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  Adjustable air shutter for a gas burnerUSPTO Application #: 20060154194Title: Adjustable air shutter for a gas burner Abstract: A gas mixing valve includes a conduit, a shutter, and an elongated flexible adjustment member. The conduit is coupled between a gas supply and a gas burner and includes an opening. The shutter is positioned adjacent to the conduit and is movable between a plurality of positions relative to the conduit opening to adjust a flow of air into the conduit. The elongated flexible adjustment member is coupled to the shutter and configured to move the shutter between the plurality of positions. (end of abstract) Agent: Faegre & Benson, LLP Attn: Patent Docketing - Minneapolis, MN, US Inventors: Bill Panther, Mark Rose USPTO Applicaton #: 20060154194 - Class: 431354000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Combustion, Mixer And Flame Holder The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060154194. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of Invention [0002] The present invention generally relates to gas fireplaces, and more particularly relates to structures for adjusting an air and gas mixture for a fireplace burner. [0003] 2. Related Art [0004] Gas fireplaces typically include a gas burner positioned within a combustion chamber of the fireplace. The gas burner is coupled via a gas conduit to a gas valve typically positioned outside of the combustion chamber but within an outer enclosure of the fireplace. A separate gas mixing valve is positioned between the conduit valve and is adjustable to provide a flow of fresh air into the flow of gas in the conduit to provide a desired air and gas mixture to the gas burner. Most gas mixing valves are configured for adjustment to a setting at the time of installing the fireplace or gas burner. However, it can be time consuming to obtain the proper adjustment of the gas mixing valve to accommodate for considerations such as fuel type and altitude. This is because the valve in some gas fireplaces is sealed below the combustion chamber, not allowing easy access to the valve for adjustment. In order to adjust the valve for these fireplaces, the installer or owner must remove portions of the fireplace to gain access to the valve. [0005] Some solutions to the above presented problem are presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,603 to Barudi and U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,661 to Kingery. In each of the patents, an adjustable member is movable relative to an opening in a gas conduit that provides a gas flow to a gas burner. Barudi discloses an air shutter that is disposed around the gas conduit and moved within a multi-piece adjustment mechanism. A shutter arm is coupled to air shutter and rotates the air shutter between positions covering and removed from an opening in the conduit. An actuator arm is coupled to the shutter arm at one end and extends to a positioned spaced apart from the conduit at an opposing end of the actuator arm. The opposing end of the actuator arm may be positioned for easier access than the air shutter, but is still not easily accessible because it is located at the bottom of the combustion chamber. Also, with multiple parts and connections of those parts, the Barudi adjustment mechanism maybe subject to greater mechanical failure. [0006] Kingery discloses a channel shaped shutter that is linearly slideable over a window formed in the gas conduit. A shaft is coupled to the shutter at a first end of the shaft while a second, threaded end of the shaft extends to position spaced apart from the conduit on an opposing side of a sealed panel. By rotating a nut on the threaded end of the shaft, the shutter moves linearly relative to the opening to adjust an air and gas mixture in the conduit, but is still positioned below the combustion chamber. Again, the person adjusting the shutter must do so from the inconvenient location under the fireplace. [0007] These and other known gas mixing valves have limitations that restrict the easy of adjusting the air and gas mixture for the fireplace burner. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention relates to structures for adjusting an air and gas mixture for a fireplace burner. One aspect of the invention relates to a gas mixing valve that includes a conduit, a shutter, and an elongated flexible adjustment member. The conduit is coupled between a gas supply and a gas burner and includes an opening for the flow of air into the conduit. The shutter is positioned adjacent to the conduit and is movable between a plurality of positions relative to the conduit opening to adjust the flow of air into the conduit. The elongated flexible adjustment member is coupled to the shutter and configured to move the shutter between the plurality of positions. [0009] Another aspect of the invention relates to a fireplace that includes an outer enclosure, a combustion chamber enclosure positioned within the outer enclosure and defining a combustion chamber, a gas burner positioned within the combustion chamber, and a gas mixing valve. The gas mixing valve is configured to control an air and gas mixture provided to the gas burner. The gas mixing valve includes a conduit coupled between the gas burner and a fuel source, a shutter, and an adjustable member. The conduit includes an opening and the conduit is positioned within the outer enclosure. The shutter is adjustable relative to the conduit opening and is also positioned within the outer enclosure. The adjustment member is coupled to the shutter at a first end and extends at a second end to a location accessible from outside of the outer enclosure. A shape of the adjustment member is adjustable to position the second end at any of a plurality of positions relative to the conduit. The adjustment member adjusts the shutter with a push/pull force applied to the second end. [0010] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of adjusting an air and gas mixture in a gas fireplace. The fireplace includes an outer enclosure and a combustion chamber. The method includes providing a gas mixing valve that includes a conduit having an opening formed in a sidewall thereof, a shutter, and an elongate flexible adjustment member, the conduit carrying a flow of gas. The method also includes positioning the conduit and the shutter within the outer enclosure, securing a first end of the adjustment member to the shutter and positioning a second end of the adjustment member remotely from the shutter, and applying an axially force to the second end of the adjustment member. The adjustment member is configured to translate the axially force to the shutter to move the shutter between a plurality of positions relative to the conduit opening to adjust an air flow into the conduit. [0011] The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. In particular, the example embodiments described below in relation to the Figures are the application of the present invention in a fireplace, whereas many other fields may be applicable to fulfill the purposes and intents of the present invention. Figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify certain embodiments of the invention. While certain embodiments will be illustrated and describe embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to use in such embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example gas mixing valve assembly having a shutter member in a closed position; [0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of the gas mixing valve assembly shown in FIG. 1; [0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the gas mixing valve assembly shown in FIG. 1; [0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gas mixing valve assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the shutter member in a partially open position; [0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of the gas mixing valve assembly shown in FIG. 3; [0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the gas mixing valve assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the shutter member in a fully open position; [0019] FIG. 7 is a top view of the gas mixing valve assembly shown in FIG. 5; [0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fireplace that includes an example gas mixing valve assembly according to principles of the present invention; [0021] FIG. 9 is a front view of the fireplace shown in FIG. 8; Continue reading... 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