Ignition inhibiting gas water heater and controller

Abstract

A water heater including a water container having an inlet and an outlet; a main burner positioned to heat water in the water container; a pilot burner positioned to supply flame to the main burner; and a control valve to supply fuel to the main and pilot burners. The control valve includes a fuel inlet adapted to connect to a supply of fuel; at least one fuel outlet adapted to connect to the main burner; a conduit for fuel flow between the inlet and outlet; a closure associated with the conduit to control flow of fuel from the inlet to the outlet; a circuit associated with the valve and including a thermally actuated device connected to the closure, the switch, when heated by the pilot burner providing a signal to the closure to open or close said closure; and a combustion sensitive fuse connected to the electrical circuit and positioned to be exposed to extraneous sources of flame and heat external to and adjacent the control valve.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A control valve for supplying fuel to a water heater containing a main burner and a pilot burner comprising: 
 a fuel inlet adapted to connect to a supply of fuel;    at least one fuel outlet adapted to connect to the main burner;    a conduit for fuel flow between the inlet and outlet;    a closure associated with the conduit to control flow of fuel from the inlet to the outlet;    a circuit associated with the valve and including a thermally actuated device associated with the closure, said device, when heated by the pilot burner providing a signal to the closure to open or close the closure; and    a combustion sensitive fuse connected to the circuit and positioned to be exposed to extraneous sources of flame and/or heat external to and adjacent the control valve.    
     
     
         2 . The control valve defined in  claim 1  further comprising an externally accessible socket in the circuit into which the fuse is removably insertable.  
     
     
         3 . The control valve defined in  claim 2  wherein the socket is adapted to receive the fuse independently separate from the thermally actuated device.  
     
     
         4 . The control valve defined in  claim 2  wherein the socket is accessible from an underside of the valve.  
     
     
         5 . The control valve defined in  claim 1  wherein the fuse is positioned at an underside of the valve.  
     
     
         6 . The control valve defined in  claim 1  wherein the closure comprises a member located in a portion of the conduit and is normally resiliently biased in a closed position.  
     
     
         7 . The control valve defined in  claim 1  wherein the circuit further comprises a solenoid associated with the closure, the solenoid being capable of receiving an electrical signal from the thermally actuated device and opening said closure in response.  
     
     
         8 . The control valve defined in  claim 1  wherein the fuse is temperature sensitive.  
     
     
         9 . The control valve defined in  claim 1  wherein the circuit further comprises an over temperature energy cut out switch associated with a temperature sensitive thermostat probe, said energy cut out switch being capable of interrupting gas flow through said control valve to the main burner and the pilot burner.  
     
     
         10 . The control valve defined in  claim 1  wherein the thermally actuated device is a thermocouple.  
     
     
         11 . The control valve defined in  claim 1  wherein the circuit further comprises a manual switch connected to the thermally actuated device and having on, off and pilot positions, said pilot position causing the closure to open until such time as the thermally actuated device is capable of providing a signal to open the closure.  
     
     
         12 . A control valve for supplying fuel to a water heater containing a main burner and a pilot burner comprising: 
 a fuel inlet adapted to connect to a supply of fuel;    at least one fuel outlet adapted to connect to the main burner;    a conduit for fuel flow between the inlet and outlet;    a closure associated with the conduit to control flow of fuel from the inlet to the outlet, said closure comprising a member located in a portion of the conduit and which is normally resiliently biased in a closed position; and    a circuit associated with the valve comprising 
 a thermocouple associated with the closure, said thermocouple, when heated by the pilot burner providing a signal;  
 a solenoid associated with the closure, the solenoid being capable of receiving output from the thermocouple and maintaining open said closure in response to output indicative of a flame at said pilot burner;  
 an energy cut out switch associated with a temperature sensitive thermostat, the energy cut out switch being associated with a temperature sensitive thermostat probe, said energy cut out switch being capable of interrupting gas flow through said control valve to the main burner and the pilot burner; and  
 a combustion sensitive fuse positioned to be exposed to extraneous sources of flame and/or heat external to and adjacent the control valve.  
   
     
     
         13 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container having an inlet and an outlet;    a main burner positioned to heat water in the water container;    a pilot burner positioned to supply flame to the main burner; and    a control valve to supply fuel to the main and pilot burners, said control valve comprising: 
 a fuel inlet adapted to connect to a supply of fuel;  
 at least one fuel outlet adapted to connect to the main burner;  
 a conduit for fuel flow between the inlet and outlet;  
 a closure associated with the conduit to control flow of fuel from the inlet to the outlet;  
 a circuit associated with the valve and including a thermally actuated device associated with the closure, said device, when heated by the pilot burner providing a signal to means associated with the closure to maintain open the already opened closure or to release it to a closed position; and  
 a combustion sensitive fuse connected to the circuit and positioned to be exposed to extraneous sources of flame and/or heat external to and adjacent the control valve.  
   
     
     
         14 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber located adjacent said tank;    a main burner and a pilot burner located inside said combustion chamber; and    a flame trap positioned at an opening in said combustion chamber, said flame trap permitting ingress of air and extraneous gases, if present, into said combustion chamber and prevent egress of flames from said structure, said flame trap being positioned below and adjacent said pilot burner.    
     
     
         15 . The water heater defined in  claim 14  further comprising a venturi extending into said combustion chamber to supply combustion air to said main burner.  
     
     
         16 . The water heater defined in  claim 14  further comprising a lint trap positioned exteriorly of said flame trap and across said opening.  
     
     
         17 . The water heater defined in  claim 14  further comprising a blocking plate positioned within said combustion chamber and adjacent said opening.  
     
     
         18 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber located adjacent said tank, said combustion chamber having a floor portion with an opening;    a conduit extending upwardly from and being substantially sealed to said opening;    a burner located inside said combustion chamber; and    a flame trap positioned across said conduit, said flame trap permitting ingress of air and extraneous gases, if present, into said combustion chamber and prevent egress of flames from said structure.    
     
     
         19 . The water heater defined in  claim 18  further comprising a lint trap positioned exteriorly of said flame trap and across an upper portion of said conduit.  
     
     
         20 . The water heater defined in  claim 18  further comprising a lint trap positioned across said opening.  
     
     
         21 . The water heater defined in  claim 18  further comprising a blocking plate positioned within said combustion chamber and adjacent an upper portion of said conduit.