Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Grueser

Thomas A. Grueser 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: 8679261
    Abstract: A box-type warewasher includes a housing defining an internal treatment space for receiving wares to be washed and a liquid sump below the treatment space. A wash liquid delivery system includes a wash pump having an input connected to the liquid sump and an output connected to deliver liquid to one or more spray nozzles of the treatment space. A rinse liquid delivery system includes a rinse pump for delivering rinse water to one or more spray nozzles of the treatment space. A condensing system includes a heat exchanger external of the treatment space, and a blower for moving hot moist air from the treatment space across the heat exchanger and back to the treatment space. A controller effects operation of each of the wash liquid delivery system, the rinse liquid deliver system and the condensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian A. Brunswick, Michael S. D'Fantis, David Lawrence Fischer, Joshua A. Fortman, Thomas A. Grueser, Todd M. Kerlin, Catherine A. Mencsik Lucas, James D. Rice, Jr., Craig S. Rohren, Benjamin J. Shappie, Benjamin A. Stroup, John D. Thompson, Charles E. Warner
  • Publication number: 20140053873
    Abstract: A method of detecting a clogged or partially clogged wash arm in a warewash machine involves the steps of: monitoring a rotational speed of the wash arm during a washing step of aware cleaning cycle or operation; and comparing the monitored rotation speed to a set threshold speed and, if the monitored rotational speed falls below the set threshold speed, triggering an operator alert to advise the machine operator to check the wash arm. An advantageous sensor arrangement associated with a wash arm manifold is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Michael T. Watson, Thomas A. Grueser
  • Patent number: 8252121
    Abstract: A warewasher for washing wares includes a chamber for receiving wares. The chamber has an associated liquid delivery system for spraying liquid onto wares within the chamber. A tank collects the sprayed liquid. A liquid recirculation system moves liquid from the tank back to the liquid delivery system. A drain system is located within the tank. The drain system includes a well, a liquid recirculation system inlet within the well and a drain opening within the well. A drain control assembly includes a drain stopper member and a strainer connected with the drain stopper member. When the drain stopper member is positioned to block flow through the drain opening, the strainer is positioned to block passage of tableware into the well. The strainer is mounted for sliding movement along a length of the drain stopper member enabling, when the drain stopper member is raised slightly to permit flow out of the drain opening, the strainer to remain in position to block passage of tableware into the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian A. Brunswick, David Fischer, Thomas A. Grueser, Steven H. Kramer, Michael T. Watson
  • Publication number: 20100294323
    Abstract: A box-type warewasher includes a housing defining an internal treatment space for receiving wares to be washed and a liquid sump below the treatment space. A wash liquid delivery system includes a wash pump having an input connected to the liquid sump and an output connected to deliver liquid to one or more spray nozzles of the treatment space. A rinse liquid delivery system includes a rinse pump for delivering rinse water to one or more spray nozzles of the treatment space. A condensing system includes a heat exchanger external of the treatment space, and a blower for moving hot moist air from the treatment space across the heat exchanger and back to the treatment space. A controller effects operation of each of the wash liquid delivery system, the rinse liquid deliver system and the condensing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Brian A. Brunswick, Michael S. D'Fantis, David L. Fischer, Joshua A. Fortman, Thomas A. Grueser, Todd M. Kerlin, Catherine A. Mencsik Lucas, James D. Rice, JR., Craig S. Rohren, Benjamin J. Shappie, Benjamin A. Stroup, John D. Thompson, Charles E. Warner
  • Publication number: 20100059086
    Abstract: A warewasher for washing wares includes a chamber for receiving wares. The chamber has an associated liquid delivery system for spraying liquid onto wares within the chamber. A tank collects the sprayed liquid. A liquid recirculation system moves liquid from the tank back to the liquid delivery system. A drain system is located within the tank. The drain system includes a well, a liquid recirculation system inlet within the well and a drain opening within the well. A drain control assembly includes a drain stopper member and a strainer connected with the drain stopper member. When the drain stopper member is positioned to block flow through the drain opening, the strainer is positioned to block passage of tableware into the well. The strainer is mounted for sliding movement along a length of the drain stopper member enabling, when the drain stopper member is raised slightly to permit flow out of the drain opening, the strainer to remain in position to block passage of tableware into the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian A. Brunswick, David Fischer, Thomas A. Grueser, Steven H. Kramer, Michael T. Watson
  • Publication number: 20080210263
    Abstract: A warewashing apparatus includes a chamber for holding items to be cleaned, a wash system including a plurality of wash nozzles for spraying wash liquid and a rinse system including a plurality of rinse nozzles for spraying rinse liquid. A controller is programmed to carry out a cleaning cycle during which: wash liquid is sprayed onto items in the chamber during a wash step; subsequent to the wash step, hot rinse liquid is sprayed onto the items during a primary rinse step; and subsequent to the primary rinse step, cool rinse liquid is sprayed onto the items during a secondary rinse step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian A. Brunswick, Thomas A. Grueser
  • Publication number: 20050145269
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a multi-position splash guard enabling multiple machine configurations in which undesired overspray is reduced or eliminated. A drip flange may also be provided to increase the amount of water that impinges upon wares.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Steven Kramer, Thomas Grueser
  • Patent number: 6170440
    Abstract: The invention is a gas fired water booster comprising a holding tank, a centrifugal pump, an infrared burner enclosed by a woven ceramic fiber sleeve, a primary and a secondary heat exchanger, and a gas/air supply source. Preferably, the tank and the burner are generally annular in shape and the burner is disposed substantially within the tank. An air/gas mixture is supplied to the burner by a blower and is ignited creating a combustion surface approximately one eighth of an inch above the surface of the woven ceramic fiber sleeve. Water is continuously circulated through the heat exchange system and the burner remains on until a temperature sensor indicates that the water has attained a temperature in the desired sanitizing range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Carla A. Monnier, Thomas A. Grueser, Gary V. Hoying, Lars T. Noren, Doug W. Noren
  • Patent number: 5443655
    Abstract: A method for rinsing ware in a warewashing machine comprising the steps of: adding fresh rinse water to a wash chamber of the warewashing machine to rinse said ware in a rinse cycle; detecting the water level in the wash chamber; upon detecting a level below a predetermined volume, continuing to add rinse water to said chamber; and upon detecting a level of water equal to said predetermined volume, discontinuing the step of adding rinse water to said chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Premark FEG Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin L. Stover, Richard W. Cartwright, Thomas A. Grueser, Walter J. Boryca