Abstract: The burner system (17) includes a burner (28), an air/fuel supply, and a burner control (12) that includes a pair of valve assemblies (13,14) with a flow control (18) and two valve actuators (10,11). A position encoder (108) is rigidly connected to the flow control member (18) and generates valve position signals. Control modules (112 are programmed to drive and store calibration parameters specific to the position encoder (108). During operation, the control modules command positioning of the flow control member (18) and compare the position signals to the stored positions to determine correct valve position.

Abstract: An intelligent burner control apparatus is configured to control the flow rate of a fluid flowing from a fluid supply to a burner. The apparatus includes a flow controller, a flow regulator, and a flow monitor. The flow controller includes a sensor configured to measure the flow rate of the fluid. The flow controller is configured to determine a flow control signal based on a measured fluid flow rate. The flow regulator is configured to receive the flow control signal and includes a valve movable to control the flow rate of the fluid in response to the flow control signal. The flow monitor is configured to monitor a change in the position of the valve with respect to the measured fluid flow rate and to produce an alarm signal when the change in the position of the valve with respect to the measured fluid flow rate is outside of a predetermined threshold.

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.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for communicating over electric power lines in a direction from load to source is disclosed. The power line voltage wave is loaded in a predetermined pattern to produce a corresponding pattern of signaling currents at a receiving site. Detection of the signaling current is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by integrating the current in the phase or the neutral of the feeder that serves the signaling site during predetermined time windows which are synchronized with the power line voltage wave. The current integration is performed in accordance with a detection algorithm to accumulate principally the current differences that are attributable to the signaling currents while in the presence of steady and transient currents on the feeder.

Abstract: A cycloconverter apparatus and method is disclosed in which the cycloconverter works into an active load. The cycloconverter is connected between an external power source and a load so that the load current flows through the cycloconverter. In the preferred embodiment, the cycloconverter is used to impress a signaling voltage waveform upon the voltages of the three phases of an electric power distribution feeder. This voltage is impressed by injecting it between the common point of the wye-connected secondary of the substation transformer and the grounded neutral that serves all phases of the distribution feeder. The neutral current of the distribution feeder flows through the cycloconverter. Protective by-pass circuitry is provided to maintain the integrity of the neutral path in the event of a phase-to-neutral short circuit or a failure of the cycloconverter.

Abstract: An electronic timer switch adapted for installation in a standard switch receptacle and operative in response to applied AC power to provide a manually selectable operative duration. The timer switch is manually actuable to select an intended time interval and employs electronic circuitry for counting pulses derived from the input power frequency and to cause activation of a power switch during the selected interval. The switch can include indicators denoting selected and remaining time intervals and can include circuitry providing a warning indication of the approaching end of a selected interval.