Quotables
"To place a man in a multi-stage rocket and project him into the controlling gravitational field of the moon where the passengers can make scientific observations, perhaps land alive, and then return to earth--all that constitutes a wild dream worthy of Jules Verne. I am bold enough to say that such a man-made voyage will never occur regardless of all future advances."
Lee deForest, American radio pioneer ; 1957
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7699237 | Method for controlling the exhaust flow from a cooking chamber of a baking oven A baking oven and a method for controlling the exhaust flow from a cooking chamber of the baking oven, the flow being discharged by a fan. The method includes increasing a speed of the fan during a first time interval after. A first temperature of the baking oven is... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7311064 | Gas water heater damper/baffle Apparatus for improving the efficiency of a water heater includes a combination damper assembly and heat transfer baffle. The damper assembly includes a plurality of movable damper with each damper leaning outwardly from one another when the dampers are in a closed ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7280016 | Design of membrane actuator based on ferromagnetic shape memory alloy composite for synthetic jet actuator A membrane actuator includes a magnetically actuatable membrane and a magnetic trigger. The membrane includes a shape memory alloy (SMA), and the magnetic trigger is configured to induce a martensitic transformation in the SMA, to produce a larger force than would b... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7188481 | Adjustable damper actuator An actuator for controlling the position of a damper. It is an adjustable damper actuator that can actuate a damper to have positions that are other than fully open and fully closed. The actuator has adjustable stops for attaining a partially closed or partially ope... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7182101 | Device for controlling the flow of a fluid in one or more conduits in an electrical appliance, particularly in a dishwasher machine A device for controlling the-flow of a fluid in one or more conduits in an electrical appliance, particularly in a dishwasher machine, comprises at least a control member, movable between two or more positions, and shape memory actuator means of control member. ... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7146290 | Apparatus and method for diagnosing performance of air-conditioning systems The present application reveals a device for verifying a proper heat exchange and overall performance of an air-conditioning system. The device includes means for measuring a temperature differential between ambient and vent temperatures of the air-conditioning syst... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7111590 | Water heater having windproof effect A water heater includes a housing, an air box, and two windproof hoods. Thus, the waste gas produced by the burner is drained outward smoothly and regularly even when the air current of the ambient environment is disposed at an abnormal and unstable state, so that t... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7104056 | Design of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy composites and actuators incorporating such materials The present invention employs an optimized cross-sectional shape for a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) composite that is used in a spring-type actuator, an improved hybrid magnetic trigger for use in FSMA based actuators, an a FSMA composite based spring typ... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7018289 | Latch assembly for damper A damper assembly is provided having at least one damper blade that operates in a normally open position. A fusible link is connected to the damper blade to maintain the damper blade in the open position against a biasing force tending to close the damper blade. The... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7003377 | Controlling cooling air intake for air cooled equipment A method and apparatus for supplying cooling air to electronic equipment from ones of at least two sources. A detector detects whether the quality, such as the temperature of the cooling air from a source, is satisfactory and if not shuts the damper to that source a... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6979965 | Spring return actuator for a damper An actuator including an electric motor driven by a drive circuit powered by a power source, and a load coupled to the electric motor. The actuator further includes a spring biasing the load to a first position, and a microcontroller coupled to the electric motor to... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6940241 | Circuit using current limiting to reduce power consumption of actuator with DC brush motor A drive circuit including a motor for positioning a damper from a rest position to a stalled position and protect the drive mechanism from damage due to increased current to the drive motor when the damper stalls by including a current limiter to prevent the current... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6921327 | Exhaust pipe cover An exhaust pipe cover adapted to resist wind-induced uplift and entry of any accompanying and/or independent rain, snow, dirt, dust, and/or other foreign matter, into the exhaust pipe and communicating engine, wherein such a device may be retrofitted to existing ver... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6915799 | Damper control device for outside applications A damper control device suitable for use in a fireplace comprises a flue, wherein products of combustion from the fireplace enter the flue, a damper positioned in a damper pipe which is connected to the flue, with the damper movable between open and closed positions... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6914532 | Method and apparatus for alarm verification in a ventilation system Method and apparatus for testing the operation of an alarm for a ventilated enclosure, such as a fume hood or bio-safety cabinet. Flow of gas being exhausted from the enclosure may be adjusted to a known value below or above a threshold value at which the alarm prov... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6755138 | Ventilation system and method A balanced building ventilation system that employs a fireplace as an element of the ventilation system. The fireplace includes a firebox, and an exhaust gas flue is connected to the firebox for exhausting gas from the firebox to the outdoor ambient. A ventilation c... | 06/29/2004 |
| 6749124 | Damper control device A damper control device is disclosed comprising a mounting plate, a motor assembly coupled to the mounting plate and having a shaft extending therefrom, and a single circuit board coupled to the mounting plate, comprising relay control circuitry which rotates the sh... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6681761 | Exhaust damper system for asphalt heating device A device is shown for transporting asphalt repair materials for use in repairing potholes in asphalt pavements. The device has a body with a hopper compartment for transporting and dispensing asphalt mix materials. A dry, radiant heat source is located in... | 01/27/2004 |
| 6644957 | Damper control device A device for controlling a damper in an appliance is disclosed comprising a motor having a rotatable shaft extending therefrom which is operatively connected to a plate of the damper, a control circuit which transmits current to the motor to rotate the sh... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6213117 | Motorized insulated damper assembly for furnace systems A damper unit is provided that is adapted to be positioned in a furnace duct line. The damper unit has a housing which is in communication with a fresh air source and a furnace system. The housing has a damper blade which is moveable between an open posit... | 04/10/2001 |
| 5911217 | Internally mounted flue damper with exterior free-standing damper drive This invention provides a water heater including a water storage tank, a flue, a jacket around the tank and the flue and having a top end, a top cover which extends over the tank and the flue and which closes the jacket top end, and a flue collector withi... | 06/15/1999 |
| 5709173 | Method and apparatus for controlling combustion air in a boiler plant A method for controlling combustion air in a boiler plant, where combustion air is supplied into a boiler located in a boiler building, comprises the steps of determining a ratio of air flow inside the building to air flow outside the building on the basi... | 01/20/1998 |
| 5695116 | Thermally activated vent damper A thermally activated vent damper assembly for occluding passage of gases in a passageway such as a flue. The assembly includes first and second damper members which are pivotable about a common axis. Coaxial first and second support members which are spa... | 12/09/1997 |
| 5555876 | Chimney safety and control system A chimney safety and control system includes a control panel which indicates the position of the chimney damper and the operational status of a chimney fan unit, and allows the operator to electro-mechanically open and close the damper and set the fan. Wh... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5503550 | Gas log fireplace system A gas-fired, simulated log fireplace insert incorporating an automatic flue damper for controlling the operational state of a chimney vent (open/closed) in response to gas combustion, an externally mounted carbon monoxide detector for terminating or inhib... | 04/02/1996 |
| 5363025 | Actuator employing unidirectional motor for bidirectional rotational positioning An actuator employing a unidirectional electric motor driving a first rotating member connected to a second rotating member through a pivotable link of which a first end is connected to the first rotating member at a smaller distance from its axis of rota... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5346126 | Device for controlling heating efficiency of water heater A device for use in improving the heating efficiency of a water heater comprises a housing mounted over the heat collecting pieces of the water heater and provided with at least a set of ventilating ports, each of which is composed of a predetermined numb... | 09/13/1994 |
| 5292063 | Damper actuator A stack damper control apparatus for positioning a stack damper and controlling a fuel source in response to closing of a temperature sensitive switch. Limit switches comprising drop cams are coupled to the drive shaft of the damper. In response to a call... | 03/08/1994 |
| 5186385 | Thermally activated vent damper A thermally activated vent damper assembly for a flue is adapted to be situated in relation to the flue for occluding the passage of gas through the flue. A support member traverses the flue and suspends the damper member across the flue for movement betw... | 02/16/1993 |
| 5141152 | Flue gas closure system 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 posit... | 08/25/1992 |
| 5082172 | Thermally activated vent damper A thermally activated vent damper assembly for a flue is adapted to be situated in relation to the flue for occluding the passage of gas through the flue. A support member transverses the flue and suspends the damper member across the flue for movement be... | 01/21/1992 |
| 5071064 | Shape memory actuator smart connector A pivotal electrical connector for connecting a shape memory alloy element in the form of a coil spring to a fixed member, the connector including a strip of electrically conductive material having a clip or a pair of legs for securing the connector to on... | 12/10/1991 |
| 5039006 | Home heating system draft controller A forced air heating system having a dedicated supply duct for delivering heated air to the heated portions of the building and having an open air return system which uses the rooms, hallways, door openings, etc. of the building for returning air back to ... | 08/13/1991 |
| 4979672 | Shape memory actuator A shape memory actuator for controlling the position of a control member, such as a damper plate in a duct, the actuator including first and second shape memory elements each having an austenite phase transition temperature above which each element assume... | 12/25/1990 |
| 4942348 | Electronic air register controller A self-contained electronic air register controller can easily be mounted directly onto the outside of an air register. When so mounted, the controller engages the register's actuating lever and permits automatic opening and closing of the air register by... | 07/17/1990 |
| 4919329 | Thermally activated automatic damper and damper operator A damper has a frame with a cross bar and a reciprocal blade. A bimetallic element which moves in response to temperature is coupled to the blade and is hingedly coupled to the cross bar so that movement of the bimetallic element in response to temperatur... | 04/24/1990 |
| 4838481 | Draft control arrangement for venting of combustion apparatus In a bimetal-actuated damper a loop-shaped bimetal element engages a damper element. One end of the loop is fixedly fastened while the other end of the loop is movably connected with the damper element. This improves temperature-dependent response and sen... | 06/13/1989 |
| 4834282 | Device for use with flue dampers A device is provided for controlling the position of a damper within a flue or stack of a forced air heating or cooling system or a commercial or industrial boiler. The device comprises a damper plate and means to control rotation of the plate within a fl... | 05/30/1989 |
| 4711626 | Damper mounting assembly A housing supporting a signal-controlled, power operating unit for a damper is mounted internally within a duct by a tubular supporting sleeve in an angularly and axially adjusted position projecting from an open end of the duct. A shield fixed to the ext... | 12/08/1987 |
| 4705928 | Damper drive in microwave heating appliance A heating appliance such as a hot-air circulating microwave oven using a shape memory alloy as the damper spring for driving the damper unit. The damper lid a capable of switching the direction of air to be supplied into the heating chamber and the damper... | 11/10/1987 |
