Fluid flow sensing switch device

Claim 2

In a fluid flow sensing switch device having a housing means provided with a fluid flow passage therethrough defined by an inlet and an outlet separated by a valve seat controlled by a movable valve member that is operated by the pressure differential between said inlet and said outlet acting on a flexible diaphragm carried by said housing means, said device having an electrical switch construction operatively associated with said valve member and having contact means thereof disposed in said fluid flow passage so as to be exposed to fluid flow therethrough and being actuated by said pressure differential acting on said flexible diaphragm, the improvement wherein said contact means comprises a pair of spaced apart contacts carried by said flexible diaphragm and a bridging contact member carried by said valve member and being adapted to make contact with said pair of contacts and thereby bridge said pair of contacts to close said switch construction.

Claim 3

A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bridging contact member is pivotally mounted on said valve member.

Claim 4

A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bridging contact member is universally mounted on said valve member.

Claim 5

A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said valve member has a substantially point-like projection, said bridging contact member having a concave surface receiving said point-like projection to thereby be universally mounted on said valve member.

Claim 6

A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said bridging contact member comprise a disc-like member.

Claim 7

A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a spring is disposed between said flexible diaphragm and said bridging member to tend to hold said bridging member out of contact with said pair of contacts and thereby maintain said switch construction in an open condition thereof.

Claim 8

A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing means carries a pair of terminal means respectively having first parts thereof exposed from said housing means for external lead connection thereto and having second parts thereof internally exposed in said housing means, and a pair of electrical connector means respectively electrically interconnecting said pair of contacts to said second parts of said terminals.

Claim 9

A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first parts of said terminal means comprise plug-in type prongs for plugging into socket-like means for electrical connection thereto.

Claim 10

A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said flexible diaphragm cooperates with said housing means to define a control chamber therein, said pair of electrical connector means being disposed in said control chamber.

Claim 11

A device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said electrical connector means are flexible and thereby flex upon movement of said diaphragm relative to said housing means.

Claim 12

A device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said electrical connector means includes electrical control components.

Claim 13

A device as set forth in claim 11 wherein one of said components comprises a triac switching unit.

Claim 14

A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve member comprises a first part disposed on one side of said valve seat for opening and closing the same and a second part projecting through said valve seat to the other side thereof and carrying said bridging contact member thereon.

Claim 15

A device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said housing means carries a washer-like guide member in spaced relation to said other side of said valve seat, said guide member having a central opening therethrough which receives said second part of said valve member to guide movement of said valve member relative to said valve seat.

Claim 16

A device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said valve member has restriction means interconnecting one side of said valve seat to the other side thereof.

Claim 17

In a fuel control system having a fuel source and a burner means for receiving fuel from said source through a passage defining means to be ignited by electrically operated ignition means, said passage defining means having a fluid flow sensing switch device therein that comprises a housing means provided with a fluid flow passage therethrough defined by an inlet and an outlet separated by a valve seat controlled by a movable valve member that is operated by the pressure differential between said inlet and said outlet acting on a flexible diaphragm carried by said housing means, said device having an electrical switch construction operatively associated with said valve member for operating said ignition means and having contact means thereof disposed in said fluid flow passage so as to be exposed to fluid flow therethrough and being actuated by said pressure differential acting on said flexible diaphragm, the improvement wherein said contact means comprises a pair of spaced apart contacts carried by said flexible diaphragm and a bridging contact member carried by said valve member and being adapted to make contact with said pair of contacts and thereby bridge said pair of contacts to close said switch construction.

Claim 18

In a fuel control system having a fuel source and a burner means for receiving fuel from said source through a passage defining means to be ignited by electrically operated ignition means, said passage defining means having a fluid flow sensing switch device therein that comprises a housing means provided with a fluid flow passage therethrough defined by an inlet and an outlet separated by a valve seat controlled by a movable valve member that is operated by the pressure differential between said inlet and said outlet acting on a flexible diaphragm carried by said housing means, said device having an electrical switch construction operatively associated with said valve member for operating said ignition means and having contact means thereof disposed in said fluid flow passage so as to be exposed to fluid flow therethrough and being actuated by said pressure differential acting on said flexible diaphragm, the improvement wherein said contact means comprises a pair of spaced apart contacts carried by said flexible diaphragm and a bridging contact member carried by said valve member and being adapted to make contact with said pair of contacts and thereby bridge said pair of contacts to close said switch construction.

Claim 19

A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said bridging contact member is pivotally mounted on said valve member.

Claim 20

A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said bridging contact member is universally mounted on said valve member.

