Gas fireplace monitoring and control system

Abstract

A monitoring and control system for use with a decorative heating appliance such as a fireplace, stove, or fireplace insert. The monitoring and control system includes a sensor module, a computer system, a controller, and a communication system. The sensor module is configured to monitor a burner, gas valve, and ignition system of the heating appliance and generate monitoring signals. The controller is configured to generate fault condition signals based on the monitoring signals. The communication system is configured to communicate the fault condition signals to the computer system, wherein the computer system is located remotely from a living space within which the heating appliance resides. The computer system is configured to generate control signals in response to predetermined fault condition signals and communicate those signals to the controller via the communication system for control of at least one of the burner, gas valve, and ignition system or other functions of the heating appliance.

1 . A method of monitoring and controlling features of a fireplace system, the fireplace system including a sensor module, a burner, and a valve, the method comprising: 
 monitoring with the sensor module a condition of the burner;    communicating to a computer a fault condition based on the monitored burner condition, wherein the computer is located at a location remote from a living space within which the fireplace system is positioned; and    shutting off the valve when a predetermined fault condition is detected.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring with the sensor module the presence of particulate accumulation on features positioned in a combustion chamber of the fireplace system.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating control signals for control of the fireplace system from the remotely located computer to the fireplace system in response to the communicated fault condition.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fireplace system includes a controller, and the sensor module communicates the monitored conditions to the controller and the controller generates and communicates the fault condition.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the information about the monitored conditions includes a status indicator, and the remotely located computer system automatically generates reports or control signals based on the communicated status indicators.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor module includes a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to monitor a condition of the fireplace system and generate a signal.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring hours of use of the fireplace system and communicating to the remotely located computer a fault condition based on the monitored hours of use.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring with the sensor module air flow within the fireplace system and communicating to the remotely located computer a fault condition based on the monitored air flow.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring with the sensor module a condition of the valve and communicating to the remotely located computer a fault condition based on the monitored valve condition.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising locking out the valve when the predetermined fault condition is detected, wherein locking out prevents generation of a flame in the fireplace system.  
   
   
       11 . A monitoring and control system for use with a fireplace system, the fireplace system including a burner, a gas valve configured to control fuel flow to the burner, and an ignition system configured to ignite a flame at the burner, the monitoring and control system comprising: 
 a sensor module configured to monitor the burner, gas valve, and ignition system and generate monitoring signals;    a computer system located at a location remote from a living space within which the fireplace system is exposed;    a controller configured to generate fault condition signals based on the monitoring signals;    a communication system configured to communicate the fault condition signals to the remote computer system;    wherein the computer system is configured to generate control signals in response to predetermined fault condition signals, and the communication system is configured to communicate the control signals to the controller for control of at least one of the burner, gas valve, and ignition system.    
   
   
       12 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor module comprises a first sensor configured to monitor the presence of a flame at the burner and generate a flame signal.  
   
   
       13 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor module further comprises a second sensor configured to monitor the gas valve and generate a valve signal.  
   
   
       14 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor module further comprises a third sensor configured to monitor the ignition system and generate an ignition signal.  
   
   
       15 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor module further comprises a fourth sensor configured to monitor particulate build-up in the fireplace and generate a particulate signal.  
   
   
       16 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller monitors operation time of the fireplace system and generates fault signals indicative of the amount of operation time.  
   
   
       17 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 11 , wherein the fireplace system further includes at least one of a blower, a light fixture, an air filter, a pressure sensor, and a scent generating device, wherein the sensor module is configured to monitor the at least one of the blower, light fixture, air filter, pressure sensor, and scent generating device and generate monitoring signals.  
   
   
       18 . A heating system, comprising: 
 a fireplace, including: 
 an enclosure defining a combustion chamber, the enclosure including at least one panel that provides viewing into the combustion chamber;  
 a burner positioned in the combustion chamber and coupled to a source of combustible fuel, the burner being configured to generate a decorative flame;  
 a valve configured to control fuel flow to the burner; and  
 an ignition system; and  
   a monitoring and control system, comprising: 
 a controller configured to control functions of at least one of the burner, valve, and ignition system and generate fault signals in response to predetermined conditions of at least one of the burner, valve, and ignition system; and  
 a computer system positioned remotely from the fireplace, the computer system being configured to receive the fault signals and generate control signals for controlling functions of at least one of the gas valve, ignition system, and burner.  
   
   
   
       19 . The heating system of  claim 18 , wherein the monitoring and control system further comprises a sensor module configured to monitor conditions of the burner, valve and ignition system and send signals to the controller indicative of the monitored conditions.  
   
   
       20 . The heating system of  claim 19 , wherein sensor module includes a plurality of sensors.  
   
   
       21 . A method of monitoring and controlling performance of a fireplace system, the fireplace system comprising a combustion chamber, a burner positioned in the combustion chamber, an ignition system, a valve, a controller, and a plurality of sensors, the method comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring a status of the burner, the ignition system, and the valve with the plurality of sensors;    controlling the burner, the ignition system, and the valve with the controller in response to the monitored status; and    communicating a fault signal between the controller and computer in response to a predetermined monitored status, wherein the computer is located at a location remote from a living space within which the fireplace system resides.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising generating a control signal with the computer system in response to the fault signal and communicating the control signal to the controller for control of at least one of the burner, the ignition system and the valve.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein controlling the burner includes shutting off the valve when at least one of the sensors indicates no flame is present after the valve has been opened for a predetermined time period.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the computer and the controller are configured to report the predetermined monitored status.