Emerson Electric Company

Other

Dennis M Rippelmeyer

Carl J Mueller

John S Haefner

Bernard T Brown

Donald E Donnelly

G Scott Vogel

Jerry W McElroy

Robert L Baysinger

Donald L Peinetti

A controller is provided for controlling the operation of a gas-fired water heating appliance. In one embodiment of the present invention, a controller is provided that comprises a switching means for connecting an electrical power source to an igniter for igniting gas, a voltage sensing means for sensing the voltage value of the electrical power source, and a processor that is capable of determining whether the power source is of a first rated voltage level or a second rated voltage level. The processor is capable of responsively selecting an appropriate switching sequence from a look-up table having a plurality of switching sequences corresponding to a plurality of voltage values for either the first rated voltage or the second rated voltage, where the processor controls the switching means based on the selected switching sequence to effect switching of power to supply an average predetermined voltage to the igniter that will heat the igniter to a desired temperature.

Controller for a fuel fired water heating application

An ignitor controller and method of providing the same triggers an ignitor switch of a gas appliance, such as a furnace, subsequent to the zero-crossing of the line voltage, but before the voltage exceeds &plus;/&minus;five volts. This effectively reduces EMI levels caused by the constant triggering of AC line voltage to the ignitor switch after &plus;/&minus;five volts, which constant triggering is needed to properly operate ignitors (e.g., silicon nitride ignitors) in electronic ignition systems. The controller includes a voltage detector circuit (i.e., a two transistor circuit), a series switch (i.e., a darlington array) and an energy storage device (i.e., a capacitor), which trigger the ignitor switch (e.g., a triac) sufficiently close to the line voltage zero-crossing to reduce line conducted interference.

Device and method for triggering a gas furnace ignitor

An electrostatic air cleaner for installation in an air-circulating system, including a flow sensor for sensing the flow of air across the electrostatic air cleaner, and a switch, responsive to the flow sensor, for operating the electrostatic air cleaner only when the flow of air exceeds a predetermined threshold. More particularly, the electrostatic air cleaner includes an electrostatic air cleaner cover unit adapted to be secured over the opening in a frame in the air circulating system which frame contains at least one removable electrostatic air cleaning cell. The cover unit has a baffle for substantially blocking the air flow between the electrostatic air cleaning cell and the cover unit. The baffle has an opening therein, and a bypass tube is aligned with the opening in the baffle. An air flow sensor is disposed in the tube for sensing the air flow through the tube. The air flow sensor preferably includes a self-heating thermistor for sensing the flow in the bypass tube. A second thermistor can be provided to sense the ambient temperature, for calibrating the flow sensing and providing high temperature and low temperature cut-offs.

Electrostatic air cleaner

A direct ignition gas burner control system includes a microcomputer for controlling energizing of an electrical resistance igniter, for subsequently effecting flow of gas to the burner when the igniter is at gas ignition temperature, and for effecting continued flow of gas in response to current flow through the burner flame.

Direct ignition gas burner control system

Upon a call for heat, gas flows to a pilot burner, a spark generating circuit is energized to ignite the pilot burner, and an oscillator is energized. When flame appears, the output signal of the oscillator is effective, through flame responsive means including capacitor means and solid-state switch means, to enable energizing of the primary winding of a coupling transformer at the frequency of the oscillator signal. When so energized, sufficient power transfer occurs between the primary and secondary windings of the coupling transformer to enable energizing of a relay winding, which energizing terminates energizing of the spark generating circuit and allows gas to flow to the main burner.

Gas burner control system

A space thermostat for controlling temperature at different levels during different time periods includes a programmable microprocessor which has been pre-programmed to provide a plurality of chronologically annunciated displays. Each display contains a time and temperature within a specific time range. A multi-segment keyboard is provided to enable the homeowner to set the correct clock time and day of the week, to recall each display, and to change, if necessary, the time and temperature of each display so as to establish a desired seven-day time-temperature schedule.

Programmable electronic thermostat

A gas burner control system includes a main burner, two electrically controlled valves connected fluidically in series with the burner, an electrical resistance igniter, a temperature responsive switch, and a diode steering circuit for controlling energizing of the valve windings and the igniter. The connected polarities of the diodes in the steering circuit are such that the winding of the first valve is energized by the alternating current power source when the source is of one polarity and the winding of the second valve is energized by the source when the source is of the opposite polarity.

Direct ignition gas burner control system with diode steering circuitry

A gas burner control system utilizes an electrical resistance igniter to ignite a main burner. Electronic sensing means is located adjacent the burner and adjacent a portion of the igniter where opposite voltage polarity exists between the igniter and sensing means. Current flows from the igniter to the sensing means when the igniter is heated above ignition temperature. Circuit means is responsive to such current flow to de-energize the igniter and enable gas to flow for a timed trial ignition period, the igniter having sufficient mass to remain at or above ignition temperature for the trial ignition period. When ignition occurs, the circuit means is responsive to current flow through burner flame from the sensing means to the burner to maintain gas flow.

Growing community of inventors

Waterloo, IL, United States of America

Dennis M Rippelmeyer