Line Connected Boiler Patents (Class 392/325)
  • Patent number: 11353241
    Abstract: An ohmic heater for heating a conductive fluid has a plurality of electrodes mounted to a structure with spaces between the electrodes. The electrodes (14) are selectively connect to poles (38, 40) of a power supply, so that some electrodes are connected to the poles and others remain isolated from the poles. Shunting switches are provided for connecting two or more of the isolated electrodes to one another. The shunting switches allow formation of a large number of different connection schemes having a variety of different electrical conduction paths through fluid in the spaces and a variety of resistances between the poles with relatively few electrodes and spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Heatworks Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah M. Callahan, Eric J. Doesburg, Gregory S. Lyon, Michael J. Wieckowski
  • Patent number: 11118812
    Abstract: An automatically flushing water heater maintenance system may be provided, the system including a water heater and a water heater controller. The water heater may include an inlet, an outlet, and a flush outlet having a first control valve in flow communication therewith. The first control valve may be configured to control a flow of water and sediment through the flush outlet out of the water heater. The water heater controller may be configured to communicate with the first control valve by transmitting a first control signal to the first control valve, the first control signal configured to cause the first control valve to open or close as part of an automatic flushing process. As a result of the flushing, the useful life of the water heater may be extended, and/or water heater leakage alleviated. Insurance discounts may be provided based upon using the automatic water heater flushing functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey A Riblet, Melinda T Magerkurth
  • Patent number: 8470138
    Abstract: A distillation assembly that reduces malodors resulting from a process of recycling a solvent from a contaminated solvent solution that includes a distillation chamber defined by a top wall, a side wall and a bottom wall, a heating element disposed in the distillation chamber including an active portion and an inactive portion. The contaminated solvent solution disposed at a level within the distillation chamber such that the active portion always disposed below the level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy Publ, David Kisela, Gary Myers
  • Patent number: 7985944
    Abstract: A steaming device (50) for a baker's oven including a steam generation chamber (55), located adjacent at least one heating element (25, 26) in an oven compartment of the baker's oven, the steam generation chamber (55) being closed at one end and having at least one steam outlet at or adjacent the other end; at least one heat sink member (57) in the steam generation chamber (55) to provide a heat source to convert steaming water introduced into the steam generation chamber 55) into steam; and a steaming water pipe (40) having at least one nozzle (41) operable to direct water into the steam generation chamber (55), the steaming water being convertible into steam within the steam generation chamber (55) and releasable to the oven compartment through the at least one steam outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Moffat Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Paul Eaton Willett
  • Patent number: 7734158
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a tank having an inlet in a lower part for feeding a fluid, and an outlet in an upper part for discharging a vapor-liquid two phase flow. A heating unit heats the fluid in the tank thereby producing the vapor-liquid two phase flow. A porous cylindrical member projects from the outlet into an inside of the tank and functions as a rectifying unit that homogenizes vapor-liquid distribution in the vapor-liquid two phase flow before the vapor-liquid two phase flow is discharged from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kondo, Jiro Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20090071345
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling a steam chamber. In one exemplary embodiment, a steam chamber is placed in selective communication with a vacuum pump and a heat transfer medium, such as a source of deaerated water. The steam chamber is then placed in communication with the vacuum pump, which draws a vacuum on the steam chamber and begins removing air from the interior thereof. Once a sufficient vacuum has been drawn on the steam chamber and substantially all of the air removed therefrom, the steam chamber may be placed in communication with the heat transfer medium. In one exemplary embodiment, the heat transfer medium is deaerated water. A predetermined amount of heat transfer medium is then allowed to fill the steam chamber. Once the predetermined amount of deaerated water has been received within the steam chamber, a steam chamber may be sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: ACCUTEMP PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Larry R. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20090022484
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a tank having an inlet in a lower part for feeding a fluid, and an outlet in an upper part for discharging a vapor-liquid two phase flow. A heating unit heats the fluid in the tank thereby producing the vapor-liquid two phase flow. A porous cylindrical member projects from the outlet into an inside of the tank and functions as a rectifying unit that homogenizes vapor-liquid distribution in the vapor-liquid two phase flow before the vapor-liquid two phase flow is discharged from the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kondo, Jiro Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20080257878
    Abstract: A steaming device (50) for a bakers oven including a steam generation chamber (55), located adjacent at least one heating element (25, 26) in an oven compartment of the baker's oven, the steam generation chamber (55) being closed at one end and having at least one steam outlet at or adjacent the other end; at least one heat sink member (57) in the steam generation chamber (55) to provide a heat source to convert steaming water introduced into the steam generation chamber (55) into steam; and a steaming water pipe (40) having at least one nozzle (41) operable to direct water into the steam generation chamber (55), the steaming water being convertible into steam within the steam generation chamber (55) and releasable to the oven compartment through the at least one steam outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Moffat Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul Eaton Willett
  • Patent number: 5903709
    Abstract: Electrode elements directly heat water and with an electric current controller that is controlled by the heated water volume, which structurally enables immediate production of high temperature steam. The innovations of the invention here include: the utilization of an electric current controller than can be set at a certain value so that an electromagnetic water input valve is switched on or off at an appropriate time, which permits the maintaining of a fixed volume of water inside the water container and as such, the water inside the water container is not only prevented from overflowing, but at the same time forms an electric field with the electrode elements and is subsequently directly heated and thereby enables the production of high temperature steam in an extremely short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Jeng Der Electrode Heater Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsi-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 5833812
    Abstract: The water distiller 10 includes a plurality of housings 12, 14, 16 each mounted below a support plate 32. A voltage regulator 144 maintains a desired voltage potential between heating probes 34 and 36 within a heating bowl 46. An operator selector 142 automatically regulates the flow of water through inlet valve 70 to control the incoming water flow rate to the heating bowl. Area contact between water in the heating bowl and a substantially horizontal plate 42 at the lower end of each heating probe determines the electrical power used by the distiller, and maintains water in the heating bowl at substantially a constant level. An improved particle trap 80 and vent valve 100 provide reliable and safe operation of the distiller. Heating bowl 46 and a water inlet line 76 may be easily removed for cleaning the distiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventor: Michael Orban Hartman
  • Patent number: 5571385
    Abstract: A water purification method and apparatus is described which distills a contaminated water supply having contaminants dissolved therein with electrically powered spaced apart immersion electrodes. When connected to a source of alternating electrical current, the electrode members cooperate to distill water by heating while concurrently removing the contaminants as solid precipitates in the contaminated remaining water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Cleveland State University
    Inventors: Mircea Faur, Maria Faur, David W. Epperly
  • Patent number: 5526461
    Abstract: A refinement of an evaporation vessel and electrode arrangement allows a large range of different apparatus types to be provided, of variable construction, using a small number of different components. For this purpose, an arrangement of a plurality of bushings (16.1, 16.2) is provided in the wall of the evaporation vessel (2, 6, 10), in which bushings (16.1, 16.2) electrodes (20) can be held by a plug-in part (18). The plug-in part (18) is provided with an automatic latching device (38, 40) which holds it firmly after simple insertion into one of the bushings (16.1, 16.2) and which can be released again by hand, if required, in order to remove the plug-in part. Electrodes can thus be installed at various positions and in different orientations in a simple manner, depending on the desired design of the electrode evaporator. It is furthermore proposed to include in the electrode arrangement a dummy electrode which is electrically not connected or is connected to a neutral conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Condair AG
    Inventors: Heiner Grieder, Marcel Mossner
  • Patent number: 5464531
    Abstract: A water purification device mounted within a housing adapted to be positioned on an existing water cooler/dispenser has a valve control member extending from the base of the housing and is positionable within the water reservoir of the dispenser to control the release of purified water from the device to the reservoir. The device includes a feedwater tank into which supply water is fed and which feeds water to a water level control tank which communicates with the bottom of a boiler which is maintained at the same level as the water in the control tank. The control tank includes a control valve which maintains the water in it to a predetermined level above the level of the heating element in the boiler. The boiler is connected to condenser coils for condensing vaporized water from the boiler to form distilled water which is directed through a carbon filter to a distillate storage tank where the purified water is stored until required by the water cooler/dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Market Design & Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph G. Greene
  • Patent number: 5447597
    Abstract: An apparatus for loosening wallpaper by means of steam, consisting of a steam generator and a steam plate connected to the steam generator by a steam hose, in which the steam generator incorporates a boiler which is closeable by means of a cover provided with a carrying handle and containing an electrical heating element, the carrying handle provided on the cover being thermally separated from the cover. This embodiment ensures that if the apparatus is used correctly, an operator will not come into immediate contact with heated components or hot steam and burns and scalds will be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: J. Wagner GmbH
    Inventors: Guido Zimmermann, Klaus Buttenbender
  • Patent number: 5363471
    Abstract: An electrode boiler comprising a container for containing water and electrodes within the container which serve to pass electrical current through such water and which are generally upright when the boiler is in use. Fill and drain valves are connected to the container to enable water to be fed to and drained from the container. An outlet of the container enables steam generated inside the container to pass out therefrom when the boiler is in use. A water level contact member is arranged to cause a signal to occur when the water in the container reaches a predetermined level. The boiler is provided with a store to store the value of an allowed time for water to boil away from the said predetermined level until the water is no longer in contact with the contact member. A timer is connected to time the actual time it takes for such boiling away to occur, and comparator is connected to the store and the timer to effect a comparison between the allowed time and the said actual time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton-Williams Group Limited
    Inventor: Howard C. Jones
  • Patent number: 5313550
    Abstract: An electric steam humidifier of the type which includes electrodes (58, 59) immersed in a tank containing water (5) includes an upper portion (10) consisting of a housing (3) closed by a cover (2), a lower portion (11) consisting of a housing (6) placed on a base (7), with the housings (3) and (6) being identical and positioned symmetrically in relation to a horizontal plane. The housings are joined to a structural element (4) made of aluminum and approximately U-shaped, with the arms of the U forming a space (40) for receiving the tank. The housing (3) contains a compartment (36) into which water is supplied and which includes an aperture (37) for evacuation of steam and an aperture (35) which is fitted to a filling aperture (54) on the upper surface of the tank (5). The tank includes on one of its side surfaces below the medial plane of the tank but above its bottom with a drainage aperture (55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Devatec S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Crosnier, Michel Mazire
  • Patent number: 5305415
    Abstract: A portable electric wallpaper steamer has a generator (G) including a base (1) and lid (2), both injection molded of plastic material. An elastomeric sealing ring (29) is seated in a recess in a circumferential interengagement zone between the lid and base and is held compressed by the interengagement of engagement members (24) on the lid with cooperating engagement members (39) on the base. The lid-engagement members (24) and base-engagement members (39) comprise integrally molded parts of the lid and base and one or both are resiliently deformable so that they can be brought into snap-fit engagement with each other by downward movement of the lid relative to the base to form a steam pressure tight seal. An electric heating element (6) is mounted in the base for heating water therein to generate steam. The lid includes a handle (9), filling port (10), safety valve (13) and a steam outlet port (21) connected to a wall paper steaming plate (W) by a pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Earlex Limited
    Inventor: Paul Stevens
  • Patent number: 5281309
    Abstract: A water purification device mounted within a housing adapted to be positioned on an existing water cooler/dispenser has a valve control member extending from the base of the housing and is positionable within the water reservoir of the dispenser to control the release of purified water from the device to the reservoir. The device includes a feedwater tank into which supply water is fed, either automatically, or manually. The feedwater tank, when the water is above a minimal level, feeds water to an anti-backflow control housing which communicates the water from the feedwater tank to the bottom of a boiler which is maintained at the same level as the water in the feedwater tank without the use of a float within the boiler. The anti-backflow housing includes a check valve in the form of a ball that prevents the backflow of heated water from the boiler into the feedwater tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Market Design & Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph G. Greene
  • Patent number: 5278937
    Abstract: A steam generator for the humidifier of an air conditioning system, especially an aircraft air conditioner system, is connected by a duct to a dilution cone located inside an air flow duct (4) of the humidifier. A container (21) has an opening (22) for enabling an exiting of the steam developed inside said container (21). The opening (22) is connected to the humidifier duct (4). An opening (23) for the filling with water, is connected to the outlet of a feed valve (48), the intake opening of which may be connected to a source for the supply of water. Inside the container (21), an electric resistor (30) is completely immersed in the water. A regulating unit (60) receives signals delivered by a hygrometer (9) and that governs the intensity of current passing through the resistor (30). The regulating unit (60) causing the intensity of the current in resistance (30) to be dependent on the value of the signals delivered by the hygrometer (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Industrielle Du Ponant SA
    Inventors: Guy-Paul Alix, Marc Kohler, Jean-Michel Tranvoez, Jean-Marc Manchec
  • Patent number: 5179628
    Abstract: An interface system for use with an electronic computer including a CPU, a main memory, an input/output channel unit to which a group of latches is connected by a ring transmitting path and adapted to serve as a serial register, and a service processing unit including an operator's console control unit for performing a resetting operation or the like for each of such units, wherein the service processing unit affords read/write operations of data transmitted from the serial register by itself, and which is characterized by an additional console shift register provided in the input/output channel unit, which allows an interface to be implemented between the input/output channel unit and the operator's console control unit by the reading/writing of data into and from the console shift register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Muranoi