CN213983658U

CN213983658U - Ignition electrode

Info

Publication number: CN213983658U
Application number: CN202022248240.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈耀全
Original assignee: Hong Kong and China Gas Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hong Kong and China Gas Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-10
Filing date: 2020-10-10
Publication date: 2021-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-10

Abstract

An ignition electrode (10) for a gas appliance (100) includes an electrical conductor (20) and a main body (30) through which the electrical conductor (20) is supported within the main body. The electrical conductor (20) has a first end (22) arranged to generate a spark across the gap to ignite the gas appliance, and a second end (24) for connection to electrical power. The body (30) is a one-piece, unitary structure made of an electrically insulating material and has a first body portion (32) from which the first end (22) of the electrical conductor (20) is exposed, and a second body portion (34) that covers the entire second end (24) of the electrical conductor (20).

Description

Ignition electrode

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ignition electrode for an ignition system, particularly, but not exclusively, for a gas-fired appliance.

Background

Gas appliances, such as water heaters and gas cooking appliances, are operated by generating a series of sparks at one end of an ignition electrode and igniting the gas fuel released at an adjacent gas burner or gas burner assembly. The other end of the ignition electrode from which the power supply is connected is usually made as a sleeve from thermoplastic.

After a period of time, the burner orifices can become contaminated with unwanted substances, such as moist dust and grease. Clogging of the gas burner will inevitably delay ignition or otherwise result in gas discharge without ignition and causing a hazard.

The present invention seeks to mitigate or at least alleviate such problems by providing new or improved ignition electrodes.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ignition electrode (10) for a gas appliance (100), comprising:

an electrical conductor (20) having a first end (22) arranged to generate a spark over the gap for igniting the gas appliance, and having a second end (24) for connection to electrical power; and

a body (30) through which the electrical conductor (20) is supported, the body (30) being a one-piece, unitary structure made of an electrically insulating material and having a first body portion (32) from which the first end (22) of the electrical conductor (20) is exposed, and a second body portion (34) which covers the entire second end (24) of the electrical conductor (20);

the second body portion (34) is of tubular configuration which can receive and shield the second end (24) of the electrical conductor (20);

the tubular configuration comprises a collar (40), the collar (40) forming an annular gap (42) within the body (30) around the second end (24) of the electrical conductor (20);

the collar (40) is adapted to receive within the annular gap (42) an electrical connector (210) from a power supply or piezoelectric ignition circuit (200);

-the second end (24) of the electrical conductor (20) and the electrical connector (210) are connected together by means of a friction connection; and

the collar (40) is sealed by a sealant (50) that secures the frictional connection and fills a small gap existing between the electrical conductor (20) and the electrical connector (210).

Preferably, the sealant (50) is a volatile organic compound.

Preferably, the body (30) comprises an intermediate body portion (36) between the first body portion (32) and the second body portion (34) for mounting the ignition electrode (10) in the vicinity of a burner of said gas appliance (100).

Preferably, the first body portion (32) includes an undulating profile on an outer surface thereof.

Preferably, the body (30) is made of a non-deformable material.

More preferably, the non-deformable material comprises ceramic or porcelain.

Drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a front view of an ignition electrode incorporating a first embodiment of an ignition electrode according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the ignition electrode of FIG. 1;

figure 3 is a front perspective view of an ignition electrode incorporating a second embodiment of an ignition electrode according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a similar front view of the ignition electrode of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the ignition electrode of FIG. 4, showing the internal configuration of the ignition electrode;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the ignition electrode of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a battery ignition system using the ignition electrode of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the ignition electrode assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a piezoelectric ignition system using the ignition electrode of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a side view of an ignition system in a water heater using the ignition electrode of FIG. 3; and

fig. 11 is a top view of the ignition electrode assembly of fig. 10.

Detailed Description

Referring initially to fig. 1-6 of the drawings, there is shown an ignition electrode 10 embodying the present invention, which is incorporated as part of, for example, an igniter comprising an electrical conductor 20 and a body 30, and by which the electrical conductor 20 is supported internally thereof.

The ignition electrode 10 is electrically operated or powered by a power source, which may be a DC battery unit or a piezoelectric ignition circuit 200. Each time the gas burner assembly of the gas appliance 100 is used, the ignition electrode 10 is energized for only a short time, typically about one second or less, to ignite an adjacent burner. When the ignition electrode 10 is momentarily turned on, the electrical conductor 20 generates a series of sparks to ignite the gas exiting the gas burner assembly.

Referring now to fig. 1-2, a first embodiment for an ignition electrode 10, an electrical conductor 20 is provided in an elongated shape and has two upper and

lower ends

22, 24 extending in opposite directions. The body 30 is also formed of two upper body portions 32 and a lower hollow body portion 34.

The upper end 22 of the electrical conductor 20 is exposed from the upper body portion 32. The entire second end 24 is covered by the second body portion 34, and the second end 24 is connected to the power source 200 by an electrical connector 210.

Generally, electrical conductor 20 is substantially contained and electrically insulated by body 30. In use, a series of sparks is generated across a gap between the upper end 22 and an adjacent ground of an associated electrical circuit to ignite the gas appliance 100.

The body 30 is a one-piece, unitary structure made of an electrically insulating material and preferably a non-deformable material such as ceramic or porcelain. The upper body portion 32 is a solid portion that securely retains the upper end 22 of the electrical conductor 20.

The second body portion 34 has a tubular configuration that receives and shields the second end 24 of the electrical conductor 20. The tubular configuration further includes a collar 40, the collar 40 forming an annular gap 42 within the body 30 around the lower end 24 of the electrical conductor 20.

The inner diameter of the collar 40 should be sized to have a dimension approximately equal to the outer diameter of the electrical connector 210. It will be appreciated that such a configuration may facilitate insertion of the electrical connector 210 into the annular gap 42 of the collar 40. Thus, the electrical connector 210 is received by the collar 40 through the annular gap 42 and is connected to the lower end 24 of the electrical conductor 20 by a friction connection.

To enhance the physical connection and increase friction between the lower end 24 of the electrical conductor 20 and the electrical connector 210, a sealant 50 (e.g., a volatile organic compound) is also injected into the annular gap 42 to fill the small voids existing between the electrical conductor 20 and the electrical connector 210.

The sealant 50 is preferably a compound that inherently changes its state at room temperature. The sealant 50 is initially in a fluid state. The sealant 50 may cure to a solid state after a short time (e.g., 5 to 10 minutes) when the sealant 50 is applied to the voids. Thus, once the sealant 50 is injected into the annular gap 42, the collar 40 is sealed by the sealant 50, and the cured sealant 50 further ensures a frictional connection.

As an additional advantage, this may also reduce the occurrence of unwanted dirt and dust that may accumulate within the annular gap 42 without injecting the sealant 50.

The body 30 also includes a middle body portion 36 between the upper body portion 32 and the lower body portion 34. The interior space of the gas appliance 100 also includes a fixture, such as a clamp, for mounting the intermediate body portion 36 so as to position the exposed upper end 22 of the electrical conductor 20 adjacent the opening of the gas burner assembly.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the ignition electrode 10 as shown in fig. 3-6, the upper body portion 32 is modified and further includes an undulating contour 31 on its outer surface. Many features of this alternative embodiment are substantially similar to those previously described in the first embodiment and will not be described in detail herein.

Referring to fig. 7 to 8 of the drawings, there is shown a gas appliance incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention, for example in the form of a cooking apparatus 100, comprising a gas burner assembly 110 having an annular burner 112 and an ignition electrode 10, the ignition electrode 10 being for generating a series of sparks to ignite gas exiting the annular burner 112 when gas is released by a gas valve (not shown) in an open position and supplied to the annular burner 112 via a manifold, and a fixture 113 on which is mounted an intermediate body portion 36 of the ignition electrode 10. The lower end 24 of the ignition electrode 10 is connected to a power source 200 (e.g., a dry cell unit) via an electrical connector 210.

