US 4,242,078 AGranted

Centralized automatic pilot/pilotless ignition control system

OwnerHollis E. Nelson, Donald G. Seelyinventors

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Abstract

An automatic ignition control system for controlling the pilot burners and main burners of fuel burning appliances so that these burners are ignited only upon demand is disclosed. The system consists of a main control unit which may be interconnected with conventional main and pilot burners or which may be connected with a new and novel burner specifically designed for the purpose. The main control unit is actuated by suitable thermostats or switches when burner operation is required and operates to open the pilot valve and activate a pilot igniter control circuit. The igniter control circuit may take several forms, depending upon the type of igniter used with the burner, and sensing means are provided to deactivate this igniter control circuit when a pilot flame is detected. If the pilot fails to ignite after a predetermined period of time, the main control deactivates the pilot solenoid and sounds an alarm. After ignition of the pilot, the main control unit activates the main burner valve and allows the main burner to be turned on. At the end of the burner usage, both the main and pilot valves are turned off, thereby conserving the fuel that is usually wasted through a continuously burning pilot burner.

A centralized automatic pilot/pilotless ignition control system for controlling a combustible fuel burning appliance from a location remote from said appliance, said appliance being equipped with a main fuel supply valve connected to a source of fuel, a main burner connected through said main fuel supply valve to said source of fuel, a pilot burner for said main burner, said pilot burner being connected through a pilot valve to said source of fuel, and an electrically energized fuel igniter operatively associated with said pilot burner, said control system comprising:

temperature sensing means for regulating the operation of said appliance, said temperature sensing means being operative to call for an ignition and maintenance of a flame at said main burner;
first circuit means remote from said appliance and responsive to said temperature sensing means to activate said pilot valve to permit a flow of fuel to said pilot burner;
second circuit means remote from said appliance and responsive to said temperature sensing means to start an automatic ignition cycle for producing a flame at said pilot burner, said second circuit means including means to activate said electrically energized fuel igniter;
alarm timing means remote from said appliance and responsive to the start of said ignition cycle to produce an alarm if no pilot flame occurs within a predetermined time;
pilot generator means responsive to a pilot flame to reset said alarm timing means;
third circuit means remote from said appliance and responsive to said pilot generator to open said main fuel supply burner upon occurrence of a pilot flame, whereby a main burner flame is produced;
manual control circuit means operable when said first and second circuit means are disabled to permit manual operation of said pilot valve and said electrically energized igniter;
and
switch means for enabling said manual control circuit means and disabling said first and second circuit means.

6 more elements

Facts

Application

05/878,785Filed 17 Feb 1978 · continuation in part

Priority

7 Jun 1976

Granted

30 Dec 1980

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F23N 5/242
Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements: using electronic means
F23N 5/203
With a time program acting through electrical means, e.g. using time-delay relays: using electronic means
F23Q 9/14
To permit the supply to the main burner in dependence upon existence of pilot flame: using electric means, e.g. by light-sensitive elements
F23N 2227/30
Ignition circuits: for pilot burners

Abstract

Claims23