Abstract: A fully integrated electronic appliance controller for controlling the operation of a appliance (e.g., a gas-fired water heater or boiler). The controller includes an integrated intelligent control system; enhanced safety features including an igniter current proving circuit, a flame detection circuit, a safety limit string and an energy cut-out (ECO) control; an intelligent user interface including a display unit and a communications system; and an adaptive control feature. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller is adapted to receive as many as four temperature probes (e.g., thermistors). The first probe senses the water temperature at the outlet of a water heater, the second probe senses the water temperature at the inlet of the water heater, the optional third probe senses the temperature at a first location in an associated remote water storage tank, and the optional fourth probe senses the temperature at a second location in the associated remote water storage tank.

Abstract: A liquid temperature regulation system comprises a controller means adapted to control operation of a temperature regulation means. A sensing means to detect the liquid temperature and a safety means to enable the temperature regulation means to be disabled are operatively connected to a reset means that is connected to a power source via a transforming means that is itself adapted to lower the voltage level of the power source to a level safe for use by a user. The reset means is operable to reset the safety means, thus enabling the controller means to again operate the temperature regulation means. A water storage system delivers liquid at operating temperatures at a preset time, such system including a liquid storage means, a temperature regulation means, a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the liquid in the storage means, and a controller to control the operation of the temperature regulation means in accordance with a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A new Combination Carbon Monoxide Sensor and Furnace Shut-Off System for automatically terminating natural gas flow to a malfunctioning boiler or furnace which is producing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. The inventive device includes a carbon monoxide sensor system for detecting carbon monoxide, and a control valve electrically connected to the carbon monoxide sensor system and connected within a gas pipe for controlling the flow of natural gas within the gas pipe. When the carbon monoxide sensor system detects a dangerous level of carbon monoxide surrounding the boiler or furnace, a solenoid is electrically activated for closing the control valve for stopping the flow of natural gas into the malfunctioning boiler or furnace.

Abstract: An electronic thermostat having a safety feature includes a controller which sends control signals to circuitry used for activating a system for conditioning air. The control signals are used to control the active state of the system for conditioning air. Furthermore, safety cutoff circuitry is incorporated into the thermostat whereby the safety cutoff circuitry is used to override the control signal sent from the controller when a predetermined temperature is reached in the space being heated or cooled.

Abstract: An air cleaner with a smoke alarm unit for a forced air recirculating system is disclosed. The smoke alarm unit is housed within a module that fits within the frame of the air cleaner with minimal impact on the cleaning ability of the cleaner. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a battery capacity tester and air cleaner functionality detector are included in the module. Signals from the battery tester and functionality detector are used by the smoke alarm unit to drive an alarm generator with different signals to produce distinguishable alarms for a smoke condition, low battery condition, and an air cleaner failure. A control unit may receive any of the alarm conditions to execute different control actions in the forced air system.

Abstract: A gas fired burner includes a pilot gas valve and a burner gas valve sequentially operated to light the burner. A monitor includes individual monitoring of the status of the valves and the burner as well as other components and systems associated with the burner and includes separate lamps for each components. A test circuit monitors the sequential ignition cycle and includes a timing circuit having a timing period somewhat longer than the selected ignition period. An indicator lamp is connected to the timing unit. A sensing device is connected to the pilot gas valve and to the burner gas valve and each establishes an output in response to activation of pilot gas valve and burner valve. The pilot valve signal turns on the timing unit and the burner valve signal turns off the timing unit such that the indicator lamp is actuated only if ignition of the burner is not established within said selected ignition period.

Abstract: By temperature gradient detection it is determined for the liquid combustion chamber auxiliary heater for motor vehicles, whether e.g. a flame blow-off has taken place, which has to be interpreted as a malfunction and hwich necessitates the discontinuation of fuel supply. Alternatively, it might merely show the switching from a high setting to a low setting. In the latter case a temperature drop to a lower operation temperature occurs also. However, the temperature drop is not as steep as in the case of a flame blow-off. At certain points in time t.sub.1 the target temperature for a point in time t.sub.2 is calculated by the detected temperature according to a certain algorithm having specific device properties as parameters. At this point in time the calculated target temperature is checked for errors.

Abstract: A fire condition detection and control system for use with air moving and filtering units. The system includes one or more remote fire condition detection units, which sense heat or smoke and, upon such sensing, transmit a signal indicative of an alarm condition to one or more air moving and filtering units located within a containment area. The transmission is by wireless radio frequency transmission and/or a wired transmission line or cable. The air moving and filtering units detect the alarm condition and disconnect power to the blower motor of the air moving and filtering unit. The receiver and control circuitry may be integral with the air moving and filtering unit, or may be part of a separate control unit that plugs into conventional air moving and filtering units.

Abstract: An instantaneous hot water heater having a coiled heat exchanger (4) through which water to be heated passes. A fuel supply assembly (22) is provided for supplying air and gas to the interior of the exchanger for combustion in such a way that combustion occurs as a series of rapidly occuring pulses at a rate of typically 50 to 100 ignitions per second. There is considerable turbulence in the combustion products whereby good heat exchange takes place enabling very efficient operation.

Abstract: A heating device, particularly an auxiliary vehicle heating device, in which there are disposed, a first temperature sensor at the inlet, and a second temperature sensor at the outlet of the heating device. The outputs of the two temperature sensors are connected with a circuit, so that the operating condition of the heat exchanger of the heating device can be constantly monitored. For the purpose of early detection of a tendency towards overheating of the heating device, appropriately, the temperature differential between the two temperature sensors is determined, and, based upon a predetermined threshold value, the heating device is turned off, if necessary, in order to prevent resultant damage. The outputs of the temperature sensors can also be integrated with a control unit for the performance of control functions and, based upon different switch points, control operation of the vehicle blower, the heating output, and/or the heat exchanger temperature.

Abstract: There is disclosed a control apparatus for operating any one of a plurality of parallel connected boilers as a lead boiler, with the others operating as lag boilers. The control apparatus enables a lag boiler to assist the lead boiler during a prolonged operating period to share the burden and the therefore prolong equipment life and increase system efficiency. The control apparatus enables each boiler to serve as the lead boiler while employing full modulation, other boilers such as the lag boiler also employ full modulation. The control apparatus also causes an automatic switch over between boilers after a malfunction of one of the boilers in a rapid time.

Abstract: A valve rod of a gas heating device actuates not only a microswitch, but also a disc valve. A pilot burner and a main burner are separately controlled by individual solenoid operated valve which is serially connected. The disc valve is provided at the upstream of the pilot burner, and between two solenoid operated valves for safeguarding against the erroneous on-state of the microswitch. A sensor will, according to the presence of the pilot flame, instruct an electric control board to continue or discontinue the sparkling of an igniter, to open or close the solenoid valve for supplying gas to the main burner. Thus, the adversity of toxication caused by either the misfunction of microswitch or failure of valve actuation is able to be prevented.

Abstract: The invention is with respect to a fail-safe system for stopping damage to water boilers, whose thermostats are not in working order.In an automatic combustion control system of the sort having an elastic thermostat bellows element placed within an outer shell within the water space of a boiler and joined by a chain or the like with the air door for controlling the air inlet rate at some point in the connection between the thermostat element and the door, there is a temperature-sensitive part, for example in the form of a plug of fusible metal or collapsing material, or in the form of a soldered join using a special fusible solder.In one form of the invention, this temperature-sensitive part may take the form of a ring of temperature-sensitive material placed at one end of a spring which is forced together on the temperature increasing.

Abstract: An automatic flue gas heat recovery system for supplementing or replacing a conventional, separate hot water system. In the example described, the heat recovery system is applied to a pizza restaurant where large quantities of heat energy are normally wasted up an oven chimney stack, and large quantities of hot water also are required for restaurant operations. An electric motor driven pump circulates water in a closed loop between a storage tank and a heat exchanger tube located in the oven chimney stack. A thermostat control automatically starts the pump when the oven heats the chimney stack to an effective water heating temperature. When temperature in the storage tank reaches a predetermined maximum, the thermostat control stops the pump, opens a drain valve, and dumps water quickly and completely from the heat exchanger tube. Three different embodiments are shown and described illustrating systems with one or more storage tanks and one or more pumps.

Abstract: In a diver heating system of the type in which a fluid being circulated in he circulation passage of the diver's clothing is heated by the controlled combustion of a reducing metal in an oxygen atmosphere, a temperature control system in which a gas flow control valve controls the oxygen flow to the reaction to automatically maintain a preset temperature of the circulating fluid and a gas shut-off valve serves as a backup to quickly shut-off the oxygen flow if the temperature of the circulating fluid exceeds a preset value. In both the gas flow control valve and the gas shut-off valve, the heated water is fed through a heat exchanger where it is in thermal contact with a thermofluid so that heat is transferred between the two fluids. The change in volume of the thermofluid with temperature is coupled to a motion bellows which operates to control the flow of oxygen through an orifice.

Abstract: In a diver heating system of the type in which a fluid being circulated in he circulation passage of the diver's clothing is heated by the controlled combustion of a reducing metal in an oxygen atmosphere, a temperature control system in which a gas flow control valve controls the oxygen flow to the reaction to automatically maintain a preset temperature of the circulating fluid and a gas shut-off valve serves as a backup to quickly shut-off the oxygen flow if the temperature of the circulating fluid exceeds a preset value. In both the gas flow control valve and the gas shut-off valve, the heated water is fed through a heat exchanger where it is in thermal contact with a thermofluid so that heat is transferred between the two fluids. The change in volume of the thermofluid with temperature is coupled to a motion bellows which operates to control the flow of oxygen through an orifice.

Abstract: Efficiency of domestic heating systems is improved by a flue temperature responsive switch for intermittently shutting down the burner when temperature conditions are such as would cause extended operation of the burner in the absence of the switch. The temperature at which shut-down occurs is adjustable, and the temperature at which burner operation is reestablished is dependent on the shut-down temperature. However, the minimum temperature at which burner operation is reestablished by the switch is fixed at the time of installation of the switch by securing a control knob having a stop at a selected position on a control shaft which adjusts the shut-down temperature. The switch contacts are constructed so that the switch closes if any of its principal movable parts fail.