Thermo Electron Corporation

Thermo Power Corporation

Gas Research Institute

Southern California Gas Company

Holcroft & Company

Maurice Nunes

James R Hurley

Kailash C Shukla

Joseph R Birkner

Frederick E Becker

Edward F Doyle

Andrew Edward Masters

Paul K Shefsiek

Edward F Searight

Dean T Morgan

Leonard G Nowak

Michael P Grimanis

Ann S Buck

A hybrid power assembly includes a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power conversion module for converting radiant thermal energy into electrical power, and a battery in electrical communication with the TPV power source and rechargeable by electrical power generated by the TPV power source.

Hybrid power assembly

A combination flashlight and electrical power source assembly includes an emitter and fuel system module, a fuel cartridge module fixed to the emitter and fuel system module, a photovoltaic conversion module attachable to a selected one of the emitter and fuel system module and the fuel cartridge module, and a flashlight lens module attachable to the other of the emitter and fuel system module and the fuel cartridge module. When the photovoltaic conversion module is attached to the emitter and fuel system module and the flashlight lens module is attached to the fuel cartridge module, the photovoltaic conversion module is active, the flashlight lens module functions as an end cap, and the assembly functions as an electrical power source. When the flashlight lens module is attached to the emitter and fuel system module and the photovoltaic module is attached to the fuel cartridge module, the flashlight lens module is active, the photovoltaic conversion module functions as an end cap, and the assembly functions as a flashlight.

Combination flashlight an electrical power source assembly and emitter and reflector therefor

A two stage, atmospherically supplied burner which produces reduced levels of NO.sub.x in applications such as residential water heaters or light commercial applications. A novel, perforated plate first stage burner is disclosed for first stage combustion. A variety of embodiments disclose various approaches to supplying atmospheric to support second stage combustion. A conventional first stage burner is also disclosed with modifications to achieve two-stage, atmospherically supplied combustion.

Lox NO.sub.x staged atmospheric burner

A gas/air mixing valve is provided for regulating the amounts of combustion air and fuel gas that are delivered to a burner or a series of burners for use with both residential and commerical cooking ranges. The mixing valve overcomes the problem of pressure disturbances caused by known mixing valves by drawing a constant flow of combustion air regardless of whether the burner to which it is supplying fuel gas and air is off or operating at any intensity level. In a preferred embodiment the mixing valve is provided with an adjustable orifice disk which directs a constant flow or air, in selectable proportions, to either combine in the mixing valve with fuel gas for combustion or bleed to atmosphere. By always drawing a constant flow of air independently of the operating level of the burner, the mixing valve allows adjustment of individual burners with no effect on other burners connected to the system.

Gas/air mixing valve

An efficient, low cost, gas-fired convection oven is disclosed. The oven includes a burner, such as a ceramic induced draft/boosted burner with premixed pressurized air/fuel gas supply, which fires combustion products through an opening in a baffle directly into a convection blower. The blower assembly, protected by a shield/deflector structure, also draws gases from a cooking chamber around the burner to mix with combustion products in a blower chamber. Action of the blower directs the mixture through the blower to circulate through gaps formed by the top and bottom of the baffle and into the cooking chamber. The oven avoids complex, costly wall-type heat exchangers, has no combustion chamber, and provides efficient, uniform cooking in a unit of low manufacturing cost.

Direct-firing gas convection oven

A gas-fired cooking range having a powered combustion air and gas input; proportional turndown burner control irrespective of the number of burners being used or the degree of turndown of any burner; light-weight jet impingement/radiation members being provided on each burner for efficient heat transfer to utensils and a simplified ignitor/sensor system for all burners operable by any individual burner control.

Jet impingement/radiation gas-fired cooking range

A compact steam cooking unit includes a compartment for holding fresh or frozen food to be cooked by steam and an associated gas-fired generator of steam which are combined in a fully self-contained appliance which requires only conventional utility connections and can be mounted on a counter-top. The steam generator includes a powered burner firing into one or more fire tubes which are submerged in water which is maintained at a desired level in a water chamber. Steam derived from heating of the water passes from the water chamber through ports into the cooking compartment where it contacts the food to be cooked.

Gas-fired steam cooker

A broiler for cooking food products has an upper heating unit located in a spaced relationship from the food and a lower heating unit in a close heat transfer relationship with the food. The upper unit is preferably a U-shaped radiant fire tube with a gas-fired power burner mounted at one end as a heat source. Hot flue products exiting the radiant tube are directed to the lower heating unit which is preferably a heat pipe assembly with evaporator and condenser zones for a working fluid. In one form the condenser zone includes a generally flat wall portion with a cooking surface defining a set of upwardly facing grooves. In another form the condenser zone is a series of generally parallel pipes that extend under the food in a horizontal, mutually spaced relationship. A movable rack supports the food and moves it into and out of a cooking relationship with the condenser zone of the heat pipe assembly.

Radiant/conductive broiler

A crucible furnace for high-temperature melting of metals or other materials which includes a capped vessel for serving as a crucible to hold a charge of material to be melted, a solid baffle surrounding and closely spaced from the vessel to form a restricted passageway and a refractory wall surrounding and widely spaced from the baffle to form a combustion chamber. Fuel is supplied at the base of the combustion chamber and mixed with air preheated by a compact internal recuperator operative from exhaust gases exiting the restricted passageway. The fuel is burned in the combustion chamber, heating the baffle which in turn radiates heat to the vessel containing the charge. Several of the elements forming the combustion and heat transfer system also serve as structural elements providing rigid support to internal components when the furnace is upright and when it is tilted to pour off melt. Adjacent its top, openings are formed through the baffle to permit flame and combustion products to pass from the combustion chamber downwardly through the restricted passageway and recuperator region to the exhaust flue. Thus, heating of the vessel is also had by convection. The combustion chamber is isolated from the charge in the vessel by a seal, the integrity of which is maintained by downward pressure from a lip formed on the crucible.

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, MA, United States of America

Maurice Nunes