U.S. patent number 3,584,988 [Application Number 04/836,068] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-15 for electrothermal furnace control.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Texas Instruments Incorporated. Invention is credited to Hans G. Hirsbrunner, Lyle E. McBride, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,584,988 |
Hirsbrunner , et
al. |
June 15, 1971 |
ELECTROTHERMAL FURNACE CONTROL
Abstract
Apparatus for controlling the operation of a furnace having an
electrically energizable fuel valve which, when energized, supplies
fuel to the furnace burner. An ignition circuit generates recurrent
sparking, when energized, upon the demand of a thermostat, and
ceases to generate sparking after ignition of the fuel. A triac is
connected for energizing the fuel valve and a triggering circuit
for the triac causes initial triggering thereof upon energization
of the ignition means and then supplies triggering current for
continued triggering thereof after the ignition means ceases
generating sparking. A thermistor prevents triggering current from
being supplied to the triac if heated above a predetermined
threshold. Means for heating the thermistor is energized to cause
heating thereof when the ignition means generates sparking, the
thermistor requiring a predetermined heating time interval to reach
its threshold temperature such that, if the fuel is not ignited
within this interval, triggering of the triac is terminated to
prevent fuel from being further supplied to the burner.
Inventors: |
Hirsbrunner; Hans G.
(Attleboro, MA), McBride, Jr.; Lyle E. (Norton, MA) |
Assignee: |
Texas Instruments Incorporated
(Dallas, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
25271157 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/836,068 |
Filed: |
June 24, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/66; 236/68C;
431/71; 431/254; 236/10; 236/68R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23N
5/143 (20130101); F23N 5/203 (20130101); F23N
2233/06 (20200101); F23N 2227/36 (20200101); F23N
2225/08 (20200101); F23N 2239/04 (20200101) |
Current International
Class: |
F23N
5/20 (20060101); F23N 5/14 (20060101); F23n
005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;431/66,71,72,74,254
;236/68,10 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
3399948 |
September 1968 |
Myers et al. |
3484177 |
December 1969 |
Florio et al. |
3488132 |
January 1970 |
Fairley et al. |
|
Primary Examiner: Favors; Edward G.
Claims
What we claim is:
1. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a furnace in response
to the demand of a thermostat sensing the temperature in a zone
heated by the furnace, the furnace having a burner and an
electrically energizable fuel valve which, when energized, supplies
fuel to the burner, said apparatus comprising:
ignition means which, upon energization, generates recurrent
sparking for igniting the fuel, said ignition means normally being
energized when the thermostat demands heat and ceasing to generate
sparking after ignition of the fuel;
a triggerable semiconductor current-switching device interconnected
with the fuel valve and, when triggered, being conductive for
energizing the fuel valve, said fuel valve includes an inductive
winding, said switching device including main terminals serially
connected with the winding;
a triggering circuit for said switching device interconnected with
said ignition means and operative to supply triggering current to
said switching device for initial triggering thereof upon
energization of said ignition means and a capacitor in said
triggering circuit cooperating with said inductive winding to
supply triggering current to said switching device for continued
triggering thereof after said ignition means ceases generating
sparking as long as the thermostat demands heat;
a thermistor connected in said triggering circuit for preventing
said triggering current from being supplied to said switching
device when the thermistor is heated above a predetermined
threshold temperature; and
means for heating said thermistor interconnected with said ignition
means and being energized to cause heating of said thermistor when
said ignition means generates sparking, said thermistor requiring a
predetermined heating time interval to reach said threshold
temperature, whereby if the fuel is not ignited within said
predetermined interval, triggering of said switching device is
terminated to prevent fuel from being further supplied to the
burner.
2. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
ignition means includes a further triggerable semiconductor
current-switching device including a pair of main terminals and
generates sparking when said further switching device is triggered,
said capacitor being connected to one of the main terminals of said
further switching device to supply said triggering current for
initial triggering of the first-said switching device upon
triggering of said further switching device.
3. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
means for heating said thermistor comprises a further thermistor
thermally coupled to the first-said thermistor.
4. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein each
of said thermistors has a positive temperature coefficient and a
transition temperature above which the resistance thereof increases
relatively abruptly, said further thermistor having a higher
transition temperature than that of the first-said thermistor, said
thermistors together constituting an electrothermal timer.
5. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said
further thermistor is connected in a series circuit with said
ignition means for concomitant energization therewith when said
ignition means generates sparking, said further thermistor being
deenergized when said ignition means ceases to generate
sparking.
6. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the
resistance of said further thermistor is increased by energization
thereof for said predetermined time interval, whereby energization
of said ignition means is reduced for causing sparking to be
generated at a reduced sparking rate.
7. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further
comprising a second triggerable current-switching device which is
conductive, when triggered, for causing power to be supplied to the
first-said switching device, said second switching device normally
being triggered when the thermostat demands heat.
8. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said
second switching device includes a triggering terminal and further
comprising a second thermistor mounted for sending the temperature
in a plenum of the furnace and connected to said triggering
terminal of the said switching device for preventing further
triggering thereof, thereby preventing further energization of the
fuel valve, when heated above a predetermined threshold temperature
corresponding to a predetermined maximum permissible temperature in
said plenum.
9. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said
second thermistor has a positive temperature coefficient of
resistivity and a transition temperature above which the resistance
thereof increases relatively abruptly.
10. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 8 for
controlling the operation of a furnace normally having a forced-air
draft supplying the burner and further comprising:
an additional thermistor mounted for being cooled by the forced
draft and connected in a series circuit with said second thermistor
and said triggering terminal for preventing triggering of said
second switching device when said additional thermistor is heated
above a predetermine threshold temperature; and
means for heating said additional thermistor, said means normally
supplying insufficient heat to cause said fourth thermistor to be
heated above said threshold temperature as long as there is
sufficient forced-air draft, but causing heating of said additional
thermistor above said threshold temperatures thereby preventing
energization of the fuel valve if there is insufficient forced-air
draft.
11. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said
additional thermistor has a positive temperature coefficient of
resistivity and a transition temperature above which the resistance
thereof increases relatively abruptly, and said means for heating
said additional thermistor comprises another thermistor having a
positive temperature coefficient of resistivity and a transition
temperature higher than that of said additional thermistor and
above which the resistance thereof increases relatively
abruptly.
12. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each
of said switching devices comprises a triac.
13. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further
comprising a second thermistor, said thermistor being mounted for
sensing the temperature in a plenum of the furnace and in said
triggering circuit for preventing said triggering current from
being supplied to said switching device when said second thermistor
is heated above a predetermined threshold temperature corresponding
to a predetermined maximum permissible temperature in said
plenum.
14. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said
second thermistor has a positive temperature coefficient and a
transition temperature above which the resistance thereof increases
relatively abruptly.
15. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a furnace in
response to the demand of a thermostat sensing the temperature in a
zone heated by the furnace, the furnace having a burner and an
electrically energizable fuel valve which, when energized, supplies
fuel to the burner, the burner normally being supplied with a
forced-air draft, said apparatus comprising:
an ignition circuit connected for energization when the thermostat
demands heat, said ignition circuit generating recurrent sparking
for igniting the fuel and ceasing to generate sparking after
ignition of the fuel;
a triggerable semiconductor current-switching device having a pair
of main terminals and a triggering terminal, said main terminals
being connected with the fuel valve for energization thereof when
said switching device is triggered;
a triggering circuit interconnecting said triggering terminal and
said ignition circuit for normally supplying current to said
triggering terminal initially upon energization of said ignition
circuit and then for as long as the thermostat demands heat, said
triggering circuit including:
a first thermistor connected for preventing said triggering current
from being supplied to said triggering terminal, thereby preventing
further energization of the fuel valve, when said first thermistor
is heated above a predetermined threshold temperature;
a second thermistor mounted for sensing the temperature in a plenum
of the furnace and connected for preventing said triggering current
from being supplied to said triggering terminal, thereby preventing
further energization of the fuel valve, when said second thermistor
is heated above a predetermined threshold temperature corresponding
to a predetermined maximum permissible temperature in said plenum;
and
a third thermistor mounted for being cooled by the forced draft and
connected for preventing said triggering current from being
supplied to said triggering terminal thereby preventing further
energization of the fuel valve when said third thermistor is heated
above a predetermined threshold temperature;
means for heating said first thermistor interconnected with said
ignition circuit for concomitant energization therewith to cause
heating of said first thermistor when said ignition circuit
generates sparking, said first thermistor requiring a predetermined
heating time interval to reach said threshold temperature thereof,
whereby if the fuel is not ignited within said predetermined
interval, fuel is prevented from being further supplied to the
burner; and
means for heating said third thermistor normally supplying
insufficient heat to cause said thermistor to be heated above said
threshold temperature thereof as long as there is sufficient
forded-air draft, but causing heating of said third thermistor
above said threshold temperature thereof, whereby fuel is prevented
from being supplied to the burner, if there is insufficient
forced-air draft.
16. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said
means for heating said first thermistor comprises a further
thermistor thermally coupled to said first thermistor and said
means for heating said third thermistor comprises another
thermistor thermally coupled to said third thermistor.
17. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein each
of said first, second and third thermistors has a positive
temperature coefficient and a transition temperature above which
the resistance thereof increases relatively abruptly.
18. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein each
of said first, second and third thermistors is connected in a
series circuit with said triggering terminal.
19. Furnace control apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said
switching device comprises a triac.
Description
This invention relates to apparatus for controlling the operation
of a furnace and, more particularly, to improved furnace control
apparatus for carrying out various required furnace control and
protective functions through the use of solid-state electrothermal
circuitry.
This invention is an improvement of the electrothermal furnace
control disclosed in application Ser. No. 822,901, filed May 8,
1969. An improvement of the latter electrothermal furnace control
was the subject of application Ser. No. 822,902, filed May 8, 1969,
which disclosed simplified furnace controls utilizing solid-state
devices and electrothermal logic. While representing a
simplification of the previously disclosed control, the aforesaid
improved furnace controls required previously use of a magnetic
contactor for supplying power to the circuit adapted to energize an
electrically energizable fuel valve of the furnace and required
both a semiconductor current-switching device for initially
energizing the fuel valve and a separate means for maintaining
energization of the fuel valve following initial energization
thereof by the switching device. Certain of these requirements
desirably can be eliminated in accordance with the teachings of the
present disclosure, resulting in greatly simplified furnace control
circuitry without compromising safety or reliability.
Accordingly, among the several objects of the present invention may
be noted the provision of greatly simplified apparatus for carrying
out required furnace control and protective functions employing
solid-state devices and electrothermal logic; the provision of such
apparatus which does not employ electromechanical devices; the
provision of such apparatus for controlling a furnace with a high
degree of safety and reliability; the provision of such apparatus
which is fail-safe in operation; and the provision of such
apparatus which is easily and economically manufactured. Other
objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed
out hereinafter.
Briefly, apparatus of the present invention is adapted to control
the operation of a furnace in response to the demand of a
thermostat sensing the temperature in a zone heated by a furnace.
The furnace includes a burner and an electrically energizable fuel
valve which, when energized, supplies fuel, e.g., gas, to the
burner. The apparatus includes an ignition circuit which, upon
energization, generates recurrent sparking to cause ignition of the
fuel. This ignition circuit is energized when the thermostat
demands heat and is operative to cease generating sparking after
ignition of the fuel. Interconnected with the fuel valve is a
triggerable semiconductor current-switching device which, when
triggered, is conductive to cause energization of the fuel valve. A
triggering circuit for this switching device is interconnected with
the ignition means and is operative first to supply triggering
current to the switching device for initial triggering thereof upon
energization of the ignition means and then to supply triggering
current to the switching device for continued triggering thereof
after the ignition means ceases to generate sparking as long as the
thermostat demands heat. A thermistor is connected to prevent this
triggering current from being supplied to the switching device when
the thermistor is heated above a predetermined threshold. Means is
provided for heating the thermistor, this means being
interconnected with the ignition means so that it is energized to
cause heating of the thermistor when the ignition means generates
sparking. Upon heating, the thermistor requires a predetermined
heating time interval to reach its threshold temperature. If the
fuel is not ignited within this predetermined interval, triggering
of the switching device is terminated to prevent fuel from being
further supplied to the burner. In other aspects of the invention,
additional thermistors are employed for sensing the temperature in
a plenum of the furnace and for sensing the presence of a
forced-air draft to the burner to also control triggering of the
switching device or to control another triggerable switching device
and thus to also prevent fuel from being further supplied to the
burner in the event of either a high plenum temperature or an
insufficient forced-air draft.
In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated two of
various possible embodiments of the invention,
FIG. 1 is a circuit schematic diagram of first embodiment of
furnace control apparatus of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of a second embodiment of
apparatus of this invention which is a simplification of the first
embodiment.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts
throughout the several views of the drawings.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a first embodiment of
an electrothermal furnace control of the present invention which is
adapted to control a furnace such as a gas-fired, forced-hot-air
furnace of the type conventionally used for residential heating.
The furnace has a burner, illustrated generally at 11, to which gas
is supplied for combustion when a solenoid-operated gas valve 13 is
opened by energization of its winding 13W. Combustion at burner 11
supplies heat to a plenum of the furnace. The furnace is of the
type wherein a forced-air draft is provided to the burner, as by a
conventional blower fan. A furnace of the present type is shown and
described in the aforesaid application Ser. No. 822,901. The
furnace is controlled by the present apparatus in response to the
demand of the usual thermostat 15 which is suitably located for
sensing the temperature in a zone heated by operation of the
furnace, thermostat 15 including a switch 15SW which is closed to
indicate a demand for heat. A pair of lines L1 and L2 are provided
to supply power at a suitable voltage, e.g., line voltage of 115 v.
AC, such that this potential will be supplied to the apparatus by
the closing of switch 15SW when the thermostat demands heat.
Winding 13W of gas valve 13 is connected in a series circuit across
lines L1 and L2, the circuit including the contacts of thermostat
switch 15SW and the main terminals of a respective pair of triacs
Q1 and Q2 which, as is known to those skilled in the art, are
triggerable semiconductor current-switching devices. Such a device
is conductive on successive half-cycles of the AC waveform applied
across its main terminals when a triggering current of sufficient
magnitude is supplied to its triggering or gate terminal.
A series triggering circuit for triac Q2 is connected between one
of its main terminals and its gate terminal and includes a resistor
R1 and a pair of thermistors TH1 and TH2. A heater thermistor H1 is
thermally coupled to thermistor TH1 to provide means for heating
the latter and is connected across lines L1 and L2 such that it is
continually energized as long as lines L1 and L2 are connected to
the AC supply. The pair of thermistors TH1 and H1 together
constitute a draft sensor or air flow sensor. Thermistor TH1 has a
positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTC) and
preferably has a well-defined transition temperature, e.g.,
80.degree. C., above which the resistance thereof increases
relatively abruptly. Preferably, thermistor H1 is the same type of
thermistor having a transition temperature, for example, of
120.degree. C. This pair is suitably mounted in a furnace air draft
duct or in conjunction with a draft blower of the furnace such that
thermistor TH1 is cooled by a forced-air draft provided to the
burner. Thermistor H1 normally supplies insufficient heat to cause
heating of thermistor TH1 above its transition temperature as long
as there is sufficient forced-air draft. However, if there is
insufficient forced-air draft H1 causes heating of thermistor TH1
above a predetermined threshold temperature corresponding to its
transition temperature so that insufficient current is supplied to
the gate terminal of triac Q2 to cause triggering of the latter.
Consequently, energization of fuel valve winding 13W is prevented
in the event that insufficient forced-air draft is supplied to
burner 11.
Thermistor TH2 is also preferably a PTC thermistor having a
well-defined transition temperature above which the resistance
thereof increases relatively abruptly and is located in the plenum
of the furnace for sensing the temperature therein. When heated
above a predetermined threshold temperature corresponding to the
maximum permissible temperature in the plenum, thermistor TH2 also
prevents triggering of triac Q2.
A triggering circuit for triac Q1 includes a resistor R2 connected
between its gate terminal and the adjacent main terminal of the
triac and further includes a connection from the gate terminal to
an ignition circuit indicated generally at 17 which, upon
energization, generates recurrent sparking for igniting the fuel
supplied to burner 11. This ignition circuit includes a triggerable
semiconductor current-switching device constituted by a silicon
controlled rectifier (SCR) Q3 having its anode and cathode
terminals connected in a circuit with a capacitor C1, a resistor R3
and the primary winding W1 of a conventional spark transformer T1.
The winding W1 is shunted by a diode D1 to reduce the charging time
constant of capacitor C1. Spark transformer T1 includes a high
voltage winding W2 with which are interconnected a pair of
electrodes 19 located at burner 11 such that ignition of the fuel
is caused by recurrent sparking thereacross. Interconnected with
the gate or triggering terminal of SCR Q3 are neon bulb NE1 and a
capacitor C2, one side of capacitor C2 being connected to line L2.
A connection 21 is provided from the junction of capacitor C2 and
neon bulb NE1 to one side of high voltage winding W2 for a purpose
to be explained. A resistor R4 is provided to supply current for
charging capacitor C2 when power is supplied to ignition circuit 17
through a diode D2. Series-connected between the cathode of diode
D3 and the anode of SCR Q3 is a heater thermistor H3 which is
thermally coupled to a thermistor TH3 to provide means for heating
the latter. One side of thermistor TH3 is connected to the gate
terminal of triac Q1 and the other side is connected through a
capacitor C3 to the junction of the cathode of SCR Q3 and resistor
R3 and thus thermistor TH3 forms part of the triggering circuit for
triac Q1.
Thermistor TH3 is a PTC thermistor and preferably has a
well-defined transition temperature, e.g., 80.degree. C., above
which the resistance thereof increases relatively abruptly.
Preferably also, thermistor H3 is a PTC thermistor and has a
well-defined transition temperature, e.g., 120.degree. C., above
which its resistance increases relatively abruptly. As will be
explained, if thermistor TH3 is heated above a predetermined
threshold temperature corresponding with its transition
temperature, triggering of triac Q1 is prevented. Upon being heated
by thermistor H3, thermistor TH3 requires a predetermined heating
time interval, e.g., 4--10 seconds, to reach this temperature. In
effect, then, thermistors TH3 and H3 together constitute an
electrothermal timer.
In the operation of the control of FIG. 1, it is assumed that lines
L1 and L2 are connected to a source of power of appropriate
voltage, e.g., 115 v. AC. Further, it is assumed that a sufficient
forced-air draft is being satisfactorily provided to the burner and
that the plenum of the furnace is not overheated, i.e., is not
above a maximum permissible temperature. Thus, thermistors TH1 and
TH2 are both relatively cool and, accordingly, exhibit a relatively
low resistance. With respect to thermistor TH1, it should be
understood that, since thermistor H1 is constantly energized by the
voltage across lines L1 and 12, H1 self-heats due to internal
resistive consumption of power, the increase of its resistance at
the transition temperature causing a decrease in the power consumed
to normally maintain the thermistor substantially at at its
transition temperature. However, as long as there is sufficient
forced-air draft, thermistor TH1 remains relatively cool. When the
contacts of thermostat switch 15SW are closed, indicating a demand
for heat, the voltage across lines L1 and L2 is provided across the
circuit comprising gas valve winding 13W and triacs Q1 and Q2.
Since the resistance of each of thermistors TH1 and TH2 is
relatively low, triggering current is supplied through resistor R1
and these thermistors to the gate terminal of triac Q2 to cause
triggering thereof on successive half-cycles of the applied AC
waveform.
Upon triggering of triac Q2, power is supplied to triac Q1 and,
through diode D2, to the ignition circuit 17. Thus SCR Q3 is
forward biased on alternate half-cycles of the applied AC waveform.
Current supplied through the resistance constituted by heater
thermistor H3 quickly charges capacitor C1 to peak voltage.
Simultaneously, current is supplied through resistor R4 to charge
capacitor C2. When the voltage across capacitor C2 reaches the
break down potential of neon bulb NE1, the latter conducts to
supply a triggering current to the gate terminal of SCR Q3 to cause
triggering thereof. When SCR Q3 conducts, capacitor C1 is
discharged through primary winding W1 of transformer T1. Secondary
winding W2 steps up the voltage across winding W1 to cause sparking
across electrodes 19. Resistor R4 limits the current which can flow
to charge capacitor C2 so that it charges in somewhat more time
than capacitor C1 and thus capacitor C1 is ready for discharge when
capacitor C2 reaches the breakdown voltage of neon bulb NE1.
Capacitor C2 reaches this breakdown voltage many times per second,
causing repetitive triggering of SCR Q3 and thus providing
recurrent sparking across electrodes 19.
Upon triggering of SCR Q3, the voltage across resistor R3 is
supplied through capacitor C3 and thermistor TH3 to the gate
terminal of triac Q1 to cause initial triggering of the latter.
Triggering of triac Q1 energizes gas valve winding 13W to supply
gas to burner 11. The recurrent sparking across electrodes 19
ignites the gas and the presence of flame at electrodes 19 provides
a conductive path thereacross. Because of connection 21, this
conductive path discharges capacitor C2 and causes it to remain
discharged so long as combustion continues. Accordingly, when
ignition occurs, SCR Q3 ceases to be triggered and ignition circuit
17 ceases to generate sparking.
When triggering of SCR Q3 ceases, the potential across resistor R3
drops essentially to the potential of line L2. Because of the
inductive reactance of gas valve winding 13W, there is a sudden
change of voltage across this winding each time triac Q1 ceases to
conduct; this voltage change is applied to the gate terminal of Q1
through capacitor C3 and causes triac Q1 to be triggered after
triggering of SCR Q3 ceases. Thus it may be seen that the
triggering circuit for triac Q1 operates first to initially trigger
triac Q1 and then to maintain triggering of triac Q1 after the
ignition circuit ceases generating sparking. Energization of gas
valve winding 13W thus continues until thermostat 15 senses that
the temperature in the heated zone has risen sufficiently and
accordingly opens switch 15SW to deenergize gas valve winding
13W.
From the above it will have been observed that, by virtue of the
series connection of heater thermistor H3 with the cathode and
anode terminals of SCR Q3, thermistor H3 is energized concomitantly
with energization of the ignition circuit and thus begins to heat
thermistor TH3. If ignition does not occur, and thus triggering of
SCR Q3 continues, thermistor TH3 continues to be heated by
thermistor H3. After the predetermined heating time interval to
reach its threshold temperature, e.g., 4 to 10 sec., the resistance
of thermistor TH3 is increased sufficiently to prevent further
triggering of triac Q1. When triggering of triac Q1 ceases, fuel
valve winding 13W is deenergized to prevent fuel from being further
supplied to the burner. Ignition circuit 17, however, remains
energized and thus sparking continues at electrode 19 to insure
that any gas which might be present at burner 11 will be ignited
and burned rather than being permitted to dangerously accumulate.
The continued triggering of SCR Q3 causes continued energization of
heater thermistor H3. Self-heating of thermistor H3 causes its
resistance to increase until it is maintained substantially at its
transition temperature. This increased resistance reduces the level
of energization of the ignition circuit and causes capacitor C1 to
charge at a somewhat lower rate. Accordingly, SCR Q3 is triggered
somewhat less frequently and thus sparking across electrodes 19
continues to be generated but at a reduced sparking rate. This
advantageously prevents erosion of the electrodes 19 and yet
permits thermistor TH3 to remain heated for preventing triggering
of triac Q1. Gas valve winding 13W therefore remains deenergized if
ignition does not occur.
From the above, it may be seen that the control remains "locked
out" of operation following an unsuccessful ignition trial and may
only be manually reset for a new ignition trial by disconnecting
lines L1 and L2 from the source of power or by causing the
thermostat switch 15SW to open.
Fuel valve winding 13W is also deenergized if the plenum of the
furnace should overheat. Such overheating causes thermistor TH2 to
be heated above the threshold temperature at which it will prevent
sufficient current from being supplied to the gate terminal of
triac Q2 to cause triggering thereof. If triac Q2 ceases to be
triggered, the power circuit for fuel valve winding 13W is opened
and thus the fuel valve winding is protectively deenergized to
prevent further fuel from being supplied to the burner. Similarly,
if there should be insufficient forced-air draft supplied to burner
19, thermistor TH1 will heat above its threshold temperature and
will also cause triac Q2 to cease being triggered.
If heating of either thermistor TH1 or TH2 takes place such as to
cause deenergization of fuel valve winding 13W in the manner just
described it will be appreciated that, as long as thermostat switch
15SW remains closed indicating continued demand for heat, potential
is still available for triggering of triac Q2. Thus, when the
heated thermistor TH1 and TH2 cools sufficiently, triac Q2 is once
more triggered. In other words, it may be seen that reset of the
control is automatic if a shutdown should be caused by overheating
of the furnace plenum or by insufficient forced-air draft, since
triggering of triac Q2 will cause reenergization of ignition
circuit 17 and the control will once more recycle.
FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention. While
characterized by greater simplicity, in principle the control of
FIG. 2 is not greatly different from the control of FIG. 1. This
second embodiment does not employ the triac Q2 utilized in the FIG.
1 circuit for supplying power to triac Q1 and gas valve winding
13W. Instead, the supply voltage on lines L1 and L2 is provided
directly across triac Q1 and gas valve winding 13W upon the closing
of thermostat switch 15SW. The air flow sensing thermistor TH1 and
the plenum temperature sensing thermistor TH2 of this embodiment
are located in the triggering circuit for triac Q1. Thus,
thermistors TH1, TH2 and TH3 are connected in series such that
heating of any one of the thermistors above a predetermined
threshold temperature will prevent triggering current from being
supplied to triac Q1 at the level required to cause triggering
thereof.
In operation, the FIG. 2 circuit is not greatly different from the
FIG. 1 circuit. Upon the closing of thermostat switch 15SW to
indicate a demand for heat in the zone which is heated by operation
of the furnace, power is supplied through diode D2 to ignition
circuit 17. Its operation in this circuit is identical with that in
the FIG. 1 circuit and thus recurrent sparking is generated across
electrodes 19. Triggering of SCR Q3 causes a triggering current to
be supplied through the series-connected thermistors TH1--TH3 to
the gate terminal of triac Q1, it being assumed that none of these
thermistors is heated above a threshold temperature which would
prevent triggering of triac Q1. Because of the voltage provided
across the main terminals of triac Q1 upon the closing of switch
15SW, the triac is triggered and energizes gas valve winding 13W to
open gas valve 13 for supplying gas to burner 11. The sparking at
electrodes 19 causes ignition of the fuel, and the resultant flame
across the electrodes discharges capacitor C2 to terminate
triggering of SCR Q3. When this occurs, capacitor C3, together with
inductive gas valve winding 13W, permits continued triggering of
triac Q1. Thus, gas will continue to be supplied to burner 11 and
combustion will therefore continue until thermostat 15 senses no
further demand for heat and accordingly opens switch 15SW,
deenergizing gas valve winding 13W.
However, if ignition does not successfully take place, heating of
thermistor TH3 results from the energization of heater thermistor
H3 through continued operation of triggering circuit 17. When
self-heating by thermistor H3 occurs, heating of thermistor TH3
takes place, such that, after a predetermined time interval to
reach its threshold temperature, it prevents further triggering of
triac Q1, deenergizing gas valve winding 13W to prevent gas from
being further supplied to burner 11.
Similarly, if thermistor TH2 is heated above its threshold
temperature because of excessive temperature in the furnace plenum,
triggering of triac Q1 will cease. The air flow sensor thermistor
TH1 also functions either to prevent triggering of triac Q1 or to
terminate such triggering in the event that an insufficient
forced-air draft is provided to burner 11. Such an insufficient
draft would permit thermistor TH1 to be heated above its transition
temperature by thermistor H1, it being noted that thermistor H1 is
connected across lines L1 and L2 for continual energization, as in
FIG. 1.
A significant difference between these two embodiments may be
recognized by observing that, in the event either of thermistors
TH1 and TH2 prevents triggering of triac Q1, triggering of SCR Q3
continues by virtue of the connection to line L1 through diode D2
and thus energization of heater thermistor H3 continues, causing
thermistor TH3 to be heated above its transition temperature and
thus above the threshold temperature at which thermistor TH3 per se
will prevent triggering of triac Q1. In other words, the control is
"locked out" of operation and may only be manually reset even
though the thermistor, i.e., thermistor TH1 or thermistor TH2,
which prevented triggering of triac Q1 in the first place, has
recooled. The control is thus manually resettable only, in the
event of a "lockout" caused by excessive plenum temperature or
insufficient forced-air draft, rather than being automatically
resettable as is the FIG. 1 control.
Each of the controls described is thus seen to be simple in design
and safe and effective in operation. Further, the use of
electrothermal and solid-state devices, rather than
electromechanical devices, insures high reliability. Just as
importantly, each of the circuits is fail-safe in operation. For
example, if triggering of SCR Q3 does not take place, triggering
current cannot be supplied to the gate terminal of triac Q1 and
thus gas valve winding 13W cannot be energized. Also, if either of
triacs Q1 or Q2 of the FIG. 1 circuit, or simply triac Q1 of the
FIG. 2 circuit, should fail, energization of gas valve winding 13W
is prevented. It will also be appreciated that in the event one of
the thermistors TH1-TH3 fails in operation, resulting in an open
triggering circuit, triggering current cannot be supplied to the
gate terminal of the triac with which that thermistor is
associated. Accordingly, energization of gas valve winding 13W is
prevented or terminated.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of
the invention are achieved and other advantageous results
attained.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without
departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all
matter contained in the above description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
in a limiting sense.
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