Flame control system for heat exchanger

Claim 2

A heat exchange system comprising: a thermostat controller for initiating and terminating a heat demand cycle; a burner directly fluidly coupled to a fuel valve, said fuel valve being operable in the open position to provide a constant fuel supply to said burner and being operable in the closed position to prevent any fuel supply to said burner, said fuel valve being responsive to a heat demand signal from said controller; a heat exchanger proximate the burner; a heat duct distribution network arranged and adapted to direct heated fluid from said heat exchanger to a region to be heated; and a temperature responsive switch electrically connected in series with said controller and said fuel valve, said switch arranged and adapted to sense the temperature at a chosen position in said heat duct distribution network remote from said heat exchanger to prevent the application of said heat demand signal to close said fuel valve when the temperature at said chosen position rises above a first temperature, and to permit the reapplication of said heat demand signal to open said fuel valve when the temperature at said chosen position drops below a second temperature.

Claim 3

The heat exchange system of claim 1 further comprising: a fluid circulator; and a normally open fluid circulator switch, responsive to the temperature of said heat exchanger and operably coupled to said fluid circulator, adapted to close and activate said circulator when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a certain temperature.

Claim 4

The heat exchange system of claim 2 further comprising a high temperature safety switch arranged and adapted to close said fuel valve to halt the delivery of fuel to said burner when the temperature at said heat exchanger is above a chosen temperature.

Claim 5

A control system for use with heat exchange systems of the type including a thermostat controller for initiating and terminating a heat demand cycle, a burner directly coupled to a fuel valve, said fuel valve and controller being operably connected along a control line, said fuel valve being operable in the open position to provide a constant fuel supply to said burner and being operable in the closed position to prevent any fuel supply to said burner, said fuel valve being responsive to a heat demand signal transmitted from said controller to said fuel valve along said control line, a heat exchanger proximate said burner, a heat duct distribution network arranged and adapted to direct heated fluid from said heat exchanger to a region to be heated, the control system comprising a temperature responsive switch electrically connected along said control line in series with the controller and fuel valve, said switch arranged and adapted to sense the temperature at a chosen position in said heat duct distribution network remote from said heat exchanger to prevent the application of said heat demand signal to close said said fuel valve when the temperature at said chosen position rises above a first temperature, and to permit the reapplication of said heat demand signal to open said fuel valve when the temperature at the chosen position drops below a second temperature.

Claim 6

A control system for use with heat exchange systems of the type including a thermostat controller for initiating and terminating a heat demand cycle, a burner directly coupled to a fuel valve, said fuel valve and controller being operably connected along a control line, said fuel valve being operable in the open position to provide a constant fuel supply to said burner and being operable in the closed position to prevent any fuel supply to said burner, said fuel valve being responsive to a heat demand signal transmitted from said controller to said fuel valve along said control line, a heat exchanger proximate said burner, a heat duct distribution network arranged and adapted to direct heated fluid from said heat exchanger to a region to be heated, the control system comprising a temperature responsive switch electrically connected along said control line in series with the controller and fuel valve, said switch arranged and adapted to sense the temperature at a chosen position in said heat duct distribution network remote from said heat exchanger to prevent the application of said heat demand signal to close said said fuel valve when the temperature at said chosen position rises above a first temperature, and to permit the reapplication of said heat demand signal to open said fuel valve when the temperature at the chosen position drops below a second temperature.

Claim 7

The control system of claim 4 further comprising: a fluid circulator adapted to force a fluid past said heat exchanger; and a normally open fluid circulator switch, responsive to the temperature at said heat exchanger and operably coupled to said fluid circulator, adapted to close and activate the circulator when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a certain temperature.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6 wherein the circulating step includes the steps of: blowing air past said heat exchanger with a blower; sensing the temperature at said heat exchanger; and actuating said blower when the temperature at said heat exchanger rises above a certain temperature.

Claim 11

A flame control system for use with heat exchange systems of the type including a controller for initiating and terminating a heat demand cycle, a burner directly coupled to a fuel valve, said fuel valve being operable in the open position to provide a constant fuel supply to said burner and being operable in the closed position to prevent any fuel supply to said burner, said fuel valve being responsive to a heat demand signal from said controller, a heat exchanger proximate said burner, a fluid circulator arranged and adapted to remove heat from said heat exchanger, and a normally open fluid circulator switch, responsive to the temperature of the heat exchanger and operably coupled to said fluid circulator, adapted to close and activate said circulator when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a certain temperature, the control system comprising: a normally closed relay switch mounted in series with said controller and operably coupled to a relay coil, said relay coil and relay switch arranged and adapted so energization of said relay coil causes said relay switch to open; means, operably coupled to the fluid circulator switch, for energizing the relay coil when said fluid circulator is energized; and a temperature responsive switch means, adapted to sense said heat exchanger temperature, for permitting the energizing of the relay coil when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a first temperature so to prevent the application at said heat demand signal to close said fuel valve, and for preventing the energizing of said relay coil when the temperature at said heat exchanger drops below a second temperature to permit the application of said heat demand signal to open said fuel valve.

Claim 12

A flame control system for use with heat exchange systems of the type including a controller for initiating and terminating a heat demand cycle, a burner directly coupled to a fuel valve, said fuel valve being operable in the open position to provide a constant fuel supply to said burner and being operable in the closed position to prevent any fuel supply to said burner, said fuel valve being responsive to a heat demand signal from said controller, a heat exchanger proximate said burner, a fluid circulator arranged and adapted to remove heat from said heat exchanger, and a normally open fluid circulator switch, responsive to the temperature of the heat exchanger and operably coupled to said fluid circulator, adapted to close and activate said circulator when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a certain temperature, the control system comprising: a normally closed relay switch mounted in series with said controller and operably coupled to a relay coil, said relay coil and relay switch arranged and adapted so energization of said relay coil causes said relay switch to open; means, operably coupled to the fluid circulator switch, for energizing the relay coil when said fluid circulator is energized; and a temperature responsive switch means, adapted to sense said heat exchanger temperature, for permitting the energizing of the relay coil when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a first temperature so to prevent the application at said heat demand signal to close said fuel valve, and for preventing the energizing of said relay coil when the temperature at said heat exchanger drops below a second temperature to permit the application of said heat demand signal to open said fuel valve.

Claim 13

The flame control system of claim 8 wherein said switch means includes a switch connected in series with said relay coil and adapted to close when the temperature at said heat exchanger rises above said first temperature.

Claim 14

A flame control system for use with heat exchange systems of the type including a controller for initiating and terminating a heat demand cycle, a burner directly coupled to a fuel valve, said fuel valve being operable in the open position to provide a constant fuel supply to said burner and being operable in the closed position to prevent any fuel supply to said burner, said fuel valve being responsive to a heat demand signal from said controller, a heat exchanger proximate said burner, a fluid circulator arranged and adapted to remove heat from said heat exchanger, and a normally open fluid circulator switch, responsive to the temperature of said heat exchanger and operably coupled to said fluid circulator, adapted to close and activate said circulator when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a certain temperature, said control system comprising: a temperature responsive switch means, placed in series with said controller and said fuel valve, for preventing the application of said heat demand signal to close said fuel valve when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a first temperature, and for permitting the reapplication of said heat demand signal to open said fuel valve when the temperature of said heat exchanger drops below a second temperature; a normally closed third switch placed in parallel across said switch means; and means for opening said third switch when said fluid circulator switch is closed so that said heat demand signal from said controller to said fuel valve cannot be disrupted until after said fluid circulator has been activated.

Claim 15

A flame control system for use with heat exchange systems of the type including a controller for initiating and terminating a heat demand cycle, a burner directly coupled to a fuel valve, said fuel valve being operable in the open position to provide a constant fuel supply to said burner and being operable in the closed position to prevent any fuel supply to said burner, said fuel valve being responsive to a heat demand signal from said controller, a heat exchanger proximate said burner, a fluid circulator arranged and adapted to remove heat from said heat exchanger, and a normally open fluid circulator switch, responsive to the temperature of said heat exchanger and operably coupled to said fluid circulator, adapted to close and activate said circulator when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a certain temperature, said control system comprising: a temperature responsive switch means, placed in series with said controller and said fuel valve, for preventing the application of said heat demand signal to close said fuel valve when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a first temperature, and for permitting the reapplication of said heat demand signal to open said fuel valve when the temperature of said heat exchanger drops below a second temperature; a normally closed third switch placed in parallel across said switch means; and means for opening said third switch when said fluid circulator switch is closed so that said heat demand signal from said controller to said fuel valve cannot be disrupted until after said fluid circulator has been activated.

Claim 16

A flame control system for use with heat exchange systems of the type including a controller for initiating and terminating a heat demand cycle, a burner directly coupled to a fuel valve, said fuel valve being operable in the open position to provide a constant fuel supply to said burner and being operable in the closed position to prevent any fuel supply to said burner, said fuel valve being responsive to a heat demand signal from said controller, a heat exchanger proximate the burner, a fluid circulator arranged and adapted to remove heat from said heat exchanger, and a normally open fluid circulator switch, responsive to the temperature of said heat exchanger and operably coupled to said fluid circulator, adapted to close and activate said circulator when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a certain temperature, the control system comprising: a temperature responsive switch means, placed in series with said controller and said fuel valve, for preventing the application of said heat demand signal to close said fuel valve when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above first temperature, and for permitting the reapplication of said heat demand signal to open said fuel valve when the temperature of said heat exchanger drops below a second temperature: and an environment responsive switch placed in parallel across said switch means and positioned remote from said heat exchanger, said environment responsive switch arranged and adapted to open sensing actuation of said fluid circulator to permit said switch means to control the cycling on and off of said heat exchanger during a heat demand cycle.

Claim 17

A flame control system for use with heat exchange systems of the type including a controller for initiating and terminating a heat demand cycle, a burner directly coupled to a fuel valve, said fuel valve being operable in the open position to provide a constant fuel supply to said burner and being operable in the closed position to prevent any fuel supply to said burner, said fuel valve being responsive to a heat demand signal from said controller, a heat exchanger proximate the burner, a fluid circulator arranged and adapted to remove heat from said heat exchanger, and a normally open fluid circulator switch, responsive to the temperature of said heat exchanger and operably coupled to said fluid circulator, adapted to close and activate said circulator when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above a certain temperature, the control system comprising: a temperature responsive switch means, placed in series with said controller and said fuel valve, for preventing the application of said heat demand signal to close said fuel valve when the temperature of said heat exchanger rises above first temperature, and for permitting the reapplication of said heat demand signal to open said fuel valve when the temperature of said heat exchanger drops below a second temperature: and an environment responsive switch placed in parallel across said switch means and positioned remote from said heat exchanger, said environment responsive switch arranged and adapted to open sensing actuation of said fluid circulator to permit said switch means to control the cycling on and off of said heat exchanger during a heat demand cycle.

Claim 18

The control system of claim 11 wherein said environment responsive switch is responsive to temperature.