Micro-Pilot For Gas Appliance
First Claim
1. A micro pilot for a gas burning appliance having a combination gas controller controlling a first flow of gas to a pilot via a pilot feed pipe and a second flow of gas to a burner, comprising:
- a safety relay valve interposed between the combination gas controller and the burner, the safety relay valve having a housing forming an inlet for receiving gas when the combination gas controller enables combustion, an outlet for providing gas to the burner, a first connection port in fluid communication with the inlet, a diaphragm control chamber, a booster pilot gas connection outlet in fluid communication with the diaphragm control chamber, and a second connection port in fluid communication with the diaphragm control chamber, the safety relay valve further including a main controlling valve positioned between the inlet and the outlet to control a flow of gas from the inlet to the outlet, the main controlling valve including a valve control shaft drivably coupled to a diaphragm positioned in the diaphragm control chamber; and
a means for ensuring ignition of the burner coupled to the booster pilot gas connection outlet, the means being operative to produce a flame of sufficient intensity to ignite the second flow of gas to the burner just prior to the safety relay valve opening the main controlling valve to allow the second flow of gas to flow to the burner.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A micro pilot for a gas hot water heater is provided. The micro pilot provides a flame that is substantially smaller than a typical pilot in a hot water heater during standby operation of the burner. Just prior to allowing gas to flow to the burner upon a call for heat, a pilot flame of sufficient size to ensure ignition of the burner is provided. In one embodiment this larger pilot flame is produced by providing an additional amount of bleed gas to the pilot to increase flame size. In another embodiment, bleed gas is provided to a separate booster pilot, which is ignited by the micro pilot. The flame from the booster pilot is then used to ignite the main burner. This design allows for the micro pilot to be positioned closer to the flame trap of a flammable vapor resistant hot water heater to ensure smooth ignition of any such vapor.
88 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A micro pilot for a gas burning appliance having a combination gas controller controlling a first flow of gas to a pilot via a pilot feed pipe and a second flow of gas to a burner, comprising:
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a safety relay valve interposed between the combination gas controller and the burner, the safety relay valve having a housing forming an inlet for receiving gas when the combination gas controller enables combustion, an outlet for providing gas to the burner, a first connection port in fluid communication with the inlet, a diaphragm control chamber, a booster pilot gas connection outlet in fluid communication with the diaphragm control chamber, and a second connection port in fluid communication with the diaphragm control chamber, the safety relay valve further including a main controlling valve positioned between the inlet and the outlet to control a flow of gas from the inlet to the outlet, the main controlling valve including a valve control shaft drivably coupled to a diaphragm positioned in the diaphragm control chamber; and a means for ensuring ignition of the burner coupled to the booster pilot gas connection outlet, the means being operative to produce a flame of sufficient intensity to ignite the second flow of gas to the burner just prior to the safety relay valve opening the main controlling valve to allow the second flow of gas to flow to the burner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A hot water heater, comprising:
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a storage tank having a burner positioned at a bottom thereof, a pilot positioned in proximity to the burner; a combination gas controller for sensing a temperature of water in the storage tank and for controlling a flow of gas from an external source to enable combustion when the temperature is below a threshold and to disable combustion when the threshold is met, the combination gas controller providing a first flow of gas to the pilot via a pilot feed pipe and a second flow of gas to the burner; a safety relay valve interposed between the combination gas controller and the burner, the safety relay valve having a housing forming an inlet for receiving gas when the combination gas controller enables combustion, an outlet for providing gas to the burner, a first connection port in fluid communication with the inlet, a diaphragm control chamber, a booster pilot gas connection outlet in fluid communication with the diaphragm control chamber, and a second connection port in fluid communication with the diaphragm control chamber, the safety relay valve further including a main controlling valve positioned between the inlet and the outlet to control a flow of gas from the inlet to the outlet, the main controlling valve including a valve control shaft drivably coupled to a diaphragm positioned in the diaphragm control chamber; and a means for ensuring ignition of the burner coupled to the booster pilot gas connection outlet, the means being operative to produce a flame of sufficient intensity to ignite the second flow of gas to the burner just prior to the safety relay valve opening the main controlling valve to allow the second flow of gas to flow to the burner. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification