US3595273A

US3595273A - Timer for range top burner

Info

Publication number: US3595273A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter F Kolodziej
Original assignee: General Time Corp
Current assignee: General Time Corp
Priority date: 1969-07-16
Filing date: 1969-07-16
Publication date: 1971-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-27
Also published as: CA918959A

Abstract

A timer for range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve in series with one another for cutting off the flow, the throttle valve having a rotating shaft and control knob and the poppet valve having a stem telescoped in the shaft and biased outwardly to a position of shut off. A timer assembly mounted on the knob has an axially extending main shaft with a dial at the outer end and a cam at the inner end. Adjacent the cam for acting upon the stem is a latchable member. Provision is made for axial movement of the cam, in the present instance by floatingly mounting the frame of the timer assembly, so that the gas is turned on (a) when the dial is pushed in to set the latch and (b) when the knob is turned. The dial is rotated to a set position and is timingly restored to its reference position whereupon the cam engages the latch to release the stem of the poppet to shut off further flow of gas.

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor Walter F. Kolodziej La Salle, Ill. [2]] App]. No. 842,167 [22] Filed July 16. 1969 [45] Patented July 27, I971 [73] Assignee General Time Corporation Stamford, Conn.

[54] TIMER FOR RANGE TOP BURNER 8 Claims, 18 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl l37/624.l2, 137/614. 17 [SH lnt.Cl ..Fl6k 21/06, Fl6k 31/48 [50] Field ofSearch .L IN/624.12 624.22,6l4.l6,6l4.17;74/354 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,891,406 6/l959 Stoner l37/624.22 X

Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Attorney-Richard A. Joel ABSTRACT: A timer for range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve in series with one another for cutting off the flow, the throttle valve having a rotating shaft and control knob and the poppet valve having a stem telescoped in the shaft and biased outwardly to a position of shut off. A timer assembly mounted on the knob has an axially extending main shaft with a dial at the outer end and a cam at the inner end. Adjacent the cam for acting upon the stem is a latchable member. Provision is made for axial movement of the cam, in the present instance by floatingly mounting the frame of the timer assembly, so that the gas is turned on (a) when the dial is pushed in to set the latch and (b) when the knob is turned. The dial is rotated to a set position and is timingly restored to its reference position whereupon the cam engages the latch to release the stem of the poppet to shut off further flow of gas.

i /J/ /Z7 PATENTEUJULZYIQYI 3.595.273

SHEET 2 OF 4 m rwfae' 14 4475? A: K040227471.

TIMER FOR RANGE TOP BURNER Timers have been employed for the control of a range oven for many years and also for the control of various electrical appliances. However, timers have not been commonly used for controlling a rangetop burner because of the relatively large amount of energy which may be required to rotate the throttle valve to its position of shut off at the end of a timed interval.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a timer for a range top burner or the like which is integrated into the control knob for the burner and which is capable of shutting off the flow of gas automatically following the expiration of any desired time interval. It is a related object of the invention to provide a timer for a range top burner which is easily operated and which is simple and convenient to use. It is another object to provide a timer for a range top burner which uses a spring, wound incident to setting the time interval, for driving the timing train and operating the valve but which is, nonetheless, easily set with fingertip pressure. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a timer for a range top burner or the like which does not require the entire plug of the throttle valve to be rotated back to an off" position but which instead utilizes a small poppet valve which is connected in series with the throttle valve, the only energy required at the end of the timing cycle being that sufficient to release the latch to permit the poppet valve to pop into closed position under the urging of its own biasing spring. When the gas is shutoff, the throttle control knob may be manually restored, if desired, to its"off position. Thus reliability of automatic control is not affected by the friction and torsional loading which may make a throttle valve hard to turn during the later years in.

the life of the range.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a timed top burner valve for a range which is integrated with a simple form of timer mechanism, which is inherently inexpensive and compact, and which may be used universally with minor change even in ranges of conventional design. In short, it it an object to provide a simple, reliable and low-cost timing arrangement for a top burner valve which may be included in ranges as a utility and sales feature at very little additional cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the attached detailed description and upon reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. I is a top view, in partial section, of an integrated valve and timer with portions broken away to reveal some of the internal details;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section showing the throttle valve member in the closed position;

FIG. 3 shows the throttle valve member turned at an approximate angle of 160 for throttled flow of the gas;

FIG. 4 is a front View of the timer train with the front frame plate removed taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a development of the gears of the timer train along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front view of the stop mechanism which defines the limits of the dial movement as viewed along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a face view of the valve control knob and time setting dial;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view looking along the line 8-8 in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the dial pressed to set the latch; and

FIGS. 100-10! constitute a series of stop motion diagrams showing the positions of the parts in a typical timedoperating cycle.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment shown but intend on the contrary to cover the various alternative and equivalent constructions which are included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Turning now to the drawings, a valve body 20 is provided having an inlet port 21 and an outlet port 22. Rotatably mounted within the valve body is a valve plug 25 having a central opening 26 and a lateral port 27. The valve member 25 is manually rotatable by a shaft 28 and held in place by suitable packing enclosed in a packing nut 29.

At the end of the shaft 28 is a control knob 30 of hollow construction providing an internal space 31 and a knurled periphery 32 which bay be rotated with fingertip pressure to vary the flow. When the knob 30 is in its off position, with the plug member oriented as in FIG. 2, no gas can flow between the axial opening 26 and the outlet port 22. However, when the knob 30 is rotated, for example, through an angle of about 90 as shown in FIG. 3, the lateral port 27 provides throttled communication so that gas may flow to the burner; provided that the poppet valve mechanism, to be described, is in its open condition.

Thus in carrying out the invention, a poppet valve member 40 is provided for engaging, and closing, the end of the valve plug 25. Such member has a stem 4] which is telescoped into the shaft 28 to present a tip 42 which projects axially into the space 31 within the control knob. Surrounding the stem 41 is a biasing spring 43 which biases the poppet valve in a direction to keep the poppet normally closed.

In accordance with the invention, a timer assembly is provided mounted in the control knob having a setting dial and an output cam. Interposed between the cam and the poppet valve stem is a latchable member having a latch and which holds the poppet valve in the open condition. The latch is tripped by the cam when the cam is rotated from a set position to its reference position to cause closure of the poppet valve at the end of the timed interval.

Prior to discussing the latching mechanism reference may be made to the timer assembly 60 which is set forth in FIGS. 4 and 5. Such timer assembly has a first frame plate 61 and a second frame plate 62, rigidly spaced from one another by posts 63. Journaled in the frame plates is a main timer shaft 70 having a time setting dial 71 at its forward end and an output cam 73 at its rear end. The output cam has a tip 72 and a lobe 74 for purposes to be described. Staked to the main shaft 70 is a main gear having a toothed sector 81 and an open sector 82. Meshing with the main gear 80 is a pinion 83 which is coupled, by means of a clutch spring 84, to a second gear 85. The latter meshes with a second pinion 86 which is coupled to a third gear 87. The latter in turn meshes with a pinion 88 which is integral with a final gear 89. The gear 89 drives a final pinion 90 which is integral with a star wheel 91. The star wheel, cooperating witha pair of escapement pins 92, drives an oscillatory balance 93. Torque is applied to the main shaft 70 by means of a coil spring which has its inner end anchored to the shaft 70 and its outer end anchored to one of the posts.

Thus when the knob 71 is turned the spring 95 is wound up. Turning of the gear 80 on the shaft, and the pinion 83 which is meshed with it, is accommodated by slippage at the clutch 84 so that the timing train does not rotate. However, when the time setting dial 71 is released, the spring 95 applies torque to the shaft 70 tending to rotate the shaft back into its reference position. Such torque applied through the timing train, causes oscillation of the balance 93 so that the main shaft is slowly restored toward reference position at a timed rate.

For the purpose of establishing a reference position for the dial 71 and for defining the range of movement of the dial and the shaft which is connected to it, a stop mechanism is employed as shown in FIGS. I and 6. Thus mounted on the shaft 70 is a stop disc having a tab 101. The latter is positioned to engage the edge of a floating stop member 102 which is freely mounted upon the shaft 70 and which has a bent tip portion 103 which registers with an arcuate slot 104 formed in the adjacent frame plate. The slot has a first end 105 and a second end 106. The spring 95 is prestressed so that the stop disc 100 tends to rotate in a counterclockwise direction bringing the tab 101 thereon against the edge of the floating stop member 102 which is blocked by the end 105 of the slot in an accurate- 1y defined reference position as illustrated in FIG. 7. For deflning the opposite extreme of movement, with the dial 71 set for the maximum time interval, the tab 101 is rotated, with the shaft, in a direction of the arrow until it engages the opposite edge of the floating stop member 102. This causes the stop member to move into the dot-dash position where it engages the second end 106 of the slot thereby to define the maximum time setting, usually about 60 minutes.

Having understood the construction of the timing mechanism, and the setting of the time interval, attention may be given to the latchable member and latch which are operated by the output cam. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the latchable member indicated at 110 is loosely mounted on, and captive with, a post 111. The latchable member is held against lateral swinging in one direction or the other by

guide posts

112, 113 which engage the opposite edges (see FIG. 8). For latching the member 110 downwardly against the tip 42 of the poppet valve stem, a latch 120 is provided having a latch arm 121 and a release arm 122 swingable about a supporting post 123. At the end of the latch arm 121 is an upstanding latch hook 124 which is engaged, on its backside, by a biasing spring 125 which tends to urge the latch in the hooking direction. At the end ofthe latch release arm 122 is an outwardly bent latch release tab 126. The latchable member 110 is arranged in the path of axial movement of the cam 73 while the latch release tab 126 is arranged in the path of swinging movement of the lobe 74 ofthe cam.

For the purpose of transmitting axial motion from the dial 71 to the cam 73, the entire frame of the timer mechanism 60 is, in the present instance, floatingly mounted. Thus when the dial 71 is pressed inwardly movement is transmitted to the shaft 70 and to the frame plates 61, 62. For the purpose of resiliently, offloatingly, mounting the frame plates, the rear" frame plate is provided with guide posts 131 which are telescoped into receptacles 132 which are integral with the knob structure. lnterposed between the guide posts 131 and the receptacles 132 are respective coil springs 133. The frame is held captive, with the springs 133 in the proper degree ofextension, by machine screws 134 which, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, screw into internally threaded tips of the guide posts 131.

The effect of the floating mountingjust described is seen by comparing FIGS. 1 and 9. In FIG. 1, which shows the poppet valve 40 in closed position, the springs 133 are fully extended and the cam 73 is clear of the latchable member 110. When the dial 71 is pressed inwardly, the entire frame of the timing mechanism 60 moves inwardly (FIG. 9) causing the tip 72 of the cam 73 to advance into engagement with the latchable member 110, causing stem 41 to be pressed inwardly against the restoring force ofthe spring 43, accompanied by unseating of the poppet 40. With a passage thus open intd the plug member of the valve, the plug member may be rotated by the knob to uncover the port 27 and the burner may be lit in the usual way. The present combined timer and valve may be operated in two different modes. In one mode, the burner may be turned on, and flame adjusted, prior to setting the time interval. In a second mode, the timer may be set first, followed by manual opening ofthe valve. In FIGS. 100-101', operation in the first mode is broken down into successive steps for easy understanding. Operating in the second mode may be more convenient.

In the initial condition FIG. a, the control knob is in its off position and latchable member 110, which controls the poppet, is released. Gas is thus doubly turned off. The time setting dial is pressed inwardly to engage the latch, opening the poppet as shown in FIG. 10!), but no gas flows. Nest the knob is rotated, say through an angle of 90, so that the main throttling valve is opened, as in FIG. 10c, turning the gas on which is ignited automatically by the pilot.

To set the time interval, the dial is simultaneously pressed and turned to a selected time setting. This causes an idle tripping ofthe latch as shown in FIG. 10d, but the latch resets itself as shown in FIG. 10e, upon moving past the tripping point. After the region of idle motion, corresponding to the toothless sector 82 on the gear has been traversed, the teeth 81 engage the pinion 83. Further movement of the gear 80, as the dial moves to its set position is accompanied by idle slipping at the clutch 84.

When pressure on the dial is released, the dial immediately begins its timing cycle accompanied by return rotation of the cam as shown in FIG. 10f until the sector of the motion defined by the toothless sector 82 is reached. Rapid movement of the cam beyond this point, as shown in FIG. 10g, brings the lobe 74 of the cam into engagement with the surface l26 of the latch member 120, moving the hook of the latch away from the latchable member 110, freeing the latter for release of the stem 41 and permitting closure ofthe poppet valve 40 for positive shutoff of the gas. Final movement of the dial (FIG. 1011) brings it back to the reference position shown in FIG. 7. Since the gas is off, the control knob may simply be left where it is, or if desired, it may be rotated back to its off position as shown in FIG. 10i.

Thus it is to be noted that the timing mechanism is not called upon to rotate the manual valve back into its off position. Instead, the only energy which the timer is called upon to supply is that small amount ofenergy which is required for the tripping of the latch. The amount of energy which is storeable in the light spring 43, by a manual push incident to latching, may be relied upon to positively move the throttle valve from open to closed position at the end of a cycle. Since the poppet valve and its stem are small and of light construction, freely fitted within the shaft ofthe throttle valve, the frictional forces are low, predictable and constant even after years of usage.

It has been found convenient in the above construction, for the purpose of utilizing an available design of timer assembly, to mount the entire timer assembly floatingly to achieve axial movement of the cam 73 required for latching. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to use of a floating mount for the entire frame of the timer mechanism but, instead, the frame may be mounted stationarily within the knob and the shaft 70, upon which the dial 71 and cam 73 are mounted, may be slideably mounted for movement, through a small axial distance, with respect to the timer frame, a distance which is sufficient in any event to effect latching of the member 110. One skilled in the art will also recognize that the entire shaft 70, with its dial and cam, may be centrally bored, if desired, to provide access for a small diameter plunger which may be operated by a pushbutton at the front of the dial 71 for latching purposes. The present arrangement is preferred, however, since the latching and setting of the time interval may be accomplished simultaneously by inward force, and turning force, applied simultaneously to the setting dial. Moreover, while the cam lobe shown, for example, in FIG. 8 is of classic shape, it will be apparent that the function of releasing the latch need not be performed by a conventionally shaped cam but may be performed equally effectively by a short radial arm projecting from the inner end of the shaft 70. Accordingly, the term cam as used herein is used in a general sense to denote a member which is capable of applying the axial pressure necessary for latching or the pressure in the peripheral direction required for release. The term latch as used herein, as well as the adjective latchable," refers to any member for holding the poppet in open position during the timed interval.

While the latching of the poppet constitutes an important element in the present invention, and while the poppet must be latched even for manual operation of the control knob, it may be noted that in practical usage, manual control operations will greatly outnumber automatic timed operations. In a series of manual operations, the poppet, once latched, will stay latched so that there will be no necessity for latching each time the burner is used. Consequently, the timing function is not bought at the expense of complicating ordinary manual control. The only time that latching is necessary as an intentional step is where the burner is to be used following a timed cooking operation, a fact easily understood by anyone using the range.

In above discussion it has been assumed that the gas throttle valve is turned on (moved from the stop defining the off position) and that the timer dial is moved to its set position, both in the clockwise direction. To permit the time setting and knob adjustment to be done, in sequence, singlehandedly, it is desireable for the mechanism to be made and adjusted so that a different amount of torque is required for the two functions. However, the amount of torque may change during the life of the range; for example, the torque required to turn the knob against friction in the throttle valve may be substantially reduced upon passage of time as the throttle valve gradually wears in. Consequently, it is a further and more detailed feature of the present invention to provide a timer and control valve in which the timer and gas control movements are made in opposite directions. By way of example, and as shown in FIG. 7, the timer setting dial is moved clockwise from its reference position to a time set position. Such timer is preferably used with a gas throttle valve having a stop which defines the off position and having a shaft which rotates counterclockwise for gradual increase of gas flow. Where this condition is met, it is convenient to set the timer dial first since, upon turning it to the right, reaction torque against the gas control knob causes the latter to positively bottom on its "off" stop so that timer dial movement does nottend to produce movement of the knob. Once the timer is set, the knob may be bodily rotated, by the same hand, in the opposite (counterclockwise) direction to establish the level of gas flow. Thus timers may if desired be employed having relatively stiff return springs without any tendency for the knob to be rotated, during the setting of the timer, into its on position, and a throttle valve may be used requiring an extremely light turning force. it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the directions of timer dial rotation, from reference position, and knob rotation, from off position, may be respectively reversed while still preserving the feature of sequential, single handed setting of the two function.

While the term gas" has been used in referring to the controlled fluid, it will be apparent that the timer and valve are not limited to use with flammable gas but are equally capable ofcontrolling the flow ofother fluids.

lclaim:

1. in a timer for a range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased outwardly to a (gas) fluid shutoff position, the combination comprising a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, a timer assembly in said valve knob having a frame as well as a main shaft carrying a setting dial at one end and an output cam at the other axially aligned in said knob, said timer assembly being so constructed that when the setting dial is rotated to a set position from a reference position it returns timingly to the reference position accompanied by rotation of the cam, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem to open the poppet valve, a biased latch for latching the latchable member, the frame of the timer assembly being mounted in the knob for limited axial movement and having means for biasing the same outwardly with respect to the knob, the latchable member being in the path of inward axial movement as the dial is pressed inwardly for latching the poppet valve in its open position, said latch being in the path of rotational movement of the cam so that when the cam timingly rotates back to its reference position from a set position it trips the latch to cut off flow of the (gas) fluid.

2. In a timer for a range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having a stern freely titted in the shaft and biased axially to a fluid shutoff position, the combination comprising a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, the timer assembly mounted in said valve knob and having a frame as well as a setting dial and an output cam, said timer assembly being so constructed that when the setting dial is rotated to a set position from a reference position it returns timingly to the reference position accompanied by rotation of the cam, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem to open the poppet valve, a biased latch for latching the latchable member, the frame of the timer assembly being mounted in the knob for limited axial movement with means for biasing the same outwardly, the latchable member being coupled to the frame for response to the inward movement of the frame for latching the poppet valve in open position, said latch being in the path of return movement of the cam so that when the cam timingly rotates back to its reference position from the set position it trips the latch to cut off flow of the (gas) fluid.

3. In a timer for a range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased axially to a (gas) fluid shutoff position, the combination comprising a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, a timer assembly mounted in the valve knob having a frame, setting dial means and an output cam, said timer assembly being so constructed that when the setting dial is rotated to a set position from a reference position it returns timingly to the reference position accompanied by operation of the cam, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem to open the poppet valve, a biased latch for latching the latchable member, said dial means being axially movable and having means for biasing the same outwardly, means responsive to axially inward movement manually applied to the dial means for pressing on the latchable member for latching the same to open the poppet valve, said latch being in the path of return movement of the output cam so that when the dial timingly rotates back to its reference position from the set position the latch is tripped for cutting off the flow of (gas) fluid.

4. in a timer for a range top burner or the like the combination comprising a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the fluid flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased axially to a (gas) fluid shutoff position, a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft for rotating the shaft from an off position when the knob is turned for manual throttling control of the (gas) fluid, a timer assembly mounted in the valve knob having a frame, setting dial means and an output cam, the setting dial being coaxially arranged in said knob and said timer assembly being so constructed that when the setting dial and cam are rotated to a set position from a reference position they return timingly to the reference position, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem to open the poppet valve, means associated with the cam operated incident to setting the dial for latching the latchable member, and means operated incident to return to the reference position for automatically releasing the latchable member thereby to release the poppet valve for turning offthe (gas) flow of fluid.

