GB2196732A - Mounting of gas valve - Google Patents

Description

GB2196732A 1 SPECIFICATION said operating spindle for causing said cut-off

valve to be opened, a flame sensor device Gaseous fuel flow control arrangements being provided which when operated is effec tive for causing said flame failure device to be This invention relates to gaseous fuel flow 70 operated to maintain the cut-off valve thereof control arrangements and more particularly to open.

such arrangements for use in gas cookers and In one arrangement for carrying out the in- gas hobs. vention the flame failure device may be dis- In our co-pending patent application No. posed in said conduit and said operating spin- 2,165,337A there is disclosed a gaseous fuel 75 dle may be disposed within the housing of flow control arrangement in which a plurality said flow control valve, and in another ar of gas taps are provided each of which makes rangement the flame failure device and said use of a gas rail as an integral part thereof in operating spindle may be provided in a hous order to control the flow of gas between a ing separate from said conduit and from said respective gas inlet and a respective gas out- 80 flow control valve, said housing being let of said gas rail. The gas rail is provided mounted on said surface adjacent said flow with a machined surface on which the gas control valve.

taps are located, and each gas tap is provided The foregoing and other features of the in- with a disc valve member which has a ma- vention will now be described reference being chined and contoured base which co-operates 85 made to the accompanying drawings, in with the machined surface of the gas rail which:

whereby when the disc valve member is ro- Fig. 1, is a partially cut-away plan view of tated the flow of gas is controlled. - part of a gas rail which forms part of a gase- In some gas cookers or gas hobs it is ous fuel flow control arrangement in accor- necessary to provide each gas burner thereof 90 dance with the present invention; with a flame failure device which cuts off the Fig. 2, is a cross- sectional view (corre- supply of gas to the burner if it should go out sponding to the view 2-2 in Fig. 1) of a gase for any reason. When lighting such gas bur- ous fuel flow control arrangement in accor ners it is necessary to provide some means of dance with the present invention.

initially overriding the flame failure device to 95 Fig. 3, is a crosssectional side view of a allow the burner to be lit, a flame sensor demodified form of the arrangement of Fig. 2; vice being provided which maintains the flame Fig. 4, is a part cross- sectional view of an failure device in the 'override' state whilst the alternative form of gaseous fuel flow control burner is alight. In known arrangements in arrangement in accordance with the present which the gas taps are provided separately 100 invention; from the gas rail, the provision of an integral Fig. 5, is a cross- sectional side view of the flame failure device and an override arrange- flame failure device arrangement of Fig. 4, and ment is relatively straightforward but this is Fig. 6, is a plan view of the flame failure not the case where the gas taps are of disc device of Fig. 4.

form and the gas rail forms an integral part of 105 The gas rail and integrated disc-type gas the gas taps. tap to be described are in principle the same It is an object of the present invention to as those described in the aforementioned pa- provide a disc valve-type gaseous fuel flow tent application No. 2,165, 337A to which ref control arrangement in which the gas taps erence should be made for a detailed descrip thereof incorporate a flame failure device and 110 tion thereof.

an override arrangement therefor. In Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown a According to the present invention there is plan view of a gas rail 1 in the form of a light provided a gaseous fuel flow control arrange- alloy or aluminium extrusion, the top surface ment comprising a gaseous fuel supply con- of which is machined to provide a seating sur duit having at least one external surface 115 face 2 which is arranged to form part of a adapted to form part of the housing of a flow disc-type gas tap, the dashed outline of one control valve which includes a rotatable flow of which is shown at 3, which is mounted on control member movable relative to the exter- the gas rail 1.

nal surface or a part thereof to control the The gas rail 1 is provided with a longitudinal flow of gaseous fuel from a gas inlet to a gas 120 gas supply bore 4 which lies close to one outlet, control means for effecting rotation of side face 5 of the gas rail 1, and a gas supply said flow control means about an axis thereof, passageway 6 is provided which extends from a flame failure device including a normally the bore 4 and terminates on the surface 2 of closed cut-off valve which is connected bethe gas rail 1. The gas rail 1 is also provided tween said gas inlet and said gas outlet, and 125 with a further gas supply passageway 7 which flame failure device override means, including is spaced from the passageway 6 and which an operating spindle disposed substantially extends into the gas rail 1 from the surface 2 parallel to and spaced from the axis of said thereof and communicates with a gas outlet flow control means, said control means being bore 8 which extends angularly inwards from axially movable to effect axial displacement of 130 the opposed side face 9 of the gas rail 1.

2 GB2196732A 2 Under normal circumstances, the gas rail 1 arrangement (not shown) which requires the would be provided with a gas outlet bore that operating spindle 24 to be pressed axially extended perpendicularly inwards from the downwards in order to overcome the niting side face 9 to communicate with the passage- before the gas tap can be turned ON.

way 7, a gas injector then being screwed into 70 Conveniently it may be arranged that the the bore 8 to provide a gas supply to an control knob 25 has an OFF position, a maxi associated gas burner. However, in the premum gas flow or FULL ON position which is sent embodiment, the gas outlet bore 8 is typically 90' anticlockwise from the OFF posi disposed angularly in the gas rail 1 and is tion and a 'simmer' position which is typically provided with an enlarged portion 10 which is 75 160' anticlockwise from the OFF position. A adapted to contain a solenoid operated flame suitable disc-type gas tap for achieving this is failure device (not shown) of known form as described in patent application No.

will hereinafter be described, and also with a 2,165,337A.

bore hole 14, the function of which will here- As has already been mentioned, in some inafter be described, which extends from the 80 gas cookers or gas hobs it is necessary to bore 8 to the surface 2 of the gas rail 1. The provide a flame failure device associated with enlarged portion 10 of the bore 8 is provided each of the gas burners thereof which will with a subsidiary outlet bore 11 which ex- cut-off the supply of gas to the burner should tends to the side face 9 of the gas rail 1 and it go out for any reason. This is achieved in into which the aforementioned gas injector 85 the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 by providing would normally be screwed. a solenoid-operated flame failure device (FFD) The gas rail 1 of Fig. 1 also includes a fixed 26 of known form in the enlarged portion 10 bypass passage 12 which extends from the of the gas outlet bore 8. The FFD 26 is re bore 4 to the surface 2 of the gas rail 1 and tained in the enlarged portion 10 by means of also with two securing holes 13 by means of 90 an internally threaded end- cap 27 which is which a disc-type gas tap may be attached to screwed on to an externally threaded end sec the gas rail 1. The function of the disc-type tion 28 of the gas rail 1. The end-cap 21 is gas tap when mounted on the gas rail 1 is to itself provided with a threaded central hole 29 control the flow of gas from the passageway which receives the co-axial connector of a 6 to the passageway 7, thereby to control the 95 thermo-couple type flame sensor device (not flow of gas from the gas supply bore 4 to the shown) of known form, which senses the injector (not shown) which would normally presence of a flame at a gas burner and screwed into the subsidiary outlet bore 11, which provides an electrical output indicative thereby controlling the flow of gas to the gas of this, the electrical output of the thermo burner (not shown) associated with that gas 100 couple flame sensor device being applied to injector. the FFD 26 for the purpose which will herein- In Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings after be explained.

there is shown a cross-sectional view, corre- The FFD 26 of Fig. 2 comprises a cylindrical sponding to the view 2-2 of Fig. 1, of the gas body portion 30 from the right hand end of rail 1 of Fig. 1 having a disctype gas tap 105 which extends an axially movable shaft 31 on mounted thereon, and incorporating an associ- the end of which is mounted a valve closure ated flame failure device in accordance with disc 32. A compression spring 33 is provided one embodiment of the present invention. between the body portion 30 and the closure In Fig. 2 the gas rail 1 of Fig. 1 is shown disc 32 which, in the normal condition of the having the machined top surface 2 on which 110 FFD26, maintains the valve closure disc 32 is mounted a disc-type gas tap 3. The clisc- against a valve seat 34 thereby preventing the type gas tap 3 is provided with a part-coniflow of gas from the gas outlet bore 8 to the cally shaped disc valve 20, the base 21 of enlarged portion 10 and thus to the subsidiary which is machined to provide a surface which outlet bore 11 (Fig. 1). In order to override mates with the surface 2 of the gas rail 1 and 115 the F17D26, it is necessary to physically urge is also provided with a suitably shaped cavity the shaft 31 of the FFD fully towards the left 22 which, as the disc valve 20 is rotated as viewed in Fig. 2 against the force of the varies the flow of gas from the gas supply spring 33, in which position the shaft 31 will passageway 6 (not shown in Fig. 2) to the 'latch' provided that the FFD 26 is fed with a gas passageway 7 (shown in dashed lines in 120 sufficiently large voltage from the thermo-cou Fig. 2), thereby controlling the flow of gas ple flame sensor device (not shown). This will from the gas supply bore 4 to the angularly only be the case if the flame sensor device disposed gas outlet bore 8. senses that there is a flame present at the The disc-type gas tap 3 shown in Fig. 2 respective gas burner. With the FFD 26 in the comprises a tap housing 23 through the top 125 'latched' position gas is free to flow from the of which extends an operating spindle 24 hav- gas outlet shaft 6, via the enlarged portion 8 ing a control knob 25 attached to it by means to the subsidiary gas outlet 11.

of which the operating spindle 24 and thus In order to effect the override or 'latching' the disc valve 20 may be rotated. The operat- of the FFD 26, in the arrangement of Fig. 2 ing spindle 24 is also provided with a niting 130 there is provided a shaft 36 located in the gas 3 GB2196732A 3 outlet bore 8, the shaft 36 having longitudinal 39 causes the shaft 36 in gas outlet bore 8 grooves along the length thereof to permit gas to act against the valve closure disc 32 and to flow along the bore 8. The right hand end, thus the shaft 31 of the FFD 26 to be moved as viewed in Fig. 2, of the shaft 36 is pro- to the 'latched' position. In this position gas vided with cone-shaped end portion 37 which 70 will flow to a respective gas burner via the is in sliding engagement with a corresponding gas outlet bore 8 and the subsidiary outlet cone-shaped end portion 38 of an FFD over- bore 11, the gas burner typically being pro ride shaft 39 which is carried in an extension vided with an automatic ignition device which of the tap housing 23 of the gas tap-3. will cause it to light, the lighting of-the burner The override shaft 39 is disposed substantially 75 being detected by the thermo-couple flame parallel to the operating spindle 24 of the gas sensor device associated with the gas burner tap 3 underneath the control knob 25, and is which in turn applies an appropriate voltage to axially movable such that when the override the FFD 26 to cause it to remain latched. The shaft 39 is depressed it causes the shaft 36 axial depression of the control knob 25 may to be moved towards the left as viewed in 80 then be released and the gas burner flame the drawing, this causing the closure disc 32 may be controlled by rotation of the control and thus the shaft 31 of the FFD 26 to be knob 25 in the normal way.

moved towards the left as shown in Fig. 2 In the arrangement thus far described it is thereby allowing gas to flow from the gas possible to effect override of the FFD 26 at outlet 8 to the subsidiary gas outlet 11 (Fig. 85 any angular rotation of the control knob 25.

