GB2135043A - Gas hob - Google Patents

Abstract

A gas hob 11 has provision for mounting a control panel (16) at a remote location. Each of the burners (12, 13, 14, 15) is controlled by a modulating solenoid-operated gas valve (24). Manual Control knobs (17, 18, 19, 20) control selected ones of the solenoids so that adjustment of the knobs adjust the opening of the valve. A single transformer (27) provides a low-volt supply. Since the control panel is connected to the solenoids only by electrical wiring, the panel can be mounted at any convenient location near or remote from the hob. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Gas hobs This invention relates to gas hobs and to means for adjusting the gas flow to individual burners of the gas hob.

Previous adjustment means for the gas flow to the burners on gas hobs have been mechanically operated gas taps or knobs opened manually. This arrangement has made it preferable to place the gas taps or knobs at the front of the hob. This invention is concerned with providing an adjustment means whereby the gas control can be located in other positions.

The invention provides a gas hob having a plurality of burners, each burner having a gas valve controlled by an individual electricallypowered motive means, and having a direct or indirect electrical connection means to a manual control such that manual operation of the control adjusts an electrical supply to the motive means and thereby the degree of opening of the gas valve.

Preferably the electrical supply is a low volt supply, e.g. of the order of 20 volts or less, and the said electrical connection comprises low voltage wire.

The electrically-powered motive means may be a modulating solenoid.

The gas hob may have a separate control panel housing all of the manual control knobs.

A transformer may be mounted either in the control panel or in the hob area or elsewhere for connection to a mains supply and connected to the control panel to provide the low voltage supply thereto. The manual control knob may operate respective variable resistors to provide said adjustment.

The control panel and transformer being connected by electrical wires may be mounted in any convenient location, either close to or remote from the hob.

A specific embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, which is a partly cut away perspective view of a gas hob, control panel and electrical interface.

The hob comprises a hot plate compartment (11) carrying four hot plate burners (12, 13, 14, 15), control panel (16) having rotary control knobs (17, 1 8, 1 9, 20) for the individual burners and an ignition button (21), and an electrical interface unit (27).

Only hot plate burner (15) is shown in the cut-away part of the hob so that it can be seen in more detail, but the other hot plate burners are of similar construction.

Referring specifically to hot plate burner (15), a gas feed pipe (23) provides a supply of gas through a modulating magnetic gas valve (24) operated by a solenoid to the burner. A low volt electrical supply to the solenoid is controlled by knob (20). As knob (20) is rotated it operates a variable resistor in the supply so as to provide a lesser or greater voltage to the solenoid so that the solenoid takes up different positions related to different openings of the gas valve and different heating rates. Thus, the knob (20) is manually adjustable against stationary indices to show what heating rate is being selected.

A single transformer in unit (27) provides the low volt supply for all of the solenoid gas valves from a mains input supply.

The ignition button (21) controls mains voltage to individual ignitors (not shown) adjacent each gas burner.

The power requirements of each solenoid may be of the order of 7-8 watts so that the low volt supply can be used. The low volt supply has the advantage that it is not dangerous, and can be carried by cheaper low voltage wiring (30).

The transformer provides an alernating low voltage, but in an alternative arrangement may also rectify the supply and povide a direct low voltage supply.

Alternatively, the ignition buttons (21) may be omitted and the ignition initiated automatically on energization of the solenoid valve.

When a valve is energized contacts may be made in the ignition circuit, or an electronic circuit triggered to initiate ignition.

The control panel (16) may be mounted on an upstanding back plate at the back of the hob. It may alternatively be mounted beneath the front of the hob, or at a remote location from the hob. The connections between the control panel and the hob being electrical, wires can be extended to quite long distances.

The transformer may be mounted in the control panel or in the hob or at any other convenient location.

1. A gas hob having a plurality of burners, each burner having a gas valve controlled by an individual electrically-powered motive means, and having a direct or indirect electrical connection means to a manual control such that the manual opertion of the control adjusts an electrical supply to the motive means and thereby the degree of opening of the gas valve.

2. A gas hob as claimed in claim 1, comprising also electrical interface means for transforming a mains supply to a low volt supply for use by said motive means.

3. A gas hob as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrical interface includes a single transformer connected to supply all of the plurality of motive means.

4. A gas hob as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said low volt supply is of the order of 20 volts.

5. A gas hob as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein said electrical interface is mounted on said hob.

