Patents by Inventor Neil Philip Smith

Neil Philip Smith 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).

  • Dry fire protection system
    Patent number: 8867906
    Abstract: A dry fire protection system for a water heater is provided. The water heater includes a body having an elongated hollow for holding water to be heated, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the hollow for flowing water therethrough. A heating element is coupled to the body for heating the water within the hollow. The dry fire protection system comprises a sensing element disposed in the hollow of the body for detecting the presence of water in the hollow. The sensing element is spaced from and operably connected to the heating element. The sensing element is configured to generate a voltage in response to a temperature of the sensing element. A controller is operably connected to the sensing element for monitoring the generated voltage across the sensing element. The controller is configured to prevent a supply of electrical power to the heating element as a function of the generated voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric K. Watson, Jonathan D. Nelson, Denis Alagic, David Hicks, Neil Philip Smith, Frederick Pizzella
  • DRY FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100116812
    Abstract: A dry fire protection system for a water heater is provided. The water heater includes a body having an elongated hollow for holding water to be heated, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the hollow for flowing water therethrough. A heating element is coupled to the body for heating the water within the hollow. The dry fire protection system comprises a sensing element disposed in the hollow of the body for detecting the presence of water in the hollow. The sensing element is spaced from and operably connected to the heating element. The sensing element is configured to generate a voltage in response to a temperature of the sensing element. A controller is operably connected to the sensing element for monitoring the generated voltage across the sensing element. The controller is configured to prevent a supply of electrical power to the heating element as a function of the generated voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Eric K. Watson, Jonathan D. Nelson, Denis Alagic, David Hicks, Neil Philip Smith, Frederick Pizzella