초록 ▼

A duel fuel gas control valve controls the supply of gas (e.g., natural gas or liquid propane gas) to a gas grill. The duel fuel gas control valve is structured to control either natural or LP gas flow at the desired operating characteristics based on conventional gas supply characteristics and gas

A duel fuel gas control valve controls the supply of gas (e.g., natural gas or liquid propane gas) to a gas grill. The duel fuel gas control valve is structured to control either natural or LP gas flow at the desired operating characteristics based on conventional gas supply characteristics and gas grill requirements. A restrictor mechanism, when in first and second configurations, respectively, restricts movement of the valve core to a first predetermined range for a first mode of operation (first type of gas supply) and to a second predetermined range for a second mode of operation (second type of gas supply).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of converting a gas cooking grill from a first type of gas supply to a second type of gas supply using a duel fuel gas control valve, the method comprising: removing at least a portion of a removable restrictor mechanism from a first position, the restrictor mechanism restricting movemen

1. A method of converting a gas cooking grill from a first type of gas supply to a second type of gas supply using a duel fuel gas control valve, the method comprising: removing at least a portion of a removable restrictor mechanism from a first position, the restrictor mechanism restricting movement of a gas control valve within a gas cooking grill to a first predetermined range of motion when in the first position;installing the removed portion of the removable restrictor mechanism into a second position, the restrictor mechanism restricting movement of the gas control valve to a second predetermined range of motion when in the second position;reversing the removed portion of the restrictor mechanism prior to installing. 2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first type of gas supply is natural gas and the second type of gas supply is liquid propane gas, and the gas control valve comprises: an inner nozzle having a first orifice for outputting gas;an outer nozzle having a second orifice for outputting gas, the second orifice adjacent the first orifice; anda valve core having one or more ports for receiving gas from a first inlet port and structured to direct natural gas from the first inlet port through a by-pass chamber and through the second orifice when the valve core is in a first position, and direct liquid propane gas through a first chamber and through the first orifice and the second orifice and not through the by-pass chamber when the valve core is in a second position. 3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first predetermined range of motion overlaps the second predetermined range of motion. 4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first predetermined range of motion is substantially non-overlapping with the second predetermined range of motion. 5. The method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising: providing a first visible indicia to identify when the portion of the restrictor mechanism is in the first position and a second visible indicia to identify when the portion of the restrictor mechanism is in the second position. 6. A gas control valve comprising: a first inlet port operable for receiving gas from a gas source;an inner nozzle having a first orifice for outputting gas;an outer nozzle having a second orifice for outputting gas, the second orifice adjacent the first orifice;a valve core having one or more ports for receiving gas from the first inlet port and structured to direct gas from the first inlet port through a by-pass chamber and through the second orifice when the valve core is in a first position, and direct gas through a first chamber and through the first orifice and the second orifice and not through the by-pass chamber when the valve core is in a second position;means for restricting movement of the valve core to a first predetermined range in a first mode of operation and for restricting movement of the valve core to a second predetermined range in a second mode of operation, the means for restricting comprising a stop device;wherein the first mode of operation is a natural gas mode and the second mode of operation is a liquid propane mode; andwherein the stop device comprises: a first side having a first indicia indicating the first mode of operation, anda second side having a second indicia indicating the second mode of operation. 7. The gas control valve in accordance with claim 6 wherein the stop device restricts movement of the valve core to the first predetermined range in the first mode of operation and restricts movement of the valve core to the second predetermined range in the second mode of operation. 8. The gas control valve in accordance with claim 7 wherein the stop device is removably secured to a valve stem rigidly coupled to the valve core, the stop device comprises a stop extension rigidly secured to a housing of the gas control valve, and the stop device rotates in association with the valve stem. 9. A gas control valve comprising: a first inlet port operable for receiving gas from a gas source;an inner nozzle having a first orifice for outputting gas;an outer nozzle having a second orifice for outputting gas, the second orifice adjacent the first orifice;a valve core having one or more ports for receiving gas from the first inlet port and structured to direct gas from the first inlet port through a by-pass chamber and through the second orifice when the valve core is in a first position, and direct gas through a first chamber and through the first orifice and the second orifice and not through the by-pass chamber when the valve core is in a second position;a restrictor mechanism coupled to the valve core and operable for restricting movement of the valve core to a first predetermined range including the first position of the valve core when the restrictor mechanism is in a first position and restricting movement of the valve core to a second predetermined range including the second position of the valve core when the restrictor mechanism is in a second position, wherein the restrictor mechanism comprises: a stop device removably secured to a valve stem rigidly coupled to the valve core,a stop extension rigidly secured to a housing of the gas control valve, andwherein the stop device rotates in association with the valve stem;wherein the stop device restricts movement of the valve core to the first predetermined range in a first mode of operation and restricts movement of the valve core to the second predetermined range in a second mode of operation; andwherein the first mode of operation is a natural gas mode and the second mode of operation is a liquid propane mode; andwherein the stop device comprises: a first side having a first indicia indicating the first mode of operation, anda second side having a second indicia indicating the second mode of operation. 10. The gas control valve in accordance with claim 9 wherein the first predetermined range is about 180 degrees or less and the second predetermined range is about 180 degrees or less. 11. The gas control valve in accordance with claim 10 wherein the first predetermined range and the second predetermined range are substantially non-overlapping. 12. A gas grill comprising: a plurality of gas burners;a plurality of gas control valves, each gas control valve comprising, an inlet port operable for receiving gas from a gas source,an inner nozzle having a first orifice for outputting gas,an outer nozzle having a second orifice for outputting gas, the second orifice adjacent the first orifice,a valve core having one or more ports for receiving gas from the first inlet port and structured to direct gas from the first inlet port through a by-pass chamber and through the second orifice when the valve core is in a first position, and direct gas through a first chamber and through the first orifice and the second orifice and not through the by-pass chamber when the valve core is in a second position, anda valve stem coupled to the valve core; anda plurality of restrictor mechanisms, each restrictor mechanism corresponding to one of the plurality of gas control valves and restricting rotational movement of the valve stem and valve core for restricting movement of the valve core to a first predetermined range including the first position of the valve core when the restrictor mechanism is in a first position and restricting movement of the valve core to a second predetermined range including the second position of the valve core when the restrictor mechanism is in a second position, wherein each restrictor mechanism comprises: a stop device removably secured to the valve stem and rotatable in association with the valve stem, and the stop device comprises:a first side having a first indicia indicating a first mode of operation, anda second side having a second indicia indicating a second mode of operation. 13. The gas grill in accordance with claim 12 wherein the stop device restricts movement of the valve core to the first predetermined range in the first mode of operation and restricts movement of the valve core to the second predetermined range in the second mode of operation. 14. The gas grill in accordance with claim 13 wherein the first mode of operation is a natural gas mode and the second mode of operation is a liquid propane mode.