Abstract: A temperature regulating control unit and method of making the same are provided, the unit comprising a RTD temperature sensor, a unit for applying electrical signals to the sensor, and a microcomputer for receiving digital signals from the sensor in relation to the temperature being sensed by the sensor, the unit for applying electrical signals to the sensor applying a varying voltage to the sensor.

Abstract: An electrically operated control device and system for an appliance and method of operating the same are provided, the system comprising a power source of alternating electrical current that has a repeating voltage wave cycle and a repeating current wave cycle, a load for using the electrical current to provide an output of the load for the appliance, a relay having normally open contacts and a coil for closing the contacts only when the coil is energized, an electrical circuit for interconnecting the power source to the load through the contacts only when the contacts are closed, and a control unit for causing the coil to close the contacts substantially at a certain point on the voltage wave cycle each time the relay coil closes the contacts from the open condition thereof whereby the current flow through the contacts at each closing thereof is at substantially a desired level thereof.

Abstract: A fuel control device and method of making the same are provided, the fuel control device comprising a housing having an inlet separated from an outlet by a valve seat and having a movable valve member for opening and closing the valve seat, an electrical coil, a movable armature being moved to a first position thereof when the coil is energized and being moved to a second position thereof when the coil is deenergized, and a tension spring operatively interconnecting the valve member to the armature.

Abstract: A jet burner construction, a heating apparatus utilizing the jet burner construction and methods of making the same are provided, the jet burner construction having wing-like extensions respectively disposed on opposite sides of the burner body thereof for respectively interconnecting with adjacent wing-like extensions of adjacent burner constructions, each wing-like extension having a side edge and an elongated outlet slot extending along the side edge thereof and interconnected with an outlet opening of the burner body through which fuel is adapted to issue so as to burn external to the wing-like extensions, each slot having a certain height throughout the elongated length thereof, each wing-like extension having a chamber therein that interconnects with the chamber of the burner body and is adapted to feed fuel from the chamber to the respective slot thereof along a major portion of the elongated length thereof, each chamber of each wing-like extension having a height throughout the entire area thereof tha

Abstract: A burner construction and method of making the same are provided, the burner construction comprising a burner body having a chamber therein and having opposed ends one of which is open to the chamber and the other of which has structure for interconnecting a source of fuel to the chamber, and a removable cap closing the one end of the body, the cap having opposed sides and an annular peripheral edge interconnecting the opposed sides together, the burner construction having ports interconnecting the chamber to the exterior of the burner construction and through which the fuel can issue to burn externally to the burner construction, the cap having an annular groove in one of the opposed sides thereof and inboard of the peripheral edge thereof, the burner body having a projection disposed in the groove to hold the cap on the one end of the burner body in its closing position thereof.

Abstract: A temperature regulating control device and method of making the same are provided, the device comprising a housing, a movable selector unit carried by the housing for selecting a temperature the control device is to tend to maintain, and an ambient temperature sensing means carried by the selector unit for indicating the ambient temperature being sensed by the temperature sensing means.

Abstract: A control device and methods of making and operating the same are provided, the control device comprising a microcomputer unit, a relay unit having a coil and contacts that are operated to one condition thereof when a direct current flows through the coil, the relay unit having a certain voltage rating, a power supply unit for being interconnected to a high voltage alternating current power supply that has a certain frequency, and a circuit operatively interconnecting the units together, the power supply unit comprising a transformerless capacitor arrangement for creating a low voltage direct current source from the power source to power the microcomputer unit and the coil, the power supply unit comprising an arrangement for creating from the transformerless capacitor arrangement a first low voltage direct current for powering the microcomputer unit and a second low voltage direct current for powering the coil of the relay unit whereby the first low voltage direct current and the second low voltage direct cur

Abstract: A cooking apparatus, a latching construction therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the latching construction comprising a frame carrying a movable latch member and a drive unit operatively interconnected to the latch member to move the latch member between the latching and unlatching positions thereof, the drive unit comprising a cylinder having opposite ends and a movable piston extending from one of the opposite ends and being operatively interconnected to the latch member, the drive unit having an actuator to extend the piston so as to be adapted to move the latch member from its non-latching position thereof to its latching position thereof when the actuator is first actuated for a door locking operation thereof, the drive unit having an additional unit adapted to cause the piston to be retracted after the latch member has been moved to the latching position thereof by the first activation of the actuating unit while maintaining the latch member in its latching position until the actuating

Abstract: A fuel ignition system and method of making the same are provided, the system having a unit for detecting when an igniter has been heated to ignition temperature, the detecting unit comprising a receiving member for receiving at least some of the electrons emitted from the heated igniter and an electrical circuit for determining from the received electrons an emission rate of the electrons and for operating a fuel feeding device to feed fuel to a burner only when the determined emission rate is at a certain level that proves that the igniter is at ignition temperature.

Abstract: A jet burner construction, a heating apparatus utilizing the jet burner construction and methods of making the same are provided, the jet burner construction comprising a burner body having a chamber therein and having an inlet leading to the chamber for directing fuel from a fuel source therein and an outlet leading from the chamber and defining an outlet opening through which the fuel is adapted to issue from the chamber to burn externally to the burner body, the burner construction having an insert disposed in the outlet opening, the insert having a central opening part passing therethrough and a plurality of spaced apart opening portions passing therethrough whereby flows of fuel respectively issuing out of the portions and the central part of the insert merge together in a turbulent manner externally of the outlet opening, the burner body being formed of two generally similar integral and one-piece body sections secured together in superimposed relation and each having generally one-half of the outlet op

Abstract: A control device and method of making the same are provided, the control device comprising a rotary switch carried on the component mounting side of a printed circuit board of the control device and having opposed sides with a central opening passing through the opposed sides thereof, and an actuator shaft having a portion thereof disposed in the central opening for operating the rotary switch upon rotation of the shaft, the shaft having structure snap fitting the portion thereof in the central opening of the rotary switch when the portion of the shaft is initially inserted into the central opening by being axially moved from the solder side of the board to the component mounting side of the board.

Abstract: A hot water tank construction, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the hot water tank construction comprising a hot water tank having a wall provided with an opening therethrough and a spud carried by the wall and having an opening therethrough that is disposed in aligned relation with the opening in the wall, and a fuel control valve unit having a shank provided with a portion thereof disposed in the opening of the spud and being interconnected to the opening of the spud so as to be carried by the wall, the opening of the spud having axial securing structure therein, the portion of the shank having axial securing structure thereon, the portion of the shank having been axially pushed into the opening of the spud until the portion is in a predetermined position thereof whereby the axial securing structures cooperate together to interconnect the fuel control valve unit to the spud.

Abstract: A control device and method of making the same are provided, the control device having a plurality of electrical switch units carried by a support, a bracket structure carried by the support and having a plurality openings passing therethrough and being respectively aligned with the switch units, a cover carried by the bracket structure and having a plurality of finger movable areas respectively covering the openings, and a plurality of plungers disposed in the openings, the plungers each having been initially integral and one-piece with the bracket structure and having been separated therefrom to freely float relative to the bracket structure between its respective movable area of the cover and its respective switch unit.

Abstract: A control device and method of making the same are provided, the control device comprising two generally flat and rectangular circuit boards each having a component carrying side and an opposite solder side, each circuit board having a peripheral edge, and mounting structure holding the two circuit boards in spaced apart generally parallel relation with certain sides thereof facing each other, the mounting structure comprising a bracket unit generally engaging and encircling the peripheral edges of the two circuit boards so as to generally close the space between the two circuit boards around generally the entire peripheral edges thereof.

Abstract: A control system, a control device therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the control device having an axially movable shaft for moving a movable valve into its latching position with an electromagnetic unit and also being rotatable from a first position thereof to a second position thereof to place and hold an electrical switch in an operating condition thereof, the switch being in series with the electromagnetic unit so that the electromagnetic unit can not have an electrical current flowing therethrough unless the switch is in the operating condition thereof.

Abstract: A method of making a jet burner construction having an outlet opening provided with a central opening part and a plurality of spaced apart opening portions interconnected thereto and radiating outwardly therefrom whereby flows of fuel respectively issuing out of the portions and the central part of the outlet opening merge together in a turbulent manner externally to the outlet opening, the burner construction having a flame retainer unit carried by a body unit of the burner construction and extending beyond the outlet opening to prevent flows of induced air from being created between the flows of fuel issuing from the radiating portions, the burner body unit being formed of two generally similar body sections secured in superimposed relation and each having generally one-half of the outlet opening and one-half of the flame retainer unit, each one-half of the flame retainer unit being integral and one-piece with its respective body section.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for moving at least some of the liquid in liquid bearing soil or ground are provided, the method comprising the steps of disposing a first electrode unit and a second electrode unit in the ground so as to have at least portions thereof disposed beneath the top surface of the ground and so as to have a section of the ground disposed between the portions of the electrode units, creating an electrostatic field between the portions of the electrode units to tend to move at least some of the liquid in the section of the ground toward one of the portions of the electrode units, and imposing a vibratory field arrangement on the section of the ground to enhance the movement of the liquid in the section of the ground toward the one of the portions of the electrode units, the step of imposing the vibratory field arrangement comprising the step of simultaneously imposing a plurality of different vibratory field actions on the section of the ground so that a plurality of different intensities and/

Abstract: A control device, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the control device having a temperature sensing unit comprising a rod and tube means utilizing a heat expandable and contractible polymeric member disposed between one end of the rod and an abutment of the tube to tend to cause an outer end of the rod to move toward an actuator of the control device upon the unit sensing decreasing temperature and to tend to cause that end of the rod to move away from the actuator upon the unit sensing increasing temperature, a biasing member being operatively interconnected to the unit to continuously place the tube under compression between an open end thereof and the abutment thereof and to continuously place the rod under tension between the opposite ends thereof to tend to reduce the temperature differential of the control device.