Unregulated integrated function gas valve for a water heater

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9423153-B2
Application number	US-41934809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2009
Priority date	Mar 24, 2009
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

An unregulated gas valve for a water heater that includes an inlet configured to receive a gas flow into the gas valve, an outlet configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a combustion chamber, a pilot line configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a pilot flame, and a dial configured to regulate the flow of gas into the gas valve, and further configured to select a water temperature setting.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An unregulated gas valve for a water heater comprising:
an inlet configured to receive a gas flow into the gas valve;
an outlet configured to direct a portion of the as flow to a combustion chamber;
a pilot line configured to direct a portion of the as flow to a pilot flame;
a dial configured to regulate the flow of gas into the gas valve, and further configured to select a water temperature setting; and
a pilot valve configured to shut off the flow of gas to the pilot line if the dial is melted by fire.

2. The unregulated gas valve of claim 1 , further comprising a safety magnet configured to prevent gas from flowing into the gas valve when there is no pilot flame.

3. The unregulated gas valve of claim 2 , further comprising a reset button that, when depressed, is configured to move the safety magnet and permit gas to flow to the pilot line.

4. The unregulated gas valve of claim 2 , further comprising a thermocouple that, when heated by the pilot flame, provides an electrical current to the safety magnet causing the safety magnet to allow a flow of gas into the gas valve.

5. The unregulated gas valve of claim 4 , wherein providing an electrical current to the safety magnet causes the safety magnet to permit gas to flow continuously to the pilot line and to the outlet.

6. An unregulated gas valve for a water heater comprising:
an inlet configured to receive a gas flow into the gas valve;
an outlet configured to direct a portion of the as flow to a combustion chamber;
a pilot line configured to direct a portion of the as flow to a pilot flame;
a dial configured to regulate the flow of gas into the gas valve, and further configured to select a water temperature setting;
wherein the dial is configured to rotate to a first position that prevents gas from flowing into the gas valve, and configured to rotate to a second position that permits the flow of gas to the pilot line.

7. The unregulated gas valve of claim 6 , wherein the dial further includes a plurality of markings on a perimeter wall, wherein the alignment of one of the plurality of markings with a fixed reference on the gas valve corresponds to a water temperature setting.

8. The unregulated gas valve of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of markings include markings that correspond to water temperature settings for cold, warm and hot.

9. An unregulated gas valve for a water heater comprising: an inlet configured to receive a gas flow into the gas valve; an outlet configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a combustion chamber; a pilot line configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a pilot flame; a dial configured to regulate the flow of gas into the gas valve, and further configured to select a water temperature setting; wherein the dial includes an integral gear configured to operate a temperature adjustment screw; a shank having a longitudinal axis, the shank configured to support a temperature probe assembly.

10. The unregulated gas valve of claim 9 , wherein the longitudinal axis is also the central axis of the dial.

11. A gas valve comprising:
a valve body configured to provide a flow path for a gas;
a safety magnet disposed within the valve body, wherein the safety magnet, in a first position, is configured to prevent a flow of gas into the valve body, and wherein the safety magnet, in a second position, is configured to permit the flow of gas into the valve body;
a pilot valve disposed within the valve body, wherein the pilot valve, in a first position, is configured to prevent the flow of gas to a pilot line, and wherein the pilot valve, in a second position, is configured to permit the flow of gas to the pilot line;
a temperature adjustment screw disposed within the valve body, the temperature adjustment screw configured to vary a water temperature setting; and
a dial configured to control a position of each of the temperature adjustment screw, the pilot valve, and the safety magnet.

12. The gas valve of claim 11 , wherein the pilot valve is further configured to prevent the flow of gas to the pilot line if the dial is melted by a fire.

13. The gas valve of claim 11 , wherein the dial includes a gear configured to engage and rotate the temperature adjustment screw.

14. The gas valve of claim 13 , wherein the temperature adjustment screw includes an adjustment screw gear to engage the gear on the dial.

15. The gas valve of claim 11 , further comprising a shank configured to support a temperature probe assembly, wherein a center of the shank is aligned with a center of the dial.

16. The gas valve of claim 11 , wherein the dial, in a first position, is configured to cause the pilot valve and safety magnet to prevent the flow of gas into the valve body, and wherein the dial, in a second position, is configured to cause the pilot valve to permit the flow of gas into the valve body to the pilot line.

17. The gas valve of claim 16 , further comprising a reset button disposed within the dial, wherein the reset button is configured to move the safety magnet so that gas will flow to the pilot line when the dial is in the second position.

18. The gas valve of claim 11 , further comprising a thermocouple that, when heated, provides an electrical current to energize the safety magnet and allow gas to flow into the valve body.

19. The gas valve of claim 18 , wherein the thermocouple is configured to be heated by a pilot flame.

20. The gas valve of claim 19 , wherein the pilot flame causes the safety magnet to move to, or remain in, the second position.

21. The gas valve of claim 11 , wherein the absence of a pilot flame causes the safety magnet to move to, or remain in, the first position.

22. A water heating system comprising:
a water tank;
a combustion chamber adjacent to the water tank;
and a gas valve comprising:
a valve body configured to provide a flow path for a gas;
a safety magnet disposed within the valve body, wherein the safety magnet, in a first position, is configured to prevent a flow of gas into the valve body, and wherein the safety magnet, in a second position, is configured to permit the flow of gas into the valve body;
a pilot valve disposed within the valve body, wherein the pilot valve, in a first pilot valve position, is configured to prevent the flow of gas to a pilot line, and wherein the pilot valve, in a second pilot valve position, is configured to permit the flow of gas to the pilot line;
a temperature adjustment screw disposed within the valve body, the temperature adjustment screw configured to vary a water temperature setting; and
a dial configured to control a position of each of the temperature adjustment screw, the pilot valve, and the safety magnet.

23. The water heater of claim 22 , wherein the pilot valve is further configured to prevent the flow of gas to the pilot line if the dial is melted by a fire.

24. The water heater of claim 22 , wherein the dial, in a first dial position, is configured to cause the pilot valve and safety magnet to prevent the flow of gas into the valve body, and wherein the dial, in a second dial position, is configured to cause the pilot valve to permit the flow of gas into the valve body to the pilot line.

25. The water heater of claim 24 , wherein the gas valve further comprises a reset button disposed within the dial, wherein the reset button is configured to move the safety magnet so that gas will flow to the pilot line when the dial is in

Assignees

• Nguyen Can Trong
• Joubran Raymond
• Robertshaw Controls Co

Inventors

• Nguyen Can Trong
• Joubran Raymond

Classifications

• F23N2235/24

  Valve details · CPC title

• Y10T137/1819

  Safety cut-off · CPC title

• F24H1/186

  using fluid fuel · CPC title

• F23N5/107

  using mechanical means, e.g. safety valves · CPC title

• F23N2035/24

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic