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Title: Variable orifice gas modulating valve

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6060379

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; a second valve body member fixed to 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; circular grooves cut into said first and second planar surfaces, each groove cut to a depth to accommodate two stacked O-rings such that the top portion of the top O-ring protrudes slightly above the planar surface; a pair of O-rings set into each of said grooves, the bottom O-ring being of a deformable material and the top O-rings being of a harder material that offers a low coefficient of sliding friction against a metal surface; a moveable slide which is slightly thinner than the width of said thin planar slide cavity, having an opening formed therein, such that the top O-rings of the said pairs of O-rings form face seals on the opposite sides of the slide and the bottom O-rings of the said pairs are deformed so as to provide sufficient normal force to effect the face seals, thereby minimizing gas leakage from the valve, said slide being moveable back and forth within the planar slide cavity, the opening of the slide being interposed between the inlet and outlet ports such that the sliding motion of the slide varies the position of the slide 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; means to constrain the movement of the slide between two extreme positions; an automatic actuator, whereby automatic modulating control of the gas flow may be effected; and connecting means connected between the actuator and the slide for sliding the slide back and forth in response to the actuator.

Assignee:
Harmony Thermal Co., Inc., Greeley, CO (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5234196; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 8-001306
OSTI ID:
6060379
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 6 Jan 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English