A flow control apparatus includes a flow control signal generation device for generating a DC control signal based on an audio signal and at least one proportional valve. The flow control signal generation device includes an audio receiving module, a filter rectifier module, a microprocessor and a proportional valve control signal generation module. The filter rectifier module generates at least one DC audio signal by filtering the audio signal provided by the audio receiving module. The microprocessor generates a plurality of period attenuated values based on the DC audio signal. The proportional valve control signal generation module filters the audio signal, attenuates the signal based on the period attenuated values, and then performs filtering and rectification processing to generate the DC control signal, such that the proportional valve may control the opening ratio of the proportional valve based on the DC control signal.

Control system for controlling the pilot flame of a combustible gas device, which includes a pilot burner, a main burner, and a valve assembly, which includes a pilot valve that allows/intercepts a flow of gas directed towards the pilot burner, and a main valve that allows/intercepts a gas flow to the main burner, the valve assembly moveable between a closed OFF state, a PILOT state, and an ON state, where gas flows to the main burner. The control system includes a detection device that generates a state signal, and a control unit including a timer, the control unit is operatively connected to the detection device to receive a state signal and to an actuator to close the valve. The control unit starts the timer when the state signal represents the PILOT state, and actuates the actuator for the pilot valve to close it when the timer reaches a preset limit.

A flow control apparatus includes a flow control signal generation device for generating a DC control signal based on an audio signal and at least one proportional valve. The flow control signal generation device includes an audio receiving module, a filter rectifier module, a microprocessor and a proportional valve control signal generation module. The filter rectifier module generates at least one DC audio signal by filtering the audio signal provided by the audio receiving module. The microprocessor generates a plurality of period attenuated values based on the DC audio signal. The proportional valve control signal generation module filters the audio signal, attenuates the signal based on the period attenuated values, and then performs filtering and rectification processing to generate the DC control signal, such that the proportional valve may control the opening ratio of the proportional valve based on the DC control signal.

Control system for controlling the pilot flame of a combustible gas device, which includes a pilot burner, a main burner, and a valve assembly, which includes a pilot valve that allows/intercepts a flow of gas directed towards the pilot burner, and a main valve that allows/intercepts a gas flow to the main burner, the valve assembly moveable between a closed OFF state, a PILOT state, and an ON state, where gas flows to the main burner. The control system includes a detection device that generates a state signal, and a control unit including a timer, the control unit is operatively connected to the detection device to receive a state signal and to an actuator to close the valve. The control unit starts the timer when the state signal represents the PILOT state, and actuates the actuator for the pilot valve to close it when the timer reaches a preset limit.

A cooking appliance includes: a gas cooking element; an igniter disposed adjacent to the gas cooking element to ignite the gas cooking element; a gas valve for regulating gas flow to the gas cooking element; a burner control mechanically coupled to the gas valve to vary the gas flow to the gas cooking element; a sensor for detecting the positioning of the burner control in an ignition range of positions; and a control circuit coupled to the igniter and the sensor and to activate the igniter in response to detected movement of the burner control into the ignition range of positions, the control circuit further configured to maintain activation of the igniter for a predetermined minimum length of time once activated.

A method includes firing a first burner into a furnace process chamber in a first initial condition, firing a second burner into the process chamber in a second initial condition, and measuring temperature at each of an array of locations in the process chamber. The first burner is adjusted to a first adjusted condition while the second burner is being fired at the second initial condition, and a resulting first temperature change is measured at each of the locations. The second burner is adjusted to a second adjusted condition while the first burner is being fired at the first initial condition, and a resulting second temperature change is measured at each of the locations. The measured first and second temperature changes are recorded as reference data for adjusting burner conditions to adjust temperatures at each of the locations. The method can thus be used to improve temperature uniformity throughout the array of locations.

A combustion apparatus (1) has a burner (11) configured to burn combustion gas, a heat exchanger (12) disposed below the burner (11), and a combustion fan (13) configured to supply air for combustion, wherein the combustion apparatus performs post-purge operation in which the combustion fan (13) is activated for a predetermined period of time after combustion operation of the burner (11) stops, and intermittent blower operation in which activation and deactivation of the combustion fan (13) is repeated a plurality of times at predetermined intervals after the post-purge operation ends.

A method includes firing a first burner into a furnace process chamber in a first initial condition, firing a second burner into the process chamber in a second initial condition, and measuring temperature at each of an array of locations in the process chamber. The first burner is adjusted to a first adjusted condition while the second burner is being fired at the second initial condition, and a resulting first temperature change is measured at each of the locations. The second burner is adjusted to a second adjusted condition while the first burner is being fired at the first initial condition, and a resulting second temperature change is measured at each of the locations. The measured first and second temperature changes are recorded as reference data for adjusting burner conditions to adjust temperatures at each of the locations. The method can thus be used to improve temperature uniformity throughout the array of locations.

A method includes firing a first burner into a furnace process chamber in a first initial condition, firing a second burner into the process chamber in a second initial condition, and measuring temperature at each of an array of locations in the process chamber. The first burner is adjusted to a first adjusted condition while the second burner is being fired at the second initial condition, and a resulting first temperature change is measured at each of the locations. The second burner is adjusted to a second adjusted condition while the first burner is being fired at the first initial condition, and a resulting second temperature change is measured at each of the locations. The measured first and second temperature changes are recorded as reference data for adjusting burner conditions to adjust temperatures at each of the locations. The method can thus be used to improve temperature uniformity throughout the array of locations.

A method of operating a dual circuit gas burner including an inner burner ring and an outer burner ring surrounding the inner burner ring; the method including: opening a gas flow to the outer burner ring while maintaining a gas flow to the inner burner ring closed during a predetermined period of time.