Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8157560 | Heater A heater including a heat dump opening and a heat dump cover moveable between an open and a closed position to selectively block flow of fluid through the heat dump opening. The heat dump opening is formed in the top of the housing, and the heat dump cover is biased... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8113823 | Apparatus and method for controlling a damper in a gas-fired appliance A damper mechanism for a gas-fired appliance is disclosed. The damper mechanism is mechanically operated in response to changes in pressure within a portion of the appliance. Changes in gas pressure operate to displace a diaphragm, thereby moving a linkage attached ... | 02/14/2012 |
| 7363882 | Condensation removal for use with a draft inducer A condensation removal apparatus is disclosed. The condensation removal apparatus is used with a hot water heater wherein the hot water heater produces a fuel exhaust. The fuel exhaust from the hot water heater is provided to a draft inducer through an inlet which i... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7319577 | Safety shut off for water heaters A water heater includes a gas valve and a solenoid to operate the gas valve. A thermocouple of the water heater is heated by a pilot light to provide a current source to maintain the gas valve in an open position. A sensor activated switch switches current from a se... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7255285 | Blocked flue detection methods and systems The present invention is directed at systems and methods for detecting flue blockages in an HVAC system without the addition of numerous additional sensor elements, wiring, and connections that can unduly increase the cost and possibly reduce the reliability of the ... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7250870 | Back draft alarm assembly for combustion heating device A back drafting alarm assembly is designed to detect back drafting in combustion fired appliances. The assembly includes a temperature sensor unit that is attached to the diverter bonnet of a water heater or furnace to measure the temperature at all times. The senso... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7196485 | Universal low-power ceiling fan controller A universal low-power ceiling fan controller includes a brushless DC motor in a ceiling fan casing, a microprocessor connected to a power supply that operates with a remote-control device and has a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting data signals to the micr... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7188519 | Device and method for measuring the flow and at least one material parameter of a fluid For measuring the flow and the thermal conductivity of a fluid, a sensor is used, which has a first temperature detector for measuring a first temperature and a second temperature detector for measuring a second temperature. A heating is arranged between the tempera... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7155347 | Pre-inerting method and apparatus for preventing large volume contained flammable fuels from exploding A method and apparatus employing a hydrofluorocarbon agent for preventing a large volume of contained flammable fuel from exploding are disclosed. Generally, a method of the present invention comprises detecting a hazardous condition proximate the contained flammabl... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7101172 | Apparatus and methods for variable furnace control A furnace control system for controlling a gas-fired induced-draft furnace having a variable speed inducer blower. A control apparatus, responsive to a signal corresponding to the magnitude of a pressure difference between an inlet and outlet of the combustion chamb... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7066301 | Linear actuator having manual override and locking mechanism A manual override mechanism is presented for a motor-driven linear actuator that allows the output rack and pinion of the actuator to be manually positioned. Once positioned, the output may be locked by a locking mechanism to prevent this output from translating to ... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7056204 | Air mover An air mover comprising a motor and a plurality of fan blades coupled to the motor. The motor is operable to rotate the fan blades about a blade axis in order to generate an airflow. A housing is disposed about said fan blades and defines a free area through which t... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7057871 | Actuation circuit for an electromagnetic actuator The actuation circuit for an actuator (10) includes an energy store (11) arranged near the actuator (10). The energy store (11) is configured such that it instantaneously discharges in response to a trigger signal, wherein the discharge c... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7052271 | Draft inducer system A draft inducer system has a voltage reducer capable of converting an input AC voltage to a reduced voltage, and an inducer unit capable of being coupled with the voltage reducer. The voltage reducer includes a reducer housing, a set of prongs extending from the red... | 05/30/2006 |
| 6959706 | Safety circuit for chimney fans A single-phase asynchronous motor with an auxiliary winding in which non-rotation is detected by the absence of an induced voltage across the auxiliary winding when it is briefly disconnected from its power source. Before the detection, the motor is briefly provided... | 11/01/2005 |
| 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 |
| 6758208 | Flexible gas-fired heat exchanger system A compact, highly flexible and efficient, multi-positionable, multi-dimensional and multi-stage gas-fired heat exchanger system as described. The system is connectable in a forced air duct regardless of the angular position and size of the duct. The heat exchanger c... | 07/06/2004 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 6543438 | Furnace with dual use inducer motor An improved furnace including a two-speed inducer motor which can be used as a single speed motor for either a vertically or horizontally vented furnaces. The inducer has a common terminal, a low speed terminal and a high speed terminal. One lead is attac... | 04/08/2003 |
| 6439877 | Control device for a gas-fired appliance A device for controlling a gas-fired appliance is provided. The device includes a motor assembly having a shaft extending therefrom and a cam coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith. The cam is coupled to a damper plate of the gas-fired appliance and ... | 08/27/2002 |
| 6401708 | Pressure sensing device in gas furnace and method for controlling operation thereof Pressure sensing device in a gas furnace including a first tube in communication with a position of an air supply pipe on an inlet side of an air supply fan having a pressure identical to an inlet of the air supply fan, a second tube in communication with... | 06/11/2002 |
| 6390806 | Pneumatic system for flame rollout and draft safeguard protection A furnace is provided with a flame rollout protection system which operates through an existing excess-air control pneumatic circuitry to shut down the furnace in the event of a flame rollout condition. A fusible tube is attached at its one end to the pne... | 05/21/2002 |
| 6276929 | Method for controlling kiln pressure A method for controlling kiln pressure for a shuttle kiln having an exhaust gas fan and an exhaust gas damper in an exhaust gas passage includes the steps of performing a control operation for controlling the number of revolution of the exhaust gas fan to... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6257871 | Control device for a gas-fired appliance A device for controlling a gas-fired appliance having a thermoelectric device such as a thermopile is provided and, particularly, for controlling a damper and a main burner valve within a gas-fired appliance. The device includes a motor having a shaft ext... | 07/10/2001 |
| 6234164 | Intake and discharge tube closure detector for combustion device of forced intake and discharge type An orifice is disposed in an intake tube for developing a pressure difference across the orifice, i.e., portions of the intake tube which are positioned upstream and downstream of the orifice. An upstream connection pipe and a downstream connection pipe h... | 05/22/2001 |
| 5993195 | Combustion air regulating apparatus for use with induced draft furnaces A combustion air regulating apparatus which is adapted for use with two stage induced draft furnaces and which allows such furnaces to be used with low cost AC inducer motors of the type having one or a small number of nominally fixed operating speeds. A ... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5902098 | Method for controlling an ignition for a gas boiler A method for controlling an igniting operation for a gas boiler for preventing an explosive ignition is disclosed. The gas boiler is equipped with a burner for burning a gas, a fan for exhausting a burnt gas in the burner, and an ignition plug for perform... | 05/11/1999 |
| 5882185 | Apparatus for detecting a head wind in a gas boiler and method thereof An apparatus for detecting a head wind in a gas boiler and method is disclosed which is capable of the magnitude of variation of voltage corresponding to the R.P.M. of an exhaust fan and the combustion state of flame. A microcomputer in the gas boiler det... | 03/16/1999 |
| 5878741 | Differential pressure modulated gas valve for single stage combustion control An apparatus senses the pressure changes in a collector box or relief box of a furnace due to changing wind conditions, and adjusts the gas flow accordingly. The apparatus controls the main gas valve of the furnace through a regulator loop. The regulator ... | 03/09/1999 |
| 5860411 | Modulating gas valve furnace control method A furnace control apparatus is described wherein a flow of gas into a burner assembly is directly dependent on an indicia of burner combustion air airflow, such as heat exchanger pressure drop. According to one embodiment of the invention, a first communi... | 01/19/1999 |
| 5819721 | Flow control system A control system for regulating a flow rate of a heat transfer fluid in a heat transfer system, the heat transfer system having a heat transfer fluid flow path, flow control device for creating flow along the path, a fuel source for providing a combustibl... | 10/13/1998 |
| 5795148 | Induced draft furnace air addition method and apparatus Method and apparatus for maintaining even heat distribution to each of the tubes contained in a down-fired induced draft furnace by eliminating external atmosphere disturbances such as wind from influencing furnace operation. The top of the furnace is iso... | 08/18/1998 |
| 5791332 | Variable speed inducer motor control method The present invention is a method and apparatus for controlling the flow of combustion air and/or combustion products through a furnace which may experience changing flow restrictions. The method provides constant flow through an induced-draft furnace by ... | 08/11/1998 |
| 5601071 | Flow control system A control system for regulating a flow rate of a heat transfer fluid in a heat transfer system, the heat transfer system having a heat transfer fluid flow path, flow control device for creating flow along the path, a fuel source for providing a combustibl... | 02/11/1997 |
| 5575274 | 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... | 11/19/1996 |
| 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 |
| 5456597 | Intelligen transient eliminator for an ignition system The present invention relates to an intelligent transient eliminator which allows a gas ignition system to prevent gas valves from being turned off by a pressure switch in response to a transient pressure wave. The transient eliminator is preferably provi... | 10/10/1995 |
| 5447125 | Heat-activated flue damper actuator A heat activated flue damper actuator employing an assembly of shape memory alloy springs with linkages to a conventionally designed contemporary flue damper. The combination of the spring material, spring configuration and dimensions, linkage/fastening s... | 09/05/1995 |
| 5395230 | High ratio modulation combustion system and method of operation A combustion system is shown having a combustion chamber into which fuel is introduced and ignited in the presence of air to create products of combustion which are routed through an exhaust vent. A forced draft burner intakes air and fuel and ignites the... | 03/07/1995 |