6. A gas hob as claimed in any of claims

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Gas hobs This invention relates to gas hobs and to means for adjusting the gas flow to individual burners of the gas hob. Previous adjustment means for the gas flow to the burners on gas hobs have been mechanically operated gas taps or knobs opened manually. This arrangement has made it preferable to place the gas taps or knobs at the front of the hob. This invention is concerned with providing an adjustment means whereby the gas control can be located in other positions. The invention provides a gas hob having a plurality of burners, each burner having a gas valve controlled by an individual electricallypowered motive means, and having a direct or indirect electrical connection means to a manual control such that manual operation of the control adjusts an electrical supply to the motive means and thereby the degree of opening of the gas valve. Preferably the electrical supply is a low volt supply, e.g. of the order of 20 volts or less, and the said electrical connection comprises low voltage wire. The electrically-powered motive means may be a modulating solenoid. The gas hob may have a separate control panel housing all of the manual control knobs. A transformer may be mounted either in the control panel or in the hob area or elsewhere for connection to a mains supply and connected to the control panel to provide the low voltage supply thereto. The manual control knob may operate respective variable resistors to provide said adjustment. The control panel and transformer being connected by electrical wires may be mounted in any convenient location, either close to or remote from the hob. A specific embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, which is a partly cut away perspective view of a gas hob, control panel and electrical interface. The hob comprises a hot plate compartment (11) carrying four hot plate burners (12, 13, 14, 15), control panel (16) having rotary control knobs (17, 1 8, 1 9, 20) for the individual burners and an ignition button (21), and an electrical interface unit (27). Only hot plate burner (15) is shown in the cut-away part of the hob so that it can be seen in more detail, but the other hot plate burners are of similar construction. Referring specifically to hot plate burner (15), a gas feed pipe (23) provides a supply of gas through a modulating magnetic gas valve (24) operated by a solenoid to the burner. A low volt electrical supply to the solenoid is controlled by knob (20). As knob (20) is rotated it operates a variable resistor in the supply so as to provide a lesser or greater voltage to the solenoid so that the solenoid takes up different positions related to different openings of the gas valve and different heating rates. Thus, the knob (20) is manually adjustable against stationary indices to show what heating rate is being selected. A single transformer in unit (27) provides the low volt supply for all of the solenoid gas valves from a mains input supply. The ignition button (21) controls mains voltage to individual ignitors (not shown) adjacent each gas burner. The power requirements of each solenoid may be of the order of 7-8 watts so that the low volt supply can be used. The low volt supply has the advantage that it is not dangerous, and can be carried by cheaper low voltage wiring (30). The transformer provides an alernating low voltage, but in an alternative arrangement may also rectify the supply and povide a direct low voltage supply. Alternatively, the ignition buttons (21) may be omitted and the ignition initiated automatically on energization of the solenoid valve. When a valve is energized contacts may be made in the ignition circuit, or an electronic circuit triggered to initiate ignition. The control panel (16) may be mounted on an upstanding back plate at the back of the hob. It may alternatively be mounted beneath the front of the hob, or at a remote location from the hob. The connections between the control panel and the hob being electrical, wires can be extended to quite long distances. The transformer may be mounted in the control panel or in the hob or at any other convenient location. CLAIMS

1. A gas hob having a plurality of burners, each burner having a gas valve controlled by an individual electrically-powered motive means, and having a direct or indirect electrical connection means to a manual control such that the manual opertion of the control adjusts an electrical supply to the motive means and thereby the degree of opening of the gas valve.

2. A gas hob as claimed in claim 1, comprising also electrical interface means for transforming a mains supply to a low volt supply for use by said motive means.

3. A gas hob as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrical interface includes a single transformer connected to supply all of the plurality of motive means.

4. A gas hob as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said low volt supply is of the order of 20 volts.

5. A gas hob as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein said electrical interface is mounted on said hob.

6. A gas hob as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein said electrical interface is mounted remote from said hob.

7. A gas hob as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, having a single control panel housing all of the manual controls.

8. A gas hob as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control panel is mounted contiguous to said gas hob.

9. A gas hob as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control panel is mounted remote from said gas hob, connected directly or indirectly thereto by said electrical connection means.

10. A gas hob as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein said manual controls operate respective variable resistors to provide said adjustment.

11. A gas hob as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein said motive means may be modulating solenoids.

1 2. A gas hob as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, comprising also ignition means for the burners.

1 3. A gas hob as claimed in claim 12, wherein said ignition means is initiated automatically on opening of any of said gas valves.

14. A gas hob substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawing.