Gary Dean Mercer

US Patent:

6454176, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Sep 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/671700

Inventors:

Douglas A. Burkett - Eaton OH
James W. Meeks - Arcanum OH
Gary L. Mercer - Eaton OH
Craig J. Vagedes - Dayton OH

Assignee:

Henny Penny Corporation - Eaton OH

International Classification:

B01F 302

US Classification:

236 44A, 392403, 454239

Abstract:

A holding cabinet with closed-loop humidity control system and method for controlling humidity in a holding cabinet are disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method comprises determining a relative humidity set point; activating a heater in a fluid pan; determining if a fluid is present in the fluid pan; measuring the relative humidity in the cabinet; and maintaining the relative humidity within a predetermined range. According to another embodiment, a holding cabinet with a closed-loop humidity control system includes a holding cabinet; an air temperature probe for measuring an air temperature within the holding cabinet; a humidity sensor for measuring a humidity within the holding cabinet; a heater for heating air within the holding cabinet to a predetermined temperature; an air fan for circulating the air and for introducing air from outside the holding cabinet; and a water pan for holding water within the holding cabinet.

US Patent:

6670585, Dec 30, 2003

Filed:

Jun 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/171381

Inventors:

Douglas A. Burkett - Eaton OH
Tim A. Landwehr - West Alexandria OH
James W. Meeks - Arcanum OH
Gary L. Mercer - Eaton OH
Craig J. Vagedes - Dayton OH

Assignee:

Henny Penny Corporation - Eaton OH

International Classification:

H05B 102

US Classification:

219491, 137409, 62158, 236 78 D

Abstract:

A fluid fill system includes at least one sensor for indicating whether a fluid level in a reservoir is equal to or greater than a predetermined fluid level and a process control. The process control obtains a reading from the at least one sensor at a predetermined interval and increments a counter if the reading indicates that the fluid level is equal to or greater than the predetermined fluid level and decrements the counter if the reading indicates that the fluid level is less than the predetermined fluid level. Process control operates a fluid supply mechanism when a value of the counter moves beyond a predetermined value.

US Patent:

6832732, Dec 21, 2004

Filed:

Sep 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/252842

Inventors:

Douglas A. Burkett - Eaton OH
James W. Meeks - Arcanum OH
Gary L. Mercer - Eaton OH
Craig J. Vagedes - Dayton OH

Assignee:

Henny Penny Corporation - Eaton OH

International Classification:

G05D 2100

US Classification:

236 44C, 219401

Abstract:

A holding cabinet with closed-loop humidity control system and method for controlling humidity in a holding cabinet are disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method comprises determining a relative humidity set point; activating a heater in a fluid pan; determining if a fluid is present in the fluid pan; measuring the relative humidity in the cabinet; and maintaining the relative humidity within a predetermined range. According to another embodiment, a holding cabinet with a closed-loop humidity control system includes a holding cabinet; an air temperature probe for measuring an air temperature within the holding cabinet; a humidity sensor for measuring a humidity within the holding cabinet; a heater for heating air within the holding cabinet to a predetermined temperature; an air fan for circulating the air and for introducing air from outside the holding cabinet; and a water pan for holding water within the holding cabinet.

US Patent:

7322278, Jan 29, 2008

Filed:

Dec 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/730066

Inventors:

Gary L. Mercer - Eaton OH, US
Ned M. Mote - Laura OH, US
Douglas A. Burkett - Eaton OH, US

Assignee:

Henny Penny Corporation - Eaton OH

International Classification:

A47J 37/12

US Classification:

99333, 99331, 99338, 99403

Abstract:

A fryer includes a cooking vessel, and the cooking vessel includes a wall and contains a cooking medium. The fryer also includes a heater for heating the cooking medium, and a first temperature sensor which determines a first temperature. The first temperature is a temperature of the cooking medium or is a temperature of air within the cooking vessel, depending on a level of the cooking medium within the cooking vessel. The first temperature sensor also generates a first signal indicating the first temperature. The fryer also includes a second temperature sensor, which determines a second temperature of the wall. The second temperature sensor also generates a second signal indicating the second temperature. Moreover, the fryer includes a controller which is electrically coupled to the first temperature sensor and to the second temperature sensor. Specifically, the controller receives the first signal and receives the second signal.

US Patent:

8551331, Oct 8, 2013

Filed:

May 29, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/475051

Inventors:

Douglas A. Burkett - Eaton OH, US
Thomas Lee Gort - Germantown OH, US
Gary L. Mercer - Eaton OH, US

Assignee:

Henny Penny Corporation - Eaton OH

International Classification:

A47J 37/12
B01D 36/00
B01D 35/02
B01D 35/143

US Classification:

21016728, 210 85, 210 90, 210 97, 210100, 210106, 210109, 210143, 210194, 210252, 2102571, 210258, 210DIG 8

Abstract:

An automatic filtering system for filtering a cooking medium in a fryer, includes a frypot; a filter manifold having removable filter; a pump, that supplies cooking medium from the filter manifold to the frypot; a pressure sensor that senses a pressure of the cooking medium supplied by the pump; and a controlling mechanism that controls an operation of the pump in response to the sensed pressure data. The control mechanism halts the operation of the pump after sensing a drop in the pressure of the cooking medium pressure that is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure drop threshold. The systems and methods of the invention provide automatic filtering that may reduce or eliminate an incorrect refilling operation after the filtering of cooking medium, so that the filtering process may be performed correctly each time.

US Patent:

7363502, Apr 22, 2008

Filed:

Apr 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/119195

Inventors:

Gary L. Mercer - Eaton OH, US

Assignee:

Henny Penny Corporation - Eaton OH

International Classification:

H05B 1/02

US Classification:

713184

Abstract:

In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for powering up a controller is described. The system includes a power source, a heat generator adapted to receive power from the power source, and a controller adapted to receive power from the power source and adapted to detect a power interruption from the power source and the controller. The controller includes a clock for continuously monitoring a current time and a current date, software for copying the current time and current date, and a memory for storing the current time and the current date. The controller also includes software for calculating a length of time between the detected power interruption and a power restoration from the power source to the controller, and a password system for preventing unauthorized power restoration from the power source to the heat generator when the length of time is greater than a predetermined length of time.

US Patent:

20110168032, Jul 14, 2011

Filed:

May 12, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/778631

Inventors:

Trent ABNEY - Eaton OH, US
Steve WERTS - Eaton OH, US
Tim LANDWEHR - Eaton OH, US
Gary SUMMONS - Eaton OH, US
Gary MERCER - Eaton OH, US

International Classification:

A47J 37/12

US Classification:

99408

Abstract:

A cooking apparatus includes a first and second cooking vessel, a drain manifold connecting the first and second cooking vessel to a drain container for storing cooking medium, a first drain valve and second drain valve configured to connect the first and second cooking vessel with the drain container. A first drain lever selectively opens and closes the first drain valve, and a second drain lever selectively opens and closes the second drain valve. A first and second drain lever indicator indicate an operational status of the first and second drain valves, respectively. A controller monitors the first and second drain valve. When the first drain valve is open, the second drain lever indicator indicates a warning when the second drain lever is operated. When the second drain valve is open, the first drain lever indicator indicates a warning when the first drain lever is operated.

US Patent:

20140034583, Feb 6, 2014

Filed:

Oct 7, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/048022

Inventors:

Douglas A. BURKETT - Eaton OH, US
Thomas Lee GORT - Germantown OH, US
Gary L. MERCER - Eaton OH, US

Assignee:

HENNY PENNY CORPORATION - Eaton OH

International Classification:

C11B 3/00

US Classification:

210741

Abstract:

An automatic filtering system for filtering a cooking medium in a a fryer, includes a frypot; a filter manifold having removable filter; a pump, that supplies cooking medium from the filter manifold to the frypot; a pressure sensor that senses a pressure of the cooking medium supplied by the pump; and a controlling mechanism that controls an operation of the pump in response to the sensed pressure data. The control mechanism halts the operation of the pump after sensing a drop in the pressure of the cooking medium pressure that is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure drop threshold. The systems and methods of the invention provide automatic filtering that may reduce or eliminate an incorrect refilling operation after the filtering of cooking medium, so that the filtering process may be performed correctly each time.