Water heater with flammable vapor and co sensors

Abstract

A water heater including a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent the water container, a burner associated with the combustion chamber, a flue gas collector located to receive flue gases generated in the combustion chamber, a CO sensor having at least an operative portion proximate the flue gas collector, a flammable vapor sensor having at least an operative portion positioned proximate a location where combustion air enters the combustion chamber, and a controller operatively connected to the CO and flammable vapor sensors and adapted to receive signals generated by the CO and flammable vapor sensors and responsively shut off combustion in the combustion chamber.

1 . A water heater comprising:
 a water container;   a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;   a burner associated with the combustion chamber;   a flue gas collector located to receive flue gases generated in the combustion chamber;   a CO sensor having at least an operative portion proximate the flue gas collector;   a flammable vapor sensor having at least an operative portion positioned proximate a location where combustion air enters the combustion chamber; and   a controller operatively connected to the CO sensor and the flammable vapor sensor and adapted to receive signals generated by the CO and flammable vapor sensors and responsively shut off combustion in the combustion chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the flue gas collector is a draft hood. 
   
   
       3 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the CO sensor is inside the flue gas collector. 
   
   
       4 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is a gas control valve. 
   
   
       5 . The water heater of  claim 4 , wherein the gas control valve contains a microcontroller. 
   
   
       6 . The water heater of  claim 5 , wherein the microcontroller is programmable. 
   
   
       7 . The water heater of  claim 5 , wherein the microcontroller is powered by a grid electrical supply. 
   
   
       8 . The water heater of  claim 5 , wherein the microcontroller is powered by a thermopile. 
   
   
       9 . The water heater of  claim 8 , wherein the thermopile receives heat from a pilot burner. 
   
   
       10 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is located proximate to where the combustion air enters the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       11 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the flammable vapor sensor is located on the controller. 
   
   
       12 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the controller shuts off fuel to the burner.