Patents Issued in March 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9587802
    Abstract: An LED assembly that includes optics and optical arrangements for light emitting diodes (LEDs). In some embodiments, a reflector is provided within a void between the lens and the LED. This reflector can reflect light emitted by the LED in a non-preferred direction back toward the preferred direction. In other embodiments, an optical element is formed or otherwise provided in the lens cavity and shaped so that, when the lens is positioned above the LED, the refractor bends the emitted light in a preferred direction. In some embodiments, both a reflector and optical element are provided in the LED assembly to control the directionality of the emitted light. Such embodiments of the invention can be used to increase the efficiency of an LED by ensuring that generated light is being directed to the target area of choice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Jie Chen, Craig Eugene Marquardt, Daniel Aaron Weiss, Daniel Vincent Sekowski, Yaser S. Abdelsamed
  • Patent number: 9587803
    Abstract: A lighting fixture includes an elongated lens having an inner surface and an outer surface. The lighting fixture further includes a phosphor layer coupled to the inner surface of the elongated lens. The lighting fixture also includes a first reflector and a second reflector. The first reflector is attached to a first side surface of the elongated lens. The first side surface of the elongated lens is between the inner surface and the outer surface on a first elongated side of the lens. The second reflector is attached to a second side surface of the elongated lens. The second side surface of the elongated lens is between the inner surface and the outer surface on a second elongated side of the lens. The elongated lens, the phosphor layer, the first reflector, and the second reflector are extruded or molded as a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Jerold Alan Tickner, Christopher Lee Bohler, Ashok Deepak Shah
  • Patent number: 9587804
    Abstract: Provided is a light-emitting device control system, comprising a beam steering mechanism that directs a beam of light at a first surface location, wherein an illumination region is formed at the first surface location in response to the directed beam of light, a sensor that recognizes a hand gesture at the illumination region; a processor that converts data related to the hand gesture into a command signal, and a controller that instructs the beam steering mechanism to move the illumination region to a second surface location in response to the command signal corresponding to the hand gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Chia Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9587805
    Abstract: A luminaire having an electronically adjustable light beam distribution is disclosed. In some embodiments, the disclosed luminaire includes a plurality of solid-state lamps mounted on one or more surfaces of a housing. The lamps can be electronically controlled individually and/or in conjunction with one another, for example, to provide highly adjustable light emissions from the luminaire (e.g., pixelated control over light distribution). In some cases, a given solid-state lamp may include tunable electro-optic componentry to provide it with its own electronically adjustable light beam. One or more heat sinks optionally may be mounted on the housing to assist with heat dissipation for the solid-state lamps. The luminaire can be configured to be mounted or as a free-standing lighting device, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the aperture through which the lamps provide illumination is smaller than the distribution area of the solid-state lamps of the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Cheol Ryu, Michael Quilici
  • Patent number: 9587806
    Abstract: A festive atmosphere decorative lighting device which includes a lamp base, an LED bulb set inside the lamp base and an electrical switch for the bulb. A spinning assembly housed in the lamp base has an output shaft which is connected to an inner cover for spinning the inner cover. The inner cover fits over the LED bulb and has a cutout pattern of holes. The lamp base is also fitted with a transparent lamp shade which is superimposed above the inner cover. When the LED bulb is switched on and the spinning configuration spins the inner cover, light emitted by the LED bulb passes through the holes in the inner cover and presents a flowing vivid silhouette, as observed by a viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nature's Mark, LLC
    Inventor: Conggang Liu
  • Patent number: 9587807
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus which provides an heat dissipation effect, high output and large light emitting area including: housing having rectangular cylindrical shape obtained by forming belt-like body including plurality of holding bodies in rectangular cylindrical shape and connecting end portions of belt-like body formed in rectangular cylindrical shape; and circuit board mounted on inner surface of the housing and including a light source. The circuit board includes: mounting portion mounted on inner surface of the housing and having a surface provided with the light source; and connecting portion which connects mounting portions adjacent to each other in peripheral direction of the housing and is bendable at a corner of adjacent inner surfaces of the housing, and rear surface of mounting portion contacts inner surface of the holding body. Therefore, it is possible to provide lighting apparatus which provides an excellent heat dissipation effect, high output and large light emitting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: CCS INC.
    Inventor: Takuzo Togawa
  • Patent number: 9587808
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for designing light fixtures for flexible LED circuit boards. The flexible LED circuit boards include an array of LED packages and the surface of the flexible circuit boards is highly reflective. A flexible LED circuit board may be shaped to conform to a rigid preform and the preform may be concave, convex, corrugated, or have any other custom shape. The shape of the preform, as well as the location of the LEDs within the flexible LED circuit may determine the light distribution of the light fixture. Alternatively, the lighting fixture may have multiple rods held in place with side plates and a flexible LED circuit board may be woven between the rods. A set of hole patterns in the side plates determine the location of the rods and the rods will determine the shape of the flexible LED circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Speer, David Hamby, Ken Grossman
  • Patent number: 9587809
    Abstract: A method for changing a light bulb in a parking light pole, comprising disposing a housing on the top of a light pole for holding a lamp holder having a lamp disposed therein, holding the lamp holder in the housing by urging the lamp holder downward, removing the lamp holder by urging a removal apparatus up through an annulus in the center of the light pole to urge a plurality of pivoting members outward and away from the bottom surface of the lamp holder to allow the lamp holder to fall and be captured by the removal apparatus, replacing the lamp holder by disposing the lamp holder in an installation device, urging the installation device upward such that the lamp holder causes the pivoting members to urge outward, urging the installation device down in the annulus to allow the lamp holder to be urged downward, and removing the installation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Nevitt
  • Patent number: 9587810
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for installing light modules are described. One such apparatus includes a light emitting diode (LED) module including one or more LEDs, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a connector. The apparatus further includes a holder for retaining the LED module and a magnet attached to the lower surface of the holder. The apparatus may then be attached to a surface by the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Esmail Khalid Parekh
  • Patent number: 9587811
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a flexible substrate member having a base member and a plurality of wiring portions disposed on a surface of the base member, a plurality of light emitting elements arranged on the surface of the base member and electrically connected to the plurality of wiring portions, and a plurality of sealing members sealing corresponding parts of the substrate member and the light emitting elements respectively. The substrate is curved so that at least a part of periphery of the sealing member is arranged at a position lower than the position on which the light emitting element is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kamada
  • Patent number: 9587812
    Abstract: The present invention relates construction element comprising: a sandwich structure comprising an electrically insulating layer and an electrically conducting front layer and an electrically conducting rear layer which are spaced apart by the electrically insulating layer. A circuit board is carrying an electronic component and is positioned between the electronic component and the electrically conducting rear layer. The electronic component comprising a first and a second electrical terminal, wherein the first electrical terminal is in electrical connection with the electrically conducting front layer, and the second electrical terminal is in electrical connection with the electrically conducting rear layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: LED IBOND INTERNATIONAL APS
    Inventor: Lars Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 9587813
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a substrate and a planar light source portion including a plurality of LED chips arrayed on the substrate. The planar light source portion faces an illumination space (space to be illuminated) by a predetermined opening area. The plurality of LED chips are arrayed on the substrate such that the mounting density with respect to the opening area is not less than 3/cm2, and accordingly, a planar light source is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Fujita, Toshio Watanabe, Yusaku Kawabata
  • Patent number: 9587814
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) module having a configurable LED substrate capable of receiving varying numbers and layouts of LEDs are described herein. The LED substrate includes LED coupling points for receiving the LEDs and electrical traces etched into the substrate for routing power to the LEDs. The LED module can include a multi-LED over-optic having multiple over-optics that are configured to match the number and configuration of the LEDs positioned on the substrate. The LED coupling points and over-optics can be arranged symmetrically to enable the LED module to be rotated to adjust the light output distribution and direction. The LED module can include a power connection mechanism, for example located at the center of the substrate, that also allows the LED module to be rotated. One or more of the LED modules may be mounted on a heat sink and incorporated into a light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Anthony James Carney, Chun Wah Chan, Gregg Arthur Lehman, Ellis Patrick, Christopher Ladewig, Timothy Glen Wright, Christopher Michael Bryant, Victor Diegues
  • Patent number: 9587815
    Abstract: An end cap (104) for a tubular light source (102), the tubular light source (102) being configured to be arranged in a lighting fixture (106) comprising at least one socket (108), wherein the end cap (104) comprises a housing (202), two connector pins (112) at least partly arranged on an outside of the housing (202) and adapted to fit in the socket, and a switch assembly comprising a switch element (110) arranged in between the two connector pins (112) and at least partly protruding from an opening in the housing (202), wherein a first side of the switch element (110) is adapted to fit into a slot in a socket (108) and wherein the switch assembly is configured to form a conductive path between the socket (108) and the tubular light source (102) through an axial rotation of the switch element (110) in relation to the housing (202) as the tubular light source (102) is rotatably mounted in the fixture (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Vincent Stefan David Gielen, Peter Johannes Martinus Bukkems
  • Patent number: 9587816
    Abstract: The invention describes an adapter part (2, 9) for a modular lighting assembly (1) comprising a number of light-emitting diodes (4) mounted on a separate base part (3), which adapter part (2, 9) comprises a number of first electrical connectors (21) arranged to connect the light-emitting diodes (4) to an external power supply; at least one electrical component (5) arranged in a body of the adapter part (2, 9); and a number of second electrical connectors (22) arranged to connect external circuitry to an electrical component (5) arranged in the body of the adapter part (2, 9). The invention further describes a modular lighting assembly (1) comprising a base part (3) upon which a number of light-emitting diodes (4) is mounted; and an adapter part (2, 9) according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Ralph Hubert Peters, Harald Willwohl, Bas Fleskens, Theodoor Cornelis Treurniet
  • Patent number: 9587817
    Abstract: An LED tube lamp is provided herein, which implements the safety function for protecting the user from electric shock since it conducts only when both ends thereof have been correctly installed into a lamp socket. The LED tube lamp includes an installation detection module configured in the LED tube lamp to detect an installation state between the LED tube lamp and the lamp socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: JIAXING SUPER LIGHTING ELECTRIC APPLIANCE CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xintong Liu, Aiming Xiong, Tao Jiang
  • Patent number: 9587818
    Abstract: Provided is an LED lighting apparatus with an improved heat radiation property, which is capable of effectively radiating heat generated therein. The LED lighting apparatus may include: a light source unit comprising a plurality of LED groups each having one or more LEDs; and a driving unit configured to provide a current path corresponding to light emission of the light source unit. The light source unit and the driving unit may be arranged on the same substrate so as to be separated from each other. Among the plurality of LED groups, the LED group having the largest heat value may be arranged farthest away from the driving unit, compared to the other LED groups. Through the above-described arrangement, the heat radiation property of the LED lighting apparatus can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SILICON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Geun Kim, Sang Young Lee, Ki Chul An, Eun Ji Jo, Yun Hee Ra
  • Patent number: 9587819
    Abstract: A heat transfer device for transferring heat to a housing, comprising a heat spreader, at least one heat transfer plate mechanically connected to the heat spreader so as to be resiliently compressible towards the heat spreader when brought into contact with the housing, and at least one heat pipe thermally connected to each heat transfer plate and to the heat spreader. The resilient compressibility of the heat transfer plates makes the heat transfer device flexible, such that it may adapt to a different shape of housing. In contrast to known thermal interfaces, the thermal interface of the heat transfer device of the invention is not mechanically connected to the housing in which it is used, but connected to the heat spreader, and may instead be pressed into contact with the housing, without mechanical fixation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Marijn Geels, Mark Johannes Antonius Verhoeven
  • Patent number: 9587820
    Abstract: An active cooling device in the form of a torsional, oscillating synthetic jet is provided. Fins are oscillated in a manner that creates a flow of air that can be used to cool an electronic device such as a lamp. Embodiments of the active cooling device can be compact and readily incorporated within heat sinks of different sizes and configurations. The flow of air can be provided as jets of air distributed over multiple directions as may be desirable with certain electronics such as an omnidirectional lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Karl Kristian Udris, Glenn Howard Kuenzler, Jeremias Anthony Martins
  • Patent number: 9587821
    Abstract: An animal skull having a nasal cavity, a brain cavity, and a pair of eye sockets, and a lighting harness including at least four lighting elements, wherein at least one lighting element is operatively arranged within each one of the nasal and brain cavities, and the eye sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Old Goat Outdoors LLC
    Inventor: Michael E. Carroll
  • Patent number: 9587822
    Abstract: An internal combustion burner including a combustion chamber supplied with fuel and with oxidant and at least two combustion devices supplied with oxidant and with fuel. Combining two combustion devices of distinct configurations, which respectively generate two distinct types of flames with a system for cooling the walls of the burner by introducing air along the walls, makes it possible to obtain a burner that supplies a combustion gas temperature of up to 1700° C., while at the same time being easily cooled and occupying very little space so that it can, for example, be housed in an existing installation used in the manufacture of rock wool or glass wool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN ISOVER
    Inventors: Oleg Boulanov, Christopher Ellison
  • Patent number: 9587823
    Abstract: A laminar flow jet for a surface mix gas burner that provides increased stability, adjustability, and control over flame chemistries and characteristics. The present invention utilizes a novel shape, typically created by a tube having a cross-sectional shape and inserting it into a faceplate cutout, or conduit, having another cross-sectional shape. This nesting of one shape inside another promotes laminar gas flow and produces desired effects. Tubes may also be placed under the faceplate provided they maintain fluid communication with the conduits. Further, a burner is constructed with adjacent gas delivery tubes of different cross-sectional shapes which are mechanically held in place radially. The tubes touch in a longitudinal direction at points along their respective inner and outer dimensions, achieving axial alignment and preserving the necessary laminar gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventors: Wallace Horn, William Horn
  • Patent number: 9587824
    Abstract: A catalyst cooler for cooling regenerated catalyst in a regenerator associated with a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The catalyst cooler includes a first passage for transporting hot regenerated catalyst away from the regenerator and a second passage for returning cooled regenerated catalyst to the regenerator. The catalyst cooler also includes at least one heat exchanger. The second passage may be disposed within the first passage, or the first and second passage may each occupy a portion of a horizontal cross section of the catalyst cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel N. Myers
  • Patent number: 9587825
    Abstract: A submerged burner for a glass- or rock-melting furnace, including a plurality of in-line injectors, each injector including a cylinder-shaped mixing chamber, with an ejection orifice, a fuel-supply duct and an oxidant-supply duct opening into the mixing chamber at the cylinder jacket in a direction causing a tangential flow of the fuel and of the oxidant relative to the cylinder jacket, and a duct system making it possible for a coolant to flow inside the burner, and, preferably on either side of the alignment of injectors, placed parallel to and all along the latter, solid metal sides rising from the injectors, and protective partitions situated on the top of the solid metal sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN ISOVER
    Inventors: Yannick Lefrere, Julien Marie, David Galley, Sebastien Chesnel, Frederic Lopepe, Oleg Boulanov
  • Patent number: 9587826
    Abstract: A gas burner 10 intended to point downwardly in use. The gas burner comprises a flame strip 24 in the form of a sheet material with a plurality of openings 38 therein to define ports for combustion gas. The outer side of the flame strip 24 provides a combustion surface in use. The gas burner also comprises a body member 22 with an inlet 18 thereinto for combustion gas. The body member 22 and flame strip 24 together define a combustion chamber 50, with a space between the flame strip 24 and an outer wall 32 of the body member. The body member 22 and/or flame strip 24 are profiled such that said space varies across the chamber 50 to provide a required flow of combustion gas across the chamber 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Worgas Burners, Limited, A British Company
    Inventors: Marek Leopold Szadurski, Anthony Bailey, Craig Stuart Orson
  • Patent number: 9587827
    Abstract: A carbon monoxide (CO) boiler or steam generator having a water cooled CO boiler floor with screen gas distribution inlet to enhance distribution of CO gas in a CO boiler. Either the front or rear wall tubes of the steam generator form an integral screen and the tubes continue, forming a membraned, gas tight enclosure. The floor has a “knee” to redirect the incoming waste CO gas up into the integral screen. The screen may be provided with tube erosion shields to prevent erosion of the screen tubes and to control the distribution of waste gas across the plan area of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Eric L Wells, John A Kulig, Daniel E Knopsnider, Jr., Richard A Wessel
  • Patent number: 9587828
    Abstract: A heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) (10) including: an economizer (12) configured to heat a working fluid by extracting heat from a flow of flue gas (20). The HRSG includes a diluting fluid injector arrangement (60) configured to inject a diluting fluid (50) effective to dilute a concentration of a gaseous corrosive when compared to an undiluted concentration of the gaseous corrosive in the flow of flue gas. The HRSG also includes a preheater (18) configured to preheat the diluting fluid prior to injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Zaher El Zahab, Gerald J. Feller
  • Patent number: 9587829
    Abstract: A portable heater provided with one or more pre-start indicator elements. The pre-start indicator element may emit an attention identifier indicative of the imminent start of heat production of the portable heater. The indicator element may be an audible and/or visual indicator element. The pre-start indicator element may alert during one or both of a manual and thermostat operation mode of a portable heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: PROCOM HEATING, INC.
    Inventors: David Deng, Joseph B. Lee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9587830
    Abstract: A heating apparatus may include a control valve assembly. A control valve assembly can have a housing and a valve body positioned within the housing. The housing can define an inlet and first and second outlets. The control valve assembly can also include an igniter having a sensor for firing an electrode. An extension can be used to activate the sensor and to thereby activate the igniter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: David Deng
  • Patent number: 9587831
    Abstract: A cooled combustor seal having a plurality of channels enabling cooling air to pass from outside of a combustion chamber to cool an area inside the combustion chamber around the seal is disclosed. The channels may be provided through a slider, a housing, and/or a washer of the combustor seal. One set of channels or multiple of sets of channels may be provided in the combustor seal. Each of these sets of channels may be in the slider, housing, or washer. The cooled combustor seal may be used in conjunction with an igniter to purge a cavity between the seal and the igniter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Jause, Kevin Joseph Low, David Kwoka
  • Patent number: 9587832
    Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary structures with adaptive cooling and methods of adaptively cooling structures. A liner is affixed to a support and the liner deflects away from the support when exposed to a localized hot spot in a hot fluid stream. The liner deflection creates a chamber between the liner and support, allowing cooling air to impinge against the liner, thus mitigating the effects of the hot spot. By providing impingement cooling only where needed, the amount of air needed for cooling is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: James A. Dierberger
  • Patent number: 9587833
    Abstract: In some aspects, a gas turbine combustor assembly is arranged around a longitudinal axis. The gas turbine combustor comprises a first fuel/air mixer assembly, the mixer assembly comprising a first fuel injector and a plurality of first mixer elements, each mixer element defining an air flow passage therethrough having an outlet in a first plane. A second fuel/air mixer assembly comprises a second fuel injector and a plurality of second mixer elements, and each second mixer element defines an air flow passage therethrough having an outlet in a second plane, longitudinally offset from the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Patent number: 9587834
    Abstract: A distributed sensing system for detecting a flashback condition in a combustor for a gas turbine engine The distributed sensing system includes one or more strategically positioned fiber optic cables provided upstream of the combustion area in the combustor. The distributed sensing system employs Rayleigh backscattering and swept-wavelength interferometry to measure temperature and reliably identify the location of the flashback condition The fiber optic cable is specially fabricated to have a high temperature resistance suitable for those temperatures existing during flashback conditions. The fiber optic cable can be wrapped on an inside of a combustion basket or on an outside of the combustion basket, and in a serpentine manner or otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Upul P. DeSilva, Christine P. Spiegelberg
  • Patent number: 9587835
    Abstract: A home appliance having an improved gas igniter (or ignitor) including an appliance body, at least one burner assembly supported in the appliance body to provide a heat source for cooking, with the burner assembly including a gas pipe, an igniter in operational communication with the gas pipe, the igniter including a heater element and a shroud covering a portion of the heater element, the shroud including a shroud body defining a chamber having the heater element therein, an inlet opening facing the gas pipe, an outlet opening facing away from the gas pipe, and a constriction intermediate the inlet opening and the outlet opening, thereby defining a fluid flow path through the chamber whereby a fluid stream is directed from the inlet opening, across the heater element, through the constriction to the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventor: Jennifer A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9587836
    Abstract: For operating a gas hob having at least two gas burners which can be operated separately and which each have a nozzle, a dedicated gas valve for adjusting a gas supply to the gas burner is associated with each gas burner. The nozzle of a gas burner has an opening cross-section which is 10% to 30% larger than the opening cross-section which is required for the rated power of the gas burner. During normal operation of the gas burner, the associated gas valve is adjusted to a rated throughput. During operation of the gas burner under excess power with full utilization of the full opening cross-section of the nozzle, the gas valve is opened further and adjusted to an excess power throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Walter Begero, Norbert Gaertner
  • Patent number: 9587837
    Abstract: A door-lock device for retaining a door of a household appliance in a closed position. The door-lock device including a mobile module that slides relative to the door of the household appliance and a blocking unit housed within the mobile module. The blocking unit has a blocking member that moves between an unlocking position and a locking position. In the locking position, the blocking member holds the door of the household appliance in the closed position. A detecting slider slides the mobile module relative to the door of the household appliance and a blocking slider prevents the blocking member from moving from the locking position to the unlocking position. A pawl connected to the blocking slider engages one of a plurality of adjustment slots to block the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Bitron S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Colucci, Gianpaolo Barone
  • Patent number: 9587838
    Abstract: An oven rack assembly (1000) includes an oven rack (1008) and a slide system (1018). The slide system (1018) includes slide devices (1020) positioned at opposing sides of the oven rack (1008). A subframe (1040) is positioned below the slide devices (1020). Retention/release devices (1062) are mounted on the slide devices (1020) and are manually operable by a user so as to selectively retain the subframe (1040) in a stationary position or, alternatively, release the subframe (1040) so that the subframe (1040) can be removed from the oven (128?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SSW Holding Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J Stewart, Jeffrey Alan Ambrose, I, Jason Robert Yochum
  • Patent number: 9587839
    Abstract: An autonomous ventilation system includes a variable-speed exhaust fan, a controller, an exhaust hood, and an infrared radiation (“IR”) sensor. The exhaust fan removes air contaminants from an area. The controller is coupled to the exhaust fan and adjusts the speed of the exhaust fan. The exhaust hood is coupled to the exhaust fan and directs air contaminants to the exhaust fan. The IR sensor is coupled to the controller, detects changes in IR index in a zone below the exhaust hood, and communicates information relating to detected changes in IR index to the controller. The controller adjusts the speed of the exhaust fan in response to information relating to detected changes in IR index. The autonomous ventilation system also includes an alignment laser to indicate a point at which the IR sensor is aimed and a field-of-view (“FOV”) indicator to illuminate the zone in which the IR sensor detects changes in IR index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: OY HALTON GROUP LTD.
    Inventors: Michael P. Burdett, Daniel Reich
  • Patent number: 9587840
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling a supply of air is provided. A unit controller receives a cooling demand signal. In response to the cooling demand signal, the unit controller adjusts an economizer according to an economizing function. The economizing function is configured to achieve an initial free cooling target temperature as a discharge air temperature. The unit controller receives an additional cooling demand signal. In response to the additional cooling demand signal, the unit controller reduces the free cooling target temperature. The unit controller adjusts the economizer according to the economizing function, with the economizing function configured to achieve the reduced free cooling target temperature as the discharge air temperature. Additionally in response to the additional cooling demand signal, the unit controller signals a unit to perform mechanical cooling on a supply of air received from the economizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Herman Marcus Thomas, Marcus W. Troxell, Stephen A. Walter
  • Patent number: 9587841
    Abstract: Provided are a turbo fan and an air conditioner using the same. The turbo fan includes a main plate rotating by power provided from a fan motor, a blade having one end connected to the main plate to rotate, a shroud connected to the other end of the blade, and an orifice guiding a flow of indoor air in a direction of the shroud. The shroud includes a guide surface defining one surface of the shroud, the guide surface having a predetermined curvature and an air guide connected to a side of the shroud, the air guide being disposed in a direction of the orifice from the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Namjoon Cho, Kyungrock Kim, Dongkeun Yang
  • Patent number: 9587842
    Abstract: For minimizing the effect of wind on a heat exchanger system having a plurality of finned tube arrays and a plurality of fans, a method includes providing a wind louver below one of the fans. The wind louver is arranged to divert wind flowing in an approximately horizontal direction below the one of the plurality of fans to instead flow in a direction that is more vertically upward as compared to the approximately horizontal direction. Readings of a heat exchanger outlet temperature, ambient temperature, wind, and inlet air pressure are collected and recorded, and compared to previous readings. The louver height is changed if the readings have changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Uriyel Fisher
  • Patent number: 9587843
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle is configured by connecting a compressor, a four-way valve, a heat source side heat exchanger, expansion valves, and intermediate heat exchangers by piping. A heat medium circulation circuit is configured by connecting intermediate heat exchangers, pumps, and use side heat exchangers by piping. The outdoor unit accommodates the compressor, the four-way valve, and the heat source side heat exchanger, and the relay unit that is installed in a non-subject space which is different from an indoor space and is on an installation floor separated by two or more floors and accommodates the expansion valves, the pump, and intermediate heat exchangers are connected by two pipelines. The relay unit and an indoor unit that accommodates use side heat exchangers and is installed at a position where an indoor space can be air-conditioned are connected by two pipelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Yuji Motomura, Takeshi Hatomura, Naoki Tanaka, Shinichi Wakamoto, Takashi Okazaki, Yusuke Shimazu
  • Patent number: 9587844
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a humidifier and a method of monitoring the water level in the humidifier, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the temperature at the air outlet of the humidifier and generating temperature signals indicating the temperature thereof (310, 410); determining the water level in the humidifier according to the generated temperature signals (330, 430). The water level in the humidifier can be monitored using a rather simple structure yielding a high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Geert-Jan Darwinkel, Timothy Van Der Graaf, Wilhelmina Johanna Gerarda Van De Wassenberg, Jan Buffinga, Jacob Dijkstra
  • Patent number: 9587845
    Abstract: An extraction fan has a housing mounted in a wall with an outlet duct extending through the wall to an outlet opening outside the wall. A damper flap is mounted on the fan suspended by a hinge at an upper edge so as to extend in a closed position across the opening and is movable to an open position under forward air flow from the fan, and tightly closes against a resilient deformable seal when the fan is shut off. A spring biasing cam applies inwards force to the damper flap to bias the damper flap into the closed position, and an outwards force also to bias the damper flap into the fully open position. The mounting plate includes a hood having a top wall extending over the top of the damper flap and a down-turned front flange extending parallel to the damper flap to a bottom edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Groupe Ro-Main Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Labrecque
  • Patent number: 9587846
    Abstract: A ductless fume hood suitable for the removal of various chemical materials including toxic and non-toxic gases, vapors, particles, dust and unpleasant odors from a fluid stream. The ductless fume hood uses electronic devices and software to enable real time monitoring of gas levels in parts per million.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Gregory J. Dobbyn
  • Patent number: 9587847
    Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of climate control system controllers and methods for staging controller functions. In an exemplary embodiment, a climate control system controller generally includes power stealing circuitry, charge storage device(s) for storing charge provided by the power stealing circuitry and for providing power for controller functions, and a processor. For each controller function, the processor predefines a maximum wait time corresponding to the controller function. Before performance of one of the controller functions, the processor compares at least once the current level of charge on the charge storage device(s) to a predefined voltage level. Based on the comparing, the processor delays performance of the controller function until the corresponding predefined maximum wait time has passed and/or the current level of charge on the charge storage device(s) has reached the predefined voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: G. Scott Vogel, Rishi Siravuri
  • Patent number: 9587848
    Abstract: An HVAC controller may include a housing that is mountable on a vertical surface and a printed circuit board that is disposed within the housing. The printed circuit board may include a light source operably secured to the printed circuit board. A light guide may be secured relative to the printed circuit board such that light from the light source enters the light guide and propagates along the light guide. The light guide includes a light input pocket configured to receive light from the light source, a bifurcated inlet section optically coupled to the light input pocket, a light guide body extending from the bifurcated inlet section, and an output surface extending along a rear facing surface of the light guide body such that light exiting the output surface is projected onto the vertical surface to which the housing is mountable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Petr Adamik, Richard Gonzalez, Pavel Marak, Josef Novotny
  • Patent number: 9587849
    Abstract: A high-efficiency HVAC system and method of operation, for use in a house or building, having a plurality of components, including flexible, plastic duct tubing forming supply pipes that connect an air handler and a plurality of zones to deliver supply air to the zones and return pipes that connect the air handler and the zones to re-circulate return air; the air handler having a fan assembly powered by a variable blower motor to blow supply air to the zones; a heat pump having a variable compressor powered by a variable compressor motor to direct a working fluid to and from the air handler and a variable fan motor that rotates a fan blade within the heat pump; and a circuit control system for adjusting the variable compressor motor and the variable fan motor in the heat pump and the variable blower motor in the air handler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Stephen Schlesinger
  • Patent number: 9587850
    Abstract: An air distribution door for use in a ventilation system with anti-stratification feature is provided. The door includes a tab extending from the main body of the door. The tab partially disrupts air flow going into the heat exchanger. This disruption slows high velocity airflow going across the heat exchanger and causes a more uniform thermal transfer distribution to the air from the heat exchanger, which provides preferred comfort by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex Rothenhauser
  • Patent number: 9587851
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a dehumidifier and a float assembly thereof, wherein the float assembly comprises a float, a press plate, a suction pipe, and a rotation shaft. The float, the suction pipe, and the press plate are fixedly connected to the rotation shaft respectively, and the suction pipe and the float are arranged at the same side of the rotation shaft, so that the suction pipe is driven by the float to synchronously rise up or fall down along with variation of water level of a water tank; the press plate is driven by the float to control a draining pump to drain when the water tank is at the high water level, thereby realizing automatic drainage. The present invention doesn't need to dispose both a fixed water tank and a movable water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TCL AIR CONDITIONER (ZHONGSHAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiongfeng Wu, Xianxiong Zhang