Honeywell International Inc.

Ademco Inc.

Gregory Young

Donald J Kasprzyk

David Kucera

Frederick R Hazzard

Adam Myre

Jos Praat

Willem Super

John D Mitchell

Hans M Van Der Mei

Roelof Thiewes

Patrick Yuen

Brian Zabel

Gregory Todd Filkovski

Rolf Lee Strand

Peter M Anderson

Bruce L Hill

James Holmberg

Fritz Hazzard

Tim McCarthy

Timothy J Smith

Timothy F McCarthy

James G Buezis

Don C Kennedy

Peter Vermass

Carl Manoogian

Eric James Barton

Kenneth B Kidder

Petr Endel

Brian Fei Moy

James I Bartels

Stephane Joseph Pierre Beland

Ravindra Khosla

David Heil

Timothy M Tinsley

Adam Foley

Peter E Stolt

Virginie Turcotte

Paul Knauf

James E Erickson

Patrick Welker

Pavel Kejik

John S Fultz

Tony Khosla

Willem VanderWerf

Cailen Giese

Timothy Mccarthy

Jos Pratt

Donald J Kaspryzyk

Peter Vermaas

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 control system the water heater system comprising a rechargeable and non-rechargeable power source. In one or more examples, a controller such as a microcontroller of the water heater system is configured to receive power from the non-rechargeable power source and does not receive power from the rechargeable power source. Various other components of the water heater system are configured to receive power from the rechargeable power source. The system may comprise an energy storage system electrically connected to a pilot valve operator and electrically isolated from a main valve operator. The controller 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.

Burner control system

A burner control system for improving burner performance and efficiency may determine fuel and air channel or manifold parameters. Determination of parameters may be performed with a sensor connected across the air and fuel channels. A signal from the sensor may control the parameters which in turn affect the amounts of fuel and air to the burner via a controller. Parameter control of the fuel and air in their respective channels may result in more accurate fuel and air ratio control. One or more flow restrictors in fuel and/or air bypass channels may further improve accuracy of the fuel and air ratio. The channels may be interconnected with a pressure or flow divider. Byproducts of combustion in the exhaust, temperatures of gas and air, flame quality and/or other items may be monitored and adjusted with control of the fuel and air ratio for optimum combustion in the burner.

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 system for controlling activity in a combustion chamber. The system does not necessarily need to be mechanically adjusted and yet may provide precise control of a fuel air mixture ratio. A sensing module of the system may have a mass flow sensor that relates to air flow and another sensor that relates to fuel flow. Neither sensor may need contact with fuel. Fuel and air to the system may be controlled. Pressure of the fuel and/or air may be regulated. The sensors may provide signals to a processor to indicate a state of the fuel and air in the system. The processor, with reliance on a programmed curve, table or the like, often based on data, in a storage memory, may regulate the flow or pressure of the fuel and air in a parallel fashion to provide an appropriate fuel-air mixture to the combustion chamber.

System and approach for controlling a combustion chamber

This disclosure relates generally to valves, and more particularly, to gas valve assemblies. In one example, a gas valve assembly may include a valve body with one or more valves movable between an opened position and a closed position, one or more valve actuators configured to operate the valves, and one or more pressure sensors to sense a pressure within a fluid path of the valve assembly. A valve controller may receive a measure related to a sensed pressure from the one or more pressure sensor(s). The valve controller may compare the received measure related to the sensed pressure to an overpressure threshold. In the event the measure related to the sensed pressure surpasses the overpressure threshold value, the valve controller may be configured to provide a signal that indicates an overpressure event has occurred.

Gas valve with overpressure diagnostics

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

Growing community of inventors

Richfield, MN, United States of America

Gregory Young