EP3164642B1 - Gas burner arrangement, cooktop and stove - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gas burner assembly, cooktop and range.

A hotplate can have a gas burner arrangement with a gas valve, a gas burner and a supply line connecting the gas valve to the gas burner. Furthermore, the gas burner arrangement can include a thermocouple for flame monitoring of a flame of the gas burner. As soon as the thermocouple is exposed to heat from the flame of the gas burner, this supplies a solenoid valve of the gas valve with electrical voltage. When the flame goes out, the thermocouple cools down and no longer applies electrical voltage to the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve closes the gas valve to shut off the flow of fuel gas from the gas valve to the gas burner. As a result, an undesired escape of unburned fuel gas is prevented.

the EP 1 251 316 B1 describes a gas burner arrangement, according to the preamble of claim 1, with a plurality of gas burners and a plurality of gas valves, wherein a mechanically operable switch is provided in an electrical connection between a respective thermocouple of a gas burner and the gas valve. The mechanically operable switches of all gas burners are mechanically coupled to one another by means of a connecting piece. Actuating the connector opens all the switches simultaneously.

the DE 86 17 444 U1 describes a switching element for control devices for front panel installation with contacts arranged in a housing and a spring-loaded contact bridge that can be actuated via a spring-loaded, guided plunger.

the DE 10 2006 022 326 A1 describes a control element for a household appliance, which has a ring-shaped rotary knob and a display element, the rotary knob being rotatable independently of the display element and the display element having a front side on which setting information and/or operating states of the household appliance can be displayed.

the U.S. 5,744,766 A describes a contact element that is made of a noble metal.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved gas burner arrangement.

Accordingly, a gas burner arrangement for a hotplate with at least two gas burners, each of which is assigned a gas valve for controlling a fuel gas flow to the gas burner and a thermocouple for flame monitoring of a flame of the gas burner, each thermocouple being coupled to the gas valve assigned to it with the aid of an electrical circuit in such a way is that when the flame of the gas burner goes out, the fuel gas flow to the gas burner is interrupted by means of the gas valve, each electrical circuit having a mechanically operable switch, the mechanically operable switches for coupling or decoupling the electrical circuits between the thermocouples and the gas valves can be controlled with the aid of a common actuating element, the mechanically actuatable switches comprising contact elements which have a precious metal, the gas burner arrangement comprising a switching device which mechanically actuates the aren switch and the actuating element, wherein the actuating element is prestressed by means of a spring device in the direction of a closed position of the mechanically actuatable switch, wherein the mechanically actuatable switch can be brought from the closed position into an open position by displacing the actuating element against a spring force of the spring device, and wherein the actuating element has a link guide, into which a spring-loaded guide pin provided on a housing of the switching device engages.

For example, an electrical connection between the gas valve and the respective thermocouple is interrupted with the aid of the switch.

Due to the fact that the contact elements have a noble metal, a particularly good conductivity of the contact elements can be achieved. The contact elements can be coated with the noble metal or be made entirely of the noble metal. Furthermore the contact elements are particularly low-wear. The mechanically operable switches can be arranged one behind the other, next to one another and, for example, in pairs one behind the other. This results in a particularly compact structure. The assembly costs can be reduced. Furthermore, the operational reliability of the gas burner arrangement is increased. Axial movement of the actuator results in simultaneous disconnection of all thermocouples from the gas valves.

According to one embodiment, the contact elements include gold.

Alternatively, the contact elements can have silver, platinum, rhodium or the like.

The gas burner arrangement has a switching device which has the mechanically actuatable switch and the actuating element.

The actuating element is in particular rod-shaped and has a circular cross-section. An actuating knob can be provided on the actuating element, which engages in a form-fitting manner in a flattened area provided on the actuating element. The switching device preferably has sockets or inputs for the thermocouples and further sockets or outputs for the connection to the gas valves. The number of inputs preferably corresponds to the number of outputs.

The actuating element is preloaded with the aid of a spring device in the direction of a closed position of the mechanically actuatable switch.

The switches are closed in an initial or default position. The spring device is in particular a compression spring. The spring device can be a cylinder spring.

The mechanically actuatable switches can be brought from the closed position into an open position by moving the actuating element against a spring force of the spring device.

The actuating element has a slotted guide, in which a guide pin provided on a housing of the switching device engages.

The guide pin is preferably spring-loaded and presses against a groove in the link guide. The guide pin is slide-mounted in the groove.

According to a further embodiment, the link guide has a locking section into which the guide pin engages in the open position.

The locking section is formed as an indentation or recess of the groove. Since the guide pin is spring-loaded, it automatically snaps into place in the locking section.

According to a further embodiment, the guide pin can be automatically displaced from the open position to the closed position by displacing the actuating element in the direction of the open position and by simultaneously rotating it with the aid of the spring device.

By moving the actuating element in the direction of the open position, the guide pin is preferably lifted out of the locking section of the groove. The simultaneous turning of the actuating element prevents the guide pin from locking in again in the locking section. The fact that the actuation element has to be pressed down and rotated at the same time to move the actuation element into the closed position means that the switches can be prevented from being closed unintentionally. This increases safety when operating the gas burner arrangement.

In particular, the gas burner arrangement is equipped with a main switch, which comprises the mechanical switches, the actuating element and the contact elements. A first number of plug connectors for coupling the thermocouples to the main switch with the aid of cables or the like can be provided. Furthermore, a second number of plug connectors for coupling electromechanical solenoid valves to the main switch with the aid of cables or the like can be provided. The first number preferably corresponds to the second number, so that, for example, there is a one-to-one coupling and decoupling of a respective thermocouple with or from a respective assigned solenoid valve. This leads to improved reliability and thus safety of the gas burner arrangement.

Furthermore, a cooking area with such a gas burner arrangement is proposed.

The hotplate is preferably part of a household appliance.

Furthermore, a cooker with such a gas burner arrangement and/or such a hotplate is proposed.

The stove is in particular a household appliance.

Further possible implementations of the gas burner arrangement, the hotplate and/or the stove also include combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. The person skilled in the art will also see individual aspects as improvements or add additions to the particular basic shape of the gas burner assembly, cooktop and/or range.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische Aufsicht einer Ausführungsform einer Kochstelle;

Fig. 2

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Schalteinrichtung einer Gasbrenneranordnung der Kochstelle gemäß der Fig. 2;

Fig. 3

zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Gasbrenneranordnung der Kochstelle gemäß der Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Explosionsansicht der Schalteinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 2;

Fig. 5

zeigt eine vergrößerte schematische perspektivische Ansicht der Schalteinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 2;

Fig. 6

zeigt eine Seitenansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Schalteinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 2;

Fig. 7

zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Schalteinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 2;

Fig. 8

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht der Schalteinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 6;

Fig. 9

zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform eines mechanisch betätigbaren Schalters;

Fig. 10

zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines mechanisch betätigbaren Schalters; und

Fig. 11

zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines mechanisch betätigbaren Schalters.

Further advantageous configurations and aspects of the gas burner arrangement, the hotplate and/or the stove are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments of the gas burner arrangement, the hotplate and/or the stove described below. The gas burner arrangement, the hotplate and/or the stove are explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the enclosed figures.

1

shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a hotplate;

2

shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a switching device of a gas burner arrangement of the hotplate according to FIG 2 ;

3

shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a gas burner arrangement of the cooking area according to FIG 1 ;

4

shows a schematic perspective exploded view of the switching device according to FIG 2 ;

figure 5

shows an enlarged schematic perspective view of the switching device according to FIG 2 ;

6

shows a side view of a further embodiment of the switching device according to FIG 2 ;

7

shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the switching device according to FIG 2 ;

8

shows a schematic perspective view of the switching device according to FIG 6 ;

9

shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a mechanically operable switch;

10

shows a schematic side view of another embodiment of a mechanically operable switch; and

11

shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a mechanically actuated switch.

