US2650766A - Safety gas valve - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1953 D. A. BROWN ET AL SAFETY GAS VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22. 1948 a a I? Mwm may OMN WM aw R B 5 LMM AH T 7 N5 s AE DM M mw Sept. 1, 1953 D. A. BROWN ET AL I SAFETY GAS VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 22, 1948 DAN ,4. BROWN, 8 JAMES h. HURLBU IN VEN TORS.

L E T O M E W W omDT F-IZ/ LMA/ m2 mm X mm M H 5 w W H w Sept. 1, 1953 Filed NOV. 22, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 mm A. mow/v, a JAMES H HURLBUT,

\ lNVE/ VTORS- HUEBNER, BEEHLER, WORREL,

HERZ/G a CALDWELL, v

,4 7'7'0RNE rs.

Maw

P 1953 D. A. BROWN ET-AL 2,650,766

SAFETY 'GAS VALVE Filed Nov. 22, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 041v A. mow/v, a JAMES H. HURL EU 1;

/N VE N TORS.

HUEBNER, BEEHLER, WORREL HERZ/G 8 CALDWELL,

By ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 1, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY GAS VALVE Dan A. Brown, Long Beach, and James H. Hurlbut, South Gate, Calif., assignors to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Richmond, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 22, 1948, Serial No. 61,364

13 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to an automatic gas safety control valve, and has particular reference to what has become known in the industry as the 100% safe water heater valve, and constitutes an improvement thereon.

The valve hereinafter to be described is illustrated as a thermally responsive valve adapted to maintain a constant temperature in modern domestic water heaters. It will be understood, however, that the invention is subject to a much wider use and should not be confined solely to domestic water heater valves.

Most modern domestic water heaters are of the storage tank type wherein the main gas burner is positioned sub-adjacent the storage tank. The flow of gas to the main burner is controlled by a valve which is responsive to changes in temperature of the water inside the tank by means of a thermostatic element. A pilot light is usually positioned adjacent the main burner, which said pilot light is independent of the thermostatic valve. The purpose of the pilot light is to reignite the main burner when the temperature of the water falls low enough for the thermostatic element to actuate and open the thermostatic valve.

A serious problem arises in connection with this type of construction, namely, the danger of explosions in the event that due to some accident the pilot light becomes extinguished and an attempt is made to relight it. Provision must be made to interrupt the flow of gas in the event of extinguishment of the pilot.

We are aware that a great many valves have been devised which have been designed to accomplish the result desired. Some of the prior art valves have included in their combination an electromagnetic unit adapted to hold a safety control valve open so long as the pilot burner remained ignited. A thermocouple having a hot junction adjacent the pilot flame and heated thereby was used to energize the ele-ctromagnet so that upon extinguishment of the pilot burner the valve would be released, thereby shutting off the flow of gas to the pilot burner.

Such valves were deficient in that it was usually possible to cause a flow of gas through the main burner while attempting to relight the pilot. This condition was dangerous to the operator because of possible explosions. It is among the objects of our invention to construct a safety control valve which will prevent the flow of gas to either the main gas burner or the pilot burner after extinguishment of the pilot and to incorporate such safety features that it will be impossible to reignite the pilot burner without shutting off the main gas burner.

We are also aware that this dual function has been accomplished in other control valves. Such valves, as heretofore known, are not entirely satisfactory in that several operations were necessary to accomplish the result which is often confusing to the average domestic user.

It is also among the objects of our invention to provide a safety valve which has but a single control, which said control is adapted to place the valve controlling the main burner in such a condition that it would be impossible for gas to flow to the main burner while resetting the safety control valve for the admission of gas into the pilot burner.

It is also among the objects of our invention to provide such a safety control valve having a single control knob and which is provided with a torque means tending to bias the control knob to a minimum position, which position will result in a closing of the safety control valve unless the pilot has been ignited a suificiently long period of time to permit the electromagnetic means to hold the safety valve open. The purpose of such an arrangement is so that the safety valve cannot be set to open position, the pilot ignited and the operator leave the valve in that condition so that extinguishment of the pilot light will create an accumulation of gases subject to the danger of explosion. In other words, the operator must remain constantly in attendance until after the safe operating conditions have been re-established.

It is further among the objects of our invention to provide a safety control valve wherein the single control knob, which is used to reset the safety control valve, is also used upon further rotation to adjust the temperature response of the thermostatic control valve. In such event, it is necessary to provide some means whereby the torque bias on the knob during the resetting operation is automatically released from the knob during the temperature adjusting phase; otherwise, the knob upon being released will always return to a closed minimum position. Such objective has been accomplished in the valves embodying the principles of our invention.

Other and further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from the drawings and the specifications relative thereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a safety control valve embodying the principles of our invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the valve shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1a is a diagrammatic illustration of a main burner, pilot burner and thermocouple used with the thermostat valve.

Figure 3 is a partial enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the details of construction of the setting and control knob.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an adjusting plate.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view of the torque releasing mechanism.

Figure 7 is a front elevation-ofthe valve shown in Figure 1 having the cover removed.

Figure 8 is a sectional view takenxon line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional of Figure '7. 1

Figure '10 is a'per'sp'ective "view of the lever for resetting the control valve.

Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the resetting and temperature adjusting mechanism.

Figure 12 is a perspective exploded view of another portion of the resetting mechanism.

Figure 13 is an explodedperspective view showing a portion of the outer case :and the position of the control knob.

In general, our invention as seenin Figures 1 and 2 comprises a'main valve housing, designated generally 20, having a face plate 2| securedthereto by means of a plurality of machine bolts 22, and having a gasket 23 ltherebetween'to effect a gas-tight seal. The main housing has an internally threaded boss or nipple 24 which is the gas inlet ied by a pipe 124'. an internally threaded nipple 25 adapted to supply fuel to a view taken on line 9*!) main burner 25 through a pipe 25" and -.an

internally threaded boss 28 adapted to provide fuel'to the pilot burner 26 through a pipe 26".

The 00559515 and 26, which supplyfuel-to the main burner and the pilot burner, are formed respectively with diagonal bores for thereception of metering valves '21 (Figure-9) and 28 (Figure 8). Threaded cap screws 29and 3B are used :to close the holes or bores into which the metering valves are positioned and also to provideaccess thereto.

A control'knob is rotatably mounted-on the valve in front of the face plate 2l-andserves to rotate the mechanism both for-resetting-and regulating the temperature as will be more fully disclosed later.

General construction The valve housing 20 is formed with-a wall 40 (see Figure 7) dividing the housing into two separate chambers or passageways, and is formed with an aperture 4| having a lip 42 peripherally disposed around the'aperture 4|.

The diaphragm or wall 40 serves to divide the interior of the housing 20 into an entry-chamber 43 and a distribution chamber 44. The inlet 24 is in communication with the entry chamber 43.

A valve, designated-generally 45 (thedetails of which will be explained later), is disposed to close the aperture 4| under certain conditions to control the flow of fuel from the main entry chamber into the distribution chamber. As will be more clearly apparent in 'Figures5 and'9, the valve housing is also formed with a 'false bottom 46 which defines'a passageway 41 in'communication with the distribution chamber through a threaded aperture 48 (see Figure 8). A valve seat 49 is threadedly disposed into the aperture 48 and is formed with an axial bore 50 and a plurality of apertures 5!. The bore 50 is adapted to receive a valve stem 52 adapted to carry a valve 53 which is responsive to thermal conditions and is adapted to :control the flow of fuel into the passage '41.

The passage 41 communicates with the outlet 25 to the main gas burner through the metering valve 21. The metering valve 21 is a cylindrical member having an axial bore 55 in communication with :a radial bore 56. By rotation of the cylindrical-member,gases flowing from the chamber fll-can bemetered as desired.

The plug 29 may be removed and the metering valve 21 regulated by the insertion of a screw driver into a slot formed in the top of the metering valve.

A thermally responsive member is provided for actuating the valve 53. 'It comprises :a .housing 60 (see Figure 5) having-a rod'fil inserted longitudinally therethrough. It will be understood that the temperature coefiicients-of expansion of the rod BI and the housing 60 differ so that when the housing '60 and aprojection 6a (Figure 2) are inserted into the medium to be heated, the temperature of the medium will cause adifierential in the linear expansion of the housing and the'rod fi l.

The rod 6] is "formed with a reduced end portion E3, thereby defininga shoulder. Linear movement of the rodtl is translated to a snapacting valve .control by :the' following mechanism.

An annular :collaril 0 having a :borezcorresponding in size .toxthe ireduced end portion 53 isslidably disposed over the reduced end portion 83 and abuts against (the shoulder 264 so that itmoves in conjunction with the rodt I. Aniadjustable piston ll having an axial bore 12 :is disposed .over the reducedend section elandistformed with a peripheral shoulder 1 3.

A clicker ring: assemblyis disposed between the annular collar 'i fl and the piston 1 1 and comprises (see Figure 1-1) a 'spider 'l l:and-a conical-shaped clicker ring 15 having a radial arm 16 disposed between the members :10 and 1|. Movement of the collar l0-c1oser to the adjustable member -l I causes the conicalshaped member to distort because the inner periphery is .restrained against movement bythepiston H and the outer periphery is urged to the right in Figure 5 in response to movement of the collar' lfl. When theclicker ring 16 has assumed a position'substantially fiat, it will, due to internal stresses, rapidly.assume.a conical-shaped form in the opposite direction, thereby causingrrotation of thearm .16 (clockwise in-Figure5). The endof the arm .16 .willicontaot the valvestem 52, thereby raising the valve 53 from its valve seat 1420, to :permit .theiflow of gas to the main burner.

When the medium which is being heated and in which .the thermal responsive .member 68 :has been :inserted, increases to :a predetermined temperature, the greater expansion of the reduced ElldiSECtiDIl .Sllawill cause'the rod 6| "to become relatively shorter, :thereby :permitting the collar .10 ito move to the left inFiguretB :and release 'the tension on the clicker assembly to permit the closing .of lthe valve 53.

Pilot burner V The face plate?! is-formed with-an aperture (Figure '5) into which a hollow cap 81 is threadedly disposed. The hollow cap al is adapted to receive a filter 82 and is positioned in the distribution chamber 44. The cap 8| is also formed with an aperture 83 adapted to communicate with a bore 84 (Figure 8) which, in turn, is in communication with the pilot valve through a bore 85. The pilot burner metering valve 28 is interposed in the bore 85 and is formed with a transverse bore therethrough adapted to register with the bore '85 when in proper position. It will, therefore, readily be understood that the amount of fuel which can flow through the bore 85 depends upon the rotational position of the valve 28. The valve 28 is also formed with a taper and is held in a tapered seat by means of a compression spring 86. The valve can be adjusted by removing the cap 3i] and rotating the valve 28 by means of a screw driver.

It will thus be seen that fuel entering the main entry port 24 passes through the chamber 43, aperture 4! and into the distribution chamber 44. Therefore, regardless of the condition of the thermally responsive valve 53, the pilot burner Will remain ignited. However, the main burner will be ignited or extinguished depending upon the temperature of the medium being heated through the action of the bi-metal thermal control unit 60.

Safety control valve Means is provided to insure the interruption of the flow of gas to both the pilot and main burners in the event that the pilot light becomes extinguished. The means comprises essentially an electromagnetic unit 90 (Figure 7) which is adapted to be energized by means of a thermocouple 90 positioned adjacent the pilot light. It will readily be understood that the pilot when burning raises the temperature of the hot junction of the thermocouple, thereby generating electricity which is sufficient to energize the coil 9!] as desired.

The valve assembly 45 comprises a relatively resilient valve facing 9| and a valve body 92 having an annular recess 93. The valve is also provided with a valve stem 94 adapted to project inwardly into the magnetic unit 90. A compression spring 95 is interposed between the valve body 92 and the face of the magnetic unit 90. The magnetic unit 90 is so designed that when energized it will hold the valve assembly 45 in open position against the bias of the spring 95, that is, attracted to the magnet, but is not strong enough to initially draw the valve assembly from closed to open position so that once the magnet has become de-energized and the valve is released into closed position, the magnetic unit will not of itself draw the valve to open position when the thermocouple is again heating. The valve must be reset. Means for resetting will be described in detail later.

The valve 45 is interposed between the entry chamber 43 and the distribution chamber 44, and since both the pilot and the main burners receive their fuel supply from the distribution chamber 44, interruption of the flow of fuel from the chamber 43 to the chamber 44 will interrupt the supply of fuel to both the pilot and the main burners.

Safety valve reset means In order to reset the safety valve, means must be provided for urging the valve into open or retracted position against the magnet 90 and for holding it there while the pilot burner is relighted for a sumcient time to heat the hot junction of a thermocouple 90 connected to the magnet by an electric cable thereby energizing the mag net 90 sufficiently to hold the valve 45 in open position. The means for accomplishing this result comprises essentially a bell crank, which is illustrated in perspective in Figure 10. It comprises a U-shaped member having a base 96 and a pair of side arms 9! and 98. The ends of the side arms 91 and Q8 are turned in to form fingers 99 and I 00. As will be seen in Figure 7, the fingers 99 and H19 are adapted to fit into an annular recess 93 of the valve body.

The side arms 91 and 98 are also formed with apertures through which a pivot I0! is disposed. The base 96 is formed with a slot I 02 and a resilient arm N33 is extended therethrough and connected with the pivot EDI. It will be understood, as will be seen in Figure 7, that the pivot I0! is adapted to act as a bearing shaft between aligned bearings in the valve body 20 and the face plate 2!. A force applied in a counterclockwise direction in Figure '7 against the arm 13 will cause a counter-clockwise rotation of the arms 91 and 98, thereby moving the valve assembly 45 to the left to open the passageway from the entry chamber into the distribution chamber.

The arm 91 is also formed with an arm I04 extending outwardly at right angles thereto. The purpose of this arm will become apparent later.

Referring to Figures 5 and 11, it will be noted that the face plate 2| is formed with an aperture I515 which is adapted to receive a sleeve I96 rotatably therein. The sleeve W6 is formed with a peripheral groove l0! adapted to receive a resilient ring which acts as a gasket to prevent the escape of gas from the inlet chamber 43. The sleeve IE6 is formed with a cam I08 as an integral part thereof which, upon rotation, is adapted to contact the arm Hi3 and thereby urge the bell crank in a counter-clockwise direction to open the valve assembly 45 and urge it towards the magnet 99, there to be held until the thermocouple has been heated a sufiicient length of time to re-energize the magnet and hold the valve open in opposition to the spring 95.

The sleeve N16 is also formed with a radial bore H3 adapted to receive a set screw iii. A driving wheel I I2 is formed with a radial bore I 50 adapted to receive the outer end of the set screw ill, so that rotation of the driving wheel H2 will cause rotation of the sleeve I66. The outer surface of the driving wheel, as will be seen more clearly in Figure 12, is formed with a plurality of grooves or splines. The control knob 35 is formed on its interior surface with complementary groves or splines and is adapted to be positioned over the driving wheel in such a manner that rotation of the control knob 35 will cause rotation of the driving wheel.

It will thus be seen that rotation of the control knob acting through the driving wheel i E2 of the sleeve its and the cam I08 will cause a resetting of the safety control valve.

It will be noted from Figure 13 that the underside of the control knob 35 is formed with a pair of circumferential bosses H5 and that the cover plate 2| is formed with a pair of circumferential bosses H6, which are concentric with the aperture Hi5 and are complementary with the bosses H5. The bosses are so positioned that the control handle will move inwardly, that is, with the bosses H5 between the bosses H6 when the rotation of position of the knob is correct to reset the control or safety valve.

As was previously mentioned, means is provided for applying a torque "to 'the res'etting mechanism while the 'safety'eontrol vaive is being reset so that in the event thatthe operator lets go of the control knob 35, it'jivill automate cally return to closed position. This effectively prevents anyone from leaving the safetyfvalve open while the pilot burner is not ignited. The means provided comprises atoi'que plate I20 (see Figures and 11). The torque plate is formed with an axial bore I21 and an axial sleeve I22. -A torque spring 123 is disposed around the sleeve I22 and has one end secured to the torque 'plate through 'a hole I23a, an d the other end secured to the faceplate 2I byhooiring the end through 'a-slot "I24 in an inwardly extending sleeve "I25. I v I n The torque plate I20 is formed with fan arouate slot I26 into'whi'ch is disposed a trigger I21 which isrotatably secured therein by means of a pin I28. I

The torqueplate is also formed with a peripheral groove I30. H H

The cam I58 is formed with an outwardly er;- tending dog I3I having an enlarged section :I-3 2. The end I3'I is adapted to fit into the peripheral groove I36, and, as will be seen in Figure 6, into a notch on the trigger I2I. t t

It will readily be apparent that so long as fthe nigger 121 is held in the position shown in solid lines in Figure -6 by reason of the restraining sleeve I25, the dog I-3I and hence the cam I55. is effectively locked to the torque pl'ate I20 so that rotation of the cam I08 v of the torque plate I29, thereby increasing the tension on the spring Referring to Figure'fi, it will be-notedthat when the torque assembly is rotated cbunter-clockwise to a position where the trigger I21 is in registry with the slot I24, it is free romise-re outwardly, thereby releasing the dog I-3I from engagement therewith and permitting further turning of the cam I08 and its associated mechanism free "of the torque spring.

The trigger I21 and the slot I24 are so positioned that the trigger is not released through the slot until after the cam Int has separated from the arm I03, -or at le'asthas rotated far enough clockwise '(Fig. 7) to allow the a rm l I13 to rotate to a position where thevalv'e 45 is closed (unless held open by energizaticn of the magnet 99). Registering indexes on the linob 35 and cover plate 2| indicate when the 'rorau've position of the knob is such that the arm lfli is at the peak of the cam I08, which is the position of maximum opening for the valve 45.

Temperature regulating means In View of the fact that the thermal responsive unit 69 is securely fastened to the housing 29, it is clear that the relative position of the collar IE! will be determined by the temperature of the medium in which the temperature control element is immersed. It is, therefore, clear that the temperature at which the clicker ring I5 will respond will depend on the position of the pis' ton 'I I.

The false bottom 46 is formed with an 'aper ture 140 adapted to receive in a press flt a sleeve I4I which is also formed with an internal bore I42 adapted to reciprocally receive the piston II. The piston II is formed with a longitudinal groove I43 adapted to receive a guide pin I44 to prevent turning. The piston II is also formed with will cause rotation an annular grodve on the upper face thereof to receive a compression spring I46 which abuts againstthe bottom'or the groove I45 and a shoulder I41 formed in the sleeve MI by a reduced bore "I48.

'Th'e bore I48 isinternally threaded and adapted to receive a threaded shaft I49 having a noncirbular end I50.

The inner nd'of shaft I49 thus constitutes in effect "an abutment against which the piston II is pressed, through the intermediacy of the collar 'llljspid'e'r 'I4, and clicker ring I5, by the'contraction of the housing '60 relative to the rod 6|. For'a given settingof the shaft I49, the piston 'II is pressed steadily to the right as the temperature goes down, until the pressure of the collar III on the spider 14 is sufficient to snap the clicker ring I5 past center and thereby actuate the ar'in I6 'to press the valve stem 52 and open the valve 53.

It will be seenth'at the temperature at 'which this snap actuation of the clicker ring I5 occurs is'dependent uponth'e axial position of the shaft I49, which in turn is determined by the screwing in or'oiitof the shaft in the sleeve MI. The angular or rot'ative position of the shaft I49 is in turn controlled by the knob 35 as will be explained hereinafter.

The shaft I49 is co-axial with the driving wheel II 2. will be seen more clearly from Figure 1-2, thedriving wheel 'I I2 is formed with a recessed shoulder I60 anda plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially aligned holes I6I adapted to receive a-.-pin I62. A driving plate I65 having a noncircular aperture I56 in the center thereof is disposed within the recessed shoulder I69 and adapted to fit over the non-circular end I50 of the shaft l 49 in non-rotational engagement. lhe pin I62 after being inserted in the apertures or holes I6I projects through a radial aperture "I61 of the wheel I65, thereby sec'urely locking the shaft I49 in non-rotational relation Withthe driving wheel H2. In view-of the fact that, from a practical commercial standpoint, it is extremely difiicult to determine the beginning position of the threads on theshaf-t I49 with respect to the non-circular end I50, some means must be provided for locking the shaft I49 to the driving wheel and, hence, the control knob 35, in the proper position to give the proper temperature response.

This has been accomplished in the following manner: The number and spacing of the holes I BI do not correspond with the number and'spacing of the apertures I61, As an example, we have provided nine holes I6I spaced at 40 degrees around the circumference and have provided ten of the apertures I6I spaced at 36 degrees. It is, therefore, readily apparent that, after assembling, the position of the shaft I49 can be properly adjusted with reasonable certainty that one of the apertures I61 and oneuof the holes I 6| will be in registry. This, in effect, is a Vernier adjustment. v

, After securing the plate I65 in the recessed shoulder I69 and inserting the pin I62 through the aperture and corresponding hole in registry, a spring binding plate IIIJ forrned with holes Ill and a central aperture I12 is disposed over the ends of the shaft with one of the holes III fitting over a reduced end II 3 of the pm I 62 to hold the assembly in place. The plate H8 is slightly larger than the'insidejdianieterof the recessed shoulder I69 and, therefore, remains in tension and holds the assembly to ether.

Operation In describing the operation, it will be assumed that the safety valve 45 has been closed because the pilot burner is not lighted and, hence, does not energize the magnet 90. The control knob 35 should be turned counter-clockwise to its extreme limit, that is, where a boss I80 formed in the base of the drivin wheel IIZ contacts a corresponding boss I8! formed on the face plate 2| (see Figure 13). The cam I08 will then assume the position shown in Figure 7.

In order to relight the pilot, the control knob 35 is rotated clockwise until the cam I138 contacts the resilient arm I I13, thereby rotating the bell crank counter-clockwise and moving the valve is to Open position or retracted so far as the magnet 90 is concerned. When the control knob 35 has been rotated to the correct position for maximum opening of the valve 45, which occurs when the end of arm I03 is at the peak of cam I08, the circumferential ridges I I5 will be completely out of registry with the circumferential ridges H6 of the face plate. The inward or axial pressure which the operator instinctively exerts against the knob 35 will then cause the knob to move in wardly. This thus indicates to the operator that the knob is in the optimum position to permit lighting of the pilot. This position is indicated in Fig. 1 by the notation on the dial 35 Press-- hold-light pilot. The pushing in of the knob 35, however, is nothing more than an indication to the operator and does not serve to lock the knob in position, because the ends of both the circumferential ridges H5 and H6 are slanted or beveled as best seen in Fig. 13. Should the operator release the knob from this position it immediately snaps counterclockwise, because of the urging of the spring I23. Should the operator, instead, turn the knob further clockwise until the trigger I21 has been forced into the slot I24, so that the knob 35 does not snap back, he will find that the safety valve 45 has returned to closed position, unless in the meantime the pilot burner has been ignited and has energized the thermocouple to in turn energize the magnet 99 and hold the valve 45 open. Thus, there is complete assurance that the safety valve cannot remain unattended in open position except when the pilot light is ignited. The knob must be so held manually while the pilot light is reignited and held in that position until the pilot has heated the thermocouple sufficiently to energize the magnet 90. If the control knob 35 is released from this position, the torque spring we will cause a counter-clockwise rotation of the knob and the cam I08, thereby closing the valve 35.

After the pilot has been ignited sufliciently long to energize the magnet 96, the control knob 35 can be turned clockwise until the trigger mechanism IZ'I has assumed a position shown in phantom in Figure 6, at which time the dog I3! is released from the trigger I21, thereby releasing the torque spring from its operative connection with the control knob 35.

Further rotation of the control knob 35 causes rotation of the shaft I49 and, hence, linear movement of the piston II for setting the temperature response of the snap-acting mechanism and the valve 53.

In the event that it is desired to turn off both the main burner and the pilot burner, the control knob 35 should be rotated counter-clockwise until the dog I3I contacts the trigger I27, thereby rotating the trigger counter-clockwise, as shown in Figure 6, and retracting the end thereof from the slot I24 to again cause the torque spring to become effective on the cam mecha nism. Further rotation of the control knob 35, either due to the torque spring or manually in a counter-clockwise direction, will cause the base of the dog i3I to contact the arm IM to cause a clockwise rotation of the bell crank mechanism and a closing of the valve as.

It will be understood that the thread pitch and the initial adjustment of the shaft 5 39 are such that when the knob 35 has been rotated back to the position where the cam I08 holds the safety valve 35 open, the temperature response of the clicker assembly will be at such a low value that it will be in off position for all normal or expected conditions. It is, therefore, impossible for any fuel to flow to the main gas burner while the safety valve is being reset and the pilot burner ignited.

While we have herein shown and described our invention in what we have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of our invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a valve of the type described having a safety shut-off valve adapted to interrupt the flow of fuel to a main burner and a ilot burner upon extinguishment of said pilot burner, a thermally responsive valve adapted to control the flow of fuel to said main fuel burner to maintain preselected temperatures and rotatable reset means adapted to select said temperatures and to reset said safety shut-off valve when turned to a maximum reset position, the element of novelty comprising a torque plate rotatably associated with said reset means, a torque spring adapted to exert a torque on said torque plate, a rotatable trigger associated with said torque plate, a pin associated with said reset means and adapted to be held by said rotatable trigger during a portion of the rotation of said torque plate and said reset means, and means to release said pin to free said reset means from said torque after passing the maximum reset position.

2. A fuel valve device having an inlet chamber and a distribution chamber, a passageway communicating between said chambers and discharge ports adapted to supply fuel from said distribution chamber to a main burner and a pilot burner, a safety shut-off valve adapted to control the flow of fuel from said inlet chamber to said distribution chamber, electromagnetic means responsive to the heat of the pilot burner adapted to hold said safety shut-off valve in open position while said pilot burner is ignited and to release said safety shut-ofi valve for movement to closed position upon extinguishment of said pilot burner, a thermostat valve adapted to control the supply of fuel to said main burner discharge port, thermostat means adapted to control said thermostat valve to maintain preselected temperatures, rotatable means for adjusting said thermostat means, reset means associated with said adjusting means adapted to move said safety shut-01f valve to open position after said adjusting means has been turned to a low temperature position, torque means releasably associated with said reset means adapted to urge said reset means to a position for closing said safety valve and releasable upon rotation of said reset means past the resetting position.

3; A fuel valve having: an inlet port" anddlstribution' ports; a passageway communicating betweensaid inlet 'port-arrdsaid discharge portsadapted' to supply" fuel, to" a main. burner and a pilot burner; a safety-shut-oflvalve" adapted to interrupt the flbwof fuel from said inlet port to said distribution ports; athermocouple hav ing a hot junction adjacent the pilot burner, an el'ectromagnet energizedby-said thermocouple and adapted to hold said safety shut-off valve in,.op en position while saidpilot burner is ignited and to release'said'safety. shut-ofigvalvet to closed position upon extinguishment of said pilot burner, a thermostat. valve: adapted: to control the supply of fuelto saidlmain burner' passage, adjustable thermostat means adapted to control said thermostat; valve to maintain preselected temperatures; rotatable means for" adjusting said thermostat means, reset means associated with said adjusting means adapted to move. said safety shut-ofi'LvalVe to open po'sitionafter'said' adjusting means has been turned'from a; minimum. temperature. position, said reset means comprising a bell crank arm adapted to move said'valve to open position and a cam' associated with said rotatable means for actuation ofsaid' bell crank, torque means releasabl'y' associated with saidreset means adapted tourigesaidreset means to a position for closing said safety valve and releasable upon rotation of'saidreset means past the maximum resettingjpoint; and" means associated with saidfcam to release said safety valve to closed position upon movement. of said rotatable adjusting meansto a minimum temperature position.

4. A. fuel. valve having, an inlet; port and. distributionports adapted to supply fuel't'o' a main burner and apilotburner, a passageway communicating. between saidports, a safety shut? ofi valve. adaptedtocontrolthe flow offuelifrom said. inlet. port. to said distribution. ports, electromagnetic. means. responsive. to the. heat. of. the pilot burner to..h'old said safety. shut-off' valve in .open position .while. said pilotlburner. is ignited and to release. said. safetyshut-off. valve. for. movement to closed. position. upon extinguishment of said. pilot. burner a thermostat valve. adaptedv to control. the supply of fuelv to said' main burner, thermostat means .adaptedtocontrol, saidthermostat. valve to. maintain presee lasted-temperatures, rotatablemeans fonadjusta ing said thermostat; means,-., reset meanslassociated with said, rotatable means adapted to. move. said safety, shutl-off. valve.- toppen v position afterv said adjusting, means has; been. turned? froma minimum temperature. position, said means comprising a bell crankl arm.- adapted to move-said: safety valve andi a. cam associated with said rotatable :meanszfor actuation .of: said bell crank arm,v torquehmeansreleasablyassociated with said-cam: adapted to urge: said. reset means to 'ax-position'for closing said safety-valve and. releasable upon.-rotationpfrsaid =.resetmeans past the maximumresettingxpoint;

5.- .In combination, a"main's.burner, a fuelsupgply line leading to saidxburner; a-x pilot): burner in: juxtaposition'to:saidsmainburnerya thermostatic valve' for; regulating; the supplya'ofi fuel to said *main" burner; .thermosta-t' meanse f or adjusting'. saidvalve: to? maintain? preselectedktemperatures, a. safety. shut-off: valve for shutting off: the supply of fuel. toebotliz the; main: burner and the pilotzburner; electromagnetic: means responsive. to theL-lreatfof: the: pilot :burnersrfor maintaining.- said? safety shut-i011: valves in. open position while said pilot burner is lighted and adapted. to irelease said safetyv shut-off. valve, for movement, to closed position. on. extinguishment of. the'pilot burner, a-rotatabledialfor; adjusting saidtregulating valveto. selectv different temperatures to-be-maintained by said thermostat means,,means associated withsaid rotatable. dial adaptedltol o.pen:said. safety. shut-off valve for rei'gnition of=said pilot burner whilesaid thermostat. means is.- set at a. minimum temperature value and torque meansassociated. with said reset meansto urge said rotatable dial, and said reset-means t0.a position for. closingboth said thermostat valve and'. said safety Shlltr-Ofi valve. and. releasabletherefrom upon. rotation of. said rotatable dial past thev said reset position.

6. In combination, a -main burner, afuel supply line leadingto saidburner, a pilotburner in. juxtapositiontof saidlmain burner, a thermostaticvalve for regulatingthe supply of fuel to saidmaimburner, thermostat means for adjusting; said. valve. to. maintain preselected temperatures, said; means. comprising a.bi.-metal element. having. relative. linear displacement responsiveto. temperature changes, a snap ring responsiveto said. linear movement, a piston adapted.f0r. linear movement to determine the temperature response of said snap ring, a rotatableshaft adapted-Ito. position said piston and a.control knob. adapted torotate said shaft, a safety. shut-off. valve for shutting off the supply of fuel tohboththe main burner and the pilot burnen. a thermocouple havinga-hot junctionadjacent. the pilot. flame and adapted to be heated. thereby, electromagnetic. means responsive to-said. thermocouple for maintaining, said safetyshut-oftvalvemppen position while said pilotiburner is lighted and adapted torelease saidsafety shut-off valve for movement vtoiclosed position on extinguislimentlrofi the pilot burner, means associated with saidrotatable dial adapted to open? said i safety. shut-on valve. for reignition of. saidpilot burner upon adjustment. of. said thermostat means from. its minimum. temper ature. position and-torque means associated with saidresetmeans-to urge said rotatable dial and saidreset meanseto a position for. closing both said. thermostat valve and said safety. shut-01f valve, and-means for releasingfisaid torque means upon rotation rofl'said:rotatablefldiallpast the said reset position.

7. A gas: valve: comprising; a housing: having aniinletfor. thesupply offuel thereto, anoutlet to a maingas-burner andancutlet to a pilot burner, a safety: control valve adaptedto inter rupt'the'flowof. fuelte both themain burner andzthe pilot: burner, means responsive to said pilotburner' adapted to maintain-said shut-off valve in open'position while said'pilotburner is ignitedand to release said=safety shut-off valve for'movement' to closed position when said'pilot burner: becomes extinguished, a thermostatic valve adapted to interrupt the flow of fuelto the main gas burner only,,thermo'static means-responsive to ap'redetermined temperature :to control said-thermostatic valveprotatable means for adjusting said thermostaticmeans, means associated with said rotatable means "for resetting said safety control valve and adapted to'reset said safety control -valve when said thermostat means=has been adjusted to a minimum-temperatureposition, means adapted to' biassaid adjusting means-to. a minimum position during said resetting operation= and releasable therefrom after said resetting; meanshas: been rotated past said setting position, said last-named means comprising a sleeve associated with said housing formed with a longitudinal slot and concentric with said adjusting means, a torque plate rctatably disposed in said sleeve, a torque spring associated between said torque plate and said sleeve, a trigger rotatably disposed in said torque plate, a pin associated with said resetting mechanism, said trigger being restrained against rotation by said sleeve until said trigger is rotated to the position of said slot, said trigger being adapted to secure said pin against movement "ith respect to said torque plate until said trigger is free to rotate in said slot.

8. A gas valve comprising a housing having an inlet for the supply of fuel thereto, an outlet to a main gas burner and an outlet to a pilot burner, a safety control valve adapted to interrupt the flow of fuel to both the main burner and the pilot burner, a thermocouple having a hot junction adjacent the pilot burner, an electromagnet responsive to electricity generated by said thermocouple adapted to maintain said shut-off valve in open position while said pilot burner is ignited and to release said safety shut-off valve in closed position when said pilot burner becomes extinguished, a thermostatic valve adapted to interrupt the how of fuel to the main gas burner only, adjustable thermostat means responsive to a predetermined temperature to control said thermostatic valve, rotatable means for adjusting said thermostat means, means associated with said rotatable means for rotation therewith for resetting said safety control valve and adapted to reset said safety control valve while said thermostat means is being turned up from a minimum temperature position, means adapted to bias said adjusting means to said minimum position from a resetting position during said resetting operation and releasable therefrom after said resetting means has been rotated past said resetting position, said last-named means comprising a sleeve associated with said housing formed with a longitudinal slot and concentric with said adjusting means, a torque plate rotatably disposed in said sleeve, a torque spring associated between said torque plate and said sleeve, a trigger rotatably disposed in said torque plate, a pin associated with said resetting mechanism, said trigger being restrained against rotation by said sleeve until said trigger is rotated to the position of said slot, said trigger being adapted to secure said pin against movement with respect to said toruue plate until said trigger is free to rotate in said slot.

9. In a fuel valve adapted to control the supply of fuel to a main gas burner having a thermally responsive valve adapted to control the supply of said fuel and thermostatic means adapted to actuate said valve, rotatable means for selecting the temperature response of said thermostat means, said rotatable means comprising a threaded shaft adapted to select responsive temperatures upon rotation thereof and having a non-circular end, a rotatable control member, said member being formed with an axial bore through which the non-circular end of said shaft extends, an annular shoulder adjacent said bore and formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures, a coupling plate formed with a noncircular aperture concentric therein and conforming to the non-circular end of said shaft and adapted to fit thereover in non-rotational engagement, said coupling plate being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches having a different spacing therebetween than the apertures of said armular shoulder, and a pin adapted to fit into said apertures through said notches thereby coupling said rotatable member and said coupling plate against relative rotation.

10. In a fuel valve adapted to control the supply of fuel to a main gas bur er having a thermally responsive valve adapted to control the supply of said fuel and thermostatic means adapted to actuate said valve, rotatable means for selecting the temperature response of said thermostat means, said rotatable means comprising a shaft having a non-circular end, a rotatable control member, said member being formed with an axial bore through which the non-circular end of said shaft extends, said control member being formed with a plurality of aperture circumferentially spaced concentric with said shaft, a coupling plate formed with a non-circular centrally disposed aperture therein conforming to the noncircular end of said shaft and adapted to fit thereover in non-rotational engagement, said coupling plate being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notche having a difierent spacing therebetween than the apertures of said annular shoulder, and a pin adapted to fit into said apertures through said notches thereby coupling said rotatable control member and said coupling plate against relative rotation.

11. A fuel valve having an inlet and having an outlet in communication with a main gas burner and a pilot burner, a safety control valve adapted to interrupt the flow of fuel to said main and said pilot burners upon extinguishment of the pilot burner, a thermally responsive valve adapted to control the flow of fuel to said main burner, variable thermostat means adapted to actuate said thermally responsive valve, and means for varying the response of said thermostatic means, said last-mentioned means including a member having an internally threaded bore adapted to receive a rotatable threaded shaft, said shaft having a non-circular end, a rotatable control member coupled with said non-circular end adapted to cause simultaneou rotation, and a Vernier coupling plate coupling said rotatable shaft and said rotatable member.

12. A gas control valve having a passageway therethrough adapted to supply fuel to a main gas burner and a pilot burner, a safety valve adapted to control the flow of fuel to both the main burner and the pilot burner, electromagnetic means responsive to heat generated by said pilot burner adapted to hold said safety valve in open position while said pilot burner is ignited and to release said valve for movement to closed position upon extinguishment of said pilot burner, a thermally responsive valve adapted to control the flow of fuel to said main burner, thermostat means adapted to actuate said thermally responsive valve to maintain preselected temperatures, adjusting mean adapted to preselect said temperatures and to cause closing of said safety shut-off valve upon rotation to a minimum position and to cause resetting of said safety shut-off valve upon rotation toward operating position, means for applying a torque bias to said adjusting means between said minimum position and said resetting position and being releasable therefrom in operating position, said adjusting means comprising a piston forming an abutment for said thermostat means, an axially adjustable, threaded shaft having one end in engagement with said piston adapted to therethrough adapted to supply fuel .to a main gas burner and a pilot burner, a safetyvalve adapted to control the low of fuel .to both the 'main'burner 'an'd the pilot burner, electromagnetic means responsive to heat "generated by said pilot burner adapted to hold said safety valve in open position while said'pilot burner is ignited andto release said valve for'movement to closed position upon .extinguishment of said pilot burner, a thermally responsive valve'adapted 'tocoritr'ol the flow of fuel tosaicl main burner,

i-theirn-ostat means adapted to actuatesaid thermally responsive valve to maintain'preselected temperatures, adjusting means adapted to preselect said temperatures and to cause closing of "saids'afety shut-off valve upon rotation to a minimumpositionand to cause resetting of said safety shut-oifValve upon rotation toward op- 'era ting position, means for applying a torque biasto said adjusting means between said mini- :mum position and :said resetting position and "'16 being releasable therefrom in operating position, said adjusting means-comprisinga piston forming anabutment'forsaid thermostat means, an axially adjustable, threadedshaft having one end in engagement with said piston adapted'to cause linear positioning of saidpiston upon rotation of said shaft and another end non-circular in form, a rotatablemember disposed on the outer surface of said valve, coupling means adapted to cause simultaneous rotation of said shaft'and 'saidrota'table membensaid' coupling means comprising a disk having aconcentric non-circular aperture corresponding tothe non-circular end of saidishaitaand disposed thereover, said 10- ,tatable member and said coupling disk being formed with a'plurallty of apertures having different respective spacings, and apin adapted to fit in interlocking engagement through any of said apertures in registry.

DAN A. BROWN. JAMES H. HURLBUTI.

Referenccs'flited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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