High-plus gas valves for grills

Abstract

High-plus gas valves for grills are disclosed. An example gas valve includes a chamber and a flow control member. The chamber includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The flow control member is disposed within the chamber. The flow control member is rotatable within the chamber between a no flow position, a high flow position, a medium flow position, a low flow position, and a high-plus flow position. The high flow position enables a pressurized gas to flow through the chamber at a first flow rate. The high-plus flow position enables the pressurized gas to flow through the chamber at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas valve, comprising:
 a chamber including an inlet opening and an outlet opening; and   a flow control member disposed within the chamber, the flow control member being rotatable within the chamber between a no flow position, a high flow position, a medium flow position, a low flow position, and a high-plus flow position, wherein the high flow position enables a pressurized gas to flow through the chamber at a first flow rate, and the high-plus flow position enables the pressurized gas to flow through the chamber at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate.   
     
     
         2 . The gas valve of  claim 1 , wherein the no flow position, the high flow position, the medium flow position, the low flow position, and the high-plus flow position are circumferentially and sequentially arranged such that the high flow position is located between the no flow position and the medium flow position, the medium flow position is located between the high flow position and the low flow position, the low flow position is located between the medium flow position and the high-plus flow position, the high-plus flow position is located between the low flow position and the no flow position, and the no flow position is located between the high-plus flow position and the high flow position. 
     
     
         3 . The gas valve of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control member is rotatable in a first direction of rotation from the no flow position into the high flow position, from the high flow position into the medium flow position, from the medium flow position into the low flow position, and from the low flow position into the high-plus flow position. 
     
     
         4 . The gas valve of  claim 3 , wherein the first direction of rotation is counterclockwise. 
     
     
         5 . The gas valve of  claim 3 , wherein the flow control member is rotatable in a second direction of rotation from the high-plus flow position into the low flow position, from the low flow position into the medium flow position, from the medium flow position into the high flow position, and from the high flow position into the no flow position, wherein the second direction of rotation is opposite the first direction of rotation. 
     
     
         6 . The gas valve of  claim 5 , wherein the second direction of rotation is clockwise. 
     
     
         7 . The gas valve of  claim 3 , wherein the flow control member is further rotatable in the first direction of rotation from the high-plus flow position into the no flow position. 
     
     
         8 . The gas valve of  claim 3 , further comprising a stem operatively coupled to the flow control member such that rotation of the stem about an axis of rotation of the stem causes a corresponding rotation of the flow control member within the chamber about an axis of rotation of the flow control member. 
     
     
         9 . The gas valve of  claim 8 , further comprising a mechanical detent configured to restrict the flow control member from being rotated in the first direction of rotation from the low flow position into the high-plus flow position. 
     
     
         10 . The gas valve of  claim 9 , wherein the mechanical detent is configured to be bypassed when a rotational movement of the flow control member in the first direction of rotation from the low flow position into the high-plus flow position is preceded by a translational movement of the stem. 
     
     
         11 . The gas valve of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, the inlet conduit configured to be coupled to a manifold of a grill such that the inlet opening is in fluid communication with the manifold, the outlet conduit configured to be coupled to a burner tube of the grill such that the outlet opening is in fluid communication with the burner tube. 
     
     
         12 . A grill, comprising:
 a gas valve including:
 a chamber including an inlet opening and an outlet opening; 
 a flow control member disposed within the chamber, the flow control member being rotatable within the chamber between a no flow position, a high flow position, a medium flow position, a low flow position, and a high-plus flow position, wherein the high flow position enables a pressurized gas to flow through the chamber at a first flow rate, and the high-plus flow position enables the pressurized gas to flow through the chamber at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate; and 
 a stem operatively coupled to the flow control member such that rotation of the stem about an axis of rotation of the stem causes a corresponding rotation of the flow control member within the chamber about an axis of rotation of the flow control member; 
   a manifold in fluid communication with the inlet opening;   a burner tube in fluid communication with the outlet opening; and   a control knob operatively coupled to the stem such that rotation of the control knob causes a corresponding rotation of the stem.   
     
     
         13 . The grill of  claim 12 , wherein the no flow position, the high flow position, the medium flow position, the low flow position, and the high-plus flow position are circumferentially and sequentially arranged such that the high flow position is located between the no flow position and the medium flow position, the medium flow position is located between the high flow position and the low flow position, the low flow position is located between the medium flow position and the high-plus flow position, the high-plus flow position is located between the low flow position and the no flow position, and the no flow position is located between the high-plus flow position and the high flow position. 
     
     
         14 . The grill of  claim 12 , wherein the flow control member is rotatable in a first direction of rotation from the no flow position into the high flow position, from the high flow position into the medium flow position, from the medium flow position into the low flow position, and from the low flow position into the high-plus flow position. 
     
     
         15 . The grill of  claim 14 , wherein the first direction of rotation is counterclockwise. 
     
     
         16 . The grill of  claim 14 , wherein the flow control member is rotatable in a second direction of rotation from the high-plus flow position into the low flow position, from the low flow position into the medium flow position, from the medium flow position into the high flow position, and from the high flow position into the no flow position, wherein the second direction of rotation is opposite the first direction of rotation. 
     
     
         17 . The grill of  claim 16 , wherein the second direction of rotation is clockwise. 
     
     
         18 . The grill of  claim 14 , wherein the flow control member is further rotatable in the first direction of rotation from the high-plus flow position into the no flow position. 
     
     
         19 . The grill of  claim 14 , wherein the gas valve further comprises a mechanical detent configured to restrict the flow control member from being rotated in the first direction of rotation from the low flow position into the high-plus flow position. 
     
     
         20 . The grill of  claim 19 , wherein the mechanical detent is configured to be bypassed when a rotational movement of the flow control member in the first direction of rotation from the low flow position into the high-plus flow position is preceded by a translational movement of the stem.