Dual fuel heater with selector valve

• US 8,915,239 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Deng
• Original Assignee: David Deng
• Inventors: Deng, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao D
• Application Number:
  US13/311,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20130098349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 126/58, 126/39.G, 126/39.N, 126/344, 126/85.R, 126/39.R, 137111-114, 137/256, 137/265, 137/267, 137/572, 137/398, 137/512, 137/433, 137/119.01, 137/119.06, 137/119.08, 137/595, 137/597, 137/625.11, 137/625.16, 137/625.19, 137/625.42, 137/637.3, 137/613, 137/614.11, 137/862, 244/135.R, 244/135.C, 244/63, 244/66, 431/278, 431/280, 431/281
• US Class Current: 126/58
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/10 with two or more closure members not moving as a unit
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 1/08 liquid and gaseous fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2237/08 two or more different types of fuel simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 1/04 simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/002 Stoves
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0661 characterised by the loading mechanisms of the membrane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87981 Common actuator

Abstract

A heater assembly can be used with a gas appliance. The gas appliance can be a dual fuel appliance for use with one of a first fuel type or a second fuel type different than the first. The heater assembly can include at least one pressure regulator, a housing, and an actuation member. The housing has a first fuel hook-up for connecting the first fuel type to the heater assembly, a second fuel hook-up for connecting the second fuel type to the heater assembly, and an internal valve. The actuation member can control the position of the internal valve based on whether the first or the second fuel hook-up is used.

Claims

1. A heater assembly for use with one of a first fuel type or a second fuel type different than the first, the heater assembly comprising:

a pressure regulator having a first position and a second position;

a housing having first and second fuel hook-ups, the first fuel hook-up for connecting the first fuel type to the heater assembly and the second hook-up for connecting the second fuel type to the heater assembly;

an actuation member having an end located within the second fuel hook-up and having a first position and a second position, the actuation member configured such that connecting a fuel source to the heater assembly at the second fuel hook-up moves the actuation member from the first position to the second position which causes the pressure regulator to move from the first position to the second position;

wherein the pressure regulator in the second position is configured to regulate a fuel flow of the second fuel type within a predetermined range.

2. The heater assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spring operatively coupled to the actuation member to bias the actuation member towards the first position.

3. The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the pressure regulator in the first position is configured to regulate a fuel flow of the first fuel type within a predetermined range different than the predetermined range for the second fuel type.

4. The heater assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second pressure regulator configured to regulate a fuel flow of the first fuel type within a predetermined range different than the predetermined range for the second fuel type.

5. The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuation member comprises a rod configured for linear advancement from the first position to the second position.

6. The heater assembly of claim 5, wherein the rod extends along a longitudinal axis and has a plurality of longitudinal cross-sections of different shapes.

7. The heater assembly of claim 6, wherein a first section of the actuation member is associated with the pressure regulator in the first position and a second section of the actuation member is associated with the pressure regulator in the second position, the first section having a longitudinal cross-section of a different shape than the second section.

8. The heater assembly of claim 7, further comprising an arm extending between the actuation member and the pressure regulator, and a pressure regulator spring, the arm configured to establish the compressible height of the pressure regulator spring.

9. The heater assembly of claim 7, wherein the rod, including the first section has a substantially circular cross-section, the second section comprising a flat surface.

10. The heater assembly of claim 9, further comprising an arm extending between the actuation member and the pressure regulator, and a pressure regulator spring, the arm configured to establish the compressible height of the pressure regulator spring.

11. The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises:

a first inlet;

a first outlet;

a second outlet; and

a first valve configured to open and close both of the first and second outlets.

12. The heater assembly of claim 11, further comprising a control valve.

13. The heater assembly of claim 11, the control valve comprising first and second solenoids.

14. The heater assembly of claim 11, further comprising first and second nozzles.

15. The heater assembly of claim 14, further comprising first and second pilots or oxygen depletion sensors.

16. The heater assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises:

a second inlet;

a third outlet;

a fourth outlet; and

a second valve configured to open and close both the third and fourth outlets.

17. The heater assembly of claim 16, wherein the actuation member comprises a rod configured for linear advancement from the first position to the second position, the rod extending along a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of longitudinal cross-sections of different shapes.

18. The heater assembly of claim 17, wherein the rod having a first section associated with the pressure regulator in the first position and a second section of the rod is associated with the pressure regulator in the second position, the first section having a longitudinal cross-section of a different shape than the second section.

19. The heater assembly of claim 18, wherein the rod having third and fourth sections associated with the first valve, the third and fourth sections having different shaped longitudinal cross-sections.

20. The heater assembly of claim 19, wherein the rod having fifth and sixth sections associated with the second valve, the fifth and sixth sections having different shaped longitudinal cross-sections.

21. The heater assembly of claim 20, further comprising a first arm extending between the rod and the pressure regulator, a second arm extending between the rod and the first valve, and a third arm extending between the rod and the second valve, the arms respectively configured to establish the compressible height of the pressure regulator spring, and the position of the respective valves to open and close respective outlets.

22. The heater assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first valve positioned at the first fuel hook-up, the first valve configured to open when the fuel source is connected to the heater assembly at the first fuel hook-up.

23. The heater assembly of claim 22, wherein the actuation member further comprises a second valve positioned at the second fuel hook-up, the second valve configured to open when the fuel source is connected to the heater assembly at the second fuel hook-up.

24. A heater assembly for use with one of a first fuel type or a second fuel type different than the first, the heater assembly comprising:

at least one pressure regulator;

a housing comprising;

a first fuel hook-up for connecting the first fuel type to the heater assembly;

a second fuel hook-up for connecting the second fuel type to the heater assembly;

a first inlet;

a first outlet;

a second outlet configured with an open position and a closed position;

a first valve configured to open and close the second outlet;

a first actuation member having an end located within the second fuel hook-up and having a first position and a second position, the first actuation member configured such that connecting a fuel source to the heater assembly at the second fuel hook-up moves the actuation member from the first position to the second position which causes the first valve to open the second outlet, the second outlet being in fluid communication with the second fuel hook-up.

25. The heater assembly of claim 24, further comprising a spring operatively coupled to the first actuation member to bias the first actuation member towards the first position.

26. The heater assembly of claim 24, wherein the first actuation member is further configured such that connecting the fuel source to the heater assembly at the second fuel hook-up moves the first actuation member from the first position to the second position which causes the at least one pressure regulator to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the at least one pressure regulator in the second position is configured to regulate a fuel flow of the second fuel type within a predetermined range.

27. The heater assembly of claim 26, wherein at least one pressure regulator in the first position is configured to regulate a fuel flow of the first fuel type within a predetermined range different than the predetermined range for the second fuel type.

28. The heater assembly of claim 24, wherein the at least one pressure regulator comprises first and second pressure regulators, the first pressure regulator being in fluid communication with the first fuel hook-up and the second pressure regulator being in fluid communication with the second fuel hook-up.

29. The heater assembly of claim 24, wherein the first actuation member comprises a rod configured for linear advancement from the first position to the second position.

30. The heater assembly of claim 29, wherein the rod extends along a longitudinal axis and has a plurality of longitudinal cross-sections of different shapes.

31. The heater assembly of claim 30, wherein a first section of the rod is configured to associate with the first valve and the second outlet in the closed position and a second section of the rod is configured to associate with the first valve and the second outlet in the open position, the first section having a longitudinal cross-section of a different shape than the second section.

32. The heater assembly of claim 31, further comprising an arm extending between the first actuation member and the first valve.

33. The heater assembly of claim 24, wherein the first valve is configured to open and close both the first and second outlets.

34. The heater assembly of claim 33, wherein the housing further comprises:

a second inlet;

a third outlet;

a fourth outlet; and

a second valve configured to open and close both the third and fourth outlets.

35. The heater assembly of claim 34, wherein the first actuation member is configured with a first section that associates with the first valve such that the first outlet is open and the second outlet is closed and a second section that associates with the second valve such that the third outlet is open and the fourth outlet is closed.

36. The heater assembly of claim 35, wherein the first actuation member is configured with a third section that associates with the first valve such that the first outlet is closed and the second outlet is open and a fourth section that associates with the second valve such that the third outlet is closed and the fourth outlet is open, the first and second sections having a longitudinal cross-section of a different shape than the third and fourth sections.

37. The heater assembly of claim 36, further comprising a first arm extending between the first actuation member and the first valve, and a second arm extending between the first actuation member and the second valve, the arms respectively configured to establish the position of the respective valves to open and close respective outlets.

38. The heater assembly of claim 37, further comprising a third arm extending between the first actuation member and the at least one pressure regulator, the third arm configured to establish the compressible height of a pressure regulator spring.

39. The heater assembly of claim 24, further comprising a second valve configured to open and close the first outlet.

40. The heater assembly of claim 39, wherein the housing further comprises:

a second inlet;

a third outlet;

a fourth outlet;

a third valve configured to open and close the third outlet; and

a fourth valve configured to open and close the fourth outlet.

41. The heater assembly of claim 24, further comprising a second actuation member positioned within the first fuel hook-up.

42. The heater assembly of claim 41, wherein the second actuation member comprises a fuel hook-up valve to open and close the first fuel hook-up and configured to open when the fuel source is connected to the heater assembly at the first fuel hook-up.

43. The heater assembly of claim 42, wherein the first actuation member further comprises a valve positioned at the second fuel hook-up, the valve configured to open when the fuel source is connected to the heater assembly at the second fuel hook-up.

44. The heater assembly of claim 41, wherein the second actuation member comprises a rod having a plurality of sections of different cross-sectional area.

45. The heater assembly of claim 24, further comprising a control valve in fluid communication with the first inlet.

46. The heater assembly of claim 24, further comprising first and second nozzles in fluid communication with the respective first and second outlets.

47. The heater assembly of claim 24, further comprising first and second pilots or oxygen depletion sensors in fluid communication with the respective first and second outlets.