| ROBERTSHAW CONTROLS COMPANY Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20110088252 | Two Piece Bi-Metal Coil Terminal and Electrical Coil Assembly Incorporating Same - An electrical coil assembly utilizing a bi-metallic two-piece terminal construction and a method of manufacturing same are provided. The inner terminal structure utilizes a material that aids in the touchless attachment of the fine gauge magnetic wire to the inner terminal structure. The low mass of the inner terminal structure allows for increased winding speeds during the manufacturing process. The outer terminal structure utilizes a material that provides good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. The inner and outer terminal structures are electrically attached after the winding and electrical attachment process of the fine gauge magnetic wire. The coil and two-piece terminal connectors may then be encapsulated to provide a final electrical coil assembly. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20100327200 | Water Tight Valve Having Sealed Flying Leads - A water tight valve with sealed flying leads is presented. The sealing is provided by an adhesive heat shrink collar that is affixed to the insulation of the flying leads. An overmolding is used to provide further protection of the terminal/wire contact interface and to seal against the exterior surface of the collar. The profile of the collar also provides a tortuous path that further prevents the ingress of any conductive fluid to the wire/terminal contact area. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100252122 | Unregulated Integrated Function Gas Valve for a Water Heater - An unregulated gas valve for a water heater that includes an inlet configured to receive a gas flow into the gas valve, an outlet configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a combustion chamber, a pilot line configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a pilot flame, and a dial configured to regulate the flow of gas into the gas valve, and further configured to select a water temperature setting. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100212602 | Valve Shank Mount Assembly for a Water Heater - A shank mount assembly for a water heater that includes an annular nipple having an opening, the nipple configured to removably attach to an opening in a water heater tank. The shank mount assembly further includes an annular shank mount having an opening, the shank mount configured to removably attach to the nipple, wherein the shank mount is further configured to attach to a gas valve assembly. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100176323 | Variable Flow Digital Gas Valve - A variable flow rate gas control valve for use in consumer and commercial appliances is presented. The valve utilizes two or more solenoids to control the operating position of two different valve members whose orifices are sized in an exponential relationship with one another. By opening one or more of the valving members in various combinations, a variable flow rate of gaseous fuel may be controlled in integer multiple steps from full off to full on. The solenoid configurations may be in line, opposing, or symmetrical about an axis of the valve. The number of unique flow rates (F) is related to the number of solenoids (N) as F=2 | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100171449 | Washing Machine Wiring to Reduce Mechanical Timer Contact Welding - A control circuit for a washing machine that avoids contact bounce short circuit failures is provided. A washing machine that utilizes an induction motor including a starting winding used to start rotation of the motor at the beginning of a cycle. Such washing machines require that the motor be operated in both directions during different cycles. To enable such operation, a mechanical timer uses a pair of single pole, double throw switches in a switching assembly to reverse the L1 and neutral connections to the starter winding. To avoid the contact shorting problem, the control wiring runs either the L1 or neutral side of the voltage source, or both, through the centrifugal switch to open the input contact(s) once the motor has reached its operating speed. Then, if the switching assembly has L1 and N contacts touching at the same time, it will not result in a dead short. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100159408 | Single Micro-Pin Flame Sense Circuit and Method - A flame sense circuit and method utilizing only a single pin of a microcontroller is provided. A flame sense circuit is used to vary the charge on a capacitor from a logic high indicating no flame to a logic low when a flame is detected. The microcontroller changes the state of the pin coupled to this circuitry from a high impedance input to detect when the capacitor is discharged indicating the presence of flame, to a logic high output to recharge the flame sense capacitor. Once this charging has been accomplished, the microcontroller again changes the status of the pin to a high impedance input and verifies that the capacitor has been charged. This pin is monitored to verify that the flame sense capacitor is again discharged to indicate the continued presence of flame. This process is repeated to ensure flame continues to be present during a combustion event. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100155636 | Pilot Operated Water Valve - A solenoid operated pilot valve utilizes an offset pilot opening and a lever arm to provide a mechanical advantage to multiply the opening force of the solenoid, thereby allowing the solenoid size to be reduced. The lever arm used to position the pilot valving member is mechanically positioned via a solenoid driven plunger in one embodiment, and is positioned by magnetic force alone in an alternative, plungerless embodiment. The lever arm pivots via a fixed fulcrum point, a profiled fulcrum providing continuously variable mechanical advantage, or a stepped fulcrum providing discreet different mechanical advantages as the pilot valving member is moved from its fully closed to its fully opened position. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100140520 | Variable Flow Gas Valve and Method for Controlling Same - A gas control valve and method of controlling a gas control valve to provide infinite adjustability is provided. The gas control valve defines a fluid flow path. A flow adjustment arrangement within the fluid flow path has a plurality of discrete open configurations. Each discrete open configuration establishes a different flow rate through the fluid flow path. A controller operatively cyclically alternates the flow adjustment arrangement between different ones of the discrete configurations to provide an average flow rate through the fluid flow path that is between the flow rates permitted by the different ones of the discrete open configurations. The controller establishes residence times at the various ones of the discrete open configurations such that the resultant flow rate is the desired flow rate. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100075264 | Redundant Ignition Control Circuit and Method - A redundant ignition control system and method for gas burning appliances is provided. The system utilizes a main processor and a supervisory processor to provide the redundant, fail safe operation of both the pilot valve and the main gas valve of the appliance. Three switching elements under the control of the two processors, as well as the use of high pass filters to block DC from the gas control valves provide redundant, fail safe operation. The use of variable duty cycle or frequency pulse width modulated signals enables use in low power applications and ensures system safety. Inclusion of a gas valve verification sequence, ignition sequence, burner monitoring sequence, and heat shutdown and standby sequences ensures safe, low power operation during normal control, and fail safe operation upon the failure of any component of the system. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100061034 | Low Voltage Power Supply for Spark Igniter and Flame Sense - A low voltage power supply circuit for intermittent pilot and/or direct spark ignition systems utilized in gas burning appliances is provided. The circuit utilizes a single transformer and a resonant circuit to supply power to both a flame sense circuit as well as the spark generation circuit. The resonant circuit allows the use of low power sources such as batteries or self-supplied voltage systems such as thermopiles or hydro generators. Recognizing that power draw from the low power source is high during a sparking event and recharging of a sparking capacitor, the flame sensing is suspended during the sparking event and for a short recharge time thereafter. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100024541 | Multiple Flow Rate Detection System and Method for Consumer Appliance - A supervisory system and method for monitoring multiple flow rate fluid distribution systems and for determining the presence of a failure therein are provided. The system monitors the flow of fluid through the distribution system with a single flow meter, determines the flow rate at which fluid is flowing, and accumulates at that rate a water flow control value. If the accumulated water flow value exceeds a predetermined threshold, further flow of fluid in the system will be disabled. To take account of the multiple flow rates capable through the distribution system, the accumulated water flow value will decremented at the immediately preceding increment rate. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100019179 | Solenoid for a Pilot Operated Water Valve Having Reduced Copper and Increased Thermal Efficiency - A solenoid for a pilot operated water valve having reduced copper and increased thermal efficiency is provided. The solenoid utilizes smaller gauge copper wire for the coil, and reconfigures the coil to a shorter, fatter mechanical design than prior solenoids. Despite the focus of reducing material cost, the pole frame of the solenoid utilizes thicker material than the prior pole frame. This thicker material aids in the thermal performance of the solenoid. A pilot operated valve utilizing such a reduced copper solenoid is also provided. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20090243863 | Intrinsically Safe Cellular Tank Monitor For Liquified Gas and Cryogenic Liquids - An intrinsically safe cellular tank level monitor for use with consumer LP storage tanks is provided. The cellular monitor is adapted to read the LP storage tank gauge and transmit the level information through a cellular network to a data center. The data center may be part of or may communicate with a fuel delivery service company serving the residential consumer. The cellular monitor is a smart device that allows two-way communication over the cellular network. Control logic within the cellular monitor controls transmission of data to the data center as well as the determination and transmission of alarm conditions as determined by the local cellular monitor. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090177767 | Local Web Server Based Controller - A system for monitoring parameters related to a product in a storage tank is provided. The system includes a monitor operably coupled to the storage tank, an internet protocol (IP) enabled electronic device, and an internet protocol enabled controller. The controller is in communication with the monitor and the electronic device. The controller and the electronic device communicate through an internet regarding information observed by the monitor. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090145219 | Velocity-of-Propagation Fluid Level Measurement Method - An apparatus for determining a level of a liquid in a tank is provided. The apparatus comprises a probe and electronics. The probe passes into the tank and is immersed in the liquid. The probe includes a fiducial in spaced relation with a distal end. The electronics are operably coupled to the probe. The electronics include a signal generator propagating a signal along the probe and a signal receiver receiving the signal propagated along the probe. The electronics determine a velocity of propagation and/or an amount of time for the signal to travel between the fiducial and the distal end. The level of the liquid in the tank is then determined using the velocity of propagation and/or amount of time. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090092937 | Electronic Gas Control System - An electronic gas control apparatus including a variable flow valve, an igniter, a flame sensor, and an electronic controller is provided. The valve has a flow range that equals or exceeds a required flow range for any one of the types of gas suitably combusted by the burner. The electronic controller is operably coupled to each of the valve, the igniter, and the sensor. The electronic controller is configured to activate the igniter, to receive a flame status signal from the sensor, and to recognize a position of the valve when the flame status signal indicates a flame at the burner. As such, the electronic controller is calibrated for the gas, line-pressure, jet and burner configuration being used. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090058587 | Two Piece Bi-Metal Coil Terminal and Electrical Coil Assembly Incorporating Same - An electrical coil assembly utilizing a bimetallic two-piece terminal construction and a method of manufacturing same are provided. The inner terminal structure utilizes a material that aids in the touchless attachment of the fine gauge magnetic wire to the inner terminal structure. The low mass of the inner terminal structure allows for increased winding speeds during the manufacturing process. The outer terminal structure utilizes a material that provides good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. The inner and outer terminal structures are electrically attached after the winding and electrical attachment process of the fine gauge magnetic wire. The coil and two-piece terminal connectors may then be encapsulated to provide a final electrical coil assembly. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20080271470 | Memory Wire Rotary Actuator - A timer is provided. The timer includes a rotatable electrically non-conducting ratchet gear, an electrically conducting pawl mechanism, and an electronic drive circuit. The ratchet gear has a plurality of teeth. The electrically conducting pawl mechanism includes a pawl configured to engage one of the plurality of teeth on the ratchet gear. The an electronic drive circuit is electrically coupled to the pawl mechanism. The electronic drive circuit passes a current through the pawl mechanism such that the pawl advances the ratchet gear by one tooth pitch. | 11-06-2008 |
