US3860786A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control mechanisms
Assignee: British Domestic Appliances Ltd
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Filing: 1973-02-28
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A control mechanism for controlling the supply of gas and electricity to an apparatus or installation which can utilize either of these sources of energy, for example an absorption refrigerator in which the heat energy can be provided either by an electric heater or a gas burner. A common selector knob is rotatable in one direction to operate electric switches controlling the electric supply and is rotatable in the opposite direction to operate a gas tap which controls the gas supply, thus ensuring that gas and electricity cannot be supplied simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Charles Lammond Wass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:14
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B49/00; F25B49/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A control mechanism for apparatus energized by gas or electricity comprising: a. valve means for controlling a supply of gas; b. switching means for controlling a supply of electricity; c. a selector common to both the valve means and switching means and having an ''''off'''' position in which both the valve means and switching means are prevented from supplying gas and electricity respectively; d. cam means rotatable by the selector for actuating said switching means; and e. coupling means comprising a first part rotatable by the selector, and a second part for actuating said valve means, one of said parts providing a guide path, and the other of said parts carrying a member rideable along said path on actuation of the selector, said path being shaped and arranged to move the valve means between open and closed positions while the switch means controlling the supply of electricity is unactuated, and to leave the valve means closed while the switching means is actuated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A control mechanism for apparatus energized by gas or electricity comprising: a. valve means for controlling a supply of gas; b. switching means for controlling a supply of electricity; c. a selector common to both the valve means and switching means and having an ''''off'''' position in which both the valve means and switching means are prevented from supplying gas and electricity respectively; d. cam means rotatable by the selector for actuating said switching means; and e. coupling means comprising a first part rotatable by the selector, and a second part for actuating said valve means, one of said parts providing a guide path, and the other of said parts carrying a member rideable along said path on actuation of the selector, said path being shaped and arranged to move the valve means between open and closed positions while the switch means controlling the supply of electricity is unactuated, and to leave the valve means closed while the switching means is actuated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide path is provided by said first part of the coupling means and the said member which is rideable along said guide path is carried by said second part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guide path is provided by said second part of the coupling means and the said member which is rideable along said guide path is carried by said first part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A control mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first part of the coupling means is provided with a guide path in the form of an eccentric track approximating in shape to an interrogation mark, and the second part of the coupling means is fixed to a rotatable shaft which actuates the valve means, said second part carrying an axially extending member which is offset from the axis of the shaft and which rides along said track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
A control mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second part of the coupling means is fixed to a rotatable shaft which actuates the valve means and is provided with a guide path in the form of a radially extending slot, the shaft being parallel to but offset from the axis of rotation of the first part of the coupling means, and the first part of the coupling means carrying an axially extending member which is offset from the axis of rotation of saiD part and which rides along said slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A control mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve means comprises a gas tap of the kind which requires a movement of substantially 90* to turn it from a closed position to a fully open position
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A control mechanism as claimed in claim 1 incorporated in an absorption refrigerator separately energizable by a gas burner and an electric heater, and having separate thermostats provided for the gas burner and the electric heater coupled together by gearing to enable them to be set by a common control knob.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A control mechanism as claimed in claim 7 having a control valve operable manually to permit gas to be supplied to the burner when the valve means is open, an electromagnet energizable to hold the control valve open, and means for supplying energizing current to the electromagnet when the burner is alight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A control mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein an electric igniter head operated by an ignition button is arranged to ignite the gas burner.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A control mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control valve is coupled to the ignition button so that the control valve is opened when the ignition button is operated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A control mechanism as claimed in claim 10, including a window through which the gas burner can be viewed to ensure that the gas is burning.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |