Explosion prevention control system for a fuel-gas burning automatic ignition appliance and associated gas distribution system

• US 4,334,258 A
• Filed: 06/23/1980
• Issued: 06/08/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James A. Dionian, Jeffrey L. Seeman
• Original Assignee: James A. Dionian, Jeffrey L. Seeman
• Inventors: Seeman, Jeffrey L., Dionian, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schroeder, L. C.
• Application Number:
  US06/161,663
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 361/170, 340/632, 431/22, 48/192
• US Class Current: 361/170
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2231/20 Warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/245 using electrical or electromechanical means

Abstract

An explosion prevention control system is provided for automatic ignition fuel-gas burning appliances to sample the atmosphere and, in response to a predetermined level of fuel-gas in the atmosphere, to deactivate the automatic ignition apparatus in the appliance and block the flow of fuel-gas in the gas distribution system.

An alarm can be provided to indicate that the control system is responding to fuel-gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

A latch-off switch can be provided for the automatic ignition apparatus to ensure that the automatic ignition apparatus remains deactivated until the latch-off switch is reset.

Claims

1. In a fuel-gas burning appliance system of the type including a fuel-gas burning appliance having an electrically activated automatic ignition device, and a fuel-gas supply distribution arrangement including a conduit for conducting fuel-gas from a fuel-gas supply to the appliance, the improvement comprising:

gas sensing means disposed outside of said distribution system and being operable to generate a sensing signal in response to the presence of fuel-gas;

control means coupled to said gas sensing means to generate a control signal in response to said sensing signal;

a latch-off safety switch connected to said ignition device and operable in response to said control signal to deactivate and maintain deactivated said ignition device until said switch receives a reset signal, reactivation of said ignition device being prevented until said reset signal is received by said switch, and

a distribution system gas shut-off valve disposed in said conduit and being switchable between an open state in which fuel-gas is permitted to pass through said conduit and a closed state in which fuel-gas is blocked from passage through said conduit, said shut-off valve including switching means connected to said control means and adapted to switch said control valve from said open to said closed state in response to said control signal;

whereby the presence of fuel-gas outside said distribution system at said gas sensing means will cause said fuel-gas burning appliance ignition system to be deactivated and the fuel supply to be shut off.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said switch includes a manual reset device operable to generate said reset signal.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an alarm, said alarm being connected to said control means and adapted to be activated by said control signal.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said shut-off valve is a solenoid activated valve.

5. An explosion prevention control system for a fuel gas burning appliance having an automatic ignition device and its associated fuel-gas distribution arrangement having a supply conduit connected to the appliance and a shut-off valve in the conduit, said control system comprising:

gas sensing means to be disposed outside the fuel-gas distribution arrangement and being operable to generate a sensing signal in response to the presence of fuel-gas;

control means coupled to said gas sensing means and operable to generate a control signal in response to said sensing signal, said control signal being adapted to close the shut-off valve in the conduit;

a latch-off safety switch adapted to be connected to said ignition device and operable in response to said control signal to deactivate and maintain deactivated the ignition device until said switch receives a reset signal, reactivation of said ignition device being presented until said reset signal is received by said switch.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said switch includes a manual reset device operable to generate said reset signal.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising an alarm, said alarm being connected to said control means and adapted to be activated by said control signal.

8. An explosion prevention control system for a fuel-gas burning automatic ignition appliance and its associated fuel-gas distribution arrangement with a supply conduit connected to the appliance, said control system comprising:

gas sensing means disposed outside of said distribution system and being operable to generate a sensing signal in response to the presence of fuel-gas;

control means coupled to said gas sensing means to generate a control signal in response to said sensing signal;

a latch-off switch operable to be connected to the automatic ignition device and adapted to respond to said control signal by deactivating and maintaining deactivated said ignition device until said switch receives a reset signal, reactivation of said ignition device being prevented until said reset signal is received by said switch; and

a distribution system shut-off valve disposed in said conduit and being switchable between an open state in which fuel-gas is permitted to pass through said conduit and a closed state in which fuel-gas is blocked from passage through said conduit, said shut-off valve including switching means connected to said control means and adapted to switch said control valve from said open to said closed state in response to said control signal;

whereby the presence of fuel-gas outside said distribution system at said gas sensing means will cause said fuel-gas burning appliance ignition system to be deactivated and the fuel supply to be shut off.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said switch includes a manual reset device operable to generate said reset signal.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising an alarm, said alarm being connected to said control means and adapted to be activated by said control signal.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said shut-off valve is a solenoid activated valve.