Abstract: A control system and methods of making and operating the control system are provided, the system comprising an RTD temperature sensor, an applying unit operatively interconnected to the sensor for applying a varying voltage across the sensor and thereby providing a certain current level through the sensor for each certain voltage value being applied across the sensor while the sensor is sensing a certain temperature, and a microcomputer operatively interconnected to the sensor and the applying unit for determining from the voltage being applied across the sensor the actual temperature being sensed by the sensor, the applying unit comprising a charge pump arrangement.

Abstract: An electrical system for controlling the operation of a heat exchanger unit, thermostat therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the system having a first electrical power source, the system having an electronic control logic unit operatively interconnected to the first power source to operate the heat exchanger unit in relation to data selectively entered into the electronic control logic unit and being maintained by the electronic control logic unit as long as the electronic control logic unit is receiving electric power, the system having a second electrical power source for supplying electrical power to the electronic control logic unit to maintain the data thereof when the first electrical power source ceases to supply electrical current to the electronic control logic unit even for a relatively long period of time, the second electrical power source comprising a capacitor unit.

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 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 burner construction comprising a removable venturi section disposed in the chamber and being removable therefrom through the open end of the body when the cap has been removed therefrom, the venturi section having an upper end temporarily fastened to a shoulder of the body by a fastening structure.

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 temperature operated switch construction, terminal block therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the switch construction comprising a housing, a movable switch arm carried in the housing, a temperature actuated unit disposed in the housing and being operatively interconnected to the switch arm to cause movement of the arm between operating positions thereof in relation to the temperature being sensed by the temperature actuated unit, the housing comprising a main part and a removable terminal block carried by the main part, the terminal block carrying a switch unit that is operatively associated with the switch arm so that the switch unit is in a first condition thereof when the switch arm is in a first operating position thereof and the switch unit is in a second condition thereof when the switch arm is in a second operating position thereof, the switch unit comprising a reed switch and the switch arm carrying a magnet for operating the reed switch to the conditions thereof as the switch arm

Abstract: A heating element operating unit, control device therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the control device being adapted to operate a heating element that comprises a hot surface igniter with a certain repeating pattern of a single complete half-wave pulse in each repeating pattern of at least two complete full-wave pulses of a source of high voltage alternating current for a predetermined time period, the control device utilizing a staircase generator of two transistors for operating the heating element.

Abstract: A temperature operated switch construction, terminal block therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the switch construction comprising a housing, a movable switch arm carried in the housing, a temperature actuated unit disposed in the housing and being operatively interconnected to the switch arm to cause movement of the arm between operating positions thereof in relation to the temperature being sensed by the temperature actuated unit, the housing comprising a main part and a removable terminal block carried by the main part, the terminal block carrying a switch unit that is operatively associated with the switch arm so that the switch unit is in a first condition thereof when the switch arm is in a first operating position thereof and the switch unit is in a second condition thereof when the switch arm is in a second operating position thereof, the switch unit comprising a reed switch and the switch arm carrying a magnet for operating the reed switch to the conditions thereof as the switch arm

Abstract: A control device, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the control device comprising a housing having an external peripheral surface, a control unit disposed in the housing, a bulb disposed external to the housing and remote therefrom, a capillary tube interconnecting the bulb to the control unit, fastening structure securing a part of the capillary tube to the external peripheral surface of the housing, and a sleeve of material telescoped on the capillary tube and having opposed ends one of which is disposed adjacent the fastening structure and the other of which is located between the bulb and the one of the ends thereof, one of the capillary tube and the fastening structure comprising expanding structure that outwardly expanded the one of the ends of the sleeve after the one of the ends of the sleeve had been forced onto at least part of the expanding structure so that the one of the ends of the sleeve is held on the expanding structure.

Abstract: A jet burner construction, heating apparatus utilizing the jet burner construction and methods of making the same are provided, the 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 on

Abstract: A combination of a fuel manifold and a plurality of like fuel control devices mounted thereto, a manifold for such a combination and methods of making the same are provided, the combination comprising a fuel manifold having a fuel receiving chamber therein and a plurality of like fuel control devices mounted to the manifold and having inlet projections extending into the manifold to receive fuel from the chamber thereof, the manifold having a pair of opposed spaced apart substantially flat front and rear walls and a pair of opposed spaced apart substantially flat side walls interconnecting the front and rear walls together, one of the side walls having a plurality of spaced apart openings therethrough and through which the inlet projections of the control devices respectively extend, the side walls being spaced apart a distance that will permit two of the control devices to have the inlet projections thereof respectively extend through aligned openings in the side walls so that two of the control devices can

