Water heater status monitoring system
First Claim
1. A valve status detection system comprising:
- a water tank;
an appliance burner at the water tank;
a fuel valve connected to a fuel source and to the appliance burner via a fuel line, the fuel valve controls fuel to the appliance burner;
a pilot flame device at the appliance burner;
a thermopile having a first end configured to be heated by the pilot flame device, and having a second end configured to be heated when the appliance burner is operating;
a water temperature sensor at the water tank; and
a control module connected to the fuel valve, the thermopile, and the water temperature sensor; and
wherein;
the voltage from the thermopile has a first magnitude when the pilot flame device is heating the first end of the thermopile and the appliance burner is off;
the voltage from the thermopile has a second magnitude when the appliance burner is on and heating the second end of the thermopile, and the pilot flame device is heating the first end of the thermopile;
the control module is configured to;
monitor a water temperature indicated by the water temperature sensor and a voltage from the thermopile;
monitor for a change of a magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile when the monitored water temperature exceeds a thermal cut out limit;
determine the appliance burner is operating and close the fuel valve to shut down the appliance burner when there is a decrease in the magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile during an increase of the water temperature; and
determine there is another source of heat affecting the water temperature and the second end of the thermopile when there is a decrease in the magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile during an increase of the water temperature while fuel valve is closed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A water heater having a monitoring mechanism, an appliance burner configured to heat water in a tank of a water heater, a water temperature sensor configured to detect a water temperature in the tank, a pilot device configured to ignite the appliance burner, and a thermopile having a tip and a base, and having an output voltage that represents a temperature difference between the tip and the base. The tip of the thermopile may be heated by the pilot device. The base of the thermopile may receive heat from the appliance burner when the appliance burner is turned on, and thus the voltage output of the thermopile may decrease. If the voltage output does not decrease and the water temperature exceeds a thermal cutout limit, then a warning about the water heater may be issued by the monitoring mechanism.
218 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A valve status detection system comprising:
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a water tank; an appliance burner at the water tank; a fuel valve connected to a fuel source and to the appliance burner via a fuel line, the fuel valve controls fuel to the appliance burner; a pilot flame device at the appliance burner; a thermopile having a first end configured to be heated by the pilot flame device, and having a second end configured to be heated when the appliance burner is operating; a water temperature sensor at the water tank; and a control module connected to the fuel valve, the thermopile, and the water temperature sensor; and wherein; the voltage from the thermopile has a first magnitude when the pilot flame device is heating the first end of the thermopile and the appliance burner is off; the voltage from the thermopile has a second magnitude when the appliance burner is on and heating the second end of the thermopile, and the pilot flame device is heating the first end of the thermopile; the control module is configured to; monitor a water temperature indicated by the water temperature sensor and a voltage from the thermopile; monitor for a change of a magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile when the monitored water temperature exceeds a thermal cut out limit; determine the appliance burner is operating and close the fuel valve to shut down the appliance burner when there is a decrease in the magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile during an increase of the water temperature; and determine there is another source of heat affecting the water temperature and the second end of the thermopile when there is a decrease in the magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile during an increase of the water temperature while fuel valve is closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for determining a status of a water heater system, comprising:
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monitoring water temperature of a water heater that is heated by an appliance burner having an associated pilot device; monitoring a magnitude of a voltage output by a thermopile having a first end heated by the pilot device and a second end heated when the appliance burner is operating; and checking whether the water temperature exceeds a thermal cut out limit; and wherein; a fuel valve controls fuel to the appliance burner; the magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile indicates a difference of temperatures at the first and second ends; if the water temperature exceeds the thermal cut out limit, then a monitoring is made for a change of the magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile; if there is a decrease of the magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile during an increase of the water temperature, then the appliance burner is operating and the fuel valve is closed to shut down the appliance burner; and if there is a decrease of the magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile during an increase of the water temperature and the fuel valve is closed, then there is another source of heat affecting the water temperature and the second end of the pilot device. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A water heater system comprising:
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an appliance burner configured to heat water in a tank of a water heater; a water temperature sensor configured to detect a water temperature in the tank; a pilot device configured to ignite the appliance burner; a thermopile having a first end and a second end, and having an output voltage that represents a temperature difference between the first end and the second end; a control module connected to the appliance burner, the water temperature sensor, the pilot device, and the thermopile; and wherein; the first end of the thermopile is heated by the pilot device; the second end of the thermopile is heated by the appliance burner when the appliance burner is on; the voltage output of the thermopile is less, when the appliance burner is on, than the voltage output of the thermopile when the appliance burner is not on; the control module is configured to; monitor a water temperature indicated by the water temperature sensor and a voltage from the thermopile; monitor for a change of a magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile when the monitored water temperature exceeds a thermal cut out limit; determine the appliance burner is operating and shut down the appliance burner when there is a decrease in the magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile during an increase of the water temperature; and determine there is another source of heat affecting the water temperature and the second end of the thermopile when there is a decrease in the magnitude of the voltage output by the thermopile during an increase of the water temperature while fuel valve is closed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification