Igniter Deenergized By Timer, Programmer Or Retarder Patents (Class 431/45)
  • Patent number: 11231173
    Abstract: A “flame show” is responsive to an audio input signal such as music. A base unit including an analog base unit controller circuit is arranged to receive an audio input signal and generate an analog control signal that is responsive to the audio input signal. The analog control signal is distributed, by wire or wireless, to one or more flame display units such as a “tiki torch.” Each flame display unit has a fuel source, and a proportional valve for controlling an amount of fuel supplied to a burner. Preferably, the control signal controls a gate terminal of a MOSFET semiconductor device, which in turn is coupled to control current in the proportional valve each each unit. By deploying multiple flame display units, all coupled to the same base unit, all of the flame display units contribute synchronously to the overall flame show.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TKIP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: William H. Mann, Trent Farrer
  • Patent number: 9309857
    Abstract: Embodiments of ignition systems, apparatus, and/or methods can provide exemplary voltage control or regulation for a voltage used for flame detection as well as for spark generation. In one embodiment, flame sensitivity and spark energy can have an increased resistance to component, temperature, and/or power supply variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Antonio Martinez, Eugene M. Freidline
  • Patent number: 8973568
    Abstract: A gas oven has an oven muffle and a gas burner for said oven muffle. The gas oven has a thermogenerator for generating electrical energy during operation of the gas burner for the purpose of supplying electrical energy to an electrical functional unit, for example for supplying said electrical energy to a fan or a control of the gas oven. In this case, the thermogenerator is designed and arranged to be heated, and for heat to be introduced by the gas burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Gerätebau GmbH
    Inventors: Konrad Schönemann, Michael Riffel, Uwe Schaumann, Wilfried Schilling, Norbert Gärtner
  • Publication number: 20150010872
    Abstract: A large-scale combustion system has a fuel line having a burner end, a burner at the burner end of the fuel line, a source of fuel flowing through the fuel line to the burner, a hot surface igniter adjacent to the fuel line, a flame holder disposed adjacent to the hot surface igniter, and a source of igniter combustion air. The hot surface igniter is activated to ignite the source of fuel, the ignited fuel leaving the burner, and the hot surface igniter is protected from a heat caused by the ignited fuel. A flame detector detects ignition of the source of fuel and in response to detection of ignition the hot surface igniter is deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Edmund S. Schindler, John N. Dale
  • Patent number: 8502688
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process of configuring a standalone self-supplied numeric controlled relay for providing phase and earth over current protection to electrical systems by accurate current measurement. The arrangement for current measurement with control algorithms is provided for power control by providing amplified and conditioned current for optimization between the current to power an electronic circuit and the fidelity of a measured current waveform so that they both are at the acceptable levels at the same time. This disclosure describes the current sensing and associated algorithm for power control in a truly self-powered relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Niraj Suthar, Vijay Shah, Maulik Vyas, Bernhard Deck
  • Patent number: 6666676
    Abstract: A programmable burner for gas stoves, which is constituted by a gas burner and a safety valve that includes a thermocouple, which is located in coincidence with an external edge of the burner. The safety valve is maintained open when the thermocouple is detecting the presence of a flame on the gas burner and is closed when the burner has been turned off. An electrode is placed near of the external periphery of the burner for igniting. A spark generation module is connected with the electrode for generating the sparks for igniting the burner. A spark interrupter is connected to the spark generation module, the spark interrupter being located over a burner knob that is connected to the safety valve, for activating or deactivating the spark generation of the spark generation module. Finally a programmable device is connected with the thermocouple and the security valve, for programming the ignition time of the burner in accordance with a preestablished operation time by user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Comercial Acros Whirlpool S.A. De C.V.
    Inventors: Jorge Rodriguez-Rodriguez, David H. Fredin Garcia
  • Patent number: 5720607
    Abstract: An ignitor includes a first transistor, a transformer, an ignition member, and a switching control member. The first transistor is activated in accordance with supply from a DC power supply to perform switching. The transformer has a primary winding through which a switching current flows via the first transistor, a secondary winding for generating high voltage when the switching current flows through the first winding, and a tertiary winding for generating a control output for controlling the switching of the first transistor in accordance with the high voltage generated in the secondary winding. The ignition member ignites a target object using the high voltage generated in the secondary winding of the transformer. The switching control member prolongs the ON time for the switching of the first transistor in accordance with a decrease in at least one of the ambient temperature and the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Yamatake-Honeywell Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Morio, Yasuhiro Oya, Nobumasa Iguchi
  • Patent number: 5018964
    Abstract: A remote-controlled system for igniting a gas barbeque unit and the like is shown. The system controls the gas flow to the pilot lighter and the burner of the barbeque unit, and generates a spark to ignite the pilot lighter and in turn the burner. The system will automatically shut off when the pilot lighter is accidentally extinguished so as to prevent gas leakage to cause any explosion. The system may be operated by a low voltage 9-volt battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Inventor: Reza H. Shah
  • Patent number: 4529373
    Abstract: A system is provided for igniting and monitoring a fuel burning heat source which comprises a thermoelectric safety burner valve, a thermocouple to be heated by a pilot burner, a fuel source feeding fuel to a pilot feed valve and to a main burner feed valve, which in turn are connected to the pilot burner and respectively the main burner. An electric supply source is provided for energizing either an ignition voltage generator or a thermostat simulator. The igniting and monitoring system can be operated electrically or otherwise manually regardless of the state of the electric supply source. A manually operable pilot fuel valve is connected in parallel to the electrically actuated pilot fuel valve and is connected with a switch for disconnecting the electric supply voltage. Thus the heat source can be operated manually in cases where the electrical supply source is not available without impairing the generation of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Joh. Vaillant GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Ulrich Ortlinghaus
  • Patent number: 4519772
    Abstract: A heating device fed with free-flowing fuel and connected to an on-board voltage source, in particular, a vehicle heater. The heating device is equipped with a burner assembly which has a fuel supply, a combustion air fan and a heating element which ignites a fuel/air mixture after a preheating phase. During the preheating phase, the combustion fuel fan is shut off or at least is operated at less than the operating blower output. There is also a switching device which automatically turns on or switches the combustion air fan to its operating blower output after a preheating phase has been completed. The switching device is designed as a voltage-dependent time-function element, which presets a preheating time dependent upon the magnitude of the on-board voltage and which decreases the preheating time as the on-board voltage increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: Webasto-Werk. W. Baier GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Bernd Mittmann
  • Patent number: 4515554
    Abstract: An ignition and fuel supply system for gas-fueled heat radiators of the type comprising an upstream fuel feed (6), a safety valve (20) in the vicinity of the radiator, a pilot device (27) mounted on the radiator to allow reignition and a feed conduit (4) for the gas; the system includes a bypass (15) equipped with gas-expanding devices (14) providing a pressure less than the pressures in the heating areas, whereby the pilot flame device (27) may be fed from the same conduit (4) used for the heating areas; a selection valve (24) is arranged in the radiator injection conduit in order to be closed at the pressure of the pilot flame; an ignition branch line (16) is arranged as a shunt of the upstream feed means (6) in order to supply gas at a pressure exceeding the pressures of the heating modes at the time an electrical igniter (19) is actuated to assure electrical ignition of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: S.A.R.L Centre d'Etude et de Realisation d'Equipment et de Materiel C.E.R.E.M.
