Patent Description:
Gas cooking appliances comprising at least one burner and a regulating valve for each burner fluidically communicated with said burner for regulating gas flow reaching the burner from a main gas conduit, and further comprising actuating means for increasing the power of the burner beyond the nominal power with a booster gas flow rate, are known.

<CIT> describes a gas cooking appliance comprising at least one gas burner, a regulating valve fluidically communicated with each burner for regulating gas flow between a minimum power and a nominal power, and a timer switch for increasing the power of the burner to a booster power with a booster gas flow rate during a predetermined time interval.

<CIT> refers to a regulating valve which can provide a booster gas flow rate during a predetermined time interval. In order to provide said booster gas flow rate, the body of the regulating valve comprises an auxiliary duct which can be communicated with the outlet of the regulating valve.

<CIT> discloses a gas cooking appliance comprising at least one gas burner, a regulating valve fluidically communicated with the burner for regulating gas flow between a minimum power and a nominal power, and an electromagnetic valve arranged between the regulating valve and the burner. The electromagnetic valve comprises a closure member, moveable between a closing position and an opening position, the closure member comprising a through hole calibrated to allow the passage of the minimum gas flow. The closure member is arranged by default in the open position.

The object of the invention is to provide a gas cooking appliance, as defined in the claims.

The gas cooking appliance of the invention comprises at least one gas burner, a regulating valve fluidically communicated with the burner for regulating gas flow between a minimum power and a nominal power, and a timer switch for increasing the power of the burner to a booster power with a booster gas flow rate during a predetermined time interval.

The gas cooking appliance further comprises an electromagnetic valve arranged between the regulating valve and the burner, the electromagnetic valve comprising a closure member, moveable between a closing position and an opening position, the closure member comprising a through hole calibrated to allow a gas flow corresponding to the nominal power of the burner to pass. The timer switch is configured for controlling the electromagnetic valve by causing the closure member to transition to the opening position to allow the passage of a flow providing the booster power.

The closure member is arranged by default in the closing position, such that it allows, at most, the gas flow corresponding to the nominal power to pass, and in order to provide the booster power, the timer switch, which causes the closure member to transition to the opening position during a predetermined time, is activated.

The gas cooking appliance of the invention is a simple and compact appliance as it requires only one internal gas conduit and allows the electromagnetic valve to be coupled directly to the outlet of the regulating valve, therefore reducing the required space, the number of required parts, and therefore the cost.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will become evident in view of the drawings and detailed description of the invention.

<FIG> show a first embodiment of a gas cooking appliance <NUM> according to the invention.

In this embodiment, the gas cooking appliance comprises four burners 10a-10d of different gas heat outputs, fluidically associated with a respective injector 11a-11d. The gas cooking appliance <NUM> comprises a regulating valve 20a for the burner 10a, which is fluidically communicated with the injector 11a, for regulating gas flow reaching the burner 10a from a main gas conduit <NUM>. Gas flow regulation allows regulating the power of the burner 10a between a minimum power and a nominal power, and supplying a booster power which is greater than the nominal power. In this embodiment, the gas cooking appliance <NUM> further comprises three manual gas valves 70b-70d, which are fluidically communicated with the injectors 11b-11d, for regulating gas flow reaching the respective burners 10b-10d from the main gas conduit <NUM>. Gas flow regulation allows regulating the power of the burners 10b-10d between a minimum power and a nominal power.

The valve 20a comprises a rotary actuator <NUM> acting in a range of angular actuation A, the actuator <NUM> being configured for varying the gas flow rate Q through the regulating valve 20a. The valve 20a is a compact element comprising a manual gas valve 70a, the manual valve 70a comprising a body <NUM> comprising an inlet conduit <NUM>, assembled and in fluid communication with the main gas conduit <NUM>, an outlet conduit <NUM>, and the actuator <NUM> which is the actuating shaft of the manual valve 70a. The valve 20a also comprises an electromagnetic valve <NUM> which is coupled to the outlet conduit <NUM>. The electromagnetic valve <NUM> comprises the gas outlet <NUM>, which is fluidically communicated with the injector 11a, a gas inlet <NUM>, which is fluidically communicated with the outlet conduit <NUM> of the valve 20a, and a single channel <NUM> running along the inside of the electromagnetic valve <NUM>, and comprising a closure hole <NUM> through which gas flow is supplied to the gas outlet, the channel <NUM> fluidically communicating the inlet <NUM> and the gas outlet <NUM>.

The electromagnetic valve <NUM> also comprises a closure member <NUM>, moveable between a closing position and an opening position, comprising a hole <NUM> configured for a first gas flow to go through same, the valve 20a supplying to the outlet <NUM> a second gas flow that is greater than the first gas flow when the closure member <NUM> is in the opening position, opening the closure hole <NUM> in the channel <NUM>. When the closure member <NUM> is in the closing position, it allows the passage of gas to the gas outlet <NUM> only through the hole <NUM>.

The gas cooking appliance <NUM> also comprises a timer switch <NUM>, which is a device which allows increasing the power of the burner 10a to the booster power with a booster gas flow rate Qb, during a predetermined time interval, the timer switch <NUM> controlling the electromagnetic valve <NUM> of the valve 20a when it receives an operation signal and is activated. In this embodiment, the gas cooking appliance <NUM> comprises an electric switch <NUM> for activating the timer switch <NUM> when it is activated, generating the operation signal and sending it to the timer switch <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the gas cooking appliance <NUM> comprises a spark generator <NUM> electrically connected to an electrode <NUM> associated with each burner 10a-10d for igniting flame in said burner 10a-10d when it is activated. The switch <NUM> is operatively associated with the actuator <NUM> and electrically connected to the spark generator <NUM>, such that when the switch <NUM> is activated by the user acting on the actuator <NUM>, it activates the spark generator <NUM>, said spark generator <NUM> activating the electrodes <NUM>, and activates the timer switch <NUM> which controls the electromagnetic valve <NUM>, simultaneously.

The gas flow overfeeding function in cooking processes is normally used at the beginning of the cooking processes to reduce the wait time to achieve boiling, to rapidly heat cooking utensils and the products to be cooked which are cold, or to heat large amounts of water, etc. The actuation range of the rotary actuator of the valves for varying the gas flow rate Q through said valves is usually comprised between the closed valve OFF position of <NUM>°, a position with maximum gas flow rate, corresponding to the nominal power of the burner, of <NUM>°, commonly used for igniting flame of the burner, and finally a position with minimum gas flow rate, corresponding to the minimum power of the burner, at an angle which can be, according to the gas cooking appliance, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, etc. With this configuration, the user does not have to arrange the actuator of the valve in a specific gas flow position on one hand, and press on a separate switch of the regulating valve on the other, so as to activate the booster or overfeeding function of the burner, but rather in one and the same operation of the valve 20a, he or she positions the actuator <NUM> in a booster gas flow position corresponding to the booster flow rate Qb, and by simply pressing on the actuator <NUM> in said position, the switch <NUM> is activated as it is associated with the actuator <NUM>. With this operation, the booster gas flow rate Qb flows and flame is ignited in the burner simultaneously.

The manual valves 70b-70d also comprise a rotary actuator <NUM> which is configured for varying the gas flow rate Q through the manual valves 70b-70d. The manual valves 70b-70d also comprise a body comprising an inlet conduit, assembled and in fluid communication with the main gas conduit <NUM>, an outlet conduit, and the actuator <NUM> which is the actuating shaft of the manual valves 70b-70d. In this embodiment, the gas cooking appliance <NUM> comprises three electric switches <NUM> associated with the actuators <NUM> of the manual valves 70b-70d. The switches <NUM> are electrically connected to the spark generator <NUM>, such that when the switch <NUM> is activated by the user acting on the actuator <NUM>, it activates the spark generator <NUM>, said spark generator <NUM> activating the electrodes <NUM>.

Each of the four switches <NUM> is activated at any point of a second actuation range B, the second actuation range B being greater than or equal to the actuation range A. Therefore, in this embodiment of the gas cooking appliance <NUM>, the actuation range A for regulating gas flow through the valve 20a to the respective burner 10a is between about <NUM>° and between about <NUM>°. The second actuation range B of the switches <NUM> is between about <NUM>° and between about <NUM>°, such that from the initial moment in which the user wants to arrange the actuator <NUM> in any of the angular positions of the actuation range A with gas flow, the switch <NUM> can be activated to generate sparks in the electrodes <NUM> and ignite flame in the respective burner 10a-10d. In this embodiment of the gas cooking appliance <NUM>, the activation of the switch <NUM> is by means of pressing thereon. To that end, in addition to being rotary, the actuator <NUM>, which is the actuating shaft of the valve 20a and of the manual valves 70b-70d, is suitable for being moved axially, such that in its axial movement, the actuator <NUM> presses on a micro <NUM> of the switch <NUM>, activating it.

The switches <NUM> associated with the manual valves 70b-70d are electrically connected in parallel with the spark generator <NUM>, and the switch <NUM> associated with the valve 20a is electrically connected with a wire independent of that of the other switches <NUM> to the spark generator <NUM> and the timer switch <NUM>.

The hole <NUM> of the closure member <NUM> is designed such that it is calibrated to limit the first gas flow going through same, when the closure member <NUM> is in the closing position, to a maximum flow rate QM corresponding with the nominal power of the burner 10a. Therefore, as long as the electromagnetic valve <NUM> is not activated, the maximum gas flow which can pass through the hole <NUM> of the closure member <NUM> is the maximum flow rate QM of the burner 10a. As the actuator <NUM> is arranged at other points of the actuation range, corresponding to smaller gas flows than the maximum flow rate QM, the hole <NUM> will allow said gas flows to pass, without restrictions, to the burner 10a.

The second gas flow on the outlet <NUM> is supplied through the channel <NUM> of the electromagnetic valve <NUM> when the closure member <NUM> is in the opening position, the second gas flow corresponding to the booster flow rate Qb corresponding to the booster power of the burner 10a. To obtain the booster gas flow rate Qb in the burner <NUM>, the gas flow going from the outlet conduit <NUM>, through the channel <NUM>, to the gas outlet <NUM>, when the closure member <NUM> is in the opening position, is greater than or equal to the gas flow corresponding to the predetermined maximum booster power defined for the burner 10a. To limit said gas flow to the predetermined maximum booster power, the injector 11a is calibrated, limiting it to the predetermined flow. Therefore, when the actuator <NUM> is positioned within the booster range Ab, it can be positioned in said range in positions with different gas flow, all of them within the booster flow rate Qb, such that, even with the presence of those different gas flows, the limitation of the calibrated injector 11a will allow the burner 10a to work with the predetermined maximum booster power during the time interval predetermined by the timer switch <NUM>.

The actuation range A of the actuator <NUM> for regulating gas flow comprises a booster range Ab which, in the shown embodiment of the gas cooking appliance <NUM>, is comprised between about <NUM>° and between about <NUM>°, in which the valve 20a supplies the booster flow rate Qb to the outlet <NUM> of the electromagnetic valve <NUM>, when the switch <NUM> is activated and the closure member <NUM> is in the opening position. A position within the booster range Ab is that shown in <FIG> as position P9. When the predetermined time interval has elapsed, the timer switch <NUM> sends a signal to transition the closure member <NUM> to the closing position, the valve 20a thus supplying the burner 10a with the maximum flow rate QM in the same booster range Ab of the actuator <NUM>, and specifically in the same position initially decided by the user P9. In other words, if for example the user wants to first heat a large amount of water, for example, he or she arranges a container <NUM> with the water <NUM> therein on the burner 10a, positions the actuator <NUM> of the valve 20a in the booster range Ab, in position P9 for example, and when the predetermined time ends, the gas flow to the burner 10a will become the maximum flow rate QM in the same position P1. Therefore, the user does not have to arrange the actuator <NUM> in a gas position on one hand, and press on a separate switch of the regulating valve on the other, but rather in one and the same operation with the valve 20a, he or she will position the actuator in the booster range Ab allowing a booster gas flow corresponding to the booster flow rate Qb, and by simply pressing on the actuator <NUM> in said position, he or she will activate the switch <NUM>, and thereby actuate the booster or overfeeding function of the burner 10a. In this embodiment of the gas cooking appliance <NUM>, the booster flow rate Qb and the maximum flow rate QM coincide in the same angular position within the booster range Ab.

The actuation range A for regulating gas flow comprises a regulation range A1 corresponding to a corresponding variable gas flow between a minimum gas flow rate Qm, corresponding to the minimum power of the burner 10a, in position P1 of the regulation range A1, and the maximum flow rate QM of the valve 20a, in position P9. In other embodiments of the gas cooking appliance <NUM> (not shown in the drawings), the booster range Ab is at least partially within the regulation range A1 or adjacent to the regulation range A1, such that the gas flow corresponding to the booster flow rate Qb is obtained as the sum of flows corresponding to the booster range Ab and the regulation range A1, in the angular segment in which they coincide, but always with the booster flow rate Qb transitioning to the maximum flow rate QM, when the predetermined time interval set by the timer switch <NUM>, when it has been activated, has elapsed.

The valve 20a and the manual valves 70b-70d comprise a regulator element <NUM> coupled to the actuator <NUM> which allows regulating gas flow to the respective burner 10a-10d. In this embodiment, the regulator element <NUM> of the valve 20a comprises a main regulating channel 26a and a regulating channel 26b for the calibration bypass of the minimum gas flow for changing the type of gas. The regulator element <NUM> is configured for regulating gas flow between the inlet conduit <NUM> and the outlet conduit <NUM> of the valve 20a in the actuation range A, the regulating channel 26a comprising a booster segment <NUM> corresponding to the booster range Ab and a regulating segment <NUM> corresponding to the regulation range A1 of the actuation range A. In this embodiment of the gas cooking appliance <NUM>, the regulator element <NUM> of the valve 20a is a cone, but in other embodiments it can be a rotary disc.

The gas inlet conduit <NUM> of the regulating valve 20a <NUM> is fluidically communicated with the safety valve <NUM>, the regulator element <NUM> being arranged in a housing of the body <NUM> of the valve 20a, which is in turn fluidically communicated with the safety valve <NUM> and with the outlet conduit <NUM>. The actuating shaft of the actuator <NUM> comprises a coupled inner shaft 21a going through the regulator element <NUM>, and a spring 21b allowing the movement of the actuating shaft to the initial position after being pressed on axially. The valve 20a comprises a transmission element 21c for opening the safety valve <NUM>. Said transmission element 21c is housed in a housing which is fluidically communicated with a hole (not shown in the drawings) which is arranged in the body <NUM> of the valve 20a, and is moreover fluidically communicated with the lower part of the regulator element <NUM>. This hole fluidically communicates with the safety valve <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the transmission element 21c is a rocker arm, and the safety valve <NUM> comprises a member closing same, such that when the actuating shaft of the actuator <NUM> is pressed on axially, the inner shaft 21b presses on the transmission element 21c, and this transmission element 21c acts on the cutoff of the safety valve <NUM> through the hole of the body <NUM> of the valve 20a, opening the safety valve <NUM>. Therefore, the gas entering from the inlet conduit <NUM> can pass through the safety valve <NUM>, and through the open member, to the housing of the regulator element, such that when the actuator <NUM> is acted on in the actuation range A, gas flows to the outlet conduit <NUM>.

A knob <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, is arranged in the actuator <NUM> of the valve 20a to make it easier for the user to handle said valve 20a. Visual indications 29a which allow guiding the user with respect to the power required of the selected burner are arranged either in the panel of the gas cooking appliance <NUM> or in the lever <NUM> itself. Therefore, for example, the OFF position is indicated to indicate the valve being closed to gas flow, booster power/Qb, nominal power/QM, and minimum power/Qm, in addition to indicating, for example, the nine gas flow positions, between maximum flow P9 corresponding to the booster flow rate Qb and the maximum flow rate QM, and position P1 of minimum flow rate Qm.

In this embodiment, the gas cooking appliance <NUM> also comprises a thermocouple <NUM> arranged next to the burner 10a, said thermocouple <NUM> being electrically connected to the safety valve <NUM> of the regulating valve 20a. This thermocouple <NUM> has a safety function. Due to the flame in the burner 10a, the safety valve <NUM> is open due to the electric current generated in the thermocouple <NUM> and a magnetic group of the safety valve being powered with said electric current. However, when the flame in the burner 10a is extinguished for some reason, the magnetic group is no longer electrically powered, and the safety valve of the regulating valve 20a closes, closing the gas flow to the burner 10a.

Given the features of the regulating valve 20a, the gas outlet <NUM> of the electromagnetic valve <NUM> is fluidically communicated with the injector 11a through a single gas conduit 2a, through which conduit 2a different gas flows corresponding between the minimum and nominal power of the burner 10a, and the booster power when the electromagnetic valve <NUM> of the valve 20a is activated, go to said injector 11a, and therefore to the burner 10a. The manual valves 70b-70d are also fluidically communicated with the injectors 11b-11d through a respective single gas conduit 2b-2d.

This embodiment of the gas cooking appliance <NUM> comprises a control unit <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> comprising the timer switch <NUM> and the spark generator <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may further comprise other dedicated functions in the gas cooking appliance <NUM>, such as remote function control, etc..

In this embodiment of the gas cooking appliance <NUM>, the electromagnetic valve <NUM> is a bistable valve comprising an electromagnetic actuator <NUM> fed from the timer switch <NUM> through an electric wire <NUM>. The closure member <NUM> changes position when the electromagnetic actuator <NUM> is electrically powered, and maintains its position in the absence of power supply from said electromagnetic actuator <NUM>, with a pulse of power being sufficient to cause the change in position.

Claim 1:
Gas cooking appliance comprising at least one gas burner (10a), a regulating valve (20a) fluidically communicated with the burner (10a) for regulating gas flow between a minimum power and a nominal power, and an electromagnetic valve (<NUM>) arranged between the regulating valve (20a) and the burner (10a), the electromagnetic valve (<NUM>) comprising a closure member (<NUM>), moveable between a closing position and an opening position, the closure member (<NUM>) comprising a through hole (<NUM>), characterized in that the through hole (<NUM>) of the closure member (<NUM>) is calibrated to allow a gas flow corresponding to the nominal power of the burner (10a) to pass, the closure member (<NUM>) being arranged by default in the closing position such that it allows, at most, the gas flow corresponding to the nominal power to pass, the gas cooking appliance further comprising a timer switch (<NUM>) for increasing the power of the burner (10a) to a booster power with a booster gas flow rate (Qb) during a predetermined time interval, the timer switch (<NUM>) being configured for controlling the electromagnetic valve (<NUM>) by causing the closure member (<NUM>) to transition to the opening position to allow the passage of a flow providing the booster power.