Emerson Electric Company

Innoventor, Inc.

James Bryan Prichard

Mark H Stark

John S Haefner

Arturo U Olague

Jorge D Viesca

Soraya C Mendoza

Donald L Blessing

A power generation system for use with a gas fired appliance including a main burner and a gas supply line includes a pilot burner assembly for igniting gas supplied to the main burner and a controller. The pilot burner assembly includes a thermo-electric device configured to convert thermal energy into electrical energy, and a pilot guard. The pilot guard has a first end defining a gas inlet and a second end defining a gas outlet. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the thermo-electric device, and control the supply of gas to the main burner based on the signal. The controller is powered by electrical energy generated by the thermo-electric device. The thermo-electric device has an internal resistance matched to a load resistance of the controller to facilitate maximum power transfer between the thermo-electric device and the controller.

Power generation system for gas-fired appliances

A method of assembling a pilot burner assembly for use with a gas fired appliance includes inserting a retention element of a gas supply line through a slot defined by a retaining ledge of a second bracket plate, rotating an outlet orifice of the gas supply line such that the second retention element engages the retaining ledge, and inserting a pilot guard through first and second pilot guard apertures defined by respective first and second bracket plates such that a retention element of the pilot guard cooperatively engages the retention element of the gas supply line to maintain a connection between the pilot guard and the gas supply line.

Method of assembling pilot burner assembly

A pilot burner assembly includes a bracket, a thermo-electric device configured to be connected to the bracket, and a unitary pilot guard. The bracket includes a first plate and a second plate spaced from the first plate. Each of the first and second plates have a pilot guard aperture defined therein. The pilot guard has a first end defining a gas inlet configured to receive a gas supply line, and a second end defining a gas outlet. The pilot guard includes an elongate body and a pilot hood disposed at the second end, and is configured be inserted into the pilot guard apertures. The pilot guard further includes a first retention element configured to cooperate with a second retention element on the gas supply line to maintain a connection between the pilot guard and the gas supply line.

Pilot burner assembly and method of assembling same

A gas flow controller for use in a gas-fired apparatus including a pilot burner and a main burner is provided. The controller includes a housing defining a diaphragm chamber, a pilot valve operable to open and close a first fluid flow path between a gas supply inlet of the gas flow controller and the diaphragm chamber, and a main burner valve operable to open and close a second fluid flow path between the gas supply inlet and the main burner. The main burner valve includes a diaphragm that is disposed within the diaphragm chamber and includes a central portion and an annular outer portion. The outer portion is configured to deflect into engagement with the housing to close a third fluid flow path in response to an over-pressure condition at the gas supply inlet.

Gas flow controller including over-pressure protection features

Gas flow controllers for use in gas fired apparatus including a pilot burner and a main burner are described. A controller includes a pilot valve moveable between a closed position and an open position to provide selective fluid communication between a gas inlet and the pilot burner, a main burner valve providing selective fluid communication between the gas inlet and the main burner, an actuator configured to open the pilot valve, a flow controller valve operable to open and close a fluid flow path between the gas inlet and a back side of the main burner valve upon actuation of the actuator, and a decoupling mechanism. The decoupling mechanism is configured to connect the actuator to the pilot valve and to selectively disconnect the actuator from the pilot valve when the actuator is actuated and a pressure differential across the pilot valve exceeds a threshold pressure limit.

Gas flow controller including valve decoupling mechanism

A telescoping actuator is described which provides a first and third segments operatively connected to a second segment. A locking system locks the first and third segment in rotation with respect to one another. Upon rotation of the second segment, the first and third segments are displaced relative to one another and the second segment. The first and third segments are operatively coupled to the second segment by corresponding sets of threads in some embodiments. The locking system may be interlocking tubes, or shafts displaced internal to the actuator. Rotational energy may be imparted to the second stage externally about its outer diameter or internally by a driveshaft operatively connected to a drive source.

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Dardenne Prairie, MO, United States of America

James Bryan Prichard