US2069278A

US2069278A - Heat regulator for ovens and the like

Info

Publication number: US2069278A
Application number: US580819A
Authority: US
Inventors: Warren W Sackett
Original assignee: Milwaukee Gas Specialty Co
Current assignee: Milwaukee Gas Specialty Co
Priority date: 1931-12-14
Filing date: 1931-12-14
Publication date: 1937-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1954-02-02

Description

Feb. 2, 1937. w. w. sAcKETT y 2,059,273

` HEAT REGULATOR FOR OVENS AND THE LIKE l Filed Dec. 14, 193;. 2 Sheets-Sheel'l 1 y /b/dff 5415@ Feb. 2, 1937. w. w. sAcKETT HEAT REGULATOR FOR OVENS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a M an.. W

'flllllllII/ Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT REGULATOR FOR OVEN S AND THE LIKE Application December 14, 1931, Serial No. 580,819

18 Claims.

My invention relates to heat regulators for gas ovens and the like, and contemplates an improvement which will enable the thermal sensitive device of the regulator to pass, for example, through the side wall of the oven and into position indicative of the prevailing temperature within the oven, and in which the selecting device is operable from the front of the control panel of the range without positioning the entire selecting dial mechanism externally of that panel and without disposing the axis of the dial at right angles to the axis of the selecting spindle which passes through the oven wall and cooperates with the thermal sensitive device.

In the use of gas ranges, the side wall of the oven is sometimes so disposed that the selecting dial either cannot be disposed on the outer end of the spindle which cooperates with the thermal sensitive device, or is not conveniently accessible when so disposed. It also frequently is not desirable to dispose the axis of the selecting device at right angles to the axis of the spindle which cooperates With the thermal sensitive device, and where the oven is of the cabinet type or has a front control panel, frequently it is not desirable to have the entire selecting dial mechanism outside of that panel.

My present invention provides a regulating device in which the axis of the dial may be positioned generally parallel to the axis of the spindle which cooperates with the thermal sensitive device and in offset relation with respect thereto. This enables passing the thermal sensitive device of the regulator through the wall of the oven and into position indicative of the prevailing temperature Within the oven and at the same time enables disposition of the selecting dial in proximity to the front of the range for access therefrom.

My invention further provides a device in which the selecting dial and other parts may be substantially completely concealed, and. in the illustrated embodiment the` dial is of the drum type provided on its periphery with the linger piece for manipulating the same, only a portion of which finger piece need be exposed through an opening in the control panel, the major portion of the dial and the other parts being adapted to be concealed behind that panel to presentl a pleasing and finished appearance.

Another feature of my present invention resides in the adaptability of the selecting device for positioning in different positions with respect to the thermal sensitive device, and particularly for disposition at the front of the range With the thermal sensitive device applied to a left hand, right hand or other oven arrangement.

My invention still further provides a device' of this sort comprising a selecting device, thermal sensitive device and control device which may be 5 assembled in precorrelated relation and installed as a unitary assembly.

I have referred to passing the thermal sensitive device of the regulator through the side wall of the oven and to positioning of: the selecting dial 10 adjacent the control panel at the front of the range, and I shall describe hereinafter in connection with the drawings a device so installed, but it is to be understood that the device is not limited to this? particular use or this particular 15 manner of installation but may be applied as suitable or desired.

In order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and operating a device in accordance with my present invention, 20 I shall now describe in connection with the accompanying drawings certain embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a cabinet type 25 gas range, showing an embodiment of the present invention in connection therewith;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through the axis of the selecting dial and through the axis of the spindle which cooperates with the 30 thermal sensitive device subsantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view partially in section and par- 35 tially in elevation and taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, showing a modification of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reference nu- 40 meral Ill indicates in its entirety a gas range of the cabinet type having an oven II. The oven II has a door I Ia provided with a suitable handle IIb. The range I0 has a front control panel IIIa and valves I2 are positioned along this panel for 45 the purpose of controlling the ow of fuel to the top burners 13a, as well understood in the art. A hinged cover I3 provides a cover for the top burners, and this cover is adapted to be swung upwardly and backwardly about the hinge means I3b along the rear edge of the cover. A valve I4 also on the control panel Illa controls the flow of fuel to the oven burner which is not shown but is situated beneath the oven Il.

Positioned in the embodiment shown in proximity to the right hand end of the panel Illa is the selecting dial l5 provided with temperature markings |5a which are selectively positioned by turning of the dial in register with the marking |517 on the panel ma. for the purpose of setting the regulator to maintain any desired temperature within the oven. The panel Ida has a small slot |5c adjacent the dial l5, and the circular wall of the dial is positioned so that a small portion thereof is disposed in the slot |50 ush with the outer surface of the panel lila. The dial |5 has a dial ring a small portion of the knurled or roughened periphery of which extends slightly through the slot |50 so that the nger may be frictionally engaged therewith for the purpose of turning the dial to select the desired temperature to be maintained within the oven. As shown in Figure 4, one end of the slotted opening |5c is enlarged to accommodate the great diameter of the dial ring Il with the relatively small portion of the dial I5 exposed at the opening I5c.

The radial wall of the dial l5 is provided centrally with an opening, and the dial ring l'! is provided with a similar registering opening for receiving the adjacent end of the control stem and the dial and dial ring are secured in place upon this stem to turn the same therewith by means of friction washers 2|, an abutting iiange 22 and an adjusting screw 23 which has threaded engagement with the stem 2) and clamps the ring and radial wall of dial l5 to the shoulder 22 with one friction washer between the head of the screw and the shoulder 22 and the other between the shoulder 22 and the adjacent radial Wall of the dia-l. YIn case of any discrepancy between the setting of the dial and the action of the device, the screw 23 may be loosened slightly, the dial turned with respect to the stem 29 to the desired setting, and the screw 23 tightened to bind the dial firmly in set position.

The stem 26 is threaded into the dial bracket 32, which is of angular configuration, and has a projecting lug in which is secured a stop pin 26. A radially disposed pin 21 secured to the inner surface of the circular wall of the dial |5 is adapted to contact with the pin 29 to limit the rotation of the dial member and associated control stem. With this arrangement it is possible to rotate the dial member I5 through almost a complete rotation, but it is not possible to unthread the control stem 29 from the bracket 24.

The stem 29 has a reduced portion 28 which engages in a slot 3| in a lever 29 which is fulcrumed at upon a pin secured at its opposite end in lugs 34 integral with the bracket 32 and spaced to receive the lever 29 therebetween. The free end of the reduced portion 23 of the stem 20 has a head 30 which prevents displacement of the adjacent slotted end of the lever 29. The bracket 32 has an opening 33 providing access to the headed end 30 of the reduced stem portion 28, which reduced stem portion may be, if desired,

formed separately from the stem 20 and threaded into the adjacent end thereof. By proper determination of the pitch of the threads securing stem 2B in bracket 32, it is possible to determine the effective longitudinal movement of the stem upon rotation of the dial l5, and this, in turn, makes it possible to determine the amount of movement imparted to lever 29 by turning of the dial.

The opposite end of the lever 29 is provided with an aperture into or through which extends the reduced outer end 36 of the spindle or adjusting pin 31. The pin 31 is mounted for axial sliding movement in a boss 38 integral with the bracket 32, and this boss is recessed at 39 to receive a spring 49 which engages with a washer as shown in Figure 2 and normally urges the shoulder adjacent the reduced end 36 of the stem 3T against the adjacent end of the lever 29.

The oven wall is indicated at 4| and has an inner lining or insulating wall 42 spaced inwardly therefrom. This provides an insulating air chamber 43 which is adapted to prevent too rapid transmission of heat from the oven to the exterior wall, and the inner wall is formed with a relatively oblong and vertically extending recess 43a opening inwardly at 43h into the interior of the oven and adapted to receive the thermal sensitive device of the regulator. This recess may be formed by bending the inner wall outwardly around the desired recess with the outer margins of the bent out portions of the lining contacting with the outer wall 4| as shown.

The outer wall 4| has an opening 44 through which the integral sleeve 45 at the upper end of the housing 46 for the thermal sensitive device is passed. The housing 46 at the outer end of the integral sleeve portion 45 provides shouldered abutment with the outer surface of the outer wall 4|, and the housing 46 may be secured to the outer oven wall 4| by means of stud screws or bolts e? inserted from within the recess 43a. and passing through openings in the wall 4| and threaded into the housing 46.

The housing 46 has integral web-like flanges terminating in ears 49 and a rocker or fulcrum pin 59 extends between these ears and is secured at its opposite ends therein. The hollow boss 38 of the housing 32 is inserted in the integral sleeve 45 of the housing 46, the housing 32 at the outer end of the boss 38 having shouldered abutment with the housing portion at the outer end of the sleeve 45 and is secured in abutting Contact therewith by means of a nut 5| threaded upon the inner end of the boss 38. In this manner the housing 32 with the selecting mechanism carried thereby is secured to the housing 46 carrying the thermal sensitive device so that these devices with their respective housings are joined together into a unitary assembly.

The inner end of the pin 3l has a reduced projection 52 which extends into an aperture in the upper end of the bi-meta-llic element 53. This element 53 is composed of strips of different metals and having diierent coemcients of expansion as well understood in the art, with the strip having the greater coeiiicient of expansion 5 positioned on the left hand side of the element as viewed in Figure 3.

The bi-metallic element 53 has free abutting contact with the shoulder provided at the outer end of the pin 37 by the reduced portion 52 there of, and the same side of the bi-metallic element has free abutting contact at its opposite end with a valve stem 54. Between its ends and upon its opposite side the bi-metallic element 53 has free abutting contact with the rocker or fulcrum pin i7" 59, which, with the other free abutting contacts, effectively constrains the bi-metallic element and at the same time permits free warping action thereof. The outer end of the valve stem 54 cooperates with a valve member 55 of the mush- F room type.

The housing or bracket 46 has an enlarged valve body 56 at its lower end. This valve body 56 is provided with an inlet chamber 51 and an outlet chamber 53. A bushing member 59 threaded into the housing or bracket 46 provides a guide for the valve stem 54 and permits sliding movement of the valve stem therein. This bushing is threaded into an opening 60 in the valve body portion 5B and forms a gas-tight closure therewith. The valve member 55 has an outwardly extending central enlargement 6I around which the inner end of a generally conical spring 62 lits. The opposite and larger end of the spring 62 seats in a recess 63 in a removable plug member 64 which is threaded into the valve body portion 56.

The valve body 55 has an integral flange forming a separating partition between the inlet and outlet chambers, which ilange has the Valve opening or port 65a and is recessed at 66 to provide a seat for the valve 55. A gas or other fuel inlet pipe 61 opens into the inlet chamber 51 and is connected to the valve housing 56 as by threaded engagement therewith. This pipe leads from the gas manifold and the gas i'iow therethrough may be controlled by the control valve I4shown in Figure 1, although it is to be understood that this pipe may be connected with any other source of fuel supply. A second pipe 88 opens from the outlet chamber 58 and has connection with the oven burner. When the control valve I4 is open gas flows through the pipe 61 into the inlet chamber 51, and assuming the valve 55 is open, past this valve into the outlet chamber 5B from which it flows through the pipe 68 to the gas burner or burners for the oven II. It is understood that the form of the valve 55 and the other details may vary within the scope of the present invention.

A by-pass po-rt B9 is provided through the wall 65 between the inlet and outlet chambers 51 and 58, and this port is iiared at its outlet end for cooperation with the tapered end of an adjusting screw 10 threaded in the valve body 56 and provided for the purpose of adjusting the effective area of the by-pass 69. Threading the adjusting screw 18 into the valve body decreases the area of the by-pass 69 and this screw provides an adjustment for limiting the effective area of this by-pass.

The by-pass 69 is provided for the purpose of permitting a predetermined minimum quantity of gas to ow through the control mechanism when the control valve I4 is opened. This small quantity of gas ignites the burner and assures ignition whenever the valve I4 is opened. The small flame provided at the burner thereby might be termed a burner maintenance flame, and it assures ignition of the oven burner without the operation of the control mechanism.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that all of the parts of the regulator may be assembled in pre-correlated relation and installed as a unit assembly and that the thermally responsive device is disposed so that its action will be indicative of the prevailing temperature in the oven. At the same time the controlling device comprising the valve mechanism in the valve housing 56 is disposed in proximity to the fuel feed means for convenient connection therethrough and the selecting mechanism is disposed for convenient access from the front of the range. The relationship between the thermally responsive device and the controlling device may be fixed in the unit assembly, and this relationship may be made and the device accurately gauged at the factory. The matter of installation therefore becomes a mere matter of appropriately applying the unit assembly and securing the same in place by the screws 41.

In operation the dial is turned to bring the appropriate temperature marking into register with the marking I5o (Figure l) by frictionally engaging the finger with the dial ring I1 and turning the same so that when the valve I4 is opened the device maintains in the oven the temperature at which the dial is set. If the temperature exceeds that for which the device is set, the b-i-metallic element 53 warps and permits the valve 55 to move towards its closed position to reduce the supply of gas to the oven burner or burners, and if the temperature in the oven falls below that for which the device is set, the bi-metallic strip straightens and increases the opening of the valve 55 to increase the fuel supply to the oven burner. In turning the dial to set the device the turning of Vstem 28 produces a longitudinal movement thereof and this rocks the lever 29 about the fulcrum 35 to move the pin 31 inwardly or outwardly, depending uponthe direction of rotation. This movement of the pin 31 swings the bi-metallic strip 53 about its fulcrum to open the valve 55 therethrough or permits this bi-metallic strip 53 to be rocked about its fulcrum under the action of the spring 62y which thereupon moves the valve 55 toward its seat.

The embodiment of Figure 5 is formed to permit positioning of the selecting dial closer to the oven wall 4I. This lends itself to installations where the space is limited. In this embodiment the outer side wall of the oven is indicated at 4I and has the opening 15 for insertion of the thermal sensitive device within the oven proper or within the recess in the double walled construction as disclosed in the preceding embodiment. An outer facing wall or control panel corresponding to the panel Illa of Figures 1 to 4 is indicated at 16 and has an opening 11 in which the dial 18 is tangentially positioned for visibility of a portion thereof through the opening. The dial 18 has the dial ring or'hand wheel 19 corresponding to the dial ring I1 of the previous embodiment, and this dial ring may be of bakelite or other suitable material and is knurled or roughened peripherally to provide a suitable linger grip.

The stem is threaded into the L-shaped bracket which has the stem supporting portion 8l The stem 88 has an enlarged annular ange 82 against which a friction washer 83 has abutting engagement, and between this friction washer 83 and the end of the control stem I position the radial wall of the dial 18, the hand wheel or dial ring 19 and a second friction washer 84, and a screw 85 is threaded into the stem 88 and clamps the dial and dial ring rigidly to the shoulder 82, it being understood that the dial may be turned with respect to the stem 83 to adjust for discrepancies by loosening the screw, turning the dial with respect to the stem and then tightening the screw to bind the dial firmly and rigidly in set position.

The housing or bracket 86 is preferably cast of aluminum, brass or some suitable alloy. The portion 8| of this bracket is threaded for threaded engagement with the threaded stem 88, and the bracket has a cut-away portion 81 permitting access to the reduced portion S8 of the stem 88. This reduced portion 88 of the stem 80 engages in the slot 69 in the adjacent end of the pivoted lever 90. The housing 86 has projecting lugs SI and a fulcrum or rocker pin 92 for the lever 9i) extends between these lugs and is secured at its opposite ends therein. Rotation of dial wheel 18 rotates stem 80 which causes longitudinal movement of the slotted end 89 of the lever 90, and this forces the opposite end 93 of the lever 9|! to move in the reverse direction. Rotation of stem is limited by means of a stop pin 95 secured in the projecting flange 94 of the housing 86 and having stopping cooperation with a pin 96 projecting radially from the inner periphery of the dial 18.

The integral leg 91 of the housing 86 projects through the opening 'l5 in the oven wall 4|', and this leg 91 is tubular and has mounted reciprocably therein a pin or plunger member 99. The inner end of the leg 91 is threaded to receive a nut 98 which secures the tubular leg 91 in the sleeve portion |02 of the control housing similar to the previous embodiment. The housing 86 has the recessed portion |03 which is adapted to receive the upper end 93 of the lever 95%. The plunger 99 is supported in the tubular leg 97 by means of a guide member |04 positioned in the end thereof. The other end of the plunger member 99 has a reduced portion E65 engaging in a slot in the upper end ci the lever 9G as shown. The outer end |126 of the plunger 9'! is slidably supported in the housing 86.

The reduced inner end Il of the plunger member 99 engages in an aperture in the bi-metallic strip |08 corresponding with the bi-metallic strip of the previous embodiment. Ears l formed integral with the bracket part |02 support the opposite ends of a fulcrum or rocker pin l) for the bi-metallic element |68 as in the previous embodiment, and the opposite end or" this bimetallic element has cooperation with the control mechanism.

