Combination Safety Valve and Ignition Trigger For Gas Burners

Abstract

Presented is a system and method for permitting concurrent actuation of a gas safety valve and an ignition trigger for igniting gas burners. The combination safety valve and ignition device for gas burners permits both the start of a flow of flammable gas to a burner and the ignition of the flammable gas via operation of a single button or other actuator.

1 . A safety valve assembly, comprising:
 a body having
 a gas inlet port for receiving a flammable gas; 
 a gas outlet port for transferring flammable gas received at the gas inlet port to a gas burner; 
 a pilot outlet port for transferring flammable gas to a pilot burner; 
 a first valve for controlling flow of flammable gas from the gas inlet port to the gas outlet port; 
 a second valve for controlling flow of flammable gas to the pilot outlet port; 
 a starting actuator arranged such that operation of the starting actuator opens the second valve; and 
 an ignition switch associated with the starting actuator such that operation of the starting actuator also operates the ignition switch. 
   
     
     
         2 . The safety valve assembly of  claim 1  wherein the pilot outlet port is connected via a pilot gas flow path to receive flammable gas from the gas inlet port, the second valve controlling flow of flammable gas along the pilot gas flow path. 
     
     
         3 . The safety valve assembly of  claim 1  wherein the pilot outlet port is connected via a pilot gas flow path to receive flammable gas from a pilot gas inlet port of the body, the pilot gas inlet port separate from the gas inlet port, the second valve controlling flow of flammable gas along the pilot gas flow path. 
     
     
         4 . The safety valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the starting actuator is moveable through a displacement range and the ignition switch transitions between an open state and a closed state during at least a portion of the displacement range. 
     
     
         5 . The safety valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuator arm that couples displacement of the safety actuator to the ignition switch, contact between the actuator arm and the ignition switch causes the ignition switch to transition between an open state and a closed state.   
     
     
         6 . The safety valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ignition switch is located within the body. 
     
     
         7 . The safety valve assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the ignition switch comprises a membrane switch within the body and positioned proximate to an internal portion of the safety actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The safety valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ignition switch is a momentary switch or a piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         9 . A gas powered device including the safety valve of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pilot;   an ignition module in electrical communication with the ignition switch;   an ignitor;   wherein the pilot receives flammable gas from the pilot output port when the safety actuator is operated to open the second valve;   wherein operation of the ignition switch when the safety actuator is operated triggers the ignition module to send an electrical impulse to the ignitor to create a spark that ignites the flammable gas of the pilot.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising a thermal sensor proximate the pilot, wherein the thermal sensor is connected to deliver an electrical signal to the first valve in response to ignited flammable gas of the pilot, the electrical signal for holding the first valve open. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the thermal sensor is a thermocouple or thermopile. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein (i) the ignition module is connected to a power source through the ignition switch or (ii) an output of the ignition module is connected to the ignitor through the ignition switch. 
     
     
         13 . A gas powered device including the safety valve of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flow control valve in fluid communication for receiving a flammable gas from the gas outlet port;   a primary gas burner in fluid communication with the flow control valve;   a pilot in fluid communication with the pilot outlet port.   
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a gas control unit having an inlet port for accepting a gas;   a outlet port in the gas control unit for transferring the gas to a burner, the outlet port in fluid communication with the inlet port;   a valve for selectively transferring flammable gas from the inlet port to the outlet port;   a safety actuator that when operated opens the valve; and   a switch in communication with the safety actuator, the switch transitions to an operating state when the safety actuator is operated.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the safety actuator further comprises:
 an actuator arm that physically presses the switch causing the switch to transition to the operating state.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the switch comprises one of:
 a membrane switch positioned to be triggered by movement of the safety actuator; or   a piezoelectric actuator.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a burner;   an ignition module in electrical communication with the switch;   an ignitor;   wherein the burner receives flammable gas from the outlet port when the valve is open;   wherein the switch transitions to the operating state to trigger the ignition module to send an electrical impulse to the ignitor to ignite the flammable gas of the burner.   
     
     
         18 . A method of starting a burner, comprising:
 operating a safety actuator on a safety valve a first distance, the safety actuator mechanically opening a first valve to allow a flammable gas to flow to a pilot burner;   operating the safety actuator on the safety valve a second distance, the safety actuator triggering a switch to transition between an open state and a closed state, the switch in electrical communication with an ignition source, the ignition source triggering an electrical impulse that causes a spark at the pilot burner, the spark igniting the flammable gas creating a flame;   heating a thermal sensor using the flame to generate an electrical signal, the electrical signal activating a second valve that controls whether flammable gas flows to a primary burner; and   releasing the safety actuator on the safety valve so as to open the second valve.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first distance equals the second distance.