IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0943359
(2007-11-20)
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등록번호 |
US-7654820
(2010-03-31)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
48 인용 특허 :
48 |
초록
▼
In certain embodiments, a control valve assembly for gas heaters and gas fireplace devices includes a housing. The housing can define an inlet for accepting fuel from a fuel source, a first outlet for delivering fuel to an oxygen depletion sensor, and a second outlet for delivering fuel to a burner.
In certain embodiments, a control valve assembly for gas heaters and gas fireplace devices includes a housing. The housing can define an inlet for accepting fuel from a fuel source, a first outlet for delivering fuel to an oxygen depletion sensor, and a second outlet for delivering fuel to a burner. The assembly can include a valve body configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the inlet and one or more of the first outlet and the second outlet, and can include an actuator configured to move the valve body relative to the housing. The actuator can be configured to transition between a resting state and a displaced state. The assembly can include an igniter that includes a sensor, the igniter electrically coupled with an electrode and configured to repeatedly activate the electrode when the sensor senses that the actuator is in the displaced state. The assembly can include a shutoff valve electrically coupled with the oxygen depletion sensor and configured to operate in response to an electrical quantity communicated by the oxygen depletion sensor.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A control valve assembly for gas heaters and gas fireplace devices, the assembly comprising: a housing defining: an inlet for accepting fuel from a fuel source; a first outlet for delivering fuel to an oxygen depletion sensor; and a second outlet for delivering fuel to a burn
What is claimed is: 1. A control valve assembly for gas heaters and gas fireplace devices, the assembly comprising: a housing defining: an inlet for accepting fuel from a fuel source; a first outlet for delivering fuel to an oxygen depletion sensor; and a second outlet for delivering fuel to a burner; a valve body configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the inlet and one or more of the first outlet and the second outlet; an actuator configured to move the valve body relative to the housing, the actuator configured to transition between a resting state and a displaced state; an igniter comprising a sensor, the igniter electrically coupled with an electrode and configured to repeatedly activate the electrode when the sensor senses that the actuator is in the displaced state; and a first shutoff valve electrically coupled with the oxygen depletion sensor and configured to operate in response to an electrical quantity communicated by the oxygen depletion sensor; wherein the housing further defines a first passageway and a second passageway through the valve body and to the second outlet, and in a first mode the valve body will permit flow through the first passageway from the valve body to the second outlet and prevent flow through the second passageway from the valve body to the second outlet and in a second mode, the valve body will permit flow through the second passageway from the valve body to the second outlet and prevent flow through the first passageway from the valve body to the second outlet. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator is moved to the displaced state in order to move the valve body from a first orientation in which substantially no fluid communication is permitted between the inlet and the first and second outlets and a second orientation in which the inlet is in fluid communication with one or more of the first and second outlets. 3. The assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a cap having a plurality of ridges and depressions; and a biasing member configured to urge the actuator toward the resting state; wherein the actuator defines a protrusion that is retained within one of the plurality of depressions when the actuator is in the resting state, the protrusion being prevented from rotational movement by a set of adjacent ridges, and wherein a bias provided by the biasing member is overcome when the actuator is moved to the displaced state, thereby permitting the protrusion to rotate past one or more of the ridges. 4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the electrode is positioned in close proximity to the burner such that fuel delivered to the burner via the second outlet is ignited when the actuator is in the displaced state. 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the electrode ignites fuel delivered to the oxygen depletion sensor. 6. The assembly of claim 1, said actuator comprising a shaft comprising an extension, the extension configured to activate the sensor of the igniter when the actuator is in the displaced state. 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the sensor is positioned at a substantially fixed distance from an axial center of the actuator, and wherein the extension is configured to contact the sensor when the actuator is rotated about said axial center by any amount. 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor of the igniter is pressure activated. 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve body and the actuator comprise separate pieces. 10. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second shutoff valve configured to selectively prevent fluid communication between the valve body and the second outlet via the first passageway. 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the second shutoff valve comprises a solenoid in electrical communication with a thermostat. 12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve body is configured to selectively permit a range of fuel flow through the first passageway such that a height of a flame produced at the burner is adjustable. 13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the first passageway defines a first opening and the valve body defines a second opening, wherein the first and second openings are configured to align with each other by varying amounts in order to permit said range of fuel flow through the first passageway. 14. A control valve assembly for gas heaters, gas log inserts and gas fireplaces, the assembly comprising: a housing defining: an inlet for accepting fuel from a fuel source; a first outlet for delivering fuel to an oxygen depletion sensor; a second outlet for delivering fuel to a burner; a first fuel path in fluid communication with the second outlet; and a second fuel path in fluid communication with the second outlet; a valve body configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the inlet and one or more of the first outlet and the second outlet, the valve body configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet and the second outlet, wherein in one mode, fluid flow is permitted via the first fuel path and prevented via the second fuel path and in another mode, fluid flow is permitted via the second fuel path and prevented via the first fuel path; a first shutoff valve electrically coupled with the oxygen depletion sensor and configured to operate in response to an electrical quantity communicated by the oxygen depletion sensor; and a second shutoff valve configured to selectively prevent fluid communication between the valve body and the second outlet via the first fuel path. 15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the valve body is configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the inlet and the first and second outlets. 16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the second shutoff valve comprises a solenoid in electrical communication with a thermostat. 17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the valve body or a dial physically coupled with the valve body is configured to be manually manipulated such that an amount of fuel flow permitted through the first fuel path is alterable and a height of a flame produced at the burner is variable. 18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the second shutoff valve comprises a solenoid in electrical communication with a thermostat. 19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the first fuel path defines a first opening and the valve body defines a second opening, the first and second openings configured to align with each other by varying amounts in order to alter said amount of fuel flow permitted through the first fuel path. 20. The assembly of claim 14, further comprising an igniter electrically coupled with an electrode, the igniter configured to repeatedly activate the electrode as the valve body transitions among operational states.
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