Burner igniter with a ceramic heater

• Main Authors: KAWANO; SHIGEYOSHI, SADAKATA; TOMOHIKO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.05.1988
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES; EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES; HEATING; IGNITION; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; WEAPONS

In a burner igniter using a ceramic heater, the resistance of the ceramic heater is detected to perform feedback control so that the temperature of the heater is maintained substantially constant to prevent both misfiring and overheating, while rapid temperature rise can also be obtained. The resistance value detected by a bridge circuit is fed to a proportional-integral controller which produces a control signal, while the current fed to the ceramic heater is also detected. The control signal and another signal indicative of the current to the ceramic heater are used to control a power source of the ceramic heater so that the current to the ceramic heater is controlled. A monitoring circuit responsive to both the resistance of the ceramic heater and the current fed to the ceramic heater may be added to warn a user that the life of the ceramic heater will soon end. The ceramic heater may comprise a portion having negative temperature coefficient, through which portion leak current would flow when the temperature of the ceramic heater rises so as to prevent overheating.