Elements that are the same or have the same function have been provided with the same reference symbols in the figures, unless otherwise stated.

the 1 shows a stove 1 in a schematic top view. The stove 1 is in particular a gas stove. The cooker 1 is a household appliance. The cooker 1 has a hotplate 2 with a gas burner arrangement 3 . The gas burner arrangement 3 has at least two gas burners 4 to 8 . The number of gas burners 4 to 8 is arbitrary. As the 1 shows, the gas burner assembly 3 can have five gas burners 4-8. Alternatively, the gas burner arrangement 3 can have three or four gas burners 4 to 8, for example. A gas valve 9 to 13 is assigned to each gas burner 4 to 8 . The gas valves 9 to 13 are preferably gas control valves. The gas valves 9 to 13 are set up to regulate a fuel gas flow or gas volume flow to the respective gas burner 4 to 8 in a stepped or stepless manner or to optionally interrupt it. Each gas valve 9 to 13 is attached to a main gas line 14 . The gas valves 9 to 13 are preferably clamped to the main gas line 14 .

Each gas burner 4 to 8 is fluidically connected to the gas valve 9 to 13 assigned to it by means of a supply line 15 to 19 . Each gas burner 4 to 8 is also assigned a thermocouple 20 to 23 ( 2 ). the 2 12 shows a switching device 24 with four thermocouples 20 to 23. The gas burner arrangement 3 can have the switching device 24. FIG. In the 1 the switching device 24 is not shown. The switching device 24 is suitable for a gas burner arrangement 3 with four gas burners 4 to 8 . Alternatively, the switching device 24 can have five or six thermocouples 20 to 23 . The number of thermocouples 20 to 23 preferably corresponds to the number of gas burners 4 to 8.

Each thermocouple 20 to 23 is arranged adjacent to a gas burner 4 to 8 associated with it. In the 2 the thermocouples 20 to 23 are shown in an unassembled state. That is, the thermocouples 20 to 23 are in the 2 not yet arranged adjacent to the gas burner 4 to 8 assigned to it. For example, the thermocouples 20 to 23 can each be clamped to a burner base or burner housing of the corresponding gas burner 4 to 8 or otherwise firmly connected to it.

Each thermocouple 20 to 23 is set up to generate a flame 25 ( 3 ) of the gas burner 4 to 8 assigned to the respective thermocouple 20 to 23 . As the 3 shows, each thermocouple 20 to 23 is coupled to a gas valve 9 to 13 assigned to it by means of an electrical circuit 26 in such a way that when the flame 25 of the gas burner 4 to 8 goes out, the fuel gas flow to the gas burner 4 to 8 is switched off with the aid of the gas valve 9 until 13 is automatically interrupted. In particular, when the flame 25 is present at the gas burner 4 to 8, the thermocouple 20 to 23 generates an electrical voltage, with the aid of which the gas valve 9 to 13 is kept in an open state. For this purpose, the gas valve 9 to 13 can include a solenoid valve. As soon as the flame 25 of the gas burner 4 to 8 goes out, an electromagnet of the solenoid valve is no longer energized and the gas valve 9 to 13 interrupts the fuel gas flow to the gas burner 4 to 8. Each electrical circuit 26 has a mechanically actuatable switch 27. In an initial state or default state, the mechanically actuatable switches 27 are closed.

Each thermocouple 20 to 23 is also set up to transmit a continuous signal to the gas valve 9 to 13 assigned to it when the flame 25 of the gas burner 4 to 8 is detected. The thermocouple 20-23 is also set up to interrupt the continuous signal when the flame 25 of the gas burner 4-8 goes out, so that the gas valve 9-13 interrupts the fuel gas flow to the gas burner 4-8. Each mechanically operable switch 27 of each electrical circuit 26 is arranged to interrupt the continuous signal of the thermocouple 20-23 so that the gas valve 9-13 interrupts the fuel gas flow to the gas burner 4-8.