    Inventor: Joseph Sirand
  • Patent number: 4455656
    Abstract: A combustion control circuit including semiconductor integrated circuits used for control of a combustor or burner of a water heater, air heater-blower or the like has a very simple configuration for stable initialization against the transient condition of a source voltage. A logic gate performs a sequence control. An input interface section applies a signal to the logic gate in response to an input signal required for combustion control. An output interface section converts the signal produced from the logic gate into a combustion control signal. An operation start signal from an operation switch or a temperature detector circuit is used in combination with an initialization signal for the combustion control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Sumio Nakagawa, Kenzi Toudo
  • Patent number: 4359315
    Abstract: When a call for heat is established, a flame relay is actuated for a predetermined time by means of a cycling timer. Upon this initial actuation, the flame relay inhibits a checking relay and initializes a trial-for-ignition (or simply "ignition") timer. After the cycling timer times out and the flame relay has been completely cycled, which establishes operativeness of the flame relay and flame sensing circuitry, the checking relay is enabled and actuated for the ignition period. The checking relay then actuates the pilot valve and a spark generator to start a pilot flame. If a flame is sensed, before the ignition timer times out, the flame relay actuates the main valve and establishes a holding current for the ignition timer so that the checking relay continues to be energized. If a flame is not sensed during the trial period, the ignition timer disables the checking relay, thereby de-energizing the pilot valve before the main valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Assignee: Johnson Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4298334
    Abstract: A control logic means or microcomputer controlled burner control system has been disclosed. The system utilizes a safety relay that has contacts that are in series with all of the other loads for the system. The safety relay contacts are checked prior to operation of the system to verify their ability to open the load circuit. The operation of the electronics for the control of the safety relay are regularly checked during the operation of the system by a combination of feedback circuits from the electronics, and from the final control element for the various loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney L. Clark, Kenneth B. Kidder, Gary A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4298335
    Abstract: A fuel burner control system including a valve for controlling the flow of fuel to a burner, a resistive heater element for igniting fuel, a power supply for supplying current to the heater element, a flame sensing circuit comprising an ac source for supplying ac voltage to the heater element, and a detector for producing an output signal only in response to the flow through the heating element of current rectified by the flame, a valve control circuit for maintaining the valve open in response to the output signal, and a coupling circuit interconnecting the heating element with both the power supply and the sensing circuit and adapted to prevent the flow of current therebetween. By utilizing a coupling circuit that prevents the flow of current between the power supply and the flame sensing circuit, the resistive heater element can be efficiently and alternately used both as a fuel igniting mechanism and as an electrode for deriving current rectified by flame at the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: Walter Kidde and Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Riordan, Richard A. Cunha
  • Patent number: 4260362
    Abstract: An arrangement for a direct ignition type fuel ignition system includes a capacitive timing network which enables a flame relay to operate during a trial for ignition interval, energizing a fuel valve to supply fuel to a burner for ignition, and a flame sensing circuit which causes the flame relay and the fuel valve to be maintained operated only if a flame is sensed before the end of the trial for ignition interval. In the absence of a flame, a diode, back biased by the timing signal, decouples the flame sensing circuit from the timing network. When a flame is established, a further diode, back biased by a control signal provided by the flame sensing circuit, decouples the timing network from the flame sensing circuit. In an embodiment wherein the charging time of a capacitor defines the trial for ignition interval, a fast reset circuit provides rapid discharge of the timing capacitor when power is removed from the timing network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: Johnson Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4257758
    Abstract: A safety arrangement in a gas-operated apparatus, such as an absorption refrigerator, having a safety device that controls the gas system and, when required, automatically re-ignites the flame of the gas burner that has become extinguished. The system has a thermostat that is connected to a switch for opening a gas valve when it is necessary to supply gas to the burner. A filament or igniter is also provided which is arranged adjacent to the burner and has a switch which breaks the circuit to the gas valve when a sensor or flame detector at the burner is exposed to a flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventor: Peter E. Blomberg
  • Patent number: 4242078
    Abstract: An automatic ignition control system for controlling the pilot burners and main burners of fuel burning appliances so that these burners are ignited only upon demand is disclosed. The system consists of a main control unit which may be interconnected with conventional main and pilot burners or which may be connected with a new and novel burner specifically designed for the purpose. The main control unit is actuated by suitable thermostats or switches when burner operation is required and operates to open the pilot valve and activate a pilot igniter control circuit. The igniter control circuit may take several forms, depending upon the type of igniter used with the burner, and sensing means are provided to deactivate this igniter control circuit when a pilot flame is detected. If the pilot fails to ignite after a predetermined period of time, the main control deactivates the pilot solenoid and sounds an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Inventors: Hollis E. Nelson, Donald G. Seely
  • Patent number: 4230444
    Abstract: When a call for heat is established, a flame relay is actuated for a predetermined time by means of a cycling timer. Upon this initial actuation, the flame relay inhibits a checking relay and initializes a trial-for-ignition (or simply "ignition") timer. After the cycling timer times out and the flame relay has been completely cycled, which established operativeness of the flame relay and flame sensing circuitry, the checking relay is enabled and actuated for the ignition period. The checking relay then actuates the pilot valve and a spark generator to start a pilot flame. If a flame is sensed, before the ignition timer times out, the flame relay actuates the main valve and establishes a holding current for the ignition timer so that the checking relay continues to be energized. If a flame is not sensed during the trial period, the ignition timer disables the checking relay, thereby de-energizing the pilot valve before the main valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1980
    Assignee: Johnson Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4194875
    Abstract: A system for controlling the pilot and main burner gas valves of a gas furnace or the like, including a pilot spark ignitor and a pilot flame sensor. A main burner valve control circuit for energizing the spark ignitor until a pilot flame is sensed and then energizing the main burner valve solenoid to provide gas to the main burner. A pilot solenoid valve control circuit for controlling application of power to the ignitor circuit and the pilot and main solenoids. A safety turn on control circuit which permits operation of the pilot valve and ignitor circuit for only a limited period of time to provide a fail safe operation of the ignition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: Cam-Stat Incorporated
    Inventor: William L. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 4077762
    Abstract: A control arrangement for a fuel ignition system for providing an interlock on start-up to prevent the energization of fuel valves of the system under certain failure conditions includes a switching device which is energized over normally closed contacts of a flame relay to close associated contacts to prepare an energizing path for a pilot valve and to energize an interlock relay which completes the energizing path for the pilot valve, a main valve being energized and the switching device being deenergized to interrupt the energizing path when the flame relay is operated in response to the establishing of a pilot flame, and the pilot valve and the main valve being maintained energized over a holding path provided by the interlock relay, the energization of the pilot valve and the interlock relay being prevented whenever the normally closed contacts of the flame relay are open on start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1978
    Assignee: Johnson Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell Byron Matthews
  • Patent number: 4073611
    Abstract: A control system for a gas burning apparatus having a pilot burner which is initially ignited by electric ignition means upon a need for operation of the apparatus and which in turn ignites a main burner after a flame is established at the pilot burner, the gas flow to the pilot burner being through a first valve and the gas flow to the main burner being through a second valve receiving its gas supply from the first valve. The control system includes flame relay switching means responsive to the presence and absence of flame at the pilot burner and actuated when the control system is initially energized to open the first valve while preventing opening of the second valve and to energize a holding circuit which maintains the first valve open and enables opening of the second valve when the flame relay switching means is subsequently deactuated in response to the establishment of a pilot flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: Essex Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Kaduki, Richard D. Stoneking
  • Patent number: 4070143
    Abstract: A fuel ignition system including a control arrangement which provides an interlock on start-up to prevent the energization of fuel valves of the system under certain failure conditions, and an igniter which is enabled when the system is activated to provide ignition sparks for igniting fuel supplied to a fuel outlet, the igniter being disabled when a flame sensing relay operates and a timing circuit of the igniter permitting the igniter to provide ignition sparks for a predetermined time duration following the operation of the flame sensing relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1978
    Assignee: Johnson Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald Edward Dietz
  • Patent number: 4025283
    Abstract: Automatic electrical control systems for gas fired equipment. The systems embody electrical ignition. The systems eliminate the need for a constantly burning pilot. In one form, wherein the main burner is electrically ignited the pilot is omitted altogether. The systems are adapted to retrofit of existing systems having a pilot to provide for electrical ignition, eliminating constant burning of the pilot. Safety interlocks are embodied and responsive to a thermocouple, providing an assured safe and positive operation under all possible conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Inventor: William A. Ray