Patent classifications
F23N2235/14
Gas appliance and control method thereof
A gas appliance includes a burner, a gas valve, an ignitor, a thermocouple, and a control device, wherein the control device is adapted to execute a control method comprising the following steps: controlling the ignitor to ignite and the gas valve to open; receiving a sensing voltage output from the thermocouple; stop the ignitor from igniting and controlling the gas valve to keep a gas pipe be in an open state when the sensing voltage increases to a first voltage; receiving the sensing voltage output from the thermocouple continuously, and controlling the gas valve to block the gas pipe when the sensing voltage decreases from higher than a second voltage to lower than the second voltage, wherein the second voltage is higher than the first voltage. Whereby, an ignition procedure could be speeded up and the gas could be blocked earlier as the flames are extinguished.
Gas valve with communication link
This disclosure relates generally to valves, and more particularly, to gas valve assemblies. In one example, the valve assembly may include a valve body with an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid path extending between the inlet and outlet ports, one or more valves situated about the fluid path, one or more valve actuators for selectively moving respective valves, one or more sensors for sensing one or more parameters within the fluid path, and a controller secured relative to the valve body and in communication with the one or more sensors for determining one or more valve assembly conditions based on the one or more sensed parameters. Illustratively, the controller may be configured to communicate information from the valve assembly to a combustion appliance controller that is located remotely from the valve assembly through a communications interface of the controller and across a communications bus.
Standing Pilot Igniter for Oilfield Separators
An electronically controlled burner management system for oilfield separators. The system includes an autonomous standing pilot spark ignition that includes a self-aligning clamp that holds the igniter to the burner nozzle. The self-aligning clamp enables rapid installation and removal, lowering the total cost of ownership. The autonomous spark ignition system incorporates temperature sensors to determine when the standing pilot needs to be relit, and can shut off the gas or other fuel flow to the standing pilot and the main burner when the pilot is not lit. The system increases oil and gas production from the well, reduces fugitive emissions of unburned gas, and improves oilfield worker safety. When installed or retrofitted into an existing oilfield separator, the original burner control components are left in place, allowing the user to revert to traditional operation in case of failure of any electronic component of the present system.
Appliance with electronically-controlled gas flow to burners
An appliance includes a first gas-burning heating element, a first gas path extending from an inlet to the first heating element, and a first solenoid valve positioned within the first gas path. The appliance further includes a second gas path extending from upstream of the first solenoid valve to the first heating element and supplying a base gas flow to the first heating element. A controller is electronically coupled with the first solenoid valve for controlling a supplemental flow of gas through the first gas path to the first heating element such that the supplemental gas flow combines with the base gas flow to achieve a total gas flow. The controller controls the supplemental flow to adjust the total gas flow by pulsing the first solenoid valve at a first rate corresponding to a desired rate of the total gas flow to the first heating element.
STEPPER MOTOR DRIVEN MODULATING GAS VALVE AND SYSTEM
A stepper motor driven modulating gas valve and system are provided. Such a system includes an electronic controller, a touch user interface, and a stepper motor. The system also includes a variable flow gas valve having a rotatable valving member for controlling a variable flow of gas therethrough, the valving member having an input shaft, and a gear train operatively coupling the output shaft of the stepper motor to the input shaft of the valving member of the variable flow gas valve. A burner is coupled to the variable flow gas valve. The electronic controller receives a user input for flame selection via the touch user interface and energizes the stepper motor to position the variable flow gas valve valving member to a predetermined angular position through the gear train to provide a flow of gas to the burner that will provide the user's desire flame intensity.
Gas powered water heater controller and related methods
A gas flow controller for use with a gas powered water heater includes a first gas flow valve, and a first gas flow valve actuator assembly connected to the first gas flow valve and configured to hold the first gas flow valve in an open position. The first gas flow valve actuator assembly includes a first electromagnetic actuator, a corrosion resistant material encapsulating the first electromagnetic actuator, a first wire lead connected to the first electromagnetic actuator at a first solder joint, a corrosion resistant material encapsulating the first solder joint, a second wire lead connected to the first electromagnetic actuator at a second solder joint, and a corrosion resistant material encapsulating the second solder joint.
VALVE POSITION CONTROL
A method for calibrating a position of a control valve within a gas valve assembly for controlling fuel flow to a combustion appliance. The method may include moving the control valve to a second end stop, moving the control valve from the second end stop to a first end stop while counting a number of steps traveled by a stepper motor driving the control valve, and comparing the counted number of steps traveled from the second end stop to the first end stop to a reference value stored in a memory of the controller. If the counted number of steps does not match the reference value, the gas valve assembly may be placed in a lockout mode.
Smart fuel burning system and method of operating same
A system configured to generate heat when supplied with a first fuel or a second fuel can include a fuel supply line operatively connected to a fuel source. A valve assembly can be operatively connected to the fuel supply line. A main burner can be operatively connected to the valve assembly. A thermoelectric generating system can be configured to transform heat to electricity. A first pilot burner can include at least one of a first thermocouple and a first Fe-ion sensor. A second pilot burner can include at least one of a second thermocouple and a second Fe-ion sensor. A printed circuit board (PCB) can be operatively connected to the valve assembly and the first and second pilot burners. The PCB can be configured to control operation of the valve assembly based on information received from at least one of the first and second pilot burners.
COOKTOP INCLUDING A SINGLE INPUT CONTROL OF MULTIPLE HEATING ELEMENTS
A cooktop appliance includes a first heating element; a second heating element adjacent to the first heating element; a first supply line in upstream fluid communication with the first heating element to direct fuel thereto; a second supply line in upstream fluid communication with the second heating element to direct fuel thereto, the second supply line being in fluid parallel with the first supply line; a first supply valve provided on the first supply line upstream from the first heating element; a second supply valve provided on the second supply line; a supplemental line providing fluid connection from the first supply valve to each of the first supply line and the second supply line; a supplemental line valve provided on the supplemental line; and a controller operably coupled with the supplemental line valve, the controller being configured to selectively open the supplemental line valve.
CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COOKTOP APPLIANCES
A cooking appliance includes a cooktop, a user interface provided on the cooktop, a manifold provided within the cooktop, the manifold including a gas input, a first burner supply line extending from the manifold, a second burner supply line extending from the manifold in fluid parallel with the first burner supply line, a gas burner, the gas burner including a first stage fluidly connected to the manifold via the first burner supply line and a second stage fluidly connected to the manifold via the second burner supply line, a connection line fluidly connecting the first and second burner supply lines, a connection line valve provided on the connection line between the manifold and the gas burner, and a controller operably coupled with the connection line valve, the controller being configured to selectively open the connection line valve.