×

Valve controller configured to estimate fuel comsumption

  • US 9,846,440 B2
  • Filed: 10/22/2014
  • Issued: 12/19/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A fuel valve for controlling a firing rate of a combustion appliance, the fuel valve comprising:

  • a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port and a fluid channel extending between the inlet port and the outlet port;

    a valve member situated within the fluid channel between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve member configured to be moved between a first position and a second position to control a flow rate of fuel through the fluid channel and thus a firing-rate of a downstream combustion appliance;

    a valve actuator for moving the valve member between the first position and the second position;

    a valve control module operatively coupled to the valve actuator for controlling the position of the valve member, the valve control module comprising;

    an input for receiving a firing rate control signal, wherein the firing rate control signal is indicative of a desired firing rate;

    a memory module storing a relationship between a desired firing rate and a resulting flow rate of fuel through the fuel valve;

    a processing module configured to use the relationship stored in the memory module, along with the firing rate control signal, to determine and then store in the memory module one or more of;

    a measure of cumulative fuel flow through the fuel valve over a period of time; and

    a measure of instantaneous fuel flow through the fuel valve at each of a plurality of times.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×