Patents by Inventor Martin Zentner
Martin Zentner 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: 8763422Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body defining a storage space therein and a door for opening and closing the storage space. The refrigerator comprises a water conduit for directing water supplied from an external water source to the main body of the refrigerator. An inlet valve distributes the water supplied from the water conduit into a hot water conduit and a separate cold water conduit. A cold water tank is mounted to one of the main body and the door for cooling the water supplied through the cold water conduit and then storing the cooled water therein. A hot water tube is mounted to one of the main body and the door for receiving the water supplied through the hot water conduit. The hot water tube includes a heater operably installed within the hot water tube and in direct contact with the water therein. The heater generates heat through the application of electric power thereto to heat the water within the hot water tube to a predetermined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2008Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanInventors: Martin Zentner, John J. Roetker, Mahesh Natarajan, Umakant Suresh Katu, Suresh Palanki
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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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Patent number: 8240159Abstract: An in-door fluid drainage system for a refrigerator is disclosed. The drain fluid transfer system is described as extending from the door of a refrigerator to the lower compartment for transfer of drain fluid from the door to a drain fluid removal system. Also described is a drain fluid transfer system which comprises one or both of a transfer tube at least partially enclosed in a hinge assembly, and a valve assembly positioned at the lower portion of the door.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ragavendra Prabhakar, Mahesh Natarajan, Pranav Mittal, Martin Zentner, Matthew William Davis
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Publication number: 20100326112Abstract: An in-door fluid drainage system for a refrigerator is disclosed. The drain fluid transfer system is described as extending from the door of a refrigerator to the lower compartment for transfer of drain fluid from the door to a drain fluid removal system. Also described is a drain fluid transfer system which comprises one or both of a transfer tube at least partially enclosed in a hinge assembly, and a valve assembly positioned at the lower portion of the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventors: Ragavendra PRABHAKAR, Mahesh Natarajan, Pranav Mittal, Martin Zentner, Matthew William Davis
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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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Publication number: 20090288445Abstract: A modular household refrigeration system and method includes a refrigerated source of a primary coolant. The refrigerated source includes a tank for holding the primary coolant and a vapor compression refrigeration cycle system having a secondary coolant in thermal contact with the primary coolant for cooling thereof. At least one refrigerator module is remotely positioned relative to the refrigerated source and the tank. The at least one refrigerator module is fluidly connected to the refrigerated source and the tank by an inlet coolant line for delivery of the primary coolant and an exit coolant line for return of the primary coolant. The primary coolant is delivered to the at least one refrigerator module for cooling thereof to a predetermined temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2008Publication date: November 26, 2009Inventors: Sanjay Anikhindi, Martin Zentner, Shree Kumar
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Publication number: 20090249821Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body defining a storage space therein and a door for opening and closing the storage space. The refrigerator comprises a water conduit for directing water supplied from an external water source to the main body of the refrigerator. An inlet valve distributes the water supplied from the water conduit into a hot water conduit and a separate cold water conduit. A cold water tank is mounted to one of the main body and the door for cooling the water supplied through the cold water conduit and then storing the cooled water therein. A hot water tube is mounted to one of the main body and the door for receiving the water supplied through the hot water conduit. The hot water tube includes a heater operably installed within the hot water tube and in direct contact with the water therein. The heater generates heat through the application of electric power thereto to heat the water within the hot water tube to a predetermined temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2008Publication date: October 8, 2009Inventors: Martin Zentner, John J. Roetker, Mahesh Natarajan, Umakant Suresh Katu, Suresh Palanki
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Publication number: 20080159907Abstract: An apparatus includes a cabinet defining a chamber, a drawer slidably positioned within the chamber and movable between an open position and a closed position, the drawer defining a compartment configured to receive a load, in the closed position the drawer coupled to the cabinet and restricting air flow exiting the cabinet. The apparatus includes an ozone generator configured to selectively generate ozone into the compartment, an ozone conversion device configured to selectively convert ozone to oxygen, and a sensor configured to detect a level of ozone within the compartment and generate a signal representative of the level of ozone. A controller is operatively coupled to the ozone generator, the ozone conversion device and the sensor, and is configured to activate one of the ozone generator and the ozone conversion device in response to a signal received from the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2006Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Anand G. Joshi, Martin Zentner, Eric Watson, Shrikant Basurtekar, Martin Nicholas Austin
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Publication number: 20080156711Abstract: A dry change water filter assembly is provided. The filter assembly includes a filter head including a water by-pass valve, and a filter body configured to removably attach to the filter head. The water by-pass valve is actuated by at least one of attaching the filter body to the filter head and removing the filter body from the filter head.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2006Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Craig R. Vitan, Samuel Vincent DuPlessis, Kyran Hoff, Martin Zentner, Rajesh Sangewar, Derek L. Watkins, Mark Banta, Ronald Scott Tarr, Ratnakar Sahasrabudhe, Jonathan Nelson
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Publication number: 20070119784Abstract: a water softening system includes a water softening resin tank, an anion resin tank in flow communication with the water softening resin tank, an in-line water heater in flow communication with the water softening resin tank and a heat exchanger in flow communication with the in-line heater. A water heater is in flow communication with the heat exchanger and the in-line heater. A plurality of flow control valves are operatively connected to the water heater heat exchanger, in-line water heater, anion resin tank, and water softening resin tank. The flow control valves are configured to control the flow of water through the water softening system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2005Publication date: May 31, 2007Inventors: Martin Zentner, Scott Tarr, Jessica Schroeder, James Cosgrove
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Patent number: 7000407Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment, a refrigerator door coupled to the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator door has an inner surface. The refrigerator further includes a bin for storing items therein mounted to the inner surface of the refrigerator door and at least one thermoelectric module operationally coupled to the bin, such that the bin is temperature controlled independent of the refrigerator compartment.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Debra Ann Miozza, Martin Zentner, Anand Ganesh Joshi, Sanjay Manohar Anikhindi, Venkataramana Rachakonda, Venkata Ramakrishna Ramayanam, John Kenneth Hooker, Omar Haidar
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Publication number: 20050000551Abstract: A system for dispensing a liquid, wherein the system includes a reservoir comprising a plurality of apertures disposed therein, and at least one dispenser in flow communication with the reservoir, the dispenser comprising a first and a second tube operatively coupled to the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2003Publication date: January 6, 2005Inventors: Carrie McIntyre, Carlos Sanchez, Martin Zentner, Jeffrey Slotnick, Rodney Barry, Joseph Tobbe, Christopher Harlow, Kittipat Vichyavichien, John Pettengill
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Publication number: 20040231339Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment, a refrigerator door coupled to the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator door has an inner surface. The refrigerator further includes a bin for storing items therein mounted to the inner surface of the refrigerator door and at least one thermoelectric module operationally coupled to the bin, such that the bin is temperature controlled independent of the refrigerator compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2003Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventors: Debra Ann Miozza, Martin Zentner, Anand Ganesh Joshi, Sanjay Manohar Anikhindi, Venkataramana Rachakonda, Venkata Ramakrishna Ramayanam, John Kenneth Hooker, Omar Haidar