Direct spark igniter combustion safeguard apparatus

Claim 2

Burner control apparatus for use with a fuel burner unit, fuel valve means, spark ignition means, and two sensors comprising optical sensor means positioned to sense both spark and flame and flame rectification sensor means positioned to sense flame only, the control apparatus comprising: ignition pulse-generating means having an input to initiate operation thereof, and having an output connected to the spark ignition means in energizing relation thereto; electrical-switching means having an input circuit, an output circuit, terminals connected in circuit with said input circuit and adapted to be connected to the optical sensor means, and terminals connected in circuit with said output circuit and adapted to be connected to the fuel valve means in controlling relation thereto, so that upon the optical sensor means observing spark at the spark ignition means said electricalswitching means operates to cause the fuel valve means to open and admit fuel to the burner unit; timed lockout control means connected to controllably supply electrical energy for a predetermined time period to said ignition pulse-generating means and said electrical-switching means, said lockout control means thereafter going into a lockout condition and effectively disconnecting said energy from said ignition pulse-generating means and said electricalswitching means; and lockout condition disabling means actuated upon the establishment of flame for preventing said lockout condition, said lockout condition disabling means having a control circuit adapted to be connected to the flame rectification sensor means and to be actuated thereby.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: ignition pulse override means actuated upon the establishment of flame for disabling said ignition pulse-generating means, said override means having control circuit adapted to be connected to the flame rectification sensor means and to be actuated thereby.

Claim 4

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said timed lockout control means comprises: semiconductor current switching means having a control circuit and an output circuit which may be biased to a conductive condition or to a lockout condition; and timer means having an output connected in controlling relation to said semiconductor means control circuit, said timer means applying an output bias signal for a predetermined period of time to said switching means to maintain it in said conductive condition for said period of time.

Claim 5

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ignition pulse-generating means comprises: capacitor storage means connected in said input and being repetitively charged during said predetermined time period from said electrical energy by way of said timed lockout control means; and current-switching means and high voltage transformer means in said output and connected to said capacitor storage means whereby the operating of said switching means to a conductive condition discharges said capacitive means through said transformer means to cause a spark at said spark ignitioN means.

Claim 6

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said current-switching means comprises a thyristor.

Claim 7

The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said ignition pulse override means comprises: semiconductor current control means connected in series with said input of said ignition pulse-generating means and normally providing electrical energy to said ignition pulse-generating means therethrough, the conductivity of said current control means being changed upon the establishment of flame.

Claim 8

Burner control apparatus for use with a fuel burner unit comprising: spark ignition means; ignition pulse-generating means having an input to initiate operation thereof, and having an output connected to said spark ignition means in energizing relation thereto; optical sensor means positioned to sense both spark of said spark ignition means and flame at the fuel burner unit; fuel valve means; electrical-switching means having an input circuit, an output circuit, terminals in circuit with said input circuit connected to said optical sensor means, and terminals in circuit with said output circuit connecting said electrical-switching means in controlling relation to said fuel valve means, so that upon said optical sensor means observing spark at said spark ignition means said electrical-switching means operates to cause said fuel valve means to open and admit fuel to the burner unit; timed lockout control means connected to controllably supply electrical energy for a predetermined time period to said ignition pulse-generating means and said electrical-switching means, said lockout control means thereafter going into a lockout condition and effectively disconnecting said energy from said ignition pulse-generating means and said electrical-switching means; flame rectification sensor means positioned to sense flame at the fuel burner unit; and lockout condition-disabling means connected to said lockout control means and actuated upon the establishment of flame at said flame rectification sensor means for preventing said lockout condition, said lockout condition disabling means having a control circuit connected to said flame rectification sensor means and actuated thereby upon the establishment of flame.

Claim 9

Burner control apparatus for use with a fuel burner unit comprising: spark ignition means; ignition pulse-generating means having an input to initiate operation thereof, and having an output connected to said spark ignition means in energizing relation thereto; optical sensor means positioned to sense both spark of said spark ignition means and flame at the fuel burner unit; fuel valve means; electrical-switching means having an input circuit, an output circuit, terminals in circuit with said input circuit connected to said optical sensor means, and terminals in circuit with said output circuit connecting said electrical-switching means in controlling relation to said fuel valve means, so that upon said optical sensor means observing spark at said spark ignition means said electrical-switching means operates to cause said fuel valve means to open and admit fuel to the burner unit; timed lockout control means connected to controllably supply electrical energy for a predetermined time period to said ignition pulse-generating means and said electrical-switching means, said lockout control means thereafter going into a lockout condition and effectively disconnecting said energy from said ignition pulse-generating means and said electrical-switching means; flame rectification sensor means positioned to sense flame at the fuel burner unit; and lockout condition-disabling means connected to said lockout control means and actuated upon the establishment of flame at said flame rectification sensor means for preventing said lockout condition, said lockout condition disabling means having a control circuit connected to said flame rectification sensor means and actuated thereby upon the establishment of flame.

Claim 10

Burner control apparatus for use with a fuel burner unit comprising: spark ignition means positioned to initiate flame at the burner unit, said spark ignition means having a dual function and also operating as flame rectification sensor means to sense flame at the fuel burner unit; ignition pulse-generating means having an input to initiate operation thereof, and having an output connected to said spark ignition means in energizing relation thereto; optical sensor means positioned to sense both spark of said spark ignition means and flame at the fuel burner unit; fuel valve means; electrical-switching means having an input circuit, an output circuit, terminals in circuit with said input circuit connected to said optical sensor means, and terminals in circuit with said output circuit connecting said electrical switching means in controlling relation to said fuel valve means, so that upon said optical sensor means observing spark at said spark ignition means said electrical-switching means operates to cause said fuel valve means to open and admit fuel to the burner unit; timed lockout control means connected to controllably supply electrical energy for a predetermined time period to said ignition pulse-generating means and said electrical switching means, said lockout control means thereafter going into a lockout condition and effectively disconnecting said energy from said ignition pulse-generating means and said electrical switching means; and lockout condition-disabling means connected to said lockout control means and actuated upon the establishment of flame at said flame rectification sensor means for preventing said lockout condition, said lockout condition-disabling means having a control cirCuit connected to said flame rectification sensor means and actuated thereby upon the establishment of flame.

Claim 11

Burner control apparatus for use with a fuel burner unit comprising: spark ignition means positioned to initiate flame at the burner unit, said spark ignition means having a dual function and also operating as flame rectification sensor means to sense flame at the fuel burner unit; ignition pulse-generating means having an input to initiate operation thereof, and having an output connected to said spark ignition means in energizing relation thereto; optical sensor means positioned to sense both spark of said spark ignition means and flame at the fuel burner unit; fuel valve means; electrical-switching means having an input circuit, an output circuit, terminals in circuit with said input circuit connected to said optical sensor means, and terminals in circuit with said output circuit connecting said electrical switching means in controlling relation to said fuel valve means, so that upon said optical sensor means observing spark at said spark ignition means said electrical-switching means operates to cause said fuel valve means to open and admit fuel to the burner unit; timed lockout control means connected to controllably supply electrical energy for a predetermined time period to said ignition pulse-generating means and said electrical switching means, said lockout control means thereafter going into a lockout condition and effectively disconnecting said energy from said ignition pulse-generating means and said electrical switching means; and lockout condition-disabling means connected to said lockout control means and actuated upon the establishment of flame at said flame rectification sensor means for preventing said lockout condition, said lockout condition-disabling means having a control cirCuit connected to said flame rectification sensor means and actuated thereby upon the establishment of flame.