Abstract: A remotely actuated pilot gas valve includes safe lighting and complete shutoff capabilities in the event that the flame that is heating a thermocouple is extinguished. The invention provides for a heater system that utilizes such a pilot gas valve as well as a method whereby the pilot gas valve used in such a system can be remotely and electronically actuated when required. Remote actuation is accomplished by use of a solenoid that is incorporated within the valve design and which is controlled by a remote operator.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides a pilot light ignition system comprising a solenoid valve and a flame safeguard controller. Also provided is a pilot light ignition process comprising a normally open solenoid valve that shuts down a main burner gas supply while the pilot is being lit. A fail last position solenoid can also be utilized with the system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for igniting a gas flow by means of remote control. The aim of the invention is to maintain the current consumption so low that an integratable voltage source can be used. To this end, a thermoelectric safety pilot valve (17) is opened and the escaping gas ignited by the actuation of an electronic control unit (5) fed by a voltage source. Said thermoelectric safety pilot valve (17) is maintained open by a safety pilot magnet (18) by means of a holding current from the voltage source until a thermocouple (22) provides the required holding current once the gas flow has been ignited or a defined holding time is exceeded.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a housing and a cooking plate. Burners are located within the housing and below the cooking plate. A non-powered mechanical thermocouple probe is proximate to a pilot burner with a bi-metal element that produces an electrical signal when heated by the pilot burner. A pilot shutoff valve has an inlet connected to receive gaseous fuel from a gaseous fuel manifold, a pilot output connected to deliver gas to the pilot burner, a main burner output connected to deliver gas the burners, and a thermocouple probe input connected to receive the electrical signal produced by the bi-metal element. The pilot shutoff valve is biased to a default closed position where gas is prevented from flowing from the inlet to the pilot output and from the inlet to the main burner output. When the pilot shutoff valve is open, the pilot shut off valve permits gas to flow from the inlet to the pilot output and from the inlet to the main burner output.

Abstract: The method and apparatus provides a controller (which might comprise a microprocessor) that can control gas flow to a pilot burner in fluid communication with a manual pilot valve and an automatic pilot valve. The exemplary embodiments can comprise a selectable input device that can open the manual pilot valve to allow gas flow to the pilot burner. A pilot flame can then heat one or more thermal detection devices in thermal communication with the pilot burner, wherein the one or more thermal detection devices can output a variable voltage potential to the controller. The controller can then open the automatic pilot valve to maintain gas flow to the pilot burner after the manual pilot valve has been closed. In an exemplary embodiment, the only voltage potential used to power the controller is supplied by the one or more thermal detection devices.

Abstract: A gas furnace control arrangement includes a control unit control unit and an operating unit adapted to control the control unit, the control unit having a valve seat holding a set of solenoid valves, the solenoid valves including a main valve for fuel gas input control, a mother flame valve adapted to control a gas passage from the valve seat to a mother flame nozzle, a high flow rate valve and a medium flow rate valve and a low flow rate valve adapted to control a respective gas passage from the valve seat to a main flame nozzle, the operating unit including a power switch adapted to switch on/off an electronic igniter and to close/open the main valve and the mother flame valve, a strong flame switch adapted to close/open the high flow rate valve, a medium flame switch adapted to close/open the medium flow rate valve, and a weak flame switch linked to the strong flame and the medium flame switch and adapted to close/open the low flow rate valve.

Abstract: A gas burner control system includes a control unit formed of a valve seat and main valve assembly and at least one solenoid valve and installed in the burner body and connected to the electronic igniter, and an operation unit formed of a power switch and at least one flame intensity control switch and provided outside the burner body and connected to the control unit and the electronic igniter. Switching on the power switch opens the main valve assembly and drives the electronic igniter to ignite ignition flame. Switching on one flame intensity control valve opens the corresponding solenoid valve for producing the desired intensity of burner flame.

Abstract: A control valve for a vessel gas water heater includes a single governor for controlling a wider range of the flow of gas from pilot supply to main supply. Once an ignition knob 1 is pressed and turned to open the magnetic valve V1 and ignite the pilot burner PB, the magnetic valve V1 is maintained open by the electromotive force of a thermocouple TC heated by a pilot flame c. When the ignition knob 1 is released from being pressed, and turned further to open the plunger valve V3, the boiler is shifted to the standby state for enabling the supply of gas to the main burner MB. Meanwhile, a sensor rod B is mounted in a reservoir A for contracting and expanding depending on the temperature of the hot water in the reservoir A to open and close the snap valve V5, thus controlling the combustion and its cancellation in the main burner MB. Accordingly, the temperature of the hot water in the reservoir A can automatically be controlled in the vessel gas water heater.

Abstract: A controller for a gas burner system compensates for the tendency of a flame rod sensor in the burner system to on occasion provide a spike in its signal on first lightoff of a pilot flame, by delaying the signal which causes opening of the burner system's main burner valve until the sensor signal has had a chance to reach to its normal level indicative of the presence of the pilot flame. This time varies from about 5 to 30 seconds.

Abstract: A safety device for gas-fired equipment having a main gas supply control valve and a plurality of gas-taps each associated with a flame-producing burner. The device includes a plurality of switches each associated with a gas-tap and actuatable by the operation of the gas-tap, a plurality of heat responsive sensors each having a switching circuit operationally connected in circuit with a secondary control circuit and a timer, and a central control unit connected in circuit for receiving control signals from the output of each of the secondary control circuits, thereby controlling the state of the main gas supply valve. Upon the detection by a heat responsive sensor of the extinction of a fire from a burner when a gas-tap associated therewith is open, after a predetermined time period, the secondary control circuit connected to the sensor emits a signal to the central control unit for effecting the closing of the main gas supply valve.

Abstract: A fuel gas control valve capable of internationally acceptable operation, including a main valve operable in an on-off mode by an electromagnetic actuator that receives a signal from a conventional electric thermostat. A pilot valve is initially operated by a manual control, and is retained in the operating position by a power unit responsive to sensed presence of a pilot flame. A latching mechanism associated with the manual control interrelates with the main valve and overrides operation of the electromagnetic actuator in the event the pilot flame is extinguished for any reason. The valve also includes a mechanism that retains the manual control in pilot position until the pilot flame is established.

Abstract: A gas valve having a main valve closure member whose position is controlled both by a pivoting lever arrangement and a thermostatically controlled solenoid. The closure member is biased toward the lever by a spring between the closure member and the lever, and the lever is biased to position the closure member against a stationary valve seat. The lever is pivotable against its bias by a mechanical latch arrangement which forms part of a manual control, whereby when the lever is pivoted against its bias, the thermostatically controlled solenoid is permitted to engage the closure member, and, in the absence of demand from the thermostat, to move the closure member toward the valve seat against the bias of the spring between the closure member and lever.

Abstract: Gas control apparatus to regulate the flow of gas to a plurality of burners is disclosed. The apparatus permits a main gas solenoid valve to be actuated for a pre-determined period of time allowing the burners to be ignited. If the burners are not ignited within the pre-determined period of time, the main gas solenoid valve is deactuated. Even though a main gas solenoid valve is utilized, each burner can be separately ignited by means of a start signal applied thereto. After ignition, the main gas solenoid valve will remain actuated only if a flame is present at the ignited burner and a start signal is applied to the remaining burners.

Abstract: A burner control system for an intermittent pilot burner system uses a single pole double throw relay to control first and second electromagnetic valves respectively supplying fuel for both burners and for the main burner only. The normally open contact pair supplies the current for the first and the normally closed contact pair supplies the current for the second valve. By selecting the valve supplying fuel for both burners to be of the type which has an appreciably higher pull-in current than drop-out current, and by shunting the relay's normally open contacts with a properly selected resistor, only a single relay is necessary. This resistor is selected to supply current sufficient to hold the valve open (current greater than the drop-out value) after the valve has received pull-in current through the closing of these normally open contacts, but insufficient to open the valve. Use of a single relay reduces cost, size, and power, and increases safety of the control system.

Abstract: A furnace employing a plurality of spaced burners, a carryover tube passing adjacent the burners, a hot surface igniter at one end of the carryover tube, a flame sensor at the other end of the carryover tube and an ignition control for controlling actuation of the hot surface igniter and the flow of combustible gas to the carryover tube and main burners, the ignition control being responsive to the flame sensor.

Abstract: A self-powered control system for a gas-fired appliance having a pilot burner and a main burner includes an emissive surface in the flame of the pilot burner and a photovoltaic device for irradiation from the emissive surface for providing electrical power for the control system. Two normally closed electromagnetic latching valves are arranged in series between a source of fuel gas and the main burner with a connection to the pilot burner between the two valves. The first valve is latched open when the photovoltaic device is irradiated by the emissive surface and is unlatched to close when the device is not so irradiated. The second valve is unlatched to close when the main burner is not burning. A double acting solenoid or the like is used for sequentially opening the first and second valves for lighting the pilot and main burners. A safe, reliable control system is thereby provided without external electrical power. Similar principles are used for powering a safety flue damper and air flow fan.

Abstract: A gas burning furnace is disclosed with a sealed and vented gas control valve. Sealing the gas control valve in an enclosure shields the control valve from the external environment. By venting the enclosure to the furnace pilot light, any gas leaking from the gas control valve into the enclosure is conducted to and ignited by the pilot light in a deliberate controlled manner, thereby precluding an explosion in the enclosure. Other safety features disclosed include an overheat shut-off, pilot light extinguished shut-off and blower malfunction shut-off.

Abstract: An electronic ignition system for a gas burner is battery operated. The battery voltage is applied through a DC-DC chopper to a step-up transformer to charge a capacitor which provides the ignition spark. The step-up transformer has a significant leakage reactance in order to limit current flow from the battery during initial charging of the capacitor. A tank circuit at the input of the transformer returns magnetizing current resulting from the leakage reactance to the primary in succeeding cycles. An SCR in the output circuit is gated through a voltage divider which senses current flow through a flame. Once the flame is sensed, further sparks are precluded. The same flame sensor enables a thermopile driven main valve actuating circuit. A safety valve in series with the main gas valve responds to a control pressure thermostatically applied through a diaphragm. The valve closes after a predetermined delay determined by a time delay orifice if the pilot gas is not ignited.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based burner control apparatus includes an input stage adapted for controllably generating an input signal which is repetitively transitional between a first logic state and a second logic state. A synchronously controlled output stage includes a capacitor, a rectified source of alternating voltage and a microprocessor-switched transistor for controllably charging the capacitor during a half cycle of the alternating voltage having a first polarity. The capacitor is discharged during half cycles of the alternating voltage having a second polarity and the charging and discharging activity thereby actuates a load device. A programmable microprocessor is coupled to the input and output stages and is adapted to receive a synchronizing signal whereby the charging and discharging activity occurs in a predetermined relationship to the synchronizing signal. A method for controlling the operation of a combustible fuel burner is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel burner control system that has a fail safe mode of operation utilizes a flame sensing means that controls two separate signal processing circuits that have two different threshold levels of operation. Each of the signal processing circuits controls a separate switch means and these switch means are interrelated to ensure that a pilot valve and main valve are opened in sequence and that a pilot flame is properly burning before the main valve is opened. If the flame sensing means for the device senses any abnormality, the interrelationship of the output circuits prevents the main valve from opening.

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.

Abstract: A timer circuit arrangement for use with a digital combustion control system functions to check failure of a safety timer which stops the combustion operation in the event that ignition is not completed within a predetermined time. The arrangement has a simple circuit which checks the safety timer in advance of initiation thereof. A pre-purge timer, which determines a predetermined time for feeding only combustion air into the combustion chamber for purge thereof in advance of the combustion, and the safety timer are built with a unitary construction. A series connection of flip-flop circuits is provided for carrying out frequency division of clock pulses to obtain predetermined times, and the flip-flop circuits for the safety timer are constituted by at least a part of the flip-flop circuits for the pre-purge timer so that the pre-purge may continue infinitely when the safety timer become out of order, thereby preventing the operation for combustion and ensuring safety of operation.

Abstract: A fuel ignition control system including a control arrangement for operating pilot and main valves of the system the pilot valve being operated to permit a pilot flame to be established, and the main valve being operated by a pilot flame sensing circuit which includes a controlled switching device enabled in response to the charging of a capacitor to a given value to effect the operation of the main valve, the charging of the capacitor being controlled by a further controlled switching device which supplies AC current to the capacitor in the absence of a pilot flame, preventing the capacitor from charging to the given value, and which supplies DC current to the capacitor when a pilot flame is established, permitting the capacitor to charge to the given value.

Abstract: A fuel ignition control system including a control arrangement for operating pilot and main valves of the system the pilot valve being operated to permit a pilot flame to be established, and the main valve being operated by a pilot flame sensing circuit which includes a controlled switching device enabled in response to the charging of a capacitor to a given value to effect the operation of the main valve, the charging of the capacitor being controlled by a further controlled switching device which supplies AC current to the capacitor in the absence of a pilot flame, preventing the capacitor from charging to the given value, and which supplies DC current to the capacitor when a pilot flame is established, permitting the capacitor to charge to the given value.

