PILOT LIGHT CONTROL FOR AN APPLIANCE

• US 20150276268A1
• Filed: 03/25/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Hazzard, Frederick, Heil, David, Khosla, Ravindra
• Granted Patent: US 10,670,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2227/30 for pilot burners
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2241/04 Heating water
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/242 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/186 using fluid fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/12 Preventing or detecting fluid leakage
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/156 Reducing the quantity of energy consumed; Increasing efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/172 Scheduling based on user demand, e.g. determining starting point of heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/174 Supplying heated water with desired temperature or desired range of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/212 Temperature of the water
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/281 Input from user
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/31 of valves having only one inlet port and one outlet port, e.g. flow rate regulating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/315 of mixing valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/414 using electronic processing, e.g. computer-based
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/45 remotely accessible
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2035 using fluid fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/28 characterised by the graphical user interface [GUI]

Abstract

A device for igniting a pilot light for a heating appliance or for re-igniting the pilot. The device may monitor a thermopile at the pilot to determine if the pilot is lit and, if not, attempt to relight it. If the device fails to relight the pilot, it may continue attempting to relight the pilot until the stored energy is nearly depleted. Before the stored energy is depleted, the device may send a message indicating a failure to relight. The last of stored energy may alert a homeowner with an alarm that the appliance control has shut down and the pilot could not be relit. If the amount of energy stored drops below a specified threshold and the device successfully lights the pilot, it may restore the control to normal operation, and replenish the stored energy. The device may do a standing pilot or an intermittent pilot.

Claims

1. A pilot lighting system comprising:

a processor;

a pilot ignition circuit connected to the processor;

a communications circuit connected to the processor;

an energy storage circuit connected to the processor, the communications circuit and the pilot ignition circuit; and

a source of energy connected the energy storage circuit; and

wherein;

the source of energy comprises a thermo power source;

the thermo power source is proximate to a pilot and generates power if the pilot has a flame;

the communications circuit, energy storage circuit and the thermo power source are connectable to an appliance controller;

the appliance controller controls a fuel valve for the pilot; and

the appliance controller is associated with an appliance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a hot water heater.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

if the pilot has no flame, no power is generated by the thermo power source for the processor and the energy storage circuit;

power is provided from the energy storage circuit to the processor if sufficient energy is in the storage circuit for regular operation of the processor;

the processor can provide a signal to the appliance controller to open the fuel valve for the pilot; and

if the fuel valve for the pilot is opened, then the processor sends a signal to the pilot ignition circuit to provide a spark at the pilot to ignite the pilot.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the pilot ignition circuit provides a spark at the pilot every X seconds until the pilot lights up, or until Y seconds have passed after the spark has been first provided at the pilot if the pilot does not light up;

after the Y seconds have passed, then a voltage of the communications circuit or the thermo power source is checked; and

if the voltage of the communications circuit or the thermo power source is insufficient for regular operation, then relighting of the pilot begins and continues until the energy in the energy storage circuit is depleted to a first amount.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein if the communications circuit comprises WiFi or other communicating capability, then when the energy in the energy storage circuit is depleted to the first amount, then the communications circuit is revived and sends a message indicating a failure to relight and an amount of hot water available in the appliance.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first amount of energy in the energy storage circuit is used to sound an alarm to alert a person in an area of the appliance that the pilot is extinguished and cannot be relit.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein when a burn cycle of the appliance is complete, then the fuel valve for the pilot is closed and the pilot is extinguished.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein when the pilot is extinguished, then the fuel valve for the pilot is opened, the pilot is lit and the pilot heats the thermo power source to provide energy to the energy storage circuit without the burn cycle being run if an energy level in the energy storage circuit is below an H threshold level.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein if the energy level in the energy storage circuit is equal to or greater than the H threshold level and the water temperature is below G degrees, then the burn cycle operates and the thermo power source provides energy to the energy storage circuit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of energy further comprises one or more items selected from a group consisting of thermopiles, solar panels, wind generators, rechargeable batteries, and energy harvesting systems.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications circuit and the thermo power source are connectable to one or more additional appliance controllers.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the ignition circuit comprises a standing pilot mode or an intermittent pilot mode; and

a pilot mode is selectable from a smart device if the communications circuit comprises a wireless or network capability.

13. A method for lighting a pilot comprising:

providing a processor;

connecting a pilot ignition circuit to the processor;

connecting a communications circuit to the processor;

connecting an energy storage circuit to the processor, the communications circuit and the pilot ignition circuit; and

providing energy, from a thermoelectric device proximate to a pilot having a flame, to the energy storage circuit; and

wherein;

the communications circuit and the energy storage circuit are connectable to an appliance controller;

the appliance controller controls a fuel valve for the pilot; and

the appliance controller is associated with an appliance.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

power is provided from the energy storage circuit to the processor if sufficient energy is in the storage circuit for regular operation of the processor;

the processor can provide a signal to the appliance controller to open the fuel valve for the pilot;

if the fuel valve for the pilot is opened, then the processor sends a signal to the pilot ignition circuit to provide a spark at the pilot to ignite the pilot; and

if the voltage of the communications circuit or the thermoelectric device is insufficient for regular operation, then relighting of the pilot begins and continues until the energy in the energy storage circuit is depleted to a first amount.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

if the communications circuit comprises WiFi or other communicating capability, then when the energy in the energy storage circuit is depleted to the first amount, then the communications circuit is revived and sends a message indicating a failure to relight and an amount of hot water available in the appliance; and

the first amount of energy in the energy storage circuit is used to sound an alarm to alert a person in an area of the appliance that the pilot is extinguished and cannot be relit.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the appliance is a hot water heater; and

the communications circuit and the thermoelectric device are connectable to one or more additional appliance controllers.

17. A pilot lighting system comprising:

a processor;

a communications circuit connected to the processor;

a pilot ignition circuit connected to the processor;

an energy source; and

an energy storage circuit connected to the energy source, the processor, the communications circuit and the pilot ignition circuit; and

wherein;

the energy source is proximate to a pilot and generates power if the pilot has a flame;

the communications circuit and the energy source are connectable to an appliance controller; and

the appliance controller and pilot are associated with an appliance.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor can provide a signal to the appliance controller to open a fuel valve for the pilot and eventually, if the pilot is ignited by the pilot ignition circuit, a fuel valve for a main heater of the appliance is opened.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the pilot ignition circuit provides a spark at the pilot periodically until the pilot lights up, or until after a predetermined amount of time; and

if the voltage of the communications circuit or the energy source is insufficient for regular operation, then relighting of the pilot begins and continues until the energy in the energy storage circuit is depleted to a first amount.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

when a burn cycle of the main heater is run and complete, then the fuel valve for the pilot is closed and the pilot is extinguished;

when the pilot is extinguished, then the fuel valve for the pilot is opened, the pilot is lit and the pilot heats the energy source to provide energy to the energy storage circuit without the burn cycle being run if an energy level in the energy storage circuit is below a predetermined threshold level;

if the energy level in the energy storage circuit is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold level and the water temperature is below a predetermined temperature, then the burn cycle operates and the energy source provides energy to the energy storage circuit; and

the appliance is a hot water heater.