Remote control for gas valve

• US 20060254575A1
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxitrol Company
• Original Assignee: Maxitrol Company
• Inventors: Velazquez, Juan F., Happe, Barbara
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/503
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/1808 Simulated fireplaces
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/122 on stoves

Abstract

A gas valve (14) control system (10) uses a control signal (16) to enable a valve (14) and a validation signal (22) to validate the control signal (16). The system (10) includes a valve (14) connected to a burner (12). A receiver (18) is electrically connected to the valve (14) and provides the valve (14) with the control signal (16). A controller (20) has a control transmitter (24) in wireless communication with the receiver (18) to transmit the control signal (16) to the receiver (18) at a speed of light. The controller (20) further includes a validation transmitter (26) to transmit a validation signal (22) to the receiver (18) at a speed of sound. The valve (14) is enabled by the control signal (16) if a time delay between the receiver (18) receiving the control signal (16) and the validation signal (22) is shorter than a maximum delay period. The control signal (16) is discarded if the time delay is longer than the maximum delay period.

Claims

1. A gas valve control system comprising:

a burner;

a valve operatively connected to said burner for supplying fuel to said burner;

a receiver having an antenna and electrically connected to said valve for providing said valve with a control signal;

a controller having a control transmitter in wireless communication with said receiver for transmitting the control signal to said receiver at a speed of light to control said valve; and

a validation transmitter disposed in said controller for transmitting a validation signal to said receiver at a speed of sound for enabling said valve if a time delay between the control signal and the validation signal is shorter than a maximum delay period and discarding the control signal if the time delay between the control signal and the validation signal is longer than the maximum delay period.

2. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 1 further including a counter disposed in said receiver for measuring the time delay between the control signal and the validation signal from said controller.

3. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 2 further including a comparator disposed in said receiver and electrically connected to said counter for comparing the time delay to the maximum delay period.

4. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 3 further including a processor disposed in said receiver and electrically connected between said counter and said comparator for calculating a distance between said receiver and said controller based on the time delay.

5. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said processor calculates the distance between said receiver and said controller by multiplying the time delay by the speed of sound.

6. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said comparator compares the time delay between the control signal and the validation signal to the maximum delay period by comparing the distance calculated by said processor to a maximum distance.

7. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a memory storage device disposed in said receiver and electrically connected to said comparator for storing the maximum delay period.

8. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 1 further including a control filter disposed in said receiver and electrically connected between said antenna and said counter for distinguishing the control signal from the validation signal.

9. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 8 further including a validation filter disposed in said receiver and electrically connected between said antenna and said counter for distinguishing the validation signal from the control signal.

10. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control transmitter transmits the control signal in an electromagnetic frequency spectrum.

11. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic frequency spectrum is further defined as a radio frequency band.

12. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said validation transmitter transmits the validation signal in an ultrasonic frequency band.

13. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 1 further including a signal generator disposed in said controller and electrically connected to said control transmitter for generating the control signal.

14. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said signal generator is electrically connected to said validation transmitter for generating the validation signal.

15. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 13 further including an input operatively connected to said controller for enabling said signal generator to create the control signal and the validation signal and to transmit the control signal and the validation signal to said receiver.

16. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said input is further defined as an ignite button for enabling said controller to transmit the control signal and the validation signal to said receiver to ignite said burner.

17. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said input includes an increase heat button for enabling said controller to transmit the control signal and the validation signal to said receiver to instruct said valve to provide more fuel to said burner.

18. A gas valve control system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said input includes a decrease heat button for enabling said controller to transmit the control signal and the validation signal to said receiver to instruct said valve to provide less fuel to said burner.