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Compuvalve LLC

Alan B Shute

Carl W Suchovsky

Pierre P Repper

Suzanne J Shute

Allen L Olson

Feng Zhou

Christa B Shute

Richard J Bazzo

An electronically activated gas cooktop control system, responsive to a touch-sensitive user interface, and capable of providing a predetermined range of cooking and simmer levels of BTU output, has two complementary heating modes of operation A first heating mode of operation is provided to produce a wide selection of simmer levels of BTU output, by electronically sequencing a solenoid-operated modulating gas valve 'on' and 'off', at a predetermined level of flame. A second cooking mode of operation is provided by electronically modulating the level of flame, through use of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) output signal to produce a wide selection of cooking levels of BTU output. An igniter system capable of insuring proper ignition of gas without generating harmful electromagnetic interference is also provided.

Electronic gas cooktop control with simmer system and method thereof

A counter-top or free-standing cooking unit with a top surface of natural stone, such as granite, is made especially resistant to cracking and fracture caused by mechanical or thermal stress. The natural stone's perimeter is cut and holes cut to match the diameters of the heating elements to be installed. The stone is preferably annealed for a suitable time at a suitable temperature to relieve stresses introduced by cutting. A reinforcing plate material is selected to have sufficient tensile strength, good thermal conductivity, and a thermal expansion coefficient that matches to some extent the stone's lateral thermal expansion. The plate may be a laminated composite of several metals, chosen such that the thermal expansion of the laminate matches that of the stone as closely as possible. The plate is cut smaller than the stone slab's outer dimensions. Holes are cut in the metal plate, preferably smaller by a predetermined amount than the holes cut in the stone, and large enough to accommodate the gas or electrical feeds to the heating elements. The metal plate is aligned and cemented to the rear surface of the stone, with a thin layer of suitable thermally stable adhesive such as epoxy adhesive. Thin slots for preventing fracture may be cut between the holes and the edge of the stone. The stone is preferably incorporated into a laminate comprising a thin top layer of stone previously prepared with a thin backing layer of perforated-metal, expanded metal, metal mesh, or Fiberglas bonded to it. Also, the stone preferably extends a desired amount laterally along an existing counter, to provide a stone-surface preparation area not occupied by heating elements. The plate may extend under the laterally-extending part of the stone, to a distance from the nearest heating element. In such embodiments there may be a gap, slot, or series of slots in the metal plate, providing thermal resistance to keep the stone preparation surface area relatively cool.

Counter-top cooking unit using natural stone

A power burner adaptable for use in conjunction with a wood burning stove employs a blower to produce a forced flow of air and a fuel valve which provides selective fuel communication with a fuel nozzle. Forced air and fuel is mixed in the nozzle and propelled through the nozzle outlet along a generally unidirectional exit path. A target is spaced from the nozzle outlet and interposed in the exit path. A heating assembly which is spaced from the target heats the target to a temperature sufficient to ignite the mixture traversing the exit path. A blast tube surrounds the target and forms an axially extending passageway which functions as a combustion chamber and a passageway for propelling the combusted fuel through an outlet opening of the blast tube. The burner is automatically controlled by an electronic controller.

Power gas burner for wood stove

Growing community of inventors

Stowe, VT, United States of America

Alan B Shute