Patents by Inventor Tony Leeseberg

Tony Leeseberg 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: 11808452
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a gas valve for an intermittent pilot ignition system. The gas valve includes features designed to address the buildup of negative pressure in a fuel line connected to the gas valve that could cause internal valve diaphragms to open, drawing fuel from the gas valve. In embodiments, the gas valve includes a system of check valves designed to seal off the gas valve when a negative pressure develops. In other embodiments, the gas valve includes a relief valve having a relief port so that air is able to enter the valve proximate to the inlet port so as to avoid building a negative pressure sufficient to open the diaphragms. In both cases, the valve remains primed with fuel for subsequent ignition. The gas valve is envisioned to be useful for a variety of pilot operated systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: James E. Pearson, Stephen Sapp, Tony Leeseberg, Brandon Cole, Moises Contreras Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11421789
    Abstract: Embodiments of a valve having a housing including an inlet, an outlet, and an interior chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet are disclosed. The valve also includes a seat fitting having a first screen held in place by a first retainer ring. The seat fitting includes a valve seat. The valve further includes an outlet fitting having a second screen held in place by a second retainer ring. The second retainer ring includes a plurality of ribs extending from a ring body such that the plurality of ribs create a gap between the ring body and the second screen. Further, the valve includes a valve plug configured to selectively engage the valve seat to open and close a passage between the interior chamber and the outlet. The seat fitting is contained at least partially within the outlet fitting to define the outlet of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Ian Rodgers, Tony Leeseberg, James E. Pearson
  • Patent number: 11047501
    Abstract: Embodiments of a normally open gas valve are disclosed herein. The normally open gas valve includes a valve plug that gradually or partially disengages from the valve seat such that the actuation power required to open the valve is substantially reduced. The force required to open or close the valve is also reduced through the use of an off-center lever arm that multiplies the force applied by the armature of the actuation means. In this way, a less expensive actuation means, e.g., a less expensive solenoid, is able to be used to actuate the normally open gas valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Tony Leeseberg, Stephen Sapp, Curtis Phillips, James E. Pearson
  • Publication number: 20210172533
    Abstract: Embodiments of a valve having a housing including an inlet, an outlet, and an interior chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet are disclosed. The valve also includes a seat fitting having a first screen held in place by a first retainer ring. The seat fitting includes a valve seat. The valve further includes an outlet fitting having a second screen held in place by a second retainer ring. The second retainer ring includes a plurality of ribs extending from a ring body such that the plurality of ribs create a gap between the ring body and the second screen. Further, the valve includes a valve plug configured to selectively engage the valve seat to open and close a passage between the interior chamber and the outlet. The seat fitting is contained at least partially within the outlet fitting to define the outlet of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Ian Rodgers, Tony Leeseberg, James E. Pearson
  • Publication number: 20210018172
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a gas valve for an intermittent pilot ignition system. The gas valve includes features designed to address the buildup of negative pressure in a fuel line connected to the gas valve that could cause internal valve diaphragms to open, drawing fuel from the gas valve. In embodiments, the gas valve includes a system of check valves designed to seal off the gas valve when a negative pressure develops. In other embodiments, the gas valve includes a relief valve having a relief port so that air is able to enter the valve proximate to the inlet port so as to avoid building a negative pressure sufficient to open the diaphragms. In both cases, the valve remains primed with fuel for subsequent ignition. The gas valve is envisioned to be useful for a variety of pilot operated systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: James E. Pearson, Stephen Sapp, Tony Leeseberg, Brandon Cole, Moises Contreras
  • Publication number: 20200096200
    Abstract: A stepper motor driven modulating gas valve and system are provided. Such a system includes an electronic controller, a touch user interface, and a stepper motor. The system also includes a variable flow gas valve having a rotatable valving member for controlling a variable flow of gas therethrough, the valving member having an input shaft, and a gear train operatively coupling the output shaft of the stepper motor to the input shaft of the valving member of the variable flow gas valve. A burner is coupled to the variable flow gas valve. The electronic controller receives a user input for flame selection via the touch user interface and energizes the stepper motor to position the variable flow gas valve valving member to a predetermined angular position through the gear train to provide a flow of gas to the burner that will provide the user's desire flame intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Tony Leeseberg, James E. Pearson, Curtis Phillips
  • Publication number: 20190017622
    Abstract: Embodiments of a normally open gas valve are disclosed herein. The normally open gas valve includes a valve plug that gradually or partially disengages from the valve seat such that the actuation power required to open the valve is substantially reduced. The force required to open or close the valve is also reduced through the use of an off-center lever arm that multiplies the force applied by the armature of the actuation means. In this way, a less expensive actuation means, e.g., a less expensive solenoid, is able to be used to actuate the normally open gas valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Tony Leeseberg