Timothy A Krause

US Patent:

8191513, Jun 5, 2012

Filed:

Oct 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/248859

Inventors:

Timothy D. Krause - Cypress CA, US
David Weinkle - Cypress CA, US

Assignee:

TDK Family Limited Partnership - Cypress CA

International Classification:

F22D 5/18

US Classification:

122415, 122 20 R, 1224061, 237 123 B, 237 19, 237 59

Abstract:

A system and a method for controlling a pump in a recirculating hot water system is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for controlling a temperature of water in a recirculating hot water system including a storage tank for storing heated water, a recirculation conduit including a supply conduit for supplying the heated water to users via a plurality of outlets having a first outlet and a last outlet and a return conduit for returning an unused portion the heated water to the storage tank, a pump for circulating the heated water, the pump disposed along the return conduit, the method including measuring, at a point along the recirculation conduit, a temperature of the heated water provided from the storage tank, and controlling a speed of the pump, disposed along the return conduit, based on the measured temperature.

US Patent:

56262876, May 6, 1997

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/476319

Inventors:

Timothy D. Krause - Cypress CA
Leo J. Weeks - Las Vegas NV

Assignee:

TDK Limited - Cypress CA

International Classification:

F24H 100
F23N 108

US Classification:

236 20R

Abstract:

A system for controlling a water heating system senses the temperature of new (unheated) water and uses any drop in that temperature as an early, quantitative measure of the demand for hot water within the system. The heater itself is turned "on" and "off" with respect to a control set point temperature (T. sub. C) which increases with decreasing inlet water temperature. Thus, the control set point is increased above a baseline by an amount related to the amount of unheated water drawn into the heater to replenish the heated water being used. In a preferred embodiment, a calculated demand value proportional to the drop in inlet water temperature (T. sub. I) is summed over time to reflect the time during which a given demand condition continues. When the heater is ultimately turned "off", signifying that the hot water supply temperature (T. sub. S) is substantially higher than the control temperature (T. sub.

US Patent:

20180321698, Nov 8, 2018

Filed:

Jul 16, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/036395

Inventors:

- Cypress CA, US
Timothy Dale Krause - Cypress CA, US

International Classification:

G05D 23/02
F16K 31/00

Abstract:

A thermal valve for controlling a flow of fluid includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet configured to permit the flow of fluid through an interior of the housing, an actuator including heat-sensitive material configured to contract or expand based on a temperature of the fluid, a rod fixedly coupled to the housing and partially inside the actuator, the rod being configured to move relative to the actuator as the heat-sensitive material contracts or expands, a chamber inside the housing and fixedly coupled to the housing, the chamber being configured to accommodate the actuator, a first compressive resilient element configured to movably couple the actuator to the chamber, and a disc movably coupled to the chamber via a second compression element, and configured to permit flow of the fluid from the inlet to the outlet and to reduce flow of water from the outlet to the inlet.

US Patent:

20170003052, Jan 5, 2017

Filed:

Jul 1, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/201215

Inventors:

- Cypress CA, US
Timothy Dale Krause - Cypress CA, US

International Classification:

F24H 9/20

Abstract:

A temperature control system for controlling a water heater to adjust the temperature of water in a water storage tank, the control system including a first temperature sensor coupled to the storage tank and configured to measure a first temperature of the water at a first location within the storage tank, a second temperature sensor coupled to the storage tank and configured to measure a second temperature of the water at a second location within the storage tank, and a controller coupled to the first and second temperature sensors and configured to turn ON the water heater when the measured first and second temperatures are below a first setpoint temperature, and to turn OFF the water heater when the measured first and second temperatures are at or above a second setpoint temperature.

US Patent:

20160004264, Jan 7, 2016

Filed:

Jul 1, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/789878

Inventors:

- Cypress CA, US
Timothy Dale Krause - Cypress CA, US

International Classification:

G05D 23/02

Abstract:

A thermal valve having a sealed expansion chamber containing heat-sensitive material that expands or contracts based on a fluid temperature flowing through the valve, which operates a rod/piston to close or open a valve.