Outdoor furnace monitor

Abstract

A monitoring system that provides a display, either local or remote, of operation information regarding an outdoor furnace or boiler system. The monitor polls various sensors, including information relative to water temperature, draft fan operation, pump operation, various switch status, safety status, and emissions status. The various sensors may be operationally connected wirelessly with the monitor. The monitor displays operational status information, including indications requiring operator attention. Thus, operator maintenance is more effectively applied as needed rather than also on an information gathering basis.

1 . An outdoor furnace arrangement comprising: 
 a residence having a perimeter envelope and having a heat distribution device within the residence;    a heat generating furnace exterior to the residence perimeter envelope and operatively connected with the heat distribution device, whereby the furnace generates heat, the heat is transferred to the heat distribution device, and the heat is distributed within the residence;    a plurality of sensors disposed about the furnace;    a processing unit located at one of the furnace and the residence, the processing unit being operatively connected with each of the plurality of sensors; and    a display interface located within the residence, the interface being operatively connected with the processing unit.    
   
   
       2 . The outdoor furnace arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the processing unit is wirelessly connected with the sensors.  
   
   
       3 . The outdoor furnace arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the interface is wirelessly connected with the processing unit.  
   
   
       4 . The outdoor furnace arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of a water jacket temperature sensor, a draft fan operation sensor, a circulating pump operation sensor, a water level sensor, a safety switch status sensor, a firebox temperature sensor, a chimney temperature sensor, an environmental system operation sensor, an emissions safety switch status sensor, and a filtration status sensor.  
   
   
       5 . The outdoor furnace arrangement of  claim 1  further including a closed loop liquid circulating system that is operatively connected between the furnace and the heat distribution device and that is adapted to transfer heat between the furnace and the heat distribution device.  
   
   
       6 . The outdoor furnace arrangement of  claim 1  further including a closed loop liquid circulating system that is operatively connected between the furnace and the heat distribution device and that is adapted to transfer heat between the furnace and the heat distribution device, and wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of a water jacket temperature sensor, a draft fan operation sensor, a circulating pump operation sensor, a water level sensor, a safety switch status sensor, a firebox temperature sensor, a chimney temperature sensor, an environmental system operation sensor, an emissions safety switch status sensor, and a filtration status sensor.  
   
   
       7 . A method of monitoring an outdoor furnace comprising the steps of: 
 providing a residence with a perimeter envelope;    providing a heat distribution device within the perimeter envelope;    providing a heat generating furnace exterior to the perimeter envelope;    operatively connecting the furnace with the heat distribution device, whereby the furnace generates heat, the heat is transferred to the heat distribution device, and the heat is distributed within the residence;    providing a plurality of sensors disposed about the furnace;    providing a processing unit at one of the furnace and the residence, the processing unit being adapted to receive sensor signals, to process the signals, and to generate signals for a display interface;    operatively connecting each of the sensors with the processing unit;    providing a display interface located within the residence;    operatively connecting the interface with the processing unit; and    providing the processing unit with a preselected monitoring procedure program.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of operatively connecting each of the sensors with the processing unit includes wireless connection of each of the sensors with the processing unit.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of operatively connecting the interface with the processing unit includes wireless connection of the interface with the processing unit.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of providing a plurality of sensors includes providing at least one of a water jacket temperature sensor, a draft fan operation sensor, a circulating pump operation sensor, a water level sensor, a safety switch status sensor, a firebox temperature sensor, a chimney temperature sensor, an environmental system operation sensor, an emissions safety switch status sensor, and a filtration status sensor.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of operatively connecting the furnace with the heat distribution device further includes providing a closed loop liquid circulating system that is operatively connected between the furnace and the heat distribution device and that is adapted to transfer heat between the furnace and the heat distribution device.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of providing a plurality of sensors includes providing at least one of a water jacket temperature sensor, a draft fan operation sensor, a circulating pump operation sensor, a water level sensor, a safety switch status sensor, a firebox temperature sensor, a chimney temperature sensor, an environmental system operation sensor, an emissions safety switch status sensor, and a filtration status sensor.  
   
   
       13 . In a residence having a perimeter envelope and having a heat distribution device within the residence, the residence being heated with a heat generating furnace that is exterior to the residence perimeter envelope and operatively connected with the heat distribution device, whereby the furnace generates heat, the heat is transferred to the heat distribution device, and the heat is distributed within the residence, the improvement of an outdoor furnace monitor comprising: 
 a plurality of sensors disposed about the furnace;    a processing unit located at one of the furnace and the residence, the processing unit being operatively connected with each of the plurality of sensors; and    a display interface located within the residence, the interface being operatively connected with the processing unit.    
   
   
       14 . The outdoor furnace monitor of  claim 13  wherein the processing unit is wirelessly connected with the sensors.  
   
   
       15 . The outdoor furnace monitor of  claim 13  wherein the interface is wirelessly connected with the processing unit.  
   
   
       16 . The outdoor furnace monitor of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of a water jacket temperature sensor, a draft fan operation sensor, a circulating pump operation sensor, a water level sensor, a safety switch status sensor, a firebox temperature sensor, a chimney temperature sensor, an environmental system operation sensor, an emissions safety switch status sensor, and a filtration status sensor.  
   
   
       17 . The outdoor furnace monitor of  claim 13  further including a closed loop liquid circulating system that is operatively connected between the furnace and the heat distribution device and that is adapted to transfer heat between the furnace and the heat distribution device.  
   
   
       18 . The outdoor furnace monitor of  claim 13  further including a closed loop liquid circulating system that is operatively connected between the furnace and the heat distribution device and that is adapted to transfer heat between the furnace and the heat distribution device, and wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of a water jacket temperature sensor, a draft fan operation sensor, a circulating pump operation sensor, a water level sensor, a safety switch status sensor, a firebox temperature sensor, a chimney temperature sensor, an environmental system operation sensor, an emissions safety switch status sensor, and a filtration status sensor.