US5076782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control device for a fuel valve
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-07-26
•
Granted: 1991-12-31
•
Expires: 2009-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A control device, which is interposed between a modulating motor and a valve, includes a control arm which is mounted on the shaft of the valve and a roller follower that is on the arm. In addition, the control device includes a bracket which is mounted on a fuel line adjacent to the valve, a cam which rotates on the bracket about an axis that is parallel to the shaft and an operating arm which rotates with the cam and is connected to the modulating motor, so that the modulating motor moves an air damper and cam in unison. The cam has an arcuate element which curves eccentrically about the axis of rotation and screws which are threaded into the arcuate element such that their ends form a cam profile. The roller follower bears against this profile, riding over the ends of the screws as the cam rotates. The screws on the cam are arranged in two rows, with the screws of one row being staggered with respect to those in the other, and this imparts a continuity to the profile, so that the roller does not pulsate as it moves along the profile.
Inventors
- 👤 Johnny E. Campbell
- 👤 James J. Briem
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:00
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23N; F23N1/00; F23N1/02; F23N1/027; F23N2235/00; F23N2235/02; F23N2235/06; F23N2235/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2101; Y10T74/2102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
367 words
In combination with a damper through which air is admitted to a combustion chamber and which opens and closes to modulate the air so admitted, a fuel line through which a fluent fuel is admitted to the combustion chamber, a valve located in the fuel line and having a rotatable shaft which, when turned, opens and closes the valve to thereby cause the amount of fuel passing through the valve and fuel line to vary, and modulating means for opening and closing the damper and valve in unison in response to conditions that are dependent on the combustion within the combustion chamber, an improved control device for connecting the modulating means with the valve, said control device comprising: a control arm connected to the shaft of the valve; a cam follower on the control arm; a bracket mounted firmly on the fuel line adjacent to the valve and having mounting means for establishing an axis of rotation that is parallel to the shaft of the valve; a cam mounted on the mounting means adjacent to the control arm for rotation about the axis of rotation and being connected to the modulating means, so that the modulating means causes the cam to rotate in response to conditions that are dependent on the combustion with the combustion chamber, the cam having an arcuate segment which curves about the axis of rotation and also screws arranged in at least one row that follows the curvature of the arcuate segment about the axis of rotation, the screws projecting generally away from the axis or rotation and beyond the arcuate segment and having their outer ends exposed to establish a cam profile which varies in distance from the axis of rotation, the follower being against the profile; and a tension spring connected between the control arm and the cam for urging the cam follower against the cam profile; whereby as the cam is rotated by the modulating means, the profile moves the follower and the follower moves the control arm to rotate the shaft of the valve so as to vary the amount of fuel passing through the fuel line and whereby the cam profile may be altered by rotating the screws.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
367 words
In combination with a damper through which air is admitted to a combustion chamber and which opens and closes to modulate the air so admitted, a fuel line through which a fluent fuel is admitted to the combustion chamber, a valve located in the fuel line and having a rotatable shaft which, when turned, opens and closes the valve to thereby cause the amount of fuel passing through the valve and fuel line to vary, and modulating means for opening and closing the damper and valve in unison in response to conditions that are dependent on the combustion within the combustion chamber, an improved control device for connecting the modulating means with the valve, said control device comprising: a control arm connected to the shaft of the valve; a cam follower on the control arm; a bracket mounted firmly on the fuel line adjacent to the valve and having mounting means for establishing an axis of rotation that is parallel to the shaft of the valve; a cam mounted on the mounting means adjacent to the control arm for rotation about the axis of rotation and being connected to the modulating means, so that the modulating means causes the cam to rotate in response to conditions that are dependent on the combustion with the combustion chamber, the cam having an arcuate segment which curves about the axis of rotation and also screws arranged in at least one row that follows the curvature of the arcuate segment about the axis of rotation, the screws projecting generally away from the axis or rotation and beyond the arcuate segment and having their outer ends exposed to establish a cam profile which varies in distance from the axis of rotation, the follower being against the profile; and a tension spring connected between the control arm and the cam for urging the cam follower against the cam profile; whereby as the cam is rotated by the modulating means, the profile moves the follower and the follower moves the control arm to rotate the shaft of the valve so as to vary the amount of fuel passing through the fuel line and whereby the cam profile may be altered by rotating the screws.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein the follower is a roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein the control arm is offset with respect to the cam and the follower is a roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein the cam includes a web which projects outwardly from the axis of rotation for the cam and the arcuate segment is attached to the web and curves about the axis with its convex surface being presented away from the axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein the screws are arranged in at least two rows, with the screws of the one row being staggered with respect to the screws of the other row.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein the spaces between adjacent screws in either row do not exceed the diameter of the screws.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein the cam follower is a roller that revolves about an axis that is fixed in position with respect to the control arm and is parallel to the axis of the shaft on the valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein the roller is long enough to extend across both rows of screws and contacts screws in both rows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein the cam further includes stops mounted on the arcuate segment beyond the ends of the rows of screws and projecting outwardly beyond the cam profile to interfere with the follower and prevent further rotation of the cam when the follower is at either end of the rows of screws.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein the tension spring is connected to the cam at a location remote from the axis of rotation, and the axis of rotation is located between the location at which the spring is connected and the arcuate segment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
323 words
In combination with a fuel line and a valve located in the fuel line for varying the flow of fuel through the line, the valve having a rotatable shaft which, when turned, varies the amount of fuel that flows through the line and valve, a control device for operating the valve, said control device comprising: a bracket having a spindle projecting from it; means for attaching the bracket firmly to the fuel line near the valve with the spindle parallel to the shaft of the valve; a cam mounted on the spindle of the bracket for rotation back and forth about the axis of the spindle, the cam having an arcuate segment that curves about the spindle and set screws which are threaded into the arcuate segment where they are arranged in two adjacent rows that follow the curvature of the arcuate segment, the set screws of the one row being staggered with respect to the set screws of the other row, the set screws projecting outwardly beyond the arcuate segment such that their ends form the profile for the cam; a control arm attached firmly to the shaft of the valve and projecting generally radially from that shaft; a follower carried by the control arm and bearing against the ends of at least some of the screws for the cam, the follower being a roller which rotates on the control arm about an axis that is parallel to the axis of the spindle for the bracket and parallel to the shaft of the valve; the cam and follower being oriented and positioned such that rotation of the cam about the spindle of the bracket will move the follower relative to the spindle and likewise move the control arm to thereby rotate the shaft of the valve; and a tension spring connected to the control arm and the cam for urging the roller follower against the ends of the screws on the cam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
323 words
In combination with a fuel line and a valve located in the fuel line for varying the flow of fuel through the line, the valve having a rotatable shaft which, when turned, varies the amount of fuel that flows through the line and valve, a control device for operating the valve, said control device comprising: a bracket having a spindle projecting from it; means for attaching the bracket firmly to the fuel line near the valve with the spindle parallel to the shaft of the valve; a cam mounted on the spindle of the bracket for rotation back and forth about the axis of the spindle, the cam having an arcuate segment that curves about the spindle and set screws which are threaded into the arcuate segment where they are arranged in two adjacent rows that follow the curvature of the arcuate segment, the set screws of the one row being staggered with respect to the set screws of the other row, the set screws projecting outwardly beyond the arcuate segment such that their ends form the profile for the cam; a control arm attached firmly to the shaft of the valve and projecting generally radially from that shaft; a follower carried by the control arm and bearing against the ends of at least some of the screws for the cam, the follower being a roller which rotates on the control arm about an axis that is parallel to the axis of the spindle for the bracket and parallel to the shaft of the valve; the cam and follower being oriented and positioned such that rotation of the cam about the spindle of the bracket will move the follower relative to the spindle and likewise move the control arm to thereby rotate the shaft of the valve; and a tension spring connected to the control arm and the cam for urging the roller follower against the ends of the screws on the cam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 11 wherein the spaced between adjacent screws of either row does not exceed the diameter of the screws.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination according to claim 11 wherein the cam further includes stops mounted on the arcuate segment beyond the ends of the rows of screws and projecting outwardly beyond the cam profile formed by the ends of the screws to interfere with the follower and prevent further rotation of the cam when the follower is at either end of the rows of screws.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination according to claim 11 wherein the spring is connected to the cam at a location beyond the spindle so that the spindle is generally between the arcuate segment and the location at which the spring is connected.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination according to claim 11 and further comprising an operating arm connected to the cam at the spindle for connecting the cam to an operating motor and being adjustable with respect to the cam about the axis of the spindle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-30 | 1995-07-01 | 1995-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-30 | 1999-07-01 | 1999-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-30 | 2003-07-01 | 2003-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |