Gas burner control mechanism

A control system for a gas fired appliance having a main burner and a single pilot burner, said control system comprising:

• first and second gas control valves for serial connection in a gas supply line to said main burner of said appliance, said second gas control valve being located downstream of said first gas control valve, each valve having a valve member resiliently biased closed and independent electromagnetic valve member latching means energizable to hold each valve member open, and deenergizable to allow each valve member to close, each of said valves including manual operating means to engage the valve member thereof with its respective latching means;
• conduit means coupled to said gas supply line between said first and second control valves, bypassing said second gas control valve, and in communication with said pilot burner of said appliance to supply gas thereto from said gas supply line;
• thermocouple type flame sensing means;
• bracket means to mount said flame sensing means adjacent said pilot burner for contact by the flame thereof;
• and
• electrical conductors operatively connecting said flame sensing means to each of the latching means of the respective said first and second gas control valves for energization of said latching means upon heating of said flame sensing means by the flame of said pilot burner to hold open both said valve members of said first and second gas control valves, said latching means of both said first and second gas control valves being deenergized in the absence of said flame whereby both said valve members of said first and second gas control valves are biased closed and gas flow through both said conduit means and said gas supply line is cut off.