the 2 shows the switching device 24, which has the mechanically actuatable switch 27 and an actuating element 28. The switching device 24 can be understood as a main switch for a gas stove. One also speaks of a main switch, because the operation of the gas burner or the function of the gas stove can be interrupted or started with the help of the operating knob and operating element described below. The actuator 28 is preferably rod-shaped and may have a circular cross-section. An actuating knob 29 secured against rotation is preferably provided on the actuating element 28 . The switching device 24 has a housing 30 with a socket 31 . A cable harness 32 with a plug-in element 33 can be inserted into the socket 31 . The wiring harness 32 has several connecting lines 34 to 37 for connecting the switching device 24 to the gas valves 9 to 13. Furthermore, sockets 38 to 41 for plugging in the thermocouples 20 to 23 are provided on the housing. The sockets 38 to 41 can be arranged side by side and/or one above the other.

the 4 shows the switching device 24 in a schematic perspective exploded view. The housing 30 of the switching device 24 has a rear housing part 42 and a front housing part 43 . The rear housing part 42 can be screwed to the front housing part 43 with the aid of a screw 55 . The mechanically operable switches 27 each include contact elements 44, 54, which have a precious metal. A first carrier 56 which carries the contact elements 54 is accommodated in the housing 30 . Furthermore, a second carrier 57 which carries the contact elements 44 is accommodated in the housing 30 . The carriers 56, 57 are movable relative to one another. In particular, the carriers 56, 57 can be moved towards or away from one another in order to close or open the switches 27.

As the figure 5 shows, the second carrier 57 is spring-biased with the aid of a plurality of spring devices 58 in the direction of the first carrier 56 . The spring devices 58 are preferably compression springs. In particular, four spring devices 58 are provided. Each switch 27 that can be actuated mechanically is preferably assigned at least one contact element 44 , 54 . As the 4 shows, each mechanically actuatable switch 27 can be assigned two contact elements 44, 54. The contact element 44, 54 can have gold, silver, platinum or similar precious metals, for example. The mechanically actuatable switches 27 can be arranged next to one another and/or one above the other.

The switching device 24 according to the Figures 3 to 5 has four electrical circuits 26 . The mechanically actuatable switches 27 of the electrical circuits 26 can be controlled to interrupt the electrical circuits 26 between the thermocouples 20 to 23 and the gas valves 4 to 8 with the aid of the common actuating element 28 . The actuating element 28 preferably has a flattened area 45 on one end section, in which an engagement section of the actuating knob 29 engages in a form-fitting manner. A link guide 46 with a guide groove 47 is provided on a second end section of the actuating element 28 . In the guide groove 47 protrudes a spring-loaded guide pin 49 screwed into a cylindrical receiving section 48 of the front part 43 of the housing 30 .

The actuating element 28 is biased with the aid of a spring device 50 in the direction of a closed position of the mechanically actuated switch 27 . The spring device 50 is preferably a compression spring. The spring device 50 is in particular slipped onto a receiving section 51 of the actuating element 28 . The spring device 50 is accommodated between the actuating element 28 and a support section 52 . The support section 52 is coupled to the second carrier 57 in such a way that the mechanically actuatable switches 27 are opened when the actuating element 28 is pressed down against a spring force of the spring device 50 . A further spring device 59 is arranged between the front part 43 of the housing 30 and the support section 52 .

The mechanically actuatable switches 27 can thus be brought from the closed position into an open position by moving the actuating element 28 against the spring force of the spring device 50 . The link guide 46 has a locking section 53 in which the guide pin 49 engages in the open position ( figure 5 ). The guide pin 49 can be automatically displaced from the open position to the closed position by displacing the actuating element 28 in the direction of the open position and by simultaneously rotating it with the aid of the spring device 50 . In the figure 5 the switching device 24 is shown in the open position. In the open position, the spring-loaded guide pin 49 snaps into the locking section 53 .

the 6 shows an embodiment of a switching device 24 which is suitable for a gas burner arrangement 3 with six gas burners.

the 7 shows an embodiment of a switching device 24 which is suitable for a gas burner arrangement 3 with five gas burners.

the 8 shows the switching device 24 according to FIG 6 in a schematic perspective view.

