet outside diameter and a tube thickness transverse to the width less than the inlet outside diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: LOCHINVAR CORPORATIONInventor: Jim C. Smelcer
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Publication number: 20100116225Abstract: A dual chamber burner assembly is provided for use with a heater apparatus having dual combustion air premix blowers. The burner assembly includes first and second interior zones communicated with first and second foraminous outer wall portions. First and second fuel and air inlet passages are communicated with the first and second interior zones, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2010Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: LOCHINVAR CORPORATIONInventor: Jim C. Smelcer
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Publication number: 20100095905Abstract: A water heating apparatus uses a low range blower assembly and a high range blower assembly, each providing a variable flow of premixed fuel and air to a burner assembly. Appropriate choice of the operating ranges of the blower assemblies can provide a high turndown ratio approximately equal to the product of the turndown ratios of each of the individual blower assemblies. Turndown ratios as high as 25:1 are achievable.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: LOCHINVAR CORPORATIONInventor: Jim C. Smelcer
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Patent number: 5282456Abstract: A high efficiency fuel-fired induced draft condensing furnace is provided with a horizontal vent termination assembly installed in an exterior wall of a building served by the furnace. The vent termination assembly, constructed entirely from PVC plastic pipe and fittings, includes a combustion gas vent pipe connected to the furnace's draft inducer fan outlet, horizontally extending through an opening in the wall, and having an open discharge end positioned outwardly beyond the wall. A larger diameter combustion air inlet pipe circumscribes the vent pipe within the wall opening and forms around the vent pipe an annular combustion air flow passage that is communicated with the furnace combustion air inlet. A coupling member connected to the outer end of the inlet pipe has a diametrically enlarged end portion positioned on the outside surface of the wall, axially inwardly of the outer vent pipe, and forming an annular inlet to the flow passage between the two pipes.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1992Date of Patent: February 1, 1994Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Jim C. Smelcer, Jack H. Weaver