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US 6,938,634 B2Granted
Fuel control mechanism and associated method of use
AssigneeRobertshaw Controls Company
InventorRobert Gordon Dewey, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control device for regulating delivery of fuel and an associated method of use is disclosed. The control device includes an inlet, an electromagnetic safety valve, having a thermocouple connection, a control valve, wherein the electromagnetic safety valve selectively allows fuel to flow from the inlet to the control valve through the electromagnetic safety valve when the thermocouple connection is heated, an actuator valve, a main valve having a pressure responsive device, having a first side and a second side and including an outlet chamber, a regulator valve having a sensing port and an outlet. There is an adjustment mechanism associated with the control valve that can also direct fuel into a pilot assembly.
Claims27
A control device for regulating delivery of fuel comprising:
- an inlet;
- an electromagnetic safety valve, having a thermocouple connection;
- a control valve, wherein the electromagnetic safety valve selectively allows fuel to flow from the inlet to the control valve through the electromagnetic safety valve when the thermocouple connection is heated;
- an actuator valve;
- a first conduit that is in fluid communication between the control valve and the actuator valve;
- a main valve having a pressure responsive device, having a first side and a second side and including an outlet chamber;
- a second conduit that is in fluid communication between the actuator valve and the second side of the pressure responsive device for the main valve;
- a regulator valve having a sensing port and an outlet;
- a third conduit that is in fluid communication between the outlet chamber of the main valve and the sensing port of the regulator valve;
- a fourth conduit that is in fluid communication between the outlet of the actuator valve and the first side of the pressure responsive device for the main valve;
- a fifth conduit that is in fluid communication between the control valve and the main valve;
- an outlet;
- and
- a sixth conduit that is in fluid communication between the outlet chamber of the main valve and the inlet, wherein fluid can flow from the inlet to the outlet when the electromagnetic safety valve, the control valve and the main valve are open.
11 more elements
A control device for regulating delivery of fuel comprising:
- an inlet;
- an electromagnetic safety valve, having a thermocouple connection, wherein the electromagnetic safety valve includes a plunger, an electromagnetic coil that is electrically connected to the thermocouple and a biasing mechanism, wherein the plunger can be moved to a position to release fuel from the electromagnetic safety valve when electric current is applied to the electromagnetic coil from the thermocouple and by moving the plunger with the biasing mechanism to a position to prevent fuel from leaving the electromagnetic safety valve when electric current is no longer being applied to the electromagnetic coil;
- a poppet valve, wherein the electromagnetic safety valve selectively allows fuel to flow from the inlet to the control valve through the electromagnetic safety valve when the thermocouple connection is heated, wherein the poppet valve is manually controlled by an adjustment mechanism and the adjustment mechanism is able to trigger an interlock mechanism for locking the electromagnetic safety valve in a closed position and the adjustment mechanism is able to provide fuel flow to a pilot assembly;
- an actuator valve;
- a first conduit that is in fluid communication between the poppet valve and the actuator valve;
- a main valve having a pressure responsive device, having a first side and a second side and including an outlet chamber, wherein the main valve further includes a shaft, having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the shaft is operable connected to the pressure responsive device and the second end portion of the shaft is operatively connected to a valve face and a biasing mechanism for moving the valve face against a valve seat to close the main valve when there is no pressure applied against the pressure responsive device and when pressure is applied to the pressure responsive device, the pressure responsive device is able to overcome the force of the biasing mechanism for moving the valve face away from the valve seat to open the main valve;
- a second conduit that is in fluid communication between the actuator valve and the second side of the pressure responsive device for the main valve;
- a regulator valve having a sensing port and an outlet;
- a third conduit that is in fluid communication between the outlet chamber of the main valve and the sensing port of the regulator valve;
- a fourth conduit that is in fluid communication between the outlet of the actuator valve and the first side of the pressure responsive device for the main valve;
- a fifth conduit that is in fluid communication between the poppet valve and the main valve;
- an outlet;
- and
- a sixth conduit that is in fluid communication between the outlet chamber of the main valve and the inlet, wherein fluid can flow from the inlet to the outlet when the electromagnetic safety valve, the control valve and the main valve are open.
11 more elements
A method for regulating delivery of fuel with a control device comprising:
- selectively allowing fuel to flow from an inlet to a control valve through an electromagnetic safety valve, having a thermocouple, when the thermocouple is heated;
- selectively providing fuel flow in a first conduit that is in fluid communication between the control valve and an actuator valve;
- selectively providing fuel flow in a second conduit that is in fluid communication between the actuator valve and a second side of a pressure responsive device for a main valve;
- selectively providing fuel flow in a third conduit that is in fluid communication between a sensing port for a regulator valve and an outlet chamber for the main valve;
- selectively providing fuel flow in a fourth conduit that is in fluid communication between an outlet for the actuator valve and a first side of a pressure responsive device for a main valve;
- and
- selectively providing fuel flow in a fifth conduit between the control valve and the main valve from an inlet of the control device to an outlet of the control device via the electromagnetic safety valve, the control valve and the main valve.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.