5. in a timer for a range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased axially to a fluid shutoff position, the combination comprising a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, a timer assembly in said valve knob having a frame, setting dial means and an output cam, said timer assembly beingso constructed that when the setting knob is rotated to a set position from a reference position it returns timingly to the reference position accompanied by rotation of the cam, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem to open the poppet valve, a biased latch for latching the latchable member, said dial means being axially movable and having means for biasing the same outwardly, means responsive to axially inward movement of the dial means for pressing the latchable member for latching the same to open the poppet valve, said latch being in the path of return movement of the cam so that when the cam timingly rotates back to its reference position from the set position, it trips the latch to cutoff flow ofthe (gas) fluid.

6. in a timer for a range top burner biasing the the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the fluid flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having (the) a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased outwardly to a (gas) fluid shutoff position, the combination comprising a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, a timer assembly mounted in the valve knob having a frame with a main shaft axially arranged therein, said main shaft having a setting dial at the forward end and a cam at the rear end, a spring for rotationally biasing the shaft into a reference position, a sector gear on the shaft and a timing train driven thereby, said sector gear having a toothless sector for defining initial lost motion and said timing train including a clutch so that when the dial is rotated from the reference position past the region of lost motion to a set position the shaft tends to return timingly toward the reference position accompanied by rotation of the cam, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem, a biased latch for latching the latchable member, said frame being mounted for limited axial movement with respect to the knob and having means for biasing the same outwardly, the latchable member being in the path of axial movement of the cam so that when the dial is manually pressed inwardly the latchable member is moved into latched position accompanied by opening the pilot lot valve, said latch being arranged in the path of return movement of the cam so that when the cam timingly rotates back to its reference position from a set position it trips the latch to cutoff flow ofthe (gas) fluid.

7. In a timer for a range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the fluid flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having (the) a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased outwardly to a shutoff position, the combination comprising a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, a timer assembly mounted in the valve knob having a frame with a main shaft axially arranged therein, said main shaft having a setting dial at the forward end and a cam at the rear end, a spring for biasing the shaft into a reference position, a sector gear on the shaft and a timing train driven thereby, said sector gear having a toothless sector for defining initial lost motion and said timing train including a clutch so that when the dial is rotated from the reference position past the region of lost motion to a set position, the shaft tends to return timingly toward the reference position accompanied by rotation of the cam, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem to open the poppet valve, means associated with the cam operated incident to setting the dial for latching the latchable member, and means operated incident to return of the dial to the region of lost motion adjacent the reference position for releasing the latchable member thereby to release the poppet valve for turning off the (gas) flow of fluid.

8. [n a timer for a range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the fluid flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet having a stern freely fitted in the shaft and biased axially to a fluid shut off position, a valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, a timer assembly mounted in the valve knob and having a biased setting dial which is rotatable with respect to the knob against the force of bias from a reference position to a time set position, means for coupling the timer assembly to the poppet valve so that the poppet valve is held open during the time that the timer dial is displaced from its reference position and closed when the timer dial is restored to its reference position after the timed interval to shutoff flow of (gas) fluid, the throttle valve and knob having a stop to define the (gas) fluid off position, said knob being rotatable from its off position in one direction, the timer setting dial being rotatable from its reference position in the opposite direction so that the torque required to rotate the timer setting dial is resisted by the stop associated with the knob and so that the knob remains stationary during th e time that the timer dial is being manually set there y permitting the timer dial and knob to be operated sequential by the single band of the person using the range.

