Pressure washer blower ignition electrical system

The blower/ignition/electrical system supplies the air, spark, and electrical power to facilitate and control the fuel combustion in a heat exchanger for devices which output a fluid, such as a pressure washer. The system is belt driven as an intricate part of the mechanical power system used for the fluid pressure pump. The flange/magnet hub spins past the ignition coil which in turn produces a high voltage electrical source. This potential is applied across the electrode gap to ignite a fuel. The flange magnet hub also spins past a stator coil assembly which in turn produces an alternating current. This current can be rectified or left unrectified, and is wired to a switch. When the switch is activated, the current path is through the safety control devices (such as temperature control, pressure switch or flow switch) and the fuel solenoid valve which controls the fuel flow into the combustion chamber. With the air, ignition spark, and fuel supplied and controlled in the combustion chamber, fuel combustion can now occur.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to apparatus, such as pressure washers, which output 
heated fluids. More specifically, this invention relates to facilitating 
and controlling fuel combustion in a heat exchanger for devices which 
output fluids. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Devices which output fluids include pressure washers used to clean 
equipment, buildings, automobiles and other items. Other devices of this 
type may include portable water or chemical heaters. These devices 
producing an output of fluids may be powered by an internal combustion 
engine, electric motor, or some other means of mechanical power. To 
provide the heating of the fluid, these devices typically employ a burner 
assembly with its own mechanical power source. Many have other means of 
supplying air, spark, and fuel to the combustion chamber; however, they 
still require an outside electrical power source and ignition transformer. 
The outside electrical power source usually means an alternating current 
from an electrical outlet or generator, or direct current from a battery 
system. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
A blower/ignition/electrical system is disclosed for a device with a heat 
exchanger that outputs fluids. The broad concept of this invention is to 
provide the necessary components for combustion (air, spark, and fuel) 
without a burner assembly that has its own mechanical power source and 
without an outside electrical power source. Air is provided by the 
spinning of the blower wheel inside the blower housing. The ignition is 
provided by the high voltage electrical source produced in the ignition 
coil, induced by the magnetic field of the spinning magnets. The 
electrodes facilitate a spark across their gap. The fuel is provided by a 
fuel pump that pressurizes fuel to the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve 
controls the fuel flow to the fuel nozzle in the combustion chamber. The 
solenoid is powered by the electrical power source from the alternator 
stator coil in the blower/ignition/electrical system. 
A main switch is placed in the circuit between the electrical power source 
and solenoid to facilitate activating the combustion control when desired. 
Safety control devices, such as a temperature control, flow switch, or 
pressure switch, may be included in the electrical circuit to control the 
solenoid valve and hence control the fuel flow to the combustion chamber 
after the main switch has been activated. For example, a pressure switch 
may be installed on a pressure washer to sense the fluid pressure of the 
system, and is wired into the control circuit. It may be arranged so that 
when the trigger valve on the unit is released and the fluid pump goes 
into bypass, the pressure switch opens the circuit, and the solenoid valve 
closes. This shuts off the flow of fuel to the nozzle in the combustion 
chamber, and combustion will cease. 
This blower/ignition/electrical system is self contained in that no outside 
electrical power source is needed. The only requirement is a means of 
transmitting mechanical power to spin the flange/magnet hub assembly. This 
comes from the same means of power transmission as the fluid pump, thus 
not requiring an additional mechanical power source. 
It is a feature and advantage of this invention to eliminate the external 
power source or generator for the fuel solenoid and controls. 
It is also a feature of this invention to provide all the necessary 
components of combustion (air, spark and fuel) without an additional 
mechanical power source (i.e. electric motor on burner assembly). 
It is yet another feature and advantage of this invention to provide means 
for combustion in heat exchangers regardless of the mechanical power 
source (i.e. gasoline engine, diesel engine, electric motor, etc.). 
Another feature of this invention is to facilitate supplying power for 
auxiliary lighting, safety control devices that regulate the flow of 
electricity (such as a primary control/cad cell), or other electrical 
devices. 
These objects and other features and advantages of this invention will 
become apparent to those skilled in the art readily upon referring to the 
following description in conjunction with the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
A device with a heat exchanger that outputs a pressurized fluid, such as a 
pressure washer, and incorporates the blower/ignition/electrical system 
according to this invention, is shown generally in FIG. 1. Referring to 
FIG. 3, the mechanical power source 1 provides the power transmitted to 
the flange/magnet hub 2 via belt 3. Belt 3 also transmits power to the 
fuel pump 4 which pressurizes fuel to the fuel solenoid valve 10. With the 
flange/magnet hub 2 operating, ignition coil 5 produces the high voltage 
electrical power which arcs across electrodes 9 for igniting the fuel from 
the nozzle 11. Also with the flange/magnet hub 2 operating, stator coil 6 
produces an electrical power who's path can be through a rectifier 15, 
main switch 14, operational control 13, and safety control device 12 to 
power the fuel solenoid valve 10. When energized, this solenoid valve 
allows the fuel to flow to the fuel nozzle 11. 
Air is forced into the combustion chamber 8 by the blower wheel 7 which is 
coupled to a shaft that is coupled to a shaft that is coupled to the 
flange/magnet hub 2. With the air provided by the blower wheel 7, spark 
provided by the ignition coil 5, and fuel controlled by the solenoid valve 
10, combustion is facilitated. The heat exchanger 8 can now heat the 
fluids. 
FIGS. 4-6 are views of the blower/ignition/electrical system assembly. In 
FIGS. 4-6, as in all figures, corresponding components have been given the 
same numerical designations. FIGS. 4-6 more clearly depict the 
interconnection of the components which make up the assembly for the 
blower/ignition/electrical system. 
The flange/magnet hub 2 is coupled to the shaft 16 by a hex nut 17 and 
woodruff key 18. Flange 19 retains the shaft bearings 20 and the shaft is 
retained in place by a snap ring 21. Flange 19 also provides the means of 
mounting the whole assembly to the blower housing of the heat exchanger 8 
(FIG. 3). A pair of ignition magnets 24 provide the magnetic field for the 
ignition coil 5. The alternator magnet 25 provides the magnetic field for 
the stator coil 6. The alternator magnet 25 is annular shaped and fits 
within the flange/magnet hub 2. The magnet 25 has been so magnetized as to 
have a plurality of magnetized areas 25a, 25b of alternating polarities. 
The stator coil 6 may be a plurality of coils 6a coupled together and 
disposed from part way to entirely about the circumference of the 
flange/magnet hub 2. Blower wheel 7 is coupled to the shaft 16 by means of 
a collar set screw 22 and woodruff key 23. 
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram depicting the ignition circuit of the 
blower/ignition/electrical system. In FIG. 7 through magnetic flux, the 
ignition coil 5 provides a high voltage electrical power that arcs across 
the electrodes 9. 
The circuit in FIG. 8 is similar to the circuit in FIG. 7 except the 
electrodes 6 are replaced by a spark plug 26. 
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram depicting the electrical circuit of the 
blower/ignition/electrical system. In FIG. 9 the stator coil 6 generates 
an alternating current signal that can be rectified by a rectifier 15. The 
electrical path is to a main switch 14. When switch 14 is closed, the 
current path is to a temperature control switch 13 and fluid sensing 
(either pressure or flow) switch 12 to energize the electromagnetic 
solenoid valve 10. 
The circuit in FIG. 10 is similar to the circuit in FIG. 9 except the 
safety control devices have been removed to save cost. This is a workable 
configuration; however, it is not recommended because of safety factors. 
The circuit in FIG. 11 is similar to the circuit in FIG. 9 except it shows 
an additional safety control device 27, such as a primary control/cad 
cell, incorporated into the circuit. 
The industrial applicability of this pressure washer blower ignition 
electrical system invention is believed to be apparent from the foregoing 
description. Although a preferred embodiment and modifications thereof 
have been disclosed herein, it is to be remembered that various alternate 
constructions can be made thereto without departing from the scope of this 
invention.