Abstract: Safety ignition means for burner installations having a solenoid of a solenoid operated valve connected to a power source through a normally opened relay switch. The relay switch has a hold coil connected to the power source and a make coil connected to the power source through a flame switch which operates, when the flame switch is heated by the flame of the pilot burner, to energize a solenoid of a solenoid operated valve for main burner and de-energize the make coil. A normally closed bimetal switch is connected between a power supply and the safety ignition means and has a heat source connected in series with the make coil. If the pilot burner is not ignited for a predetermined period of time, the heat source heats the bimetal switch so that the bimetal switch is opened to separate the ignition means from the power supply.

Abstract: Safety ignition means for burner installations having a first solenoid operated valve for a pilot burner, a second solenoid operated valve for a main burner, and an electric heater for igniting the pilot burner. The first valve has a hold solenoid connected to a power source through a normally closed bimetal switch. The first valve also has a make solenoid connected parallel to the hold solenoid through a flame switch and a second electric heater for the bimetal switch. The second valve has a solenoid connected parallel to the hold solenoid of the first valve through the flame switch. The flame switch is operative in response to flame of the pilot burner to deenergize the second electric heater for the bimetal switch and the make solenoid of the first valve and energize the solenoid of the second valve.

Abstract: Burner control apparatus includes control devices for actuating an ignition control means, and a timing circuit for providing an ignition timing sequence of four precise intervals. The timing circuit is actuated in response to a request for burner operation and the control devices are energized in sequence and combination in response to the actuated timing circuit. Time sequential pilot flame and main flame stabilization intervals are provided. If a signal from the flame sensor is received before the end of the overlapping flame stabilization timing intervals, the control device is energized and if flame detection signal is lost a lockout circuit is energized.

Abstract: A self-contained electric igniter in which the ignition pilot is actuated by a rechargeable battery to supply energy for the spark provided by an igniter. All energy for opening the valve of the main gas valve is supplied by a millivolt thermopile generator which together with additional thermopiles charges the battery. A diode is located in the battery charging line to prevent reverse flow of current from the battery to the thermopiles. The system has a safety valve which closes off flow of gas into the system in the event the pilot burner fails to ignite and a flame switch which closes off the flow of current to the main gas valve and consequent flow of gas into the system in the event the pilot burner is extinguished. It also has a damper control system which is closed when the system is shut off to reduce stand-by losses and conserve energy.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a fuel ignition system to provide an interlock on start-up to prevent energization of fuel valves under certain failure conditions includes a pulse generating circuit operable when enabled to provide pulses for enabling a first switching device which energizes a pilot valve to supply fuel to a fuel outlet and prepares an energizing path for a main valve, and a second switching device enabled by a flame sensing circuit when a flame is established at the outlet to close associated contacts to complete the energizing path for the main valve and to cause the pulse generating circuit to continue to generate pulses for maintaining the first switching device enabled, the pulse generating circuit being inhibited whenever the contacts are closed at start-up, or close after the system is in a lock out state, preventing the enabling of the first switching device to maintain the pilot valve and the main valve deenergized.

Abstract: A thermal responsive switch employs a gas expansion operating member movable by changes in pressure of a gas charge in a chamber containing a carbonaceous adsorbent material formed from a compound of carbon and non-carbon component by removing the non-carbon component.

Abstract: A fail-safe energizing circuit for effecting the operation of a functional device, such as a relay, includes a resistor and a capacitor connected between outputs of an AC signal source which supplies an AC signal for charging the capacitor, a normally disabled silicon controlled rectifier connected in shunt with the capacitor and an operate coil of the relay and operable when enabled to provide a discharge path for the capacitor permitting the capacitor to discharge over the relay coil to operate the relay, and a control circuit operable to provide an enabling signal derived from the AC signal for enabling the silicon controlled rectifier. The energizing circuit is described with reference to an application in an automatic fuel ignition system for controlling the operation of a relay which energizes a fuel valve of the system.

Abstract: A fluid control system for use with combustion apparatus including a valve assembly having first and second serially connected valves positioned between the inlet and outlet of the valve assembly. First and second actuators respectively connected to operate the first and second valves function to maintain each of the valves in closed positions in the absence of a flame at the pilot burner of the combustion apparatus to prevent flow of fluid to the main burner.