Variable orifice gas flow modulating valve
OwnerMike Guminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature control system for a gas appliance utilizes an improved variable orifice gas flow modulating valve capable of direct modulation of gas flow through an orifice directly into a gas burner to provide a constantly maintained temperature in an appliance working compartment, as selected by human interface via a temperature selector. An actuator attached to a gas fitting body of the valve provides for linear movement of a metering pin into the taper inside the orifice, accomplishing the variable controlled modulated flow of gas directly into the burner. The actuator is controlled by an input signal from a programmable controller whose output is determined by calculations based on inputs from a temperature selector and a temperature sensor located in the gas appliance working compartment.
Claims13
A metering pin for use with a gas valve, the metering pin comprising:
- a sidewall of cylindrical shape, the sidewall including a first sidewall end, a second sidewall end, an axially-aligned center hole with a first diameter extending the entire length of the sidewall, and a lateral hole with a second diameter extending from the exterior of the sidewall to the center hole;
- a head coupled to the second sidewall end, the head having a tapered frustoconical shape with a planar endwall that includes an exit hole with a third diameter that couples to the center hole, wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are at least 10% larger than the third diameter;
- and
- a plurality of fins coupled to the sidewall, each fin having a first fin end aligned with the first sidewall end, a second fin end with a taper that aligns with the taper of the head and a surface extending from the first fin end to the second fin end;
- wherein the surface of the fins forms an outside circumference at the first fin end and extending with the same circumference to the second fin end.
A variable orifice gas flow modulating valve comprising:
- an orifice hood with an outlet orifice of small diameter that extends from the exterior of the orifice hood to the interior thereof, an internal bore having a relatively larger diameter, and an internal countersink having a taper that couples the outlet orifice to the internal bore;
- a gas fitting body with a gas inlet port and an internal passageway connected thereto, the internal passageway aligned with and coupled to the internal bore of the orifice hood;
- a metering pin positioned within the internal passageway and the internal bore, the metering pin including:
- a sidewall of cylindrical shape, the sidewall including a first sidewall end, a second sidewall end, an axially-aligned center hole with a first diameter extending the entire length of the sidewall, and a lateral hole with a second diameter extending from the exterior of the sidewall to the center hole,
- a head coupled to the second sidewall end, the head having a tapered frustoconical shape with a planar endwall that includes an exit hole with a third diameter that couples to the center hole, wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are at least 10% larger than the third diameter, and
- a plurality of fins coupled to the sidewall, each fin having a first fin end aligned with the first sidewall end, a second fin end with a taper that aligns with the taper of the head and a surface extending from the first fin end to the second fin end,
- wherein the surface of the fins forms an outside circumference at the first fin end and extending with the same circumference to the second fin end, and
- a gap is formed between the surfaces of the plurality of fins and the internal bore of the orifice hood;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the metering pin and operable to move the metering pin along the internal passageway and the internal bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.