Claims

2. In a timer for a range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased axially to a fluid shutoff position, the combination comprising a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, the timer assembly mounted in said valve knob and having a frame as well as a setting dial and an output cam, said timer assembly being so constructed that when the setting dial is rotated to a set position from a reference position it returns timingly to the reference position accompanied by rotation of the cam, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem to open the poppet valve, a biased latch for latching the latchable member, the frame of the timer assembly being mounted in the knob for limited axial movement with means for biasing the same outwardly, the latchable member being coupled to the frame for response to the inward movement of the frame for latching the poppet valve in open position, said latch being in the path of return movement of the cam so that when the cam timingly rotates back to its reference position from the set position it trips the latch to cut off flow of the (gas) fluid.

4. In a timer for a range top burner or the like the combination comprising a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the fluid flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased axially to a (gas) fluid shutoff position, a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft for rotating the shaft from an off position when the knob is turned for manual throttling control of the (gas) fluid, a timer assembly mounted in the valve knob having a frame, setting dial means and an output cam, the setting dial being coaxially arranged in said knob and said timer assembly being so constructed that when the setting dial and cam are rotated to a set position from a reference position they return timingly to the reference position, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem to open the poppet valve, means associated with the cam operated incident to setting the dial for latching the latchable member, and means operated incident to return to the reference position for automatically releasing the latchable member thereby to release the poppet valve for turning off the (gas) flow of fluid.

5. In a timer for a range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased axially to a fluid shutoff position, the combination comprising a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, a timer assembly in said valve knob having a frame, setting dial means and an output cam, said timer assembly being so constructed that when the setting knob is rotated to a set position from a reference position it returns timingly to the reference position accompanied by rotation of the cam, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem to open the poppet valve, a biased latch for latching the latchable member, said dial means being axially movable and having means for biasing the same outwardly, means responsive to axially inward movement of the dial means for pressing the latchable member for latching the same to open the poppet valve, said latch being in the path of return movement of the cam so that when the cam timingly rotates back to its reference position from the set position, it trips the latch to cutoff flow of the (gas) fluid.

6. In a timer for a range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the fluid flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet valve having (the) a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased outwardly to a (gas) fluid shutoff position, the combination comprising a hollow valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, a timer assembly mounted in the valve knob having a frame with a main shaft axially arranged therein, said main shaft having a setting dial at the forward end and a cam at the rear end, a spring for rotationally biasing the shaft into a rEference position, a sector gear on the shaft and a timing train driven thereby, said sector gear having a toothless sector for defining initial lost motion and said timing train including a clutch so that when the dial is rotated from the reference position past the region of lost motion to a set position the shaft tends to return timingly toward the reference position accompanied by rotation of the cam, an axially movable latchable member for engaging the tip of the stem, a biased latch for latching the latchable member, said frame being mounted for limited axial movement with respect to the knob and having means for biasing the same outwardly, the latchable member being in the path of axial movement of the cam so that when the dial is manually pressed inwardly the latchable member is moved into latched position accompanied by opening the pilot valve, said latch being arranged in the path of return movement of the cam so that when the cam timingly rotates back to its reference position from a set position it trips the latch to cutoff flow of the (gas) fluid.

8. In a timer for a range top burner or the like having a throttle valve and a poppet valve for cutting off the fluid flow, the throttle valve having a rotatable shaft and the poppet having a stem freely fitted in the shaft and biased axially to a fluid shut off position, a valve knob having means for attachment to the shaft, a timer assembly mounted in the valve knob and having a biased setting dial which is rotatable with respect to the knob against the force of bias from a reference position to a time set position, means for coupling the timer assembly to the poppet valve so that the poppet valve is held open during the time that the timer dial is displaced from its reference position and closed when the timer dial is restored to its reference position after the timed interval to shutoff flow of (gas) fluid, the throttle valve and knob having a stop to define the (gas) fluid off position, said knob being rotatable from its off position in one direction, the timer setting dial being rotatable from its reference position in the opposite direction so that the torque required to rotate the timer setting dial is resisted by the stop associated with the knob and so that the knob remains stationary during the time that the timer dial is being manually set thereby permitting the timer dial and knob to be operated sequentially in that order by the single hand of the person using the range.