Patents Issued in May 1, 2018
  • Patent number: 9958119
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to lighting devices and, more particularly, to elongate lighting devices having components adapted for interconnection, as well as lighting systems including such lighting devices. In one embodiment, the invention provides a lighting device comprising: an elongate housing; at least one light-emitting device within the housing; and a first connection device at a first end of the elongate housing, the first connection device being electrically connected to the at least one light-emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: G&G LED, LLC
    Inventor: Jason Baright
  • Patent number: 9958120
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tube lamp, comprising a mounting box and a lamp body matched with the mounting box, the mounting box comprising a top plate and side wall boards around the top plate; the tube lamp also comprises a fixed board; the fixed board comprises a fixed board body; at least two sets of fasteners are disposed at the two ends of the fixed board body; the fasteners are interspaced; the fixed board is detachably connected to the mounting box through the fasteners; and the lamp body is connected to the mounting box through the fixed board. At least two sets of fasteners are disposed at the two ends of the fixed board body; the fasteners are used for connection with the mounting box; the two sets of fasteners are interspaced, capable of being applied to many mounting boxes of different sizes, so the tube lamp has higher compatibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ANGELED CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianjun Liu, Qibin Yuan, Youqing Liang
  • Patent number: 9958121
    Abstract: A swivel-type night light includes a housing, a socket mechanism, a bulb mechanism, a switch, a fixed seat, an intermediate seat, a connecting seat, a bottom ring, a positive blade, a negative blade, a positive conducting plate, a negative conducting plate, and a conducting member. The positive blade has a first tongue contacting with the positive conducting plate. The negative blade has a second tongue contacting with the negative conducting plate. A bulb is mounted on the bulb mechanism and is electrically connected with the conducting member by an internal thread. The fixed seat is rotatable relative to the connecting seat through 360 degrees. A plastic ring is arranged between the positive conducting plate and the negative conducting plate to prevent the positive conducting plate and the negative conducting plate from contacting with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Dongguan Yali Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hai-Feng Wu
  • Patent number: 9958122
    Abstract: A driver module is configured to generate the drive signals necessary to drive an LED or an array of LEDs of one or more LED luminaires. The driver module may, but need not, be located remotely from the LED luminaires. Since the driver module provides the drive signals, the LED luminaires do not need to have their own driver electronics, and as such, can be rendered in a more aesthetically pleasing and cost effective manner. As an example, the driver module may be located within a junction box or escutcheon plate associated with a light fixture and the LED luminaires can be mounted in the existing sockets of the light fixture. The internal wiring of the light fixture may be used to carry the drive signals provided by the driver module to the LED luminaires via the sockets of the light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Demuynck, James Michael Lay
  • Patent number: 9958123
    Abstract: A system simulating an open candle flame is provided in the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the present system comprises a gyro-levitation unit including two spinning wheels with axes mutually perpendicular to each other to allow a two-degree of rotational freedom resembling the open candle flame motion caused by air flow in its surrounding environment. A mechatronics based actuator made of a bi-metal is employed to disturb the equilibrium of the gyroscope by exerting an actuating force against the gyro-levitation unit. Electric current controlled by a dedicated electronic unit flowing through the actuator allows reciprocal linear motion aligned with the visible light pattern of the candle flame. Varying light intensity of the candle flame is obtained as a combination of two light sources with one transmitted to a flame display through an optical device by total internal reflection and another one by projecting on its sideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Universal Candle Company Limited
    Inventor: Chak-yin Cheng
  • Patent number: 9958124
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicular lamp. The vehicular lamp includes an LED, a light guide guiding light emitted from the LED, and a light transmissive cover disposed in front of the light guide. The light guide includes a first end surface, a second end surface, a rear side surface with a plurality of steps, and a front side surface. A notched portion is formed on the front side surface. A notched surface is formed in the notched portion to cross the extension direction of the light guide. The steps reflect first light toward the front side surface and second light toward the notched surface. The light transmissive cover includes first and second emission portions causing the first and second lights to pass therethrough, respectively. An angle formed by the notched surface and the incidence surface of the second emission portion is within a range of 0 to 45 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Izawa
  • Patent number: 9958125
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light guiding element (1) for a laser vehicle headlight (2), wherein the laser vehicle headlight (2) comprises at least one laser light source (3) and at least one luminous element (4) which can be irradiated by the laser light source (3) and can thus be excited to emit visible light, and the light guiding element (1) can substantially be arranged between the laser light source (3) and the luminous element (4), wherein the light guiding element (1) has a light entrance surface (5) and a light exit surface (6), wherein the entrance cross-sectional area of the light entrance surface (5) is greater than the exit cross-sectional area of the light exit surface (6), and the light radiated in through the light entrance surface (5) can be concentrated in the direction of the light exit surface (6) via the inner surface (7) connecting the light entrance surface (5) and the light exit surface (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ZKW GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Friedrich Bauer, Andreas Moser, Johann Altmann, Erich Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 9958126
    Abstract: A laser headlight optical module is disclosed herein and comprises a laser light source, a convex lens, a substrate, a mirror set, supporting rods, and a driving member. The laser light source generates a laser light and the convex lens is located at a transmitting path of the laser light generated from the laser light source and configured to focus the laser light. Yellow fluorescent powders are coated on the substrate. The mirror set is located at a transmitting path of the laser light reflected from the substrate with the phosphor layer. The supporting rods are located behind the mirror set to support the mirror set. The driving member is located behind the mirror set and connected with the supporting rods. The driving member drives the supporting rods to change a light reflective surface of the mirror set to vary an optical field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: National Chung Cheng University
    Inventors: Hsiang-Chen Wang, Yuan-De Su, Yao-Ting Chiang
  • Patent number: 9958127
    Abstract: In a vehicle lamp of the present disclosure, a lamp body is made of an acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) resin, which has a glass transition temperature lower than that of a poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA resin constituting a light transmissive cover. That is, with respect to the glass transition temperature Tg1 of the PMMA resin constituting the light transmissive cover, the glass transition temperature of the ASA resin constituting the lamp body is set to Tg1>Tg2. Thus, it is possible to generate not a tensile residual stress but a compressive residual stress in a welding portion between the lamp body and the light transmissive cover, thereby enhancing the solvent resistance of the light transmissive cover. And, thus, an annealing process after the welding is unnecessary, or simply performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kohata, Toshimasa Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9958128
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a light assembly which comprises means for emitting and means for focusing one or more light beams for the lighting or the signaling of a vehicle. It also comprises a mask which extends below the focusing means. This mask has at least a first surface that can be seen by any person passing close to the vehicle and at least a second surface opposite the first surface. The mask is made from a dark diffusing material and a reflective material coating is deposited on part of the second surface while leaving a portion of this second surface free of reflective coating. Additional light-emitting means are placed opposite the second surface, such that the light rays emitted by the additional light-emitting means can pass through the mask via the portion free of reflective coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Erwan Faoucher, Francois Gratecap
  • Patent number: 9958129
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical module comprising a radiator having one or more heat dissipation surfaces, a fan capable of conveying air onto the heat dissipation surface, and a light source supported by the radiator. The principle characteristic of a module according to the invention is the radiator is formed from folded metal sheets, the fan being secured to the radiator by securing means provided in the folded metal sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Nicolas Ruckebusch
  • Patent number: 9958130
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device includes a heat radiating portion that has a flange having a plate shape, heat radiating fins provided on one surface of the flange, and a loading portion provided on a surface of the flange on a side opposite to the side on which the heat radiating fins are provided. The device further includes a storage portion that is provided on a side of the flange opposite to the side on which the heat radiating fins are provided, has a mounting portion surrounding the loading portion and bayonets provided on a side surface of the mounting portion, and is formed of a material different from a material of the heat radiating portion. Also, the device includes a light emitting module that is provided on an end surface of the loading portion on a side opposite to the flange side and has a light emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Hino, Toshihiro Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 9958131
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a housing having a compartment with an opening. At least one lighting element is mounted in the compartment, defines at least one light output range, and is electrically connected to a circuit board. A transparent cover is disposed in front of the opening of the housing. A thermally conductive member is mounted to a rear face of the transparent cover and has a shape located corresponding to a periphery of the at least one light output range. A front surface of the thermally conductive member abuts the rear face of the transparent cover. A heating element electrically connected to a heating control device is mounted to a rear surface of the thermally conductive member and includes a heating wire having a diameter smaller than a width of the thermally conductive member. The heating wire is longer than the thermally conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Min Hsiang Corporation
    Inventor: Shang-kuei Tai
  • Patent number: 9958132
    Abstract: An optical element includes a lens includes a surface of incidence on which light is incident from a light source, a first optical surface recessed toward the light source, and a second optical surface extending from the first optical surface, and a cover arranged on the lens to cover at least a part of the first optical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lee Im Kang, Chang Hyuck Lee
  • Patent number: 9958133
    Abstract: An optical lens includes: a first lens surface which defines a space for housing a light emitting diode (LED) light source; a second lens surface formed in a convex shape; and a third lens surface formed continuously from a rear edge portion of the second lens surface, which is on a side opposite an illumination target side. The first lens surface includes a first light-entering surface through which a portion of light from the LED light source enters, and a second light-entering surface through which another portion of the light enters. The third lens surface totally reflects, to a substrate, at least a portion of the light. An angle between the third lens surface and a principal surface of the substrate on a virtual plane which includes an optical axis is smaller than an angle between the second light-entering surface and the principal surface on the virtual plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Hirai, Tadashi Murakami
  • Patent number: 9958134
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a body including a lighting compartment and a bezel rim around at least a portion of a perimeter of the body. The luminaire also includes clamping plates that extend a length of the luminaire. As the clamping plates are secured in a lighting compartment of the luminaire, they provide a clamping force to secure an LED circuit board in the lighting compartment. A base of the lighting compartment may also serve as a heatsink for the LED circuit board. A low-profile luminaire according to such features is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Francis Scarlata, Mevzad Ljuca
  • Patent number: 9958135
    Abstract: A frame-like cover element for a luminaire including a box-shaped luminaire housing, which has a light exit opening on one side, is designed to be arranged on the housing in the region of the light exit opening thereof and in the process to enclose, in frame-like fashion, a light output region of the luminaire, wherein the cover element is connected integrally to at least one optical element, which extend into the inner region of the luminaire housing and is intended to influence the light output by the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Spiegel, Tanja Ilic
  • Patent number: 9958136
    Abstract: Devices and methods for providing sensor indication are disclosed. The sensor device includes utilizing the signal to activate a light source, transmitting light into a first indicator layer with the light source, and the first indicator layer optionally includes a fluorophore. The indicator layer provides visibility of light around the sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Santos, Jason Staly
  • Patent number: 9958137
    Abstract: A device that emits light in response to an electrical or optical excitation, such as LEDs, displays, e-readers, device includes at least one anisotropic flat colloidal semiconductor nanocrystal whose smallest dimension, namely the thickness, is smaller than the other two by a factor of at least 1.5, the emitted light having an intensity and a polarization that vary according to the angle formed by the light emitting direction and the normal to the largest surface of the flat nanocrystal. The device allows to realize a light-emitting device exhibiting simultaneously a high emission spectral finesse and allows proper control of the wavelength, the directivity and/or polarization of the emitted light, and thus increases the brightness and color gamut of displays composed of such a device. Such devices are found for example in displays, televisions, mobile phones, tablets, or computers. The various embodiments of these devices are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NEXDOT
    Inventors: Benoit Mahler, Thomas Pons, Elsa Cassette
  • Patent number: 9958138
    Abstract: A trim assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The trim assembly includes a substrate and a housing forming a cavity therebetween. A conductive layer is coupled to the housing and has first and second portions each including an electrically conductive material. The first portion is separated from the second portion by an electrically insulative gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman
  • Patent number: 9958139
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus which uses laser light emitted by a light source is provided. The illumination apparatus includes a housing which is tubular, internally includes an optical path for the laser light, and includes a first end surface having an opening through which the laser light passing through the optical path is released. A light emitter is opposed to the opening, receives the laser light released through the opening, converts the laser light into light having a different wavelength of a predetermined color, and emits the light. A cap is removably attached to a first end portion of the housing and through which the light emitted by the light emitter is released. A shutter opens the optical path when the cap is attached to the housing and closes the optical path when the cap is detached from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideharu Kawachi, Yoshiyuki Nakano, Shinichi Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 9958140
    Abstract: A military projector comprises a tubular housing that contains a high intensity lamp, a reflecting mirror behind the high intensity lamp, a negative lens which is carried in a first mounting member located in front of the lamp, and a pair of positive meniscus lenses which axe mounted in a second mounting member spaced from and movable relative to the negative lens so that the distance between the negative and positive lenses can be varied. A carrier member having a clear opening and an opening containing a filter is located between the negative and positive lenses. A moving means moves the carrier member between a first position in which the light passes through the filter before reaching the positive meniscus lenses and a second position in which the light passes through the clear opening. An elongated tubular electromagnetic shield extends beyond the meniscus lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: Leonard Henry Friedland
  • Patent number: 9958141
    Abstract: A light fixture mounting post includes an upper threaded portion for attaching the post to a light shade and a lower portion for attaching light fixtures to the post. The upper threaded portion has left handed threads, and an O-ring and a shaped rubber washer residing between a post nut and the shade. A post flange limits the insertion depth of the upper threaded portion through the shade. The threaded segments include right handed pipe threads for tightly engaging the light fixtures. Embodiments include a continuous lower portion with straight or tapered threads and a segmented lower portion with reduced thickness spaces separating the taper or straight threaded segments allowing easy shortening of the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: Jeffrey Ohai
  • Patent number: 9958142
    Abstract: LED lamp beads with multiple light-emitting points comprising a certain number of luminous bodies and package resins; in which after at least two luminous bodies are connected in parallel, they are wrapped in a package resin and connected to an anode pin and a cathode pin inserted into the package resin. The present invention structure is simple and has a rational design. By using one-way conductive luminance on the LED luminous bodies, and using parallel and inverse parallel connections on multiple light-emitting points, control of the electric current direction is achieved, and thus the control of the operating modes of luminous bodies and the LED lamp beads with multiple light-emitting points is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DONGGUAN CHEN CAI ILLUMINATING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Faquan Liang
  • Patent number: 9958143
    Abstract: A flashlight assembly includes a bistable safety bail to prevent inadvertent depression of an operational push button switch. The flashlight assembly further includes a bistable pivoting mode selection lever which controls operational modes of the flashlight. Further, the flashlight operates with a thermal optimization circuit which automatically, over time, reduces the duty cycle of the control circuit to reduce the temperature of the LED junction, improve LED performance and increase battery life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: EMISSIVE ENERGY CORP.
    Inventors: Robert D. Galli, Chris O'Brien, Kevin Okruta
  • Patent number: 9958145
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a light-emitting diode (LED). A first carbon nanotube (CNT) is coupled to and extends from the LED. A second CNT is coupled to and extends from the LED. The first and second CNTs are configured to generate a voltage difference across the LED when the first and second CNTs are exposed to an electromagnetic (EM) field having a frequency within a predetermined range. The LED is configured to emit light when the voltage difference is greater than or equal to a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 9958146
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a body including a compartment and a bezel rim along at least two sides of the body. The luminaire also includes a light emitting diode (LED) circuit board arranged in the compartment and a power input. The LED circuit board includes a driving circuit and a light emitting circuit. The power input is configured to supply power to the driving circuit. The driving circuit is configured to convert the supplied power to a converted power and to provide the converted power to the light emitting circuit. The light emitting circuit is configured to generate light with the converted power. A luminaire including an outermost dimension of less than about two inches is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Francis Scarlata, Joseph Michael Manahan, Mevzad Ljuca, Hui Zhang
  • Patent number: 9958147
    Abstract: A waterproof socket-type halogen lamp for a livestock barn comprises a fixing body forming a hollow part, a side plate finishing the outside of the fixing body, a contact point, a wire, an annular insulator insulating the fixing body, a spring which is embedded in the hollow part and of which an outer side is supported by the side plate, an inner side supports the outer side of the annular insulator to provide restoration force while supporting one terminal of the tube halogen lamp through the contact point, and an inner waterproof packing which prevents moisture or dust from penetrating to the inner end of the fixing body and has a closed curve shape with a terminal passing groove through which a lamp terminal housing passes, and a tube halogen lamp in which lamp terminals at both ends are connected with the contact point by two socket parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: RYUARM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae-Yeup Lee
