US3843049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Burner control system
Assignee: Emerson Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-12-13
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1993-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A manifold gas valve for a water heater burner has a biased closed main valve which is opened by fluid pressure and an electrically operated auxiliary valve which controls the application of operating pressure to open the main valve. A variably biased pressure regulator regulates the valve operating pressure in accordance with the bias thereon and thereby varies the throttling position of the main valve. A solenoid is operative to variably bias the regulator in accordance with the rate of current flow through its winding, and an electrical control circuit including a sensing thermistor and amplifying means effects opening of the auxiliary valve when the water temperature drops any amount below a temperature selected to be maintained and operates to vary the current flow through the solenoid winding in accordance with water temperature variations through a range extending below a predetermined drop in temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 R Baysinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:12
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23N; F23N5/00; F23N5/02; F23N5/14; F23N5/143; F23N2227/00; F23N2227/22; F23N2235/00; F23N2235/12; F23N2235/16; F23N2235/20; F23N5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
In a control system for a gas-fired water heater, a burner, a flow control device comprising a biased closed, fluid pressureopened main valve controlling the flow of gas to said burner, a biased closed auxiliary valve controlling the application of operating pressure acting to move said main valve openward, electromagnetic means including a winding operative when energized to open said auxiliary valve, a variably biased pressure regulator operative to vary the operating pressure in accordance with the bias thereon, and a biasing solenoid operative to variably bias said pressure regulator in accordance with the rate of current flow through its winding; an electrical power source, a temperature variable resistor responsive to the temperature of the water being heated connected across said power source, first amplifying means operative to amplify resistance change in said resistor, first circuit means including switching means responsive to an initial slight amplified resistance change in said resistor to connect said electromagnetic winding across said power source, transistor amplifying means, second circuit means including the output of said transistor amplifier means connecting said solenoid winding across said power source, and means including the output of said first amplifying means operative to increase the forward bias of said transistor amplifier means with increasing change in the resistance of said resistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a control system for a gas-fired water heater, a burner, a flow control device comprising a biased closed, fluid pressureopened main valve controlling the flow of gas to said burner, a biased closed auxiliary valve controlling the application of operating pressure acting to move said main valve openward, electromagnetic means including a winding operative when energized to open said auxiliary valve, a variably biased pressure regulator operative to vary the operating pressure in accordance with the bias thereon, and a biasing solenoid operative to variably bias said pressure regulator in accordance with the rate of current flow through its winding; an electrical power source, a temperature variable resistor responsive to the temperature of the water being heated connected across said power source, first amplifying means operative to amplify resistance change in said resistor, first circuit means including switching means responsive to an initial slight amplified resistance change in said resistor to connect said electromagnetic winding across said power source, transistor amplifying means, second circuit means including the output of said transistor amplifier means connecting said solenoid winding across said power source, and means including the output of said first amplifying means operative to increase the forward bias of said transistor amplifier means with increasing change in the resistance of said resistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The control system claimed in claim 1 including means applying a constant predetermined minimum bias on said pressure regulator sufficient to result in the application of an operating pressure effective to partially open said main valve so as to admit an initial constant predetermined flow of gas to said burner whenever said auxiliary valve is open.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The control system claimed in claim 2 in which the output of said transistor amplifying means becomes sufficient to effect an appreciable increase in regulator bias only when a predetermined change in the resistance of said temperature variable resistor has occurred, whereby said burner is operated at said constant initial gas input through a predetermined initial range of water temperature change.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The control system claimed in claim 1 which further includes resistance means in said second circuit means operative to progressively oppose the forward biasing of said transistor amplifier means as its output increases, thereby to extend the range of water temperature change through which the bias on said regulator may be varied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The control system claimed in claim 1 further including a main switch operative when closed to jointly connect said first and second circuit means across said power source, a controlled solid state switch in said second circuit means, and gating means for said solid state switch including resistance capacitance means operative to fire said switch a predetermined period of time following closure of said main switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The control system claimed in claim 5 in which said second circuit means includes resistance means connected in parallel with the output of said transistor amplifier, and said resistor being operative to maintain conduction of said solid state switch but inoperative to effect a change in bias of said pressure regulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
The control system claimed in claim 1 in which said temperature variable resistor is a thermistor, which further includes a Wheatstone bridge connected across said power source and having said thermistor in one arm thereof and manually variable resistance means in another arm thereof for balancing said bridge when the resistance of said thermistor corresponds to a predetermined water temperature to be maintained, and in which said first amplifying means includes a transistor amplifier connected across said bridge so as to be forwardly biased by a slight increase in the resistance of said thermistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
194 words
In control system for a gas-fired water heater, a burner, a source of gas under pressure, a flow control device including a biased closed valve operative to control the flow of gas to said burner, and a variably biased pressure regulator operative to vary the pressure of gas flowing to said burner in accordance with the bias thereon, electromagnetic means including a winding operative to open said valve when energized, a solenoid including a winding operative to vary the bias on said regulator in accordance with the rate of current flow through its winding, a temperature variable resistor responsive to the temperature of the water being heated, an electrical power source, circuit connections connecting said resistor across said power source, circuit connections including switching means rendered operative in response to a change in the resistance of said resistor to connect said electromagnetic winding across said power source, and circuit connections connecting said solenoid winding across said power source including the output of amplifying means operative in response to changes in the resistance of said resistor to vary the rate of current flow through said solenoid winding with variations in the potential across said resistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
194 words
In control system for a gas-fired water heater, a burner, a source of gas under pressure, a flow control device including a biased closed valve operative to control the flow of gas to said burner, and a variably biased pressure regulator operative to vary the pressure of gas flowing to said burner in accordance with the bias thereon, electromagnetic means including a winding operative to open said valve when energized, a solenoid including a winding operative to vary the bias on said regulator in accordance with the rate of current flow through its winding, a temperature variable resistor responsive to the temperature of the water being heated, an electrical power source, circuit connections connecting said resistor across said power source, circuit connections including switching means rendered operative in response to a change in the resistance of said resistor to connect said electromagnetic winding across said power source, and circuit connections connecting said solenoid winding across said power source including the output of amplifying means operative in response to changes in the resistance of said resistor to vary the rate of current flow through said solenoid winding with variations in the potential across said resistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a gas burner control system, a burner, normally closed electrically operated valve means controlling the flow of gas to said burner, first circuit means including switching means operative in response to a drop in temperature of a medium being heated by said burner to effect opening of said valve, a variably biased pressure regulator operative to vary the pressure of gas flowing to said burner in accordance with the bias thereon, electrically operated means operative to vary the bias on said regulator in accordance with the rate of current flow therethrough, a temperature variable resistor responsive to the temperature of the medium being heated by said burner, means connecting said resistor across a power source, second circuit means including amplifying means responsive to variations in the resistance of said resistor to vary the current flow through said electrically operated means, said second circuit means further including controlled solid state switching means, a main switch operative when closed to jointly connect said first and second circuit means across a power source, and gating means for said solid state switching means including resistance and capacitance means operative to effect conduction of said switching means a predetermined period of time after closure of said main switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a gas burner control system, a burner, normally closed electrically operated valve means controlling the flow of gas to said burner, first circuit means including switching means operative in response to a drop in temperature of a medium being heated by said burner to effect opening of said valve, a variably biased pressure regulator operative to vary the pressure of gas flowing to said burner in accordance with the bias thereon, electrically operated means operative to vary the bias on said regulator in accordance with the rate of current flow therethrough, a temperature variable resistor responsive to the temperature of the medium being heated by said burner, means connecting said resistor across a power source, second circuit means including amplifying means responsive to variations in the resistance of said resistor to vary the current flow through said electrically operated means, said second circuit means further including controlled solid state switching means, a main switch operative when closed to jointly connect said first and second circuit means across a power source, and gating means for said solid state switching means including resistance and capacitance means operative to effect conduction of said switching means a predetermined period of time after closure of said main switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The control system claimed in claim 9 in which said resistor is a thermistor having a negative coefficient of resistance, and in which said amplifying means includes a transistor amplifier arranged to be progressively forwardly biased with increasing voltage drop across said thermistor and arranged in said second circuit means so as to progressively increase the current flow through said electrically operated means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The coNtrol system claimed in claim 10 in which said switching means in said first circuit means is a controlled solid state switch having gating means responsive to initial relatively slight conduction of said transistor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The control system claimed in claim 10 including resistance means in said second circuit operative to progressively oppose the progressive forward biasing of said transistor, thereby to extend the range of temperature decrease through which the bias on said regulator and, therefore, gas pressure may be varied.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |