ES2881639T3 - Tap to control a gas burner and an electrical device - Google Patents

Abstract

Tap (1) to control both a gas burner (14) and an electrical/electronic device (50), said tap (1) comprising: - a body (2), where a shutter (4) is housed to regulate the flow of gas towards said burner (14), and - a button (24) that is operatively associated with said shutter (4) to operate the tap itself and that is also configured so that its rotation simultaneously controls both the flow of gas towards said burner (14) as the activation of said electrical/electronic device (50), - at least two switches (42, 44), preferably microswitches, which are applied to said body (2), and which can be actuated by means of a rotating element ( 26) integral in rotation with said button (24) and having contacts to act on an electrical circuit of said electrical/electronic device (50), or associated with it, characterized in that: - said at least two switches (42, 44 ) and said rotating element (26) are arranged and co nfigured so that, according to the activated or deactivated condition of said switches (42, 44), correlated with the angular position of said button (24), they provide a number of activation output signals (V1, V2, V3) for said apparatus (50) that is greater than the number of said switches (42, 44).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Tap to control a gas burner and an electrical device

[0001] The present invention relates to a tap for controlling both a gas burner and an electrical or electronic appliance.

[0002] Gas taps are known that are mounted on integrated cooktops or independent cookers, to control gas burners, which are also mounted on these appliances.

[0003] Since an extraction hood is generally installed on a cooktop, it has already been proposed to control its activation through the same operating button of the tap that controls the gas burner mounted on the cooktop.

[0004] For this purpose, it is contemplated that the tap is associated with a switch, preferably a microswitch, which, depending on the angular position of the control button of the tap itself, acts on the electrical supply of the extraction hood to activate and deactivate it. .

[0005] A drawback of this known solution consists in the fact that it only enables the extraction hood to be activated or deactivated by controlling the gas tap; moreover, without being able to correlate in any way the suction power with the quantity of gas distributed, and, therefore, with the actual thermal power distributed by the burner controlled by that tap.

[0006] In essence, this known solution allows only two conditions (ON-OFF) of the electrical / electronic apparatus operatively associated with the tap itself to be controlled and defined by means of the gas tap; Specifically, said solution only allows the activation (and therefore present a single activation status / level) of the electrical / electronic device to be controlled, without however being able to control the level / status of said activation.

[0007] Document WO2008 / 002863 describes a solution that comprises a housing to contain a plurality of switches, located at different heights, and a rotor that is provided with a plurality of cams at different heights, so that each cam cooperates only with one of said switches. This solution is particularly difficult to carry out from a construction point of view, since it requires the realization of seats for the switches at different heights in said housing, and also requires that the rotor have several cams. Furthermore, in this solution, the two switches must necessarily be installed in diametrically opposite positions and facing each other. Lastly, it is the fact that this solution is configured so that each switch controls the activation-deactivation state of a corresponding electrical / electronic device; In essence, the two switches that cooperate with the rotor act on two different electrical / electronic devices, thus controlling, always and only, their respective activation or deactivation.

[0008] The object of the invention is to propose a tap that overcomes the drawbacks of traditional solutions.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to propose a tap to control both a gas burner and an electrical or electronic appliance, which allows controlling said electrical / electronic appliance in order to control and define various states and / or activation levels of the own device.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to control the electrical supply in general of any electrical or electronic device operatively associated, in any case, to the gas burner.

[0011] Another object of the invention to provide a valve capable also apply to existing installations.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to control the suction power of the hood or power / status of other electrical / electronic device according to the thermal power dispensed by the burner.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to control the suction power of the hood or power / state of an electric / electronic device in a particularly simple and affordable way.

[0014] Another object of the invention to control the power dispensing a fume hood or other electrical / electronic device with the desired control curve.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide a faucet that present an alternative characterization and / or improved, both in terms of construction and operation, with respect to traditional.

[0016] Another object of the invention to provide a valve capable performed simply and quickly and with low costs.

[0017] All these objects, both individually and in any combination thereof, and other objects which will become apparent from the following description, are achieved according to the invention by a valve for controlling a gas burner and an apparatus electrical / electronic as defined in claim 1, as well as with an installation as defined in claim 15.

[0018] Specifically, the tap (1) according to the present invention, for controlling both a gas burner (14) as an electric / electronic device (50), comprising:

- a body (2), where a shutter (4) is housed to regulate the flow of gas towards said burner (14), and - a button (24) that is operatively associated with said shutter (4) to operate the same tap and which is also configured so that its rotation simultaneously controls both the flow of gas towards said burner (14) and the activation of said electrical / electronic apparatus (50),

- at least two switches (42, 44), preferably microswitches, which are applied to said body (2), and which can be actuated by means of a rotating element (26) integral in rotation with said button (24) and which has contacts to actuate on an electrical circuit of said electrical / electronic apparatus (50), or associated with it, and is characterized in that:

- said at least two switches (42, 44) and said rotary element (26) are arranged and configured so that, according to the activated or deactivated condition of said switches (42, 44), correlated with the angular position of said button (24 ), provide a number of activation output signals (V ¹ , V ² , V ³ ) for said apparatus (50) that is greater than the number of said switches (42, 44).

[0019] Advantageously, the shutter (4) is integral in rotation with the rod (22) of said button (24). Advantageously, the shutter (4) is restricted to said rod (22) that is associated with or provided with an extension (23) that is coupled to said button (24).

[0020] Advantageously, said rotatable member (26) is restricted to said rod (22) or an extension (23) coupled to said rod (22). Advantageously, said rotating element (26) is a cam.

[0021] Advantageously, said rotatable member (26) is rotatably to said rod (22).

[0022] Advantageously, said rotatable member (26) has one portion which is shaped or protruding laterally with respect to the remaining portion of the element itself, and that is configured to cooperate with the operation buttons (46, 48) of the all of said switches (42, 44).

[0023] Advantageously, said rotatable member (26) has a substantially discoid shape with a portion projecting and / or shaped (30) defined on its lateral surface. Advantageously, said rotating element (26) has a substantially discoidal shape with a projecting and / or shaped portion (30) defined on its lateral surface. Preferably, the projecting and / or shaped portion (30) of the rotating element (26) extends in a certain angular range that is related to the shape of the plug (4).

[0024] Advantageously, an additional switch (32), preferably a microswitch, is also applied on the body (2) of the tap itself, which is electrically connectable to a spark plug (40) to ignite the burner (14).

[0025] Advantageously, the operating button (24) of said additional switch (32) is located below the lower surface of said rotating element (26).

[0026] Advantageously, the respective operating buttons (46, 48) of said at least two switches on (42, 44) are substantially coplanar.

[0027] Advantageously, the respective operating buttons (46, 48) of said at the least two switches (42, 44) are in the same circle, or arc, with the corresponding center to the axis of rotation of the rotating member (26 ).

[0028] Advantageously, the respective operating buttons (46, 48) of said at least two switches on (42, 44) are located at an angular distance less than 180 °, preferably less than about 90 °.

[0029] Advantageously, said at the least two switches (42, 44) are configured so that, by on or off condition, which is correlated to the angular position of said knob (24), to provide various control signals different output ( V ¹ , V ² , V ³ ) for said apparatus (50).

[0030] Advantageously, said at the least two switches (42, 44) are configured so that, by on or off condition, which is correlated to the angular position of said knob (24), to provide the least three control signals output separate (V ¹ , V ² , V ³ ) for said electrical / electronic apparatus (50), each signal corresponding to a different state and / or activation level of said electrical / electronic apparatus (50).

[0031] Preferably, said control signals (V ¹ , V ² , V ³ ) are at least three and are intended to correspond to the maximum, average and minimum electrical supply of said electrical / electronic apparatus (50).

[0032] Advantageously, said switches (42, 44) can be inserted directly into the power supply circuit of said apparatus (50). Advantageously, said switches (42, 44) can be inserted into the input circuit of an electronic board (60), which provides the output voltage for said apparatus (50).

[0033] Advantageously, said valve provides a connection between said electronic board (60) and said apparatus (50) via Bluetooth or wifi.

[0034] Specifically, the installation for a hob according to the invention is characterized by comprising:

- at least one burner (14) that can be installed or is installed on said cooktop,

- at least one electrical / electronic appliance (50) that can be operatively associated or that is associated with said cooktop and / or said burner (14), and is further characterized in that it comprises at least one tap according to one or more of the preceding claims, which controls said burner (14) and said electrical / electronic apparatus (50).

Preferably, said at least one electrical / electronic apparatus is a fume hood (50), a lighting apparatus for one or more lights or a screen, preferably a liquid crystal screen.

The present invention becomes clearer hereinafter in a preferred practical embodiment thereof, which is described merely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows an installation of a tap that simultaneously controls the gas that feeds a burner installed on a cooktop and an extraction hood mounted on the cooktop,

figure 2 shows a perspective view of a tap according to the invention,

Figure 3 shows a side view of this,

figure 4 shows it according to section IV-IV in figure 7,

figure 5 shows it according to section V-V in figure 7,

figure 6 shows it according to section VI-VI in figure 7,

Figure 7 shows a plan view of this, in the closed condition of the gas flow with the button in position 0 °,

posición entre 75° y 135°,Figure 8 shows a plan view of this, with the button

position between 75 ° and 135 °,

posición entre 135° y 210°, yFigure 9 shows a plan view of this, with the button

position between 135 ° and 210 °, and

Figure 10 shows the wiring diagram of the circuitry controlled by the two switches associated with the tap.

As shown in the drawings, the gas tap 1 according to the invention is configured to simultaneously control, by means of the rotation of the same button 24, both a gas burner 14 and an electrical / electronic appliance, which is preferably operatively associated with said burner 14 and / or the cooktop on which said burner is intended to be installed.

Specifically, in a similar way to traditional gas taps, the tap 1 comprises a body 2 provided inside it with a cavity to house a traditional rotary shutter 4 and conveniently also a traditional safety valve 6. The obturator 4 preferably has a truncated cone shape and is housed in a corresponding cavity 16, preferably also frustoconical, which is made in the body 2.

[0039] Conveniently, the body 2 is also surrounded by two openings 8, 8 ', one 8 of which for connection with a supply conduit 10 of the fuel gas from the network and the other 8' for connection with a conduit supply 12 of a burner 14. Likewise, the channels 18, 18 'are obtained in a traditional way in the body 2, the channels providing the cavity 16 to house the shutter 4 in communication with the two openings 8, 8'.

Conveniently also the shutter 4 is enveloped by a channel 20 in a traditional way, where the channel selectively and diversely puts the two channels 18, 18 'in communication with each other according to their angular position with respect to their seat 16.

The shutter 4 is restricted to a cylindrical rod 22 that controls its rotation. In particular, the rod 22 is preferably coupled to an extension 23 of this that comes out of the body 2 of the tap and is configured to be coupled to a traditional operating button 24 of the tap according to the invention. Conveniently, this extension 23 can move axially with respect to the rod 22, but is restricted in rotation with respect to it. In this way, similar to traditional taps, the button 24 can also be actuated both in axial movement to induce ignition of the burner 14, and in rotation to modulate the amount of the gas feed burner 14 and, therefore, to regulate the flame circle (s) generated in this way.

[0041] A rotating element 26 preferably consisting of a cam is associated with the rod 22. Preferably, the rotating element 26 is integrally mounted on the extension 23 of the rod 22.

[0042] Conveniently, the rotary element 26 presents, in plan view, a profile with a lateral portion 30 which is shaped or protrudes with respect to the remaining lateral portion of the rotary element itself. Advantageously, the rotating element 26 has a single portion 30 that is shaped and / or laterally protruding.

[0043] Preferably, the rotating element 26 is generally discoidal in shape and, in more detail, has an upper surface, a lower surface and a generally cylindrical side surface, but enveloped by said protruding and / or shaped portion 30. Conveniently, said protruding and / or shaped portion 30 extends for a certain angular range related to the shape of the shutter 4 and, more specifically, related to the path and position of the channels 18, 18 'made in the body 2 of the tap, thus as the shape of the channel 20 made in the shutter 4.

[0044] Conveniently, at least two switches 42, 44 (preferably two microswitches) are applied to the body 2 of the tap which are configured and / or located at such a height so that the respective operating buttons 46, 48, can interact (preferably coming into contact with a certain pressure) with the outer surface of the same projecting and / or shaped portion 30 of the rotating element 26.

[0045] In more detail, the respective operating buttons 46, 48 of the switches 42, 44 are positioned to be activated by the protruding and / or shaped portion 30 of the rotating element 26, but not by the remaining portion of the non-wrapped element itself. for that outstanding portion.

[0046] Conveniently, the two switches 42, 44 are arranged around the rotary element 26 so that the respective operation buttons 46, 48 are activated sequentially, both individually and simultaneously, by the same protruding and / or shaped portion 30 of the element 26. This is particularly advantageous, since it is sufficient for the rotating element 26 to have a single protruding and / or shaped portion 30, thus simplifying the process for carrying it out.

[0047] Preferably, the respective operation buttons 46, 48 of the two switches 42, 44 are located at an angular distance less than the angular extent of the projecting and / or shaped portion 30 of the rotary element 26.

[0048] Conveniently, the position of the two switches 42, 44 in the body 2 of the tap and both in the radial and angular extension of the projecting and / or shaped portion 30 of the rotating element 26 are predefined so that, as the position varies angular of the button 24 and, therefore, of the rotary element 26, whether or not one or both of the switches 42, 44 are activated so that, in addition to giving rise to a deactivated and rest condition (corresponding to the state OFF of both of said switches), give rise to at least three operating conditions (defined by the ON state of only the first switch 42, by the ON state of both switches, and by the ON state of only the second switch 44, respectively ) corresponding to different controls and, therefore, to at least three separate activation states / levels of the electrical or electronic apparatus 50 which is preferably operatively associated with the burner controlled by the tap according to the invention.

[0049] In essence, two or more switches 42, 44 and a rotary element 26 are provided on tap 1, according to the invention, which are arranged and configured so that the switches themselves provide three or more output signals of activation (which are conveniently different from each other) for the same apparatus 50 according to the activated or deactivated condition of each of said switches, which is correlated with the angular position of said button 24. Conveniently, according to the invention, the Switches 42, 44 provide a number of drive output signals for electrical / electronic apparatus 50, which is greater than the number of switches.

Advantageously, an additional switch 32 (preferably a microswitch) is also applied to the body 2 of the tap 1, preferably in position immediately below the rotating element 26 (preferably a microswitch), where the operating button 34 is located under the lower surface of the element itself , which in this way can make it work after the axial movement of the rod 22 induced by an axial pressure on the button 24.

The two terminals 36, 38 of said additional switch 32 are connected to the circuit of an ignition spark plug 40 associated with the burner 14 so that, each time the button 24 is pressed axially, thus activating the switch 32, the The ignition plug 40 produces the spark that ignites the burner 14. Obviously, the burner 14 ignites only if it is supplied with gas, and this happens after the rotation of the knob 24, which induces a corresponding rotation of the shutter 4 to put the channels 18 and 18 'in communication with each other.

Specifically, the electrical / electronic apparatus is preferably a hood 50, but it may also consist of any other electrical / electronic device, such as, for example, a series of lights with different colors, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or another.

Terminals 52, 54 and 56, 58 of the two switches 42, 44 are conveniently connected to the electrical circuit.

[0054] In the exemplary embodiment described and shown, the two switches 42, 44 are provided to control the hood 50, and where the switches are controlled by the protruding and / or shaped portion 30 of the rotating element 26. However More generally, the invention contemplates that more than two switches are applied to the body 2 of the tap, in which, in any case, the respective activation buttons are always substantially coplanar with each other, and that these interact and, therefore, they are also controlled by various protruding and / or shaped portions made on the rotating element 26.

Furthermore, although in the example shown it is contemplated that the two switches 42, 44 are inserted in the electrical supply circuit of the hood 50, or of another electrical / electronic device, and these control it directly according to the angular position of the button 24, the invention advantageously contemplates that two switches 42, 44 are inserted in a control circuit of an electronic board 60 to control the hood 50 or also another electrical / electronic device associated with the gas tap so that this board 60 can process the Output controls of switches 42, 44 to generate a control signal having a shape related to specific needs.

[0056] In the simplest embodiment described herein, the connection between the switches 42, 44 and the hood 50 or other electrical / electronic apparatus is provided through cables, but the invention also contemplates that it be of the type wireless and of a different nature, for example, via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or with another protocol.

[0057] In any case, for the sake of simplicity of disclosure, operation of the tap according to the invention is now described in the embodiment shown, in which the two switches 42, 44 have outputs connected by cables to the electronic board 60 according to the diagram shown in Figure 10.

[0058] It is contemplated that the hood 50, or other electrical / electronic device, is supplied with three possible different voltages, preferably generated by the electronic board 60 fed by three separate signals V ¹ , V ² and V ³ through contacts of switching 62 ', 64' of two relays 62, 64.

[0059] More specifically, each of the two switches 42, 44 is provided with two pairs of switching contacts 42 ', 44' and 42 ", 44". The contacts 42 ', 44' are inserted in the electrical supply circuits of the two relays 62, 64, which contacts, like the contacts 42 ", 44", are shown in the inactive (idle) condition in Figure 10.

[0060] In this circumstance, the hood 50 is ready for operation as soon as the faucet is operated according to the invention to feed the burner 14 associated with this.

[0061] The ignition of the burner first provides an axial pressure on the button 24, which, with the rotating element 26, activates the switch 32 to supply the ignition plug 40 and cause a sequence of sparks to be triggered between its electrode and the burner 14 so that, as soon as the tap is caused to rotate and it controls the gas dispensing, the fuel mixture ignites and generates a circle of flames.

[0062] As long as the button 24 has not performed a rotation of about 75 °, neither switches 42, 44 is active and, therefore, the hood 50 is inactive.

[0063] Once the angular range of approximately 75 ° has been reached, and up to an angular range of approximately 135 °, that is, in the section in which the gas dispensing is maximum according to the usual design criteria and operation of a gas tap, the protruding portion 30 of the rotary element 26 activates the first switch 42, but is not yet capable of activating the second switch 44. Therefore, in this condition, and for this full angular range, the tap provides the burner 14 with the maximum amount of gas while the switching of the switch 42 activates the relay 62 through the contact 42 '(in operation); The activation of the relay 62 in turn provides the electronic board 60, through the contact 42 "(in operation) and the contact 64 '(in rest), a signal V ¹ , which causes the board itself to generate the voltage of hood feeding 50 with maximum suction power.

[0064] In the successive section of the angular range of the button 24, that is to say, in the section between approximately 135 ° and approximately 150 °, the tap supplies the burner with a quantity of gas decreasing from the maximum value to a mean value.

[0065] In this position, the rotating element 26 also activates the second switch 44, which therefore activates relay 64 through the contact 44 '(working); The activation of the second relay 64 in turn provides the electronic board 60, through the contact 42 "(in operation) and the contact 64 '(in rest), a voltage signal V ² , which causes the board itself to generate the supply voltage of the hood 50 with the medium suction power.

[0066] In the successive section of the angular range of the button 24, that is, in the section from approximately 150 ° to approximately 210 °, the tap provides the burner with the minimum amount of gas, and the same rotation of the button leads to the portion protruding and / or shaped 30 of the rotating element 26 to deactivate the first switch 42 to keep the second switch 44 activated. In this condition, only the relay 64 is activated, which provides the electronic board 60, through the contact 44 "( in operation) and contact 62 '(in rest), a signal V ³ , which causes the board itself to generate the supply voltage of the hood 50 with the minimum suction power.

[0067] In essence, as the position of the knob 24 varies, and therefore the amount of gas supplied by the tap to the burner, the suction power of the hood automatically varies, which is therefore always adequate for the operating conditions of the burner.

Claims (15)

1 . Tap (1) to control both a gas burner (14) and an electrical / electronic appliance (50), said tap (1) comprising: - a body (2), where a shutter (4) is housed to regulate the flow of gas towards said burner (14), and - a button (24) that is operatively associated with said shutter (4) to operate the same tap and which is also configured so that its rotation simultaneously controls both the flow of gas towards said burner (14) and the activation of said electrical / electronic apparatus (50), - at least two switches (42, 44), preferably microswitches, which are applied to said body (2), and which can be actuated by means of a rotating element (26) integral in rotation with said button (24) and which has contacts to actuate on an electrical circuit of said electrical / electronic apparatus (50), or associated with it, characterized in that : - said at least two switches (42, 44) and said rotary element (26) are arranged and configured so that, according to the activated or deactivated condition of said switches (42, 44), correlated with the angular position of said button (24 ), provide a number of activation output signals (V ¹ , V ² , V ³ ) for said apparatus (50) that is greater than the number of said switches (42, 44). 2 . Faucet according to claim 1, characterized in that said electrical / electronic appliance is an extraction hood (50) or an appliance (50) consisting of a lighting appliance with one or more lights or an appliance (50) consisting of on a screen, preferably a liquid crystal screen. 3 . Faucet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said body (2) comprises: - a first circuit (8, 18) for connection with a supply conduit (10) of the fuel gas from the outside, and - a second circuit (8 ', 18') for connection with a gas supply conduit (12) to said burner (14), and because said shutter (4) is configured and located in said body (2) so that, according to its angular position, which is correlated with the angular position of said button (24), variously and selectively puts said two circuits in communication between Yes. 4 . Faucet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shutter (4) is integral in rotation with the rod (22) of said button (24) or is restricted to said rod (22) that is associated or provided of an extension (23) that is coupled to said button (24). 5 . Faucet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said button (24), or the extension (23) restricted to said button (24), is associated with the rod (22) to be able to move axially, but restricted in rotation, with respect to the rod itself. 6 . Faucet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rotating element (26) has at least one lateral portion (30) projecting or shaped with respect to the remaining lateral portion of the rotating element itself, and that it is configured to cooperating with an operating button (46, 48) of said switches (42, 44). 7 . Faucet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an additional switch (32), preferably a microswitch, is also applied to the body (2) of the faucet itself, which can be electrically connected to a spark plug ( 40) to ignite the burner (14). 8 . Tap according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least two switches (42, 44) are configured and / or positioned at such a height so that the respective operating buttons (46, 48) can interact with the outer surface of the same projecting and / or shaped portion (30) of the rotating element (26). 9 . Faucet according to one or more of claims 6-8, characterized in that said at least two switches (42, 44) are arranged around the rotary element (26) so that the respective operating buttons (46, 48) are activated sequentially, both individually and simultaneously, by the same protruding and / or shaped portion (30) of the element (26). 10 . Faucet according to one or more of claims 6-9, characterized in that the respective operating buttons (46, 48) of said at least two switches (42, 44) are on the same circumference, or arc of circumference, with the center corresponding to the axis of rotation of the rotating element (26). 11 . Faucet according to one or more of claims 6-10, characterized in that the respective operating buttons (46, 48) of said at least two switches (42, 44) are located at an angular distance less than the angular extension of the projecting and / or shaped portion (30) of the rotating element (26). 12 . Faucet according to one or more of claims 6-11, characterized in that the position of said at least two switches (42, 44) and the radial and angular extension of the projecting and / or shaped portion (30) of the Rotating element (26) is defined so that, as the angular position of the button (24) and, therefore, of the rotating element (26) integral in rotation with said button (24) varies, the activation of the one of both of said at least two switches (42, 44) to give rise to at least three operating conditions, to which at least three different controls must correspond and, therefore, at least three separate activation states / levels of the electrical or electronic apparatus (50). 13 . Faucet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least two switches (42, 44) are configured so that, according to their activated or deactivated condition, they are correlated with the angular position of said button (24) , provide several different output control signals (V ¹ , V ² , V ³ ) for said apparatus (50). 14 . Faucet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least two switches (42, 44) are configured so that, according to their activated or deactivated condition, they are correlated with the angular position of said button (24) , provide at least three separate output control signals (V ¹ , V ² , V ³ ) for said electrical / electronic apparatus (50), each signal corresponding to a different state and / or activation level of said electrical / electronic apparatus (fifty). 15 . Installation for a cooktop, characterized by comprising: - at least one burner (14) that can be installed or is installed on said cooktop, - at least one electrical / electronic apparatus (50) that can be operatively associated or that is associated with said cooktop and / or with said burner (14), and characterized in that it comprises at least one tap according to one or more of the preceding claims, which controls said burner (14) and said electrical / electronic apparatus (50).