Patent Publication Number: US-2023142074-A1

Title: Rice Input Structure of Automatic Electric Pressure Cooker

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a rice input structure of an automatic electric pressure cooker. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In a related art electric rice cooker, the user puts as much rice and water as desired into an inner pot to cook, and the ratio of rice to water has to be constant to cook delicious rice. For users who are not skilled in adjusting the ratio of rice to water, an automatic rice cooker that may cook by automatically inputting a fixed amount of rice and water according to a specified capacity has been recently released. 
     However, when rice and water are intended to input into the inner pot, rice and water may be put into the inner pot with a lid of the rice cooker opened, or a separate rice inlet has to be provided to input rice and water with the lid closed. 
     The method of inputting rice and water by opening the lid of the rice cooker is disadvantageous in that a volume of the product itself increases, and therefore, the majority of automatic rice cookers currently on the market use a separate input port with the lid closed. 
     In the automatic rice cooker structure adopting a separate inlet, the inlet penetrates through all lid portions, and in order to prevent steam generated during cooking from penetrating into the lid through the inlet, the automatic rice cooker structure includes an opening and closing structure and a sealing structure of the inlet. 
     All of the currently released automatic rice cookers are non-pressure rice cookers that cook at the same pressure as atmospheric pressure, and the opening and closing and sealing structure of the inlet applied to the automatic rice cookers cannot withstand internal pressure applied during cooking when applied to a pressure cooker. Examples of prior art rice cookers are shown in China Registered Utility Model No. 205866584 and Japanese Patent Registration No. 3918630 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a rice input structure of an automatic electric pressure cooker capable of effectively put rice, while withstanding internal pressure during cooking in a pressure cooker that automatically inputs rice and water. 
     In an aspect, a rice input structure of an automatic electric pressure cooker that automatically adds rice and water for cooking, includes: a cyclone rice separator mounted on a lid and having an opening/closing hole for putting rice into an inner pot; an air intake pipe connected to one side of the cyclone rice separator and generating a intake pressure; a rice transfer pipe connected in a tangential direction of the cyclone rice separator and connected to a rice container; a valve passing through an axial direction of the cyclone rice separator to open and close the opening/closing hole; and a valve opening/closing device having a link pressing an upper end of the valve and an actuator rotating the link. 
     In the rice input structure of the automatic electric pressure cooker according to the present disclosure, a valve opening and closing an opening/closing hole closes the opening/closing hole by the force of a valve spring, thereby withstanding internal pressure during cooking in a pressure cooker in which rice and water are automatically input. 
     In addition, in the rice input structure of the automatic electric pressure cooker according to the present disclosure, rice is put into the inner pot through a rice separator using a cyclone method and rice flour may be discharged together with the air, so that the taste of rice may be improved and a phenomenon in which rice flour is accumulated in the rice separator may be improved. 
     In addition, in the rice input structure of the automatic electric pressure cooker according to the present disclosure, a sealing surface of a valve may be cleaned by pulling a valve handle, thereby further improving sealing performance. 
     In the rice input structure of the automatic electric pressure cooker according to the present disclosure, a discharge flow forming space is formed in a ring shape (doughnut shape) around a concave portion to induce a flow of air introduced into the discharge flow forming space to be discharged, while producing whirlwind. By forming the ring-shaped discharge flow forming space and allowing a valve to pass through the center thereof, the valve may be opened and closed, while intaking rice and discharging a flow, without reducing a centrifugal rotational force of the flow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an automatic electric pressure cooker having a rice input structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view of an automatic electric pressure cooker having a rice input structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a rice input structure of an automatic electric pressure cooker according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is installed in a lid; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a rice input structure of an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is installed in a lid; 
         FIG.  5    is a view illustrating a state in which a valve of a rice input structure of an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is opened; 
         FIG.  6    is a plan view of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a top view of a third part of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view taken along line G-G of  FIG.  8   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG.  8   ; 
         FIG.  11    is a top view illustrating a second part of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  12    is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F of  FIG.  11   ; 
         FIG.  13    is a cross-sectional view taken along line S-S of  FIG.  11   ; 
         FIG.  14    is a side view illustrating a second part of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  15    is a perspective view illustrating a first part of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  17    is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  18    is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an automatic electric pressure cooker having a rice input structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view of an automatic electric pressure cooker having a rice input structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  3    is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a rice input structure of an automatic electric pressure cooker according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is installed in a lid. 
     In the automatic electric pressure cooker having a rice input structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a body  10  is coupled to a base  1 , and the body  10  has a lid  20  for opening and closing the body  10 . The lid  20  includes an inner lid  20   b  provided on an upper side of the body  10  to be opened and closed and an outer lid  20   a  covering an upper portion of the inner lid  20   b.  At this time, the outer lid  20   a  may form the exterior of the automatic electric pressure cooker and may protect various electrical components and wiring installed in the inner lid  20   b.  In addition, an inner pot lid  30  hermetically closing an upper portion of an inner pot is coupled to the inner lid  20   b.  In addition, the automatic electric pressure cooker includes a water container  700  storing water automatically input into the body  10  and a rice container  600  storing rice automatically input into the body  10 . Here, the base  1  includes a water container coupling portion  70  controlling input of water and allowing the water container  700  to be coupled thereto and a rice container coupling portion  60  to which a measurer  630  included in the rice container  600  is coupled, on one side of the body  10 . 
     A measurer  630  including a plurality of compartments is mounted in a lower portion of the rice container  600 , and a motor  62  driving the measurer  630  is installed in the rice container coupling portion  60 . By controlling rotation of the motor  62 , discharge of rice through the measurer  630  may be controlled. When the measurer  630  is rotated by a predetermined angle by the motor  62 , rice contained in the compartment of the measurer  630  falls to a rice intake portion  64  connected to a rice transfer pipe  94 . In order to generate a forced flow, an inflow of outside air is required, and a plurality of through-holes  65  through which outside air is introduced are formed in the rice intake portion  64 . At this time, a size of the through-hole  65  should be smaller than a size of the grain of rice. The outside air introduced through the through-hole  65  by a intake pressure of a intake fan (not shown) moves to a rice separator  100  along a rice transfer pipe  94  together with rice grains dropped to the rice intake portion  64 . 
     Rice and water are put into the body  10  to substantially cook, and an inner pot  12  for storing rice at an appropriate temperature is installed, and a heating unit (not shown) such as a hot plate heater or an induction heating device is installed around the inner pot  12 . 
     A locking ring  310  coupled to and locked with the inner pot  12  is provided on a lower surface of the inner lid  20   b,  and a water outlet  32  and a rice inlet  34  are installed in the inner pot lid  30 . A cyclone rice separator  100  is installed on the rice inlet  34 . In addition, the rice transfer pipe  94  is connected to the rice barrel coupling portion  60  in a tangential direction of the rice separator  100 , an air intake pipe  96  is connected to one side of the cyclone rice separator  100  and connected to a intake fan (not shown) to generate a intake pressure. A valve  200  penetrates through the cyclone rice separator  100  in an axial direction to open and close an opening/closing hole  102  of the cyclone rice separator  100 . A valve opening/closing device  500  is provided to press an upper end of the valve  200  to open and close the valve  200 . 
       FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a rice input structure of an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is installed in a lid, and  FIG.  5    is a view illustrating a state in which a valve of a rice input structure of an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is opened. 
     As described above, in the rice input structure of the automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening/closing hole  102  of the cyclone rice separator  100  is opened and closed by the valve  200 , and the valve opening/closing device  500  is provided to press the upper end of the valve  200  to open the valve  200 . 
     The valve opening/closing device  500  includes a link  510  and an actuator  520  for rotating the link  510 . The link  510  includes a pressing end  512  for pressing the valve  200  and a coupling end  514  connected to the actuator  520 , and a rotating shaft  530  is connected to the middle of a body of the link  510  between the pressing end  512  and the coupling end  514 . The rotating shaft  530  is connected to the middle of the body. Accordingly, when the actuator  520  moves up and down in a straight line, the link  510  rotates about the rotation shaft  530  and moves like a seesaw. Here, a roller  513  may be installed at the pressing end  512  for pressing the valve  200 . When the pressing end  512  is lowered, the roller  513  rotates while pressing the valve  200 , providing a more smooth operation. 
     An upper end of the actuator  520  is connected to the link  510 , and a switch  540  is installed at a lower end of the actuator  520  to detect a vertical motion of the actuator  520 . In a state in which the actuator  520  is lowered and the switch  540  is pressed, the valve  200  closes the opening/closing hole  102 . When the actuator  520  rises and the contact with the switch  540  is released, the link  510  presses the valve  200  to open the opening/closing hole  102 . In this manner, whether to open and close the valve  200  is detected to be used for control. 
       FIG.  6    is a plan view of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  8    is a top view of a third part of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view taken along line G-G of  FIG.  8   ,  FIG.  10    is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG.  8   ,  FIG.  11    is a top view illustrating a second part of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  12    is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F of  FIG.  11   ,  FIG.  13    is a cross-sectional view taken along line S-S of  FIG.  11   ,  FIG.  14    is a side view illustrating a second part of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  15    is a perspective view illustrating a first part of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The cyclone rice separator  100  provided in the automatic electric pressure cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a hopper-type first part  110 , a second part  120  to which the rice transfer pipe  94  (refer to  FIG.  3   ) is connected, a third part  130  to which the air intake pipe  96  (refer to  FIG.  3   ) are connected, and a sealing material  140  attached to a lower end of the first part  110  and forming the opening/closing hole  102 . The cyclone rice separator  100  has an overall circular cross-section to form a cyclonic flow. 
     The first part  110  is in the form of a hopper having a diameter narrowing downwardly, and the second part  120  is coupled to an upper end of the first part  110 . 
     The second part  120  includes an input connector  122  for connecting the rice transfer pipe  94 , and the input connector  122  is connected in a tangential direction of the second part  120  having a circular cross-sectional shape. Here, the tangential direction does not mean that the second part  120  and the input connector  122  are perfectly tangent but are connected to a position as close to the tangent as possible so that a flow introduced through the circular input connector  122  is attached to the inner surface of the second part  120  and flows. 
     The second part  120  includes a wall  124  protruding upwardly to form a ring shape to provide an introduced flow forming space  123  so that the flow introduced through the input connector  122  produces whirlwind. A circular concave portion  127  is formed in the center of the wall  124 , and the wall  124  forms a discharge flow forming space  133  together with the third part  130 . The discharge flow forming space  133  is formed in a ring shape (doughnut shape) around the concave portion  127  and induces air introduced therein to be discharged, while producing whirlwind. Since the ring-shaped discharge flow forming space  133  is formed and the valve  200  penetrates through the middle, rice may be intaken, without reducing a centrifugal rotational force of the flow, and the valve  200  may be opened and closed, while discharging the flow. 
     Meanwhile, a hole  126   a  through which a shaft portion  210  of the valve  200  to be described below passes is formed in the center of the concave portion  127 . In addition, a valve guide portion  126  protruding up and down to guide the shaft portion  210  of the valve  200  to be described below is formed at the center of the concave portion  127 . The hole  126   a  is formed at the center of the valve guide portion  126  so that the shaft portion  210  may pass therethrough. Meanwhile, a communication hole  125  through which air may flow from a space defined by the first part  110  and the second part  120  is formed near the valve guide portion  126  on a bottom surface of the concave portion  127 . 
     The third part  130  may be coupled to an upper portion of the second part  120 , and a wall  134  is formed to be spaced apart from an upper surface and an inner surface of the wall  124  of the second part by a predetermined interval to form the discharge flow forming space  133 . A concave portion  135  is also formed in the center of the wall  134  of the third part  130 , and the concave portion  135  of the third part  130  is concentric with the concave portion  127  of the second part and has a smaller diameter than that of the concave portion  127  of the second part  120 . The flow introduced into the discharge flow forming space  133  is connected to the air intake pipe  96  (refer to  FIG.  3   ) through a first discharge connector  132  formed in the third part  130 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  8  to  10   , the wall  134  of the third part  130  protrudes upwardly to have a convex shape, and an escape  138  is formed to be flat without protruding so that the link  510  of the valve opening/closing device  500  may move. In addition, a screw fastening portion  136  is formed on an outer periphery of the wall  134  of the third part  130  for coupling with the second part  120 . In addition, the wall  134  of the third part  130  includes a coupling hook  139  extending downwardly to guide a coupling position before screwing with the second part  120  and maintain the position. 
     In addition, as described above, the third part has a concave portion  135  in the center of the wall  134  and a hole  137  through which the shaft portion  210  of the valve  200  passes is provided in the center of the concave portion  135 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  11  to  14   , the second part  120  includes a screw fastening portion  128  coupled to the screw fastening portion  136  of the third part  130 . The screw fastening portion  136  of the third part  130  and the screw fastening portion  128  of the second part  120  are formed at an overlapping position and are fastened by a screw s. In addition, a coupling recess  121  into which the coupling hook  139  of the third part  130  is inserted and coupled is formed on an outer surface of the wall  124  to guide a coupling position before screwing with the third part  130  and to maintain the position. 
     In addition, the second part  120  includes a hook  129  extending downwardly for fastening with the first part  110 . Referring to  FIG.  15   , the first part  110  includes a coupling hole  116  into which the hook  129  is inserted. 
     The valve  200  includes the shaft portion  210  penetrating through the cyclone rice separator  100 , a stopper  220  coupled to a lower end of the shaft portion  210  to be in close contact with the sealing material  140  to stop the opening/closing hole  102 , and a grippable handle  230  coupled to the shaft portion  210  through the stopper  220 . 
     A cap  240  is coupled to an upper end of the shaft portion  210  protruding to the outside of the third part  130 , and an elastic member  250  providing a force to move the valve  200  upwardly is fitted to an outer periphery of the shaft portion  210 . The elastic member  250  is installed between the third part  130  and the cap  240 . That is, a lower end of the elastic member  250  is supported by the concave portion  135  of the third part  130 , and an upper end of the elastic member  250  is supported by a lower surface of the cap  240 . When a force based on the actuator  520  is not transmitted through the link  510 , the shaft portion  210  of the valve  200  moves upwardly by a restoring force of the elastic member  250  and the stopper  220  is in close contact with the sealing material  140  to close the opening/closing hole  102 . 
     The stopper  220  may have a hat, i.e., a parabolic antenna shape so that rice may easily slide down into the inner pot when the valve  200  is opened. That is, the stopper  220  has a shape with a center protruding upwardly and an outer periphery inclined downwardly. The stopper  220  may be formed of a stainless steel material to reliably withstand pressure of the inner pot during pressure cooking. 
     The sealing material  140  may include two or more sealing ribs  142  and  144  protruding toward the stopper  220  in order to increase a sealing force with the stopper  220 . In addition, the sealing material  140  has an inclined cylindrical shape that is narrow at an upper end and widens toward a lower end so as to be in close contact with the stopper  220 . As described above, the center of the sealing material  140  is the opening/closing hole  102 , and the opening/closing hole  102  formed by the sealing material  140  is opened and closed by the stopper  220 . 
     The stopper  220  is fixed to the shaft portion  210  by the handle  230  as described above. A screw tab  212  is formed at a lower end of the shaft portion  210 , and a screw portion  232  coupled to the screw tab  212  of the shaft portion  210  is also formed at an upper end of the handle  230 , so that the handle  230  and the shaft portion  210  are screwed to each other. At this time, a through-hole  222  is formed in the center of the stopper  220 , and the screw portion  232  of the upper end of the handle  230  is coupled to the screw tab of the shaft portion  210  through the through-hole  222  of the stopper  220  to fix the stopper  220 . 
     Here, the handle  230  has a lower end portion  231  having a shape that is easy to grip by the user. The handle  230  has a contact surface  233  in contact with a lower surface of the stopper  220  around the through-hole  222  of the stopper  220 . A ring-shaped groove  234  is formed on the contact surface  233 , and an O-ring  235  is inserted into the groove  234 , thereby blocking leakage of pressure to a gap between the shaft portion  210 , the stopper  220 , and the handle  230  during cooking. 
     Meanwhile, rice flour may be accumulated on inner surfaces of the sealing material  140  and the stopper  220 . In this case, the handle  230  may be pulled to form a gap between the sealing material  140  and the stopper  220 , and then the inner surfaces of the sealing material  140  and the stopper  220  may be cleaned. In addition, since the handle  230  and the shaft portion  210  are screwed together, the handle  230  and the shaft portion  210  may be easily separated and coupled, and thus, the handle  230  may be separated to clean the sealing material  140  and the stopper, and thereafter, the handle  230  and the shaft portion  210  may be coupled to each other again. 
     As described above, as the link  510  rotates by the movement of the actuator  520 , the pressing end  512  of the link  510  presses the cap  240  of the valve  200 , while the shaft portion  210  descends. Accordingly, the opening/closing hole  102  is opened as the stopper  220  fixed to the shaft portion  210  also descends. When the opening/closing hole  102  is opened, rice in the rice container  50  moving through the rice transfer pipe  94  is intaken into the cyclone rice separator together with air through the input connector  122  connected in the tangential direction of the cyclone rice separator  100 , and descends, while rotating in a spiral form by centrifugal force, to be discharged to the inner pot  12  through a gap between the sealing material  140  and the stopper  220 . Meanwhile, the intaken air moves to the discharge flow forming space  133  through the communication hole  125  together with fine rice flour, and then is discharged through the first discharge connector  132 . 
       FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The cyclone rice separator of an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is the same as that of the first embodiment, except for a shape of a first part  110   a.  At this time, when a spiral groove  112   a  is formed on an inner surface of the first part  110   a,  rice may descend, while rotating in a rotational direction of the spiral groove  112   a  by centrifugal force when rice is intaken, so that rice may be more easily transported downwardly to be discharged. 
       FIG.  17    is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     A cyclone rice separator of the automatic electric pressure cooker according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is the same as that of the first embodiment, except for a shape of a first part  110   b  and the presence of an inner part  150   b.    
     The inner part  150   b  is coupled to shake off rice flour in the first part  110   b  of the cyclone rice separator  100   b.  The inner part  150   b  and the first part  110   b  are not in close contact and are coupled with a gap  114   b  therebetween. The inner part  150   b  includes a plurality of through-holes  152   b  smaller than the size of a general rice grain, and when introduced rice descends, while rotating the inner part  150   b  spirally, flour on the surface of the rice falls due to frictional contact, and rice flour is discharged to the gap  114   b  through the through-hole  152   b  by strong centrifugal force. 
     In this case, the inner part  150   b  may additionally include a finely raised pattern to better shake off rice flour. For example, any pattern, such as a hairline pattern and a dot pattern, may be formed as needed. 
     Meanwhile, the first part  110   b  includes a second discharge connector  112   b  discharging a portion of rice flour and air. The second discharge connector  112   b  is connected to an air intake pipe  96   b  to intake a portion of rice flour and air by a intake pressure of the intake fan. Relatively large rice flour is discharged through the second discharge connector  112   b,  and light fine rice flour is discharged through the first discharge connector  132   b  formed in the third part  130 . The air intake pipe  96   b  is branched into two portions at a predetermined position, and one portion thereof is connected to the first part  110   b  and the other portion is connected to the third part  130 . In more detail, the first exhaust connector  132   b  is connected to the air intake pipe  96   b  connected to the intake fan through a connection pipe  95   b,  and the second discharge connector  112   b  is directly connected to the air intake pipe  96   b.  It may be more advantageous for the second discharge connector  112   b  to be located further on a lower side and directly connected to the air intake pipe  96   b  in terms of pipe assembly and arrangement, but the first discharge connector  132   b  may be connected to the air intake pipe  96   b  and the second discharge connector  112   b  may be connected to the air intake pipe  96   b  through the connection pipe  95   b.    
     In addition, the sealing material  140  is attached to a lower portion of the first part  110   b,  and the opening/closing hole  102  formed in the sealing material  140  is opened and closed by the valve  200 . The operation of the valve  200  is performed by the link  510  (refer to  FIGS.  4  and  5   ) and the actuator  520  (refer to  FIGS.  4  and  5   ) as in the first embodiment. 
       FIG.  18    is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone rice separator provided in an automatic electric pressure cooker according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     In a cyclone rice separator of an automatic electric pressure cooker according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, the third part  130  (refer to  FIG.  7   ) is omitted in the cyclone-type rice separator  100  of the first embodiment, and the configuration and connection of other parts relationship are changed. In a cyclone rice separator  100   c  according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, a discharge connector  112   c  is formed in a hopper-type first part  110   c  and is connected to the air intake pipe  96  (refer to  FIG.  3   ). An inner part  150   c  having a plurality of perforated holes is mounted inside the first part  110   c  with a gap  114   c  from the first part  110   c.  A second part  120   c  is coupled to upper portions of the first part  110   c  and the inner part  150   c.  An input connector  122   c  is formed in the second part  120   c  and is connected to the rice transfer pipe  94  (refer to  FIG.  3   ). 
     In addition, a sealing material  140   c  is attached to a lower portion of the first part  110   c,  and the opening/closing hole  102  formed in the sealing material  140   c  is opened and closed by the valve  200 . The operation of the valve  200  is performed by the link  510  (refer to  FIGS.  4  and  5   ) and the actuator  520  (refer to  FIGS.  4  and  5   ) as in the first and second embodiments. 
     While the present disclosure has been shown and described in connection with the embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.