Fuel-fired heating appliance having flame indicator assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9863636-B2
Application number	US-201414457759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2014
Priority date	Aug 12, 2014
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A flame indicator assembly for a fuel-fired heating appliance, the fuel-fired heating appliance including a burner assembly and control electronics. The flame indicator assembly comprises a flame sensor configured to allow the flow of electric current in response to exposure to a flame. The flame sensor is configured for electrical communication with the control electronics of the fuel-fired heating appliance. The flame indicator assembly also comprises a visual indicator module attached to the flame sensor. The visual indicator module comprises at least one light source. The visual indicator module is in operative communication with the flame sensor such that the at least one light source is actuated in response to the flow of electric current. A fuel-fired heating appliance comprising a flame indicator assembly is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flame indicator assembly for a fuel-fired heating appliance, the fuel-fired heating appliance comprising a burner assembly comprising at least one burner, wherein the burner assembly completely encloses a flame at the at least one burner, and control electronics, the flame indicator assembly comprising:
a flame sensor configured to allow flow of electric current in response to exposure to the flame, the flame sensor configured for electrical communication with the control electronics of the fuel-fired heating appliance;
a visual indicator module attached to the flame sensor, the visual indicator module comprising at least one light source; and
a mounting bracket to which the flame sensor and the visual indicator module are mounted and that is configured to be attached to the burner assembly,
wherein the visual indicator module is in operative communication with the flame sensor so that the at least one light source is actuated in response to the flow of electric current.

2. The flame indicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flame sensor is a rectification flame sensor.

3. The flame indicator assembly of claim 2 , the flame sensor further comprising a flame rod.

4. The flame indicator assembly of claim 3 , wherein
the flame rod has a first end and a second end, and
when the flame indicator assembly is coupled with the burner assembly by the mounting bracket, the first end is located exterior to the burner assembly and the second end is located within the burner assembly.

5. The flame indicator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the visual indicator module is coupled to the first end of the flame rod.

6. The flame indicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is a light-emitting diode.

7. The flame indicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the control electronics operatively connect the flame sensor to the visual indicator module so that the control electronics actuate the at least one light source in response to the flow of electric current.

8. The flame indicator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to evaluate electrical characteristics of a flame in response to the flow of electric current.

9. The flame indicator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the control module actuates the at least one light source in response to the flow of electric current.

10. The flame indicator assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a battery to power the control module.

11. The flame indicator assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a thermopile to power the control module.

12. A fuel-fired heating appliance, comprising:
a housing;
a burner assembly disposed in the housing, the burner assembly comprising at least one burner wherein the burner assembly completely encloses a flame at the at least one burner;
a heat exchanger assembly disposed in the housing, the heat exchanger assembly comprising at least one combustor tube disposed proximate the at least one burner;
control electronics disposed in the housing, the control electronics configured to control actuation of the burner assembly; and
a flame indicator assembly coupled with the burner assembly, the flame indicator assembly comprising
a flame sensor configured to allow flow of electric current in response to exposure to the flame and disposed at the burner assembly so that the flame sensor allows the flow of electric current in response to exposure to the flame at the at least one burner, the flame sensor in electrical communication with the control electronics,
a visual indicator module attached to the flame sensor, the visual indicator module comprising at least one light source, and
a mounting bracket to which the flame sensor and the visual indicator module are mounted and that is attached to the burner assembly,

wherein the visual indicator module is in operative communication with the flame sensor such that the at least one light source actuates in response to the flow of electric current.

13. The fuel-fired heating appliance of claim 12 , wherein the control electronics selectively actuate the at least one light source in response to the flow of electric current.

14. The fuel-fired heating appliance of claim 12 , wherein the at least one light source is a light-emitting diode.

15. The fuel-fired heating appliance of claim 12 , wherein the fuel-fired heating appliance is a furnace.

16. The fuel-fired heating appliance of claim 12 , wherein the fuel-fired heating appliance is a water heater.

17. The fuel-fired heating appliance of claim 12 , wherein the fuel-fired heating appliance is a boiler.

18. The flame indicator assembly of claim 12 , wherein the flame sensor is a rectification flame sensor.

19. The flame indicator assembly of claim 18 , the flame sensor further comprising a flame rod.

20. The flame indicator assembly of claim 19 , wherein
the flame rod has a first end and a second end,
when the flame indicator assembly is coupled with the burner assembly by the mounting bracket, the first end is located exterior to the burner assembly and the second end is located within the burner assembly, and
the visual indicator module is coupled to the first end of the flame rod.

21. The flame indicator assembly of claim 12 , wherein the control electronics operatively connect the flame sensor to the visual indicator module so that the control electronics actuate the at least one light source in response to the flow of electric current.

22. The flame indicator assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a control module configured to evaluate electrical characteristics of a flame in response to the flow of electric current.

23. The flame indicator assembly of claim 22 , wherein the control module actuates the at least one light source in response to the flow of electric current.

Assignees

• Rheem Mfg Co

Inventors

• Farley Darryl
• Reed Shawn
• Neihouse Robert

Classifications

• F23N2231/22

  using warning lamps · CPC title

• F23N2229/00

  Flame sensors · CPC title

• F23N5/242 Primary

  using electronic means · CPC title

• F23D2208/10

  Sensing devices · CPC title

• F23N5/123

  using electronic means · CPC title