Safety Valve Supply Circuit Ignition Delay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety valve systems for gas burners supplied by thermocouples face delays in opening due to the time required for the thermocouple to reach the necessary temperature, necessitating user intervention or the use of high-capacity supply capacitors with associated drawbacks like size and energy losses.

Innovation Solution

A supply circuit that charges a capacitor from alternating mains voltage, using a switch to connect it briefly to the mains when igniting the burner, generating an input voltage signal to keep the safety valve open, and conditioning means to convert this signal for direct application to the valve, eliminating the need for high-capacity capacitors and user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a thermocouple is used to supply the safety valve, then the device achieves intrinsic safety, but a time delay occurs until the thermocouple reaches the necessary temperature to keep the valve open

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintrinsic safetyVSAvoidignition delay time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The supply capacitor is pre-charged from the alternating mains voltage before the safety valve needs to be actuated. This preliminary energy storage eliminates the time delay, allowing the valve to open immediately when required while maintaining the thermocouple's intrinsic safety function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a supply capacitor with very high capacity is used to temporarily feed the solenoid, then the safety valve can be supplied during ignition, but the capacitor size increases and energy losses occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety valve supply reliabilityVSAvoidcapacitor size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a continuously charged high-capacity capacitor, the system employs periodic charging from the alternating mains voltage. The supply capacitor is charged during specific periods when the mains voltage is available, and this periodic energy input is sufficient to maintain reliable operation without requiring large capacitor size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If a supply capacitor with very high capacity is used to temporarily feed the solenoid, then the safety valve can be supplied during ignition, but energy losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety valve supply reliabilityVSAvoidenergy losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The supply capacitor is pre-charged from the alternating mains voltage before energy is needed. This preliminary charging allows the system to store energy when available and release it when required, avoiding continuous energy losses that would occur with a continuously charged high-capacity capacitor system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If a supply changeover switch with an intermediate position is used to activate the supply capacitor, then the capacitor can be connected to mains voltage, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply capacitor activationVSAvoidswitch position complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex supply changeover switch with intermediate position is replaced by extracting only the necessary function: a simple switch that connects the supply capacitor to the alternating mains voltage. This simplified switch eliminates the need for multiple positions and intermediate states, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable capacitor activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution ensures the safety valve remains open without user intervention and reduces energy losses by using a smaller capacitor, ensuring reliable ignition and operation of the gas burner.

Implementation Method 1

safety valves supplied by a thermocouple... The thermocouple keeps the safety valve open while there is a flame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermocouple effect: Seebeck Effect

Implementation Method 2

a supply capacitor that is charged from an alternating mains voltage, obtaining from the energy accumulated in said supply capacitor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS7806683B2Safety valve supply circuit for the ignition of a gas burner

Publication Date: 2010.10.05 ORKLI SCOOP

AI summary

A safety valve supply circuit for the ignition of a gas burner is disclosed. Said safety valve is directly supplied by a flame-detecting thermocouple, and said supply circuit comprises a supply capacitor that is charged from an alternating mains voltage, obtaining from the energy accumulated in said supply capacitor, due to said charging, an input voltage signal that is used to temporarily supply said safety valve in order to maintain it open. Said charging of the supply capacitor is carried out by momentarily activating a supply switch to temporarily connect said supply capacitor to said alternating mains voltage, said supply switch activation occurring concurrently with the activation of the gas burner. Said supply circuit also comprises conditioning means for converting said input voltage signal into an output voltage signal that is directly applied to said safety valve to supply it, and so maintain it open.