Sensor Of One Feed Controls Another Feed Patents (Class 431/90)
  • Patent number: 6561791
    Abstract: The invention relates to a regulating system for a gas burner. Regulating systems for gas burners are used for guiding a gas flow and a combustion air flow to the burner. The gas flow can be regulated depending on combustion air pressure. Pressure is measured in known regulating devices with the aid of a membrane, that is pneumatically. The pneumatic pressure measurement limits the scope of application of known regulating devices. In the invention regulating device, a sensor (16) is arranged between a first line (10) guiding a gas flow and a second line (12) guiding the combustion air flow, an electric or electronic signal (19) being generated by the sensor that is used to regulate the gas valve (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Enno Vrolijk, Tom Gerretsen
  • Patent number: 6537060
    Abstract: A burner system for controlling the gas/air mixture of a burner has a sensor providing a signal dependent on the pressures in gas and air lines supplying the burner. A summing device receives a signal based on the air flow rate and the signal from the sensor, and provides a regulating signal controlling the setting of a gas regulating valve regulating the flow of gas in the gas line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Derk Vegter
  • Patent number: 6533574
    Abstract: The system for active regulation of the air/gas ratio of a burner comprises one or two differential pressure measuring systems each of which has a differential pressure sensor with two inlet orifices. The orifices are respectively connected to pressure ports in one of which there is a calibrated throttling orifice. The regulator system comprises a 2-channel valve which, when closed, isolates the two inlet orifices from each other, and, when open, connects them to each other. A measurement circuit is provided and has memory means for storing at least two values of the output signal of the sensors, a control unit for switching the valve and controlling the storage of a first value of an output signal of the sensor in the memory means when the valve is closed and the storage of a second value of the output signal of the sensor when the valve is open, and subtractor means for calculating the difference between the two stored values of the output signal of the sensor and thereby eliminating any drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: A Theobald SA
    Inventor: Christophe Pechoux
  • Publication number: 20030013054
    Abstract: An improved gas appliance having a burner, a gas valve through which the flow of combustion gas to the burner is controlled, and a motor driven blower that supplies combustion air to the burner. The improvement includes means for increasing gas flow through the gas valve as blower speed increases, and decreasing gas flow through the gas valve as blower speed decreases, based on a pressure signal generated independently of combustion air pressure. This improvement allows a constant ratio of gas to air to be maintained in the burner while a combustion flow rate varies dependent on the blower motor revolutions per minute. Thus input pressures of combustion can be controlled at low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas J. Fredricks, Donald E. Donnelly, Russell T. Shoemaker
  • Publication number: 20030013057
    Abstract: A burner system for controlling the gas/air mixture of a burner has a sensor providing a signal dependent on the pressures in gas and air lines supplying the burner. A summing device receives a signal based on the air flow rate and the signal from the sensor, and provides a regulating signal controlling the setting of a gas regulating valve regulating the flow of gas in the gas line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Derk Vegter
  • Publication number: 20030013056
    Abstract: An improved gas appliance having a burner, a gas valve through which the flow of combustion gas to the burner is controlled, and a motor driven blower that supplies combustion air to the burner. The improvement includes means for increasing gas flow through the gas valve as blower speed increases, and decreasing gas flow through the gas valve as blower speed decreases, based on a pressure signal generated independently of combustion air pressure. This improvement allows a constant ratio of gas to air to be maintained in the burner while a combustion flow rate varies dependent on the blower motor revolutions per minute. Thus input pressures of combustion can be controlled at low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas J. Fredricks, Donald E. Donnelly, Russell T. Shoemaker
  • Patent number: 6450801
    Abstract: A stove apparatus includes a frame having an interior opening. A burner is mounted within the opening. A liquid fuel container is mounted on the frame within the opening. A fuel conduit extends between the container and the burner. A heat shield extends about the burner and separates the burner from the fuel container. Preferably the apparatus has a manually operable device which simultaneously regulates a valve controlling a flow of fuel from the fuel container to the burner and a control device controlling the output of a compressor supplying compressed air to the burner. The compressor may have a suction port. The apparatus then includes a suction conduit connecting the suction port to the fuel container, whereby the compressor can selectively draw fuel into the container. The fuel container may have a vent body mounted thereon. The suction conduit is connected to the vent body. The body has a valve for preventing fuel from entering the conduit from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Teleflex (Canada) Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Conrad Wilnechenko, Angelo Faccone, Jonathan Young
  • Publication number: 20020119408
    Abstract: A fluid delivery device, in particular for the delivery of combustion air to a heating burner of a motor vehicle or for the delivery of heating medium, preferably heating air, through a heating medium duct system of a motor vehicle, comprises a delivery member which can be driven to rotate by a drive, a rotary state monitoring arrangement for monitoring the rotary state of the delivery member, and also an operating state sensing arrangement for determining the operating state of a system to be supplied with fluid by the fluid delivery device, based on the monitoring result of the rotary state monitoring arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Gunter Eberspach, Walter Blaschke, Dieter Gotz
  • Patent number: 6428308
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method for providing easy and rapid conversion from a first fuel to a second fuel in a gas appliance. The gas appliance has a variable fuel valve controlled by a microprocessor. A table stored in non-volatile memory has an entry for each of the fuels to be burned in the gas appliance. The table entries are empirically determined at the time of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Bird, Stephen J. Kemp
  • Patent number: 6429020
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting the flame occurring during a flashback condition in the fuel nozzle of a lean premix combustion system is presented. The sensor comprises an electrically isolated flashback detection electrode and a guard electrode, both of which generate electrical fields extending to the walls of the combustion chamber and to the walls of the fuel nozzle. The sensor is positioned on the fuel nozzle center body at a location proximate the entrance to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine combustion system. The sensor provides 360° detection of a flashback inside the fuel nozzle, by detecting the current conducted by the flame within a time frame that will prevent damage to the gas turbine combustion system caused by the flashback condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Jimmy Dean Thornton, George Alan Richards, Douglas L. Straub, Eric Arnold Liese, John Lee Trader, Jr., George Edward Fasching
  • Patent number: 6332408
    Abstract: A novel method of combustion air control for multiple burner furnaces, whereas a pressure transducer is located in the air piping downstream of each zone air flow control device. The pressure transducer sends a feedback signal to a pressure control loop that is in a logical cascade from the furnace temperature control loop. The pressure control loop repositions the air flow control device to compensate for changes in both downstream and upstream conditions. Output from the temperature control loop is interpreted by the pressure control loop as a changing remote set-point value. In one embodiment, the system is ideally suited to compensate for the pressure drop changes that occur across a zone air flow control valve, when flow rate changes occur as burners are started or stopped, thus providing a substantially higher turndown ratio and better control at low fire settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventors: Michael Howlett, Gordon Alexander Murray, William E. Crowle
  • Publication number: 20010051321
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for optimizing fuel combustion at various ambient atmospheric pressures in a gas-fired appliance having a combustion chamber. The gas-fired appliance has an air blower and is capable of delivering a variable flow of combustion air to the combustion chamber. This may be accomplished by varying the speed of the blower motor. Alternatively, the appliance combustion air intake or exhaust conduit may be throttled to vary the amount of combustion air delivered to the combustion chamber. An ambient atmospheric pressure sensor is provided to sense ambient atmospheric pressure and generates a signal representative of ambient atmospheric pressure to a microprocessor. Alternatively, a signal representative of ambient atmospheric pressure may be provided to the microprocessor by manual input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventor: Robert D. La Fontaine
  • Patent number: 6206687
    Abstract: A gas burner and method of controlling burning, the gas burner including a controller disposed in a control cabinet, a burner cabinet, an actuator and a blower, the blower being fluidly coupled to the burner cabinet. The gas burner has an air valve that is operably, fluidly coupled to both the burner cabinet and the blower for controlling the flow of air from the blower to the burner cabinet. A gas valve is fluidly coupled to a source of gas for controlling the flow of gas from the source of gas. An actuator is communicatively coupled to the controller and is linearly coupled to the air valve and the gas valve for simultaneous linear actuation thereof responsive to commands from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: AAF-McQuay Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon F. Redington
