Abstract: A heater comprises a combustion chamber and a jacket extending about the combustion chamber. There is a fan having an output which communicates with the combustion chamber to provide combustion air. There is also a fuel delivery system having a variable delivery rate. A burner assembly is connected to the combustion chamber. The burner assembly has a burner mounted thereon adjacent the combustion chamber. The burner receives fuel from the fuel delivery system. There is an exhaust system extending from the combustion chamber. An oxygen sensor is positioned in the exhaust system to detect oxygen content of exhaust gases. There is a control system operatively coupled to the oxygen sensor and the fuel delivery system. The control system controls the delivery rate of the fuel delivery system according to the oxygen content of the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A heater comprises a combustion chamber and a jacket extending about the combustion chamber. There is a fan having an output which communicates with the combustion chamber to provide combustion air. There is also a fuel delivery system having a variable delivery rate. A burner assembly is connected to the combustion chamber. The burner assembly has a burner mounted thereon adjacent the combustion chamber. The burner receives fuel from the fuel delivery system. There is an exhaust system extending from the combustion chamber. An oxygen sensor is positioned in the exhaust system to detect oxygen content of exhaust gases. There is a control system operatively coupled to the oxygen sensor and the fuel delivery system. The control system controls the delivery rate of the fuel delivery system according to the oxygen content of the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A heater comprises a combustion chamber and a jacket extending about the combustion chamber. There is a fan having an output which communicates with the combustion chamber to provide combustion air. There is also a fuel delivery system having a variable delivery rate. A burner assembly is connected to the combustion chamber. The burner assembly has a burner mounted thereon adjacent the combustion chamber. The burner receives fuel from the fuel delivery system. There is an exhaust system extending from the combustion chamber. An oxygen sensor is positioned in the exhaust system to detect oxygen content of exhaust gases. There is a control system operatively coupled to the oxygen sensor and the fuel delivery system.

Abstract: An appliance comprises a burner and a compressor for supplying pressurized air to the burner in order to create a low-pressure area for siphoning fuel to the burner. A flame sensor senses for the presence or absence of a flame in the burner and a temperature sensor senses an actual temperature of the appliance. There is a controller in communication with the temperature sensor. The controller shuts off the compressor and overrides the flame sensor such that the appliance acts as if a flame is present when the temperature sensor senses that the actual temperature of the appliance is greater than a maximum threshold temperature. The controller starts up the compressor overriding the flame sensor such that the appliance acts as if a flame is absent when the temperature sensor senses that the actual temperature of appliance is less than a minimum threshold temperature.

Abstract: A temperature probe comprises a thermocouple with a cross-section having flattened sides and rounded ends, and a method of manufacturing a thermocouple for a temperature probe comprising the step of flattening a round thermocouple wire.

Abstract: An appliance comprises a burner and a compressor for supplying pressurized air to the burner in order to create a low-pressure area for siphoning fuel to the burner. A flame sensor senses for the presence or absence of a flame in the burner and a temperature sensor senses an actual temperature of the appliance. There is a controller in communication with the temperature sensor. The controller shuts off the compressor and overrides the flame sensor such that the appliance acts as if a flame is present when the temperature sensor senses that the actual temperature of the appliance is greater than a maximum threshold temperature. The controller starts up the compressor overriding the flame sensor such that the appliance acts as if a flame is absent when the temperature sensor senses that the actual temperature of appliance is less than a minimum threshold temperature.

Abstract: A diesel/electric appliance for heating coolant within an auxiliary heater circuit and for heating potable water within a potable water circuit. The appliance includes a diesel powered auxiliary heater and a coolant jacket surrounding the burner of the auxiliary heater. Electrical resistance elements are immersed within the coolant jacket to maintain the temperature of the potable water circuit by transferring heat through a heat exchanger to the potable water circuit.