Patent ID: 7766037

Claim:
A gas valve assembly, comprising: a solenoid having a coil, a linearly actuated plunger, and a stop member, wherein the plunger is disposed in the coil so that a gap exists between the plunger and the stop member at a de-energized condition of the solenoid, and wherein the stop member contacts the plunger at an energized condition of the solenoid; a valve comprising a port and a closing member, wherein the closing member is disposed to block the port in a closed position of the valve corresponding to the de-energized condition of the solenoid, and wherein the closing member is disposed to slidably unblock the port in an open position of the valve corresponding to the energized condition of the solenoid; an adjustable length member coupled to the closing member and the plunger, the adjustable length member comprising: a rotating portion and a fixed portion, the rotating portion coupled to the fixed portion via a screw thread; a portion accessible externally of the valve assembly, wherein the externally-accessible portion is adjustable by rotating the rotating portion relative to the fixed portion to vary a distance between the plunger and the closing member and thereby adjusting a gap between the closing member and the port when the valve is in the open position; an anti-rotation member coupled to the fixed portion, the anti-rotation member hitting against one or more stops when the rotating portion is rotated relative to the fixed portion; and an indicator coupled to the fixed portion and that is visible externally to the valve assembly; and a fixed scale proximate to the indicator, wherein the relative orientation between the indicator and the fixed scale provides an indication of a position of the closing member of the valve.