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A flame sensor apparatus is provided including a sensor for sensing specific characteristics of a flame within a combustion chamber. The sensor includes a silicon carbide photodiode, and the sensor is spaced a distance from the combustion chamber. In addition, a fiber optic cable assembly extends be

A flame sensor apparatus is provided including a sensor for sensing specific characteristics of a flame within a combustion chamber. The sensor includes a silicon carbide photodiode, and the sensor is spaced a distance from the combustion chamber. In addition, a fiber optic cable assembly extends between the sensor and the combustion chamber. The fiber optic cable can convey the specific characteristics of the flame from the combustion chamber to the sensor. The fiber optic cable assembly is included as part of a sealed array filled with an inert gas. In addition, a method of sensing specific characteristics of a flame is also provided.

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1. A flame sensor apparatus comprising: a sensor to determine specific characteristics of a flame within a combustion chamber, the sensor including a silicon carbide photodiode, a sealed internal sensor chamber filled with an inert gas and at least one valve assembly in fluid communication with the

1. A flame sensor apparatus comprising: a sensor to determine specific characteristics of a flame within a combustion chamber, the sensor including a silicon carbide photodiode, a sealed internal sensor chamber filled with an inert gas and at least one valve assembly in fluid communication with the internal sensor chamber for supplying the inert gas to the internal sensor chamber, wherein the sensor is spaced a distance from the combustion chamber; anda fiber optic cable assembly extending between the sensor and the combustion chamber, the fiber optic cable assembly being attached to the sensor with the fiber optic cable assembly being in fluid communication with the internal sensor chamber through an internal bore, the fiber optic assembly comprising optical fibers and at least one layer within which the optical fibers are located, the fiber optic cable assembly being configured to convey the specific characteristics of the flame from the combustion chamber to the sensor, wherein the fiber optic cable assembly is included as part of a sealed array with the internal sensor chamber filled with the inert gas supplied by the at least one valve assembly, with the inert gas located within the fiber optic cable assembly and outside of the optical fibers. 2. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the specific characteristics of the flame include the presence and absence of the flame within the combustion chamber. 3. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the silicon carbide photodiode is configured to trigger a shut off of fuel to the combustion chamber. 4. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic cable assembly is sealed at opposing ends and filled with nitrogen gas. 5. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic cable assembly is attached to a first end portion of the sensor, the sensor further including a lens positioned at the internal sensor chamber of the sensor between the first end portion and the silicon carbide photodiode, the lens being configured to focus electromagnetic radiation energy from the fiber optic cable assembly onto the silicon carbide photodiode. 6. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 5, wherein the internal sensor chamber of the sensor is a first sensor chamber positioned between the first end portion of the sensor and the lens and the sensor includes a second sensor chamber positioned between the lens and an opposing second end of the sensor, the silicon carbide photodiode being positioned in the second sensor chamber. 7. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 6, wherein the silicon carbide photodiode is configured to convert electromagnetic radiation energy from the fiber optic cable assembly to an electrical signal in the form of a current output in the range of about 4 milliamperes to about 20 milliamperes, the current output being indicative of the specific characteristics of the flame. 8. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second sensor chamber is sealed and filled with the inert gas. 9. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 1, further including a sight tube projecting from the combustion chamber and defining an optical path from the flame and through the sight tube. 10. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 9, further including a probe assembly attached to the sight tube at a first end portion of the probe assembly and configured to receive specific characteristics of the flame from the sight tube, the probe assembly comprising: an internal probe chamber extending between the first end portion and an opposing second end portion of the probe assembly with the fiber optic cable assembly sealingly attached to the second end of the probe assembly;a sapphire window disposed within the internal probe chamber, the sapphire window being sealed within the internal probe chamber and configured to provide a pressure barrier; anda lens disposed within the internal probe chamber between the sapphire window and the second end, the lens being supported by at least one metal washer such that the lens is configured to focus light from the sight tube onto an end of the fiber optic cable assembly. 11. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lens is configured to focus electromagnetic radiation energy from the flame onto the fiber optic cable assembly. 12. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one valve assembly of the sensor includes two separate valves connected to the internal sensor chamber, a first of the two valves is a discharge valve to remove unwanted contents prior to providing the gas and a second of the two valves is a valve to supply the inert gas. 13. A flame sensor apparatus comprising: a sensor for sensing specific characteristics of a flame within a combustion chamber, the sensor including a silicon carbide photodiode, a sealed internal chamber filled with an inert gas and at least one valve assembly in fluid communication with the internal chamber for supplying the inert gas to the internal chamber;a probe assembly spaced a distance away from the combustion chamber, the probe assembly configured to receive specific characteristics of the flame from the combustion chamber; anda fiber optic cable assembly extending between the sensor and the probe assembly, the fiber optic cable assembly being attached to the sensor with the fiber optic cable assembly being in fluid communication with the internal chamber through an internal bore, the fiber optic assembly comprising optical fibers and at least one layer within which the optical fibers are located, the fiber optic cable assembly being configured to convey the specific characteristics of the flame from the probe assembly to the sensor, wherein the fiber optic cable assembly is included as part of a sealed array with the internal chamber filled with the inert gas supplied by the at least one valve assembly, with the inert gas located within the fiber optic cable assembly and outside of the optical fibers. 14. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 13, further including a sight tube projecting from an exterior of the combustion chamber, the sight tube defining an optical path through the sight tube and towards the flame. 15. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 14, wherein the probe assembly is attached to an end of the sight tube opposite from the combustion chamber, the probe assembly being configured to receive the specific characteristics of the flame from the sight tube. 16. The flame sensor apparatus of claim 13, wherein the probe assembly comprises: an internal probe chamber extending between a first end portion and an opposing second end of the probe assembly, the fiber optic cable assembly sealingly attached to the internal probe chamber at the second end of the probe assembly through an internal bore;a sapphire window disposed within the internal chamber, the sapphire window configured to form a seal with the internal probe chamber and provide a pressure barrier; anda lens disposed within the internal probe chamber between the sapphire window and the second end, the lens being supported by at least one metal washer such that the lens is configured to focus light from the sight tube onto an end of the fiber optic cable assembly. 17. A method of sensing specific characteristics of a flame within a combustion chamber, comprising the steps of: providing a fiber optic cable assembly;providing a sensor having a silicon carbide photodiode therein;receiving electromagnetic radiation energy from the flame by the fiber optic cable assembly;conveying the electromagnetic radiation energy from the fiber optic cable assembly to the sensor spaced a distance away from the combustion chamber;focusing the electromagnetic radiation energy from the fiber optic cable assembly onto the silicon carbide photodiode within the sensor; andsensing the specific characteristics of the flame with the silicon carbide photodiode based on the electromagnetic radiation energy;wherein the steps of providing a fiber optic cable assembly and providing a sensor includes providing the fiber optic cable assembly with: optical fibers, at least one layer within which the optical fibers are located and an inert gas, with the inert gas located within the fiber optic cable assembly and outside of the optical fibers, providing the sensor with: a sealed internal sensor chamber, the inert gas located within the internal sensor chamber and at least one valve assembly that is in fluid communication within the internal sensor chamber, and supplying the inert gas to the internal sensor chamber and the fiber optic cable assembly by the at least one valve assembly. 18. The method of claim 17, further including the step of removing moisture from the fiber optic cable assembly comprising the steps of: removing gases from an interior of the fiber optic cable assembly by the at least one valve assembly; andheating the fiber optic cable assembly at a sufficiently high temperature to remove moisture. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of providing the sensor with at least one valve assembly includes providing the sensor with two separate valves connected to the internal sensor chamber, a first of the two valves is a discharge valve to remove unwanted contents prior to providing the gas and a second of the two valves is a valve to supply the inert gas. 20. The method of claim 17, further including the step of converting the electromagnetic radiation energy to an electrical signal in the form of a current output in a range of about 4 milliamperes to about 20 milliamperes, the current output being indicative of the specific characteristics of the flame.