Method and system for starting an intermittent flame-powered pilot combustion system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller for use with a gas-powered appliance, comprising:
- a first power source;
a second power source;
a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that charges the first power source when the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device is exposed to a flame;
an igniter; and
a controller;
wherein the controller and the igniter receive power from the second power source for initial start-up after installation and after an extended duration of non-use of the associated gas-powered appliance after which the first power source does not have sufficient available power, and wherein the controller and the igniter receive power from the first power source and not the second power source during subsequent operation.
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Abstract
A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a first power source and a second power source separate from the first power source, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, an igniter and a controller. The thermal electric and/or photoelectric device may charge the first power source when exposed to a flame. The controller and the igniter may receive power from the first power source when the first power source has sufficient available power, and may receive power from the second power source when the first power source does not have sufficient available power.
178 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller for use with a gas-powered appliance, comprising:
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a first power source; a second power source; a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that charges the first power source when the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device is exposed to a flame; an igniter; and a controller; wherein the controller and the igniter receive power from the second power source for initial start-up after installation and after an extended duration of non-use of the associated gas-powered appliance after which the first power source does not have sufficient available power, and wherein the controller and the igniter receive power from the first power source and not the second power source during subsequent operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A gas-powered appliance having an intermittent pilot ignition system, comprising:
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a power source; a burner assembly having an intermittent pilot flame, the burner assembly including a spark igniter; a rechargeable energy storage device, wherein the rechargeable energy storage device is configured to be charged using energy generated by a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device associated with the burner assembly; a controller coupled to the power source, the rechargeable energy storage device and the spark igniter of the burner assembly, wherein the controller initiates ignition of the pilot flame using the power source when the energy stored in the rechargeable energy storage device is below a threshold level, and uses energy from the rechargeable energy storage device and not the power source for subsequent operation when the energy stored in the rechargeable energy storage device is above the threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion control system for a gas-fired appliance, the system comprising:
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a pre-charged power source; a burner assembly having an inaccessible combustion chamber; a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that directly and/or indirectly charges the pre-charged power source when the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device is exposed to a flame within the burner assembly; an igniter receiving power from the pre-charged power source, the igniter for igniting a flame in the burner assembly; and a controller, wherein the controller and the igniter receive power from the pre-charged power source for igniting a flame in the burner assembly for a first time after installation and/or after an extended duration of non-use, wherein the controller and the igniter receive power generated by the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device and not the pre-charged power source during subsequent operation of the gas-fired appliance. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller for use with a gas-powered appliance, comprising:
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a burner assembly for receiving a gas; an ignitor for igniting the gas of the burner assembly to produce a flame; a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device for generating power from the flame when the flame is present; a power source that is directly and/or indirectly charged by the power generated by thermal electric and/or photoelectric device when the flame is present; a controller, wherein the controller and the igniter receive power from the power source for igniting the flame of the burner assembly when the power source has a charge that exceeds a threshold level; and wherein the controller and the igniter receive power from an alternative power source and not the power source when the power source has a charge that does not exceed the threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification