Patent ID: 7497386

Claim:
An apparatus for operating a gas valve that supplies gas to a burner in a gas-fired heating system, the apparatus comprising: a solenoid for operating a movable valve, which is operatively moved to an open position by application of a battery voltage for a momentary duration to a pick coil and operatively held in an open position so long as a thermo-generator voltage source is connected to a hold coil, wherein interruption of thermo-generator connection to the hold coil causes the movable valve to move to a closed position; a battery power supply; a thermo-generator voltage source; and a thermostat operable to connect the battery power supply voltage to the pick coil for a momentary duration, and operable to activate a switch to connect the thermo-generator voltage source to the hold coil, wherein the pick coil is powered via the battery power supply to open the gas valve, and the hold coil is powered by the thermo-generator to hold the gas valve open until the thermostat causes the switch to interrupt the thermo-generator connection to the hold coil.