EP3295085A1 - Valve for premix burner - Google Patents

Valve for premix burner

Info

Publication number
EP3295085A1
EP3295085A1 EP16739244.8A EP16739244A EP3295085A1 EP 3295085 A1 EP3295085 A1 EP 3295085A1 EP 16739244 A EP16739244 A EP 16739244A EP 3295085 A1 EP3295085 A1 EP 3295085A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
gas
air
orifices
shutter
feeding unit
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP16739244.8A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3295085B1 (en
Inventor
Rosalino Usci
Michele Marcantoni
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tre P Engineering Srl
Tre P Eng Srl
Original Assignee
Tre P Engineering Srl
Tre P Eng Srl
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tre P Engineering Srl, Tre P Eng Srl filed Critical Tre P Engineering Srl
Publication of EP3295085A1 publication Critical patent/EP3295085A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3295085B1 publication Critical patent/EP3295085B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D14/00—Burners for combustion of a gas, e.g. of a gas stored under pressure as a liquid
    • F23D14/46—Details, e.g. noise reduction means
    • F23D14/62—Mixing devices; Mixing tubes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D14/00—Burners for combustion of a gas, e.g. of a gas stored under pressure as a liquid
    • F23D14/02—Premix gas burners, i.e. in which gaseous fuel is mixed with combustion air upstream of the combustion zone
    • F23D14/04—Premix gas burners, i.e. in which gaseous fuel is mixed with combustion air upstream of the combustion zone induction type, e.g. Bunsen burner
    • F23D14/045—Premix gas burners, i.e. in which gaseous fuel is mixed with combustion air upstream of the combustion zone induction type, e.g. Bunsen burner with a plurality of burner bars assembled together, e.g. in a grid-like arrangement
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D14/00—Burners for combustion of a gas, e.g. of a gas stored under pressure as a liquid
    • F23D14/34—Burners specially adapted for use with means for pressurising the gaseous fuel or the combustion air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D14/00—Burners for combustion of a gas, e.g. of a gas stored under pressure as a liquid
    • F23D14/46—Details, e.g. noise reduction means
    • F23D14/60—Devices for simultaneous control of gas and combustion air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N1/00—Regulating fuel supply
    • F23N1/02—Regulating fuel supply conjointly with air supply
    • F23N1/025—Regulating fuel supply conjointly with air supply using electrical or electromechanical means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C3/00—Stoves or ranges for gaseous fuels
    • F24C3/12—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C3/00—Stoves or ranges for gaseous fuels
    • F24C3/12—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F24C3/126—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices on ranges
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23D—BURNERS
    • F23D2900/00—Special features of, or arrangements for burners using fluid fuels or solid fuels suspended in a carrier gas
    • F23D2900/14—Special features of gas burners
    • F23D2900/14641—Special features of gas burners with gas distribution manifolds or bars provided with a plurality of nozzles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to valves for regulating the thermal power of gas burners of the blown or premix type.
  • the burners according to the present invention are suitable for serving as burners for gas cookers of cooktops.
  • stoichiometric mixture An air-gas mixture where the air and gas masses are in a mixture ratio (mixture titre) equal to the exact stoichiometric ratio STC for a complete combustion of the gas without residual oxygen is referred to as stoichiometric mixture.
  • a mixture poor in gas, that is to say with a mixture ratio > STC, i.e. with excess of air, is herein referred to as "lean" mixture.
  • a mixture with a slight excess of air is required compared to the STC ratio theoretically sufficient.
  • STC mixture stoichiometric titre mixture or "STC mixture” it is meant a mixture with that minimum slight excess of air necessary to ensure the complete combustion.
  • premix burner a blown burner where the supplied primary air is at least sufficient to produce an STC if not even lean mixture.
  • Premix burners are well known and widely used for example in the household boilers for room heating and instant generators of hot water. In such products a very wide and continuous power modulation is possible while still keeping the mixture to stoichiometric titre.
  • a single fan serves a single burner and the power modulation takes place by simultaneously changing, according to a predefined relation, fuel gas flow rate and combustion air.
  • the recent document AN2015A000041 discloses important improvements in the power regulation of a plurality of premix burners relating to gas cookers of a gas cooktop.
  • all such burners may be fed by a single fan; each burner provides for the possibility of modulation of its power at least in steps from a minimum to a maximum power while keeping in regular combustion conditions (that is, with STC mixture); the only one fan regulates its flow rate so as to feed each burner with the stoichiometric air flow rate needed to the power set at the moment.
  • the main object of the present invention is to provide a regulation valve for the regulation of the thermal power of a blown burner where, at least for some variants, such regulation is in steps.
  • a further object of the present invention is to feed a blown burner directly with the fuel mixture instead of separately with fuel gas and combustion air.
  • a further object is to provide an electromagnetically actuated regulation valve.
  • a further object is to provide a regulation valve that regulates at least three power steps.
  • a further object, at least of some, variants of the present invention, is to provide a regulation valve that has pre-calibrated inlets orifices preset and easily selectable for multiple types of gases, preferably methane and LPG.
  • a further object is to provide a regulation valve which is of quick mounting and without screws on the fuel gas and primary air feeding ducts.
  • Fig. 1 shows a plan and schematic view of the main elements of a possible cooktop utilizing means according to the invention, some general, others according to a first main variant;
  • Fig. 2 is a detail of Fig. 1 ;
  • Figs. 3. a to 3.e show, in various views and sections, a valve for the regulation of the power of a burner according to a second main variant of the invention mounted on an air and gas distribution ramp always according to the same variant;
  • Figs. 5. a to 5.c show an axonometric and exploded view of the elements of Figs. 3. a to 3.e;
  • Figs. 6. a to 6.c show, according to views, sections or axonometries, the elements of Figs. 3. a to 3.e;
  • any possible absolute spatial reference in this report such as the terms vertical/horizontal or lower/upper refers to the position in which the elements are shown in the figures while any relative spatial reference such as the terms previous/subsequent, upstream/downstream should be understood with reference to the direction of circulation of the flows of airforms.
  • Fig. 1 shows a cooktop PC with blown burners BRN which, by way of an example, are three and of identical characteristics but only because they actually want to show three different possible operating states of a single blown burner BRN, it being understood that such cooktop PC may comprise one or more of such blown burners BRN.
  • the figure shows the fan FAN that supplies with primary air said one or more blown burners BRN (hereinafter simply referred to as burners BRN) through an air duct 401.
  • burners BRN hereinafter simply referred to as burners BRN
  • the latter is part of a ramp 4 that comprises also a gas duct 402 that instead supplies the same burners BRN with the fuel gas.
  • the figure shows the possible known safety means comprising flame sensors FD that send flame presence or absence signals to a control unit SFT which, in turn, if necessary, provides for the opening/closing of a general shut- off solenoid valve SSV and/or shut-off solenoid valves SV of the single burners.
  • the figure also shows a possible control dashboard CC that has functional links, consisting in exchange of signals and/or input, with a possible command unit CMD which, in turn, has functional links with at least the valves 1 for the regulation of the power of the burners BRN in order to actuate them and/or know their status.
  • the fan FAN in addition to the possible functional link with the command unit CMD, as shown in figure, may have, additionally or alternatively, a functional link with a delivery pressure gauge of the same fan FAN. Such option is not shown in the figures.
  • the object of the invention is a feeding unit 1-4 comprising:
  • valves 1 connected to said ramp 4 and each intended for the regulation of the power of a corresponding one of said one or more burners BRN.
  • valves 1 for the regulation of the power according to the invention shall be referred to as mix valves 1.
  • the burner BRN which is a blown and preferably premix burner, is fed with an air-gas mixture that forms inside a mixing chamber 2 that is part of said mix valve 1.
  • the mixing chamber 2 is sealed towards the outside environment except for passages consisting of a mix outlet 201 connected from a mix pipe 202 to the burner BRN and air and gas inlets from corresponding air orifices 403 and gas orifices 404. From now on, by sealed mixing chamber 2 it is meant a mixing chamber 2 made sealed except for said passages 201 , 403, 404.
  • the mix valve .1 provides for a plurality of shutter assemblies 3.
  • Each shutter assembly 3 comprises a shutter 301 capable of being piloted to two stable positions ON/OFF where;
  • said air orifices 403 and gas orifices 404 are openings that put in communication the air duct 401 and the gas duct 402 with the mixing chamber 2, respectively, and which have passage sections suitably calibrated, considering the predetermined gas and air supply pressures and the nature of the gas, to provide, through each shutter assembly 3, the amount of gas and air required to form a mix that ensures a predetermined partial power of value
  • the total power Ptot delivered at a given time by each burner BRN is equal to the sum of the partial powers Pp due to the shutters 301 in the ON position at that time and the- maximum power Pmax of each burner BRN is obtained when all its shutters 301 are in the ON position.
  • said stable ON and OFF positions are obtained by the fact that in said shutter assembly 3 the shutter 301 is constrained to a stem 302 piloted by a coil 303 which, energized, brings the shutter 301 in the ON position in contrast with a compression spring 304 which, when the coil 303 is de-energized, keeps the shutter 301 in the OFF position.
  • the variation in steps of the power of a burner BRN is obtained by imposing the appropriate ON or OFF position to each shutter 301 of the plurality of shutter assemblies 3 which the mix valve 1 has.
  • the mix valve 1 is suitable for being mounted on a ramp 4:
  • the ones and/or the others of said air 403 and gas 404 orifices may comprise a stretch of corresponding tube 413 (not present in the figures) and 414 that starts from the corresponding air 401 or gas 402 duct up to the front of the corresponding shutter 301 ;
  • the mix valve 1 having shutters 301 suitable for opening/closing such type of air 403 and gas 404 orifices.
  • each burner BRN to each type of gas and/or power provided is possible by mounting concentric tubes 413 and 414 of appropriate passage section although such interchangeability option is not shown in Figures 1 and 2 for graphical simplicity.
  • a very advantageous second main variant of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6:
  • the ramp 4 provides for a mounting wall 405 the outer surface whereof is flat and whereon the mix valves 1 may be constrained so as to ensure that the corresponding mixing chambers 2 are sealed;
  • the ramp 4 provides for an air duct 401 and a first gas duct 402 which run side by side and have the said mounting wall 405 as part of their walls;
  • the ramp 4 may further provide a second gas duct 402 arranged symmetrically to the first relative to the air duct 401 and also sharing the same mounting wall 405;
  • said air orifices 403 and gas orifices 404 are holes that pass through the said mounting wall 405.
  • the cross section of the air duct 401 is sufficiently narrow to allow said air 403 and gas 404 orifices associated with each shutter 301 to be close enough to each other in order to make the simultaneous plugging thereof by the same shutter 301 constructively simple.
  • additional gas orifices 404" suitable for further types of gas GAS2 (for example, LPG) and to be used as an alternative to each other according to the type of gas available may also be provided, associated with each shutter assembly 3, in addition to first gas orifices 404' suitable for a first type of gas GAS1 (for example, natural gas).
  • - gas orifices 404 specific for the same gas may be provided in pairs (that is, the pairs of gas orifices 404 due to the presence of not only the first but also, possibly, the second gas duct 402) are in a diametrically opposed position relative to the corresponding air orifice 403; - a selective sealing member 406 that selectively closes all the gas orifices 404/404" relating to the gas GAS1/GAS2 not in use while leaving around the gas orifices 4047404" relating to the gas GAS1/GAS2 in use a space sufficient to allow the shutter 301 to take the ON/OFF positions in their regard without interferences with the same selective sealing member 406;
  • the two gas ducts 402 are a first and a second gas duct, 4027402", respectively, each dedicated to the only gas GAS1/GAS2, respectively, and each carry ng exclusively the gas orifices 4047404", respectively, specific to the gas GAS1/GAS2 to which it is dedicated.
  • the preferred solution to select the gas duct 402 dedicated to the gas in use provides that:
  • the selective sealing member 406 is always provided, which selectively closes all the gas orifices 4047404" relating to the gas GAS1/GAS2 not in use while leaving around the gas orifices 4047404" relating to the gas GAS1/GAS2 in use a space sufficient to allow said shutter 301 to take the ON/OFF positions in their regard without interferences with the same selective sealing member 406;
  • such selective sealing member 406 is a sealing disc: - capable of being irremovably fastened against the mounting wall 405 at the time of fixing thereon the mix valve 1, centred relative to the associated air orifice 403 and in a suitable angular position;
  • the shutter 301 is capable of being constrained to the angular position necessary to cover the air orifice 403 and all the gas orifices 404 left free by the selective sealing member 406 and has an outline which excludes interferences with the opening 407.
  • the ramp 4 is obtained from a profile of material having suitable physical and mechanical characteristics; in particular the ramp 4 is obtained from an aluminium alloy profile.
  • two guides 409 are provided (for example, obtained with the aid of two ribs 408) in which the appendices 102 of a foot 101 being part of the mix valve 1 can engage slidingly and by shape coupling. Geometry of the guides 409 and foot 101 are such as to ensure that the mixing chamber 2 may be sealed by suitable sealing members, once the positioning of the mix valve 1 has taken place.
  • such two ribs 408 may be locally interrupted so as to allow a bayonet coupling of the mix valve 1.
  • the bayonet coupling is a shape coupling which, as is known, provides, along special guides, an approach of a first and second element and then a relative sliding of the first relative to the second element where in this case first and second element are the mix valve 1 and the ramp 4.
  • the cited document AN2015 A000041 teaches the criteria by which the speed of the fan FAN may be regulated when the ON/OFF state of all the shutters 301 present in the cooktop PC changes.
  • a control unit that knows the load/flow loss characteristic curves of the cooktop PC for every possible combination of the ON/OFF state of all the shutters 301 of the burners BRN but also knows, for inputs sent and/or signals received by the same burners BRN, the actual ON/OFF state and therefore it is able to change the rotation speed of the fan FAN bringing it to the value that knows as appropriate to that state.
  • a simple and direct method to ensure the predetermined powers is then that of - continuously controlling the delivery pressure of the fan FAN;
  • command unit CMD knows in advance the possible effects of each change of the ON/OFF state requested to it through the control dashboard CC and may, simultaneously or slightly in advance on the ON/OFF state changes that it determines itself, intervene on the fan FAN by changing the speed thereof with the appropriate promptness and gradualness so that substantially the delivery pressure remains constant.
  • the predetermined speed imposed to the fan FAN may be inaccurate or not exactly reached for some reason.
  • the mix valve 1 lends itself to numerous piloting methods: the control dashboard CC and/or the command unit CMD are very useful but not necessary the mix valve 1 being able to be piloted directly and manually according to many known means while the preset value p.target of the pressure can be ensured independently with the said means that comprise a pressure gauge and a speed regulator of the fan FAN.

