Abstract: An approach which may be regarded as a company advanced programming interface (CAPI) applicable, for instance, to boiler displays and remote man-machine interfaces. CAPI may use a product software structure combined with a personal computer (PC) or web based program capable of creating an embedded microcontroller program without a need for programming capabilities or a program recompile. Implementation may be done at both the product microcontroller level and the PC or web based program to be used by an end customer to “customize” its product. The present approach may partially move development and final tuning processes to an original equipment manufacturers (OEM). Modifications of the product may be done without a need for specific and expensive software development tools for embedded devices such as a compiler and a debugger, and hardware tools for simulation and analysis, and other like items. The present approach may also provide immediate response to simple OEM requirements.

Abstract: A mixing device (10) for a gas burner, with a housing (11) having a combustion air inlet (13), a gas inlet (14) and an outlet (15) for the mixture of gas and combustion air, and with a Venturi device (12) which is positioned in the housing, wherein the Venturi device is contoured to form a contraction section (19), a mixing section (20) and a diffuser section (21). A guide device (22) for combustion air, which divides combustion air which enters the mixing device via the combustion air inlet (13) into a primary flow and a secondary flow, may be positioned inside the Venturi device, wherein the combustion air of the primary flow, issuing from the combustion air inlet, can be fed to the mixing section (20) via the contraction section (19), and wherein the combustion air of the secondary flow, issuing from the combustion air inlet, can be mixed downstream of the mixing section (20) in the region of the diffuser section (21) with the mixture of the gas and the combustion air of the primary flow.

Abstract: Method for operating a gas burner, wherein a gas/combustion air mixture is fed to the gas burner for combusting in said gas burner in such a way that a combustion air flow, which is inducted by a fan, is mixed with a gas flow and the resulting gas/combustion air mixture is fed to the gas burner, wherein to this end a control device, on the basis of a control deviation between an actual value, which is recorded by a sensor providing an electrical or electronic measurement signal and acting on a gas line which carries the gas flow, and a corresponding reference value, determines a manipulated variable for a gas valve which influences the gas flow, wherein the gas valve is adjusted in dependence upon this manipulated variable in order to make available to the gas burner the gas/combustion air mixture with a desired gas/combustion air ratio, and wherein the control device alters the gas/combustion air ratio of the gas/combustion air mixture in dependence upon a rotational speed of the fan in such a way that at re

Abstract: A pressure reducer for fluid lines, with a sealing piston (70, 110) as stop element, with an equalization piston (20a, 190) as a means for pressure equalization, with a single-part or multi-part connecting means (20b, 90, 200) by which the sealing piston (70, 110) and the equalization piston (20a, 190) are rigidly connected with one another, with a valve seat, in conjunction of which the sealing piston (70, 110) defines a flow-through opening, against which the sealing piston (17, 110) seals when the valve is closed and which the connecting means (20b, 90, 200) penetrates, and with guide means (20c, 210) which are directly or indirectly rigidly coupled with the connecting means and guide an arrangement composed of at least the equalization piston (20a, 190), connecting means (20b, 90, 200) and sealing piston (70, 110) in each operating position, wherein the guide means (20c, 210) are arranged in the region of the valve seat between the sealing piston (70, 110) and the equalization piston (20a, 190).

Abstract: Method for the calibration of a gas burner regulating system using a sensor (28) which is associated with the exhaust gas (29) discharged from the gas burner (10) and measures the concentration of at least one combustible or oxidizable constituent in the exhaust gas, wherein for calibration, starting from a relatively lean gas-combustion-air mixture (12) which is fed to the gas burner (10) for combustion, the gas-combustion-air mixture (12) may be enriched, specifically until the measurement signal which is provided by the sensor (28) first increases and then reduces to approximately zero, wherein the gas-combustion-air mixture (12), in which the measurement signal which is provided by the sensor (28) amounts to approximately zero, is defined as a gas-combustion-air mixture (12) with a stoichiometric combustion air ratio of ?=1, and wherein starting from this gas-combustion-air mixture (12) the gas-combustion-air mixture may be enleaned to a desired combustion air ratio of ?>1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a force and a position at a linear actuating mechanism (20). In one illustrative embodiment, a change in an electrical characteristic of a first coil system (1, 3a, 6) for measuring a position of the linear actuating mechanism, wherein the change in the electrical characteristic is caused by moving of a first measurement member (6) in the first coil system (1, 3a, 6), and a change in an electrical characteristic of a second coil system (2, 3b, 5) for measuring a force acting at the linear actuating mechanism (20), wherein the change in the electrical characteristic is caused by moving of a second measurement member (5) in the second coil system (2, 3b, 5), are detected. The movement of the first measurement member (6) is generated by a positional change of a linear shaft member of the linear actuating mechanism (20), and the movement of the second measurement member (5) is generated by a force-displacement conversion via a deformation member.

Abstract: An approach which may be regarded as a company advanced programming interface (CAPI) applicable, for instance, to boiler displays and remote man-machine interfaces. CAPI may use a product software structure combined with a PC or web based program capable of creating an embedded microcontroller program without a need for programming capabilities or a program recompile. Implementation may be done at both the product microcontroller level and the PC or web based program to be used by an end customer to “customize” its product. The present approach may partially move development and final tuning processes to an OEM. Modifications of the product may be done without a need for specific and expensive software development tools for embedded devices such as a compiler and a debugger, and hardware tools for simulation and analysis, and other like items. The present approach may also provide immediate response to simple OEM requirements.

Abstract: A mixing device (10) for a gas burner, with a housing (11) having a combustion air inlet (13), a gas inlet (14) and an outlet (15) for the mixture of gas and combustion air, and with a Venturi device (12) which is positioned in the housing, wherein the Venturi device is contoured to form a contraction section (19), a mixing section (20) and a diffuser section (21). A guide device (22) for combustion air, which divides combustion air which enters the mixing device via the combustion air inlet (13) into a primary flow and a secondary flow, may be positioned inside the Venturi device, wherein the combustion air of the primary flow, issuing from the combustion air inlet, can be fed to the mixing section (20) via the contraction section (19), and wherein the combustion air of the secondary flow, issuing from the combustion air inlet, can be mixed downstream of the mixing section (20) in the region of the diffuser section (21) with the mixture of the gas and the combustion air of the primary flow.

Abstract: An illustrative method for operating a valve that includes at least one valve seat, a valve plunger and a stepper motor for moving the valve plunger from a first position into a second position in which the valve plunger is pressed against a valve seat and for compressing a flexible element assigned to the valve plunger in said second position, whereby the stepper motor may be driven in such a way that the stepper motor provides a defined number of steps (NTOTAL) in order to move the valve plunger into the second position and to compress the flexible element, wherein the stepper motor is driven is such a way that for a first number of steps (N1) of said defined number of steps (NTOTAL) the stepper motor is operated at a first current level (I1); for a subsequent second number (N2) of steps of said defined number of steps (NTOTAL) the stepper motor is operated at a second current level (I2) being lower than the first current level (I1); for a subsequent third number of steps (N3) of said defined number of step

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas regulating unit with a valve basic body (11) which forms at least one gas inlet chamber and one gas outlet chamber, with a safety valve and with a main gas valve, wherein the safety valve and the main gas valve either open or close a gas flow from the gas inlet chamber into the gas outlet chamber.

Abstract: Regulating device for gas burners for providing a gas/air mixture, with a mixing device for mixing a gas flow with a combustion air flow and therefore for providing the gas/air mixture, wherein in a gas line which conducts the gas flow at least one gas valve is positioned, which is adjusted in dependence upon a measurement signal of an electric or electronic sensor, wherein the sensor acts on the gas line by a measuring point and wherein a reference pressure prevails on a reference point of the sensor. The mixing device may be formed as a Venturi nozzle, wherein the gas line leads to a mixing region of the Venturi nozzle in which the gas flow and the combustion air flow are mixed, wherein the reference point of the sensor acts on a device in which the reference pressure prevails, and wherein the device may be connected via a connecting line to the Venturi nozzle, that is to say to a region of the Venturi nozzle which lies downstream of the mixing region of the Venturi nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for providing a gas/combustion air mixture for a gas burner, comprising a fan (11) for providing a combustion air flow, a gas control device for providing a gas flow and a mixing device (13) for mixing the combustion air flow and the gas flow, thus providing the gas/combustion air mixture. Said mixing device (13) and the fan (11) we connected together on one side, and on the other side, the mixing device and the gas control device are corrected together. According to the invention, the mixing device (13) and the fan (11) we connected together in such a manner that a vibration absorber (15) is arranged between a connecting section (12) of the mixing device (13) and a connecting section (10) of the fan (11).

Abstract: A pressure reducer for fluid lines, with a sealing piston (70, 110) as stop element, with an equalization piston (20a, 190) as a means for pressure equalization, with a single-part or multi-part connecting means (20b, 90, 200) by which the sealing piston (70, 110) and the equalization piston (20a, 190) are rigidly connected with one another, with a valve seat, in conjunction of which the sealing piston (70, 110) defines a flow-through opening, against which the sealing piston (17, 110) seals when the valve is closed and which the connecting means (20b, 90, 200) penetrates, and with guide means (20c, 210) which are directly or indirectly rigidly coupled with the connecting means and guide an arrangement composed of at least the equalization piston (20a, 190), connecting means (20b, 90, 200) and sealing piston (70, 110) in each operating position, wherein the guide means (20c, 210) are arranged in the region of the valve seat between the sealing piston (70, 110) and the equalization piston (20a, 190).

Abstract: The invention concerns a mixing device for mixing gas and combustion air for a gas burner. According to the invention, a mixture of gas and combustion air prepared in said mixing device (10) is sent to the gas burner through a blower, the mixing device (10) comprising a housing (13) and a venturi (14). The invention is characterized in that the venturi (14) is integrated in the housing (13) such that the housing (13) and the venturi (14) form a single block.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for reducing scale formation and/or corrosion in systems which conduct liquids or are in contact with liquids. According to the invention, this is achieved without reducing the quantity of hardness constituents contained in the liquid overall, without exchanging the hardness constituents in the liquid for other cations such as e.g. hydronium, sodium or potassium and without adding chemicals such as e.g. phosphates which inhibit scale formation to the liquid. Instead, scale formation is reduced by specifically shifting the molar distribution of the hardness constituents, especially the distribution proportions of the individual hardness constituents magnesium and calcium strontium and barium.

Abstract: A control circuit and methods for controlling gas valves via a relay are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, a control circuit includes or is connected to a relay that controls the opening and/or closing of a gas valve. The control circuit may also include a failsafe circuit that has at least one input that can be connected to a control device and at least one output that can be connected to the relay. In some cases, the fail-safe circuit may only supply an output voltage and/or current to the replay for opening the gas valve if the input signal received from the control device includes at least two different successively applied frequency signals. Other methods and embodiments are also contemplated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a force and a position at a linear actuating mechanism (20). In one illustrative embodiment, a change in an electrical characteristic of a first coil system (1, 3a, 6) for measuring a position of the linear actuating mechanism, wherein the change in the electrical characteristic is caused by moving of a first measurement member (6) in the first coil system (1, 3a, 6), and a change in an electrical characteristic of a second coil system (2, 3b, 5) for measuring a force acting at the linear actuating mechanism (20), wherein the change in the electrical characteristic is caused by moving of a second measurement member (5) in the second coil system (2, 3b, 5), are detected. The movement of the first measurement member (6) is generated by a positional change of a linear shaft member of the linear actuating mechanism (20), and the movement of the second measurement member (5) is generated by a force-displacement conversion via a deformation member.