  • Patent number: 6190160
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for combustion of a fuel with an oxygen-rich oxidant, in a combustion chamber (3), in which, cyclically: at least one principal variable representing the combustion in the said combustion chamber (3) is measured, and, as a function of the result of the measurement of the at least one principal variable, a control instruction for regulating the flowrates of fuel and oxidant to be injected into the combustion chamber (3) is determined. Then the regulating control instruction is applied in order to make the fuel burn with the oxidant in the chamber (3). Additionally at least one secondary variable associated with an operational constraint of the combustion chamber (3) or with a perturbation in the operation of the latter is measured, and for the determination of regulating control instruction, the measurement result of the at least one secondary variable is also taken into account. The invention is useful in glass furnaces, rotary furnaces, and incineration furnaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Isabelle Hibon, Jean-Francois Simon
  • Patent number: 6189461
    Abstract: An incineration apparatus which can suppress the generation of dioxins, including a combustion furnace (11) for burning a combustible in combustion air within the furnace, chlorinated aromatic compound measuring device (12) for measuring an amount of a chlorinated aromatic compound generated in the combustion furnace, and control device (14, 15, 16) for monitoring the amount of the chlorinated aromatic compound generated, obtained by the measuring device (12), and varying operating conditions of the combustion furnace (11) on the basis of the monitored result, such as to decrease the amount of the chlorinated aromatic compound generated in the combustion furnace (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kunio Miyazawa, Hideki Nagano, Satoshi Fujii, Manabu Kuroda, Takashi Yokoyama, Takaaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 6135063
    Abstract: A direct-fired steam generator utilizes dual regulators for delivering combustible gas to a burner chamber. A first regulator is a constant pressure gas regulator. A second regulator is a variable pressure gas regulator. The variable pressure gas regulator utilizes a pressure feedback which is representative of the pressure in the burner chamber. One or more air blowers can be utilized to supply air (oxygen) to the burner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: David P. Welden
  • Patent number: 6095793
    Abstract: A unique and useful dynamic control system has been invented for the control of a catalytic combustion system for use on a dynamic plant, preferably, a gas turbine engine. The dynamic control system facilitates the replacement of conventional flame combustion systems with catalytic combustion systems, which produce far less pollutants, by producing acceptable transient performance of the combustion system. A method of controlling the catalytic combustion process comprises the steps of calculating a mass flow of air introduced into the combustor, monitoring a flow of fuel to be combusted within the combustor, monitoring a temperature of the air introduced into the combustor, calculating an inlet temperature set point based on the mass flow and fuel flow, and controlling a pre-burner to heat the air based on the inlet temperature set point, the mass flow, and the temperature of the air. Further, the mass flow may be estimated based on ambient air temperature and pressure, and compressor speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventor: Kevin Greeb
  • Patent number: 6065956
    Abstract: The universal mixer device for mixing two gaseous fluids comprises an enclosure defining coaxial chambers, ducts opening out respectively into each of the chambers to feed them with two gases at medium pressure, and sonic nozzles each comprising a hollow converging-diverging body of revolution serving as seats for respective cone-shaped valve members. The valve member of one of the nozzles has an axial bore and defines the chambers at least in part. The other nozzle is disposed inside the axial bore. The hollow converging-diverging bodies of revolution occupy positions that are determined relative to the enclosure, and the valve members are mechanically linked to each other and are associated with a single actuator. The gases that have passed through the coaxial and geometrically similar nozzles flow into a common downstream chamber in which the gases mix with a predetermined mixing ratio determined by the dimensions of the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Gaz de France
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Cornil, Frederic Vulovic
  • Patent number: 6050807
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling an amount of air of a gas boiler are disclosed. Detecting section detects a flame voltage of the gas boiler to output a flame voltage value signal which represents a flame voltage value. An air supplying fan supplies air into the gas boiler. A sensing section senses a rotative velocity of the air supplying fan to output a sensing signal which represents a present rotative velocity of the air supplying fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Hak Baek
