Patents by Inventor Zhongsheng Niu

Zhongsheng Niu 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: 10753644
    Abstract: A water heater system includes a primary heat exchanger including a tank and at least one flue, and a secondary heat exchanger including a core and a flue gas flow path. The water heater is operable in a heating mode in which a combustor produces hot flue gas and a water pump flows water through the core of the secondary heat exchanger and into the tank, and in a non-heating mode in which the combustor and the water pump are inoperative. The flue gas flows from the combustor through the at least one flue to heat the water in the tank and then through the flue gas flow path to heat water in the core before being exhausted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Zhongsheng Niu, Michael William Schultz, Meng Yang
  • Patent number: 10544962
    Abstract: A storage-type water heater including a tank for supporting water to be heated, a first heating element, a first relay connected to the first heating element, a second heating element, a second relay connected to the second heating element, and a controller for selectively operating the first relay and the second relay. The controller includes instructions for selecting a mode from at least, a no-sequencing mode, wherein the first relay and the second relay are operated concurrently, and a sequencing mode, wherein the first relay and the second relay are operated sequentially. The controller also operates the first relay to supply power to the first heating element, and operates the second relay to supply power to the second heating element, based on the selected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: AOS HOLDING COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Robert Caves, Andrew William Phillips, Brian Thomas Branecky, William Louis Mehlhorn, Thomas G. Van Sistine, Robert Eugene Olson, Zhongsheng Niu
  • Publication number: 20190041092
    Abstract: A water heater system includes a primary heat exchanger including a tank and at least one flue, and a secondary heat exchanger including a core and a flue gas flow path. The water heater is operable in a heating mode in which a combustor produces hot flue gas and a water pump flows water through the core of the secondary heat exchanger and into the tank, and in a non-heating mode in which the combustor and the water pump are inoperative. The flue gas flows from the combustor through the at least one flue to heat the water in the tank and then through the flue gas flow path to heat water in the core before being exhausted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Zhongsheng Niu, Michael William Schultz, Meng Yang
  • Publication number: 20160348944
    Abstract: A storage-type water heater including a tank for supporting water to be heated, a first heating element, a first relay connected to the first heating element, a second heating element, a second relay connected to the second heating element, and a controller for selectively operating the first relay and the second relay. The controller includes instructions for selecting a mode from at least, a no-sequencing mode, wherein the first relay and the second relay are operated concurrently, and a sequencing mode, wherein the first relay and the second relay are operated sequentially. The controller also operates the first relay to supply power to the first heating element, and operates the second relay to supply power to the second heating element, based on the selected mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew Robert Caves, Andrew William Phillips, Brian Thomas Branecky, William Louis Mehlhorn, Thomas G. Van Sistine, Robert Eugene Olson, Zhongsheng Niu
  • Patent number: 9435565
    Abstract: A storage-type water heater includes a tank for supporting water to be heated, a first heating bank including a first heating surface disposed within the tank, a first contactor connected to the first heating bank, a second heating bank including a second heating surface disposed within the tank, a second contactor connected to the second heating bank, and a controller for selectively operating the first contactor and the second contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: AOS HOLDING COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Robert Caves, Andrew William Phillips, Brian Thomas Branecky, William Louis Mehlhorn, Thomas G. Van Sistine, Robert Eugene Olson, Zhongsheng Niu
  • Publication number: 20100155386
    Abstract: A storage-type water heater includes a tank for supporting water to be heated, a first heating bank including a first heating surface disposed within the tank, a first contactor connected to the first heating bank, a second heating bank including a second heating surface disposed within the tank, a second contactor connected to the second heating bank, and a controller for selectively operating the first contactor and the second contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew Robert Caves, Andrew William Phillips, Brian Thomas Branecky, William Louis Mehlhorn, Thomas G. Van Sistine, Robert Eugene Olson, Zhongsheng Niu