Ademco Inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

Adam Myre

Gregory Young

Frederick R Hazzard

John D Mitchell

Rolf Lee Strand

Peter M Anderson

Timothy J Smith

James G Buezis

Adam Foley

Cailen Giese

Tony Khosla

This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for outputting an alarm signal in response to detecting a leak in a water heater device. For example, a water heater device includes a leak sensor, an intermittent pilot light, and a circuit. The circuit includes processing circuitry configured to receive, from the leak sensor, an electrical signal including information indicative of a leak in the water heater device, activate, based on the electrical signal including information indicative of the leak, an alarm device, where the alarm device is powered for at least a period of time by a power source, where the power source is configured to receive energy from a thermoelectric device, and maintain an amount of energy stored by the power source so that the amount of energy is sufficient for the power source to supply energy to the alarm device.

Circuit for detecting a leak in a water heater device and activating an alarm device

A water heater control system comprising a temperature sensor, an anode rod, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature from the temperature sensor and apply a voltage and/or current to the anode rod. A mounting bracket mates with a spud of a water heater and provides a conduit space for conductors providing connectivity among the controller, temperature sensor, and anode rod. The mounting bracket may provide mechanical support for the anode rod and the temperature sensor. The mounting bracket may comprise a housing mechanically supporting and surrounding the controller.

Water heater control system with powered anode rod

A device that includes a pressure sensor that adds dynamic pressure sensing capability to a furnace. In some examples the device may include a relay and other circuitry to replace the single-setpoint pressure switch used to sense the operation of an inducer fan. The pressure sensor may measure the pressure from the inducer fan and send a signal to the other circuitry, such as a microcontroller. The other circuitry may determine when the pressure from the inducer fan reaches a predetermined threshold and allow the main gas valve of the furnace to open. The other circuitry may be configured to set the pressure sensor to a variety of predetermined pressure thresholds, and thereby replace multiple pressure switches. In some examples, the other circuitry may record pressure values received from the pressure sensor over time and provide performance data, as well as other signals or indicators.

Electronic air pressure interlock switch

A water heater control system comprising an energy storage system electrically connected to a pilot valve operator and electrically isolated from a main valve operator. The energy storage system may be electrically connected to an ignition circuit. A thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the pilot flame and electrically connected to a main valve operator. The water heater system may include a microcontroller configured to establish electrical communications between the device and the energy storage system, the pilot valve operator, and the main valve operator. The microcontroller may be configured to recognize a call for main burner operation, and may also be configured to check an available voltage of the energy storage system against a setpoint. The microcontroller may establish pilot flame operation with or without main burner operation, depending on whether a call for heat or recharging of the energy storage system is required.

Control system for an intermittent pilot water heater

A water heater may include a water tank, a burner, a pilot for igniting the burner, an ignitor for igniting the pilot, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with a flame of the pilot, a controller for controlling an ignition sequence of the pilot using the ignitor, and a rechargeable power storage device for supplying power to the ignitor and the controller. The rechargeable power storage device may be rechargeable using the energy produced by the thermoelectric device. The controller is configured to selectively ran only the pilot for at least pan of a heating cycle to increase the recharge lime of the rechargeable power storage device while still healing the water in the water heater.

Method and system for controlling an intermittent pilot water heater system

A water heater may include a water tank, a burner, a pilot for igniting the burner, an ignitor for igniting the pilot, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with a flame of the pilot, a controller for controlling an ignition sequence of the pilot using the ignitor, and a rechargeable power storage device for supplying power to the ignitor and the controller. The rechargeable power storage device may be rechargeable using the energy produced by the thermoelectric device. The controller is configured to selectively run only the pilot for at least part of a heating cycle to increase the recharge time of the rechargeable power storage device while still heating the water in the water heater.

A gas valve having a gas valve body having a valve and a valve seat both housed by the gas valve body. The valve may further include an armature housed by the gas valve body, a pole situated outside of the gas valve body so as to not be exposed to gas in the gas valve body. The pole may be positioned to be in magnetic communication with at least part of the armature through the gas valve body. The valve may further include a coil situated outside the gas valve body. The coil may be wound about the pole such that activation of the coil produces a magnetic flux that is carried to an end of the pole, through the gas valve body, and to the armature, resulting in movement of the armature, and movement of the valve between the open position and the closed position.

Valve actuator with external coils

A remote water heater monitoring system is configured to communicate with a plurality of client water heaters over a network. The system processes received data related to the operation of the plurality of client water heaters and identifies one or more baseline trends over time related to water heater performance and/or water heater reliability using the received data from one or more of the client water heaters and identifies one or more abnormalities in the operation of a particular one of the client water heaters based on the baseline trends. An alert is generated for one or more of the abnormalities in the operation of the particular one of the client water heaters and is associated with a corresponding client account.

Cloud-based analytics for water heaters

Apparatus and method for mounting a non-immersion type temperature sensor to a tank, such as a water heater tank, that is designed for an immersion-type temperature sensor. In one example, a mounting adaptor may include a proximal cavity extending from a proximal end toward a distal end and a distal cavity extending from the distal end toward the proximal end. A wall fluidly isolates the proximal cavity from the distal cavity. The mounting adaptor is mounting to the mounting spud of an immersion type water heater tank, such that the distal cavity of the mounting adaptor is filled with water from the water heater tank. A non-immersion type temperature sensor is positioned adjacent to or in the proximal cavity and in thermal communication with the water in the distal cavity.

Mounting adaptor for mounting a sensor assembly to a water heater tank

A gas valve actuator for a gas valve. The gas valve actuator includes a non-conductive support bobbin and an insulated copper wire wound about the support bobbin to form a coil. A magnetic flux concentration member extends through the non-conductive support bobbin. To actuate the gas valve actuator, a current is passed through the coil, which produces a magnetic field that actuates an armature to move a valve seal away from a valve seat of the gas valve. Because the gas valve actuator may be exposed to a gas stream, the coil may be coated with an anti-corrosion coating through a spray or brush process, a potting process, through a dipping process, or in any other suitable manner.

Valve actuator with anti-corrosion coating

A water heater having a monitoring mechanism, an appliance burner configured to heat water in a tank of a water heater, a water temperature sensor configured to detect a water temperature in the tank, a pilot device configured to ignite the appliance burner, and a thermopile having a tip and a base, and having an output voltage that represents a temperature difference between the tip and the base. The tip of the thermopile may be heated by the pilot device. The base of the thermopile may receive heat from the appliance burner when the appliance burner is turned on, and thus the voltage output of the thermopile may decrease. If the voltage output does not decrease and the water temperature exceeds a thermal cutout limit, then a warning about the water heater may be issued by the monitoring mechanism.

Growing community of inventors

Minnetonka, MN, United States of America

Adam Myre