  • Patent number: 6042365
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring fuel combustion status in a burner such as a boiler and a gasifier with high accuracy, high reliability and fast response are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a series of fiber optic flame monitors that are installed next to each nozzle inside said burner to determine temperature, flame flash frequency and the burned fuel particle density. In terms of a master controller and a group of on-line controllers, the optimized combustion of the burner is approached by monitoring the combustion status of each nozzle and regulating the discharges of air or oxygen and fuel to each nozzle, in accordance with the comparison of the data detected by flame monitors and optimal data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Yaosheng Chen
  • Patent number: 6035810
    Abstract: A boiler having a combustor for combusting an air/gas fuel mixture, the combustor including a heat exchanger which conducts coolant therethrough surrounding the combustion chamber and a fan coupled to an air line provides a flow rate of air in the air line. A gas line is coupled at one end to a source of gas and at another end to the air line so as to produce a mixture of gas and air. Means for measuring a property of the air/gas fuel mixture characteristic of its combustibility are utilized. A valve coupled to said gas line is operative to control a flow rate of gas in response to a control signal from the means for measuring. A temperature sensor takes a temperature measurement of the coolant after passing through the heat exchanger and transmits the temperature measurement to the speed control unit. The speed control unit slows down the speed of the fan when the coolant temperature approaches a preset limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Powertech Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Mehrzad Movassaghi
  • Patent number: 6019593
    Abstract: A gas burner assembly (10) and method for providing combustion air flow and gas fuel flow in linear proportion to a control signal. A blower motor (18) is driven by the control signal and drives a blower (14) whose output (16) has a static pressure proportional to the square of the blower speed. A gas fuel controller 28 is responsive to the static pressure of the blower output (16) to meter fuel in proportion to the square root of that static pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy R. Lewandowski, Ben M. Balestra
  • Patent number: 5997278
    Abstract: Apparatus provides an air/fuel mixture to a fully premixed burner and comprises means for providing fuel at a variable flow rate to the burner, means for supplying air at a variable flow rate to the fuel to form the mixture, means for sensing aeration of the fuel combustion products and control means for controlling the fuel flow rate in dependence upon a heat output demand and the air flow rate in dependence upon both the fuel flow rate and the sensed aeration in such a way that the air flow rate is sufficient to maintain the aeration at a predetermined value, the controller, in use, maintaining the fuel flow rate at one of a number of predetermined values and the air flow rate at a corresponding one of a number of differing predetermined values, each set of predetermined values being characterized by a constant value of the ratio between successive values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: BG plc
    Inventor: David Michael Sutton
  • Patent number: 5997280
    Abstract: An intelligent burner control apparatus is provided for controlling the rate of air and fuel flow in a burner system from air and fuel supplies to a burner. The apparatus includes a peer-to-peer communication network including a plurality of network control modules that communicate with each other over the communication network. The apparatus further includes a brain module including one of said network control modules coupled to the communication network, air and fuel flow controllers including one of said network control modules coupled to the communication network, and air and fuel flow regulators including one of said network control modules coupled to the communication network. The brain module is configured to send air and fuel setpoint signals over the communication network to the air and fuel flow controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Maxon Corporation
    Inventors: Albert W. Welz, Jr., John D. Parker, Brenda J. Marchetti
  • Patent number: 5989011
    Abstract: The present invention, a burner control system for use with a radiant tube heating system having a source of compressed air and compressed fuel, the burner control system includes a burner for combustion of an air/fuel mixture; a mixing block for receiving and mixing air and fuel and communicating the combustible air and fuel mixture to the burner; the source of compressed air communicating air under pressure to the mixing block and to an air regulator; the air regulator, receiving air from the source of compressed air and for discharging and communicating pressure controlled air to a fuel regulator; and the fuel regulator for receiving fuel under pressure and discharging and communicating a pressure regulated supply of fuel to the mixing block, the fuel regulator also communicating with and operably connected to the pressure controlled air, wherein the pressure of the fuel communicated to said mixing block is controlled by and a function of the pressure controlled air communicated to said fuel regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventors: Pat Caruso, Kevin Merritt
  • Patent number: 5919035
    Abstract: In a cross flow type burner apparatus, a burner is provided to which a gaseous fuel and air are supplied by a blower. An air reduction member is provided to reduce an amount of air supplied to specified flame holes of the burner wherein the reduced amount of air is less than the amount of air supplied to the other flame holes. A temperature sensor is provided to detect the burning condition of flames built up on the specified flame holes. A safety member is activated depending on an output generated from the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Rinnai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Iwama, Akira Kanda
  • Patent number: 5887583
    Abstract: As electronic programmable valve positioning linkage for a burner used in a hot mix asphalt plant is associated with fuel, air and optionally flue gas recirculation valve motors. To avoid an undesired rich condition which might result in an explosive condition, the linkage employs a program logic which changes a valve position, depending on increase or decrease of the burner output, in response to a temperature controller and thereby maintain an acceptable lean condition. The air valve motor is controlled by the temperature controller when burner output is to be increased with the fuel valve motor following the air valve motor, and the fuel valve motor is controlled when the burner output is to be decreased with the air valve motor following the fuel valve motor. In conjunction with the linkage, a mass flow system can be provided to calculate fuel/air and/or flue gas recirculation ratios based upon measurement of air flow, fuel flow and flue gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Hauck Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce C. Irwin, Fred L. Fuhrman
  • Patent number: 5879149
    Abstract: A fuel control and preheating module for use with an oil-burning furnace including a fuel line providing a passageway section through which oil is routed from a reservoir to the furnace for burning includes an electrically-powered positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element mounted in heat transfer relationship with oil contained with the passageway section. During the operation of the PTC element, the PTC element heats the oil contained within the passageway section to a preselected temperature and maintains the oil contained within the passageway section at the preselected temperature. Also associated with the module is a movable diaphragm and shutoff plate which is responsive to the internal pressure changes in the air passageway of the furnace upon shutdown and start-up of the furnace to withdraw oil from and shut off delivery of oil to the nozzle upon furnace shutdown and to push oil toward the nozzle upon start-up of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Black Gold Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene C. Briggs, Wayne Robertson, Christopher L. Gansel, Gregory A. Agee
  • Patent number: 5816792
    Abstract: A fuel burning system comprises a burner in communication with a burner supply pipe having an automatic two-stage regulator valve for controlling the pressure of fuel gas delivered to the burner. The burner supply pipe is normally fed by a primary supply pipe delivering collected digester or landfill gas through an automatic three-way valve, however a secondary supply pipe carrying natural gas may be selected by the three-way valve for communication with the burner supply pipe. The regulator valve and three-way valve are electrically connected to a standard ignition module by a pressure-sensitive switch to detect the presence of digester or landfill gas in the primary supply pipe. When sufficient gas pressure exists in the primary supply pipe, the three-way valve is operated to permit delivery of the digester or landfill gas to the burner supply pipe and the regulator valve is held in its high stage setting for burning this primary fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Roberts-Gordon, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan W. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5738506
    Abstract: The invention relates to motor vehicle heating device with a burner, to which combustion air is supplied via combustion air inlet openings by means of a fan and to which furthermore fuel gas is supplied via a fuel gas supply line, combustion air and fuel gas entering on the intake side of the fan. It is provided according to the invention for a simpler structure and good mixing of the fuel gas/combustion air mixture that entry of fuel gas is controlled by means of a valve or switch controlled by the negative pressure of the fan. Fuel gas is supplied in doing so, preferably, with a negative pressure which is less than atmospheric pressure. For especially simple control of gas supply, there is a membrane which causes the fuel gas supply line to close when the fan stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignees: Webasto Thermosysteme GmbH, Webasto Thermosystems Ltd.
    Inventors: Ernst Mosig, Gunter Kahnau, Shahrzad Rahbar, Helmut Schmitter, Chris Kulaga, Frank David Williamson
  • Patent number: 5732664
    Abstract: Apparati and methods for controlling the distribution of steam to a number of boilers, and for optimizing the performance of a steam boiler. The distribution of steam to the boilers is controlled by a master control system in communication with the boilers, steam subheaders, steam-flow sensors, a comparator module, a summer module, a main steam-supply header, and a pressure sensor in the main steam-supply header. The performance of an individual boiler is optimized by (a) maintaining a constant steam pressure in the boiler, (b) measuring the relative humidity of the air supply for fuel combustion, and (c) supplying and controlling the amount of steam to be mixed with the air supply to optimize the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Joseph W. Badeaux, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5722588
    Abstract: In a combustion heater, a fuel feed unit supplies a fuel uniformly into a burner so as to prevent incomplete combustion in the burner. When a vaporization member is provided in the burner, the fuel feed unit supplies the fuel uniformly all over the surface of the vaporization member so that the incomplete combustion in the burner is also prevented. In addition or alternatively, the fuel feed unit includes a fuel feed pipe and a valve unit which is provided at a tip portion of the fuel feed pipe, so as to prevent emissions of an unburned fuel. In addition or alternatively, a temperature of the fuel supplied to the burner is monitored, and an operation of the fuel feed unit or an air feed unit for supplying combustion air to the burner is controlled based on the monitored fuel temperature so as to provide a desirable air-fuel mixture for preventing incomplete combustion in the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Soken Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Inoue, Masanori Yasuda, Sadahisa Onimaru, Hiroshi Okada, Akikazu Kojima, Niro Takaki
  • Patent number: 5685707
    Abstract: An integrated burner system is disclosed having a fuel supply assembly including a fuel control for variably limiting the flow of fuel into the burner along with a discrete air control for generating a variable flow of air into the burner. The respective fuel and air controls are directed by a control system which operates these controls in order to provide and maintain a desired fuel-to-air ratio between high fire and low fire in response to a requirement for heat. A multiple burner embodiment is disclosed in which a plurality of the present integrated burners may be used to create a multiple burner system which provides a greater degree of control and efficiency than that capable with previous systems. The multiple burner embodiment also eliminates the costly installation and maintenance requirements typically associated with previous systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: North American Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John L. Ramsdell, Steven G. Hrabak
  • Patent number: 5660542
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a plurality of burners of a cupola. The method includes the steps of separately supplying air and fuel to each burner of the cupola, measuring the flow rates of air and fuel supplied to each burner, controlling either the flow rate of air or flow rate of fuel supplied to each burner as a function of a desired heat energy output of the burners and controlling the other of the flow rate supplied to each burner as a function of the measured flow rate of air or fuel supplied to each burner and a preselected ratio of flow rate of air supplied to each burner and of flow rate of fuel supplied to each burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Maumee Research & Engineering Incorporated
    Inventors: Franklin G. Rinker, William C. Rinker
  • Patent number: 5658140
    Abstract: A combustion of the present invention has a burner, a combustion fan supplying air to the burner, revolution rate detection means for detecting a revolution rate of the fan, and an air-flow rate sensor for detecting an air-flow rate of the air. The combustion device further has a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature at the combustion device and diagnosis means for performing a self-diagnosis to determine a ventilation condition based on a relationship between the revolution rate and the air-flow rate. The diagnostic means correct the detected revolution rate or the air-flow rate based on the temperature of the combustion device in the process of performing the self-diagnosis. The diagnosis means perform the self-diagnosis after a predetermined time has passed until there is no temperature variance in the combustion device since a combustion halts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Gastar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Kondou, Naoto Tominaga, Kikuo Okamoto, Toru Izumisawa, Kazuyuki Iizumi, Takehisa Majima
  • Patent number: 5642724
    Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus for mixing a secondary fluid with a primary fluid have utility in venturi and other fluid mixing systems in agriculture, fluid, fuel combustion and other fields where liquid or gaseous chemicals, liquid or gaseous fuels or other fluids are entrained in a stream of water, air or other gaseous or liquid primary fluid. One of these methods provides for the primary fluid (21) a first flow channel (65) deceasing in a direction of flow of primary fluid, utilizes dynamic energy of that primary fluid to induce secondary fluid (35) into that primary fluid, and provides for the primary fluid with induced secondary fluid a second flow channel (66) increasing in a direction of flow of that primary fluid with induced secondary fluid, while arranging corresponding sides 67 and 68 of these first and second flow channels along a plane common to said first and second channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Raleigh
  • Patent number: 5634786
    Abstract: An integrated fuel-to-air control system is disclosed in which fuel and air pressure differential sensors are provided for measuring the flow pressure differential of fuel and air across orifices in the respective flow paths. The pressure differential sensors generate signals which are characteristic of the pressure differentials across the orifices.A control system is provided which includes an electronic comparator for receiving the pressure differential signals and generating a difference signal corresponding to the difference between these signals. The difference signal in turn is transmitted to a valve actuator which respectively opens or closes a valve in the fuel flow path in order to vary the fuel flow pressure differential so as to achieve a desired fuel-to-air ratio with the oxidant flow pressure differential. The fuel flow pressure is varied up or down as necessary until the difference signal reaches zero at the desired ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: North American Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Thomas Tillander
  • Patent number: 5630408
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas/air ratio control apparatus for a temperature control loop for household gas appliances, in particular for domestic/direct hot water units and combined direct hot water/central heating units, for temperature control of domestic and/or heating water. The invention is particularly suitable for household appliances up to 120 KW. The gas/air ratio control apparatus comprises a controllable fan (3) for supplying a predetermined air stream (2-2) to a burner (4) in dependence on the detected actual temperature (T.sub.Actual) and the desired target temperature (T.sub.Target) of the heating and/or domestic hot water; and a pressure-controllable valve (8) for controlling the supply of a specified fuel quantity (1) to the burner (4) in dependency exclusively on the absolute pressure of the air stream (2-2) produced by the controllable fan (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventor: Marius Versluis
  • Patent number: 5616021
    Abstract: A fuel burning heater comprises a housing 1 provided with a fluid passage 13 defined in a wall thereof, and a burner 2 accommodated in an inside space of the housing 1 to heat fluid filled in the fluid passage 13. A fuel supply device 3 supplies fuel into the burner 2. An air supply device 4, including an air supply pipe 41, supplies air into the burner 2. An exhaust gas circulating device 5 circulates exhaust gas, produced in the burner 2 by combustion of air-fuel mixture, to the air supply pipe 41. A control unit 7 increases an amount of the exhaust gas circulated by the exhaust gas circulating device 5 when an amount of fuel supplied by the fuel supply device 3 is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Soken Inc.
    Inventors: Sadahisa Onimaru, Takashi Inoue, Masanori Yasuda, Hiroshi Okada
  • Patent number: 5605452
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling staged combustion systems of the type used for combusting two reactants wherein at least one reactant is supplied as two flows, the first of which is combusted with the flow of the other reactant in a primary stage and the other of which is combusted with the exhaust of the primary stage in a secondary stage. In the present invention, the respective flows are monitored and controlled to provide a desired equivalence ratio for both the first stage and for the burner overall which is adaptable in response to variable input conditions. By controlling the flows in this way, a calculated energy output or adiabatic flame temperature can be produced. The present invention can also control the reactant flows to each stage in response to measured parameters such as flame temperature or emission levels. In this way, the flows can be varied in order to drive the measured parameters to a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: North American Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, John L. Homa
  • Patent number: 5601424
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling NO.sub.x produced by a natural gas fired combustion source includes establishing a control curve for the combustion source for indicating NO.sub.x levels based on steam injection rates and fuel flow rates provided to the burners. The atomizing steam injection flow rate provided to the burner is measured as well as the fuel flow rate. A NO.sub.x level is determined for the combustion source based on the atomizing steam injection flow rate, the firing rate, and the fuel flow rate. NO.sub.x levels are lowered by adding atomized steam to the burners according to the pre-programmed control curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Gary S. Bernstein, Thomas K. Milo
  • Patent number: 5586547
    Abstract: An instantaneous gas water heater comprising a control panel, a heat transfer section, and a blower section. The control panel includes an electronic controller, a gas solenoid valve, and a means to prove the operation of a blower. The heat transfer section comprises an inner jacket enclosing a combustion chamber and an outer jacket enclosing the inner jacket. The combustion chamber contains an ignition means, a combustion means, and a baffle. In the preferred embodiment the combustion means was a powered burner comprising a venturi tube with venturi tube holes, and a woven ceramic fabric mantle containing the venturi tube. The baffle is made up of a spine, consecutive ribs attached to the spine, spine holes in the spine disposed between the ribs, and rib holes in the ribs, the rib holes being disposed in consecutive ribs on alternating sides of the spine. The blower section includes a blower communicating with the combustion chamber through a gas/air mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventor: Austin D. Nixon
  • Patent number: 5520533
    Abstract: A burner control system for controlling gas flow to a burner in response to a pressure differential indicative of air flow to the burner, the pressure differential being impressed across a diaphragm which actuates a bleed valve controlling the pressure on one side of the diaphragm actuator of a fuel valve. The bleed chamber is connected to the outlet of the gas valve and the low pressure side of a pressure differential through separate flow restrictors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Enno Vrolijk
  • Patent number: 5513979
    Abstract: A control or regulating system for an automatic heat furnace is disclosed. This control system simplifies the construction of automatic gas furnaces for heating plants. The control system operates the furnaces with a high degree of efficiency and low pollutant emission, even at partial capacity. The adjusting element or mechanism for air is a blower with adjustable rotational speed which is driven by a motor. The motor is controllable by, preferably, digital pulse-width modulated control signals of a control aggregate acted upon by a regulator. A gas valve regulates the pressure of the gas supplied to the burner as a function of the air pressure in the line leading from the blower to the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Landis & Gyr Business Support A.G.
    Inventors: Anton Pallek, Michael Oberst
  • Patent number: 5486107
    Abstract: A method of determining thermophysical or thermochemical parameters of a fuel gas is disclosed which has wide application both as to applicable fuels and applicable parameters. A relationship has been discovered that allows the determination of many parameters based on a basic relationship with the characteristic specific heat and thermal conductivity at a reference condition of the fuel gas and the rate of change of these characteristics at the reference conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.
    Inventor: Ulrich Bonne
  • Patent number: 5435718
    Abstract: An oil-burning furnace including a combustion zone, an air passageway through which air is routed to the combustion zone, an air compressor for moving the air through the combustion zone in a pressurized condition and an oil passageway through which oil is routed to the combustion zone for burning in the presence of air utilizes a shutoff assembly for positively shutting of the flow of oil through the fuel passageway upon shutdown of the furnace operation. The shutoff assembly is associated with the air passageway and is actuated in response to a drop in the pressure of air in the air passageway below a preselected level. Thus, the actuation of the shutoff means is coordinated with the de-energizing of the air compressor. In addition, the oil passageway is adapted to shut off the flow of oil at a location along the passageway which is disposed in relatively close proximity to the combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Black Gold Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene C. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5401162
    Abstract: In a combustion system, fuel flow and fuel composition are sensed, and energy flow in the combustion system is determined based on the fuel flow and the fuel composition. Air flow of combustion air is also sensed. The fuel-to-air ratio in the combustion system is controlled as a function of the energy or oxygen demand flow determined and the air flow sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Ulrich Bonne
  • Patent number: 5347981
    Abstract: A pilot pressure switch for a furnace detects the fluid pressure within the pilot line for a pilot flame, and upon the fluid pressure in the pilot line exceeding a predetermined value, an electrical signal from a thermostat may be passed to a furnace blower control to operate the furnace main blower and furnace vent blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Malcolm Southern, Walter Wolenski
  • Patent number: 5329955
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for mixing gases while providing a substantially constant gas-to-gas ratio while increasing or decreasing the flow of the mixture, wherein the flows of gases introduced into the mixing step are turbulent and have a Reynolds number of above about 2000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Selas Corporation of America
    Inventors: Wayne C. Gensler, John J. Van Eerden, Chad F. Gottschlich
  • Patent number: 5281243
    Abstract: A burner comprises a plurality of nozzles used to introduce a reactive mixture of hydrocarbon fuel and an oxidizing gas into a reaction chamber where synthesis gas is produced. A pyrometer connected to the nozzles senses the temperature of the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Leininger