A virtue of the device of the present invention resides in the universal character of its construction. As shown, for example, in Figure 2 a lock pin |25 inserted into registeringr apertures in the bracket 32 and bracket 46 locks the bracket member 46 against turning movement on the boss 38 of the bracket member 32. In Figure l the oven is shown at the right hand side of the top burners and the

bracket members

32 and 46 are locked together for use with such an oven arrangement. Where the oven is at the left hand side of the top burners, the lock pin |25 may be withdrawn, the bracket 32 rotated through degrees with respect to the bracket 46 and the lock pin |25 inserted through an aperture |26 in the bracket 32 and into the aperture in the bracket 46 in cooperation with which it is shown in Figure 2. This enables applying the thermal sensitive device to an oven wall at the left hand side of the top burners and positions the selecting mechanism 'forwardly adjacent the control panel. The dial |5 may be replaced With another dial suitable for use in this position, or the temperature markings |5a on the dial i5 may be so arranged that they will be suitable in either position of the dial. Obviously, the adjustable character of the device is not limited to swinging movement of the bracket 32 thru 180 degrees With respect to the bracket 46, but other amounts of angular movement and a plurality of diierent angular positions of these members are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown or described.

I claim:

l. The combination with a gas range having a front control panel and an oven provided with a side wall, of a heat regulator comprising a thermal sensitive mechanism extending through the side wall of the oven, and a selecting device connected with said thermal sensitive mechanism and including a selecting dial disposed with its axis of rotation generally parallel to said front panel, said thermal sensitive mechanism being disposed in a plane generally normal to the axis of rotation of said selecting dial.

2. The combination with a gas range having a front control panel and an oven provided with a side wall and an inner lining wall, said panel having an openingi of a heat regulator comprising a thermal sensitive mechanism extending through the side wall of the oven and disposed between said wall and said lining wall, and a selecting device connected With said thermal sensitive mechanism and including a selecting dial disposed with its greater portion concealed behind said panel, said dial having a dial ring accessible through the opening in said panel.

3. In combination, a planar thermal sensitive l device pivoted intermediate its ends, a plunger cooperable therewith and extending normal thereto, a selecting stem disposed with its axis generally parallel the axis of said plunger and oiset with respect thereto, and a lever fulcrumed between said plunger and said stem and cooperating With the plunger on one side of said fulcrum and with the stem on the opposite side of said fulcrum.

4. In combination, a thermal sensitive device pivoted intermediate its ends, a plunger cooperable with one end thereof, a selecting stem disposed with its axis generally parallel the axis of said plunger and offset with respect thereto,

a lever fulcrumed between said plunger and said stem and cooperating with the plunger on one side of said fulcrum and with the stern on the opposite side of said fulcrum, a dial for said stem, a peripheral nger piece for said dial, and a control device connected with the opposite end of said thermal sensitive device.

5. In combination, a bracket, a selecting device thereon, a housing swingably attached to said bracket, means for locking said housing against swinging movement with respect to said bracket, a control device on said housing, a thermal sensitive device forming a regulating connection between said selecting device and said control device, said connection including a plunger cooperable with the thermal sensitive device, and the selecting device having a dial disposed with its axis generally parallel to said plunger and oiiset with respect thereto.

6. In an oven, a control device comprising a control dial, a control stem cooperating with said dial, a pivoted lever associated with one end of said control stem and extending at right angles thereto, a plunger engaging the other end of said lever, a valve and cooperating valve stem, actuating means for said valve stem adapted to cooperate with said plunger including a second pivoted lever whereby rotation of said control dial actuates said valve.

7. In an oven, a control device comprising a control dial, a control stem cooperating with said dial, a pivoted lever associated with one end of said control stem and extending at right angles thereto, a plunger engaging the other end of said lever, a valve, a valve stem, actuating means comprising a pivoted thermally sensitive element for said valve stem adapted to cooperate with said plunger whereby rotation of said control dial actuates said valve.

8. In combination, an oven having a side wall, a lining wall spaced inwardly from said side wall and having a recess therein, regulating mechanism for said oven comprising a rotatable selecting device disposed exterior to said side wall, a control device beneath said selecting device, and a thermally sensitive member disposed in said recess and transmitting movement of said selecting device to said control device, a panel for said oven extending normally with respect to said side wall and having a cut-out portion, and dial means extending partially through said cutout portion and rotatable in a plane normal to said panel for operating said selecting device.

9. In combination, a heat regulator comprising a control device having a valve stem therein, thermally sensitive means having abuttingengagement at one end with said valve stem, a selecting device having its axis of rotation normal to the plane of said thermally sensitive means, and motion transmitting means extending between said selecting device and the opposite end of said thermally sensitive means including a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and lying in a plane parallel to said thermally sensitive means, said selecting device being rotatable as a unit about said opposite end of said thermally sensitive means.

10. In combination, a selecting device having a threaded selecting spindle, a slidable plunger laterally offset from and extending parallel thereto, a housing having extending offset boss portions receiving said spindle and said plunger, respectively, a planar lever member pivoted intermediate its ends and disposed between the ends of said spindle and plunger, said lever extending normal to the axes of said spindle and plunger, and pivotally mounted thermally sensitive means engaging the free end of said plunger.

ll. In a device of the class described, a housing having an offset collar portion, a second housing having a projecting boss portion secured in said collar portion, a valve and valve stem in said rst housing, a pivotally mounted thermally sensitive member having one end engaged by said valve stem, a plunger slidable in said boss portion and engaging the opposite end of said thermally sensitive member, a selecting device carried by said second housing and including a spindle extending parallel to said plunger, motion transmitting means between said spindle and said plunger for transmitting axial movement of said spindle in one direction into axial movement of said plunger in the reverse direction, and pin means for fixing the radial position of said second housing with respect to said first housing.

l2. In a cabinet type of gas range having an oven, a plurality of open top burners at one side of and adjacent the top of said range, and a hinged cover for said burners adapted, when closed, to lie in the plane of the top of said oven, the combination of a control panel for said open top burners mounted at the front of said range adjacent the top thereof and having a cut-out portion, control valves for each of said burners and for said oven carried by said panel, a heat regulator mechanism mounted on the side Wall of said oven beneath said hinged cover and behind said panel, and means for operating 'said regulator mechanism having a portion thereof extending through said cut-out portion of said panel.

13. In combination, a housing, selecting means including a selecting spindle supported thereby, a planar lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said housing and engaged at one end by said spindle, a plunger carried by said housing and engaged at one end by the opposite end of said lever, said plunger being laterally offset from and extending parallel to said spindle, a second housing having control means therein, a thermally sensitive member pivoted intermediate its ends on said second housing and having one end engaged by said control means, said plunger having engagement at its other end with the opposite end of said member, and spring means for preventing any lost motion connection between said selecting means and said control means.

14. In combination, a thermal sensitive member, means having selecting cooperation with one end of said member and having abutting engagement therewith, selecting dial means disposed with its axis generally parallel to the axis of said last-named means and offset with respect thereto, me-ans interconnecting said selecting means and said dial means for conjoint axial movement, and a control device suspended below said thermal sensitive member and having abutting engagement with the opposite end thereof.

15. In combination, a thermal sensitive member, an element extending normal thereto and having selecting cooperation therewith, a selecting device disposed with its axis generally parallel to the axis of said element and offset with respect thereto, linkage means for transmitting axial movement of said selecting device to said element, and means including a housing supporting said selecting device and having a rotatable bearing portion surrounding said element for adjusting the position of the selecting device about the axis of the element.

16. In combination, control means, selecting means, a pair of levers pivoted intermediate their ends and engaging said control means and said selecting means at the opposite ends thereof, and a plunger between said levers engaged by the adjacent ends thereof, said plunger being offset from and extending parallel to the axis of said selecting means.

17. In combination, a plunger adapted for reciprocatory movement, a pair of levers at opposite ends of said plunger and extending normally thereto, selecting means engaging the opposite end of one of said levers, control means engaged by the opposite end of the other of said levers, and means for varying the angular relation between said levers about the axis of said plunger.

18. The combination with a gas range having a front control panel and an oven provided with a side wall, said panel having an opening therethrough, of a heat regulator comprising a planar thermally sensitive element disposed in a recess in the side wall of the oven, and a selecting device connected with said thermally sensitive element and including a selecting dial disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said thermally sensitive element with its greater portion concealed behind said panel and with a portion of the outer surface of said dial visible through the opening in said panel, said dial being adapted for manipulation from the front of the panel.

WARREN W. SACKETT.