Flame or spark detection system and combustible gas ignition device

Claim 1

Flame ignition apparatus comprising a combination of a flame detection system and a flame generator associated therewith, wherein said flame generator comprises: an autonomous direct current source; a manual switch; a controlled switch having a control electrode means; voltage step-up means comprising oscillator means and connected to said autonomous direct current source through said manual switch to be supplied DC energy by said source, said oscillator means being furthermore operatively connected to said controlled switch so that said control electrode means constitutes an inhibit input of said oscillator means; a capacitor connected to the output of said voltage step-up means; a voltage step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a spark gap arranged between two electrodes, said electrodes being connected to said secondary winding; a burner connected to a combustible fluid source and located close to said spark gap; a triggered discharge circuit connected between said capacitor and said primary winding, and wherein said flame detection system comprises: means sensitive to a varying voltage in said voltage step-up transformer including means sensitive to the triggering voltage of the electric arc between said electrodes; reference generating means for generating a reference voltage at least at each spark generation, and comparator means connected to said reference generating means and to said means sensitive to a varying voltage for comparing the voltages generated thereby; an output of said comparator means being connected to said control electrode means of said controlled switch for transmitting thereto a signal representative of the presence and absence of a flame at said spark gap.