Apparatus and methods for operating a cooking appliance

A cooking appliance comprising:

• a manifold in flow communication with a gas supply line;
• at least one gas surface burner element in selective flow communication with said manifold;
• a surface burner element control valve coupled to a corresponding said surface burner element, said surface burner element control valve configured to control gas flow from said manifold to said corresponding surface burner element;
• a lockout valve coupled in flow communication with said manifold, said lockout valve movable between a closed position restricting gas flow to said manifold, and an open position allowing gas flow to said manifold;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to said lockout valve, said controller configured to activate said lockout valve to move from the open position to the closed position based on an operational status of each said surface burner element control valve.

A method for controlling a gas supply for a cooking appliance, the method comprising:

• providing a manifold in flow communication with a gas supply line;
• coupling at least one gas surface burner element in selective flow communication with the manifold;
• coupling a surface burner element control valve to the corresponding surface burner element, the surface burner element control valve configured to control gas flow from the manifold to the surface burner element;
• coupling a lockout valve in flow communication with the manifold, the lockout valve movable between a closed position restricting gas flow to the manifold, and an open position allowing gas flow to the manifold;
• and
• operatively coupling a controller to the lockout valve, the controller configured to activate the lockout valve to move from the open position to the closed position based on an operational status of each surface burner element control valve.