Pressure Atomizing Oil Burner Equipment and Systems – Fuel Flow and Combustion Controls
A 1920’s automated combustion controller for oil fired, home heating systems, equipped with electro-magnetic actuated, tilting mercury bulb line voltage contractor and thermal electric safety lock-out with manual reset. Paired with a stack mounted, bimetal, automatic heat-sensing switch, it would set a new standard of performance, comfort, reliability and safety for Canadian homeowners. Absolute Con-Tac-Tor Corp., Model 77, Circa 1929. [1 of 2, See also ID# 231]
Features:
– Gloss black cabinet
– Sophisticated name plate and logo in black, red and chrome
– Original wiring harness
Technical Significance:
– With the “Locksmith” system, compact and elegant in concept, design and construction the Absolute Con-Tac-Tor Corp., later Time-O-Stat Controls Co. would introduce a new generation of advanced engineered combustion safety controls [c.f., ID # 226 and 227] and take over acknowledged leadership in the field of automatic oil heating for the Canadian home.
– Absolute Con-Tac-Tor Corp, moved to adopt an integrated systems approach, with its companion stack mounted heat sensor [ID # 229] and room thermostat [ID #215. The system stopped and started the oil burner, on call from the room thermostat, through a line voltage, electric solenoid actuated mercury bulb switch. Ne for the times, a compact thermally timed interlock, with manual reset performed the safety protection function.
– While simple, by contrast to the next generation of combustion controllers [See 234], these automated, electrical control devices were non-the-less something of a marvel, given the embryonic nature of engineering systems know-how of the times.
– Evident in this new generation of automated electrical devices was the introduction of electronic components, heralding the period, then 40 years or so ahead, in which combustion controllers would be primarily electronic devices, for example employing photo-electric sensing. Here a simple electronic condenser had been added to the analogue electrical switching mechanism, in order to help control arching, see Company Manual Ref #1 p.42
– These embryonic, electric automated systems were representative of the earliest introduction of complex systems into the Canadian home. See Note #2
Industrial Significance:
– Absolute Con-Tac-Tor Corp., later Time-O-Stat Controls Co., would launch a new generation of combustion control and safety technology with their “Locksmith” system. Compact and elegant in concept, design and construction it would prove to be the market leader. Later Time-O-Stat would be bought out by Honeywell to carry on in the position of widely acknowledged industry leader in HVACR automation and control
– Time-O-Stat Lockswitch and Stack Switch technology was widely used on both mechanical atomizing [See collection display item H2] and pressure atomizing [See collection display item H4] automatic oil heating systems in Canada throughout the early years of the industry.
– These control systems were a source of wonderment and no little fear for the Canadian public, as well as for many of the tradesmen who were called upon to understand, install and repair them, as well as to advise the homeowner on their proper, satisfactory operation.
– Absolute Con-Tac-Tor Corp., later Time-O-Stat Controls Co., would be among the first technology suppliers to the HVACR field, who understanding the increasing complexity of their automation technology, would provide service, installation and logic, trouble shooting guides.