Patent Application
20050042902
The present invention relates generally to an integrated door latching and electrical in-line connecting device and method. More particularly, the invention relates to a device and method for latching a combustion door with an integrated electrical in-line interlock device.
Many household and commercial appliances have combustion chambers where natural gas, propane, or oil or some other fuel may be burned. For example, boilers and furnaces used for creating hot water and/or heating include a combustion chamber where fuel is burned to provide heating for the hot water or hot air. Like any other mechanical device, these combustion appliances from time to time may require maintenance or cleaning.
In order to provide access to the combustion chamber for maintenance or cleaning, these appliances are often equipped with a combustion chamber door. The door may be opened to thereby provide access to the combustion chamber. For a variety of reasons it is important that the combustion chamber door is securely closed whenever combustion occurs within the combustion chamber.
Many appliances having combustion chambers are not always burning fuel within the combustion chamber. For example, a boiler may only burn fuel in the combustion chamber when a thermostat or other controller sends a signal to the boiler requesting it produce hot water. At other times the combustion chamber may be idle. When the boiler gets a call for heat, or is signaled to produced hot water, it may provide fuel flow to the combustion chamber and an electrical charge may ignite the fuel causing the combustion to occur. Accordingly, during operation of the appliance there will be times when there is fuel burning in the combustion chamber and other times when there is not fuel burning in the combustion chamber.
As a result of the on-again, off-again fuel burning occurring in the combustion chamber, a potential problem may arise when someone desiring to access the combustion chamber notices that there is no combustion occurring in the combustion chamber and opens the door accessesing the combustion chamber in order to clean or provide maintenance to the combustion chamber. During the time when the door is opened and the combustion chamber is exposed, if the appliance were not properly shut off or set for maintenance operations, the appliance could receive a call to produce heat and initiate the ignition sequence. The ignition sequence could provide fuel flow and an electrical signal to provide a spark to ignite the fuel in the combustion chamber and cause combustion in the combustion chamber. As previously mentioned, it is undesirable for the combustion door to be open when fuel is burning in the combustion chamber.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus that disables the combustion sequence from occurring when the combustion door is open. There is also a need for a method and apparatus that will not allow fuel to ignite in the combustion chamber when the combustion chamber access door is open.
The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus is provided that in some embodiments discloses an appliance whenever the combustion door is opened. In some embodiments, the electronic ignition is put in a disabled condition so it is not able to provide a spark to ignite fuel in the combustion chamber whenever the combustion door is open.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a door latching and electrical connection device for an appliance having a door is provided. The door latching and electrical connection device includes a bar that latches the door to a closed position and an electrical connector attached to the bar that provides an electrical connection between the bar and the appliance when the bar is in the latched position.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a door latching and electrical connection device for an appliance having a door is provided. The door latching and electrical connection device includes means for latching the door closed and first means providing an electrical connection between the latching means and the appliance when the door is latched closed.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of securing a door mounted on a device and making an electrical connection is provided. The method includes blocking the door with a latching bar and providing an electrical connector on the bar. The method further includes providing an electrical connector on the bar and making an electrical connection by connecting the electrical connector to a second electrical connector mounted on the device when the bar is blocking the door.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a bar configured to mount on the combustion device and block the door; a first electrical connector attached to the bar and a second electrical connector configured to mate with the electrical connector and provide an electrical connection when the bar is blocking the door and to disable the conduction chamber when the door is not blocked by preventing the electrical connection when the door is not blocked.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a door latching and electrical connecting device and method.
In some embodiments of the invention, the door latching and electrical connection device can be applied to an appliance having a combustion chamber where a bar is attached to the combustion chamber to block a door providing access to the combustion chamber. A first electrical connector portion associated with the bar mates with a second electrical connector portion located on the combustion device when the door is closed. The ignition sequence for initiating combustion within the combustion chamber can not occur unless the electrical connection between the bar and the electrical connector on the combustion device is made.
In other embodiments of the invention, a method is provided of securing a door mounted on a device and making an electrical connection. The method includes blocking a door with a latching bar and providing an electrical connector on the bar. The method may also include automatically making an electrical connection by connecting the electrical connector to a second electrical connector mounted on the device when the bar is placed to block the door.
An embodiment of the present inventive apparatus illustrated in
According to some embodiments of the invention, the latching bar 18 attaches to the housing 16 via a retaining bracket 20. One end 22 of the latching bar 18 is seated within the retaining bracket 20. The retaining bracket 20 has a floor portion 24 for the end 22 of the latching bar 18 to rest on when the latching bar 18 is in place. The other end 26 of the latching bar 18 is fitted with an inline electrical interlock 28 which may also be referred to in this document as a plug 28. The plug or inline interlock device 28 terminates a wire harness, preferably having 4 wires, but not limited to 4 wires. The wires are contained in a flexible conduit 30.
The latch bar 18 attaches to the plug 28 rather than the flexible conduit 30. Attaching the latch bar 18 to the plug 28 rather than the conduit 30 avoids the conduit 30 from experiencing strain when the latch bar 18 is removed from the device 10.
According to some embodiments of the current invention, the plug 28 is a MOLEX® plug (shown in
In some embodiments of the invention, the electrical connection between plugs 28 and 32 may be required to sustain combustion in the combustion chamber 12. Some apparatus may be configured so that if the electrical connection is broken, the fuel supply will be cut off to the combustion chamber causing combustion to cease. Other embodiments may cause combustion to cease when the electrical connection is broken by other means known in the art.
In some embodiments of the invention, a handle 40 is attached to the latching bar 18 to provide an easy means for grabbing and moving the latching bar 18. In some embodiments of the invention the latching bar 18 has insulation attached to it on the side of the latching bar 18 that contacts the combustion door 14 in order to reduce an amount of heat that the latching bar 18 absorbs by contacting the combustion door 14. In some embodiments of the invention, the latching bar 18 has insulation surrounding the plug 28 in order to provide electrical insulation between the plug 28 and the latching bar 18.
As shown in
A male plug 46 shown in
Extending from the housing 52 are four prongs 48 and 50. The outer prongs 50 have a flat spot 56 which acts as a key when inserted in the corresponding female receiving plug 58 (shown in
The female plug 58 shown in
Latching “ears” 64 are mounted on the housing 66 of the female plug 58 and provide structure for the latches 62 on the male plug 46 to latch on to. The interaction of the latches 62 and latching ears 64 provide a secure connection when the male plug 46 is attached to the female plug 58. The female plug 58 also has other latching structure 78 that may be adapted when other types of male plugs are used rather than the one shown in
The configuration of the appliance as shown in the FIGS. is meant to be exemplary only and not limiting. The location of and particular attaching arraignment for the latching bar 18 can be varied according to the needs and circumstances to which the latching bar 18 will be used. Although the integrated latching bar 18 and electrical connection is shown and described as associated with latching a combustion door shut on an combusting appliance, it will be appreciated that the integrated latching bar 18 and plug can be used in other circumstances. The integrated latching bar 18 can be used anytime it is desired to secure something closed and also provide an electrical connection. For example, it could be used as part of a security system. When the latching bar 18 is removed to provide access to open a window or door, the electrical connection is broken thus alerting the electronic the security system that the latching bar is no longer in a securing position. In sum, the invention may be used in a variety of applications and industries not particularly associated with combustion devices.
The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
