Patents by Inventor Michael B. Reckner

Michael B. Reckner 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).

  • Patent number: 10973360
    Abstract: A steam generator for generating steam by boiling water, or other hot water heating device, in either case such as for use in a steam cooker or warewasher, includes a tank structure providing a heating chamber for holding water, and at least one heating element associated with the tank structure for heating water. The tank structure includes a main body wall having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile formed by opposed first and second side wall portions of the heating chamber and a curved bottom wall portion of the heating chamber, wherein the curved bottom wall portion is monolithic with the first and second side wall portions, wherein the main body wall is sheet metal material that has been curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Frock, Michael B. Reckner, Timothy L. Cupp
  • Patent number: 10959560
    Abstract: A steam cooking system includes a first steam cooking cavity, a second steam cooking cavity and a steam generator. The steam generator includes a steam outlet for selectively feeding steam to one or both of the first steam cooking cavity and the second steam cooking cavity, the outlet selectively connectable to feed steam to the first steam cooking cavity and/or the second steam cooking cavity via a valved fluid path. The valved fluid path includes a main supply valve, a first valve and a second valve configured and controllable to assure that the steam generator outlet is always connect to atmosphere by one or more paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Michael B. Reckner
  • Publication number: 20190282020
    Abstract: A steam generator for generating steam by boiling water, or other hot water heating device, in either case such as for use in a steam cooker or warewasher, includes a tank structure providing a heating chamber for holding water, and at least one heating element associated with the tank structure for heating water. The tank structure includes a main body wall having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile formed by opposed first and second side wall portions of the heating chamber and a curved bottom wall portion of the heating chamber, wherein the curved bottom wall portion is monolithic with the first and second side wall portions, wherein the main body wall is sheet metal material that has been curved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. FROCK, Michael B. RECKNER, Timothy L. CUPP
  • Patent number: 10357126
    Abstract: A steam generator for generating steam by boiling water, or other hot water heating device, in either case such as for use in a steam cooker or warewasher, includes a tank structure providing a heating chamber for holding water, and at least one heating element associated with the tank structure for heating water. The tank structure includes a main body wall having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile formed by opposed first and second side wall portions of the heating chamber and a curved bottom wall portion of the heating chamber, wherein the curved bottom wall portion is monolithic with the first and second side wall portions, wherein the main body wall is sheet metal material that has been curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Frock, Michael B. Reckner, Timothy L. Cupp
  • Publication number: 20180055269
    Abstract: A steam cooking system includes a first steam cooking cavity, a second steam cooking cavity and a steam generator. The steam generator includes a steam outlet for selectively feeding steam to one or both of the first steam cooking cavity and the second steam cooking cavity, the outlet selectively connectable to feed steam to the first steam cooking cavity and/or the second steam cooking cavity via a valved fluid path. The valved fluid path includes a main supply valve, a first valve and a second valve configured and controllable to assure that the steam generator outlet is always connect to atmosphere by one or more paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventor: Michael B. Reckner
  • Publication number: 20170208985
    Abstract: A steam generator for generating steam by boiling water, or other hot water heating device, in either case such as for use in a steam cooker or warewasher, includes a tank structure providing a heating chamber for holding water, and at least one heating element associated with the tank structure for heating water. The tank structure includes a main body wall having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile formed by opposed first and second side wall portions of the heating chamber and a curved bottom wall portion of the heating chamber, wherein the curved bottom wall portion is monolithic with the first and second side wall portions, wherein the main body wall is sheet metal material that has been curved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Frock, Michael B. Reckner, Timothy L. Cupp
  • Publication number: 20160282068
    Abstract: A steam generator for generating steam by boiling water, or other hot water heating device, in either case such as for use in a steam cooker or warewasher, includes a tank structure providing a heating chamber for holding water and including a water inlet, a steam outlet and a water drain outlet. A heating element is located for heating water within the heating chamber so as to generate steam. At least one transducer is located on or within the tank structure to cause water within the heating chamber to vibrate so as to reduce scale build-up on one or more surfaces within the heating chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Michael B. Reckner, Timothy L. Cupp
  • Publication number: 20150230649
    Abstract: A cooking assembly includes a frame and a cooking receptacle with an opening for placement of product into a cooking space of the receptacle. The cooking receptacle is pivotally mounted to the frame for rotation about a pivot axis between an upright position and a tilted position. A damper arrangement is operatively connected to dampen rotary motion of the cooking receptacle. The damper arrangement may include one or more linear dampers of the hydraulic or pneumatic type. The cooking receptacle may be a cooking kettle, such as a jacketed kettle, or other device, such as a brazing pan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Frock, Michael B. Reckner, Timothy L. Cupp, Larry W. Lyons
  • Patent number: 8601939
    Abstract: A steam cooking system includes a steam cooking chamber having an access door and a drain for draining condensate from the steam cooking chamber along a drain path. A steam generator unit heats water to generate steam. The steam generator unit is connected for delivery of steam from the steam generator to the steam cooking chamber via a first steam path during a cooking operation. The steam generator unit is also connected for delivery of steam from the steam generator to the drain path via a second steam path during a steam flushing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Atul Saksena, Larry W. Lyons, Michael B. Reckner
  • Publication number: 20090071346
    Abstract: A steam cooking system includes a steam cooking chamber having an access door and a drain for draining condensate from the steam cooking chamber along a drain path. A steam generator unit heats water to generate steam. The steam generator unit is connected for delivery of steam from the steam generator to the steam cooking chamber via a first steam path during a cooking operation. The steam generator unit is also connected for delivery of steam from the steam generator to the drain path via a second steam path during a steam flushing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Atul Saksena, Larry W. Lyons, Michael B. Reckner