Combined fan and ignition control with selected condition sensing apparatus

• US 5,902,099 A
• Filed: 10/31/1996
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensata Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Garnett, Ronald E., Rowlette, Mitchell R., Eifler, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Carl D.
• Application Number:
  US08/742,236
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 431/24, 431/25, 431/21, 431/22, 431/75, 431/78, 126/307 A, 126/116 A
• US Class Current: 431/22
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/08 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/04 pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/26 humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2227/38 Electrical resistance ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2229/00 Flame sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2231/10 for component failures
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2241/02 Space-heating
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/12 using ionisation-sensitive elements, i.e. flame rods
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/123 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/203 using electronic means

Abstract

An electric control is shown adapted for use with gas furnaces which controls fan motors, ignition controls and a gas valve based on inputs from a room thermostat, limit switches, a flame probe, a flame roll-out probe, and a condensate sensor. A roll-out detection circuit utilizing flame rectification includes a multidirectional roll-out probe 16 coupled to a microcontroller (U2) through an inverter (U3) to provide both fault both protection and fault identification. A condensate sensor (20) in the form of a conductive condensate sensor member is also coupled to the microcontroller (U2) through an inverter (U3) to detect the presence of condensate build-up.

Claims

1. Control apparatus for use in a furnace comprising:

a microcontroller having input and output parts,

an AC voltage source and a DC voltage source,

an elongated, electrically conductive flame roll-out sensing member forming a loop around a selected area of said furnace and having first and second terminals,

a first roll-out flame capacitor and resistor connected between the AC voltage source and the first terminal of the sensing member, a roll-out flame change of state device having an input and an output, the output connected to an input port of the microcontroller,

a second roll-out flame capacitor connected between the input of the change of state device and earth ground, resistor means forming a voltage divider having a junction, the junction connected to the input of the change of state device, the voltage divider connected between the DC voltage source and the second terminal of the sensing member, the second roll-out flame capacitor selected to cause a phase shift of the AC voltage signal, the second roll-out flame capacitor alternately charging and discharging in response to the change in polarity of the AC voltage when no roll-out flame is present thereby causing the change of state device to provide a series of pulses to the microcontroller, the second roll-out flame capacitor being discharged through the flame when a roll-out flame is present causing the change of state device to provide a continuous single input to the microcontroller.

2. Control apparatus according to claim 1 in which the change of state device is a CMOS inverter.

3. Control apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a condensate sensor for placement in a condensate collection box, the condensate sensor comprising an elongated electrically conductive condensate member, a second AC voltage source, a condensate sense line comprising a first condensate capacitor connected to the second AC voltage source, a diode and a resistor serially connected between the first condensate capacitor and the condensate sensor member, a condensate change of state device having an input and an output, the output connected to the microcontroller, a second condensate capacitor between the input to the condensate change of state device and earth ground, the DC voltage source and the condensate sense line connected to the input of the condensate change of state device, the second condensate capacitor selected to remove the Hz component from the second AC voltage source, when no condensate is present the second condensate capacitor is in the charged state causing the change of state device to provide a first input signal to the microcontroller and when sufficient condensate is present the positive portion of the second AC voltage source is shunted to ground through the condensate member and voltage stored in the second condensate capacitor is discharged causing the change of state device to provide a second, different, input signal to the microcontroller and the microcontroller providing an output signal in response to the second input signal.

4. Control apparatus according to claim 3 in which the condensate change of state device is a CMOS inverter.

5. Control apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising time delay means to delay the issuance of the output control signal for a selected period of time following the second input signal.

6. Control apparatus according to claim 3 in which the condensate sensor member is a stainless steel rod.

7. Control apparatus according to claim 3 in which the second AC voltage source is a 24 VAC source.

8. Control apparatus for use in a furnace comprising:

a microcontroller having input and output ports,

an AC voltage source and a DC voltage source,

a condensate sensor for placement in a condensate collection box, the condensate sensor comprising an elongated electrically conductive condensate sensor member, a condensate sense line comprising a first condensate capacitor serially connected to the AC voltage source, a diode and a resistor serially connected between the first condensate capacitor and the condensate sense member, a condensate change of state device having an input and an output, the output connected to the microcontroller, a second condensate capacitor connected between the input to the condensate change of state device and earth ground, the DC voltage source and the condensate sense line connected to the input of the condensate change of state device, the second condensate capacitor selected to remove the Hz components from the AC voltage source, when no condensate is present the second condensate capacitor is in the charged state causing the change of state device to provide a first input signal to the microcontroller and when sufficient condensate is present the positive portion of the AC voltage source is shunted to ground and voltage stored in the first condensate capacitor is discharged causing the change of state device to provide a second, different, input signal to the microcontroller and the microcontroller providing an output control signal in response to the second input signal.

9. Control apparatus according to claim 8 in which the condensate change of state device is a CMOS inverter.

10. Control apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising time delay means to delay the issuance of the control signal for a selected period of time following the second input signal.

11. Control apparatus according to claim 8 in which the condensate sensor member is a stainless steel rod.

12. Control apparatus according to claim 8 in which the AC voltage source is a 24 VAC source.