JOHN A BOWMAN
Engineering in North Lancaster, MA

6139311, Oct 31, 2000

May 7, 1999

9/307124

John A. Bowman - Lancaster MA
Karen R. Benedek - Winchester MA
Stephan E. Schmidt - Winchester MA

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

F23Q 900

431278

An apparatus and method for operating a pilot burner apparatus and a main burner apparatus of a gas-fired appliance. The pilot burner apparatus draws combustion air from a first environment. The main combustion apparatus draws air from a second environment. In a shutdown condition, such as when a flammable vapor source is accidentally exposed to the second environment, the pilot burner apparatus draws air containing an undesired flammable vapor which eliminates the pilot flame, triggering a gas valve to close and shut down the fuel gas supply to the main burner apparatus and the pilot burner apparatus.

7077644, Jul 18, 2006

Jan 7, 2005

11/031239

John A. Bowman - Lancaster MA, US
Steven Casey - Arlington MA, US

Gas Technology Institute - Des Plaines IL

F23D 14/06

431354, 431349, 126 39 E

A gas-fired burner including a cylindrical burner housing having a premixed fuel/air opening. Disposed within the cylindrical burner housing is a cylindrical burner ring which forms at least one row of a plurality of burner ports. The cylindrical burner ring is sized relative to the burner housing such that an annular space is formed between the burner housing and the burner ring. Upper and lower annular rings extend between the burner ring and the burner housing, thereby enclosing the annular space. Disposed within the burner ring is a secondary air flow restrictor for controlling the flow of secondary air to the flame. A multi-finger grate having alternating long and short fingers is disposed above the burner housing.

6074200, Jun 13, 2000

Jan 20, 1998

9/009807

John A. Bowman - Lancaster MA
Karen R. Benedek - Winchester MA
Stephan E. Schmidt - Winchester MA

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

F23Q 900, F23D 1462

431278

A pilot burner apparatus for use with gas-fired appliances, such as gas-fired water heaters, is provided with a structure configured for the early detection, and response to, the presence of flammable vapor in the atmosphere ambient to the appliance. Combustion air for the pilot burner is taken from that region of the ambient atmosphere, most likely to become contaminated with flammable vapor first. One or more flame characteristics of the pilot burner flame are monitored, and if the flame characteristics depart from a predetermined range of parameters, gas flow to the pilot and main burner(s) of the appliance are cut off. The sensitivity of the pilot burner is such that flammable vapors are detected before the concentration of flammable vapors car rise to the lower flammability limit of the anticipated flammable vapor(s).

6554608, Apr 29, 2003

Oct 3, 2000

09/678589

John A. Bowman - Lancaster MA
Karen R. Benedek - Winchester MA
Stephan E. Schmidt - Winchester MA

Gas Research Institute - Des Plaines IL

F23N 524

431 6, 431 22, 431278

An apparatus and method for operating a pilot burner apparatus and a main burner apparatus of a gas-fired appliance. The pilot burner apparatus draws combustion air from a first environment. The main combustion apparatus draws air from a second environment. In a shutdown condition, such as when a flammable vapor source is accidentally exposed to the second environment, the pilot burner apparatus draws air containing an undesired flammable vapor which eliminates the pilot flame, triggering a gas valve to close and shut down the fuel gas supply to the main burner apparatus and the pilot burner apparatus.

6705533, Mar 16, 2004

Apr 20, 2001

09/839595

Steven Casey - Arlington MA
John Bowman - Lancaster MA

Gas Research Institute - Des Plaines IL

G05D 2300

236 1E, 236 78 D, 318596

A method is disclosed for operating a gas-fired heater to maintain temperature within a zone. The gas-fired heater is modulated between a higher firing rate and a lower firing rate within a pseudo steady-state mode until a current firing rate exceeds a predetermined maximum time period t. The gas-fired heater is then modulated between an updated higher firing rate and an updated lower firing rate within a transient mode until an updated current firing rate exceeds a predetermined maximum time period t. Finally, the higher firing rate and the lower firing rate are redefined in a diagnostic mode until the gas-fired heater returns to the pseudo steady-state mode.

2002015, Oct 24, 2002

Apr 20, 2001

09/839597

Steven Casey - Arlington MA, US
John Bowman - Lancaster MA, US
Sergei Brussovansky - New York NY, US

F23N005/00

431/060000, 431/281000

A gas-fired heater includes a plurality of burners and one or more valves corresponding to one of the burners and operating between a closed position and an open position. A fuel supply is in fluidic communication with at least one of the burners when the one or more valves are in the open position. A modulator receives a temperature signal and computes, as a function of the temperature signal, and emits at least one control signal. The modulator then operates the one or more valves between the open position and the closed position as a function of the at least one control signal and controls the one or more valves to either activate or deactivate the burners for incrementally modulating a heat input to the gas-fired heater.