Fuel burner having an intermittent pilot with pre-ignition testing
AssigneeHoneywell Inc.
InventorScott M. Peterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel burner includes an electrical igniter which lights a pilot burner which then lights the main burner. Operation of each of these steps is monitored, and if any are improper, the control device reverts to lighting the pilot burner with the main burner valve shut. If the igniter is sensed as incapable of lighting the pilot burner, the pilot burner valve is shut, and an error is indicated to the operator.
Claims5
In a fuel burner having a main burner and a pilot burner for lighting the main burner, an electrically-powered igniter for lighting the pilot burner, a source of electric energy, an igniter power supply receiving a demand signal and supplying power to the igniter responsive to the demand signal, a pilot sensor adjacent to the pilot burner and supplying a pilot signal responsive to presence of a pilot flame, and a main burner valve controlling flow of fuel to the main burner and opening responsive to the pilot signal, an improvement comprising:
- (a) a pilot burner valve controlling flow of fuel to the pilot burner and opening responsive to a pilot valve control signal;
- (b) igniter sensing means in sensing relation to the igniter for providing an igniter signal responsive to operation of the igniter;
- and
- (c) pilot valve control means receiving the igniter signal, for providing the pilot valve control signal responsive to the igniter signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.