Dual fuel heater

• US 8,281,781 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bluegrass Living, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Continental Appliances Incorporated
• Inventors: Deng, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Basichas, Alfred
• Application Number:
  US13/169,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20120132189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 126/116.A, 126/92.R, 126/92.AC, 126/116.R, 431/9, 431/182, 431/183, 431/74, 431/76, 431/278, 431/280, 431/281, 431/284, 431/13, 239/401, 239/403, 239/404, 239/440, 239/11, 239/105, 239/406, 239/8, 239/472, 239/487, 239/489, 239/501, 251320-323, 137/606, 137/505.41
• US Class Current: 126/116.A
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 1/08 liquid and gaseous fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 1/007 using mechanical means F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2237/08 two or more different types of fuel simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/00 Systems for controlling combustion regulating fuel supply F23N1/00, regulating air supply or draught F23N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F23Q 9/045 Structurally associated with a main-burner
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/122 on stoves

Abstract

A dual fuel heater can couple with one of two fuel sources operating at different pressures. The dual fuel heater can have a first fuel line, a second fuel line, a fluid flow controller, and a combustion chamber. The fluid flow controller can selectively permit flow of a first fuel to either the first fuel line or flow of a second fuel to the second fuel line. The first fuel line can be in communication with a first oxygen depletion sensor orifice and the second fuel line can be in communication with a second oxygen depletion sensor orifice.

Claims

1. A heater comprising:

a regulator unit configured for regulating the pressure of either a first fuel within a first pressure range or a second fuel within a second pressure range different from the first, the first fuel being a different type of fuel from the second fuel;

a main control valve having an outer housing and an internal valve, the main control valve configured to control a flow of fuel through the main control valve;

a first flow channel configured to transmit fuel from the regulator unit to the main control valve;

a first oxygen depletion sensor orifice selectably in fluid communication with the main control valve, the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice being fixed in position within the heater; and

a second oxygen depletion sensor orifice selectably in fluid communication with the main control valve, the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice spaced from the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice;

wherein heat from combustion of either the first fuel from the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice or the second fuel from the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice generates an electric current which maintains the main control valve in an open position to permit passage through the main control valve of the first fuel or the second fuel and when the combustion of either the first fuel from the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice or the second fuel from the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice is terminated, the main control valve closes thereby preventing passage therethrough of the first or second fuel.

2. The heater of claim 1, wherein the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice and the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice comprise a single oxygen depletion sensor.

3. The heater of claim 1, further comprising a combustion chamber wherein the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice and the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice are mounted onto the combustion chamber.

4. The heater of claim 3, wherein the oxygen depletion sensor further comprises a first oxygen depletion sensor nozzle and a second oxygen depletion sensor nozzle.

5. The heater of claim 1, further comprising a first combustion chamber nozzle outlet and a second combustion chamber nozzle outlet.

6. The heater of claim 1, wherein the regulator unit comprises a first pressure regulator configured for regulating the pressure of the first fuel within the first pressure range and a second pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the second fuel within the second pressure range.

7. The heater of claim 6, wherein the regulator unit comprises a housing having two inlets and a single outlet.

8. The heater of claim 1, further comprising a fluid flow controller, wherein the fluid flow controller is fluidly positioned between the main control valve and the first and second orifices, the fluid flow controller determining whether the first or the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice is in fluid communication with the main control valve.

9. The heater of claim 1, wherein when the combustion is terminated said electric current is reduced or terminated.

10. The heater of claim 1, further comprising a thermocouple coupled to the main control valve, wherein the thermocouple is configured to generate the electric current.

11. The heater of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein flow through the main control valve can further be controlled by the temperature sensor.

12. The heater of claim 11, wherein the system is configured such that based on a temperature selected by a user at the main control valve and the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, the main control valve can allow more or less fuel to pass therethrough.

13. A dual fuel heater comprising:

a regulator unit configured for regulating the pressure of either a first fuel or a second fuel, the first fuel being a different type of fuel at a different pressure from the second fuel;

a main control valve to control the flow of either the first fuel or the second fuel through the main control valve, the main control valve positioned to receive fuel from the regulator unit;

a first oxygen depletion sensor orifice selectably in fluid communication with the main control valve, the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice being fixedly positioned within the heater; and

a second oxygen depletion sensor orifice selectably in fluid communication with the main control valve;

wherein heat from combustion of either the first fuel from the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice or the second fuel from the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice generates an electric current which maintains the main control valve in an open position to permit passage through the main control valve of the first fuel or the second fuel and when the combustion of either the first fuel from the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice or the second fuel from the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice is terminated, the main control valve closes thereby preventing passage therethrough of the first or second fuel.

14. The heater of claim 13, further comprising a combustion chamber wherein the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice and the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice are mounted onto the combustion chamber.

15. The heater of claim 13, wherein the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice and the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice comprise a single oxygen depletion sensor.

16. The heater of claim 15, wherein the oxygen depletion sensor further comprises a first oxygen depletion sensor nozzle and a second oxygen depletion sensor nozzle.

17. The heater of claim 13, further comprising a first combustion chamber nozzle outlet and a second combustion chamber nozzle outlet.

18. The heater of claim 13, wherein the regulator unit comprises a first pressure regulator configured for regulating the pressure of the first fuel within the first pressure range and a second pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the second fuel within the second pressure range.

19. The heater of claim 18, wherein the regulator unit comprises a housing having two inlets and a single outlet.

20. The heater of claim 13, further comprising a fluid flow controller, wherein the fluid flow controller is fluidly positioned between the main control valve and the first and second orifices, the fluid flow controller determining whether the first or the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice is in fluid communication with the main control valve.

21. The heater of claim 13, wherein when the combustion is terminated said electric current is reduced or terminated.

22. The heater of claim 13, further comprising a thermocouple coupled to the main control valve, wherein the thermocouple is configured to generate the electric current.

23. The heater of claim 13, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein flow through the main control valve can further be controlled by the temperature sensor.

24. The heater of claim 23, wherein the system is configured such that based on a temperature selected by a user at the main control valve and the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, the main control valve can allow more or less fuel to pass therethrough.

25. A dual fuel heater comprising:

a regulator unit configured for regulating the pressure of either a first fuel within a first pressure range or a second fuel within a second pressure range different from the first, the first fuel being a different type of fuel from the second fuel;

a main control valve configured to control a flow of fuel through the main control valve;

a first flow channel configured to transmit fuel from the regulator unit to the main control valve;

a first oxygen depletion sensor orifice selectably in fluid communication with the main control valve, the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice being fixed in position within the heater;

a second oxygen depletion sensor orifice selectably in fluid communication with the main control valve, the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice spaced from the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice;

a first combustion chamber nozzle outlet selectably in fluid communication with the main control valve; and

a second combustion chamber nozzle outlet selectably in fluid communication with the main control valve;

wherein heat from combustion of either the first fuel from the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice or the second fuel from the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice generates an electric current which maintains the main control valve in an open position to permit passage through the main control valve of the first fuel or the second fuel and when the combustion of either the first fuel from the first oxygen depletion sensor orifice or the second fuel from the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice is terminated, the main control valve closes thereby preventing passage therethrough of the first or second fuel.

26. The heater of claim 25, further comprising a fluid flow controller, wherein the fluid flow controller is fluidly positioned between the main control valve and the first and second orifices, the fluid flow controller determining whether the first or the second oxygen depletion sensor orifice is in fluid communication with the main control valve.