Famous Patents
In 1608, Dutch eyeglass maker Hans Lipperhey filed the first patent for a working telescope. The patent was denied.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5984003 | System and method for controlling operation of a multi-speed circulation blower in a heating and cooling apparatus In a heating system, when a high limit opens a predetermined number of times in a single call for heat by the thermostat, the system provides for operating the circulator blower at the cool speed rather than at the heat speed.... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5754090 | Thermostat having a temperature sensing element which includes a member having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion A thermostat includes a valve for controlling gas flow, an actuator for controlling operation of the valve, and a temperature sensing element. The temperature sensing element comprises two members, one of which is made of a material having a positive coef... | 05/19/1998 |
| 5725368 | System for providing rapid warm-up of electrical resistance igniter A system for enabling an electrical resistance igniter to attain ignition temperature within a few seconds and without exceeding a temperature which could damage the igniter. The system controls the level of power to the igniter based on the determined va... | 03/10/1998 |
| 5570837 | Programmable digital thermostat with means for enabling temporary connection of a battery thereto A programmable digital thermostat is adapted to be powered by the conventional AC power source to which the thermostat is normally connected when installed in a dwelling. The thermostat has no provision for mounting a battery therein. Means are provided f... | 11/05/1996 |
| 5559418 | Starting device for single phase induction motor having a start capacitor A starting device for single phase induction motors having a start capacitor is effective to disconnect the start capacitor at a desired motor speed in response to a specific phase relationship between the voltage across the main winding and the voltage a... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5403182 | Control system for gas fired heating apparatus using double-throw radiant heat sensing switch A control system for a gas fired heating apparatus which apparatus includes a burner, two gas valves and a hot surface igniter, and which control system includes a single-pole, double-throw radiant heat sensing switch having normally-closed contacts which... | 04/04/1995 |
| 5329417 | Relay control circuit and method of operating same A method of operating a relay includes shifting, by a predetermined time increment each time the relay coil is energized, the time in the sine wave of the applied AC power source at which the relay coil is energized. The method further provides for simila... | 07/12/1994 |
| 5251813 | Indication of low battery voltage condition by altering of temperature setpoint In a digital thermostat powered solely by batteries, when the battery voltage drops to a predetermined value, the thermostat effects a visual indication of the existence of a low voltage condition. If the batteries are not replaced within a predetermined ... | 10/12/1993 |
| 5224649 | Digital thermostat with single rotary encoder switch for establishing set point temperature A digital thermostat includes a microcontroller and a single rotary encoder switch having an adjusting shaft and a knob connected to the shaft. The shaft of the switch is rotatable by the knob to a plurality of discrete angular positions, each of which en... | 07/06/1993 |
| 5199456 | Solenoid gas valve A gas valve includes two solenoid valves connected fluidically in series. A housing assembly contains a circuit board on which electrical components and a plurality of plug terminals and pin terminals are mounted. The plug terminals are adapted to be conn... | 04/06/1993 |
| 5169301 | Control system for gas fired heating apparatus using radiant heat sense A control system for a gas fired, direct ignition, induced draft furnace includes a radiant heat sensing switch responsive to a hot surface igniter and burner flame, a single-pole, double-throw pressure switch responsive to fluid flow effected by the indu... | 12/08/1992 |
| 5127464 | Thermostat providing electrical isolation therein between connected heating and cooling transformers A low voltage space thermostat adaptable for controlling a heating-only apparatus or a heating and cooling apparatus. The thermostat includes a DC power supply and a voltage step-up transformer having two primary windings and a secondary winding for suppl... | 07/07/1992 |
| 5124905 | Power supply with feedback circuit for limiting output voltage A self-resonating power supply for controlling operation of an electrostatic air cleaner wherein the ouput voltage to the cell is limited to a desired value by means of a regulated feedback circuit so as to prevent nuisance arcing in the cell and to minim... | 06/23/1992 |
| 5022460 | Control of staged heating and cooling apparatus by a four-wire thermostat A heating and cooling apparatus wherein either or both the heating apparatus and cooling apparatus are two-stage is controlled by a thermostat through four connecting wires. A signal on one of the wires enables the functions of controlling operation of th... | 06/11/1991 |
| 4978292 | Fuel burner control system with hot surface ignition A gas burner control system includes an electrical resistance igniter, gas valve means, and a microcomputer and related circuitry. The microcomputer and related circuitry control energizing of the igniter in such a manner so that the igniter, after succes... | 12/18/1990 |
| 4932430 | Adjustable two-stage fluid pressure regulating valve A solenoid operated fluid pressure regulating valve includes a valve responsive to outlet pressure to control the rate of fluid flow to a burner. The valve is biased to a first position to effect a low fire fluid flow rate and to a second position to effe... | 06/12/1990 |
| 4925386 | Fuel burner control system with hot surface ignition A gas burner control system includes an electrical resistance igniter, gas valve means, and a microcomputer and related circuitry. The microcomputer and related circuitry control energizing of the igniter in such a manner so that the igniter, after succes... | 05/15/1990 |
| 4898229 | Thermostat with integral means for detecting out-of-phase connection of a two-transformer power source A low-voltage space thermostat for controlling operation of a heating and cooling system is provided with integral circuit means for detecting the existence of an unacceptably high voltage potential between two wiring terminals therein. Such a high voltag... | 02/06/1990 |
| 4828016 | Programmable electronic thermostat with means for enabling economical recovery A programmable electronic thermostat is provided for controlling operation of a multistage heating apparatus comprising a heat pump and auxiliary heat. A salient feature is a program which provides for economical recovery from a setback temperature. The p... | 05/09/1989 |
