Abstract: A knob assembly and an appliance having a knob assembly are provided. The knob assembly may include a knob configured to be rotatably installed, a knob ring configured to surround the knob and to be rotated independently from the knob, a spring configured to provide an elastic force so as to return the knob ring toward an initial position when the knob ring is rotated to a position spaced apart from the initial position, and a magnetic force provider configured to provide a magnetic force to return the knob ring to the initial position when the knob ring is at a position adjacent to the initial position.

Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater is shut down when a predicted steady state combustion chamber temperature is below a known threshold. The predicted steady state temperature is based on combustion chamber temperatures during heat up of the burner and appliance.

Abstract: A flare ignition apparatus for igniting a flare having a power supply, a flare igniter, and a power-out cable for providing a spark. The flare igniter can be solar powered, and can have a water-tight enclosure, an actuating member, a coil, a condenser, and time-delay relays. The power-out cable can be disposed proximate a designated flare point on a flare stack.

Abstract: An oil/slurry burner with injection atomization for the gasification of solids-containing liquid fuels under high pressures of e.g. 80 bar (8 MPa) and high temperatures of e.g. 1200 to 1900 degrees centigrade in reactors with liquid slag removal is proposed, wherein a plurality of feeding elements disposed outside the annular duct concentrically with respect to the burner axis are provided for introducing liquid fuel and atomizing agent, the individual feeding elements being implemented intrinsically straight in the burner, inclined to the burner axis in the direction of the burner mouth, and ending at the burner mouth adjacent to the oxidant outlet. By introducing the liquid fuel and atomizing agent in individual completely implemented tubes with a corresponding nozzle, different fuels can be supplied simultaneously via the individual feeds and converted in a flame reaction.

Abstract: The invention provides a safety module for connection to a fuel-burning appliance. The safety module connects to the existing circuitry of the appliance and triggers an alarm response when certain predetermined conditions are met. The safety module includes a CO sensor and a processor and can respond not only to acutely high CO levels but also to chronically high CO levels and lack of adherence to service schedules amongst other conditions. The safety module can also be programmed/reset.

Abstract: In a rotary joint A including an electric signal slip ring 31 for passing different electric signals between a stator 1 and a rotor 6, for the purpose of stable transmission of electric signals in the electric signal slip ring 31, stationary side electrode stacks 38a and 38b are provided individually by stacking each pair of axially adjacent two 36b to 36e of six ring-plate-shaped stationary side electrodes 36a to 36f arranged concentrically with the axis of the stator 1 and aligned axially with each other together with one of stationary side insulating seats 37a and 37b interposed between the pair of axially faced stationary side electrodes, rotating side electrode stacks 42a to 42c are provided individually by stacking each pair of axially adjacent two 40a to 40f of six ring-plate-shaped rotating side electrodes 40a to 40f arranged concentrically with the axis of the rotor 6 and aligned axially with each other together with one of rotating side insulating seats 41a and 41c interposed between the pair of axi

Abstract: A flame sensor for sensing the presence of a flame in a burner. The signal from the sensor is passed to an amplifier located adjacent to the sensor and amplified without having a sensor signal contaminated with common mode radiation. The selectively amplified signal between 15 and 80 Hz is processed by a microcontroller located remotely from the sensor and amplifier which microcontroller may terminate or continue burner operation. The integrity of the connection circuitry between the amplifier and the microcontroller is also monitored and burner shutdown occurs if there is a fault in such circuitry.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of rapidly detecting a flame out condition. A thermopile receives heat energy from the flame and generates electrical power to enable operation of a microprocessor. This microprocessor periodically measures the output voltage of the thermopile at one second intervals. An average is taken of eight consecutive samples. A running history of eight averages is stored within a FIFO which serves as a history queue. This FIFO thus stores a digitized signature of the flame condition over the previous 64 seconds. Analysis by the microprocessor is able to make an early detection of the flame out condition be utilizing the current voltage measurement sand the FIFO contents.

Abstract: In an electronic ignition system for igniting a plurality of gas burners by means of a plurality of electrodes, each one being mounted adjacent with each burner for producing sparks for the ignition of each burner. A spark generating circuit connected with the electrodes in order to produce the sparks for igniting each burner. And a power source connected to the spark generating circuit. A flame sensor circuit is connected to the spark generating circuit and at least one electrode, which in a first period and once the spark generating circuit has been activated for igniting each electrode, the flame sensor circuit is operated to detect the absence of flame on the burner by means of said electrode, and once that the burner has been ignited, the electrode and flame sensor circuit are operated for sensing the presence of flame on the burner.

Abstract: A modulated burner combustion system that prevents the use of components that were originally not commissioned for use in the system. The present invention uses actuators that contain unique stored identification numbers. When the system is initially configured or commissioned, the unique identification numbers of the actuators are stored in nonvolatile memory in a fuel/air controller. When the system is brought on line, the fuel/air controller microprocessor initially sends false IDs to the actuator together with test control signals to determine if the actuator operates in response to the false identification numbers. If the actuator does operate in response to the false identification numbers, that is an indication that the system has been tampered with and the system is, consequently, shut down. Subsequently, the true identification numbers are transmitted to the actuators with test control signals.

Abstract: A detector for use in a combustion system includes a probe having a tip adapted for placement through a singular aperture in the mixing area of a combustion system. First and second channels are derived from the probe output and are used to detect a flashback or flameout condition.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for monitoring the output of a gas ignition module used for controlling the heating of a cooking device, such as a deep fat fryer, in a pulsed heating mode. The system includes a controller which detects a failure in ignition and alerts the user of the cooking device of such a failure. In a preferred embodiment, an optoisolator is used to monitor the voltage applied to a gas valve. From this determination, the system logically determines when a gas lockout has occurred, and prevents successive ignition attempts, which could result in an unwanted accumulation of gas.

Abstract: Fluidized bed reactor method and apparatus for removal of coarse material from the reactor. The apparatus comprises a discharge device including a substantially vertical pipe portion connected at one end with an outlet opening in the reactor grid, and at another end to an aeration chamber containing a discharge opening located below the level of the grid outlet opening; and a device for supplying pressurized air in short blasts of 30 to 100 milliseconds, preferably at pressures of from 2.5 to 7.0 bar, into the aeration chamber in the direction of the discharge opening to remove the coarse material from the reactor. Low pressure fluidizing air may be supplied to the vertical pipe portion as well as the aeration chamber to return small particles in the discharge device to the fluidization zone of the reactor.

Abstract: A safety device for an oil burner is disclosed which is capable of detecting abnormal combustion which forms an excessively decreased flame, for example, sufficient to produce incomplete combustion gas to operate a fire-extinguishing device of the oil burner. The safety device includes an abnormal combustion sensing and actuation mechanism which is adapted to receive heat rays from the oil burner to detect the abnormal combustion and a starting member selectively actuated by the mechanism to operate the fire-extinguishing device when the mechanism detects the abnormal combustion.

Abstract: A multifunctional safety gas flow regulator controller, mainly composed of an electronic circuit, automatically starts an alarm and controls components that close the gas supply when the flame is accidentally extinguished or when the battery has an inadequate power supply. The controller is characterized by its multifunctional safety controller for proper disposal of gas tools.

Abstract: A safety device for an open-type combustor such as a room-type oil stove which is capable of quickly extinguishing the flame of the combustor upon the occurrence of oxygen starvation but which does not operate unnecessarily during ordinary shut-off operations. A thermally deformable element is mounted in the vicinity of a wick guide cylinder or the like for detecting changes in temperature in case of abnormal combustion. An interlock body provided through an operating lever operates an automatic fire-extinguishing unit in response to the thermally deformable element. An engagement/locking portion is provided in the vicinity of the thermally deformable element for engaging and locking the interlock body.

Abstract: A process for the surveillance of jacketed radiant heating tubes and recuperative burners using a detector responding to the oxygen partial pressure in the exhaust gas. At low exhaust gas temperatures down to 200.degree. to 300.degree. C., an abrupt change in the detector output signal occurring due to the transition from over-stoichiometric to under-stoichiometric combustion and vice-versa is detected and is reproduced as an actuating and/or alarm signal. The process can also be used for flame surveillance, for the determination of leaks and cracks in jackets, and for surveillance of the tightness of closed magnetic gas valves.

Abstract: An oxygen shortage sensor is placed in a space defined above a burner unit exposed to the atmosphere. When an oxygen shortage condition is detected by the oxygen shortage sensor, an alarm is raised from an alarm unit or combustion of the burner unit is stopped by a combustion stopper. In such an apparatus, in order to secure a stable oxygen shortage detection by the oxygen shortage sensor, the oxygen shortage sensor is located in a space above the burner unit and in a casing having an opening formed on the side of the burner unit.

Abstract: A purge time hold circuit is provided in a flame safeguard sequencer to in turn provide a safe start check of a burner control system. If a flame is indicated during a prepurge period, the purge time hold means will reset to a zero status and the timer will hold until the signal clears itself. If the flame signal does not clear itself within a preset time, a safety shut down will be commanded.

Abstract: Exhaust gases produced by combustion of fuel are monitored by a sensing probe. An indicating device responsive to signals from the sensing probe provides a readout of a condition sensed by the probe. At least one signaling device responsive to signals from the sensing probe provides a warning signal when the sensed condition is a predetermined value. An interrupting device responsive to signals from the sensing probe interrupts the combustion of fuel when the sensed condition is above the predetermined value.

Abstract: A combustion control apparatus which controls combustion in a combustor which is a heat source of a hot-water boiler or a hot-air heater includes a memory circuit which generates an alarm signal and also a signal for stopping the operation of the apparatus and which maintains the apparatus in the shutdown state, when an abnormal condition such as abnormal heating or ignition failure is sensed. This memory circuit is protected from malfunction due to noise generated from external output units in the combustion control apparatus by a circuit which detects an abnormality signal with timing other than the timing of generation of noise from the external output units, and the output of this circuit is applied as an input to the memory circuit. The detection circuit is arranged to detect the abnormality signal while receiving clock pulses from a timer as its input, and the phase of its detection timing is selected to be out of phase with the noise generation.

Abstract: A check circuit for checking operation of timers of a digital type combustion process control apparatus comprises flip-flops each having a preset terminal. The preset state of the flip-flops is inverted by an operation starting signal. The inversion is detected by a detector circuit the output signal of which is utilized for driving the control circuits for a combustion apparatus. The detector circuit is composed of a flip-flop circuit having input terminals applied with the operation initiating signal and the inverted output signal from the timer circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combustion control apparatus of digital type, in which a fault is warned of unless ignition resumes in a predetermined time after the start of igniting operation in the reignition when fuel flaming is extinguished during combustion. The predetermined time is called safety time and the combustion control apparatus can exactly obtain such a required time or period as the safety time. With such a digital type combustion control apparatus, the safety timer for establishing the safety time comprises flip-flops adapted to count reference clock pulses. In this apparatus, the circuit for generating the reference clock pulses is set and reset by the flame extinction signal to synchronize the clock pulses and the flame extinction signal so that the safety time may be free from error. This concept can be applied to determine the prepurge time.

Abstract: An igniter for flares is disclosed which includes one or more spark electrode carriers movable by a cable toward and away from the top of the flare stack and with indicating and control apparatus preferably near or remote from the base of the flare stack controlling the energization of the electrodes when they are at the top of the flare stack by temperature sensing elements on the electrode carriers, the sensing elements indicating presence or absence of flame at the top of the stack and with indicators of spark failure. Provisions for reset of the timers is also provided.

Abstract: An ignition system for combustible waste gas flares is described in which pilots and pilot igniters are employed, the air to gas ratio for pilot ignition being controlled to compensate for the combustible content of the pilot igniter gas, the pilot operation being sensed to control the ratio, controlled intermittent ignition of the pilot igniter gas being provided, with a repetitive cycle in the event of failure of ignition of the pilot igniter gas and of the pilot gas, the operating conditions being visually indicated at a control panel.

Abstract: An ignition system for flares is described particularly suitable for use in remote areas with limited facilities and which includes as components a power source and specifically storage batteries with a solar battery for recharging and having an associated gasoline engine driven blower for supplying air for ignition, together with an ignition panel adapted for ready connection to a source of fuel gas, to the blower, to the power source, to the stack pilot, to the pilot ignitor and if desired to the flare header for purge gas supply. The panel preferably includes a manually oprable push button for an ignition spark plug, has indicators of pilot operation and has manual control of the delivery of fuel gas for ignition, for use as pilot gas and for use as purge gas. A thermocouple is provided at the pilot for control of indicating lamps indicative of pilot operation or non-operation as well as purge failure.

Abstract: A pilot gas conservation system for flare stacks is provided in which the activation and control of the pilot gas burners is determined by the wind conditions so that if no flare gas is flowing the pilot burners are shut down and with moderate and minor wind conditions the supply of pilot gas is maintained at a lower level than that required for higher wind velocities. A flow responsive switch is provided to determine the flow of waste combustible gas to the stack so that, if required, the effect of the wind speed determines the pilot gas flow.

Abstract: There has been provided a burner control system including apparatus adapted for controlling fuel burner systems for firing furnace sections of steam generators in accordance with any one of a plurality of predetermined subsystem specifications such as fuel safety, ignition and shutdown sequences. The system includes a plurality of sets of logical function means (LFM) having inputs and outputs, responsive to selected ones of the parameters of the system for producing output control and indication signals respectively. Each LFM comprises one solid state control circuit card for performing each logical function in accordance with the specification such as fuel trip, burner ignition and shutdown etc. Each control circuit card is fabricated to include functional logic circuits of the AND, OR, NAND, NOR, etc.