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US 4,005,820 AGranted
Furnace apparatus and process for control thereof
AssigneeWm. E. Burford
InventorHoward D. Cress
Life of this patent
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AssigneeWm. E. Burford
InventorHoward D. Cress
Estimating the term…
In the heating chamber of the furnace are a number of heat-absorbing elements which serve as a thermal storage, absorbing some of the heat which is developed during the regular burning cycle and then releasing such heat for additional heating effect. Stored heat is available for additional and therefore more efficient heating. A control system is used to conserve heat by selectively and automatically opening and closing the stack to prevent heat loss in timed relation with the burning cycle and adapted to provide sufficient purge time. The stack valve opens automatically at the commencement of a burning cycle and thereafter automatically closes after a purge interval. In the event of a power failure, the stack valve automatically closes and reopens when power is restored prior to the commencement of any succeeding burning operation.
In a process for controlling the heat losses in a heating system, the steps comprising monitoring the temperature within a given area with a temperature responsive element, communicating to a check valve within an exhaust stack below demanded temperature conditions to effect opening of such check valve to a position preliminary to operating a burner switch energizing a burner within a furnace to develop temperature to a preferred level, thereafter maintaining the burning until the temperature reaches a preferred value and is sensed by said temperature responsive element to effect an unswitching action which terminates burner operation, and then communicating to a check valve motor through a time delay device, said check valve including two oppositely acting position responsive switch means, each operatively associated with said check valve to effect closing of said valve after a predetermined time to a closed position and wherein said valve is closed to define a switch action which actuates a control system wherein said check valve remains closed and will maintain such position to conserve heat within said furnace following sensing by the temperature responsive element of the preferred temperature.
An apparatus for conserving heat comprising a heating chamber with direct combustion operation, a stack, and an automatic check valve disposed within said stack and adapted to move between open position providing passage of gaseous material through said stack and closed position wherein gases are prevented from passing through said stack to conserve heat within said heating chamber, thermostat control means having an operative connection with said stack check valve to effect opening thereof at a critical temperature prior to commencement of heating operation, at least two oppositely acting position responsive switch means each operable by the positioning of said check valve and adapted to control both the heating element for said heating chamber and for actuating the control circuit controlling said stack check valve means operatively responsive to said heat responsive element at the upper limit of temperature adapted to de-energize said heating means, and adjustable clock means for commencing a predetermined adjustable time interval following termination of heating and fixing the time interval before which said check valve is reclosed.
The process for conserving heat within a heating system comprising the steps of generating heat by burning operation with a chamber, opening and closing a check valve within the stack in timed relation with burner operation whereby the stack is closed during a non-heat developing cycle within the heating chamber to conserve heat within said chamber following burning operation, continuously sensing the position of said check valve by means of two oppositely acting position responsive switches to effect actuation and de-actuation of a control system for operating said check valve and additionally operatively controlled by said heating operation, automatically opening the check valve during heating operation, and maintaining for adjustably controlled periods a temporary purge cycle following the termination of each heating operation to provide purging of combustion products through the stack at the end of the burning cycle following which the check valve is closed by a control circuit effective through one of said position responsive switches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.