Water heater with lint collection detection

Abstract

A low NO x water heater including a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent the water container; and a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the burner comprising a plenum chamber having a combustion surface and a device to detect the presence of the collection of lint, dirt and/or oil.

1 - 55 . (canceled)  
   
   
       56 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in said water container, the burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit sealingly extending between the chamber and a wall of the combustion chamber;    a pilot burner positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    an air supply line extending between the conduit and the pilot burner.    
   
   
       57 . A low NO x  water heater burner system comprising: 
 a chamber having a porous combustion surface;    a pilot burner positioned adjacent the combustion surface;    a conduit sealingly opening into the chamber; and    an air supply line extending between the fuel/air supply line and the pilot burner.    
   
   
       58 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in said water container, said burner having a combustion surface and adapted to receive fuel;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    means for collecting contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the burner.    
   
   
       59 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the burner having a combustion surface and adapted to receive fuel; and    a device that collects contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the burner.    
   
   
       60 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in said water container, the burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the chamber;    a pilot burner positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    an air supply line extending between the conduit and the pilot burner.    
   
   
       61 . A low NO x  water heater burner system comprising: 
 a chamber having a porous combustion surface;    a pilot burner positioned adjacent the combustion surface;    a conduit opening into said chamber; and    an air supply extending between the conduit and the pilot burner.    
   
   
       62 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in said water container, said burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    means for collecting contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the main burner.    
   
   
       63 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in said water container, said burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    an air supply line extending between a conduit connected to the main burner and the pilot burner and adapted for collecting contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the main burner.    
   
   
       64 . A water heater comprising; 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in said water container, said burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the plenum chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    an opening in the pilot burner adapted for collecting contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the main burner.    
   
   
       65 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in said water container, said burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat position adjacent the combustion surface; and    means for collecting contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby reducing production of the heat and shutting off the main burner;    wherein the flow of the fuel and/or air to the pilot burner is at a rate that substantially corresponds to a rate of collection of contaminants on the combustion surface that results in production of CO by the main burner at a selected level.    
   
   
       66 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the main burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    a device that collects contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner and the main burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the burner.    
   
   
       67 . A water heater comprising; 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the main burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    an opening in the pilot burner that collects contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner and the main burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the burner.    
   
   
       68 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the main burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    an air supply line extending between a fuel/air conduit connected to the main burner and the pilot burner that collects contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner and the main burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the burner.    
   
   
       69 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the main burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the plenum chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    a device that collects contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner and the main burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the burner;    wherein the flow of the fuel and/or air to the pilot burner is at a rate that substantially corresponds to a rate of collection of contaminants on the combustion surface that results in production of CO by the main burner at a selected level.    
   
   
       70 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in said water container, said burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface, the chamber adapted to receive primary combustion air through a conduit extending between the main burner and a wall of the combustion chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    means for collecting contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the main burner.    
   
   
       71 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in said water container, said main burner having a combustion surface and adapted to receive primary combustion air through an opening not covered by a flap trap/arrestor;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    means for collecting contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby reducing production of the heat and shutting off the main burner.    
   
   
       72 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the main burner having a combustion surface and adapted to receive primary combustion air through an opening not covered by a flame trap/arrestor;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    an air supply line extending between a conduit connected to the main burner and the pilot burner and adapted for collecting contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the main burner.    
   
   
       73 . A water heater comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the main burner having a combustion surface and adapted to receive primary combustion air through an opening not covered by a flame trap/arrestor;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    a device that collects contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminant reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby reducing production of the heat and shutting off the main burner.    
   
   
       74 . A water heater which emits 10 Ng/j or less of NOx, comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, said burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    means for collecting contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the main burner.    
   
   
       75 . A water heater, which emits 10 Ng/j or less of NOx, comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the main burner comprising a chamber having a combustion surface and a conduit extending from the plenum chamber;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    a device that collects contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner and the main burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the burner.    
   
   
       76 . A water heater, which emits 10 Ng/j or less of NOx, comprising: 
 a water container;    a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;    a main burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in said water container, said main burner having a combustion surface and adapted to receive primary combustion air through an opening not covered by a flame trap/arrestor;    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface; and    means for collecting contaminants from fuel and/or air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air and/or fuel, thereby shutting off the main burner.