Patent ID: 8678345

Claim:
A metering pin for use with a gas valve, the metering pin comprising: a sidewall of cylindrical shape, the sidewall including a first sidewall end, a second sidewall end, an axially-aligned center hole with a first diameter extending the entire length of the sidewall, and a lateral hole with a second diameter extending from the exterior of the sidewall to the center hole; a head coupled to the second sidewall end, the head having a tapered frustoconical shape with a planar endwall that includes an exit hole with a third diameter that couples to the center hole, wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are at least 10% larger than the third diameter; and a plurality of fins coupled to the sidewall, each fin having a first fin end aligned with the first sidewall end, a second fin end with a taper that aligns with the taper of the head and a surface extending from the first fin end to the second fin end; wherein the surface of the fins forms an outside circumference at the first fin end and extending with the same circumference to the second fin end.