SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR GAS BURNERS

Abstract: In a supply system for gas burners (19,20,21,22), preferably included in a cooker top, gas is supplied to each burner via a separate gas conduit (17,18) provided with a cock (14). The gas conduit is supplied from a main conduit (16) which is part of the cooker top and is connected to a gas mains. The gas conduits are contained in an elongate profile (11), preferably made of metal. The profile is arranged so as in succession to pass all burner positions as well as an area where the cocks are situated. Via a coupling (29) each cock (14) is connected to the main conduit (16) and to its respective gas conduit (17,18) which via a corresponding coupling is connected to the burner (19,20,21,22).

Description: The present invention relates to a supply system for gas burners, preferably included in a range, according to the preamble of Claim 1. In a known gas range in every heating position a burner is fixedly disposed. Gas is supplied to the burner via a separate gas conduit connected to a main conduit via a gas cock situated at the front of the range. The main conduit has the shape of a tube which extends along the front edge of the range and to which all gas cocks are connected. The gas conduits leading to the burners most often have the shape of thin tubes which have been bent to a shape predetermined for each connection. In another known gas range, see US-A-1,574,940, conduits 36 and 37 are included which, however, are to be considered more as main conduits than as gas conduits leading to the burners. From Fig. 2 it can be noted that the burners are fed in parallel rather than supplied via separate gas conduits and cocks from a main gas conduit. In Fig. 3 it is shown that via one of the conduits 36 or 37 two of the burners are simultaneously supplied while via the other conduit, 36 or 37, all four burners are supplied simultaneously. In the manufacture of gas ranges and buit-in hobs in which the number of burners and their positions may vary, a number of different gas tubes for the connection of the different burners must be manufactured and kept in store. The fixed mounting of the burners in the hobs also means that each hob will get a determined shape causing the neeed for several different types of hobs to be kept in store. Moreover, major measures must be taken when modifications are to be introduced. The object of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks indicated and to provide a gas supply system which is flexible and which permits the position of burners and of the cocks to be varied without changes in the basic construction of the cooker tops. The object will be achieved in a gas supply system having the characterizing features indicated in Claim 1. Preferred embodiments appear fom the sub-claims. The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a view along the line II - II in Fig. 1 which schematically illustrates part of the gas supply system is an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a view along the line III - III in Fig. 2 schematically illustrating a section of the system having two cocks. Fig. 4 shows a section through a metal profile used in the embodiment according to Figs. 1 - 3 and incorporating gas conduits. Fig. 5 shows a coupling for connecting of a burner, whereas Fig. 6 illustrates a coupling for connecting of a cock. Fig. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the gas supply system. Fig. 8 is a schematic view along the line VIII - VIII in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9, finally, is a view along the line IX - IX in Fig. 8. In Fig. 1 a cooker top 10 is schematically shown as seen from above. A metal profile 11 is disposed on the upper side of the cooker top to which it is secured by means of mounting angles 12 (Fig. 2) and screws, not shown. The mounting angles can be disposed at the ends of the profile and eventually in additional positions. The profile extends along the front edge 13 of the cooker top where it is connected to a number of cocks 14. The cocks and the profile are together secured to an elongate mounting angle 15 (Fig. 6) which is fixed to the cooker top in a way not shown in detail. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the metal profile has the section shown in Fig. 4. Thus, the profile has three conduits 16, 17, 18 of which conduit 16 is a main conduit and the conduits 17, 18 are gas conduits leading to burners schematically indicated in Fig. 1. The burners, which are designated 19, 20, 21, 22, are connected to the profile via a coupling 23 shown in Fig. 5. As shown in the figure the coupling is pushed onto the profile 11 and fixed thereto by a clamp joint comprising a bolt 47 and a nut 48 which cooperate with two flanges 49, 50. The burners are supported by the metal profile via the respective coupling 23. The conduits 16, 17, 18 extend through the whole metal profile 11, one end of which being connected to a gas mains via a schematic joint 24 in the form of the mounting angle 12 shown in Fig. 2 being provided with a connecting pipe 25 for a connecting hose or the like, now shown. At the opposite end of the profile the conduits are covered by a cover 26 which can be of the same shape as the mounting angle 12, however without the connecting pipe 25. With an intermediate gasket 27 the joint 24 and the cover 26 may be secured by screws 28 being screwed into the holes of the conduits 17, 18. In Fig. 2 there is shown the connection of the cocks 14 to the metal profile 11 by a coupling 29. The coupling comprises a cock housing 29 which by screws 31 is secured to the metal profile from the side and with an intermediate gasket 30. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 gas is supplied in parallel to the cocks 24 from the main conduit 16. The upper gas conduit 17 is served by a first cock 14a and also by a second cock 14b. The burners served by the cocks 14a, 14b are situated at opposite sides of the cocks so that with reference to Fig. 1 cock 14a, for example, is serving the burner 21, whereas cock 14b is serving the burner 20. Correspondingly, two additional cocks can serve the burners 19 and 22. By the arrangement described the gas conduit is split up into two parts 17a, 17b where the conduit 17a leads to the burner 21 and the conduit 17b leads to the burner 20. The area between the conduits 17a and 17b is plugged up. For example, this can be done by making a hole 32 in the profile of a diameter slightly larger than that of the conduit 17 and then pressing a metal plug 33 into the hole. In the embodiment described above a gas main conduit has been integrated into the metal profile. This is not always a necessity but one can think of providing a joint 34, see Fig. 7, corresponding to the joint 24 in Fig. 1. The profile 35 has a section according to Fig. 8 having only two gas conduits 36, 37. The profile is connected to burners 38, 39, 40, 41 in a similar way as in the embodiment of Fig. 1. On the contrary, in Fig. 7 the conduits 36, 37 are directly connected to the gas mains via the joint 34. In the figure four cocks 42, 43, 44, 45 are shown and the joint 34 is disposed between the central cocks 43 and 44. This embodiment relates to a built-in hob and the control shafts of the cocks are directed vertically, see Figs. 8 and 9 showing the gas flow through one of the cocks 42 - 45. For instance, the cocks 43 and 44 can feed the burners 39 and 40, respectively, via the upper gas conduit 36 whereas the cocks 42 and 45 can feed the burners 38 and 41, respectively, via the lower gas conduit 37. From Fig. 9 it appears how the gas is led from a conduit part 36a into a cock housing 52 via a cock plug 53 and into a gas conduit 36b leading to the burner 39. The space between the conduit parts 36a and 36b must be plugged up and this can be done by a fixing screw, not shown, securing the cock housing 52 to the metal profile 35. Thus, this screw can be screwed into the conduit 37 to block it up. As appears from the embodiments described, by arranging all gas conduits in a common profile it will be possible to achieve a great flexibility because the same hob can be used for a number of different variants being equipped with only gas burners or having a mixed outfit comprising burners and electric hot plates. The profile can be made of metal or plastics and in the first-mentioned case the profile can be given its final form by bending in order to connect the different burners with their respective cocks. The connection to the mains can be made at one end of the profile or in the area where the cocks are situated. Preferably the different couplings for connecting of the burners and for connecting of the cocks are constructed so as to permit connection to all gas conduits in the profile, whereas the profile in the respective position of a burner or a cock only has those openings which are required for the selective connection of the burner or the cock, respectively, to the desired gas conduit. Moreover, the profile has such rigidity so as to alone easily be able to support all burners and then be secured to the cooker top by simple mounting angles. In the drawing figures by dotted lines certain borings, or the like, have been indicated in the cock housings, in the metal profile and in the burner couplings, said borings being required for the supply of gas to the respective burner via the cock and the gas conduit. However, any detailed description of said borings will not be given. The borings or the like can be performed in many different ways and other modifications of the gas supply system can be made within the frame of the appending claims.

Claims: Supply system for gas burners (19, 20, 21, 22) included in a cooker top, gas being supplied to each burner via a separate gas conduit (17, 18) and a gas cock (14), said gas conduits being supplied from a main conduit (16) which forms part of the cooker top and is connected to a gas mains, each cock further, via a coupling (29), being connected to the main conduit (16) and to its respective gas conduit (17, 18) which via a corresponding coupling (23) is connected to the burner (19, 20, 21, 22), characterized in that the gas conduits (17, 18) are defined by an elongate profile (11) which is arranged to pass in succession all burner positions as well as the area where the cocks are situated. System according to claim 1, characterized in that also the main conduit (16) is contained in the profile (11). System according to claim 2, characterized in that the conduits (16; 17, 18) extend through the whole profile (11), at least one end of the profile being closed by means (24; 26) blocking the respective conduit. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the main conduit (16) is connected to the gas mains via a coupling (24) disposed at one end of the profile. System according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the area including the cocks (14) is situated such that the profile (11) at both sides of this area extends to the respective burner (19, 20, 21, 22), the same through gas conduit (17) being connected to two cocks (14a, 14b) such that the part (17a) of the gas conduit extending in one direction from the area of the cocks forms a first separate circuit for serving a first burner (2 1), whereas the second part (17b) of the gas conduit forms a second separate circuit for serving a second burner (20). System according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the couplings (23) for the connection of the burners and the couplings (29) for the connection of the cocks are arranged to permit the connection of all gas conduits in the profile, whereas the profile (11) in the respective burner position and the respective position of a cock is provided with only those openings required for the selective connection of the burner and of the cock to the gas conduit. Supply system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elongate profile (11) is made of metal.

Inventors: BORG, ANDERS ERIK
Applicants: AKTIEBOLAGET ELECTROLUX
Application year: 1987
Main classification: F24C3
IPC codes: F24C3