Methods and apparatus for a gas range

Abstract

A gas cooking appliance includes at least one gas surface burner element, a controller configured to receive a signal indicative of a self-clean mode, and a gas lockout valve assembly coupled in line with the surface burner element, wherein the gas lockout valve assembly is configured to close in response to receiving the self-clean signal such that gas flow to the surface burner element is stopped during the self-clean mode.

1 . A gas cooking appliance, comprising: 
 at least one gas surface burner element;    a controller configured to receive a signal indicative of a self-clean mode; and    a gas lockout valve assembly coupled in line with said at least one gas surface burner element, said gas lockout valve assembly configured to close in response to receiving the self-clean signal such that gas flow to said at least one gas surface burner element is stopped during the self-clean mode.    
   
   
       2 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor.  
   
   
       3 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said gas lockout valve assembly comprises a solenoid located thereon and said solenoid is electrically connected with said microprocessor such that feedback can be sent to said microprocessor to ensure the gas is off before initiating the self-clean mode.  
   
   
       4 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said at least one gas surface burner element comprises a plurality of gas surface burner elements, said microprocessor is operatively coupled to said plurality of gas surface burner elements.  
   
   
       5 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 2  further comprising at least one display, an input interface, an analog to digital converter, a RAM memory, and a permanent memory coupled to said microprocessor.  
   
   
       6 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said solenoid is actuated by said microprocessor to reposition said valve assembly.  
   
   
       7 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said gas lockout valve comprises a valve, a motor coupled to and in driving relation to said valve, said motor opening and closing a flow path through said valve; and a cam coupled to said valve and indicating a state of said valve.  
   
   
       8 . A gas cooking appliance comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a plurality of gas surface burner elements coupled to said cabinet;    a controller configured to receive a signal indicative of a self-clean mode; and    a gas lockout valve assembly coupled between said plurality of gas surface burner elements and a gas line, said gas lockout valve assembly configured to close in response to receiving the self-clean signal such that gas flow to said surface burner elements is stopped during the self-clean mode.    
   
   
       9 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising a solenoid coupled to said gas lockout valve assembly.  
   
   
       10 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said solenoid is automatically activated when a self-clean mode is initiated.  
   
   
       11 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said gas lockout valve assembly is activated by said solenoid and provides feedback to said controller.  
   
   
       12 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor coupled to said solenoid.  
   
   
       13 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said controller comprises at least one display, an input interface, an analog to digital converter, a RAM memory, and a permanent memory coupled to said microprocessor.  
   
   
       14 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said input interface comprises a button for initiating a self-clean mode.  
   
   
       15 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said gas lockout valve assembly comprises a valve, a motor coupled to and in driving relation to said valve, said motor opening and closing the gas flow through said valve, and a cam coupled to said valve and indicating the state of said valve.  
   
   
       16 . A gas cooking appliance in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said valve is a ½ inch NPT ball valve.  
   
   
       17 . A method for automatically shutting off a gas supply during a self-clean process of a gas cooking appliance having a plurality of surface burner elements, a gas lockout valve assembly having a solenoid in flow communication with the surface burner elements, and a controller operatively coupled to the gas lockout valve assembly, said method comprising: 
 inputting an instruction of a self-clean mode to the controller;    transmitting a signal of a self-clean mode from the controller to the gas lockout valve assembly; and    shutting off the gas supply using the lockout valve assembly in response to receiving the self-clean signal from the controller.    
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the self-clean instruction is input by operating a control panel of the gas cooking appliance.  
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising activating the solenoid such that the valve assembly is at least one of repositioned from an open position to a closed position and repositioned from a closed position to an open position.  
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19  further comprising transmitting a signal from the solenoid when the valve assembly is closed, and initiating a self-clean process after the signal is received at the controller.