Gas Hearth Improvements

Abstract

An improved gas fireplace hearth provides a controller and can perform new features. A pressure sensor may be provided to communicate to the controller to warn of a drop of inlet gas pressure to indicate a problem with gas service rather than the hearth. An ambient temperature sensor can provide an input to the controller for various features including a safety feature to shut off gas flow if the hearth becomes too hot. The hearth can be made more efficient by having the controller implement a zero voltage alternating current system to adjust the speed of the fan, flame height, lighting, BTU output or other feature.

Having set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is: 
     
         1 . A gas hearth comprising:
 at least a main burner;   a controller; and   a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least a main burner sensing gas pressure and providing a signal to the controller;   wherein when the controller detects a pressure at the pressure sensor is below a predetermined value, providing a signal directing an output to be displayed related to the low pressure situation.   
     
     
         2 . The gas hearth of  claim 1  wherein the output is displayed at a display connected to the hearth. 
     
     
         3 . The gas hearth of  claim 1  wherein the output is displayed remotely from the hearth on one of a computing device and a remote. 
     
     
         4 . The gas hearth of  claim 1  wherein the pressure sensor is connected to valve of the gas hearth. 
     
     
         5 . The gas hearth of  claim 4  wherein the pressure sensor is connected to a burner valve. 
     
     
         6 . The gas hearth of  claim 1  wherein the pressure sensor is connected to one of a pilot assembly and a manifold of the hearth. 
     
     
         7 . The gas hearth of  claim 1  further comprising an ambient temperature sensor connected to the hearth, said ambient temperature sensor providing a signal to the controller, said controller shutting off gas flow through the at least a main burner if ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The gas hearth of  claim 1  wherein controller employs zero voltage switching to control at least one of flame height, fan speed and lighting at the hearth. 
     
     
         9 . The gas hearth of  claim 1  wherein the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor is displayed to a user. 
     
     
         10 . A gas hearth comprising:
 at least a main burner;   a controller; and   an ambient sensor sensing gas pressure and providing a signal to the controller;   wherein the ambient temperature sensor provides a signal to the controller, said controller shutting off gas flow through the at least a main burner if ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         11 . The gas hearth of  claim 10  further comprising a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the main burner; and    
     
     
         12 . The gas hearth of  claim 10  wherein the controller employs zero voltage switching to control at least one of flame height, fan speed and lighting at the hearth. 
     
     
         13 . The gas hearth of  claim 12  wherein the controller initially directs a maximum of one of gas flow through the main burner and fan speed for a predetermined period of time and then lowers the one of gas flow and fan speed at a zero voltage node of an AC input. 
     
     
         14 . The gas hearth of  claim 12  wherein the controller initially directs a change in lighting intensity at the hearth at a zero voltage node of an AC input. 
     
     
         15 . The gas hearth of  claim 12  wherein the controller delays the starting and stopping of one of a change in flame height and fan speed for a predetermined period of time as a delay. 
     
     
         16 . The gas hearth of  claim 15  wherein the delay of the controller ends at a zero voltage node of an AC input. 
     
     
         17 . A gas hearth comprising:
 at least a main burner; and   a controller;   wherein controller employs zero voltage switching to assist in controlling at least one of BTU output, flame height, fan speed and lighting at the hearth, by adjusting an alternating voltage output as the voltage passes through the zero voltage node.   
     
     
         18 . The gas hearth of  claim 17  wherein the controller delays the starting and stopping of one of a change in flame height and fan speed for a predetermined period of time as a delay before the zero voltage node. 
     
     
         19 . The gas hearth of  claim 17  further comprising:
 an ambient sensor sensing gas pressure and providing a signal to the controller; and 
 wherein the ambient temperature sensor provides a signal to the controller, said controller shutting off gas flow through the at least a main burner if ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. 
 
     
     
         20 . The gas hearth of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least a main burner sensing gas pressure and providing a signal to the controller; and
 wherein when the controller detects a pressure at the pressure sensor is below a predetermined value, providing a signal directing an output to be displayed related to the low pressure situation.