Method for detecting anomalies associated with a gas appliance
AssigneeElectrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
InventorsFabio Spano, Fabio Rasi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention refers to a method for detecting anomalies associated with a gas appliance (1), the gas appliance (1) comprising at least a gas inlet (2), at least one gas burner (3) and gas distribution means (4) coupling the gas inlet (2) with said at least one gas burner (3), the method comprising the steps of: —gathering information regarding the gas flow or the operational state based on detection means (5.1, 5.2) (S20); —evaluating said gathered information in order to detect gas flow anomalies or operational anomalies, thereby obtaining evaluation information (S21); —providing alert information from a communication interface of the gas appliance (1) to a user device (6) depending on said evaluation information (S22).
Claims18
A method for detecting anomalies associated with a gas appliance, the gas appliance comprising at least a gas inlet, at least one gas burner and gas distribution means coupling the gas inlet with said at least one gas burner, the method comprising the steps of:
- gathering information regarding gas flow or an operational state based on detection means said detection means comprising a flowmeter included in said gas appliance and a thermocouple associated with the at least one gas burner;
- evaluating said gathered information in order to detect gas flow anomalies or operational anomalies, thereby obtaining evaluation information;
- providing alert information from a communication interface of the gas appliance to a user device depending on said evaluation information,
- wherein information provided by said flowmeter and by said thermocouple is evaluated in order to detect gas flow anomalies or operational anomalies and wherein a gas flow anomaly is detected when said flowmeter information indicates gas flow through the gas appliance and said information provided by the thermocouple indicates that the gas burner is switched off, and/or an operational anomaly is detected when said flowmeter information indicates gas flow through the gas appliance, said information provided by the thermocouple indicates that the gas burner is switched on and the period of time during which said information is present exceeds a certain time threshold.
A domestic gas appliance, the gas appliance comprising at least a gas inlet, at least one gas burner and gas distribution means coupling the gas inlet with said at least one gas burner, the gas appliance further comprising:
- detection means for gathering information regarding a gas flow or an operational state of the gas appliance, said detection means comprising a flowmeter and a thermocouple associated with said at least one gas burner;
- a controller coupled with said detection means, said controller being adapted to gather information in order to detect gas flow anomalies or operational anomalies and adapted to provide evaluation information;
- a communication interface adapted to provide alert information to a user device based on said evaluation information,
- wherein the controller is configured to evaluate information provided by said flowmeter and said thermocouple in order to detect gas flow anomalies or operational anomalies and wherein the controller is configured to detect a gas flow anomaly when said flowmeter information indicates gas flow through the gas appliance and said information provided by the thermocouple indicates that the gas burner is switched off, and/or the controller is configured to detect an operation anomaly when said flowmeter information indicates gas flow through the gas appliance, said information provided by the thermocouple indicates that the gas burner is switched on and the period of time during which said information is present exceeds a certain time threshold.
A method for detecting anomalies in a gas appliance, comprising:
- a) a first sensor of the appliance communicating to a controller of the appliance a first sensor signal indicative of a gas flow rate through the appliance, said first sensor comprising a flowmeter;
- b) a second sensor of the appliance communicating to said controller a second sensor signal indicative of an ignition state of a gas burner of the appliance, said second sensor comprising a thermocouple or a flame ionization sensor associated with said burner;
- c) said controller evaluating said first and second sensor signals and thereby determining there to be present:
- a. a gas leak, when both the first sensor signal indicates positive gas flow through said appliance and the second sensor signal indicates said burner is not ignited;
- and
- b. extended operation of the gas burner, when for a predetermined period of time both the first sensor signal indicates positive gas flow through said appliance and the second sensor signal indicates said burner is ignited;
- and
- d) said appliance communicating alert information via a communication interface to a user device to indicate that a gas leak is present in the appliance and/or that said burner has been operating for an extended period of time as determined by said controller based on evaluating said first and second sensor signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.