Patent ID: 7490011
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
1. A method of monitoring an energy conversion appliance of a kind which involves a combustion process and which, in normal use, performs two or more operational events in a pre-determined sequence, each said event having a different acoustic signature, said method comprising: providing a sound receiving transducer and positioning said transducer to receive sound signals emitted by the appliance during each of two or more operational events, a first of said operational events comprising a fluid flow event which is related to the process of combustion and a second of said operational events comprising operation of a mechanical or electro-mechanical device; providing output means associated with said sound receiving transducer, said output means being responsive to the sounds emitted by each of said first and second operational events; and employing a monitoring means to compare each of said received sound signals with pre-established data.