Patents by Inventor Michael C. Mitchell
Michael C. Mitchell 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: 11262084Abstract: A water heater system includes a water heater having a first water outlet and a second water outlet. The water heater system further includes a flow detection device coupled to the first water outlet to detect a water flow through the first water outlet. The water heater system also includes a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the second water outlet. The flow control valve is configured to control a flow of water through the second water outlet based on whether the water flow through the first water outlet is detected by the flow detection device.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20210317988Abstract: A burner appliance is disclosed. The burner appliance includes a byproduct sensor in an exhaust flue and/or a barometric pressure sensor to detect an environmental pressure at the burner appliance. By calculating concentrations of combustion byproducts in the exhaust with the byproduct sensor, a controller can adjust blower speed and/or fuel rate to modify combustion efficiency. By calculating the environmental pressure at the burner with the barometric pressure sensor, the controller can adjust blower speed and/or fuel rate to modify combustion efficiency. The barometric-pressure data can also be used to adjust blower speed control bands, thereby calibrating the control bands based on environmental pressure. The environmental pressure can be indicative of altitude and/or weather conditions. Methods of operating said burner appliance are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2020Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Michael C. Mitchell, David I. Vega
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Publication number: 20210130519Abstract: A film: (a) 50 to 85 wt % polymer comprising: (i) 30 to 70 wt % hard polymer with Tg from 40 to 70° C. and 40 to 80 wt % (C1-C10)alkyl (meth)acrylate; 10 to 40 wt % C3-C8 carboxylic acid; and 0 to 25 wt % hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate; and (ii) 30 to 70 wt % soft polymer with Tg from ?20 to 20 ° C. and 50 to 90 wt % (C1-C10)alkyl (meth)acrylate; 5 to 30 wt % C3-C8 carboxylic acid; and 0 to 25 wt % hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate; hard Tg minus soft Tg is at least 30° C.; (iii) 0 to 10 wt %, of (C12-C24)alkyl (meth)acrylate polymer containing crystallizable portion with Tm from 0° C. to 37° C.; (b) 10 to 40 wt % of polyethylene oxide having Mw from 250,000 to 4,000,000; and (c) 0 to 10 wt % of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) having Mw from 25,000 to 2,000,000.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2018Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Afua Sarpong Karikari, Michael C. Mitchell, Marianne Creamer, Nilesh Shah
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Patent number: 10982175Abstract: A free standing film is provided including: a partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate; a poly(ethylene oxide); a polyalkylene glycol; a plasticizer; optionally, a poly(isobutylene-co-maleic anhydride) copolymer; and optionally an additive. Unit dose packages including the free standing film are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignees: Dow Global Technologies LLC, Rohm and Haas CompanyInventors: Afua Sarpong Karikari, Xin Jin, Joseph Kao, An Kaga, Gyongyi Gulyas, Michael C. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20210102033Abstract: A free standing dispersant film is provided, including: a partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate; a poly(ethylene oxide); a polyalkylene glycol; a plasticizer; a dispersant polymer; optionally, a poly(isobutylene-co-maleic anhydride) copolymer, wherein the poly(isobutylene-co-maleic anhydride) copolymer is at least partially neutralized; and optionally, an optional additive.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2018Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: Randara Pulukkody, Scott Backer, Afua Sarpong Karikari, Michael C. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20210033287Abstract: A water heater system includes a water heater having a first water outlet and a second water outlet. The water heater system further includes a flow detection device coupled to the first water outlet to detect a water flow through the first water outlet. The water heater system also includes a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the second water outlet. The flow control valve is configured to control a flow of water through the second water outlet based on whether the water flow through the first water outlet is detected by the flow detection device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2019Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20200224927Abstract: A water heating system can include a first tank-based water heater having a first inlet line and a first outlet line, where the first inlet line provides unheated water to the first tank, and where the first outlet line draws heated water from the first tank. The system can also include a first tankless water heater having a second outlet line, where the second outlet line of the first tankless water heater provides the heated water to a first heated water demand. The system can also include a first valve that controls an amount of the unheated water flowing through the first inlet line to the first tank-based water heater. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the first valve, where the controller controls a position of the first valve based on the first heated water demand and a first capacity of the first tankless water heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, David I. Vega, Michael C. Mitchell
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Patent number: 10677494Abstract: A water heater with a leak detection system includes a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in an insulation cavity between an inner storage tank and an outer protective jacket of the water heater. The leak sensor assembly is configured to detect water that leaks from the storage tank. Further, the water heater includes a barrier that is disposed in the insulation cavity and wrapped around the inner storage tank to channel the water that leaks from the storage tank towards the leak sensor assembly, and prevent the water that leaks from the storage tank from flowing through an insulation material that is disposed in the insulation cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Joseph D. Gardner, Michael C. Mitchell, Timothy D. Scott, William Jason Hall
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Publication number: 20200166245Abstract: A water heater monitoring and notification method includes determining, by a controller of a water heater system, a deviation of a duration of a pre-purge operation from a pre-purge duration average value. The method further includes determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a flame current from a flame current average value and determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) parameter from a PWM parameter average value. The method also includes providing a notification related to a combustion system of the water heater system based on at least the deviation of the duration of the pre-purge operation from the pre-purge duration average value, the deviation of the flame current from the flame current average value, and the deviation of the PWM parameter from the PWM parameter average value.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2020Publication date: May 28, 2020Inventors: Raheel Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
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Patent number: 10605486Abstract: A water heating system can include a first tank-based water heater having a first inlet line and a first outlet line, where the first inlet line provides unheated water to the first tank, and where the first outlet line draws heated water from the first tank. The system can also include a first tankless water heater having a second outlet line, where the second outlet line of the first tankless water heater provides the heated water to a first heated water demand. The system can also include a first valve that controls an amount of the unheated water flowing through the first inlet line to the first tank-based water heater. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the first valve, where the controller controls a position of the first valve based on the first heated water demand and a first capacity of the first tankless water heater.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, David I. Vega, Michael C. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20200062913Abstract: A sealing composition for use in unit dose packages is provided, including: 70 to 98 wt % water; 1 to 30 wt % of a hydrogen bonding component; and 1 to 30 wt % of a complex forming component.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Gyongyi Gulyas, An Kaga, Thomas Fitzgibbons, Afua Sarpong Karikari, Michael C. Mitchell, Xin Jin, Joseph Kao
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Patent number: 10571153Abstract: A water heater monitoring and notification method includes determining, by a controller of a water heater system, a deviation of a duration of a pre-purge operation from a pre-purge duration average value. The method further includes determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a flame current from a flame current average value and determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) parameter from a PWM parameter average value. The method also includes providing a notification related to a combustion system of the water heater system based on at least the deviation of the duration of the pre-purge operation from the pre-purge duration average value, the deviation of the flame current from the flame current average value, and the deviation of the PWM parameter from the PWM parameter average value.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20200010783Abstract: A free standing film is provide, including: a partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate; a poly(ethylene oxide); a polyalkylene glycol; a plasticizer; optionally, a poly(isobutylene-co-maleic anhydride) copolymer; and optionally an optional additive. Unit dose packages including the free standing film are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Afua Sarpong Karikari, Xin Jin, Joseph Kao, An Kaga, Gyongyi Gulyas, Michael C. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20190195534Abstract: A water heater monitoring and notification method includes determining, by a controller of a water heater system, a deviation of a duration of a pre-purge operation from a pre-purge duration average value. The method further includes determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a flame current from a flame current average value and determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) parameter from a PWM parameter average value. The method also includes providing a notification related to a combustion system of the water heater system based on at least the deviation of the duration of the pre-purge operation from the pre-purge duration average value, the deviation of the flame current from the flame current average value, and the deviation of the PWM parameter from the PWM parameter average value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2017Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20190195533Abstract: A water heater with a leak detection system includes a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in an insulation cavity between an inner storage tank and an outer protective jacket of the water heater. The leak sensor assembly is configured to detect water that leaks from the storage tank. Further, the water heater includes a barrier that is disposed in the insulation cavity and wrapped around the inner storage tank to channel the water that leaks from the storage tank towards the leak sensor assembly, and prevent the water that leaks from the storage tank from flowing through an insulation material that is disposed in the insulation cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2017Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Joseph D. Gardner, Michael C. Mitchell, Timothy D. Scott, William Jason Hall
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Publication number: 20190170398Abstract: A water heating system can include a first tank-based water heater having a first inlet line and a first outlet line, where the first inlet line provides unheated water to the first tank, and where the first outlet line draws heated water from the first tank. The system can also include a first tankless water heater having a second outlet line, where the second outlet line of the first tankless water heater provides the heated water to a first heated water demand. The system can also include a first valve that controls an amount of the unheated water flowing through the first inlet line to the first tank-based water heater. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the first valve, where the controller controls a position of the first valve based on the first heated water demand and a first capacity of the first tankless water heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2017Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, David I. Vega, Michael C. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20190024943Abstract: An integrated valve and flow sensor for a water heater can have a valve body that includes a valve and a flow sensor for measuring the flow of water through the valve. The integrated valve and flow sensor can be disposed within a fitting that can be attached to a water heater. An actuator for opening and closing the valve can be attached to the fitting. A diffuser can also be attached to the fitting.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Timothy D. Scott, Michael C. Mitchell, Raheel A. Chaudhry, William T. McLemore, Hector J. Donastorg