Claim 21

A system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said valve member has a substantially point-like projection, said bridging contact member having a concave surface receiving said point-like projection to thereby be universally mounted on said valve member.

Claim 22

A system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said bridging contact member comprises a disc-like member.

Claim 23

A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein a spring is disposed between said flexible diaphragm and said bridging member to tend to hold said bridging member out of contact with said pair of contacts and thereby maintain said switch construction in an open condition thereof.

Claim 24

A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said housing means carries a pair of terminal means respectively having first parts thereof exposed from said housing means for external lead connection thereto and having second parts thereof internally exposed in said housing means, and a pair of electrical connector means respectively electrically interconnecting said pair of contacts to said second parts of said terminals.

Claim 25

A system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said first parts of said terminal means comprise plug-in type prongs for plugging into socket-like means for electrical connection thereto.

Claim 26

A system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said flexible diaphragm cooperates with said housing means to define a control chamber therein, said pair of electrical connector means being disposed in said control chamber.

Claim 27

A system as set forth in claim 24 wherein said electrical connector means are flexible and thereby flex upon movement of said diaphragm relative to said housing means.

Claim 28

A system as set forth in claim 25 wherein said electrical connector means includes electrical control components.

Claim 29

A system as set forth in claim 26 wherein one of said components comprises a triac switching unit.

Claim 30

A system as set forth in claim 26 wherein said valve member comprises a first part disposed on one side of said valve seat for opening and closing the same and a second part projecting through said valve seat to the other side thereof and carrying said bridging contact member thereon.

Claim 31

A system as set forth in claim 28 wherein said housing means carries a washer-like guide member in spaced relation to said other side of said valve seat, said guide member having a central opening therethrough which receives said second part of said valve member to guide movement of said valve member relative to said valve seat.

Claim 32

A system as set forth in claim 28 wherein said valve member has restriction means interconnecting one side of said valve seat to the other side thereof.

Claim 33

In a fluid flow sensing switch device having a housing means provided with a fluid flow passage therethrough defined by an inlet and an outlet separated by a valve seat controlled by a movable valve member that is operated by the pressure differential between said inlet and said outlet acting on a flexible diaphragm carried by said housing means, said device having an electrical switch construction operatively associated with said valve member and having contact means thereof disposed in said fluid flow passage so as to be exposed to fluid flow therethrough and being actuated by said pressure differential acting on said flexible diaphragm to operate electronic switching means, said diaphragm cooperating with said housing means to define two chambers therein on opposite sides of said diaphragm, said contact means being disposed in one of said chambers that defines part of said fluid flow passage, the improvement wherein said electronic switching means is disposed inside said housing means in the other of said chambers.

Claim 34

In a fluid flow sensing switch device having a housing means provided with a fluid flow passage therethrough defined by an inlet and an outlet separated by a valve seat controlled by a movable valve member that is operated by the pressure differential between said inlet and said outlet acting on a flexible diaphragm carried by said housing means, said device having an electrical switch construction operatively associated with said valve member and having contact means thereof disposed in said fluid flow passage so as to be exposed to fluid flow therethrough and being actuated by said pressure differential acting on said flexible diaphragm to operate electronic switching means, said diaphragm cooperating with said housing means to define two chambers therein on opposite sides of said diaphragm, said contact means being disposed in one of said chambers that defines part of said fluid flow passage, the improvement wherein said electronic switching means is disposed inside said housing means in the other of said chambers.

Claim 35

A device as set forth in claim 31 wherein said other chamber is a control chamber.

Claim 36

A device as set forth in claim 32 wherein said housing means includes a main body and a cover member secured to said main body, said diaphragm being secured inside said housing means between said body and said cover member, said cover member carrying said electronic switch means and cooperating with said diaphragm to define said control chamber therewith.

Claim 37

A device as set forth in claim 31 wherein said electronic switching means includes a triac switching unit.

Claim 38

A device as set forth in claim 31 wherein said electronic switching means includes a plurality of electronic components.

Claim 39

A device as set forth in claim 1 and including a spring carried by said housing means and bearing against said bridging contact member to hold the same against said valve member to move in unison therewith and thereby provide the sole means for causing said valve member to carry said bridging contact member.

Claim 40

A device as set forth in claim 36 wherein said spring is disposed between said diaphragm and said bridging contact member and also bears against said diaphragm.

Claim 41

A system as set forth in claim 16 and including a spring carried by said housing means and bearing against said bridging contact member to hold the same against said valve member to move in unison therewith and thereby provide the sole means for causing said valve member to carry said bridging control member.

Claim 42

A system as set forth in claim 38 wherein said spring is disposed between said diaphragm and said bridging contact member and also bears against said diaphragm.