Abstract

The object of the present invention is an air-gas fuel mixture feeding unit (1-4) for blown burners (BRN) of a cooktop (PC) which comprises a ramp (4) in turn comprising an air duct (401) and at least one gas duct (402) and at least one mix valve (1) in turn comprising a mixing chamber (2) within which the air mixture is formed. The mixing chamber (2) receives air and gas from a plurality of shutter assemblies (3) each of which, in turn, comprising a shutter (301) capable of being piloted to two stable positions ON/OFF in which it keeps simultaneously open/closed the corresponding air (403) and gas (404; 404', 404") orifices associated thereto, said air orifices (403) and gas orifices (404; 404', 404") being openings that put in communication the said air (401) and gas (402) ducts with said mixing chamber (2), respectively, and which have passage sections suitably calibrated, considering the predetermined gas and air supply pressures and the type of gas, to provide, through each of said shutter assemblies (3), the amount of gas and air required to form a mix that ensures a predetermined partial power of value Pp. By imposing the appropriate position ON or OFF to each shutter (301) of said at least two shutter assemblies (3), the variation in the power of the fed burners (BRN) is obtained.

Description

VALVE FOR PREMIX BURNERS
D E S C R I P T I O N
The present invention relates to valves for regulating the thermal power of gas burners of the blown or premix type.
In particular, the burners according to the present invention are suitable for serving as burners for gas cookers of cooktops.
An air-gas mixture where the air and gas masses are in a mixture ratio (mixture titre) equal to the exact stoichiometric ratio STC for a complete combustion of the gas without residual oxygen is referred to as stoichiometric mixture. A mixture rich in gas, that is to say with a mixture ratio < STC, i.e. with lack of air, is herein referred to as "rich" mixture. A mixture poor in gas, that is to say with a mixture ratio > STC, i.e. with excess of air, is herein referred to as "lean" mixture. For a complete combustion, in practice, a mixture with a slight excess of air is required compared to the STC ratio theoretically sufficient.
Hereinafter, however, by "stoichiometric" titre mixture or "STC mixture" it is meant a mixture with that minimum slight excess of air necessary to ensure the complete combustion.
They are herein referred to as:
- "primary air", the combustion air mixed with a fuel gas upstream of the point where the combustion takes place;
- "secondary air", the combustion air optionally to be flown to the flame in order to complete the combustion; - "stoichiometric air", the air required to obtain an STC mixture;
- "blown burner", a burner where the primary air is supplied through a fan;
- "premix burner", a blown burner where the supplied primary air is at least sufficient to produce an STC if not even lean mixture.
Premix burners are well known and widely used for example in the household boilers for room heating and instant generators of hot water. In such products a very wide and continuous power modulation is possible while still keeping the mixture to stoichiometric titre. According to this technology, a single fan serves a single burner and the power modulation takes place by simultaneously changing, according to a predefined relation, fuel gas flow rate and combustion air.
The recent document AN2015A000041 discloses important improvements in the power regulation of a plurality of premix burners relating to gas cookers of a gas cooktop. According to the document, all such burners may be fed by a single fan; each burner provides for the possibility of modulation of its power at least in steps from a minimum to a maximum power while keeping in regular combustion conditions (that is, with STC mixture); the only one fan regulates its flow rate so as to feed each burner with the stoichiometric air flow rate needed to the power set at the moment.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a regulation valve for the regulation of the thermal power of a blown burner where, at least for some variants, such regulation is in steps.
A further object of the present invention, is to feed a blown burner directly with the fuel mixture instead of separately with fuel gas and combustion air.
A further object, at least of some variants of the present invention, is to provide an electromagnetically actuated regulation valve.
A further object, at least of some variants of the present invention, is to provide a regulation valve that regulates at least three power steps.
A further object, at least of some, variants of the present invention, is to provide a regulation valve that has pre-calibrated inlets orifices preset and easily selectable for multiple types of gases, preferably methane and LPG.
A further object, at least of some variants of the present invention, is to provide a regulation valve which is of quick mounting and without screws on the fuel gas and primary air feeding ducts.
- Fig. 1 shows a plan and schematic view of the main elements of a possible cooktop utilizing means according to the invention, some general, others according to a first main variant;
- Fig. 2 is a detail of Fig. 1 ;
- Figs. 3. a to 3.e show, in various views and sections, a valve for the regulation of the power of a burner according to a second main variant of the invention mounted on an air and gas distribution ramp always according to the same variant;
- Figs. 4. a to 4.d show the sections indicated in Fig. 3.b and their details;
- Figs. 5. a to 5.c show an axonometric and exploded view of the elements of Figs. 3. a to 3.e;
- Figs. 6. a to 6.c show, according to views, sections or axonometries, the elements of Figs. 3. a to 3.e;
Unless otherwise specified, any possible absolute spatial reference in this report such as the terms vertical/horizontal or lower/upper refers to the position in which the elements are shown in the figures while any relative spatial reference such as the terms previous/subsequent, upstream/downstream should be understood with reference to the direction of circulation of the flows of airforms. Fig. 1 (and Fig. 2 for greater clarity of some details) shows a cooktop PC with blown burners BRN which, by way of an example, are three and of identical characteristics but only because they actually want to show three different possible operating states of a single blown burner BRN, it being understood that such cooktop PC may comprise one or more of such blown burners BRN.
The figure shows the fan FAN that supplies with primary air said one or more blown burners BRN (hereinafter simply referred to as burners BRN) through an air duct 401. The latter is part of a ramp 4 that comprises also a gas duct 402 that instead supplies the same burners BRN with the fuel gas.
The figure then shows the possible known safety means comprising flame sensors FD that send flame presence or absence signals to a control unit SFT which, in turn, if necessary, provides for the opening/closing of a general shut- off solenoid valve SSV and/or shut-off solenoid valves SV of the single burners. The figure also shows a possible control dashboard CC that has functional links, consisting in exchange of signals and/or input, with a possible command unit CMD which, in turn, has functional links with at least the valves 1 for the regulation of the power of the burners BRN in order to actuate them and/or know their status.
The fan FAN, in addition to the possible functional link with the command unit CMD, as shown in figure, may have, additionally or alternatively, a functional link with a delivery pressure gauge of the same fan FAN. Such option is not shown in the figures.
The object of the invention is a feeding unit 1-4 comprising:
- a ramp 4 for supplying with gas and air one or more burners BRN
- and one or more valves 1 connected to said ramp 4 and each intended for the regulation of the power of a corresponding one of said one or more burners BRN.
For shortness, from here on, valves 1 for the regulation of the power according to the invention shall be referred to as mix valves 1.
For simplicity of description reference shall substantially always be made to a mix valve 1 and to a corresponding burner BRN, it being understood, as mentioned, that said ramp 4 may serve a plurality of burners BRN through the corresponding mix valves 1.
The burner BRN, which is a blown and preferably premix burner, is fed with an air-gas mixture that forms inside a mixing chamber 2 that is part of said mix valve 1.
The mixing chamber 2 is sealed towards the outside environment except for passages consisting of a mix outlet 201 connected from a mix pipe 202 to the burner BRN and air and gas inlets from corresponding air orifices 403 and gas orifices 404. From now on, by sealed mixing chamber 2 it is meant a mixing chamber 2 made sealed except for said passages 201 , 403, 404.
According to the invention, the mix valve .1 provides for a plurality of shutter assemblies 3. Each shutter assembly 3 comprises a shutter 301 capable of being piloted to two stable positions ON/OFF where;
- in OFF position it keeps simultaneously closed corresponding air orifices 403 and gas orifices 404 associated thereto;
- in ON position it keeps simultaneously open the same associated air orifices 403 and gas orifices 404;
- said air orifices 403 and gas orifices 404 are openings that put in communication the air duct 401 and the gas duct 402 with the mixing chamber 2, respectively, and which have passage sections suitably calibrated, considering the predetermined gas and air supply pressures and the nature of the gas, to provide, through each shutter assembly 3, the amount of gas and air required to form a mix that ensures a predetermined partial power of value
Pp-
Accordingly, the total power Ptot delivered at a given time by each burner BRN is equal to the sum of the partial powers Pp due to the shutters 301 in the ON position at that time and the- maximum power Pmax of each burner BRN is obtained when all its shutters 301 are in the ON position.
Preferably, said stable ON and OFF positions are obtained by the fact that in said shutter assembly 3 the shutter 301 is constrained to a stem 302 piloted by a coil 303 which, energized, brings the shutter 301 in the ON position in contrast with a compression spring 304 which, when the coil 303 is de-energized, keeps the shutter 301 in the OFF position.
The variation in steps of the power of a burner BRN is obtained by imposing the appropriate ON or OFF position to each shutter 301 of the plurality of shutter assemblies 3 which the mix valve 1 has.
According to an embodiment that meets most of the practical needs, such a plurality of shutter assemblies 3 is a pair of shutter assemblies 3, of which the first with passage sections of the associated air 403 and gas 404 orifices set up for a predetermined partial power Ppl and the second similarly set up for a partial power Pp2 greater than "Ppl so as to obtain increasing powers with any step; by choosing in particular Pp2 = 2Ppl such step becomes uniform equal to Ppl and the power is modulable from 0 to 3 times Ppl .
However, if the adjustment in steps of the power is not required but only an "all or nothing" power such plurality of shutter assemblies 3 may consist of a single shutter assembly 3. This is the case of small power burners BRN useful for special purposes that shall not be covered herein. Therefore, hereinafter and in the accompanying figures, the description makes particular reference to mix valves 1 comprising a pair of shutter assemblies 3 without wishing to limit the scope of the invention.
According to a first main variant of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the mix valve 1 is suitable for being mounted on a ramp 4:
- the air 401 and gas 402 ducts whereof, one inside the other, preferably with the gas duct 402 internal to the air duct 401 ;
- the ones and/or the others of said air 403 and gas 404 orifices may comprise a stretch of corresponding tube 413 (not present in the figures) and 414 that starts from the corresponding air 401 or gas 402 duct up to the front of the corresponding shutter 301 ;
- said tubes 413 and 414 being concentric to each other obviously with the tube 413/414 respectively on the outside corresponding to that external of the ducts 401/402;
the mix valve 1 having shutters 301 suitable for opening/closing such type of air 403 and gas 404 orifices.
According to such variant, the adaptation of each burner BRN to each type of gas and/or power provided is possible by mounting concentric tubes 413 and 414 of appropriate passage section although such interchangeability option is not shown in Figures 1 and 2 for graphical simplicity. According to a very advantageous second main variant of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6:
- the ramp 4 provides for a mounting wall 405 the outer surface whereof is flat and whereon the mix valves 1 may be constrained so as to ensure that the corresponding mixing chambers 2 are sealed;
- the ramp 4 provides for an air duct 401 and a first gas duct 402 which run side by side and have the said mounting wall 405 as part of their walls;
- the ramp 4 may further provide a second gas duct 402 arranged symmetrically to the first relative to the air duct 401 and also sharing the same mounting wall 405;
- said air orifices 403 and gas orifices 404 are holes that pass through the said mounting wall 405.
Preferably, at said mounting wall 405, the cross section of the air duct 401 is sufficiently narrow to allow said air 403 and gas 404 orifices associated with each shutter 301 to be close enough to each other in order to make the simultaneous plugging thereof by the same shutter 301 constructively simple. Advantageously (see Fig. 6. a) in said first and possible second gas duct 402 additional gas orifices 404" suitable for further types of gas GAS2 (for example, LPG) and to be used as an alternative to each other according to the type of gas available may also be provided, associated with each shutter assembly 3, in addition to first gas orifices 404' suitable for a first type of gas GAS1 (for example, natural gas).
To this end, preferably with respect to other possible geometries that solve the problem:
- all the gas orifices 404 associated to a shutter 301 are arranged at the same radial distance from the corresponding air orifice 403;
- gas orifices 404 specific for the same gas may be provided in pairs (that is, the pairs of gas orifices 404 due to the presence of not only the first but also, possibly, the second gas duct 402) are in a diametrically opposed position relative to the corresponding air orifice 403; - a selective sealing member 406 that selectively closes all the gas orifices 404/404" relating to the gas GAS1/GAS2 not in use while leaving around the gas orifices 4047404" relating to the gas GAS1/GAS2 in use a space sufficient to allow the shutter 301 to take the ON/OFF positions in their regard without interferences with the same selective sealing member 406;
- all such gas orifices 404 are spaced, angularly from each other by a measure sufficient to allow the selective opening/closing thereof without having necessarily to interfere with the other gas orifices 404.
In order to set up the feeding unit 1 -4 for said first and second type of gas GAS 1 and GAS2 it is possible, as an alternative to the above to provide that the two gas ducts 402 are a first and a second gas duct, 4027402", respectively, each dedicated to the only gas GAS1/GAS2, respectively, and each carry ng exclusively the gas orifices 4047404", respectively, specific to the gas GAS1/GAS2 to which it is dedicated.
In such case, the preferred solution to select the gas duct 402 dedicated to the gas in use provides that:
- all the gas orifices 404' associated to a shutter 301 are arranged at the same radial distance from the corresponding air orifice 403 of the gas orifices 404" associated to the same shutter 301 ;
- all said gas orifices 404' associated to a shutter 301 are in a diametrically opposed position relative to the corresponding air orifice 403 to the gas orifices 404" associated to the same shutter 301 ;
- the selective sealing member 406 is always provided, which selectively closes all the gas orifices 4047404" relating to the gas GAS1/GAS2 not in use while leaving around the gas orifices 4047404" relating to the gas GAS1/GAS2 in use a space sufficient to allow said shutter 301 to take the ON/OFF positions in their regard without interferences with the same selective sealing member 406;
Advantageously:
- such selective sealing member 406 is a sealing disc: - capable of being irremovably fastened against the mounting wall 405 at the time of fixing thereon the mix valve 1, centred relative to the associated air orifice 403 and in a suitable angular position;
- of outer diameter sufficient to cover such gas orifices 404 entirely;
- carrying an opening 407 at the centre that leaves free only the associated air orifice 403 and the associated gas orifices 404V404" relating to the gas in use;
- while the shutter 301 is capable of being constrained to the angular position necessary to cover the air orifice 403 and all the gas orifices 404 left free by the selective sealing member 406 and has an outline which excludes interferences with the opening 407.
According to such variant, it is possible to adapt the cooktop PC to the type of gas in use among those provided by making operational the corresponding gas orifices 404 and leaving unchanged the air orifices 403 but setting the required air pressure that must be ensured by the fan FAN.
Preferably, the ramp 4 is obtained from a profile of material having suitable physical and mechanical characteristics; in particular the ramp 4 is obtained from an aluminium alloy profile.
What described thus far for the second main variant makes it easy to provide means for the quick fixing of the mix valves 1 to the ramp 4.
To this end, on the ramp 4 two guides 409 are provided (for example, obtained with the aid of two ribs 408) in which the appendices 102 of a foot 101 being part of the mix valve 1 can engage slidingly and by shape coupling. Geometry of the guides 409 and foot 101 are such as to ensure that the mixing chamber 2 may be sealed by suitable sealing members, once the positioning of the mix valve 1 has taken place.
Usefully (see at least Fig. 6. a), in order to further facilitate the mounting of the mix valve 1 such two ribs 408 may be locally interrupted so as to allow a bayonet coupling of the mix valve 1. The bayonet coupling is a shape coupling which, as is known, provides, along special guides, an approach of a first and second element and then a relative sliding of the first relative to the second element where in this case first and second element are the mix valve 1 and the ramp 4.
It should be noted that these types of coupling that provide for the said relative sliding are allowed by the fact that in the second main variant the air 403 and gas 404 orifices are simple holes that therefore do not produce projections.
The cited document AN2015 A000041 teaches the criteria by which the speed of the fan FAN may be regulated when the ON/OFF state of all the shutters 301 present in the cooktop PC changes.
Summarizing, there is provided a control unit that knows the load/flow loss characteristic curves of the cooktop PC for every possible combination of the ON/OFF state of all the shutters 301 of the burners BRN but also knows, for inputs sent and/or signals received by the same burners BRN, the actual ON/OFF state and therefore it is able to change the rotation speed of the fan FAN bringing it to the value that knows as appropriate to that state.
It has already been said that, through each air orifice 403, in order to guarantee the predetermined invariant partial power Pp (as well as for proper combustion), a predetermined amount of air must be guaranteed that depends on the type of gas in use. Such a predetermined amount of air is ensured by a predetermined pressure upstream of each air orifice 403 and obviously, regardless of the load losses of the air along the ramp 4 (that can be made very small with adequate section of the air duct 401), equal for all the air orifices 403 fed. In other words, all the air orifices 403 of each shutter assembly 3 must be fed with a same pressure that depends only on the type of gas in use.
Therefore, what it is obtained according to the teachings of document AN2015A000041 is to keep air the feeding pressure constant without measuring it directly.
A simple and direct method to ensure the predetermined powers is then that of - continuously controlling the delivery pressure of the fan FAN;
- verifying any deviations from the preset value p. target required by the type of gas in use;
- in case of deviation, changing the rotation speed of the fan FAN until reaching a delivery pressure equal to the preset value p.target.
This can be achieved by means that comprise a pressure gauge and a speed regulator as well as by the appropriate reception, storage and data output means. In fact, when the ON/OFF state of all the shutters 301 changes, the load/flow loss characteristic curve of the cooktop PC changes and therefore the delivery pressure of the fan FAN changes, the rotation speed being equal but changing the latter, the required delivery pressure is restored.
According to such method, no functional link is necessary that from the mix valves 1 leads, directly or indirectly, to the fan FAN but it may not prevent transient flame fluctuations or even possible switching offs at every change of the ON/OFF state, especially if important and not gradual.
Using, instead, the teachings of document AN2015A000041, such transient fluctuations are avoided because the command unit CMD knows in advance the possible effects of each change of the ON/OFF state requested to it through the control dashboard CC and may, simultaneously or slightly in advance on the ON/OFF state changes that it determines itself, intervene on the fan FAN by changing the speed thereof with the appropriate promptness and gradualness so that substantially the delivery pressure remains constant. By contrast, the predetermined speed imposed to the fan FAN may be inaccurate or not exactly reached for some reason.
A solution that substantially eliminates such drawback is therefore:
- first, bringing the fan FAN, through the command unit CMD, to the predetermined speed provided for the particular ON/OFF state;
- then, continuously controlling the delivery pressure of the fan FAN in order to keep it, as said above, to the preset value p.target.
It is seen, in general, that the mix valve 1 lends itself to numerous piloting methods: the control dashboard CC and/or the command unit CMD are very useful but not necessary the mix valve 1 being able to be piloted directly and manually according to many known means while the preset value p.target of the pressure can be ensured independently with the said means that comprise a pressure gauge and a speed regulator of the fan FAN.

Claims

Feeding unit (1-4) including:
- means (4) for supplying with gas and air one or more blown burners BRN
- one or more mix valves (1) connected to said feeding means (4) and each intended for the regulation of the power of a corresponding one of said one or more burners (BRN),
said feeding unit (1-4) belonging to a cooktop (PC) in turn comprising at least:
- one or more of said burners (BRN),
- a fan (FAN) feeding an air duct (401) at a delivery pressure equal to a preset value p.target dependent on at least the type of gas used
- means for keeping said delivery pressure to said preset value p.target
characterised in that:
said feeding means (4) include a ramp (4) in turn comprising an air duct (401) and at least one gas duct (402),
said at least one mix valve (1) comprising
- a mixing chamber (2) within which the air-gas mixture which feeds a corresponding blown burner (BRN) is formed and which is sealed towards the outside environment except for passages consisting of a mix outlet (201) towards said burner (BRN) and air and gas inlets from corresponding air orifices (403) and gas orifices (404);
- a plurality of shutter assemblies (3) each of which, in turn, comprising a shutter (301) capable of being piloted to two stable positions ON/OFF in which it keeps simultaneously open/closed the corresponding said air orifices (403) and gas orifices (404; 404', 404") associated thereto
- said air orifices (403) and gas orifices (404; 404', 404") being openings that put in communication the said air (401) and gas (402) ducts with said mixing chamber (2), respectively, and which have passage sections suitably calibrated, considering the predetermined gas and air supply pressures and the type of gas, to provide, through each of said shutter assemblies (3), the amount of gas and air required to form a^ mix that ensures a predetermined partial power of value Pp
and further characterised in that
by imposing the appropriate position ON or OFF to each shutter (301) of said plurality of shutter assemblies (3), the variation in the power of said fed burners (BRN) is obtained.
Feeding unit (1-4) according to the previous claim,
characterised in that:
said stable positions ON and OFF are obtained by the fact that each of said shutters (301) of said shutter assembly (3) is constrained to a stem (302) piloted by a coil 303 which, energized, brings the shutter (301) in the ON position in contrast with a compression spring (304) which, when the coil (303) is de-energized, keeps said shutter (301) in the OFF position.
Feeding unit (1-4) according to any previous claim,
characterised in that:
said ramp (4) is provided with:
- a mounting wall (405) the outer surface whereof is flat and whereon the said mix valves (1) may be constrained so as to ensure that the corresponding mixing chambers (2) are sealed;
- an air duct (401) and a first gas duct (402) which run side by side and have the said mounting wall (405) as part of their walls;
- a possible further second gas duct (402) arranged symmetrically to the first relative to the air duct (401) and sharing the same said mounting wall (405);
said air orifices (403) and gas orifices (404; 404', 404") being holes that pass through the said mounting wall (405).
Feeding unit (1-4) according to the previous claim,
characterised in that
at said mounting wall (405), the cross section of said air duct (401) is sufficiently narrow to allow said air (403) and gas (404; 404', 404") orifices associated with each of said shutters (301) to be close enough to each other to make the simultaneous plugging thereof by the same shutter (301) constructively simple.
Feeding unit (1-4) according to at least claim 3,
characterised in that:
in said first and possible second gas duct (402), gas orifices (404', 404") suitable for several types of gas (GASl , GAS2) are provided, associated with each shutter assembly (3), to be used as an alternative to each other depending on the type of gas (GASl, GAS2) actually available.
Feeding unit (1-4) according to the previous claim,
characterised in that:
- all of said gas orifices (404; 404', 404") associated with each of said shutters (301) are arranged at the same radial distance from the correspondent of said air orifices (403);
- the pairs of orifices (404; 404', 404") between said gas orifices (404; 404', 404") that are specific for a same gas (GASl, GAS2) and due to the possible presence of the said second gas duct (402) are in a diametrically opposed position relative to the corresponding said air orifice (403);
- a selective sealing member (406) selectively closes of all the said gas orifices (404; 404', 404") those relating to the types of gas (GASl, GAS2) not in use while leaves around those of said gas orifices (404; 404', 404") relating to the gas in use a space sufficient to allow said shutter (301) to take the ON/OFF positions in their regard without interferences with the same selective sealing member (406);
- all of said gas orifices (404; 404', 404") are spaced angularly from each other by a measure sufficient to allow the selective opening/closing thereof without having to interfere with the other gas orifices (404; 404', 404").
Feeding unit (1-4) according to at least claim 3,
characterised in that:
both said first and second gas duct (402) are provided, each (402V402") being dedicated respectively to one of said gases (GAS1/GAS2) and each carrying exclusively, of said gas orifices 404, the gas orifices (404V404") specific to the gas GAS1/GAS2 to which said first and second gas duct (4027402") are dedicated.
Feeding unit (1-4) according to the previous claim,
characterised in that:
- all of said gas orifices (404') associated with each of said shutters (301) have the same radial distance from the correspondent of said air orifices (403) as said gas orifices (404") associated with the same of said shutters (301);
- all of said gas orifices (404') associated with each of said shutters (301) are, compared to the correspondent of said air orifices (403), in a position diametrically opposed to the gas orifices 404" associated with the same of said shutters (301);
- a selective sealing member (406) selectively closes all said gas orifices (404V404") relative to the gas (GAS1/GAS2) not in use by said gases (GAS1/GAS2) while leaving around said gas orifices (4047404") relating to that in use of said gases (GAS1/GAS2) a space sufficient to allow the correspondent of said shutters (301) to take the ON/OFF positions in their regard without interferences with the same selective sealing member (406). Feeding unit (1-4) according to claims 6 or 8,
characterised in that:
said selective sealing member (406) is a sealing disc:
- capable of being irremovably fastened against the said mounting wall (405) at the time of fixing thereon the said mix valve (1), centred relative to the associated of said air orifices (403) and in a suitable angular position;
- of outer diameter sufficient to cover such gas orifices (404: 404', 404") entirely;
- carrying an opening (407) at the centre that leaves free only said associated air orifice (403) and the associated among said gas orifices (404; 404', 404") relating to the gas (GAS1, GAS2) in use; while said shutter (301) is capable of being constrained to the angular position necessary to cover the air orifice (403) and all the said gas orifices (404; 404', 404") left free by the selective sealing member (406) and has an outline which excludes interferences with said- opening (407).
Feeding unit (1-4) according to at least claim 3,
characterised in that:
said ramp (4)
- is obtained from an aluminium alloy profile,
- it provides for two guides (409) in which the appendices (102) of a foot (101) being part of the said mix valve (1) engage slidingly and by shape coupling.
the geometry of said guides (409) and said foot (101) being such as to ensure that the said mixing chamber (2) may be sealed by suitable sealing members, once the positioning of said mix valve (1) on said ramp (4) has taken place.
Feeding unit (1-4) according to the previous claim,
characterised in that: said two guides (409) are made through two ribs (408) that are locally interrupted so as to allow a bayonet coupling of said mix valve (1). Feeding unit (1-4) according to claims 1 or 2,
characterised in that:
- said air (401) and gas (402) ducts of said ramp (4) are one inside the other, preferably with the gas duct (402) internal to the air duct (401);
- the one and/or the other of said air (403) and gas (404) orifices may comprise a stretch of corresponding tube (413) and (414) that starts from the corresponding air (401) or gas (402) duct up to the front of the corresponding shutter (301);
- said tubes (413) and (414) being concentric to each other with the tube (413; 414) on the outside respectively corresponding to the outside one of said ducts (401; 402) and specific and interchangeable foreach type of gas (GAS1, GAS2).
Feeding unit (1-4) according to any previous claim,
characterised in that
said blown burners (BRN) are premix burners.
Feeding unit (1-4) according to any previous claim,
characterised in that
said mix valve (1) has functional links with a command unit (CMD), suitable for letting the same command unit (CMD) know the ON/OFF state of all said shutters (301) thereof.
Feeding unit (1-4) according to any previous claim,
characterised in that
said mix valve (1) has functional links with said command unit (CMD), suitable for having the ON/OFF state of all said shutters (301) thereof modified by the same command unit (CMD).
EP16739244.8A 2015-05-13 2016-05-11 Cooktop Active EP3295085B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITAN2015A000060A ITAN20150060A1 (en) 2015-05-13 2015-05-13 VALVE FOR PREMIX BURNERS
PCT/IB2016/000644 WO2016181212A1 (en) 2015-05-13 2016-05-11 Valve for premix burner

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3295085A1 true EP3295085A1 (en) 2018-03-21
EP3295085B1 EP3295085B1 (en) 2020-08-19

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ID=53900890

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16739244.8A Active EP3295085B1 (en) 2015-05-13 2016-05-11 Cooktop

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EP (1) EP3295085B1 (en)
IT (1) ITAN20150060A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2016181212A1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT201600118672A1 (en) * 2016-11-23 2018-05-23 Esa S P A INDIVIDUAL BURNER REGULATION SYSTEM
JP6756636B2 (en) 2017-02-16 2020-09-16 パーパス株式会社 Premixer, heat source device and hot water supply device
EP3617596B1 (en) * 2018-08-28 2021-10-06 Ademco Inc. Method for operating a gas burner appliance
CN110425582B (en) * 2019-07-31 2020-11-03 安徽冠东科技有限公司 Rotary gas combustion adjusting device
JP2022025394A (en) * 2020-07-29 2022-02-10 株式会社ノーリツ Premixing device and combustion device comprising the same

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1639115A (en) * 1924-07-10 1927-08-16 Gas Res Co Stove
US3033463A (en) * 1958-04-28 1962-05-08 Whirlpool Co Thermostatic control of gas range burners
DE4101260A1 (en) * 1991-01-17 1992-07-23 Ruhrgas Ag ACTUATOR FOR THE TWO-STAGE POWER CONTROL OF GAS BLOWING BURNERS
US5209217A (en) * 1992-07-24 1993-05-11 Maytag Corporation Downdraft gas range with dual mode burner system
IT1307513B1 (en) * 1999-11-15 2001-11-06 Ind Polidoro A S P A COMBUSTIBLE GAS BURNER WITH LOW NOX EMISSIONS
BR112017019329B1 (en) * 2015-03-11 2022-04-12 Tre P Engineering S.R.L. Gas domestic premixed ventilated stove

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EP3295085B1 (en) 2020-08-19
WO2016181212A1 (en) 2016-11-17

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