Control systems for the ignition of a gas burner

A system comprising:

• an electromagnetic valve having an actuator rod with a first coil and a second coil positioned at different longitudinal locations on the actuator rod and being situated electrically parallel to one another in an electrical circuit, the electromagnetic valve constructed to induce a first voltage in the second coil when the electromagnetic valve is in the open position and to induce in the second coil a second voltage lower than the first voltage when the electromagnetic valve is in the closed position;
• a switch located in the electrical circuit, the switch changeable between a first position and a second position, when the switch is in the first position, the electrical circuit is configured to allow current from a power source to be delivered to the second coil and when the switch is in the second position, the electrical circuit is configured to not allow current from a power source to be delivered to the second coil;
• and
• a control device situated in series with the second coil in the electrical circuit and adapted to detect the open or closed position of the first electromagnetic valve based on the induced voltage of the second coil when the switch is in the second position, the control device adapted to act upon the switch to change it between the first and second positions, upon detecting that the electromagnetic valve is in the closed position the control device configured to act upon the switch to cause it to assume the first position.

A control system for the ignition of a gas burner comprising:

• a first electromagnetic valve and a second electromagnetic control valve disposed in series to one another, each of the first and second electromagnetic valves having an open position and a closed position for controlling the flow of a gas to the burner, the gas deliverable to the burner when the first and second electromagnetic valves are each in an open position, the gas not being deliverable to the burner when one of the first or second electromagnetic valves is in a closed position, the first electromagnetic valve having a first coil and a second coil, the first electromagnetic valve configured to assume the open position to permit a flow of gas through the first electromagnetic valve when a current that passes through the first coil reaches a first predetermined amount and when a current that passes through the second coil reaches a second predetermined amount, the second electromagnetic valve having a third coil and configured to assume the open position to permit a flow of gas through the second electromagnetic valve when a current that passes through the third coil reaches a third predetermined value;
• at least one ignition element for igniting the gas burner when the ignition element reaches a combustion temperature of the gas, the ignition element being disposed electrically in series with the first coil, the first coil and ignition element forming a first branch;
• and
• an activator comprising a switch and a control device, the control device configured to act upon the switch, the switch changeable between a first position and a second position, when the switch is in the first position the control device being electrically in series with the second coil to form a block with the second coil, the block being electrically parallel to the first branch, when the switch is in the second position the block forms a closed circuit and the third coil is electrically in parallel to the first branch.

A method for controlling the gas flow to a burner through a first electromagnetic valve and a second electromagnetic control valve disposed in series to one another, each of the first and second electromagnetic valves having an open position and a closed position for controlling the flow of a gas to the burner, the gas deliverable to the burner when the first and second electromagnetic valves are in an open position, the gas not being deliverable to the burner when one of the first or second electromagnetic valves is in a closed position, the first electromagnetic valve having a first coil and a second coil, the first electromagnetic valve configured to assume the open position to permit a flow of gas the first electromagnetic valve when power is supplied to the first coil and to the second coil, the first coil configured to hold the first electromagnetic valve in the open position by itself after the first electromagnetic valve has assumed the open position, the second electromagnetic valve having a third coil and configured to assume the open position to permit a flow of gas through the second electromagnetic valve when power is provided to the third coil, at least one ignition element for igniting the burner when the ignition element reaches a combustion temperature of the gas, the ignition element being disposed electrically in series with the first coil, the first coil and ignition element forming a first branch, an activator comprising a switch and a control device disposed in a circuit comprising the first coil, second coil, third coil and the ignition element, the switch changeable from a first position to a second position by being acted upon by the control device, when the switch is in the first position the control device being electrically in series with the second coil to form a block with the second coil, the block being electrically parallel to the first branch, when the switch is in the second position the block forms a closed circuit and the third coil is electrically in parallel to the first branch, the method comprising:

• causing the switch to be in the first position to enable a power supply to deliver power to the first and second coils to place the first electromagnetic valve in the open position and to cause the ignition element to heat;
• and
• upon or after the ignition element reaches the gas combustion temperature, or after a predetermined amount of time, acting upon the switch by use of the control device to change the switch to the second position in order to provide power to the third coil to place the second electromagnetic valve in the open position and to deactivate power to the second coil.