CA2190841C - Gas-heatable appliance for personal use - Google Patents
Gas-heatable appliance for personal useInfo
- Publication number
- CA2190841C CA2190841C CA002190841A CA2190841A CA2190841C CA 2190841 C CA2190841 C CA 2190841C CA 002190841 A CA002190841 A CA 002190841A CA 2190841 A CA2190841 A CA 2190841A CA 2190841 C CA2190841 C CA 2190841C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sealing element
- appliance
- gas
- combustion chamber
- passageway
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D1/00—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor
- A45D1/02—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor with means for internal heating, e.g. by liquid fuel
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D2/00—Hair-curling or hair-waving appliances ; Appliances for hair dressing treatment not otherwise provided for
- A45D2/36—Hair curlers or hair winders with incorporated heating or drying means, e.g. electric, using chemical reaction
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D20/00—Hair drying devices; Accessories therefor
- A45D20/04—Hot-air producers
- A45D20/06—Hot-air producers heated otherwise than electrically; ventilated by muscle power
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D20/00—Hair drying devices; Accessories therefor
- A45D20/04—Hot-air producers
- A45D20/06—Hot-air producers heated otherwise than electrically; ventilated by muscle power
- A45D2020/065—Hot-air producers heated otherwise than electrically; ventilated by muscle power heated by gas or fuel
Landscapes
- Feeding And Controlling Fuel (AREA)
Abstract
The invention is directed to a gas-heatable appliance for personal use as, for example, a curling iron, a curling brush, a hair dryer, an epilating appliance, a domestic appliance, or the like, including a fuel gas reservoir, a combustion chamber, and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for controlling and/or regulating the amount of fuel gas supplied, in particular in dependence upon temperature. .There are further provided a valve housing (4) with a gas passageway (5, 15, 16) and a sealing means (6) associated with the gas passageway (5, 15, 16), as well as an actuating means (7) for actuating the sealing means (6). The actuating means is configured as a control member actuatable by a user and/or as a temperature-responsive actuator (7). In this arrangement, the sealing means (6) is actuated directly by the actuating means (7).
Description
Gas-U~ hlf~ Appliance for Personal ~Tse This invention relates to a gas-heatable appliance for per-sonal use as, for example, a curling iron, a curling brush, a 5 hair dryer, an epilating appliance, a domestic appliance, or the like, in~ 1ing a fuel gas reservoir, a combustion chamber, and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for controlling and/or regulating the amount of fuel gas supplied, in particular in dependence upon tempera-10 ture, there beiny provided a valve housing with a gas passagewayand a sealing means associated with the yas passageway, as well as an actuating means for actuating the sealing means. In this arrangement, the actuating means is conf igured as a control mem-- ber actuatable by a user and/or as a temperature-responSive 15 actuator.
Gas-heatable appliances for personal use are well known in the art. The present invention is based on a subject-matter as already disclosed in European Pat. No. 0 021 224. This patent describes a hair treating Ar~l iAn~ with a catalytic heating de-20 vice provided in the area of the hair winding portion, with afuel reservoir for receiving preferably li~uid fuel, with a de-vice for vaporizing the fuel, a device for mixing the fuel gas with fresh air, and a catalytic device disposed in the combus-tion chamber. In this a. . al1y. t, a valve assembly is provided 25 having an actuating member for controlling the fuel-gas/air mi`xture impinging upon the catalytic device in ~ lence upon the temperature prevailing in the combustion chamber, as well as an ignition device formed inteyral with the hair treating appli-ance and having a control member for initiating combustion It is a disadvantage of these known appliances that they are comprised of a plurality of individual components and in-clude a valve device e~lually made up of a multiplicitY of 2 1 9~84 1 different components Further, the sealing means associated with the gas passageway and provided in the valve housing are conventionally of such geometrical shape and material as to be subject to normal wear. In consecluence, a sealing means ceases 5 to effect a tight seal against the gas passageway following use for a period of some time, which may influence the temperature control function.
It is an object of the present invention to simplify the appliance to the effect that a lower number of components are 10 required and that the appliance, in particular the valve, can be used safely as provided for the full service life of the appli-ance, in order to thus reduce manufacturing cost.
According to the present invention, this object is essen-tially aCc~ i qh~l in a gas-heatable appliance for personal use 15 of the type initially referred to in that the sealing means is actuatable directly by an actuating means. The advantage thereby obtained is that direct actuation of an actuating means on the sealing means results in a signif icant reduction in the number of , _ nn.ntS . Transmission members such as levers or 20 the like which transmit the temperature-responsive control of the actuating means to the sealing means are thus avoided; the use of fewer parts and the simplified assembly reduce the manu-facturing cost, in addition to increasing the safety of the appliance when in use .
In a greatly advantageous feature of the sealing means, it is formed, in particular cut out, from a metal film in particu-lar as an elastic, diaphragm-type element. This results in an extremely simple manufacture of the sealing means, in addition to enabling the sealing means to be actuated in an absolutely wear - free manner .
2l sas4 f In a further feature of the present invention, a film-type partition wall having an orifice for the passage of gas is arranged in the gas passageway. The gas orifice may be provided at any desired location in the partition wall, and the diameter 5 of the orifice may be selected freely. In this arrangement, the partition wall may be fabricated from the same film material as the sealing means.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the gas orifice is closable by an elastic, tongue-10 shaped means. This thus enables a film-type sealing means and the partition wall to be arranged in the valve housing in rela-tive abutting engagement, with the partition wall providing the defined orifice, while opening and closing of this gas orifice is effected by the second elastic, tongue-shaped film.
1~ In a particular embodiment, the tongue-shaped sealing means has one end thereof hinged to the partition wall in which the orifice for the passage of gas is provided. This holds both parts in a mounting position, and the tongue-shaped sealing means is in a position to pivot about its hinge in the manner of 20 a lever.
In an advantageous embodiment, the tongue-shaped sealing means is arranged such as to automatically close the gas orif ice when in the no-load position in which the actuating means does not act upon the sealing means. The advantageous effect therebY
25 achieved is that the tongue-shaped sealing means, rather than being moved by outside action, is moved solely by the restoring force of the ëlastic material of the sealing means as well as by reason of the aL L ~ t of the tongue-shaped sealing means relative to the partition wall in which the orifice is provided.
In an alternative embodiment, it is proposed providing an additional means for boosting the closing force of the sealing ` 21 q~P~41 means as it closes the gas orifice. This means may be a com-pression spring, for example, which is provided on the upstream side of the sealing means, urging the sealing means directly against the partition wall. This has the advantageouS effect of 5 ensuring closing of the gas orifice by the sealing means reli-ably at all times.
In another advantageous embodiment of the present inven-tion, an actuating means is provided as, for example, a bimetal rod known in the art which is guided through the gas orifice to-10 wards the tongue-shaped sealing means. As a result, the sealing means is directly actuated by the actuating means without the use of additional transmission means, such as levers or the like .
In a particular embodiment, the actuating means is arranged 15 on the downstream side, and the tongue-shaped sealing means is arranged on the upstream side of the gas orifice, gas flow being from the fuel gas reservoir through the valve assembly to the combustion chamber. As a result, closing of the tongue-shaped sealing means is effected Allt~ 'Al ly by the higher gas pres-20 sure prevailing on the upstream side of the partition wall withits gas orifice, unless this higher pressure is collnteracted by the actuating means.
~ n a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, sealing means made of metal exclusively are provided 25 in the gas passageway between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber, thus precluding any wear, in particular by attrition, of non-metal sealing means.
In an alternative embodiment, an additional sealing surface is provided between the metal sealing means and the metal parti-30 tion wall. ~his sealing surface may be fabricated, for example,from an elastic material, in particular plastics or the like, 2 1 ~4 1 and it may be provided as a separate sealing means or as a coa~-ing applied to the sealing means or to the partition wall. In this arrangement, the gas orifice is maintained as opening.
Advantageously, the valve housing receiving the gas 5 passage~7ay and the sealing means is comprised of at least two housing halves This affords ease of manufacture of the valve housing as well as ease of- assembly of the valve device.
Advantageously, the sealing means is provided at the loca-tion of the parting line between the twD housing halves, so that O in a conventional, plane configuration of the parting line the sealing means can be simpLy sandwiched and secured between the two housing halves.
Advantageously, the gas passageway is provided at the part-ing line of the two housing halves, so that the pasgagewaY ex-15 tends on either side of the sealing means, causing the sealingmeans, in particular the metal film, to divide the gas passage-way into an upstream and a downstream section.
In an advantageous feature of the present invention, the stream of gas carried in the gas passage~ay is deflectable by ~0 the sealing means. This enables the gas stream to be directed at selected regions on either side of the sealing means, in addition to allowing a position-independent a~ 5J t of the fuel gas reservoir and of the combustion chamber on different sides of the valve, because the gas inlet and the gas outlet 25 channel of the valve may be arranged at different locations.
Another embodiment of the present invention proposes having the user actuate the control }~ember to ef fect opening and clos-ing of the gas passageway. Such a control member advantageoUslY
enables the gas passageway to be opened or closed at discretion;
30 in contrast thereto, the temperature-responsive actuator enables the area of cross-section of the passageway to be controlled, in particular by narrowing or widening it.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the control mem-ber and the actuator are disposed on opposite sides of the seal-5 ing means, so that they extend, for example, in the direction ofthe longitudinal axis of the appliance, and that control member and actuator act upon the sealing means, preferably an elastic diaphragm, independently of each other.
A further proposal includes fastening the control member and/or the temperature-responsive actuator directly in the valve housing, preferably by threaded engagement. For one purpose, direct thermal contact of the valve housing with the temperature-reSponsive actuator is thereby accomplished, and for another purpose, the use o additional components for fastening 15 the control member and/or the actuator is avoided.
Particularly advantageously, the actuator is fastened in the valve housing in the immediately vicinity of the sealing means, a short relative distance of sealing means to actuator thus precluding the possibility of thermal or ~h~n;~ inter-20 f erence In a still further feature of the present invention, it isproposed manufacturing the sealing means from an elastic mate-rial, in particular plastics, a textile or similar non-metal material. This is of particular advantage in the simultaneouS
25 use of an On/Of f switch as well a temperature-responsive control means-with a sealing means.
In a particular embodiment of the present invention, re-cesses of in particular hemispherical shape are provided in the gas passageway. Recesses of this shape are easy to manufacture 30 and can be provided in a wide variety of locations in the gas 21 908~1 passageway, in particular in cases where the passageway is pro-vided at the location of the parting line of the housing halves.
By arranging- the actuating means on the side of the diaphragm-type sealing means opposite the recess, ana by provid-5 ing the actuating means with an equally hemispherical end, theactuating means is in a position to urge the sealing means into the recess in the gas passageway in a manner producing particu-larly low wear Advantageously, the contours of the recesses in the gas passageway as well as of the e~as of the actuating means are of like profile, thus enabling the area of cross-section of the gas passageway to be varied, in particular reduced, by the actuating means in a controlled manner. With this aLLa~ t, the area of cross-section of the gas passageway may be reduced from its 15 maximum possible value down to zero, thus effecting control of the gas f low .
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention which may also be an invention in its own right, the sealing means is conf igured as a valve plate . Such a dish-20 shaped valve plate is a part which is easy to manufacture andideally suited for guantity production. Such a valve plate also affords economy of manufacture, ease of assemblY, and reliabil-ity in operation of the appliance.
In an advantageous feature of the present invention, the ~5 valve plate has a sealing surface of an essentially circular-disk-shaped and plane configuration which cooperates with a diaphragm of an equally plane configuration. A maximum possible sealing surface is thereby obtained between the valve plate and the diaphragm, which differs from many other sealing arrange-30 ments known in the art which frec,uently have only a ring- or line-shaped sealing surface. ~urther, the flat engagement of 2 1 ~4 1 the valve plate with the diaphragm also re~auires a lower contact force than in known sealing means.
Advantageously, the valve plate has on its sealing surface a central recess serving to centrally locate, and provide a de-5 fined abutment surface for, the contact tip of the actuatingmeans. By arranging for the tip of the actuating ~eans to be matingly received with the recess, the two components can be accurately adjusted in the cold condit~ion of the appliance -cold adjustment -, which is also the best prerequisite for a 10 perfect control function in the hot condition of the appliance.
In another feature of the present inve~tion, a spring means bears against the valve plate on the valve plate rear side facing away from the sealing surface. This ensures advanta-geously a reliable contact pressure of the valve plate upon the 15 sealing surface of the diaphragm.
In a particular embodiment, the spring means is configured as a compression spring. This is a particularly advantageous, straightforward, reliable, and economical configuration of the spring means The valve plate itself is advantageously made of a wear-and temperature-resistant material, in particular a sheet of metal or metalloid material; this ensures a defined, stable and wear-reSiStant form of the valve plate for the full service life of an appliance of the invention.
In a further feature, it is proposed fabricating the diaphragm from a rubber-like material, in particular Viton.
This e~aually affords ease and economy of manufacture of the diaphragm .
Particularly advantageously, only one non-metal sealing means is provided in the gas passageway between the fuel gas 21 qO84 1 reservoir at the one end and the combustion chamber of the appliance at the other end, as described in the preceding para-graph. Wear caused by movement of the one, usually metal seal-ing means relative to the other, non-metal sealing means, is 5 thereby reduced to a minimum. In additioL, an optimum sealing effect is accomplished by the combination of a metal sealing means with a non-metal sealing means.
Advantageously, the diaphragm is provided between a mount-ing plate and the valve housing of the appliance . This af fords 10 ease of assembly and a secure positioning of the diaphragm be-tween the two components.
Slots for guiding the gas are provided on the side of the mounting plate close to the diaphragm. IntArrA~i~tA the indi-vidual gas guiding slots which are customarily arranged parallel 15 to each other, bridge members are provided for flat seating en-gagement with, and providing a supporting function for, the diaphragm. Advantageously, the diaphragm is fixedly held in place between the mounting plate and the valve housing to the maximum possible extent, without the surface area of the 20 diaphragm experiencing any deflection.
Further objects, features, advantages and application possibilities of the present invention will become apparent from the subseguent description of embodiments illustrated in more detail in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that is any single feature and any combination of single features de-scribed and/or represented by illustration form the subject-rnatter of the present invention, irrespective of their summarization in the claims and their back-references.
_ g _ In the drawings showing by way of e~cample, FIG. l is a longitudInal sectional view of a gas-heatable curling iron;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a valve assembly showing a 5 detail of PIG. l on an enlarged scalei FIGS. 3 and 4 are top plan views of a partition wall with gas orifice and, respectively, a sealing means;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a valve assembly illustrating an alternative embodiment thereof;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a valve assembly with a valve plate in the open position, illustrating an alternative embodi-ment thereof;
PIG. 7 is a sectional view of the valve assembly of FIG. 6, but showing the valve in the closed position;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the essential components of ~he valve assembly o f FIG . 6;
FIGS. 9 and lO are perspective views of a valve housing and, respectively, a mounting plate of the valve assembly of FIG. 6; and FIG. ll is a sectional view of a valve plate on an enlarged scale .