Abstract: A temperature operated switch construction, terminal block therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the switch construction comprising a housing, a movable switch arm carried in the housing, a temperature actuated unit disposed in the housing and being operatively interconnected to the switch arm to cause movement of the arm between operating positions thereof in relation to the temperature being sensed by the temperature actuated unit, the housing comprising a main part and a removable terminal block carried by the main part, the terminal block carrying a switch unit that is operatively associated with the switch arm so that the switch unit is in a first condition thereof when the switch arm is in a first operating position thereof and the switch unit is in a second condition thereof when the switch arm is in a second operating position thereof, the switch unit comprising a reed switch and the switch arm carrying a magnet for operating the reed switch to the conditions thereof as the switch arm

Abstract: A control device and system for an appliance and methods of making the same are provided, the control device having a control unit to energize the coil of a relay with a power source at substantially a desired lead point on the voltage wave cycle thereof so as to tend to cause the contacts of the relay to subsequently close substantially at a certain point on the voltage wave cycle each time a load is to be interconnected to the power source whereby a lag time period exists between the desired lead point and a certain point, the control unit having a sensing unit to sense the lag time by detecting when the coil current of the relay coil decreases momentarily by the contacts initially closing during that particular cycle of operation of the control device, the control unit having a unit to automatically adjust the desired lead point should the sensed lag time on a certain previous cycle of operation not cause the contacts to close substantially at the certain point in order to tend to cause the contacts to clo

Abstract: A control system for controlling the operation of an air conditioning compressor and method of making the same are provided, the system comprising a thermostat switch and a high pressure switch arranged in series with a compressor switch across two sides of a power source whereby the thermostat switch and the high pressure switch must be in a closed condition thereof with the compressor switch also being in a closed condition before the compressor can be turned on, the system also comprising a low pressure switch that is arranged so as not to be in series with the other switches across the two sides of the power source and a microprocessor having means operatively associated with the low pressure switch to monitor the condition thereof.

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 heat exchanger system, a fuel control system therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the fuel control system having an electrical circuit means that comprises an ignition trial portion, a flame sensing control portion and a timer portion that comprises a counter having a plurality of outputs and a timer that clocks the output of the counter on each discharge of the timer, the timer portion also comprising a capacitor, a trial time resistor and a wait time resistor that are selectively placed in series with the capacitor by the counter when clocked to certain outputs by the timer to determine an ignition trial time period and a wait time period.

Abstract: A temperature operated switch construction, terminal block therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the switch construction comprising a housing, a movable switch arm carried in the housing, a temperature actuated unit disposed in the housing and being operatively interconnected to the switch arm to cause movement of the arm between operating positions thereof in relation to the temperature being sensed by the temperature actuated unit, the housing comprising a main part and a removable terminal block carried by the main part, the terminal block carrying a switch unit that is operatively associated with the switch arm so that the switch unit is in a first condition thereof when the switch arm is in a first operating position thereof and the switch unit is in a second condition thereof when the switch arm is in a second operating position thereof, the switch unit comprising a reed switch and the switch arm carrying a magnet for operating the reed switch to the conditions thereof as the switch arm

Abstract: A pressure operated switch construction and method of making the same are provided, the pressure operated switch construction comprising a housing having an external surface and carrying an electrical switch unit and a diaphragm assembly therein, the housing having an opening passing through the external surface thereof, the switch unit having opposed sides and an opening passing therethrough in alignment with the opening of the housing, and a compression spring unit carried by the housing and being operatively associated with the switch unit and the diaphragm assembly to control the operation thereof in relation to the compression setting of the spring unit, the spring unit comprising a spring retainer operatively interconnected to the switch unit, an actuator carried by the housing and a compression spring having opposed ends respectively bearing against the actuator and the retainer, the retainer having an intermediate part disposed in the opening of the housing and having a surface and a projection extend

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 outlet opening having 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 of the outlet opening.

Abstract: A control device, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the control device comprising a housing having an external peripheral surface, a control unit disposed in the housing, a bulb disposed external to the housing and remote therefrom a capillary tube interconnecting the bulb to the control unit, fastening structure securing a part of the capillary tube to the external peripheral surface of the housing, and a sleeve of material telescoped on the capillary tube and having opposed ends one of which is disposed adjacent the fastening structure and the other of which is located between the bulb and the one of the ends thereof, one of the capillary tube and the fastening structure comprising expanding structure that outwardly expanded the one of the ends of the sleeve after the one of the ends of the sleeve had been forced onto at least part of the expanding structure so that the one of the ends of the sleeve is held on the expanding structure.

Abstract: A pressure operated switch construction, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the pressure operated switch construction comprising a housing having an external surface and carrying an electrical switch unit and a diaphragm assembly therein, and a compression spring unit carried by the housing and being interconnected to the switch unit and the diaphragm assembly to control the operation thereof in relation to the compressive setting of the spring unit, the housing having a bracket member extending outwardly from the external surface thereof in a flangelike manner and having first structure for mounting a first movable actuator unit to the housing that is to be interconnected to the spring unit to select the desired compressive setting thereof, the switch construction comprising a bracket interconnected to a second structure of the bracket member, and a second movable actuator carried by the bracket and being interconnected to the spring unit to select the desired compressive setting the