  • Patent number: 9958148
    Abstract: A lighting control console controls a lighting system, wherein digital adjusting commands are generated in the lighting control console, which commands can be transmitted to the lighting devices of the lighting system via data links. The lighting control console includes at least one digital processor and at least one digital memory for generating, managing and storing the adjusting commands, and wherein the lighting control console includes at least one display device for electronically displaying image elements, and wherein at least one rotary control is disposed in the operating panel of the lighting control console. The rotary control allows users to enter operating commands by rotating the rotary control. An electronic display field is disposed at the visible side of the rotary control visible to the user displays image contents related to the rotary control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MA LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Hartmut Cordes, Michael Adenau
  • Patent number: 9958149
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) lamp with at least one speaker is provided. The LED lamp includes a lamp base, a lamp cup installed on the lamp base, and a lamp socket installed under the lamp base. The LED lamp also includes a lamp plate installed on a top surface of the lamp cup, and a plurality of LEDs, set on the lamp plate, configured to emit light. Further, the LED lamp includes the at least one speaker, set at an outer surface of the lamp cup, configured to play audio signals. The top surface of the lamp cup including the lamp plate and the outer surface of the lamp cup including the at least one speaker are not coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SENGLED OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo You, Chaoqun Sun, Jinxiang Shen
  • Patent number: 9958150
    Abstract: A multifunction flashlight includes a flashlight body defining opposing front end and rear, a light source with a LED light mounted in the front end of the flashlight body, a light source switch mounted on the flashlight body near the front end, a focus adjustment device mounted on the flashlight body between the light source and the light source switch, multiple tools pivotally connected to the rear end of the flashlight body and receivable inside the flashlight body, an emergency exit hammer pivotally connected to the rear end of the flashlight body and receivable inside the flashlight body, a release switch mounted on the flashlight body near the rear end, a seat belt cutter, and a USB jack for battery charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: Jack Tang
  • Patent number: 9958151
    Abstract: Provided is a steam generator (1000) which comprises a water tank (200); a heater unit (300) connected with the water tank so as to heat the water; and a spraying unit (500) connected with the heater unit (300), wherein raw water heated by the heater unit (300) is in a high-temperature and high-pressure state in the heater unit (300), and the high-temperature and high-pressure raw water is converted into steam by decompression when sprayed to the outside by the spraying unit (500). The steam generator, according to the present invention, can generate steam without a separate electric power supply device, can generate steam that is harmless to the human body without generating ozone, and can generates an abundant amount of atomized steam through a process for directly heating the supplied raw water by using a heating member disposed in a housing and then secondarily heating the steam of which a phase is primarily changed so as to atomize steam particles, thereby suppressing the ejection of condensed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: COWAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Won Park, Sang Yoon Park, Hyo Sung Kim, Chan Jung Park
  • Patent number: 9958152
    Abstract: A nozzle cap (82) is disposed at a downstream end of the nozzle. The nozzle cap includes a bore arranged to accommodate a downstream portion of a fluid-injecting lance that extends along a longitudinal axis (18) of the nozzle. The downstream portion of the fluid-injecting lance includes a centrally-located atomizer (80) to form a first atomized ejection cone. An array of atomizers (84) is disposed in the nozzle cap. The array of atomizers is circumferentially disposed about the longitudinal axis of the lance. The array of atomizers may be positioned radially outwardly relative to the centrally-located atomizer to form an array of respective second atomized ejection cones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stephen A. Ramier, Vinayak V. Barve, Richard L. Thackway, Charalambos Polyzopoulos, Khalil Farid Abou-Jaoude
  • Patent number: 9958153
    Abstract: In a low NOx boiler of the present invention, a high-temperature reductive combustion zone is provided to an upper portion of a rectangular combustion chamber, and a second-step combustion zone is provided to a middle stage of the combustion chamber. A wall provided below the second-step combustion zone is tapered to narrow the combustion chamber, with a taper angle of approximately 35° or so, relative to a vertical line. An ash discharge port is provided to a furnace bottom portion, and a gas outlet port communicated with a rear pass is provided to a lower side face of the second-step combustion zone. This rear pass is connected with a further post-treatment step, via a super-heater tube and an economizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuo Suemitsu, Sadayuki Muto, Shinichi Toda, Minoru Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9958154
    Abstract: A charge electrode configured to impart a time-varying charge to a flame and a shape electrode located outside the flame may be driven synchronously by a voltage source through time varying voltage(s). The flame may be flattened or compressed responsive to an electric field produced by the shape electrode acting on the charges imparted to the flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Colannino, Thomas S. Hartwick, David B. Goodson, Tracy A. Prevo, Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Patent number: 9958155
    Abstract: A regenerative thermal oxidizer purifies a polluted gas by oxidizing a volatile organic compound (VOC) contained in the polluted gas at a high temperature by using an amount of heat of the polluted gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: EMSOLUTION CO., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hoon Min Park
  • Patent number: 9958156
    Abstract: A quick-disconnect gas pipeline comprises a quick-disconnect device (QDD) which comprises a QDD male end and a QDD female end, and a gas hose. The QDD male end is connected to the gas pipeline inside the heating system and the QDD female end is connected to the gas hose outside the heating system. When the heating system is not used, it is easy to disconnect the QDD to prevent people from tripping over the long gas pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Bond Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Cameron Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9958157
    Abstract: A burner includes: an adaptor to which a fuel supply box for supplying fuel is connected, and having a fuel inlet; a combustion part configured to perform combustion while fuel injected from the fuel inlet is discharged through a flow path; a connection housing disposed between the adaptor and the combustion part, having a fuel supply path communicated with the fuel inlet, and configured to feed fuel of the fuel supply box to the combustion part; an inflow fuel control part provided at one side of the connection housing, and configured to control the amount of fuel injected by controlling an open degree of the fuel inlet; and a feed fuel control part provided at another side of the connection housing, and configured to control the amount of fuel supplied to the combustion part by controlling an open degree of one side of the fuel supply path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KOVEA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9958158
    Abstract: The burner preferably exclusively burns substantially explosible solid fuels and preferably has instant ON-OFF thermostat control, wastes no energy preheating the enclosure or external air supply, achieves stable combustion the moment the powder-air mix is ignited in our burner, is used in the upward vertical mode except for oil burner retrofits, burns a solid fuel in a single-phase regime as if it were a vaporized liquid or gas, is designed to complete combustion within the burner housing itself rather than in a large, high temperature furnace enclosure which it feeds, has an ultra-short residence time requirement, is a recycle consuming burner with self-contained management of initially unburned particles, is much smaller, simpler and lower cost, has a wider dynamic range/turndown ratio, is more efficient in combustion completeness and thermal efficiency, and operates with air-fuel mix approximately at the flame speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventors: James K. McKnight, Edward Bacorn, Ken W. White
  • Patent number: 9958159
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a hanger and a combustor liner fixed to the hanger such as, for example, by an annular weld joint. The combustor liner has an inner surface extending along an axis and is operable to define either a radial outer boundary or a radial inner boundary of the combustion chamber. The combustor assembly also includes a heat shield at least partially overlapping and confronting the inner surface of the combustor liner along the axis, with the heat shield releasably engaged with the hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel S. Smallwood, Mindi D. Wigal
  • Patent number: 9958160
    Abstract: A component within a gas turbine engine includes a surface with one or more upstream-directed cooling film holes therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Dierberger
  • Patent number: 9958161
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises an annular combustor chamber formed between an inner liner and an outer liner. An annular upstream zone is adapted to receive fuel and air from an annular nozzle. An annular mixing zone is located downstream of the upstream zone. The mixing zone has a reduced radial height relative a downstream combustion zone of the combustion chamber, the mixing zone defined by straight wall sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Tin Cheung John Hu
  • Patent number: 9958162
    Abstract: A combustor assembly includes a first wall, a second wall, a bulkhead and a plurality of fuel injectors. The bulkhead forms a combustion chamber with the first and the second walls. The fuel injectors are configured with the first wall in a unique and/or a fluctuating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Zhongtao Dai, Jeffrey M. Cohen, Kristin Kopp-Vaughan, James B. Hoke
  • Patent number: 9958163
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor is provided in which product reliability and heat transfer promotion are compatible while suppressing an increase in pressure loss. In a gas turbine combustor comprising a combustor liner, an outer tube provided around an outer periphery of the combustor liner, and an annular flow passage in which a cooling medium (cooling air) flows and which is formed between an outer surface of the combustor liner and an inner surface of the outer tube, the outer tube includes an inner diameter reduced portion and a taper portion smoothly connecting the inner diameter reduced portion and an inner peripheral portion on an upstream side, and is provided at an inner surface of the taper portion with longitudinal vortex generating means generating a vortex that has a central rotation axis in a flowing direction of the cooling medium (cooling air).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shohei Numata, Osami Yokota, Tetsuma Tatsumi, Akinori Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9958164
    Abstract: An electronic modulating oven valve provides advantages over prior art designs. Additionally, for at least some embodiments, a dual passage valve operating in a modulating manner has been found to be desirable for oven and possibly other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Burner Systems International, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Lee Frost
  • Patent number: 9958165
    Abstract: A home appliance with maintop gas control includes a gas control apparatus including a pressure regulator for receiving gas from a gas facility and distributing gas within the home appliance, the pressure regulator defining a gas conduit having a gas inlet, at least one gas outlet, and a valve disposed intermediate the gas inlet and at least one gas outlet, the valve including a valve stem configured for movement along an axis to open and close the valve; and a valve actuator including a drive element disposed remotely from the valve, the drive element being a rotary drive element operatively engaged with the valve stem for moving the valve between an open position and a closed position; and a mechanical link assembly disposed intermediate the valve stem and the drive element for converting rotary movement of the drive element into linear movement of the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Gayle Collins, James Gayle, George Savitz, Charles Weimer
  • Patent number: 9958166
    Abstract: A household cooking appliance including a housing having an oven chamber accessible through an opening. The opening has a seal surrounding a perimeter of the opening. A door covers the opening and is moveable about a hinge between an open position and a closed position. The door includes a door skin forming an outer surface of the door and a full glass inner panel forming an inner surface of the door. The full glass inner panel abuts the seal when the door is in a closed position. A latch retainer is coupled to the door skin and an oven lock is moveable between a lock position in which the oven lock engages the latch retainer and locks the door in the closed position during a self-cleaning process, and an unlock position in which the oven lock is disengaged from the latch retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Ben Braden, Rose Marie Parker, Timothy Russell
  • Patent number: 9958167
    Abstract: A latching assembly uses a flat sheet metal chassis with electrical switches, an electrical motor driving a cam, a push rod, a hook, a spring, and various actuators/levers. When a first actuator/lever is moved by an outside force, a circuit connection may be opened or closed depending upon the configuration of the electro-mechanical system. This will generate a signal which will allow current to flow to a motor. The motor will, in turn, drive the cam which will push a second actuator/lever to move and cause a hook to move from a first, non-latching position to a second, latching position. The assembly is useful for latching an oven or other appliance door when operating at high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph W. Lomicka, I-Chiang Lin, Roger L. DeYoung, Marshall E. Aurnou, Michael A. Rosenstock
  • Patent number: 9958168
    Abstract: Controlling an exhaust hood system having multiple hood sections each with an exhaust output having an associated damper, each exhaust output feeding to a common downstream fan, where damper position and fan speed control an exhaust flow rate through each hood section, involves monitoring at least one condition of each hood section and, based upon the monitoring, establishing a target flow rate for each hood section; based upon a sum of the target flow rates, establishing a fan speed; and monitoring an actual flow rate through each hood section and responsively controlling damper position to achieve the target flow rate for the hood section. Adjusting fan speed and damper position until damper position for at least one hood section achieves a predetermined open position, while at the same time each hood section satisfies its associated target flow rate, can reduce energy costs associated with system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Russell Robison, Bruce Lukens, Michael Borntrager
  • Patent number: 9958169
    Abstract: A ground source heat pump integrated controller includes a main module that has pre-integrated multiple main machines, pumps and valves according to the rated load of the main module, and a number of extended modules that have pre-integrated multiple main machines, pumps and valves according to a rated load of the extended modules. The main module and extended modules both are provided with a plurality of analog contacts and digital contacts, and the extended modules are connected, via the analog and digital contacts, to the main module according to the rated load of the ground source heat pump system. The advantage of the ground source heat pump integrated controller lies in that after system load is calculated according to floor area, multiple extended modules are connected to one main module, which increases the capacity of the main module and thus meets the requirement of system load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BEIJING HECHUANG SANZEN ENERGY TECH. STOCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: HongXia Li, BaoXiang Chen