Field configurable low water cut-offs

Abstract

A low water cutoff switch controller features a dual inline package (DIP) in combination with low water cutoff switch processor. The dual inline package (DIP) has DIP switches, each DIP switch configured to set in a respective application type or mode corresponding to a particular water heater model for the low water cutoff switch controller to control, and also configured to provide DIP switch signaling containing information about a respective DIP switch set. The low water cutoff switch processor is configured to respond to the DIP switch signaling, and also configured to respond to corresponding signaling containing information about a sensed water level contained in the particular water heater model being controlled by the low water cutoff switch controller, and provide control signaling containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model. The low water cutoff switch controller is a single controller that can be used for controlling any one of a plurality of different water heater models and have different voltage applications by setting a respective one of the DIP switches.

Claims

1. A field configurable low water cutoff switch controller comprising: a dual inline package (DIP) having DIP switches that are dedicated to different application types or modes corresponding to different water heater models for the low water cutoff switch controller to control, each DIP switch configured to be set during installation in a respective application type or mode corresponding to a particular water heater model, and also configured to provide DIP switch signaling containing information about a respective DIP switch that is set in the respective application type or mode; and a low water cutoff switch processor configured to respond to the DIP switch signaling, and also configured to respond to corresponding signaling containing information about a sensed water level contained in the particular water heater model being controlled by the field configurable low water cutoff switch controller, and provide control signaling containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model.

2. A field configurable low water cutoff switch controller according to claim 1, wherein the field configurable low water cutoff switch controller comprises a test/manual reset common switch configured to respond to a pressing force applied for a duration of time, and provide test/manual reset common switch signaling; and the low water cutoff switch processor configured to respond to the test/manual reset common switch signaling, and set the field configurable low water cutoff switch controller for operating in the respective application type or mode corresponding to the particular water heater model.

3. A field configurable low water cutoff switch controller according to claim 2, wherein the low water cutoff switch processor is configured to set the field configurable low water cutoff switch controller for operating in the respective application type or mode corresponding to the particular water heater model one time and does not allow the respective application type or mode corresponding to the particular water heater model to be changed.

4. A field configurable low water cutoff switch controller according to claim 1, wherein the DIP switches can be set to application types or modes, as follows: TABLE-US-00003 Sr. No. 120 volts applications 24 volts applications 1 Hot water - automatic mode Hot water - automatic mode 2 Hot water - manual mode Hot water - manual mode 3 Steam - automatic mode Steam - automatic mode 4 Steam - manual mode Steam - manual mode 5 Steam - high water manual Steam - high water manual mode mode.

5. A field configurable low water cutoff switch controller according to claim 2, wherein the low water cutoff switch processor is also configured to provide LED control signaling; and the field configurable low water cutoff switch controller comprises an LED module having LEDs corresponding to application types or modes, the LED module configured to respond to the LED control signaling, and provide an LED indication of one of the application types or modes selected.

6. A field configurable low water cutoff switch controller according to claim 5, wherein the LED module comprises dual colour LEDs having a green LED for lighting to indicate an auto/power mode, a yellow LED for lighting to indicate a manual/power mode, and a red LED for lighting to indicate a control status mode.

7. A field configurable low water cutoff switch controller according to claim 1, wherein the dual inline package (DIP) comprises DIP LEDs, each DIP LED corresponding to a respective one of the DIP switches for providing a respective LED indication when the respective one of the DIP switches is selected.

8. A field configurable low water cutoff switch controller according to claim 2, wherein the low water cutoff switch processor is configured to respond to the test/manual reset common switch signaling, and lock the field configurable low water cutoff switch controller so that any further change to the DIP switches will not effect the operation of the field configurable low water cutoff switch controller.

9. A field configurable low water cutoff switch controller according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of different water heater models include 24V or 120V applications.

10. A field configurable low water cutoff switch controller according to claim 1, wherein each DIP switch is configured to be manually set by a field operator during installation to a respective position corresponding to the respective application type or mode corresponding to the particular water heater model.

11. A low water cutoff switch controller comprising: a dual inline package (DIP) having DIP switches, each DIP switch configured to set in a respective application type or mode corresponding to a particular water heater model for the low water cutoff switch controller to control, and also configured to provide DIP switch signaling containing information about a respective DIP switch set; and a low water cutoff switch processor configured to respond to the DIP switch signaling, and also configured to respond to corresponding signaling containing information about a sensed water level contained in the particular water heater model being controlled by the low water cutoff switch controller, and provide control signaling containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model, wherein the low water cutoff switch controller comprises a relay module configured to respond to the control signaling, and provide relay signaling containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model.

12. A low water cutoff switch controller according to claim 11, wherein the relay signaling includes NCburner contact signaling, noWF contact signaling and/or com signaling containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The drawing includes the following Figures, not necessarily drawn to scale, including:

(2) FIG. 1 is a chart of examples of 5 different types of models and two different associated voltages of switches manufactured for low water cut-off applications, e.g., that are currently known in the art.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a low water cutoff switch controller, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

(4) In the Figures, similar parts are labeled with similar reference numerals. Moreover, not every part is labelled with a reference numeral and lead line in every Figure, so as to reduce clutter in the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2

(5) FIG. 2 shows a new and unique low water cutoff switch controller generally indicated as 10 arranged in relation to a hot water or boiler application 11. The low water cutoff switch controller 10 includes a dual inline package (DIP) 12 in combination with a low water cutoff switch processor 14.

(6) The dual inline package (DIP) 14 may include DIP switches labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 as shown in FIG. 2. Each DIP switch 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 may be configured to set in a respective application type or mode corresponding to a particular water heater model for the low water cutoff switch controller 10 to control, and may also be configured to provide DIP switch signaling containing information about a respective DIP switch set, e.g., by a field operator.

(7) The low water cutoff switch processor 14 may be configured to: respond to the DIP switch signaling, and also configured to respond to corresponding signaling containing information about a sensed water level contained in the particular water heater model being controlled by the low water cutoff switch controller, and provide control signaling containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model.

(8) By way of example, the hot water or boiler application 11 may include a water level sensor and controller, where the water level sensor is configured to sense the water level in the hot water or boiler application 11, and provide the corresponding signal, and where the controller is configured to receive the control signaling from the low water cutoff switch controller and control the hot water or boiler application 11, e.g., consistent with that set forth herein and that known in the art. Water level sensor and controller for hot water or boiler applications like element 11 are known in the art; and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the type or kind thereof, either now known or later developed in the future.

(9) The low water cutoff switch controller 10 may include a test/manual reset common switch 16 configured to respond to a pressing force, e.g., applied for a duration of time like 10 seconds, and provide test/manual reset common switch signaling along line 16a. The low water cutoff switch processor 14 may be configured to respond to the test/manual reset common switch signaling along line 16a, and set the low water cutoff switch controller 10 for operating in the respective application type or mode corresponding to the particular water heater model. By way of example, and according to some embodiments, the low water cutoff switch processor 14 may also be configured to set the low water cutoff switch controller 10 for operating in the respective application type or mode corresponding to the particular water heater model one time and does not allow the respective application type or mode corresponding to the particular water heater model to be changed. The scope of the invention is also intended to include other types or kinds of test/manual reset procedures, e.g., to ensure that the hot water or boiler application 11 is operated safely and in compliance with any particular building codes, rules or regulations applicable to the hot water application.

(10) By way of example, and according to some embodiments, the dual inline package (DIP) 12 may include dedicated DIP switches that can be set to application types or modes, as follows:

(11) TABLE-US-00002 Sr. No. 120 volts applications 24 volts applications 1 Hot water - automatic mode Hot water - automatic mode 2 Hot water - manual mode Hot water - manual mode 3 Steam - automatic mode Steam - automatic mode 4 Steam - manual mode Steam - manual mode 5 Steam - high water manual Steam - high water manual mode mode.
The scope of the invention is also intended to include other types or kinds of modes of operation and applications, e.g., either now known or later developed in the future.

(12) The low water cutoff switch processor 14 may also be configured to provide LED control signaling along lines 14a. The low water cutoff switch controller may include an LED module 18 having LEDs, e.g., indicated by the designations green, yellow and red, corresponding to application types or modes. The LED module 18 may be configured to respond to the LED control signaling along lines 14a, and provide an LED indication of one of the application types or modes selected. By way of example, the LED module 18 may include dual colour LEDs having a green LED for lighting to indicate an auto/power mode, a yellow LED for lighting to indicate a manual/power mode, and a red LED for lighting to indicate a control status mode.

(13) The low water cutoff switch controller 10 may include a relay module 20 configured to respond to the control signaling along line 14b, and provide relay signaling along lines 20a, 20b, 20c containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model, e.g., such as the hot water application 11. By way of example, the relay signaling may include NCburner contact signaling, noWF contact signaling and/or com signaling, e.g., containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model. The relay signaling along lines 20a, 20b, 20c may be provided as the control signaling to control the hot water application 11.

(14) By way of example, the dual inline package (DIP) 12 may include DIP LEDs labeled a, b, c, d, e. Each DIP LED corresponds to a respective one of the DIP switches 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 for providing a respective LED indication when the respective one of the DIP switches is selected or set, e.g., by the field operator.

(15) The low water cutoff switch processor 14 may be configured to respond to the test/manual reset common switch signaling along line 16a, and lock the low water cutoff switch controller 10 so that any further change to the DIP switches 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 will not effect the operation of the low water cutoff switch controller 10.

The Processor 14

(16) By way of example, the functionality of the low cut off switch processor 14 may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In a typical software implementation, the processor 14 would include one or more microprocessor-based architectures having, e.g., at least one signal processor or microprocessor. A person skilled in the art would be able to program such a microcontroller (or microprocessor)-based implementation to perform the functionality described herein without undue experimentation. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular implementation using technology either now known or later developed in the future. The scope of the invention is intended to include implementing the functionality of the processor 14a as stand-alone processor or processor module, as separate processor or processor modules, as well as some combination thereof.

(17) By way of example, one skilled in the art would appreciate and understand how to implement the functionality of the low cut off switch processor 14 without undue experimentation, e.g., to respond to DIP switch signaling containing information about a respective DIP switch set, and also respond to corresponding signaling containing information about a sensed water level contained in the particular water heater model being controlled by the low water cutoff switch controller, and provide control signaling containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model.

(18) As one skilled in the art would also appreciate and understand, the low cut off switch processor 14 may also include other signal processor circuits or components, e.g. including random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM), input/output devices and control, and data and address buses connecting the same, and/or at least one input processor and at least one output processor.

The Components in the Controller 10

(19) The other components in the low cut off switch controller 10 are known in the art, including the DIP 12, the test/manual reset common switch 16, the LED module 18, and the relay 20. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind of such components. Moreover, one skilled in the art would be able to implement the underlying functionality without undue experimentation, e.g., consistent with that disclosed herein.

The Scope of the Invention

(20) It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein. Also, the drawing herein is not drawn to scale.

(21) Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.