the 9 12 shows an embodiment of the mechanically actuable switch 27 with the contact elements 44, 54. In this embodiment of the switch 27, the contact element 44 is in the form of a pin or pin and the contact element 54 is in the form of a lamina or leaf. The contact element 54 can be designed as a spring.

the 10 shows a further embodiment of the mechanically actuated switch 27 with the contact elements 44, 54. In this embodiment, both contact elements 44, 54 are leaf-shaped. The contact element 54 is cranked. The contact element 44 has an arcuate contact section on which the contact element 54 rests. Both contact elements 44, 54 are preferably resiliently deformable.

the 11 shows a further embodiment of the mechanically actuatable switch 27 with the contact elements 44, 54. In this embodiment, both contact elements 44, 54 are in the form of a pin. In the closed position, the contact elements 44, 54 rest against one another at the front.

Reference signs used:

1

stove

2

cooking place

3

gas burner arrangement

4

gas burner

5

gas burner

6

gas burner

7

gas burner

8th

gas burner

9

gas valve

10

gas valve

11

gas valve

12

gas valve

13

gas valve

14

main gas line

15

supply line

16

supply line

17

supply line

18

supply line

19

supply line

20

thermocouple

21

thermocouple

22

thermocouple

23

thermocouple

24

switching device

25

flame

26

circuit

27

Switch

28

actuator

29

operating knob

30

Housing

31

Power outlet

32

wiring harness

33

plug-in element

34

connection line

35

connection line

36

connection line

37

connection line

38

Power outlet

39

Power outlet

40

Power outlet

41

Power outlet

42

posterior

43

front part

44

contact elements

45

flattening

46

link guide

47

guide groove

48

recording section

49

guide pin

50

spring device

51

recording section

52

support section

53

locking section

54

contact element

55

screw

56

carrier

57

carrier

58

spring device

59

spring device

Claims (6)

1. Gas burner arrangement (3) for a hotplate (2), having at least two gas burners (4 - 8), to which a gas valve (9 - 13) for regulating a combustion gas flow to the gas burner (4 - 8) and a thermoelement (20 - 23) for monitoring a flame (25) of the gas burner (4 - 8) is assigned in each case, wherein each thermoelement (20 - 23) is coupled to the gas valve (9 - 13) assigned thereto with the aid of an electrical circuit (26) such that when the flame (25) of the gas burner (4 - 8) is extinguished, the combustion gas flow to the gas burner (4 - 8) is interrupted with the aid of the gas valve (9 - 13), wherein each electrical circuit (26) has a mechanically actuatable switch (27), wherein the mechanically actuatable switches (27) for coupling or decoupling the electrical circuits (26) between the thermoelements (20 - 23) and the gas valves (9 - 13) can be controlled with the aid of a shared actuation element (28),wherein the mechanically actuatable switches (27) comprise contact elements (44, 54), wherein the gas burner arrangement (3) comprises a switching device (24), which has the mechanically actuatable switches (27) and the actuation element (28), wherein the actuation element (28) is pretensioned in the direction of a closed position of the mechanically actuatable switches (27) with the aid of a spring device (50), wherein the mechanically actuatable switches (27) can be brought from the closed position into an open position by displacing the actuation element (28) against a spring force of the spring device (50)
   characterised in that the actuation element (28) has a sliding block guide (46), into which a spring-pretensioned guiding pin (49) provided on a housing (30) of the switching device (24) engages and that the contact elements (44, 55) have a noble metal.
2. Gas burner arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the contact elements (44, 54) have gold.
3. Gas burner arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the sliding block guide (46) has a locking section (53), into which the guiding pin (49) engages in the open position.
4. Gas burner arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that the guiding pin (49) can be automatically displaced from the open position into the closed position by displacing the actuation element (28) in the direction of the open position and by simultaneously rotating the same with the aid of the spring device (50).
5. Hotplate (2) with a gas burner arrangement (3) according to one of claims 1 - 4.
6. Cooker (1) with a gas burner arrangement (3) according to one of claims 1 - 4 and/or a hotplate (2) according to claim 5.

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