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Title: Variable orifice gas modulating valve

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6039351

An automatic gas modulating valve is described for regulating the flow of gaseous fuel from a fuel source to a gas burner, comprising a first valve body member having a first generally planar slide surface and a gas inlet opening communicatively connected to a gas flow conduit extending through the first valve body member and terminating in an inlet port formed in the first planar slide surface; a second valve body member fixed to the first valve body member and including a second generally planar slide surface disposed parallel to and spaced from the first planar slide surface of the first valve body member so as to define a relatively thin planar slide cavity between the first valve body member and the second valve body member, the second valve body member having an outlet port formed in the second planar slide surface in coaxial relation to said inlet port so as to form a contiguous gas discharge passageway; a slide sheet being moveable back and forth within the planar slide cavity such that the sliding motion of the slide sheet varies the position of the slide sheet opening relative to the inlet and outlet ports so as to form a variable orifice within the gas discharge passageway, whereby the flow of gas from the source to the burner is modulated and controlled by the sliding movement of the slide sheet; means to constrain the movement of the slide sheet between two extreme positions, such that the flow of gaseous fuel is constrained to be a rate between a maximum rate and a nonzero minimum rate; sealing means to minimize the leakage of fuel gas from the valve structure to the surroundings; an automatic actuator which is responsive to a control signal for positioning the slide sheet within the planar slide cavity at a position between said two extreme positions; and connecting means connected between the automatic actuator and the slide sheet for sliding the slide sheet back and forth in response to the actuation of the actuator.

Assignee:
Harmony Thermal Co., Inc., Greeley, CO (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5238398; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-716514
OSTI ID:
6039351
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 17 Jun 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English