Low-powered system for driving a fuel control mechanism
First Claim
1. A water heater comprising:
- a water tank for holding heated water;
a burner for heating water in the water tank;
an electrically controlled gas valve for providing gas to the burner;
a water heater controller operatively coupled to the electrically controlled gas valve, the water heater controller comprising a valve control circuit for controlling the electrically controlled gas valve, the valve control circuit comprising;
a thermally activated power source;
a reverse current protection circuit operatively connected to the thermally activated power source;
an energy storage circuit operatively connected to the reverse current protection circuit for providing a pick current to pick the electrically controlled gas valve;
a safety switch;
a drive circuit operatively coupled to the electrically controlled gas valve, the drive circuit operatively coupled to the safety switch; and
wherein providing a certain electronic signal to the safety switch permits current to flow through the safety switch to the drive circuit for the electrically controlled gas valve.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low powered system for providing sufficient current to a fuel control mechanism drive. The system may have a fuel control mechanism pick circuit that has an energy storage mechanism for providing a large amount of current for a short time to the fuel control mechanism drive. A safety switch may be enabled with a special signal to let current flow to the fuel control mechanism drive to operate a corresponding fuel control mechanism for controlling fuel to a pilot light or heating element. The pilot light or heating element may provide heat to a thermoelectric source that generates electrical power from the heat. The electrical power may go to a single DC-to-DC converter and voltage clamp for providing a voltage source to a microcontroller and other circuits of the system. The pick circuit may prevent a harmful reverse flow of current from the storage mechanism to the thermoelectric source.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A water heater comprising:
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a water tank for holding heated water; a burner for heating water in the water tank; an electrically controlled gas valve for providing gas to the burner; a water heater controller operatively coupled to the electrically controlled gas valve, the water heater controller comprising a valve control circuit for controlling the electrically controlled gas valve, the valve control circuit comprising; a thermally activated power source; a reverse current protection circuit operatively connected to the thermally activated power source; an energy storage circuit operatively connected to the reverse current protection circuit for providing a pick current to pick the electrically controlled gas valve; a safety switch; a drive circuit operatively coupled to the electrically controlled gas valve, the drive circuit operatively coupled to the safety switch; and wherein providing a certain electronic signal to the safety switch permits current to flow through the safety switch to the drive circuit for the electrically controlled gas valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification