Safety system for gas grill
OwnerJason Baldwin Jonesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A specialized miniature housing installable between a source of gas and gas burners provides an aftermarket safety system for a gas grill. The system prevents accidental accumulation of gas in an enclosed volume within or around an unignited grill, thereby reducing or eliminating the risk of explosion. The housing includes a microcontroller coupled to an internal flow sensor, an external temperature sensor, and a valve. In response to signals received from the sensors, the microcontroller commands the valve to remain open only when positive flow through the housing is coincident with sufficient temperature at the burners. Otherwise, or upon loss of power, the valve closes to cut off gas supply to the grill.
Claims20
A safety system for a gas grill, comprising:
- a housing having a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and enclosing:
- a post,
- a tube fluidically connecting the gas inlet to the gas outlet,
- a controller having memory,
- a power source configured to provide power to the system,
- an internal sensor electrically coupled to the controller and configured to sense a flow rate of gas through the tube and communicate the flow rate to the controller, and
- a valve downstream from the internal sensor and electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the valve is configured to change state in response to a signal received from the controller;
- and
- an external sensor electrically coupled to the controller by a cable and configured to sense a temperature remote from the housing and communicate the sensed temperature to the controller, wherein the cable partially circumvolves the post to relieve strain exerted on the cable.
An aftermarket safety device for a gas grill, comprising:
- a cover removably attached to a base, the base having at least one post configured to receive a fastener to connect the base to the cover and a gas inlet fluidically connected to a gas outlet by a venturi tube, the base further comprising:
- a controller having memory and electrically coupled to an external power source configured to provide power to the system,
- two pressure transducers electrically coupled to the controller and configured to sense a pressure differential created across the venturi tube and communicate the sensed pressure differential to the controller, and
- a normally closed solenoid valve electrically coupled to the controller and downstream from the venturi tube, wherein the solenoid valve is configured to change state in response to a signal received from the controller;
- and
- an infrared temperature sensor electrically coupled to the controller by a cable and configured to sense a temperature remote from the housing and communicate the sensed temperature with the controller, wherein the cable partially circumvolves the post to relieve strain exerted on the cable.
A safety system for a gas grill, comprising:
- a housing having a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and enclosing:
- a post,
- a tube fluidically connecting the gas inlet to the gas outlet,
- a controller having memory,
- a power source configured to provide power to the system, and
- a valve electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the valve is configured to change state in response to a signal received from the controller;
- and
- an external sensor electrically coupled to the controller by a cable and configured to sense a temperature remote from the housing and communicate the sensed temperature to the controller, wherein the cable partially circumvolves the post to relieve strain exerted on the cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.