A gas-heatable curling iron (FIG. l) essentially comprises a cartridge-type fuel gas reservoir l and a combustion chamber 2, as well as a valve assembly 3 disposed between these two com-ponents. ~he vaLve assembly may be subdivided into a valve housing 4 having a passageway 5 to supply the combustion chamber 2 with fuel gas . from the fuel gas reservoir l. ~o control ` 21 90841 and/or regulate the <~uantity of ~uel gas available to the com-bustion chamber 2, the passageway 5 is associated with a sealing means 6 that varies the area of cross-section of the gas passageway, opening or closing the passage. To actuate the 5 sealing means 6, an actuating means 7 is provided which is, for example, made of a bimetal. It is comprised of a rod 8 of a material less sensitive to heat, and of a tube g more sensitive to heat and ~on~o~ilc~:ing the rod ~, the tube material varying its length in dependence upon the temperature of the combustion lO chamber to thus control actuation of the sealing means 6.
In the ce~ter of FI(~. 1, an area drawn in broken lines de-notes an embodiment of a valve assernbly essential to the inven-tion which is illustrated in FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale. The valve housing 4 is comprised of two housing halves 10, 11 sub-l5 stantially symmetrical about the axis and divisible by a nearlyplane parting line 12. Placed into the plane of the parting line 12 are the film-type sealing means 6 and the partition wall 13 which are sealed against the housing halves 10, 11 by means of ring seals 14 disposed outside the gas passageway.
At the facing ends of the housing halves 10, 11, there are provided on either side of the sealing means 6 respective gas passageways 15, 16 separated from each other by the partition wall 13. In the partition wall 13 a gas orifice 17 is provided which is adapted to be closed by the tongue-shaped sealing means 6. In this arrangement, the two elements 6, 13 may be of iden-tical outer contour, for example. However, the sealing means 6 includes a U-shaped slot, enabling the elastic tongue produced by the slot to be moved out of the mounting plane of the sealing means 6. This is effected by the actuating means 7 which is arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the curl-ing iron. The outer tube 9 of the actuating means 7 is made of a material, such as aluminium, more sensitive to heat than the ~ 21 9084 1 rod 8 which is, for example, of high-grade steel. At the end remote from the sealing means 6, the rod 8 and the outer tube 9.
are connected in a gas-tight relationship to each other The tube 9 is threaded into a tapped hole 18 in the housing half 11 5 such that at room temperature the tip 19 of the rod extends into the gas orifice 17, lifting the tongue of ~he sealing means 6 just clear of the partition wall 13. On an increase in tempera-ture in the combustion chamber during operation; thermal expan-sion of the tube 9 causes also the tip 19 of the rod 8 to re-10 tract from the gas orifice 17, so that the tongue of the sealingmeans 6, by reason o the material-specific restoring forces as well as by the pressure differential on either side of the seal-ing means 6, recloses the gas orifice 17.
The direction of gas flow in the gas duct system is identi-15 fied by arrows. Arriving from the fuel gas reservoir 1, fuelgas 20 enters the gas passageway 5 and is deflected into passageway 15 by the sealing means 6. When the actuating means 7 is out of ~-yy. t with the sealing means 6, the gas orifice 17 is closed, causing the fuel gas 20 to remain in the two 20 passageways 5, 15.
When, however, the tongue of the sealing means 6 is de-flected by the tip lg of the actuating means 7, fuel gas 20 is directed about the tongue of the sealing means 6, entering through the gas orifice 17 the gas passageway 16 of the housing 25 half 11 E~ere fuel gas 20 experiences a double deflection until it is discharged from the housing half 11 and introduced into the combustion chamber through a venturi nozzle 21.
The partition wall 13 and the sealing means 6 of FIG. 2 have two congruent, essentially sc~uare contours and are provided 30 with four bores each for the passage of mounting screws therethrough (FIGS. 3, 4). Other than the sealing means 6 of PIG. 4, the partition wall 13 of FIG. 3 includes an additional gas ~rIfice 17 By contrast, however, the sealing means 6 is provided with a U-shaped slot 36 forming~an elastic tongue 37 In this arrangement, the position of the tongue 37 is selected such as to sufficiently overlap ana close the gas orifice 17 when the two components 6, 13 are mounted in a congruent fashion .
An alternative embodiment of a valve assembly (FIG. 5 ) com-prises two housing halves 22, 23 ana a diaphragm-type sealing means 24 preferably made of a non-metal material and sandwiched between the two housing halves. A gas inlet channel 25 and a gas outlet channel 26 are provided in the housing halves 22 and, respectively, 23. These two channels 25, 26 are connected by a ring channel 27 extending in the housing half 22 on the inlet side and the housing half 23 on the outlet side. Provided in the sealing means 24 is an aperture 28 through which fuel gas travels from the one housing half 22 into the other housing half 23 . The ring channel 27 includes two h~mi crh~rical recesses 29, 30 provided in the housing halves 22, 23 on opposite sides of the sealing means 24. On the sides of the sealing means 24 facing away from the recesses 29, 30, an actuating means 32 and, respectively, an On/Off switch 31 are provided. The ~ _fm.on~.C
31, 32 are both of a rounded configuration at their respective ends so that, for example, by actuating the control member 31, the sealing means 24 is urged into the recess 30 by the end 33 of the control member. This closes the outlet channel, thus preventing fuel gas from being routed to the gas outlet channel 26 .
The actuating means 32 is of a construction similar to that of the actuating means 7, comprising an outer tube 34 receiving a rod 35 therein. In this arrangement, however, the rod 35 is made of a material more sensitive to heat than the material of the tube 34. As a result, wheD the actuating means 32 is 2 ~ 9084 ~
heated, the rod 35 expands, urging the sealing meanS 24 into the recess 29 . This varies: the area of cross-section of the gas passageway in acCordance with the length variation of the rod 35, effecting control of the gas stream.
An alternative embodiment of a device for the temperature-reSponsive control and/or regulation of a gas-heatable appliance (FIG. 6) includes a fuel gas reservoir 41, a combustion chamber 42, as well as a valve assembly 43 disposed therebetween. The - valve assembly 43 is essentially comprised of a valve housing 44 having a gas passageway 45 disposed substantially in the direc-tion o main flow 57. In this arrangement, the direction of main flow 57 is also parallel to the longitudinal axis of the complete appliance. The passageway 45 terminates in another gas passageway 46 disposed normal thereto and provided at the end of the valve housing 44 close to the combustion chamber 42. This passageway 46 is sealed off by a diaphragm 53 made from an elas-tic material. This diaphragm 53 has an aperture 54 dimensioned such as to enable the contact tip of the actuating means 48 to extend therethrough while also allowing the passage of gas be-tween this tip and the edge of the aperture 54. In this arrangement, the actuating means 48 is a known structure com-prising a rod 49 with a contact tip and a tube 50 ~ncr~ qqin~
the rod, the tube being made of a material more sensitive to heat than the material of the rod 49.
~5 The diaphragm 53 is held in position by seating a mounting plate 58 on the diaphragm 53 and connecting it to the valve housing 44. The mounting plate includes gas guiding slots 47, so that gas flowing through the aperture 54 in the diaphragm 53 is routed through the slots 47 to the nozzle 55. The nozzle S5 may also ~e inserted into the mounting plate 58 direct. Gas discharged from the noz~le 55 in the direction of main flow 57 21 90~41 is then conveyed directly into the combustion chamber 42 through a venturi nozzle not shown.
To control and/or regulate the amount of fuel gas necessary for combustion, a valve plate 51 is directly associated with the temperature-responsive actuating means g8. This valve plate 51 is received in the valve housing 44 and supported by a compres-sion spring 52 exerting a constant contact pressure on the valve plate in the direction of the diaphragm 53. With the control arrangement in the cold condition, the contact tip of the rod 49 extends through the aperture 54 to the upper side of the valve plate, keeping it spaced from the diaphragm 53 by a distance 56.
This distance 56 provides for opening of the gas passageWaY 46, allowing gas in the passageway 46 to flow through the aperture 54 and the gas guiding slots 47 to the nozzle 55.
FIG. 7 shows the same device as described with reference to FIG. 6, but in a hot operating condition. In this control con-dition, thermal expansion of the tube 50 has caused displacement of the control rod 4g in the direction 65. As a result, the valve plate 51 can be urged into engagement with the sealing surface o the diaphragm 53 by the compression spring 52. The aperture 54 in the diaphragm 53 is closed, thus sealing the gas passageway 46 against the gas guiding slots 47. Flow of gas is thus interrupted.
The valve assembly of FIG. 8 includes a cup-shaped, essen-tially cylindrical socket 65 at its end close to the combustion chamber 42. This socket 65 receives therein the further compo-nents of the control ~LL~y. ~. These include, in the sequence illustrated, the compression spring 52, the valve plate 51, the diaphragm 53 with the aperture 54 for the passage of gas, as well as the nozzle 55 which is directly connected to the mounting plate 58. The mounting plate 58 holds the diaphragm 53 in a fixed position within the socket 65 of the valve housing 2~ 9084 1 44. The end of the actuating means 48 close to the valve hous-ing 44 is mounted in the mounting plàte 58.
Disposed in the socket 65 of the valve housing 44 ~FIG. 9~
at the bottom thereof is the outlet of the gas passageway 45 5 terminating into the gas passageway 46, with passageway 46 e5~Ahlichin~ r. iCAtion between the passageway 45 and the re-cess S9. The valve plate and the compression spring are in-serted into this recess 59 and sealed of f by the diaphragm .
The mounting plate 58 of FIG. 10 is inserted into the socket 65 such that the opening for passage of the actuating means 48 is disposed on the recess S9, while the bore for the nozzle 55 is disposed on the opening of the gas paSsageWaY 45 To establish communication between the two openings for the ac-tuating means 48 and the nozzle 55, three parallel gas guiding 15 slots 47 are provided. This enables the diaphragm which is placed onto the upper face of the mounting plate 58 to be sup-ported by the bridge members 66 disposed between the gas guiding slots 47. This advantageously avoids deflection of the diaphragm in the direction of the mounting plate 58.
The valve plate 51 of FIG. ll is comprised of a disk 60 with a circumferential flange 61. A central récess 63 is pro-vided in the disk 60; this recess has a depth 64 and a gradient of slope a mating with the geometry of the contact tip of the control rod such as to ensure at all times contact between the actuating means and the valve plate 51 which is as close to a point contact as po-ssible. In this ~LlL~Lly~ lt, the end of the control rod is preferably provided with a h~mi crh -rical tip, ana the recess in the valve plate has an at least partially plane area cooperating with the contact tip referred to in the fore-going. On the upper face of the vaive plate 51, the sealing surface 62 is a ne:arly circular-disk-shaped surface, with the exception of the recess 63.
Gas-heatable appliances for personal use are well known in the art. The present invention is based on a subject-matter as already disclosed in European Pat. No. 0 021 224. This patent describes a hair treating Ar~l iAn~ with a catalytic heating de-20 vice provided in the area of the hair winding portion, with afuel reservoir for receiving preferably li~uid fuel, with a de-vice for vaporizing the fuel, a device for mixing the fuel gas with fresh air, and a catalytic device disposed in the combus-tion chamber. In this a. . al1y. t, a valve assembly is provided 25 having an actuating member for controlling the fuel-gas/air mi`xture impinging upon the catalytic device in ~ lence upon the temperature prevailing in the combustion chamber, as well as an ignition device formed inteyral with the hair treating appli-ance and having a control member for initiating combustion It is a disadvantage of these known appliances that they are comprised of a plurality of individual components and in-clude a valve device e~lually made up of a multiplicitY of 2 1 9~84 1 different components Further, the sealing means associated with the gas passageway and provided in the valve housing are conventionally of such geometrical shape and material as to be subject to normal wear. In consecluence, a sealing means ceases 5 to effect a tight seal against the gas passageway following use for a period of some time, which may influence the temperature control function.
It is an object of the present invention to simplify the appliance to the effect that a lower number of components are 10 required and that the appliance, in particular the valve, can be used safely as provided for the full service life of the appli-ance, in order to thus reduce manufacturing cost.
According to the present invention, this object is essen-tially aCc~ i qh~l in a gas-heatable appliance for personal use 15 of the type initially referred to in that the sealing means is actuatable directly by an actuating means. The advantage thereby obtained is that direct actuation of an actuating means on the sealing means results in a signif icant reduction in the number of , _ nn.ntS . Transmission members such as levers or 20 the like which transmit the temperature-responsive control of the actuating means to the sealing means are thus avoided; the use of fewer parts and the simplified assembly reduce the manu-facturing cost, in addition to increasing the safety of the appliance when in use .
In a greatly advantageous feature of the sealing means, it is formed, in particular cut out, from a metal film in particu-lar as an elastic, diaphragm-type element. This results in an extremely simple manufacture of the sealing means, in addition to enabling the sealing means to be actuated in an absolutely wear - free manner .
2l sas4 f In a further feature of the present invention, a film-type partition wall having an orifice for the passage of gas is arranged in the gas passageway. The gas orifice may be provided at any desired location in the partition wall, and the diameter 5 of the orifice may be selected freely. In this arrangement, the partition wall may be fabricated from the same film material as the sealing means.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the gas orifice is closable by an elastic, tongue-10 shaped means. This thus enables a film-type sealing means and the partition wall to be arranged in the valve housing in rela-tive abutting engagement, with the partition wall providing the defined orifice, while opening and closing of this gas orifice is effected by the second elastic, tongue-shaped film.
1~ In a particular embodiment, the tongue-shaped sealing means has one end thereof hinged to the partition wall in which the orifice for the passage of gas is provided. This holds both parts in a mounting position, and the tongue-shaped sealing means is in a position to pivot about its hinge in the manner of 20 a lever.
In an advantageous embodiment, the tongue-shaped sealing means is arranged such as to automatically close the gas orif ice when in the no-load position in which the actuating means does not act upon the sealing means. The advantageous effect therebY
25 achieved is that the tongue-shaped sealing means, rather than being moved by outside action, is moved solely by the restoring force of the ëlastic material of the sealing means as well as by reason of the aL L ~ t of the tongue-shaped sealing means relative to the partition wall in which the orifice is provided.
In an alternative embodiment, it is proposed providing an additional means for boosting the closing force of the sealing ` 21 q~P~41 means as it closes the gas orifice. This means may be a com-pression spring, for example, which is provided on the upstream side of the sealing means, urging the sealing means directly against the partition wall. This has the advantageouS effect of 5 ensuring closing of the gas orifice by the sealing means reli-ably at all times.
In another advantageous embodiment of the present inven-tion, an actuating means is provided as, for example, a bimetal rod known in the art which is guided through the gas orifice to-10 wards the tongue-shaped sealing means. As a result, the sealing means is directly actuated by the actuating means without the use of additional transmission means, such as levers or the like .
In a particular embodiment, the actuating means is arranged 15 on the downstream side, and the tongue-shaped sealing means is arranged on the upstream side of the gas orifice, gas flow being from the fuel gas reservoir through the valve assembly to the combustion chamber. As a result, closing of the tongue-shaped sealing means is effected Allt~ 'Al ly by the higher gas pres-20 sure prevailing on the upstream side of the partition wall withits gas orifice, unless this higher pressure is collnteracted by the actuating means.
~ n a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, sealing means made of metal exclusively are provided 25 in the gas passageway between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber, thus precluding any wear, in particular by attrition, of non-metal sealing means.
In an alternative embodiment, an additional sealing surface is provided between the metal sealing means and the metal parti-30 tion wall. ~his sealing surface may be fabricated, for example,from an elastic material, in particular plastics or the like, 2 1 ~4 1 and it may be provided as a separate sealing means or as a coa~-ing applied to the sealing means or to the partition wall. In this arrangement, the gas orifice is maintained as opening.
Advantageously, the valve housing receiving the gas 5 passage~7ay and the sealing means is comprised of at least two housing halves This affords ease of manufacture of the valve housing as well as ease of- assembly of the valve device.
Advantageously, the sealing means is provided at the loca-tion of the parting line between the twD housing halves, so that O in a conventional, plane configuration of the parting line the sealing means can be simpLy sandwiched and secured between the two housing halves.
Advantageously, the gas passageway is provided at the part-ing line of the two housing halves, so that the pasgagewaY ex-15 tends on either side of the sealing means, causing the sealingmeans, in particular the metal film, to divide the gas passage-way into an upstream and a downstream section.
In an advantageous feature of the present invention, the stream of gas carried in the gas passage~ay is deflectable by ~0 the sealing means. This enables the gas stream to be directed at selected regions on either side of the sealing means, in addition to allowing a position-independent a~ 5J t of the fuel gas reservoir and of the combustion chamber on different sides of the valve, because the gas inlet and the gas outlet 25 channel of the valve may be arranged at different locations.
Another embodiment of the present invention proposes having the user actuate the control }~ember to ef fect opening and clos-ing of the gas passageway. Such a control member advantageoUslY
enables the gas passageway to be opened or closed at discretion;
30 in contrast thereto, the temperature-responsive actuator enables the area of cross-section of the passageway to be controlled, in particular by narrowing or widening it.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the control mem-ber and the actuator are disposed on opposite sides of the seal-5 ing means, so that they extend, for example, in the direction ofthe longitudinal axis of the appliance, and that control member and actuator act upon the sealing means, preferably an elastic diaphragm, independently of each other.
A further proposal includes fastening the control member and/or the temperature-responsive actuator directly in the valve housing, preferably by threaded engagement. For one purpose, direct thermal contact of the valve housing with the temperature-reSponsive actuator is thereby accomplished, and for another purpose, the use o additional components for fastening 15 the control member and/or the actuator is avoided.
Particularly advantageously, the actuator is fastened in the valve housing in the immediately vicinity of the sealing means, a short relative distance of sealing means to actuator thus precluding the possibility of thermal or ~h~n;~ inter-20 f erence In a still further feature of the present invention, it isproposed manufacturing the sealing means from an elastic mate-rial, in particular plastics, a textile or similar non-metal material. This is of particular advantage in the simultaneouS
25 use of an On/Of f switch as well a temperature-responsive control means-with a sealing means.
In a particular embodiment of the present invention, re-cesses of in particular hemispherical shape are provided in the gas passageway. Recesses of this shape are easy to manufacture 30 and can be provided in a wide variety of locations in the gas 21 908~1 passageway, in particular in cases where the passageway is pro-vided at the location of the parting line of the housing halves.
By arranging- the actuating means on the side of the diaphragm-type sealing means opposite the recess, ana by provid-5 ing the actuating means with an equally hemispherical end, theactuating means is in a position to urge the sealing means into the recess in the gas passageway in a manner producing particu-larly low wear Advantageously, the contours of the recesses in the gas passageway as well as of the e~as of the actuating means are of like profile, thus enabling the area of cross-section of the gas passageway to be varied, in particular reduced, by the actuating means in a controlled manner. With this aLLa~ t, the area of cross-section of the gas passageway may be reduced from its 15 maximum possible value down to zero, thus effecting control of the gas f low .
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention which may also be an invention in its own right, the sealing means is conf igured as a valve plate . Such a dish-20 shaped valve plate is a part which is easy to manufacture andideally suited for guantity production. Such a valve plate also affords economy of manufacture, ease of assemblY, and reliabil-ity in operation of the appliance.
In an advantageous feature of the present invention, the ~5 valve plate has a sealing surface of an essentially circular-disk-shaped and plane configuration which cooperates with a diaphragm of an equally plane configuration. A maximum possible sealing surface is thereby obtained between the valve plate and the diaphragm, which differs from many other sealing arrange-30 ments known in the art which frec,uently have only a ring- or line-shaped sealing surface. ~urther, the flat engagement of 2 1 ~4 1 the valve plate with the diaphragm also re~auires a lower contact force than in known sealing means.
Advantageously, the valve plate has on its sealing surface a central recess serving to centrally locate, and provide a de-5 fined abutment surface for, the contact tip of the actuatingmeans. By arranging for the tip of the actuating ~eans to be matingly received with the recess, the two components can be accurately adjusted in the cold condit~ion of the appliance -cold adjustment -, which is also the best prerequisite for a 10 perfect control function in the hot condition of the appliance.
In another feature of the present inve~tion, a spring means bears against the valve plate on the valve plate rear side facing away from the sealing surface. This ensures advanta-geously a reliable contact pressure of the valve plate upon the 15 sealing surface of the diaphragm.
In a particular embodiment, the spring means is configured as a compression spring. This is a particularly advantageous, straightforward, reliable, and economical configuration of the spring means The valve plate itself is advantageously made of a wear-and temperature-resistant material, in particular a sheet of metal or metalloid material; this ensures a defined, stable and wear-reSiStant form of the valve plate for the full service life of an appliance of the invention.
In a further feature, it is proposed fabricating the diaphragm from a rubber-like material, in particular Viton.
This e~aually affords ease and economy of manufacture of the diaphragm .
Particularly advantageously, only one non-metal sealing means is provided in the gas passageway between the fuel gas 21 qO84 1 reservoir at the one end and the combustion chamber of the appliance at the other end, as described in the preceding para-graph. Wear caused by movement of the one, usually metal seal-ing means relative to the other, non-metal sealing means, is 5 thereby reduced to a minimum. In additioL, an optimum sealing effect is accomplished by the combination of a metal sealing means with a non-metal sealing means.
Advantageously, the diaphragm is provided between a mount-ing plate and the valve housing of the appliance . This af fords 10 ease of assembly and a secure positioning of the diaphragm be-tween the two components.
Slots for guiding the gas are provided on the side of the mounting plate close to the diaphragm. IntArrA~i~tA the indi-vidual gas guiding slots which are customarily arranged parallel 15 to each other, bridge members are provided for flat seating en-gagement with, and providing a supporting function for, the diaphragm. Advantageously, the diaphragm is fixedly held in place between the mounting plate and the valve housing to the maximum possible extent, without the surface area of the 20 diaphragm experiencing any deflection.
Further objects, features, advantages and application possibilities of the present invention will become apparent from the subseguent description of embodiments illustrated in more detail in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that is any single feature and any combination of single features de-scribed and/or represented by illustration form the subject-rnatter of the present invention, irrespective of their summarization in the claims and their back-references.
_ g _ In the drawings showing by way of e~cample, FIG. l is a longitudInal sectional view of a gas-heatable curling iron;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a valve assembly showing a 5 detail of PIG. l on an enlarged scalei FIGS. 3 and 4 are top plan views of a partition wall with gas orifice and, respectively, a sealing means;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a valve assembly illustrating an alternative embodiment thereof;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a valve assembly with a valve plate in the open position, illustrating an alternative embodi-ment thereof;
PIG. 7 is a sectional view of the valve assembly of FIG. 6, but showing the valve in the closed position;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the essential components of ~he valve assembly o f FIG . 6;
FIGS. 9 and lO are perspective views of a valve housing and, respectively, a mounting plate of the valve assembly of FIG. 6; and FIG. ll is a sectional view of a valve plate on an enlarged scale .
A gas-heatable curling iron (FIG. l) essentially comprises a cartridge-type fuel gas reservoir l and a combustion chamber 2, as well as a valve assembly 3 disposed between these two com-ponents. ~he vaLve assembly may be subdivided into a valve housing 4 having a passageway 5 to supply the combustion chamber 2 with fuel gas . from the fuel gas reservoir l. ~o control ` 21 90841 and/or regulate the <~uantity of ~uel gas available to the com-bustion chamber 2, the passageway 5 is associated with a sealing means 6 that varies the area of cross-section of the gas passageway, opening or closing the passage. To actuate the 5 sealing means 6, an actuating means 7 is provided which is, for example, made of a bimetal. It is comprised of a rod 8 of a material less sensitive to heat, and of a tube g more sensitive to heat and ~on~o~ilc~:ing the rod ~, the tube material varying its length in dependence upon the temperature of the combustion lO chamber to thus control actuation of the sealing means 6.
In the ce~ter of FI(~. 1, an area drawn in broken lines de-notes an embodiment of a valve assernbly essential to the inven-tion which is illustrated in FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale. The valve housing 4 is comprised of two housing halves 10, 11 sub-l5 stantially symmetrical about the axis and divisible by a nearlyplane parting line 12. Placed into the plane of the parting line 12 are the film-type sealing means 6 and the partition wall 13 which are sealed against the housing halves 10, 11 by means of ring seals 14 disposed outside the gas passageway.
At the facing ends of the housing halves 10, 11, there are provided on either side of the sealing means 6 respective gas passageways 15, 16 separated from each other by the partition wall 13. In the partition wall 13 a gas orifice 17 is provided which is adapted to be closed by the tongue-shaped sealing means 6. In this arrangement, the two elements 6, 13 may be of iden-tical outer contour, for example. However, the sealing means 6 includes a U-shaped slot, enabling the elastic tongue produced by the slot to be moved out of the mounting plane of the sealing means 6. This is effected by the actuating means 7 which is arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the curl-ing iron. The outer tube 9 of the actuating means 7 is made of a material, such as aluminium, more sensitive to heat than the ~ 21 9084 1 rod 8 which is, for example, of high-grade steel. At the end remote from the sealing means 6, the rod 8 and the outer tube 9.
are connected in a gas-tight relationship to each other The tube 9 is threaded into a tapped hole 18 in the housing half 11 5 such that at room temperature the tip 19 of the rod extends into the gas orifice 17, lifting the tongue of ~he sealing means 6 just clear of the partition wall 13. On an increase in tempera-ture in the combustion chamber during operation; thermal expan-sion of the tube 9 causes also the tip 19 of the rod 8 to re-10 tract from the gas orifice 17, so that the tongue of the sealingmeans 6, by reason o the material-specific restoring forces as well as by the pressure differential on either side of the seal-ing means 6, recloses the gas orifice 17.
The direction of gas flow in the gas duct system is identi-15 fied by arrows. Arriving from the fuel gas reservoir 1, fuelgas 20 enters the gas passageway 5 and is deflected into passageway 15 by the sealing means 6. When the actuating means 7 is out of ~-yy. t with the sealing means 6, the gas orifice 17 is closed, causing the fuel gas 20 to remain in the two 20 passageways 5, 15.
When, however, the tongue of the sealing means 6 is de-flected by the tip lg of the actuating means 7, fuel gas 20 is directed about the tongue of the sealing means 6, entering through the gas orifice 17 the gas passageway 16 of the housing 25 half 11 E~ere fuel gas 20 experiences a double deflection until it is discharged from the housing half 11 and introduced into the combustion chamber through a venturi nozzle 21.
The partition wall 13 and the sealing means 6 of FIG. 2 have two congruent, essentially sc~uare contours and are provided 30 with four bores each for the passage of mounting screws therethrough (FIGS. 3, 4). Other than the sealing means 6 of PIG. 4, the partition wall 13 of FIG. 3 includes an additional gas ~rIfice 17 By contrast, however, the sealing means 6 is provided with a U-shaped slot 36 forming~an elastic tongue 37 In this arrangement, the position of the tongue 37 is selected such as to sufficiently overlap ana close the gas orifice 17 when the two components 6, 13 are mounted in a congruent fashion .
An alternative embodiment of a valve assembly (FIG. 5 ) com-prises two housing halves 22, 23 ana a diaphragm-type sealing means 24 preferably made of a non-metal material and sandwiched between the two housing halves. A gas inlet channel 25 and a gas outlet channel 26 are provided in the housing halves 22 and, respectively, 23. These two channels 25, 26 are connected by a ring channel 27 extending in the housing half 22 on the inlet side and the housing half 23 on the outlet side. Provided in the sealing means 24 is an aperture 28 through which fuel gas travels from the one housing half 22 into the other housing half 23 . The ring channel 27 includes two h~mi crh~rical recesses 29, 30 provided in the housing halves 22, 23 on opposite sides of the sealing means 24. On the sides of the sealing means 24 facing away from the recesses 29, 30, an actuating means 32 and, respectively, an On/Off switch 31 are provided. The ~ _fm.on~.C
31, 32 are both of a rounded configuration at their respective ends so that, for example, by actuating the control member 31, the sealing means 24 is urged into the recess 30 by the end 33 of the control member. This closes the outlet channel, thus preventing fuel gas from being routed to the gas outlet channel 26 .
The actuating means 32 is of a construction similar to that of the actuating means 7, comprising an outer tube 34 receiving a rod 35 therein. In this arrangement, however, the rod 35 is made of a material more sensitive to heat than the material of the tube 34. As a result, wheD the actuating means 32 is 2 ~ 9084 ~
heated, the rod 35 expands, urging the sealing meanS 24 into the recess 29 . This varies: the area of cross-section of the gas passageway in acCordance with the length variation of the rod 35, effecting control of the gas stream.
An alternative embodiment of a device for the temperature-reSponsive control and/or regulation of a gas-heatable appliance (FIG. 6) includes a fuel gas reservoir 41, a combustion chamber 42, as well as a valve assembly 43 disposed therebetween. The - valve assembly 43 is essentially comprised of a valve housing 44 having a gas passageway 45 disposed substantially in the direc-tion o main flow 57. In this arrangement, the direction of main flow 57 is also parallel to the longitudinal axis of the complete appliance. The passageway 45 terminates in another gas passageway 46 disposed normal thereto and provided at the end of the valve housing 44 close to the combustion chamber 42. This passageway 46 is sealed off by a diaphragm 53 made from an elas-tic material. This diaphragm 53 has an aperture 54 dimensioned such as to enable the contact tip of the actuating means 48 to extend therethrough while also allowing the passage of gas be-tween this tip and the edge of the aperture 54. In this arrangement, the actuating means 48 is a known structure com-prising a rod 49 with a contact tip and a tube 50 ~ncr~ qqin~
the rod, the tube being made of a material more sensitive to heat than the material of the rod 49.
~5 The diaphragm 53 is held in position by seating a mounting plate 58 on the diaphragm 53 and connecting it to the valve housing 44. The mounting plate includes gas guiding slots 47, so that gas flowing through the aperture 54 in the diaphragm 53 is routed through the slots 47 to the nozzle 55. The nozzle S5 may also ~e inserted into the mounting plate 58 direct. Gas discharged from the noz~le 55 in the direction of main flow 57 21 90~41 is then conveyed directly into the combustion chamber 42 through a venturi nozzle not shown.
To control and/or regulate the amount of fuel gas necessary for combustion, a valve plate 51 is directly associated with the temperature-responsive actuating means g8. This valve plate 51 is received in the valve housing 44 and supported by a compres-sion spring 52 exerting a constant contact pressure on the valve plate in the direction of the diaphragm 53. With the control arrangement in the cold condition, the contact tip of the rod 49 extends through the aperture 54 to the upper side of the valve plate, keeping it spaced from the diaphragm 53 by a distance 56.
This distance 56 provides for opening of the gas passageWaY 46, allowing gas in the passageway 46 to flow through the aperture 54 and the gas guiding slots 47 to the nozzle 55.
FIG. 7 shows the same device as described with reference to FIG. 6, but in a hot operating condition. In this control con-dition, thermal expansion of the tube 50 has caused displacement of the control rod 4g in the direction 65. As a result, the valve plate 51 can be urged into engagement with the sealing surface o the diaphragm 53 by the compression spring 52. The aperture 54 in the diaphragm 53 is closed, thus sealing the gas passageway 46 against the gas guiding slots 47. Flow of gas is thus interrupted.
The valve assembly of FIG. 8 includes a cup-shaped, essen-tially cylindrical socket 65 at its end close to the combustion chamber 42. This socket 65 receives therein the further compo-nents of the control ~LL~y. ~. These include, in the sequence illustrated, the compression spring 52, the valve plate 51, the diaphragm 53 with the aperture 54 for the passage of gas, as well as the nozzle 55 which is directly connected to the mounting plate 58. The mounting plate 58 holds the diaphragm 53 in a fixed position within the socket 65 of the valve housing 2~ 9084 1 44. The end of the actuating means 48 close to the valve hous-ing 44 is mounted in the mounting plàte 58.
Disposed in the socket 65 of the valve housing 44 ~FIG. 9~
at the bottom thereof is the outlet of the gas passageway 45 5 terminating into the gas passageway 46, with passageway 46 e5~Ahlichin~ r. iCAtion between the passageway 45 and the re-cess S9. The valve plate and the compression spring are in-serted into this recess 59 and sealed of f by the diaphragm .
The mounting plate 58 of FIG. 10 is inserted into the socket 65 such that the opening for passage of the actuating means 48 is disposed on the recess S9, while the bore for the nozzle 55 is disposed on the opening of the gas paSsageWaY 45 To establish communication between the two openings for the ac-tuating means 48 and the nozzle 55, three parallel gas guiding 15 slots 47 are provided. This enables the diaphragm which is placed onto the upper face of the mounting plate 58 to be sup-ported by the bridge members 66 disposed between the gas guiding slots 47. This advantageously avoids deflection of the diaphragm in the direction of the mounting plate 58.
The valve plate 51 of FIG. ll is comprised of a disk 60 with a circumferential flange 61. A central récess 63 is pro-vided in the disk 60; this recess has a depth 64 and a gradient of slope a mating with the geometry of the contact tip of the control rod such as to ensure at all times contact between the actuating means and the valve plate 51 which is as close to a point contact as po-ssible. In this ~LlL~Lly~ lt, the end of the control rod is preferably provided with a h~mi crh -rical tip, ana the recess in the valve plate has an at least partially plane area cooperating with the contact tip referred to in the fore-going. On the upper face of the vaive plate 51, the sealing surface 62 is a ne:arly circular-disk-shaped surface, with the exception of the recess 63.
Claims (46)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A gas-heatable appliance for personal use adapted to receive a fuel gas reservoir and comprising means forming a combustion chamber and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for regulating a flow of fuel gas supplied in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve housing defining a gas passageway, a sealing element arranged in the passageway and selectively at least partially occluding the passageway and displaceable during combustion between a first position permitting a first flow of gas and a second position permitting a second flow of gas different from said first gas flow, and a temperature-responsive actuator, disposed in the valve housing and in thermal communication with the combustion chamber, directly contacting the sealing element, whereby the actuator is displaceable in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber to move the sealing element during combustion to meter the gas flow.
2. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises a flexible diaphragm.
3. The appliance as claimed in claim 2, wherein the diaphragm comprises a metal film.
4. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve assembly further comprises a partition wall having an orifice communicating with the gas passageway and in register with the sealing element.
5. The appliance as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sealing element comprises a flexible tongue in register with the partition wall orifice.
6. The appliance as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sealing element is hinged to the partition wall.
7. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing element is formed of a resilient material biasing the sealing element towards occluding the passageway.
8. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve assembly further comprises a spring urging the sealing element towards occluding the gas passageway.
9. The appliance as claimed in claim 4 wherein the actuator extends through the partition wall orifice towards the sealing element.
10. The appliance as claimed in claim 4 wherein the partition wall orifice receives fuel gas at an upstream side thereof from the gas reservoir and discharges the gas at a downstream side thereof towards the combustion chamber, and the actuator is arranged substantially on the downstream side of the orifice and the sealing element is arranged on the upstream side of the orifice.
11. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing element consists of metal.
12. The appliance as claimed in claim 4 wherein the valve assembly further comprises a sealing surface formed of a plastic material disposed between the sealing element and the partition wall.
13. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve housing comprises at least a first upstream housing portion and a second downstream housing portion.
14. The appliance as claimed in claim 13 wherein the sealing element is disposed at an interface between the two housing portions.
15. The appliance as claimed in claim 14 wherein the gas passageway is formed at least partially in each housing portion and extends on either side of the sealing element, whereby the sealing element divides the gas passageway into an upstream portion and a downstream portion.
16. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing means deflects the flow of fuel gas.
17. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve assembly further comprises a control member actuatable by the user to open or close the gas passageway.
18. The appliance claimed in claim 17 wherein the control member and the actuator are disposed on opposite sides of the sealing element.
19. The appliance is claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator is secured directly to the valve housing.
20. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator is secured to the valve housing adjacent the sealing element.
21. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing element is formed of a flexible material selected from the group of materials consisting of plastic and textile.
22. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas passageway further defines a recess within which at least a portion of the sealing element is displaced by the actuator.
23. The appliance as claimed in claim 17 wherein the gas passageway further defines first and second recesses facing respectively the actuator and the control member and being disposed opposite the sealing element, whereby at least a first portion of the sealing element is displaced within the first recess by the actuator and a second portion of the sealing element within the second recess by the control member.
24. A gas-heatable appliance for personal use adapted to receive a fuel gas reservoir and comprising means forming a combustion chamber and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for regulating a flow of fuel gas supplied in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve housing defining a gas passageway, a sealing element arranged in the passageway and selectively at least partially occluding the passageway, and a temperature-responsive actuator, disposed in the valve housing and in thermal communication with the combustion chamber, directly contacting the sealing element, whereby the actuator is displaceable in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber to move the sealing element to meter the gas flow, wherein an area of cross section permitting the flow of gas in the passageway varies in response to the actuator moving the sealing element.
25. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing element comprises a valve plate.
26. A gas-heatable appliance for personal use adapted to receive a fuel gas reservoir and comprising means forming a combustion chamber and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for regulating a flow of fuel gas supplied in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve housing defining a gas passageway, a sealing element arranged in the passageway and selectively at least partially occluding the passageway, wherein the sealing element comprises a valve plate, a temperature-responsive actuator, disposed in the valve housing and in thermal communication with the combustion chamber, directly contacting the sealing element, whereby the actuator is displaceable in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber to move the sealing element to meter the gas flow, and a diaphragm having an orifice communicating with the gas passageway and in register with the valve plate, and the valve plate comprises a disk-shaped sealing surface having a greater radial extent than the orifice, whereby the sealing surface surrounds the orifice when the valve plate contacts the diaphragm.
27. A gas-heatable appliance for personal use adapted to receive a fuel gas reservoir and comprising means forming a combustion chamber and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for regulating a flow of fuel gas supplied in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve housing defining a gas passageway, a sealing element arranged in the passageway and selectively at least partially occluding the passageway, wherein the sealing element comprises a valve plate, and a temperature-responsive actuator, disposed in the valve housing and in thermal communication with the combustion chamber, directly contacting the sealing element, whereby the actuator is displaceable in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber to move the sealing element to meter the gas flow, wherein the valve plate comprises a recess on a surface facing the actuator for receiving at least a tip portion of the actuator.
28. The appliance as claimed in claim 25 wherein the sealing element further comprises a spring urging the valve plate to occlude the gas passageway.
29. A gas-heatable appliance for personal use adapted to receive a fuel gas reservoir and comprising means forming a combustion chamber and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for regulating a flow of fuel gas supplied in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve housing defining a gas passageway, a sealing element arranged in the passageway and selectively at least partially occluding the passageway, wherein the sealing element comprises a valve plate and a spring urging the valve plate to occlude the gas passageway, and a temperature-responsive actuator, disposed in the valve housing and in thermal communication with the combustion chamber, directly contacting the sealing element, whereby the actuator is displaceable in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber to move the sealing element to meter the gas flow, wherein the spring is a compression spring.
30. The appliance as claimed in claim 25 wherein the valve plate comprises a wear- and temperature-resistant metallic material.
31. The appliance as claimed in claim 26 wherein the diaphragm comprises a rubber-like material.
32. The appliance as claimed in claim 31 wherein the diaphragm comprises Viton.
33. The appliance as claimed in claim 26 wherein the diaphragm consists of a non-metallic material.
34. The appliance as claimed in claim 26 wherein the valve assembly further comprises a mounting plate received in the valve assembly and supporting the diaphragm.
35. The appliance as claimed in claim 34 wherein the mounting plate defines a plurality of slots forming a portion of the gas passageway for receiving gas from the diaphragm orifice.
36. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve assembly further comprises a moveable control member contacting the sealing member and manually operable by a user, the control member displacing the sealing element to occlude the gas passageway.
37. The appliance as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sealing element is formed of a resilient material biasing the sealing element towards occluding the partition wall orifice.
38. The appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second flow of gas is less than the first flow of gas, whereby the actuator displaces the sealing element from the first position to the second position in response to an increased temperature.
39. The appliance as claimed in claim 38 wherein the actuator applies a greater load to the sealing element in the first position than in the second position.
40. The appliance as claimed in claim 38 wherein the actuator applies a greater load to the sealing element in the second position than in the first position.
41. A gas-heatable appliance for personal use adapted to receive a fuel gas reservoir and comprising a combustion chamber and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for regulating a flow of fuel gas supplied in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve housing defining a gas passageway, the passageway having at least a first portion and a second portion and a channel connecting the first and second portions, </LI>
a sealing membrane arranged in the passageway and at least partially displaceable within the channel between a first position permitting the flow of fuel gas and a second position permitting a lesser flow of fuel gas, and a temperature-responsive actuator, disposed in the valve housing and in thermal communication with the combustion chamber, directly contacting the sealing membrane, whereby the actuator is displaced in response to an increased temperature of the combustion chamber to move the sealing membrane from the first position to the second position to meter the gas flow.
a sealing membrane arranged in the passageway and at least partially displaceable within the channel between a first position permitting the flow of fuel gas and a second position permitting a lesser flow of fuel gas, and a temperature-responsive actuator, disposed in the valve housing and in thermal communication with the combustion chamber, directly contacting the sealing membrane, whereby the actuator is displaced in response to an increased temperature of the combustion chamber to move the sealing membrane from the first position to the second position to meter the gas flow.
42. A gas-heatable appliance for personal use adapted to receive a fuel gas reservoir and comprising a combustion chamber and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for regulating a flow of fuel gas supplied in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve housing defining a gas passageway, a diaphragm having an orifice communicating with the passageway, a sealing element arranged in the passageway in register with the orifice and at least partially displaceable relative to the orifice between a first position permitting the flow of fuel gas and a second position permitting a lesser flow of fuel gas, and a temperature-responsive actuator, disposed in the valve housing and in thermal communication with the combustion chamber, directly contacting the sealing element, whereby the actuator is displaced in response to an increased temperature of the combustion chamber to move the sealing element from the first position to the second position to meter the gas flow.
43. The appliance as claimed in claim 42 wherein the sealing element comprises a valve plate biased towards the second position.
44. The appliance as claimed in claim 42 wherein a portion of the actuator extends through the diaphragm orifice to contact the sealing element.
45. A gas-heatable appliance for personal use adapted to receive a fuel gas reservoir and comprising means forming a combustion chamber and a valve assembly disposed between the fuel gas reservoir and the combustion chamber for regulating a flow of fuel gas supplied in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve housing defining a gas passageway, a sealing element arranged in the passageway and selectively at least partially occluding the passageway, and a temperature-responsive actuator, disposed in the valve housing and in thermal communication with the combustion chamber, directly contacting the sealing element, whereby the actuator is displaceable in response to the temperature of the combustion chamber to move the sealing element to meter the gas flow, wherein the actuator comprises a rod member and a jacket member about the rod member, the jacket and rod members being formed of materials having dissimilar coefficients of thermal expansion.
46. The appliance as claimed in claim 45 wherein the jacket and rod members comprise a bimetal.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19513409.5 | 1995-04-08 | ||
| DE19513409A DE19513409A1 (en) | 1995-04-08 | 1995-04-08 | Gas heated personal appliance, such as curling tongs, curling brush, hair dryer, epilator or household appliance |
| EP9504990 | 1995-12-16 | ||
| WOPCT/EP95/04990 | 1995-12-16 | ||
| PCT/DE1996/000434 WO1996032030A1 (en) | 1995-04-08 | 1996-03-06 | Gas-heated personal appliance |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2190841A1 CA2190841A1 (en) | 1996-10-17 |
| CA2190841C true CA2190841C (en) | 1999-12-21 |
Family
ID=7759279
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002190841A Expired - Fee Related CA2190841C (en) | 1995-04-08 | 1996-03-06 | Gas-heatable appliance for personal use |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (1) | CN1106175C (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE201574T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2190841C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE19513409A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6863527B2 (en) * | 2003-03-31 | 2005-03-08 | Arlo H. T. Lin | Personal heater |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2199643A5 (en) * | 1972-09-15 | 1974-04-12 | Oreal | |
| EP0021224B1 (en) * | 1979-06-11 | 1987-08-12 | The Gillette Company | Hair treating device with a catalytic heating system in the curling zone |
| DE3617218A1 (en) * | 1986-05-22 | 1987-11-26 | Braun Ag | DEVICE FOR THE PERSONAL NEED |
-
1995
- 1995-04-08 DE DE19513409A patent/DE19513409A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1996
- 1996-03-06 AT AT96905711T patent/ATE201574T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1996-03-06 CA CA002190841A patent/CA2190841C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-03-06 CN CN96190285.XA patent/CN1106175C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ATE201574T1 (en) | 2001-06-15 |
| CN1106175C (en) | 2003-04-23 |
| DE19513409A1 (en) | 1996-10-17 |
| CA2190841A1 (en) | 1996-10-17 |
| CN1149817A (en) | 1997-05-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20130306 |