US 8,241,034 B2Granted

Fuel selection valve assemblies

AssigneeContinental Appliances, Inc.

InventorDavid Deng

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Abstract

In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a control valve for regulating fuel flow. The apparatus can include a burner and a valve assembly. In some embodiments, the valve assembly includes a housing, which can define a first fuel input for receiving a first fuel from a first fuel source and a second fuel input for receiving a second fuel from a second fuel source. The housing can define a first fuel output for directing fuel toward the control valve, and can define a third fuel input for receiving a portion of either the first fuel or the second fuel from the control valve. The housing can define a first egress flow path and a second egress flow path, each for directing fuel to the burner. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a valve body configured to selectively permit fluid communication between the first and second inputs and the output and between the third input and the egress flow paths.

Claims38

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a control valve configured to regulate fuel flow through the apparatus;
a burner configured to produce a flame;
and
a valve assembly comprising:
a housing defining:
a first fuel input for receiving a first fuel from a first fuel source;
a second fuel input for receiving a second fuel from a second fuel source;
a first fuel output directing fuel received from either the first fuel input or the second fuel input toward the control valve;
a third fuel input receiving a portion of either said first fuel or said second fuel from the control valve;
a first egress flow path for directing at least some of said portion of said first fuel received via the third fuel input to the burner;
and
a second egress flow path for directing at least some of said portion of said second fuel received via the third fuel input to the burner;
and
a valve body configured to selectively permit fluid communication between the first fuel input and the first fuel output or between the second fuel input and the first fuel output, and configured to selectively permit fluid communication (a) between the third fuel input and the first egress flow path, and between the third fuel input and the second egress flow path, or (b) between the third fuel input and the first egress flow path, and between the third fuel input and the first and second egress flow paths.

11 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a burner configured to produce a flame;
a valve assembly comprising:
a housing defining:
a first fuel input for receiving fuel from a first fuel source;
a second fuel input for receiving fuel from a second fuel source;
a first fuel output directing fuel received from either the first fuel input or the second fuel input;
a third fuel input receiving fuel from the control valve;
a first egress flow path directing fuel received from a fuel source toward the burner;
and
a valve body configured to selectively permit fluid communication between the first fuel input and the first fuel output or between the second fuel input and the first fuel output;
and
a mixing chamber positioned to receive fuel from the first egress flow path and defining one or more adjustable openings through which air can pass to mix with fuel received from the first egress flow path, the mixing chamber coupled with the valve body such that the one or more openings change size due to movement of the valve body.

9 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a control valve configured to regulate fuel flow through the apparatus;
a pilot assembly;
a burner configured to produce a flame;
and
a valve assembly comprising:
a housing defining:
a first fuel input for receiving a first fuel from a first fuel source;
a second fuel input for receiving a second fuel from a second fuel source;
a third fuel input receiving a portion of either said first fuel or said second fuel from the control valve;
a fourth fuel input receiving a portion of either said first fuel or said second fuel from the control valve;
a first fuel output directing fuel received from either the first fuel input or the second fuel input toward the control valve;
a first egress flow path directing said portion of said first fuel received via the third fuel input to the burner;
a second egress flow path directing said portion of said second fuel received via the third fuel input to the burner;
a second fuel output for directing said portion of said first fuel received via the fourth fuel input to the pilot assembly;
and
a third fuel output for directing said portion of said second fuel received via the fourth fuel input to the pilot assembly;
and
a valve body configured to selectively permit fluid communication between the first fuel input and the first fuel output or between the second fuel input and the first fuel output, between the third fuel input and the first egress flow path or between the third fuel input and the second egress flow path, and between the fourth fuel input and the second fuel output or between the fourth fuel input and the third fuel output.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/048,191Filed 13 Mar 2008 · us provisional application
Priority: 14 Mar 2007
Published: US 2008/0223465 A118 Sep 2008
Granted: 14 Aug 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

F23C 1/00
Combustion apparatus specially adapted for combustion of two or more kinds of
F23D 14/00
Burners for combustion of a gas
F23D 14/48
Details: nozzles
F23D 14/62
Details: mixing devices; Mixing tubes