Gas safety shutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grill safety systems face reliability issues due to wear, degradation, or contamination of flame sensors, leading to inaccurate detection of flame presence, which can result in unintended gas flow and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A safety shutoff system that uses a flame sensor to detect changes in the flame detection signal rather than relying on absolute values, ensuring consistent operation even with worn or degraded sensors, and automatically shuts off gas flow if a flame is not detected within a predetermined time, utilizing a solenoid valve and control circuit to manage gas flow and ignition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flame sensor is used to detect flame presence, then safety monitoring is enabled, but the sensor degrades and contaminates over time causing detection drift
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the flame detection signal and compares it against expected ranges. When the signal drifts outside acceptable parameters due to sensor degradation, the system detects this deviation and responds by shutting off the gas valve, providing feedback-based safety monitoring that compensates for sensor aging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors changes in the flame detection signal parameters over time rather than relying on absolute threshold values. By detecting drift in signal characteristics caused by sensor degradation, the system can identify problematic conditions and trigger safety shutdowns before dangerous situations occur
2Reliability
If the system continuously monitors flame detection signals, then safety is improved, but false shutdowns may occur due to sensor drift
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements monitoring that is more sensitive than traditionally required, continuously tracking flame detection signals with excessive caution. This partial over-monitoring approach may trigger some false shutdowns due to sensor drift, but prioritizes safety by erring on the side of caution rather than risking undetected dangerous conditions
3Reliability
If the solenoid valve shuts off gas flow immediately upon detecting no flame, then safety is enhanced, but gas may be wasted during brief detection delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of the flame detection signal before triggering a shutdown. By establishing baseline expectations for flame presence and detecting deviations from these expectations, the system can distinguish between temporary signal fluctuations and genuine flame loss, shutting off gas flow only when necessary rather than responding to every brief anomaly
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces the impact of sensor degradation and contamination by focusing on signal changes, ensuring reliable flame detection and safe operation by automatically shutting off gas flow when a flame is not present, thereby enhancing safety and preventing accidents.
Implementation Method 1
A safety shutoff system that uses a flame sensor to detect changes in the flame detection signal rather than relying on absolute values
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a solenoid valve and control circuit to manage gas flow and ignition
Data Source
AI summary
A system for igniting a grill can include a solenoid valve, a flame rectification sensor, an igniter, and a control circuit connected to the solenoid valve and the flame rectification sensor. The solenoid valve controls flow of gas to the grill's burner and includes a switch that closes when a handle connected to the switch opens the solenoid valve. The control circuit sends current to the solenoid valve when the switch is closed to hold the solenoid valve open. After the switch closes, the igniter is ignited. After ignition, the control circuit monitors the presence of a flame with a flame rectification sensor. If no flame is detected after a certain amount of time, the control circuit stops sending current to the solenoid valve to close the solenoid valve.