Abstract: Embodiments of a normally open gas valve are disclosed herein. The normally open gas valve includes a valve plug that gradually or partially disengages from the valve seat such that the actuation power required to open the valve is substantially reduced. The force required to open or close the valve is also reduced through the use of an off-center lever arm that multiplies the force applied by the armature of the actuation means. In this way, a less expensive actuation means, e.g., a less expensive solenoid, is able to be used to actuate the normally open gas valve.

Abstract: A stepper motor driven modulating gas valve and system are provided. Such a system includes an electronic controller, a touch user interface, and a stepper motor. The system also includes a variable flow gas valve having a rotatable valving member for controlling a variable flow of gas therethrough, the valving member having an input shaft, and a gear train operatively coupling the output shaft of the stepper motor to the input shaft of the valving member of the variable flow gas valve. A burner is coupled to the variable flow gas valve. The electronic controller receives a user input for flame selection via the touch user interface and energizes the stepper motor to position the variable flow gas valve valving member to a predetermined angular position through the gear train to provide a flow of gas to the burner that will provide the user's desire flame intensity.