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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7695273 | Lockout algorithm for a furnace including a pollutant sensor A furnace system responsive to a thermostat includes a pollutant sensor for sensing a pollutant concentration in the furnace system. The pollutant sensor is configured to open when the pollutant concentration reaches a pollutant threshold and close when the pollutan... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7604478 | Vapor resistant fuel burning appliance A method and apparatus for controlling a fuel-fired appliance is provided. The appliance enters a wait state in which burner operation ceases if a sensor indicates the presence of flammable vapors that are above an acceptable and/or safe vapor level. The appliance r... | 10/20/2009 |
| 7319577 | Safety shut off for water heaters A water heater includes a gas valve and a solenoid to operate the gas valve. A thermocouple of the water heater is heated by a pilot light to provide a current source to maintain the gas valve in an open position. A sensor activated switch switches current from a se... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7286058 | Method and apparatus for powering remote devices A method and apparatus for powering one or more remotely-situated devices. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, energy is added (at a convenient location) to a medium that the remotely-situated devices are associated with (e.g., a medium that the re... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7255285 | Blocked flue detection methods and systems The present invention is directed at systems and methods for detecting flue blockages in an HVAC system without the addition of numerous additional sensor elements, wiring, and connections that can unduly increase the cost and possibly reduce the reliability of the ... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7176805 | System for controlling ignition sources when flammable gas is sensed Upon detection of a flammable gas condition, an intelligent thermostat regulates operation of appliances that have sources of ignition which could be the source of or may ignite the flammable gas. This hazardous condition is detected by a flammable gas detector and ... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7123020 | System and method of fault detection in a warm air furnace A fault detection system and method for a warm air furnace is provided. A sensing circuit connected to an AC power source measures a level of current consumption during several points in the warm air furnace operating sequence. The measured level of current consumpt... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7112059 | Apparatus and method for shutting down fuel fired appliance An apparatus is provided for controlling the operation of a gas fired appliance having a gas valve circuit for enabling the flow of gas to the burner. The apparatus comprises a sensor capable of detecting the presence of flammable vapor, a switching means in series ... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7096722 | Method and apparatus for detecting combustion instability in continuous combustion systems An apparatus and method to sense the onset of combustion stability is presented. An electrode is positioned in a turbine combustion chamber such that the electrode is exposed to gases in the combustion chamber. A control module applies a voltage potential to the ele... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7083408 | Apparatus and method for shutting down a fuel fired appliance An apparatus comprising a switch, a fuse, and a sensor that is capable of detecting the presence of flammable vapors and responsively changing in resistance, wherein the sensor enables the switch to supply current to the fuse which opens to shut down an appliance bu... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7033165 | Gas furnace controller A gas furnace controller for disrupting the flow of gas to a gas furnace upon detection of excessive levels of carbon monoxide comprises an air sample collector in fluid communication with a carbon monoxide detector, a gas supply shutoff circuit for controlling a va... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7021925 | Safety module for fuel-burning appliance, and appliance using such a module The invention provides a safety module for connection to a fuel-burning appliance. The safety module connects to the existing circuitry of the appliance and triggers an alarm response when certain predetermined conditions are met. The safety module includes a CO sen... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6959876 | Method and apparatus for safety switch A circuit in accordance with the invention includes a safety switch device coupled with, and between, a thermally activated voltage source and a primary switch. The circuit also includes a safety switch control circuit coupled with the safety switch device and a con... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6948929 | Combustion type waste gas treatment system A combustion type waste gas treatment system is capable of oxidatively decomposing a hazardous combustible waste gas while heating efficiently with a structure which allows the waste gas to mix with an auxiliary burning gas efficiently without the occurrence of back... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6908300 | Apparatus and method for shutting down a fuel fired appliance An apparatus comprising a switch, a fuse, and a sensor that is capable of detecting the presence of flammable vapors and responsively changing in resistance, wherein the sensor enables the switch to supply current to the fuse which opens to shut down an appliance bu... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6895952 | Appliance end fitting An appliance end fitting for connecting a gas operated appliance to a pressurized gas cylinder includes a simplified interior valve that acts as both a thermal valve and an excess flow control valve. The end fitting has an elongated body formed in two telescoping se... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6758913 | Method of cleaning pressurized containers containing anhydrous ammonia The present invention relates to a method of cleaning a container having an amount of anhydrous ammonia contained therein. The container is first inspected thoroughly for leaks. Heated nitrogen gas is then fed into the container. The heated nitrogen gas may be trans... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6739865 | System and method for disabling a furnace A system and method for disabling an oil furnace based on a vacuum level measurement. The oil furnace includes a pump and a burning device. The pump is adapted to transfer oil from a storage device to the burning device. A measurement device adapted to measure a vac... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6722876 | Flammable vapor control system A safety device for shutting off the flow of gas to a gas-fired appliance in the presence of flammable vapors. The resistance of a variable resistance flammable vapor sensor is monitored by a microprocessor that controls the operation of a gas flow valve. When the m... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6648627 | Gas appliance with a burner in the lower part, equipped with safety means, and resulting water heater The invention relates to a gas appliance (1), with a gas burner (4) in the lower part of the said appliance and in the vicinity of an underlying surface (6), further comprising: an atmosphere control pilot light (12) fitted with a primary air inlet orific... | 11/18/2003 |
| 6554608 | Apparatus and method for sensing flammable vapor An apparatus and method for operating a pilot burner apparatus and a main burner apparatus of a gas-fired appliance. The pilot burner apparatus draws combustion air from a first environment. The main combustion apparatus draws air from a second environmen... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6552647 | Building environment monitor and control system A monitor and control system that responds to alarm signals representing different hazardous conditions in an environment having a number of utility service supply lines, such as a home residence. One or more sensors coupled to the processor are each asso... | 04/22/2003 |
| 6484951 | Thermostat with carbon monoxide warning feature A thermostat comprising an audible alarm or LCD, and sensing means for sensing at least one signal from at least one external carbon monoxide detector. The thermostat is configured to change the temperature setting to 50° F., and to trigger the audible a... | 11/26/2002 |
| 6339379 | Carbon monoxide detector A carbon monoxide detector for detecting the level of carbon monoxide in a furnace supply duct. The carbon monoxide detector includes a carbon monoxide detector that has a housing. The housing is coupled to an exterior surface of a furnace supply duct of ... | 01/15/2002 |
| 6295951 | Ignition inhibiting gas water heater A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber located adjacent the container, the combustion chamber having a floor portion with an opening; a conduit extending upwardly from and being substantially sealed to the opening; a burner locat... | 10/02/2001 |
| 6210152 | Burner for a heat generator and method for operating the same In a burner for operating a combustor, the former consists essentially of a rotation generator (100), a transition piece following the rotation generator, and a mixing pipe following this transition piece. Transition piece and mixing pipe form the mixing ... | 04/03/2001 |
| 6196164 | Ignition inhibiting gas water heater A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber located adjacent the container, the combustion chamber having a floor portion with an opening; a conduit extending upwardly from and being substantially sealed to the opening; a burner locat... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6164958 | Safety system for gas range A safety system for a gas burning device, such as a gas range having a plurality of burner assemblies. The safety system generally comprises a gas supply valve, a gas flow sensor, a gas leak warning circuit, a no-flame warning circuit, a gas supply valve ... | 12/26/2000 |
| 6139311 | Pilot burner apparatus and method for operating An apparatus and method for operating a pilot burner apparatus and a main burner apparatus of a gas-fired appliance. The pilot burner apparatus draws combustion air from a first environment. The main combustion apparatus draws air from a second environmen... | 10/31/2000 |
| 6082310 | Air inlets for water heaters A water heater includes a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent said water container having at least one inlet to admit air and extraneous fume species into the combustion chamber, at least one inlet comprising a metal plate having a thickness of... | 07/04/2000 |
| 6045352 | Carbon monoxide automatic furnace shutdown system An automatic safety system for a fluid fuel air heating furnace. The safety system utilizes a double-sided carbon monoxide sensor for detecting unsafe levels of carbon monoxide interiorly and exteriorly of the furnace's heated air duct and a single-sided ... | 04/04/2000 |
| 6000931 | Gas safety control system The present invention relates to a gas safety control system for supplying a gas that is forwarded from a gas supply source through an inspection meter to one or more gas appliances. The inspection meter comprises a cutoff valve for cutting off supply of ... | 12/14/1999 |
| 5978525 | Fiber optic sensors for gas turbine control An apparatus for detecting flashback occurrences in a premixed combustor system having at least one fuel nozzle includes at least one photodetector and at least one fiber optic element coupled between the at least one photodetector and a test region of th... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5919035 | Cross flow type burner apparatus In a cross flow type burner apparatus, a burner is provided to which a gaseous fuel and air are supplied by a blower. An air reduction member is provided to reduce an amount of air supplied to specified flame holes of the burner wherein the reduced amount... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5902099 | Combined fan and ignition control with selected condition sensing apparatus 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 ... | 05/11/1999 |
| 5896089 | Dual carbon monoxide detection system with gas cut off and alarm capabilities A dual carbon monoxide detection system is provided including a gas furnace having a heat exchanger with a supply air duct for delivering heated air and a return air duct for receiving air to be heated. The gas furnace further has a gas input line for rec... | 04/20/1999 |
| 5866802 | Piping leakage detecting apparatus A piping leakage detecting apparatus includes a high pressure gas supply source, a gas implement connected to the high pressure gas supply source via a pipeline, and a switching device mounted on the pipeline for selectively opening and closing the pipeli... | 02/02/1999 |
| 5827950 | Leak test system A leak test system is disclosed for a double block and bleed valve arrangement, the system including a second vent valve disposed along the bleed line and a secondary gas supply line connected to the bleed line for introducing gas at a known pressure into... | 10/27/1998 |
| 5797358 | Control system for a water heater A multi-function controller for a water heater is advanced comprising a control panel and a plurality of sensors that monitor a variety of functions that impact the operation of a water heater. A flammable gas sensor, placed in proximity to the air intake... | 08/25/1998 |
| 5793296 | Apparatus for carbon monoxide detection and automatic shutoff of a heating system An apparatus for carbon monoxide detection and automatic shutoff of a heating system is provided which includes a single housing containing a thermostat, a carbon monoxide detector, and a control circuit serially connected to the heating system via the ex... | 08/11/1998 |
