Water heater with lint collection detection

Abstract

A water heater including 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 container, the burner having a combustion surface and adapted to receive fuel; and a pilot burner including an orifice tube, an outer elongated sheath substantially concentrically positioned around at least a portion of the orifice tube and creating a space between the orifice tube and the sheath, and at least one opening sized and shaped to admit combustion air through the sheath and into the space.

1 . 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 container, the burner having a combustion surface and adapted to receive fuel; and    a pilot burner comprising an orifice tube, an outer elongated sheath positioned around at least a portion of the orifice tube and creating a space between the orifice tube and the sheath, and at least one opening sized and shaped to admit combustion air through the sheath and into the space.    
   
   
       2 . The water heater defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a thermocouple positioned adjacent the pilot burner.  
   
   
       3 . The water defined in  claim 2 , further comprising a pilot burner bracket mounted to the burner and connected to the pilot burner and the thermocouple.  
   
   
       4 . The water heater defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pilot burner is positioned adjacent the combustion surface and has an axis extending longitudinally therethrough such that the axis is oriented at an angle of about 30° to about 60° out of vertical and sideways relative to the burner.  
   
   
       5 . The water heater defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is located in the side of the sheath.  
   
   
       6 . The water heater defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a hood that directs flames or heat toward the combustion surface.  
   
   
       7 . The water heater defined in  claim 2 , further comprising a hood that is divided into a pair of hood channels, one hood channel directing flames or heat to the combustion surface and one hood channel directing flames or heat to the thermocouple.  
   
   
       8 . The water heater defined in  claim 2 , further comprising a hood that directs flames or heat toward the combustion surface and the thermocouple.  
   
   
       9 . The water heater defined in  claim 8 , wherein the hood is divided into a pair of hood channels, one hood channel directing flames or heat to the combustion surface and one hood channel directing flames or heat to the thermocouple.  
   
   
       10 . The water heater defined in  claim 1 , 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 burner at a selected level.  
   
   
       11 . The water heater defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is positioned, sized and shaped such that contaminants from air flowing to the pilot burner selectively collect and reduce the flow of air, thereby reducing production of heat, resulting in shutting off the burner.  
   
   
       12 . The water heater defined in  claim 1 , wherein the space is positioned, sized and shaped such that contaminants from air flowing within the pilot burner selectively collect in the space and reduce the flow of air, thereby reducing production of heat, resulting in shutting off the burner.  
   
   
       13 . A low NO x  water heater burner system comprising: 
 a plenum chamber having a combustion surface and a fuel/air conduit extending from the plenum and adapted to receive fuel and air; and    a pilot burner comprising an orifice tube, an outer elongated sheath positioned around at least a portion of the orifice tube and creating a space between the orifice tube and the sheath, and at least one opening sized and shaped to admit combustion air through the sheath and into the space.    
   
   
       14 . The water heater defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a thermocouple positioned adjacent the pilot burner.  
   
   
       15 . The water defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a pilot burner bracket mounted to the burner and connected to the pilot burner and the thermocouple.  
   
   
       16 . The water heater defined in  claim 13 , wherein the pilot burner is positioned adjacent the combustion surface and has an axis extending longitudinally therethrough such that the axis is oriented at an angle of about 30° to about 60° out of vertical and sideways relative to the burner.  
   
   
       17 . The water heater defined in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one opening is located in the side of the sheath.  
   
   
       18 . The water heater defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a hood that directs flames or heat toward the combustion surface.  
   
   
       19 . The water heater defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a hood that is divided into a pair of hood channels, one hood channel directing flames or heat to the combustion surface and one hood channel directing flames or heat to the thermocouple.  
   
   
       20 . The water heater defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a hood that directs flames or heat toward the combustion surface and the thermocouple.  
   
   
       21 . The water heater defined in  claim 20 , wherein the hood is divided into a pair of hood channels, one hood channel directing flames or heat to the combustion surface and one hood channel directing flames or heat to the thermocouple.  
   
   
       22 . The water heater defined in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one opening is positioned, sized and shaped such that contaminants from air flowing to the pilot burner selectively collect and reduce the flow of air, thereby reducing production of heat, resulting in shutting off the burner.  
   
   
       23 . The water heater defined in  claim 13 , wherein the space is positioned, sized and shaped such that contaminants from air flowing within the pilot burner selectively collect in the space and reduce the flow of air, thereby reducing production of heat, resulting in shutting off the burner.  
   
   
       24 . The water heater defined in  claim 13 , 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 burner at a selected level.  
   
   
       25 . 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; and    a pilot burner that produces heat positioned adjacent the combustion surface including means for collecting contaminants from air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air, thereby reducing production of the heat, resulting in shutting off the burner.    
   
   
       26 . The water heater defined in  claim 25 , wherein the means for collecting is a space between an orifice tube and an elongated sheath that substantially concentrically surrounds at least a portion of the orifice tube.  
   
   
       27 . The water heater defined in  claim 25 , wherein the pilot burner comprises an orifice tube, an outer elongated sheath substantially concentrically positioned around at least a portion of the orifice tube and creating a space between the orifice tube and the sheath, and at least one opening sized and shaped to admit combustion air through the sheath and into the space.  
   
   
       28 . The water heater defined in  claim 25 , wherein the means for collecting is an opening in a side portion of the pilot burner.  
   
   
       29 . The water heater defined in  claim 25 , 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 product of CO by the burner at a selected level.  
   
   
       30 . 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 pilot burner that includes a collector that collects contaminants from air flowing to the pilot burner such that collection of a selected amount of the contaminants reduces the flow of the air, thereby reducing production of heat, resulting in shutting off the burner.    
   
   
       31 . The water heater defined in  claim 30 , wherein the pilot burner comprises an orifice tube, an outer elongated sheath substantially concentrically positioned around at least a portion of the orifice tube and creating a space between the orifice tube and the sheath, at least one opening sized and shaped to admit combustion air through the sheath and into the space, and the means for collecting comprises the space formed between the orifice tube and the sheath.  
   
   
       32 . The water heater defined in  claim 30 , wherein the collector is an opening in a side portion of the pilot burner.  
   
   
       33 . The water heater defined in  claim 30 , 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 burner at a selected level.