Method and apparatus for controlling gas flow to ceramic plaque burners of differing sizes
AssigneeDESA International, Inc.
InventorsJohn S. Manning, Christopher P. Hollis, James L. Jacobs, Ralph E. Pratt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radiant gas heater includes a first ceramic plaque burner and an adjacent and larger second plaque burner. A valve spindle is movable to establish in series "Low," "Medium" and "High" heat positions by first supplying gas in the vicinity of the first burner, then supplying gas in the vicinity of the second burner while momentarily maintaining the flow of gas to the first burner, next discontinuing the flow of gas to the first burner and finally by reestablishing the flow of gas to the first burner while maintaining the flow of gas to the second burner.
Claims13
The method of controlling ignition of a first plaque burner and a larger second plaque burner mounted in substantial coplanar adjoining relationship with the first plaque burner to achieve "Low", "Medium" and "High" heat settings in series, comprising the steps of:
- (a) supplying a pilot flame in the vicinity of the first plaque burner;
- (b) supplying gas to the vicinity of the first plaque burner and igniting the gas by the pilot flame to establish a "Low" heat setting by gas burning in the vicinity of the first plaque burner;
- (c) supplying gas in the vicinity of the second plaque burner while maintaining gas flow to the first plaque burner thereby to ignite the gas in the vicinity of the second plaque burner at least in part by the gas burning in the vicinity of the first gas burner;
- (d) disconnecting the flow of gas to the first plaque burner while maintaining the flow of gas to the second plaque burner to establish a "Medium" heat setting by gas burning in the vicinity of the second plaque burner;
- and
- (e) reestablishing the flow of gas to the first plaque burner while maintaining the flow of gas to the second plaque burner for igniting gas in the vicinity of the first plaque burner to establish a "High" heat setting by gas burning in the vicinities of both the first and second plaque burners.
A method for operating a ceramic gas burner having a small plaque burner and a large plaque burner whereby a user can sequence from "Off" to "Low", "Medium" and "High" heat settings comprising the steps of:
- providing a valve with one gas inlet and three gas outlets, a first outlet being connected to a pilot, a second outlet for directing gas to said small plaque burner and a third outlet for directing gas to said large plaque burner;
- maintaining said inlet in an open mode;
- blocking said first, second and third outlets for placing said ceramic gas burner in its "Off" mode;
- then blocking said second and third outlets and having said first outlet in an open condition for placing said ceramic burner in a pilot "On" mode and both of said plaque burners are in an "Off" mode;
- then blocking said third outlet and having said first and second outlets in an open condition for placing said ceramic burner in a pilot and small plaque burner "On" mode and said second plaque burner in an "Off" mode for achieving a "Low" heat setting;
- then opening all of said outlets for a short time span when said ceramic burner is cycled between "Low" and "Medium" heat settings;
- then blocking said second outlet and having said first and third outlets in an open condition for placing said ceramic burner in a pilot and large plaque burner "On" mode and said first plaque burner in an "Off" mode for achieving a "Medium" heat setting;
- and
- then opening all of said outlets for achieving a "High" heat setting.
A method for making a ceramic gas burner having a small plaque burner and a large plaque burner in adjacent relationship comprising the steps of:
- providing a small plaque burner;
- providing a large plaque burner;
- providing a pilot light assembly;
- providing a single valve having one gas inlet and first, second and third gas outlets;
- connecting a first tube between said first outlet and said pilot light assembly;
- connecting a second tube between said second outlet and a vicinity of said small plaque burner;
- and
- connecting a third tube between said third outlet and a vicinity of said large plaque burner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.