Variable Flow Gas Valve and Method for Controlling Same
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a gas control valve having a plurality of discrete open configurations including at least a first discrete open configuration providing a first flow rate and a second discrete open configuration providing a second flow rate, different than the first flow rate, the method comprising the step of:
- continuously cycling between the first and second discrete open configurations to provide a desired average output flow rate that is different than the first and second flow rates.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas control valve and method of controlling a gas control valve to provide infinite adjustability is provided. The gas control valve defines a fluid flow path. A flow adjustment arrangement within the fluid flow path has a plurality of discrete open configurations. Each discrete open configuration establishes a different flow rate through the fluid flow path. A controller operatively cyclically alternates the flow adjustment arrangement between different ones of the discrete configurations to provide an average flow rate through the fluid flow path that is between the flow rates permitted by the different ones of the discrete open configurations. The controller establishes residence times at the various ones of the discrete open configurations such that the resultant flow rate is the desired flow rate.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a gas control valve having a plurality of discrete open configurations including at least a first discrete open configuration providing a first flow rate and a second discrete open configuration providing a second flow rate, different than the first flow rate, the method comprising the step of:
continuously cycling between the first and second discrete open configurations to provide a desired average output flow rate that is different than the first and second flow rates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A gas control valve comprising:
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a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port; a fluid flow path between the inlet port and the outlet port; a flow adjustment arrangement within the fluid flow path having a plurality of discrete open configurations, each of the plurality of discrete open configurations establishing a different unique flow rate through the fluid flow path; a controller operatively coupled to the flow adjustment arrangement to switch the flow adjustment arrangement between the discrete open configurations, the controller cyclically alternating the flow adjustment arrangement between different ones of the discrete open configurations providing an average flow rate through the fluid flow path that is between the unique flow rates permitted by the different ones of the discrete open configurations. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of controlling a gas control valve having a first discrete open configuration providing a first flow rate and a second discrete open configuration providing a second flow rate, different than the first flow rate, and an off configuration preventing fluid flow through the gas control valve, the method comprising the step of:
continuously cycling between the first discrete open configuration and the off configuration to provide a desired average output flow rate that is different than the first flow rate, the desired average output flow rate being sufficient to maintain a flame by an attached device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
Specification