Joseph R Birkner

US Patent:

44677839, Aug 28, 1984

Filed:

Feb 4, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/463782

Inventors:

James R. Hurley - Weymouth MA
Joseph R. Birkner - West Peabody MA

Assignee:

Thermo Electron Corporation - Waltham MA

International Classification:

A47J 2706

US Classification:

126378

Abstract:

Disclosed is a vapor-jacketed cooking kettle having a compact, self-contained, gas-fired combustion system. The tiltable kettle includes a gas-fired cylindrical power burner which fires radially into a combustion chamber below a jet plate which in turn is closely spaced below the bottom wall of a water-containing jacket. Hot combustion gases produced by the burner heat and jet plate to temperatures at which it radiates large amounts of heat to the jacket wall. The hot gases also pass through holes in the plate to form high velocity jets which impinge on the jacket wall and transfer heat by convection. Heat transferred by the jet impingement and radiation vaporizes water in the jacket and the resulting steam cooks food products in the kettle. Thermal efficiencies of 70 percent or higher are achieved by the tilting kettle system.

US Patent:

45521239, Nov 12, 1985

Filed:

Dec 12, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/681033

Inventors:

Joseph R. Birkner - West Peabody MA
Maurice Nunes - Arlington MA
James R. Hurley - East Weymouth MA

Assignee:

Thermo Electron Corporation - Waltham MA

International Classification:

F24D 100
F28F 2100

US Classification:

126369

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

46712500, Jun 9, 1987

Filed:

Jul 28, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/890219

Inventors:

James R. Hurley - East Weymouth MA
Joseph R. Birkner - West Peabody MA
Maurice Nunes - Arlington MA

Assignee:

Thermo Electron Corporation - Waltham MA

International Classification:

F24C 1532

US Classification:

126 21A

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

46229469, Nov 18, 1986

Filed:

May 16, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/734932

Inventors:

James R. Hurley - East Weymouth MA
Joseph R. Birkner - West Peabody MA
Maurice Nunes - Arlington MA

Assignee:

Thermo Electron Corporation - Waltham MA

International Classification:

F24C 300

US Classification:

126 39E

Abstract:

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.