Control valves for heaters and fireplace devices

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a control valve assembly for gas heaters and gas fireplace devices includes a housing. The housing can define an inlet for accepting fuel from a fuel source, a first outlet for delivering fuel to an oxygen depletion sensor, and a second outlet for delivering fuel to a burner. The assembly can include a valve body configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the inlet and one or more of the first outlet and the second outlet, and can include an actuator configured to move the valve body relative to the housing. The actuator can be configured to transition between a resting state and a displaced state. The assembly can include an igniter that includes a sensor, the igniter electrically coupled with an electrode and configured to repeatedly activate the electrode when the sensor senses that the actuator is in the displaced state. The assembly can include a shutoff valve electrically coupled with the oxygen depletion sensor and configured to operate in response to an electrical quantity communicated by the oxygen depletion sensor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 871,760, filed Dec. 22, 2006, titled CONTROL VALVES FOR HEATERS AND FIREPLACE DEVICES; the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Inventions[0003]Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to heating devices, and relate more specifically to fluid-fueled heating devices.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Many varieties of heaters, fireplaces, stoves, and other heating devices utilize pressurized, combustible fuels. Some such devices can include control valves that regulate fluid flow through the devices. However, such control valves have various limitations and disadvantages.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS[0006]In certain embodiments, a control valve assembly for gas heaters and gas fireplace devices includes a housing. The housi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]In some embodiments, a control valve assembly for gas heaters, gas log inserts and gas fireplaces includes a housing. The housing can define an inlet for accepting fuel from a fuel source, a first outlet for delivering fuel to an oxygen depletion sensor, and a second outlet for delivering fuel to a burner. The housing can further define a first fuel path in fluid communication with the second outlet and a second fuel path in fluid communication with the second outlet. The assembly can include a valve body configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the inlet and o...

Problems solved by technology

However, such control valves have various limitations and disadvantages.

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