In addition, a temperature sensing unit 120 (e.g., a thermocouple) is also installed for sensing the atmospheric temperature near the ignition electrode 10. Upon energization of ignition electrode 10, i.e., the generation of one or more sparks at upper end 22 of electrical conductor 20, thermocouple 120 will readily detect the temperature change and subsequently generate a signal to the control circuit indicating that an ignition event has been triggered. In response to this signal, the control circuit will immediately terminate the electrical connection between the dry cell unit 200 and the ignition electrode 10 and activate and maintain the gas valve in the open position.

Referring to fig. 9 of the drawings, there is shown a gas appliance also incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention, for example in the form of a cooking apparatus 100, comprising a gas burner assembly 110 having a gas tube 114, a gas valve 116 through which gas is supplied to the gas tube 114, an ignition electrode 10 for generating a series of sparks to ignite the gas exiting the outlet 115 of the gas tube 114, and a mount 117 to which the intermediate body portion 36 of the ignition electrode 10 is secured. The lower end 24 of the ignition electrode 10 is connected to a power supply 200 by an electrical connector 210.

In this configuration, the power supply 200 is provided by an electrical spark generator or piezoelectric ignition circuit that includes a piezoelectric element and a hammer for impacting the piezoelectric element to generate a spark. When the button of the gas valve 116 is depressed to cause the gas valve 116 to open and the piezoelectric element is struck with a hammer, a high voltage is induced at the upper end 22 of the electrical conductor 20 to generate a spark to ignite gas exhausted from the burner 110.

Referring finally to fig. 10 to 11 of the drawings, there is shown a gas appliance incorporating a second embodiment of the present invention, for example in the form of a water heater 100, comprising an ignition electrode 10 for igniting gas released by a gas valve (not shown) in an open position, a temperature sensing unit 120 (e.g. a flame sensor) for detecting the temperature of the atmosphere proximate to the ignition electrode 10, and a support 130 having a pair of

apertures

132, 134 through which the ignition electrode 10 and the flame sensor 120 are inserted and located in different vertical positions. The ignition electrode 10 includes a built-in ground point 140 adjacent the ignition end 22 of the electrode, together forming a gap over which a spark will jump to ignite the gas.

In operation, the flame sensor 120 will readily detect the presence of a flame and then generate a signal to the control circuitry indicating that an ignition event has been triggered. In response to this signal, the control circuit will immediately terminate electrical communication between the power source 200 and the ignition electrode 10 and electrically maintain the gas valve in the open position.

The ignition electrode 10 described above may be referred to as a collar electrode. It finds particular application in gas appliances such as water heaters and cooking appliances that require ignition of a gas burner each time the gas burner assembly is used. It should be noted that the ignition electrode 10, with or without variations in structure and/or design, may be used in any other type of gas-fired appliance (e.g., a gas-fired oven or wok).

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications and/or alterations to the described embodiments may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An ignition electrode (10) for a gas-fired appliance (100), comprising:

a body (30) through which the electrical conductor (20) is supported, the body (30) being a one-piece, unitary structure made of an electrically insulating material and having a first body portion (32) from which the first end (22) of the electrical conductor (20) is exposed, and a second body portion (34) that covers the entire second end (24) of the electrical conductor (20);

the method is characterized in that:

2. Ignition electrode (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealant (50) is a volatile organic compound.

3. Ignition electrode (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the body (30) comprises an intermediate body part (36) between the first body part (32) and the second body part (34) for mounting the ignition electrode (10) in the vicinity of a burner of the gas appliance (100).

4. Ignition electrode (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first body part (32) comprises an undulating profile on its outer surface.

5. Ignition electrode (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the body (30) is made of a non-deformable material.

6. Ignition electrode (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the non-deformable material comprises ceramic or porcelain.