Abstract: A device for controlling the delivery of a combustible gas to a burner apparatus is provided including a main gas-delivery duct in which there is at least one servo-assisted diaphragm valve including a valve seat associated with a corresponding closure member with diaphragm control for opening the seat against the action of a resilient biasing member. The diaphragm valve includes a respective control solenoid valve with an electromagnetic operator for controlling the corresponding valve, the solenoid valve being arranged to bring about the opening/closure of a duct of a respective servo-assisted control circuit so as to operate the closure member of the valve indirectly, by the diaphragm control. The duct of the control circuit putting a portion of the main duct that is disposed upstream of the valve seat with respect to the direction of the gas-flow into flow communication with a respective control chamber of the diaphragm valve.

Abstract: An automatic system and method to provide the ignition and monitoring of a pilot flame for gas burners. The circuit includes a microcontroller that acts on at least one gas valve, a flame igniter, and a flame detector circuits. The valve driver is a switching circuit able to open the valve and keep it open with power saving. The flame detection uses the ionization principle with full use of the rectification property of a flame. Furthermore the flame detection is activated for reduced times to save power. The microcontroller governs the system according to the signals that it receives from points of the circuit. The system provides a circuit realizing advanced power saving techniques to provide also a long term operation on battery powered systems. In addition the automatic control can save gas resources versus traditional thermocouple based systems by applying the intermittent pilot ignition.

Abstract: A device for controlling a combustible gas supply to a burner is provided, which includes first and second servovalves, having respective valve seats associated with a corresponding shut-off mechanism, which include respective first and second control solenoid valves with an electromagnetic operating device that controls the opening/closing of the corresponding servovalve. The solenoid valves act to indirectly control the corresponding servovalve's respective shut-off mechanism. The pipes of the control are in communication with the main pipe through an auxiliary bleed pipe. A pilot pipe is branched from the auxiliary pipe to supply a pilot burner, and a thermoelectric magnetic unit with a knob is provided on the auxiliary pipe, which allows gas to flow towards the pilot burner when the unit is activated, while simultaneously shutting off the flow of gas towards the servovalve control circuit. The device includes a control mechanism, controlled by the knob, which controls gas flow.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus with pre-mixing includes a mixing device for mixing an air/gas mixture which is intended to be conveyed to the intake section of a fan unit whose delivery is conveyed to a combustion head of the burner. The mixing device including a plurality of ducts, each of which has a region in the form of a Venturi duct with contiguous portions which are convergent/divergent, with respect to the direction of flow, and with a restricted duct cross-section defined between the convergent portion and the divergent portion, there being conveyed in each convergent portion an air flow which is intended to be mixed with a gas flow which is introduced into the duct at the restricted cross-section, the air/gas mixture being conveyed through the divergent portion of the duct to the intake section of the fan unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally, but not exclusively, related to the area of interactive auctions, particularly to interactive Internet-based auctions that may be simultaneously televised and where bidders may input bids over channels other than the Internet. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A system for the leaktight connection of a valve unit to a respective pipe, is provided. The valve unit includes a gas through-flow section, a threaded male attachment element being formed integrally with the valve unit and having an axial through cavity defining the gas through-flow section, for leaktight clamping by a pipe-fixing ring-nut connector which can be screwed onto the male threaded portion of the attachment element. The system includes a second leaktight connector which can be put into operation as an alternative to the ring-nut connector. The second connector including at least one axial retaining element which can be releasably restrained on the valve unit in the region of the threaded portion of the male attachment element, in a manner such that the pipe is restrained axially relative to the valve unit.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the feed of a combustible gas by a valve device placed in a feed pipe which has a gas inlet section and a gas outlet section. The device includes a valve seat in the pipe associated with a membrane-operated plug and a device for returning the plug to a position in which the valve seat is shut off. The method includes the steps of creating a pressure difference in a section of the pipe downstream of the plug with respect to the direction of flow, by a constriction in the pipe having a predetermined cross section, the pressure difference being defined by a first pressure upstream of the constriction and a second pressure downstream of the constriction; collecting the signal formed by the second pressure downstream of the constriction and making the second pressure act on the side of the membrane opposite that on which the first pressure acts; and generating a regulatable load on the membrane of the membrane operating system.

Abstract: What is described is a burner, specifically for gas fuels with premixing, comprising a burner body designed to be housed in a combustion chamber of a heating apparatus, the burner body being provided with a burner head on which an air and gas mixture supplied to the combustion chamber is burnt, in which the burner head has a surface profile in the form of a dome-shaped spherical segment, the height of the dome being less than half of the diameter of the sphere to which the segment belongs.

Abstract: A burner is provided and includes a cylindrical burner head housed in a combustion chamber of a heating apparatus, on which an air and gas mixture is burnt, the head including a cylindrical shell with through apertures, fixed at a first axial end by a connecting flange to a shutter element intended to seal the combustion chamber, while its opposite axial end has a solid end wall which seals the head, an element for distributing the air and gas mixture, positioned inside the burner head and intended to distribute the flow of combustible mixture reaching the burner on to the burner head. The distributor element includes a plate-like portion extending as a continuation of the connecting flange and extending substantially in an orthogonal direction to the axial direction of extension of the cylindrical head, the plate-like portion having through apertures for distributing the mixture to the burner head.

Abstract: A device for regulating the delivery pressure of gases includes a valve unit having at least one valve seat and a respective closure element displaceable along an axis with respect to the valve seat which is controlled by a diaphragm. The device further includes a first spring which acts on the diaphragm in order to subject it to a preselected resilient load. A second spring is selectively activated to exert an additional resilient load on the diaphragm. The device includes a handle associated with the first and second springs in order to impose selectively the desired delivery pressure value, between a minimum value and a maximum value of pre-calibration, the pressure value being proportionally correlated with a predetermined resilient load exerted on the diaphragm.

Abstract: A device for controlling the delivery of a combustible gas to a burner apparatus is provided including a main gas-delivery duct in which there is at least one servo-assisted diaphragm valve including a valve seat associated with a corresponding closure member with diaphragm control for opening the seat against the action of a resilient biasing member. The diaphragm valve includes a respective control solenoid valve with an electromagnetic operator for controlling the corresponding valve, the solenoid valve being arranged to bring about the opening/closure of a duct of a respective servo-assisted control circuit so as to operate the closure member of the valve indirectly, by the diaphragm control. The duct of the control circuit putting a portion of the main duct that is disposed upstream of the valve seat with respect to the direction of the gas-flow into flow communication with a respective control chamber of the diaphragm valve.

Abstract: The invention is generally but not exclusively concerned with problems associated with production of interactive television, particularly an interactive televised auction, where input must be obtained from a plurality of users and broadcast output must be provided based on live user input. However, solutions provided by aspects of the invention are not limited to such a use and may be more generally applied.

Abstract: A device for regulating the air/gas mixture supplied to a gas burner appliance of a decorative fire is provided. The device includes a duct for supplying the air/gas fuel mixture to the burner and a choke of the flow of primary air taken into the duct and adapted to be mixed with the flow of gas or the flow of the air/gas mixture, in which heat-sensitive actuator acting directly on the choke is provided so that the choking of the flow is regulated automatically as a function of the heat level reached in the heat-sensitive actuator.

Abstract: The invention is generally, but not exclusively, related to the area of interactive auctions, particularly interactive Internet-based auctions that may be simultaneously televised and where bidders may input bids over channels other than the Internet.

Abstract: A communication device for encrypted transmission of information via unencrypted transmission paths has at least one loudspeaker, one microphone, one audio processing facility, one encryption facility, and one transmission facility. Information is encrypted by the encryption facility and transmitted via unencrypted transmission paths by the transmission facility by further communication instruments. Thus, flexible use on the basis of the various communication instruments which can be used for encrypted transmission is made possible.

Abstract: Automatic device for the ignition and control of a gas apparatus comprising at least one burner for regulating the flow of gas from a main pipe towards a nozzle associated with the burner; a spark circuit suitable for generating a pilot flame upon receipt a electric start signal; electrically controlled valve means associated to said at least one burner; at least one supply voltage provided by the electricity main and/or by battery means, to supply said automatic device; an electrical microprocessor unit in said automatic device to drive and to control both said valve means and said spark circuit; at least one actuator circuit activated by said electrical microprocessor unit through an activation signal having a pulse train to dynamically bias said valve means and to regulate its charge state according to the duty cycle of the pulse train. The present invention also concerns a method for driving the automatic device for the ignition and control of a gas apparatus.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally, but not exclusively, related to the area of interactive auctions, particularly to interactive Internet-based auctions that may be simultaneously televised and where bidders may input bids over channels other than the Internet. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.