Abstract:
According to one implementation a gas safety valve is provided that includes a reel onto which a coil is wound, the coil including a phase wire and a grounding wire. The reel has an elongated projection having first and second electrical contact areas onto which the phase wire and grounding wire are respectively arranged. The gas safety valve further includes an electromagnet having a core that is at least partially housed in an internal cavity of the reel. The safety gas valve also includes a support and a phase connector. The first electrical contact area is arranged such that it is inserted in the phase connector and the second electrical contact area is arranged such that it is inserted in the support, both electrical contact areas exerting an elastic force against the phase connector and the support, respectively, assuring the electrical connection between the phase wire and the phase connector, and between the grounding wire and the support, respectively.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims the benefit and priority to European Application No. 16382133.3, filed Mar. 23, 2016. European Application No. 16382133.3 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a gas safety valve adapted for a cooking appliance. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Gas safety valves adapted for a cooking appliance are known, comprising an electromagnet with a fixed core, a support of the electromagnet, and a moving armature coupled to the plug and movable with respect to the electromagnet between an open valve position in which the electromagnet is energized and the moving armature is in contact with the electromagnet, and a closed valve position in which the electromagnet is not energized. 
         [0004]    ES2155013A1 discloses a gas safety valve in which the electromagnet is built with a U-shaped core connected to the central dished washer and two multilayer windings in series, each one supported around half of an isolating reel with a semicircular section. The valve comprises means for coupling the electromagnet to a support seat of the core and to the dished washer, comprising said means two terminals projecting from a respective half of reel in the direction of the electrical connection means for the housing of the phase conductor and grounding wire. At least one of the terminals goes through the core. 
         [0005]    ES2120830A1 discloses a valve comprising a central electrode rod introduced in a central hole, a central conductor wire connected to the central electrode rod such that it passes through the hole, extending inside the electromagnetic core, an external conductor wire soldered to the electromagnetic support and a wound coil around both arm portions of the core such that it has one end connected to the central conductor wire and the other end connected to the end conductor wire. 
         [0006]    JP03871237B2 discloses a safety valve comprising a fixed core housed in a casing, a movable core, and a return spring actuating a shaft coupled to the plug. The valve comprises a reel with a winding, the reel including inserted therein a ground terminal and a phase terminal inserted in a base of the coil, an end of the coil being fixed in each of such terminals. The reel further includes another ground terminal fixed with an angular offset of at least 90° or more between the ground and phase terminals in which the ends of the coil are fixed. 
         [0007]    Finally, in ES1085979U the reel comprises a part of a phase terminal and a part of a ground terminal embedded in a base of the reel, projecting from the base there is a first end of the phase terminal in which the phase conductor is fixed, a second end of the phase terminal going through the support forming a phase connector of the valve and a first end of the ground terminal in which the grounding wire is fixed, and a second end of the ground terminal fixed to the support. The reel further comprises a groove extending in the base of the reel separating the embedded parts of the phase terminal and of the ground terminal from one another. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0008]    According to some implementations a safety valve is provided that comprises an electromagnet comprising a core, a reel inserted in the core and a coil supported on the reel, the coil comprising a phase wire and a grounding wire, a support of the electromagnet, and a phase connector. 
         [0009]    The reel comprises a projection extending axially and comprising a first electrical contact area in which a segment of the phase conductor is arranged, and a second electrical contact area in which a segment of the grounding wire is arranged, in which the first electrical contact area is arranged such that it is inserted in the phase connector and the second electrical contact area is arranged such that it is inserted in the support, both electrical contact areas exerting an elastic force against the phase connector and the support, respectively, assuring the electrical connection between the phase wire and the phase connector, and between the grounding wire and the support, respectively. 
         [0010]    A safety valve with the phase and ground connections being optimized is thereby obtained. Having to insert or imbed terminals in the reel of the electromagnet through which the phase wire and the grounding wire of the coil are soldered to the ground and to the phase connector is avoided. The phase wire and the grounding wire are fixed to the projection of the reel, and the electrical connection of each wire to the ground and to the phase conductor of the valve respectively is carried out by compression, once the projection of the reel is inserted in the seat and the phase connector of the valve. Soldering the wire of the coil to the terminals and the drawbacks thereof are avoided because the soldering jeopardizes, for example, the electrical connection of the coil of the electromagnet with the ground and the phase conductor of the valve. 
         [0011]    In summary, the manufacture and assembly of the electromagnet and the connection thereof to ground and to the phase connector are simplified. 