| 4827397 | Microcomputer-based spark ignition gas burner control system A microcomputer-based spark ignition gas burner control system includes program logic to ensure compatibility of spark ignition and a microcomputer. The program logic provides for periodically re-defining the I/O (input/output) ports so as to negate the a... | 05/02/1989 |
| 4718448 | Gas valve A gas valve for providing two levels of flow capacity to a burner is adapted to enable easy conversion of the valve from use with one type of gas to use with another type. To this end, a low-flow passageway, which establishes the low-flow capacity, is siz... | 01/12/1988 |
| 4712996 | Gas burner control system with mass flow sensor A gas burner control system for controlling operation of a furnace having a blower fluidically connected to the combustion chamber of the furnace utilizes a mass flow sensor for preventing or discontinuing burner operation in the event of a blower failure... | 12/15/1987 |
| 4621336 | Visual display of time schedule in a programmable thermostat An electro-optical display in a programmable electronic thermostat includes a plurality of selectively energized display elements which cooperate with a 24-hour time indicia to provide a continuous visual display of the time periods during which a specifi... | 11/04/1986 |
| 4615282 | Hot surface ignition system control module with accelerated igniter warm-up test program A control module in a hot surface ignition system includes a microcomputer programmed to provide a pre-selected igniter warm-up time period for enabling the igniter to heat up to gas ignition temperature during normal system operation, and is further prog... | 10/07/1986 |
| 4518345 | Direct ignition gas burner control system A direct ignition gas burner control system includes an igniter, two serially-arranged gas valves for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, and a microcomputer and related circuitry for controlling energizing of the igniter and valves. The microcompu... | 05/21/1985 |
| 4444551 | Direct ignition gas burner control system A direct ignition gas burner control system includes a microcomputer for controlling energizing of an electrical resistance igniter, for subsequently effecting flow of gas to the burner when the igniter is at gas ignition temperature, and for effecting co... | 04/24/1984 |
| 4435150 | Gas burner control system Upon a call for heat, gas flows to a pilot burner, a spark generating circuit is energized to ignite the pilot burner, and an oscillator is energized. When flame appears, the output signal of the oscillator is effective, through flame responsive means inc... | 03/06/1984 |
| 4424830 | Gas valve A gas valve device includes a pressure regulator and two solenoid operated valves connected fluidically in series. The valve body therein is selectively cored and machined so as to provide a gas valve device which is compact in physical size, inexpensive ... | 01/10/1984 |
| 4406612 | Oil burner primary control for interrupted ignition system An oil burner primary control in an interrupted ignition burner control system includes a regulating circuit for regulating the voltage across a flame-responsive photo-conductive cell. The regulating circuit ensures that, in the event the cell becomes def... | 09/27/1983 |
| 4382433 | Combined humidistat and electronic air flow responsive switch An electronic air flow responsive switch is connected in circuit with a humidistat switch for controlling operation of a humidifier in a forced air heating system. The air flow responsive switch includes a self-heating PTC (positive temperature coefficien... | 05/10/1983 |
| 4372290 | Gas burner head with means for evacuating trapped water condensate A generally concave-shaped gas burner head is provided with circumferentially spaced means on the periphery of top and bottom portions for enabling water accumulated therein due to condensation of water vapor to flow out of the burner head without interfe... | 02/08/1983 |
| 4370125 | Control system for blue-flame oil burner A control system for fluid fuel burners, particularly for blue-flame oil burners, utilizes flame conduction to control energizing of the light emitting portion of an optical coupler. Circuit means including the light responsive portion of the optical coup... | 01/25/1983 |
| 4363643 | Support means for filter material in a non-electric air cleaner A filter assembly in an air cleaner includes a lower wire-form adapted to receive two opposite ends of a pliable filter material. Spaced wires on the lower wire-form enable manual forming of pleats in the filter material and define the tops of such pleats... | 12/14/1982 |
| 4363014 | Snap-on cover for bobbin-wound coil assembly A snap-on cover for a bobbin-wound electrical coil assembly includes a plurality of displaceable tabs aligned with slots provided for lead exits in the end flanges of the bobbin. Those tabs aligned with slots containing leads are displaced whereas those t... | 12/07/1982 |
| 4351200 | Removable snap-on actuators for program timer dial Actuators for a program timer are removably attached to the timer dial in a snap-on manner to enable simple and easy removal or installing of the actuators to effect changing the schedule of operation of the timer.... | 09/28/1982 |
| 4337029 | Pilot burner assembly A pilot burner assembly comprises a pilot burner, a flame responsive means, and an electrode, all attached in close relationship to a common mounting bracket. The electrode is frictionally attached co-axially with an insulating sleeve and the sleeve is fr... | 06/29/1982 |
| 4308991 | Programmable electronic thermostat A space thermostat for controlling temperature at different levels during different time periods includes a programmable microprocessor which has been pre-programmed to provide a plurality of chronologically annunciated displays. Each display contains a t... | 01/05/1982 |
| 4306853 | Direct ignition gas burner control system with diode steering circuitry A gas burner control system includes a main burner, two electrically controlled valves connected fluidically in series with the burner, an electrical resistance igniter, a temperature responsive switch, and a diode steering circuit for controlling energiz... | 12/22/1981 |
| 4301438 | Adjustable force producing means for manually movable control levers in a space thermostat In a space thermostat having a control lever for setting the temperature set-point, a force producing means clamps the control lever to the thermostat casing through an elongated slot in the casing. A hollow, rigid thin-walled nut, a compressible anchor r... | 11/17/1981 |
| 4289476 | Direct ignition gas burner control system In a direct ignition gas burner control system wherein two valves are connected fluidically in series with the burner, a make-before-break thermostatically actuated switch is effective, when a set of "cold" contacts are made, to energize an electrical res... | 09/15/1981 |
