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US 8,136,517 B2Granted
Remote oven valve actuator
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsWade A. Atkinson, Christopher A. Larsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas cooking range includes a housing having an upper half section and a lower half section. A gas control valve is operable to control the flow of gas to a burner. The gas control valve is positioned in the lower half section of a housing of the gas cooking range. A handle extending from the gas control valve to the upper half section of the housing is operable to control the gas control valve.
Claims14
A gas cooking range comprising:
- a lower frame having a number of downwardly extending legs configured to contact a floor,
- a gas burner,
- an upper panel including a control interface operable to control the operation of the gas burner,
- a housing extending from the lower frame to the upper panel, the housing divided into an upper half section and a lower half section by a laterally extending imaginary bisecting line,
- a gas control valve mounted to the lower half section of the housing, the gas control valve being operable to control the flow of gas to the gas burner, and
- a handle assembly operable to control the gas control valve, the handle assembly comprising
- (i) a lever positioned below the laterally extending imaginary bisecting line, the lever being pivotally coupled to the gas control valve and movable between a first position in which the gas control valve is positioned in a closed valve position and a second position in which the gas control valve is positioned in an open valve position, and
- (ii) a shaft having a first end positioned above the laterally extending imaginary bisecting line and a second end positioned below the laterally extending imaginary bisecting line, the second end of the shaft being pivotally coupled to the lever such that vertical movement of the shaft causes the lever to move between the first position and the second position wherein the lever is coupled to a valve actuator rod of the gas control valve such that the movement of the lever causes the valve actuator rod to extend or retract substantially horizontally to control the flow of gas.
5 more elements
A gas cooking range comprising:
- a lower frame having a number of downwardly extending legs configured to contact a floor,
- a housing extending upwardly from the lower frame, the housing being divided into an upper half section and a lower half section by a laterally extending imaginary bisecting line,
- an oven secured to the housing, the oven including a cooking chamber and a door pivotally coupled to a front side of the housing,
- a gas burner operable to heat the oven,
- an upper panel secured to the housing, the upper panel including a control interface positioned above the front side of the housing, the control interface being operable to control the operation of the gas burner,
- a gas control valve mounted to the lower half section of a back side of the housing, the gas control valve being operable to control the flow of gas to the gas burner, and
- a handle assembly comprising (i) a shaft located outside of the cooking chamber, the shaft having a first end positioned on the back side of the housing in the upper half section and a second end coupled to the gas control valve, and (ii) a grip secured to the first end of the shaft and positioned behind the upper panel, the grip being operable to vertically move the shaft to control the gas control valve by causing a valve actuator rod of the gas control valve to extend or retract substantially horizontally.
4 more elements
A gas cooking range comprising:
- a lower frame having a number of downwardly extending legs configured to contact a floor,
- a first oven having a first cooking chamber,
- a second oven having a second cooking chamber,
- a first gas burner operable to heat the first oven,
- a second gas burner operable to heat the second oven,
- an upper panel including a control interface, the control interface being operable to control the first gas burner and the second gas burner,
- a housing extending upwardly from the lower frame to the upper panel, the housing having a front side and a back side positioned opposite the front side that is divided into an upper half section and a lower half section by a laterally extending imaginary bisecting line,
- a gas control valve mounted to the lower half section of the back side of the housing, the gas control valve being operable to control the flow of gas to the first gas burner and the second gas burner, and
- a handle assembly located outside of the first cooking chamber and the second cooking chamber, the handle assembly having a first end positioned in the upper half section of the back side of the housing and a second end coupled to the gas control valve, the handle assembly being moveable vertically to control the gas control valve by causing a valve actuator rod of the gas control valve to extend or retract substantially horizontally.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.