Teleflex Canada Incorporated

Marine Canada Acquisition Inc.

Teleflex Canada Limited Partnership

Angelo Faccone

Jonathan Young

Douglas Thompson Paul

Alex Schwartzman

Bruce C Wilnechenko

Alexander Schwartzman

Garry J Anderson

Craig Fisher

A heater for a liquid has a combustion chamber, a jacket for the liquid extending about the combustion chamber and a burner head assembly connected to the combustion chamber. The burner head assembly includes a housing having a burner mounted thereon and a hollow interior. A control module and a fan are mounted in the hollow interior, the fan being connected to an electric motor. A compressor and a fuel pump are mounted on the housing and are operatively connected to the electric motor. The control module may include controls for exercising components of the heater prior to combustion, thereby verifying operation of these components. Preferably there is a speed control for the motor, such as a closed loop speed control which regulates motor speed and accordingly output of the heater. Preferably there is a backup system using a lookup table in the event that the closed loop speed control fails. Also preferably there is provision for monitoring flame sensor functionality by providing an indicator light which mirrors operation of the flame sensor. The heater may have a selective soft start for the coolant pump which operates only when required so as to reduce unnecessary chatter on the motor relay. A system is also provided for distinguishing true overcurrent faults from overcurrents arising from voltage changes during starting of the vehicle engine. Reignition algorithms are provided to restart the burner in the event of flame sputters caused, for example, by fuel bubbles, but shut off the heater in the event that the fuel is truly cut off.

Vehicle heaters and controls therefor

An appliance comprises a burner and a compressor for supplying pressurized air to the burner in order to create a low-pressure area for siphoning fuel to the burner. A flame sensor senses for the presence or absence of a flame in the burner and a temperature sensor senses an actual temperature of the appliance. There is a controller in communication with the temperature sensor. The controller shuts off the compressor and overrides the flame sensor such that the appliance acts as if a flame is present when the temperature sensor senses that the actual temperature of the appliance is greater than a maximum threshold temperature. The controller starts up the compressor overriding the flame sensor such that the appliance acts as if a flame is absent when the temperature sensor senses that the actual temperature of appliance is less than a minimum threshold temperature.

Appliance with thermostatic controls

A method of controlling the temperature of a food preparation or sanitation appliance includes sensing the actual temperature of the appliance. When the temperature of the appliance is greater than a maximum threshold temperature, a compressor which supplies pressurized air to a burner is shut-off and a flame sensor, which senses the presence or absence of a flame, is overridden so the appliance acts as if a flame is present. When the actual temperature is less than a minimum threshold temperature, the compressor is started.

Method for controlling the temperature of an appliance

A thermostatic control device for controlling the temperature of a food preparation or sanitation appliance comprises a temperature sensor, a controller in communication with the temperature sensor, and means for operatively connecting the controller to the appliance. When the temperature sensor senses that the actual temperature of the appliance is equal to or greater than a maximum threshold temperature, the controller shuts-off the compressor and overrides the flame sensor such that the appliance acts as if a flame is present. When the temperature sensor senses that the actual temperature of the appliance is equal to or less than a minimum threshold temperature, the controller starts-up the compressor and overrides the flame sensor such that the appliance acts as if a flame is absent.

Thermostatic control device

Vehicle heater and controls therefor

A method and apparatus are provided for maintaining a temperature between a first value and a second value. The method and apparatus utilize a heat transfer device capable of cycling through a series of cycles, the device being capable of changing the temperature from the second value to the first value when operational. During each cycle the device transfers heat for a first period of time when the temperature reaches the second volume until the first value is reached and thereafter the device stops transferring heat. The first period of time is compared to a desired cycle-on period of time during each cycle and the second temperature value then is adjusted for a subsequent cycle of the device so the first period of time when the device transfers heat approaches the desired cycle-on period of time. There may also be provided temperature controls for a liquid heater having a jacket containing the liquid. The jacket has an inner heated wall and an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall. The controls include a temperature sensor capable of fitting to the jacket so that the sensor contacts the inner wall and the liquid. A control module monitors temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. The control module causes the heater to stop heating when the temperature is heated by the heater to a first value and causes the heater to heat when the liquid cools to a second value lower than the first value. The control module senses overheating when temperature sensed by the sensor increases to a third value, higher than the first value, when the heater is not heating, and then causes the heater to shut down.

Temperature maintaining apparatus and temperature control apparatus and method therefor

A burner head assembly for a burner includes a housing having a hollow interior and an exterior. There is a control module within the hollow interior. The module has internal connectors within the hollow interior and external connectors on the exterior of the housing, whereby electrical connections to the module can be made internally and externally with respect to the housing without requiring apertures in the housing and wiring extending through the apertures. For example, the control module may include a circuit board, the circuit board having a portion within the hollow interior and which extends to the exterior. The exterior and interior connectors are connected to the circuit board. The housing may have two portions, the control module being fitted between the two portions of the housing. Preferably the control module is sealingly received between the two portions of the housing.

Heater and burner head assembly and control module therefor

A stove apparatus includes a frame having an interior opening. A burner is mounted within the opening. A liquid fuel container is mounted on the frame within the opening. A fuel conduit extends between the container and the burner. A heat shield extends about the burner and separates the burner from the fuel container. Preferably the apparatus has a manually operable device which simultaneously regulates a valve controlling a flow of fuel from the fuel container to the burner and a control device controlling the output of a compressor supplying compressed air to the burner. The compressor may have a suction port. The apparatus then includes a suction conduit connecting the suction port to the fuel container, whereby the compressor can selectively draw fuel into the container. The fuel container may have a vent body mounted thereon. The suction conduit is connected to the vent body. The body has a valve for preventing fuel from entering the conduit from the container. The valve may include a chamber with a valve seat at the top of the chamber. A check valve ball, buoyant in the fuel, is movably mounted in the chamber. If fuel is drawn into the chamber, the check valve ball floats to the top of the chamber and blocks the fuel from entering the suction conduit.

Liquid fuel stove apparatus

A supplementary vehicle heater is provided which includes a bumer, a heat exchanger, a coolant conduit connected to the heat exchanger and a coolant pump connected to the conduit. There are controls which are operatively connected to the burner and the coolant pump which operate the heater in a first mode when the engine is stopped to preheat the engine or keep the engine warm. The controls operate the heater in a second mode when the engine is running to improve heating of vehicle interior. Preferably the controls include automatic controls which engine coolant temperature. The controls cause the burner and pump to function when the engine is running and the coolant temperature is below preset temperature.

Transit vehicle heater

A supplementary vehicle heater is provided which includes a burner, a heat exchanger, a coolant conduit connected to the heat exchanger and a coolant pump connected to the conduit. There are controls which are operatively connected to the burner and the coolant pump which operate the heater in a first mode when the engine is stopped to preheat the engine or keep the engine warm. The controls operate the heater in a second mode when the engine is running to improve heating of vehicle interior. Preferably the controls include automatic controls which engine coolant temperature. The controls cause the burner and pump to function when the engine is running and the coolant temperature is below preset temperature.

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, Canada

Angelo Faccone