A limit switch for a rising-stem type valve which has a spring-loaded actuator arm with a bracket on one end which wraps around the valve stem. A follower or roller on the end of the bracket opposite the actuator arm rides on the rising stem of the valve, held in contact with the stem by the spring. When the stem has risen to a preselected position, usually the position in which the valve is fully open, the follower or roller engages a circumferential groove formed around the stem. This causes the spring to bias the actuator arm to move a tab at the opposite end of the actuator arm, and the tab operates a limit switch.

A knob assembly includes a front panel, a knob located at a front side of the front panel and configured to rotate based on operation by a user, a knob shaft that is coupled to the knob and that extends through the front panel, a supporting pipe that receives the knob shaft and that supports the knob shaft, the supporting pipe being configured to maintain a position relative to the front panel, a valve configured to control supply of gas to the appliance, a valve shaft connected to the valve and configured to control the valve to adjust a flow rate of gas based on rotation of the valve shaft, and a joint that couples the knob shaft to the valve shaft and that is configured to transfer at least one of a rotational motion or a linear motion of the knob shaft to the valve shaft.

A knob assembly and a cooking apparatus including a knob assembly are provided. The knob assembly may reduce defects in assembly and operation of the knob assembly caused by a tolerance of a valve shaft. The knob assembly may include a valve in which a valve shaft may be movable, a knob connected to a knob shaft coupled with the valve shaft, a knob ring that surrounds a periphery of the knob and supports the knob shaft, a support ring coupled with the knob ring, a support frame that supports an outer circumferential surface of the support ring, and a fixing frame coupled with the support frame to prevent the support ring from separating from the support frame.

A knob assembly with a display that displays information such as power level and a timer time, and a cooking apparatus including a knob assembly are provided. The knob assembly may include a knob coupled to an adjustment shaft configured to adjust power level and a knob ring configured to surround a periphery of the knob, configured to be rotatable independent of the knob, and provided with a display. The display may be provided at the knob ring, and information may be displayed on the display so that a user may easily manipulate the knob assembly.

A rotary switch (4) comprising a switch body (8) which identifies an inner space (10) which rotatably houses a shaft (12) operatively connected to an actuator device external to the switch (4), a distribution valve (32) positioned outside said inner space (10), a pneumatic connector (36) and at least one control means (40), such as a solenoid, operatively connected to the pneumatic connector (36), arranged in the inner space (10). The control means (40) is operatively connected to the external device, the distribution valve (32) is operatively connected to the control means (40) by means of the pneumatic connector (36). Advantageously, the pneumatic connector (36) defines at least one connection channel (44) placing the distribution valve (32) in fluidic connection with the control means (40), wherein inside the connection channel (44) at least one anti-explosion means (52) is inserted, positioned coaxially to the connection channel (44) so as to reduce the through cross-section (56) thereof by a predefined length of the connection channel (44), said through cross-section (56) being confined on an outer circular crown of the connection channel (44), delimited between an inner side wall (60) of the connection channel (44) and an external lateral wall (64) of the anti-explosion means (52).

A knob assembly includes a front panel, a knob located at a front side of the front panel and configured to rotate based on operation by a user, a knob shaft that is coupled to the knob and that extends through the front panel, a supporting pipe that receives the knob shaft and that supports the knob shaft, the supporting pipe being configured to maintain a position relative to the front panel, a valve configured to control supply of gas to the appliance, a valve shaft connected to the valve and configured to control the valve to adjust a flow rate of gas based on rotation of the valve shaft, and a joint that couples the knob shaft to the valve shaft and that is configured to transfer at least one of a rotational motion or a linear motion of the knob shaft to the valve shaft.

An apparatus for utility control is provided. The apparatus for utility control may include a protective enclosure and a front cover. A start actuator and a stop actuator are mounted on the front cover. Pushing the start actuator starts two timers for an ignitor circuit and a valve. The timers may be configurable and controlled by one or more dual in-line package (DIP) switches. Pushing the stop actuator stops one or both of the ignitor circuit and the flow of fluid through the valve. The apparatus for utility control includes a power supply to convert high voltage alternating current (AC) to low voltage direct current (DC). One or more electrical components, including the power supply, are mounted to the front cover to allow for enhanced serviceability of the apparatus for utility control.

A pneumatically controlled RF switch configured to toggle an RF circuit between different states by opening or closing electrical contacts. The RF switch provides a reliable binary method for high power non-magnetic switching without introducing electrical noise or interference. The RF switch is configured to maintain optimized RF conditions and facilitate fine-tuning of RF frequency, impedance matching, and RF decoupling.