Kenneth James Hicks

US Patent:

6745723, Jun 8, 2004

Filed:

Jul 2, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/612369

Inventors:

Kenneth J. Hicks - Deatsville AL
David L. Henderson - Millbrook AL
Jozef Boros - Montgomery AL

Assignee:

Rheem Manufacturing Company - New York NY

International Classification:

F16K 1516

US Classification:

122 1431, 137855

Abstract:

Convective heat traps are installed at the cold water inlet and hot water outlet of a water heater. Each heat trap has a tubular body with two axially spaced apart resilient flapper members transversely extending across the interior of the body and being hinged on opposite sides thereof. The heat trap at the cold water inlet is coaxially disposed within a dip tube. In one alternate structure, flapper members are mounted directly on the dip tube, and in another alternate structure an external annular seal element is mounted on the dip tube or heat trap body, with a flapper member being integrally formed with the seal element.

US Patent:

6885816, Apr 26, 2005

Filed:

Nov 3, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/701959

Inventors:

Kenneth J. Hicks - Deatsville AL, US
David L. Henderson - Millbrook AL, US
Jozef Boros - Montgomery AL, US

Assignee:

Rheem Manufacturing Company - New York NY

International Classification:

F24H001/20

US Classification:

392451, 392441, 264 452, 122 192

Abstract:

A foam dam in the insulation cavity of an electric water heater comprises a plastic bag into which liquid foam insulation is injected, the bag having an essentially closed top edge portion with only a small opening for receiving the injected insulation. A small portion of the insulation injected into the bag is forced outwardly therefrom via small metering holes to form external protrusions on the bag that mechanically interlock with a second batch of insulation subsequently injected into the cavity and prevent the hardened second insulation batch from pulling away from the bag. The substantially closed top edge of the bag permits the insulation injected into the bag to pack therein and increase the top-to-bottom hardened foam density uniformity. Side edges of the bag may be pleated to increase the sealing area of the foam dam.

US Patent:

6898375, May 24, 2005

Filed:

Jul 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/888463

Inventors:

David L. Henderson - Millbrook AL, US
Jozef Boros - Montgomery AL, US
Kenneth J. Hicks - Deatsville AL, US

Assignee:

Rheem Manufacturing Company - New York NY

International Classification:

H05B003/40

US Classification:

392478, 392441, 2206941, 122494

Abstract:

Electrical components projecting outwardly from the storage tank portion of an electric water heater are shielded from foam insulation material being injected into an insulation space between the tank and an outer jacket portion of the water heater by a hollow, open sided foam dam structure extending through a jacket opening and circumscribing the electrical components. Force exerting projections on the dam engage the interior side surface of the jacket and forcibly hold the inner side of the dam structure in sealing engagement with the tank. The projections also hold an outer side peripheral lip of the dam in a an outwardly and resiliently deflected orientation in which it is sealingly pressed inwardly against the outer side surface of the jacket around the periphery of the opening therein to prevent injected foam from being forced outwardly through the jacket opening.

US Patent:

6917756, Jul 12, 2005

Filed:

Jul 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/611481

Inventors:

David L. Henderson - Millbrook AL, US
Jozef Boros - Montgomery AL, US
Kenneth J. Hicks - Deatsville AL, US

Assignee:

Rheem Manufacturing Company - New York NY

International Classification:

H05B003/40

US Classification:

392478, 392449, 392455

Abstract:

Electrical components projecting outwardly from the storage tank portion of an electric water heater are shielded from foam insulation material being injected into an insulation space between the tank and an outer jacket portion of the water heater by a hollow, open sided foam dam structure extending through a jacket opening and circumscribing the electrical components. Force exerting projections on the dam engage the interior side surface of the jacket and forcibly hold the inner side of the dam structure in sealing engagement with the tank. The projections also hold an outer side peripheral lip of the dam in a an outwardly and resiliently deflected orientation in which it is sealingly pressed inwardly against the outer side surface of the jacket around the periphery of the opening therein to prevent injected foam from being forced outwardly through the jacket opening.

US Patent:

7013841, Mar 21, 2006

Filed:

Feb 1, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/048247

Inventors:

Jozef Boros - Montgomery AL, US
Subbu Thenappan - Montgomery AL, US
Walter T. Castleberry - Pike Road AL, US
Kenneth J. Hicks - Deatsville AL, US

Assignee:

Rheem Manufacturing Company - New York NY

International Classification:

F24H 9/14

US Classification:

122 192, 122 141, 126344

Abstract:

A specially configured fuel-fired water heater production platform may be used as a natural draft water heater. Alternatively, by modifying an upper end portion of the production platform using associated conversion apparatus, the same platform may be converted to a power vented water heater subassembly, a natural draft direct vent water heater subassembly, or a powered direct vent water heater subassembly to thereby lower the overall production costs for these different types of fuel-fired water heaters.

US Patent:

7027723, Apr 11, 2006

Filed:

Jul 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/887583

Inventors:

David L. Henderson - Millbrook AL, US
Jozef Boros - Montgomery AL, US
Kenneth J. Hicks - Deatsville AL, US

Assignee:

Rheem Manufacturing Company - New York NY

International Classification:

F24H 1/18

US Classification:

392441, 392449

Abstract:

Electrical components projecting outwardly from the storage tank portion of an electric water heater are shielded from foam insulation material being injected into an insulation space between the tank and an outer jacket portion of the water heater by a hollow, open sided foam dam structure extending through a jacket opening and circumscribing the electrical components. Force exerting projections on the dam engage the interior side surface of the jacket and forcibly hold the inner side of the dam structure in sealing engagement with the tank. The projections also hold an outer side peripheral lip of the dam in a an outwardly and resiliently deflected orientation in which it is sealingly pressed inwardly against the outer side surface of the jacket around the periphery of the opening therein to prevent injected foam from being forced outwardly through the jacket opening.

US Patent:

7946257, May 24, 2011

Filed:

Apr 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/102122

Inventors:

Kenneth J. Hicks - Saraland AL, US
Mario Ramos Negrete - Montgomery AL, US
Trevor Allen Damron - Marbury AL, US
Hector Jose Donastorg - Waverly AL, US

Assignee:

Rheem Manufacturing Company - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

F23C 5/02

US Classification:

122 171, 1263501

Abstract:

A fuel-fired water heater is provided with a combustion chamber assembly, representatively a sealed combustion chamber assembly, operative to create from combustion air delivered thereto via a circumferentially limited vertical side portion thereof a flow of primary combustion air to the underside of a centrally disposed fuel burner within the assembly via a first location underlying the burner, a first flow of secondary combustion air delivered to the burner via the first location, and a second flow of secondary combustion air delivered to the burner via a second location outwardly circumscribing the first location.