         [0012]    These and other advantages and features will become evident in view of the drawings and the detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a section view of an embodiment of an electromagnetic valve, shown in two longitudinal halves in the two valve positions, i.e., closed and open. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the reel of the electromagnetic valve shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows detail C of the electromagnetic valve shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a section view of a second embodiment of an electromagnetic valve. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows detail D of the electromagnetic valve shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a section view of a third embodiment of an electromagnetic valve. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows detail E of the electromagnetic valve shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIGS. 1, 4 and 6  show an electromagnetic safety valve  1 ;  1 ′;  1 ″ adapted for gas appliances which allows or blocks the passage of gas to a burner of a home appliance. The electromagnetic valve  1 ;  1 ′;  1 ″ comprises an electromagnet  2  supported in a support  3  or seat, a phase connector  25 , a plug  4 , a moving armature  5  coupled to the plug  4  and movable between a position corresponding to the open valve position (shown on the left side of  FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 ) and a position corresponding to the closed valve position (shown on the right side of  FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 ), and a spring  6  suitable for returning the plug  4  together with the moving armature  5  to the closed valve position. The electromagnetic valve  1 ;  1 ′;  1 ″ further comprises a casing  7  enclosing therein the electromagnet  2 , the moving armature  5  and partially the support  3 . 
         [0021]    The plug  4  is arranged such that it is coupled to the moving armature  5  through a rod  8 . The plug  4  is configured for being moved when pushed and keeping the moving armature  5  attracted by the electromagnet  2  when the latter is energized, opening the gas passage to a position in which the moving armature  5  comes into contact with the electromagnet  2  (open valve position shown on the left side of  FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 ). When the electromagnet  2  is no longer energized, the spring  6  acts on the plug  4 , moving it together with the moving armature  5  to the closed valve position (shown on the right side of  FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 ), closing the gas passage. 
         [0022]    The electromagnet  2  comprises a core  9  supported in the seat  3 , a reel  10 ;  10 ′; 10 ″ which is arranged such that it is inserted in the core  9 , and a coil  11  which is arranged such that it is coiled on the reel  10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″. The core  9  may have a U-shaped geometry defined by two arms attached through a base  9 c. The reel  10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″ is arranged such that it is inserted in one of the arms of the core  9 . The core  9  and moving armature  5  are made of ferromagnetic materials. The support  3  is made of a preferably metallic electrically conductive material, whereas the reel  10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″ is made of an electrically isolating material, preferably plastic. 
         [0023]    The reel  10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″ comprises a projection  17 ;  17 ′;  17 ″ extending axially and comprising a first electrical contact area A in which a segment of the phase wire  12  is arranged, and a second electrical contact area B in which a segment of the grounding wire  13  is arranged. Both the first electrical contact area A and the second electrical contact area B are arranged such that they are inserted compressed respectively against the phase connector  25 , electrically connecting the phase wire  12  with the phase connector  25 , and against the support  3  electrically connecting the grounding wire  13  with the support  3 . Both electrical contact areas A and B exert a constant elastic force against the phase connector  25  and the support  3 , respectively, assuring the electrical connection between the phase wire  12  and the phase connector  25 , and between the grounding wire  13  and the support  3 . 
         [0024]    In turn, the reel  10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″ comprises a base  14  and a hollow tubular body  15  extending continuously and orthogonally from the base  14 , and one of the arms  9   a  of the core  9  goes through it. The projection  17 ;  17 ′;  17 ″ extends from the base  14 , in the longitudinal direction of the valve  1 , going through the base  9   c  of the core  9  and the support  3 . The reel  10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″ further comprises a flange  16  at the end of the tubular body  15  opposite the base  14 , so that the coil  11  is arranged such that it is wound on the tubular body  15  between the base  14  and the flange  16 . 
         [0025]    In the embodiments shown in the drawings, the projection  17 ;  17 ′;  17 ″ is rod-shaped, a segment of the phase wire  12  and a segment of the grounding wire  13  being arranged such that they are wound around the projection  17 ;  17 ′;  17 ″, particularly around the first electrical contact area A and the second electrical contact area B of the projection  17 ;  17 ′;  17 ″, respectively, the first electrical contact area A and the second electrical contact area B projecting radially with respect to the projection  17 ;  17 ′;  17 ″, at least along part of its path. 
         [0026]    In both the first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3  and the second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first electrical contact area A and the second electrical contact area B are arranged in an eccentric manner with respect to the axial axis of the projection  17 . Both electrical contact areas A and B may be arranged such that they are diametrically opposed. The arrangement of the electrical contact areas A and B so that they are not aligned with one another and are off-centered with respect to the axial axis of the projection  17  allows the projection  17  to exert a constant elastic force against the seat  3  and against the phase connector  25  when said projection  17  is inserted in the seat  3  and in the phase connector  25 , respectively, compressing the electrical contact areas A and B against the seat  3  and the inside of the phase connector  25 , respectively. A good electrical connection between the phase wire  12  and the phase connector  25 , and the grounding wire  13  and the seat  3 , is thereby assured. 
         [0027]    In the first embodiment, the projection  17  comprises a first protuberance  20  in the first electrical contact area A in which the segment of the phase conductor  12  is arranged wound around same, and a second protuberance  23  in the second electrical contact area B in which the segment of the grounding wire  13  is arranged wound around same, said protuberances  20  and  23  projecting radially. Said first and second protuberances  20  and  23  are compressed against the phase connector  25  and the seat  3 , respectively. 
         [0028]    In this first embodiment, the projection  17  may further comprise in each electrical contact area A and B a pair of additional protuberances  19  and  24 , such that said pair of additional protuberances  19  and  24  are arranged such that they are diametrically opposed with respect to the first protuberance  20  and the second protuberance  23 , respectively, upstream and downstream of the first protuberance  20  and second protuberance  23 , respectively. The segment of the phase wire  12  and the segment of the grounding wire  13  wound around the first protuberance  20  and of the second protuberance  23 , respectively, are thereby arranged such that they fit between each pair of corresponding additional protuberances  19  and  24 , respectively, the risk of the segments of grounding wire and phase wire sliding along the projection  17  and contacting one another being eliminated. In addition, the additional protuberances  19  and  24  are arranged compressed against the phase connector  25  and against the seat  3 , respectively, exerting together with the first protuberance  20  and with the second protuberance  23  a constant elastic force against the seat  3  and against the phase connector  25 . 
         [0029]    In addition, the projection  17  comprises guides  28  and  29  of the phase wire  12  and of the grounding wire  13 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In addition to avoiding electrical contact between wires  12  and  13 , the risk of the pwires  12  and  13  breaking due to friction against the walls of the core  9  and of the support  3  is thereby minimized. The guides  28  and  29  are arranged in a symmetrical manner in the projection  17  and each of them comprises a groove axially going through the projection  17 , particularly the base  14  of the reel  10 . 
         [0030]    In the second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the projection  17 ′ comprises in each electrical contact area A and B a respective additional protuberance  19  and  24 . The additional protuberances  19  and  24  are arranged such that they are diametrically opposed with respect to the first protuberance  20  and second protuberance  23 , respectively, and with respect to one another. Said additional protuberances  19  and  24  are arranged such that they are compressed against the phase connector  25  and against the seat  3 , respectively, exerting together with the first protuberance  20  and with the second protuberance  23  a constant elastic force against the seat  3  and against the phase connector  25 . 
         [0031]    In this second embodiment, the projection  17 ′ also includes guides of the phase wire  12  and of the grounding wire  13 , not shown in the drawings, similar to those shown in  FIG. 3  corresponding to the first embodiment. Said guides have the same function described for the first embodiment. Furthermore, each guide comprises a groove axially going through the projection  17 ′ similar to the one of the first embodiment. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show a third embodiment in which each electrical contact area A and B further comprises electrically conductive elastic elements  40  which are arranged such that they are coupled to the projection  17 ″ in the first electrical contact area A and in the second electrical contact area B, respectively, of said projection  17 ″, electrically connecting the phase wire  12  with the phase conductor  25  and the grounding wire  13  with the support  3 . 
         [0033]    Each electrically conductive element  40  has an annular geometry which is arranged such that it is inserted in the projection  17 ″, the phase wire  12  and the grounding wire  13  being arranged respectively such that they are fixed to the respective electrically conductive element  40 . The electrically conductive element  40  is preferably metallic. 
         [0034]    In this embodiment, an electrically conductive element  40  is arranged such that it is inserted around a first recess  41  included in the projection  17 ″, the grounding wire  13  being arranged such that it is fixed to said electrically conductive element  40 , and another electrically conductive element  40  is arranged such that it is inserted around a second recess  42  included in the projection  17 ″, the phase wire  12  being arranged such that it is fixed to said electrically conductive element  40 , both recesses  41  and  42  being arranged in a concentric manner with respect to the projection  17 ″ and each electrically conductive element  40  being arranged partially in the corresponding recess  41  and  42 . The electrically conductive elements  40  are arranged such that they are compressed against the phase connector  25  and against the support  3 , respectively, electrically connecting the phase wire  12  with the phase connector  25  and the grounding wire  13  with the support  3 , respectively. 
         [0035]    In the described embodiments, both the phase wire  12  and the grounding wire  13  may be tin-plated to assure electrical contact with the phase conductor  25  and with the seat  3 , respectively, or with the electrically conductive element  40 . 
         [0036]    In those cases in which, for the sake of safety, for example in oxidizing environments, electrical contact of the phase wire  12  with the phase conductor  25  or with the electrically conductive element  40 , and of the grounding wire  13  with the support  3  or with the electrically conductive element  40  is to be assured, the valve  1  can be introduced in a soldering furnace such that the electrical contacts are soldered. 
         [0037]    Since the phase wire  12  does not go through the phase conductor  25  as occurs in the prior art, the operation of making holes in the phase conductor  25  to allow the passage of the phase wire  12  is eliminated, and the operation of soldering the end of the phase conductor  25  with the phase wire  12  is eliminated, such that manufacturing operations and the drawbacks of soldering at the end of the phase conductor  25 , such as dirt, a possible gas leakage and tightness issues, are all minimized.