Abstract: A heat balancing system for a natural draft gas burning appliance having a flue. When the appliance is in a standby mode, a main burner is shut off and the pilot light remains on. Temperature in the heat exchanger (e.g., temperature of water in a heater tank) may be decreased or increased, respectively, by opening or closing a damper in a flue as needed. If opening the damper does not sufficiently reduce the temperature of the heat exchanger, then the pilot light may be shut off to further reduce the temperature. The pilot light may be turned on again to bring up the temperature. There may be a control or controller to operate the damper to maintain the temperature of the exchanger within a certain range. Electrical power may be provided for the system from a power line, a storage device, or other source.

Abstract: A utility financial model involves the setting of a new utility rate after the introduction of a new utility technology that provides immediate capacity relief, reducing the base load capacity and the peak load capacity to electric power providers. The new utility rate is not based solely on performance of the new utility technology but rather based on fixed and variable costs to introduce the new utility technology.

Abstract: A batch cooking oven and process wherein food product, e.g. meat portions is batch cooked in a cooking chamber using heated air flow. A controller can vary the rate of movement and/or position of the dampers to change the flow path of the heated air through the cooking chamber and thus improve the cooking consistency of the food product. In various embodiments, the rate of movement and/or positioning of the dampers may be variably controlled and/or may be based on output from sensors in the cooking chamber that monitor a condition (e.g. product temperature, humidity, flow rate, temperature, etc.

Abstract: An adaptive real time thermal processing system is presented that includes a multivariable controller. Generally, the method includes creating a dynamic model of the thermal processing system; incorporating reticle/mask curvature in the dynamic model; coupling a diffusion-amplification model into the dynamic thermal model; creating a multivariable controller; parameterizing the nominal setpoints into a vector of intelligent setpoints; creating a process sensitivity matrix; creating intelligent setpoints using an efficient optimization method and process data; and establishing recipes that select appropriate models and setpoints during run-time.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of an ultraviolet air treatment device including an ultraviolet lamp positioned to treat air within an air handling system that operates in either an on state or an off state. The method includes activating the ultraviolet lamp, and determining the operational state of the air handling system. The ultraviolet lamp is deactivated upon expiration of a predetermined time period during which the air handling system remains in the off state. The predetermined time period is preferably 30-60 minutes, preferably 40 minutes for residential applications.

Abstract: A flue gas passage arrangement for a steam generator which permits adjustment of the heat transfer effectiveness of a final bank of heat exchanger surface to control a temperature of the flue gas flowing through and exiting from the flue gas passage and conveyed to a downstream NOx reduction device having a minimum operating temperature. The NOx reduction device is advantageously an SCR. Economizer heating surface is located within the flue gas passage, and a baffle plate extends through the flue gas passage and creates two flue gas paths there through. The economizer heating surface may be a single, common bank having a section located in both gas paths, or in only one gas path. Alternatively, two separate banks of economizer heating surface may be employed. A variable position damper is provided in one gas path, either below or above one section.

Abstract: A flue gas closure system for a furnace which includes a burner and a heat exchanger through which flue gas flows. The system includes a closure member which in an open position permits the flow of flue gas through the heat exchanger and in a closed position prevents the flow of air through the heat exchanger and means for causing said closure member to be in an open position when the burners are on and to be in a closed position when the burners are off. The closure member includes a closure plate which is slidably connected to the heat exchanger. An actuator is connected to said closure member for moving said closure member to at least one of the open and closed positions.

Abstract: For a single blade damper, an improved damper operator including a bimetallic element, one end of which is attached to the frame of the damper, and the other end of which is pivotally associated with a bracket connected to the damper blade.

Abstract: A draft control unit for stoves and furnaces comprising housings of variable design, wherein may be incorporated a bi-metal element or means for remote control. An eccentric control rod supplies adjustment means for said bi-metal and a draft door with means of self adjustment to stove.

Abstract: A controlled air intake apparatus for a furnace includes a substantially flat cover plate attached to and placed over the updraft opening of the flue and a generally rectangular housing attached over the air intake opening adjacent the burner region. The housing includes a first open side and opposite thereto a side including a plurality of apertures. The remaining sides of the housing are enclosed. The first plurality of apertures are disposed into two rows and the housing further includes a cover plate with a similar arrangement of apertures. The cover plate is slidably received by the housing and is movable by means of a solenoid between an aperture-closed orientation and an aperture-open orientation.

Abstract: A controlled air intake apparatus for a furnace includes a substantially flat cover plate attached to and placed over the updraft opening of the flue and a generally rectangular housing attached over the air intake opening adjacent the burner region. The housing includes a first open side and opposite thereto a side including a plurality of apertures. The remaining sides of the housing are enclosed. The first plurality of apertures are disposed into two rows and the housing further includes a cover plate with a similar arrangement of apertures. The cover plate is slidably received by the housing and is movable by means of a solenoid between an aperture-closed orientation and an aperture-open orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting heat from the waste gases of a stove to heat the air in the room. The apparatus is mounted on the stove and includes a central chamber in which an inner core, having a plurality of passageways, is positioned. Waste gases from the stove enter the central chamber, pass through the passageways of the inner core so as to heat the air surrounding the inner core, and then exit from the central chamber. A removably mounted closure is mounted on the top end of the central chamber to enable cleaning of the insides of the passageways. A heat shield which extends below the bottom end of the central chamber so as to surround the back and sides of the stove is provided to protect adjacent walls from the heat radiated by the stove.

Abstract: An apparatus for reclaiming heat from and for controlling the flow of combustion gases passing through a flue from a heater to an exhaust stack. The apparatus includes an inner housing having first inlet and outlet openings. The first inlet opening is adapted for connection by one section of the flue to the heater, whereby combustion gases from the heater will enter the inner housing through the first inlet opening and will exit therefrom through the first outlet opening. An outer housing at least partially surrounds the inner housing, the said inner and outer housings being spaced one from the other to define an intermediate chamber which is in communication with the inner housing's first outlet opening. The outer housing is provided with a second outlet opening which is aligned with the first outlet opening and in communication with an integral damper housing which is in turn adapted for connection by another flue section to the exhaust stack.

Abstract: A flue gate device operated by a solenoid whose energy comes from any outside source, which energy is controlled by the furnace burner control of the furnace to which it is attached. The pull of the solenoid is resisted by a spring which will restore the flue gate to an open position when the solenoid is deenergized or in case of an electrical failure in the flue gate device itself. Through relay switches, the solenoid is deenergized when the furnace burner is energized, and the solenoid is energized when the burner is deenergized, thus enabling a "fail-safe" condition, which enables the furnace to function completely free of the flue gate device.

Abstract: A stack damper control arrangement for use in a heating system including a furnace having a fuel-fired burner apparatus and a vent stack for conducting combustion products away from the burner apparatus and a damper plate pivotally mounted within the stack and movable between a fully open and a fully closed position, includes a reversible drive motor which is energizable in response to a request for heat to drive the damper plate to the open position, a first limit switch operated when the damper plate reaches the open position to effect the deenergization of the motor, the motor being reenergized at the end of the heating cycle to drive the damper plate to the closed position, and a second limit switch operated when the damper plate reaches the closed position to effect the deenergization of the motor.

Abstract: In a building heating system having a furnace, the instant invention incorporates a furnace enclosure for spacedly enclosing the furnace, an inlet air duct for conducting fresh air to the enclosure space for supporting combustion in the furnace, a combustion products outlet duct extending from the furnace, radiant heating duct means extending from the combustion products duct in radiant heat exchange relation with building space, and flue means communicating with the radiant heating duct for exhausting flue gas.

Abstract: A hot air furnace having a fire box and a plurality of heat exchange units connected together in series, the front wall of said furnace being common to said fire box and said heat exchange units and the remaining walls of said furnace being spaced from said fire box and wall, the furnace employing a mechanical draft control system which simultaneously regulates an air intake to the fire box and an air intake to the exhaust duct from the furnace to uniformly regulate the temperature in the furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a fabricless surface covering from particles of synthetic resin utilizes an oven assembly having a plurality of heating units which are automatically and/or manually adjustable for establishing and maintaining a preselected across the several successive heating zones progressively increasing temperature within the oven assembly. The particles of synthetic resin are deposited from a hopper onto a conveyer means which transports them through a leveler assembly and a compactor before reaching the oven assembly. After being fused by the application thereto of heat as it passes through an oven assembly, the synthetic resin is fed through an embossing unit, around a cooling drum and to a trimmer. Then after being trimmed, the fused synthetic resin passes through a coater assembly which applies a coating to a fused resin before the latter leaves the apparatus.

Abstract: A damper, normally biased closed, in a flue of a heating system has an arm which is connected by linkage to an armature of a solenoid for opening the damper when a winding of the solenoid is energized by a heating system control. Switch means, engaged by the arm, is interposed between the heating system control and burner facilities of the heating system for preventing operation of the burner facilities when the damper is closed and for allowing operation of the burner facilities when the damper is open.