1) and also permitting the shaft 31 to 'latch' Whilst this may be satisfactory in some appli once a gas burner flame has been detected by cations, in others it may be desirable to ar the thermo-couple flame sensor device (not range that the override can only be effected at shown) associated therewith. or near the position when the control knob is Axial movement of the override shaft 39 is 90 at its FULL ON position, this typically being at effected by a cantilevered spring steel strip 41 90' anticlockwise to the OFF position. This which is secured at one end 42 to the hous- may be effected by suitably contouring the ing 23 of the gas tap 3 by means of screw undersurface 47 of the central boss 48 of the 43 and which engages at the other end with a control knob 25 such that depression of the circumferential slot 44 in the top end of over- 95 strip 41 will only be effected at the FULL ON ride shaft 39. The strip 41 is also provided position.

with a central hole through which the Operat- In the arrangement thus far described with ing spindle 24 extends, the operating spindle reference to Fig. 2, it is necessary in order to 24 being provided with a stepped shoulder 45 effect override of the FFD 26 to cause the underneath the strip 41 and on which the 100 override shaft to be depressed by something strip 41 is supported. On diametrically oppo- like 3.0 mm although this may be reduced site sides of the operating spindle 24, the somewhat by various techniques. This means strip 41 is provided with raised portions 46 that the control spindle 24 of the disc-type the topmost parts of which contact the under gas tap also has to be capable of being de surface 47 of a central boss 48 of the control 105 pressed typically by 3. 0 mm. Such a large knob 25. depression of the control spindle 24 can ad- The operation of the arrangement of Fig 2 versely affect the operating characteristics of is as follows: the disc-type gas tap 3 which heretofore have Assuming the control knob 25 is in the OFF operated with a maximum axial depression of position. In this position gas flow from the 110 1.5 mm.

gas inlet bore 4 to the subsidiary gas outlet In Fig. 3 of the drawings there is depicted a 11 (Fig. 2) is prevented firstly by the gas tap modification of the arrangement of Fig. 2 in 3 being in the OFF position and secondly by which the control knob 25 is constituted by a means of the FFD 26, the closure disc 32 of two-part knob which enables the operating which is pressed against the valve seat 34 115 shaft 39 to be depressed by, say, 3.0 mm due to the spring 33. The control knob 25 is whilst limiting the depression of the control initially pressed downwards, typically by 1.5 spindle 24 to, say, 1.5 mm.

mm, in order to overcome the niting of the In Fig. 3 the override shaft 39 is provided disc-type gas tap 3 and it may then be ro- with its own return spring 50 which acts be tated anticlockwise in order to allow gas to 120 tween the top of the tap housing 23 and a, flow into the gas outlet 8. Once the niting has radially extending flange 51 which is secured been overcome the axial pressure on the con- to the top of the override shaft 39. The effect trol knob 25 may be released. In order to of the return spring 50 is to maintain the override the FFD 26 it is then necessary to override shaft 39 in its raised position, further depress the control knob 25, typically 125 thereby ensuring that no load is placed on the by 3.5 mm, which, due to the action of the FFD 26 via the interconnecting shaft 36.

central boss 48 acting on the strip 41, causes The control knob 25 in Fig. 3 consists of an the strip 41 to be depressed, which thus inner part 52, which is secured in the usual causes the override spindle 39 to be de- way to the control spindle 24 of the disc-type pressed. Depression of the operating spindle 130 gas tap 3, and an outer part 53 which is 4 GB2196732A 4 clipped over the inner part and retained ther- in the fragmentary view of Fig. 3A, on the eon by a number of integrally formed clips, inner peripheral wall of the outer part 53 of one of which is shown at 54. The outer part the control knob 25 locates above the top of 53 and the inner part 52 of the control knob the override shaft 39. When the outer part 53 25 are interlinked such that they can only be 70 of the control knob 25 is now depressed, the rotated together, but the outer part 53 is axi- shoulder 63 causes the operating shaft 39 to ally movable relative to the inner part 52, a be depressed the required amount in order to conically shaped compression spring 55 being effect latching of the FFD 26 dependent upon positioned between them to bias them axially the presence of a flame at the respective gas apart as shown in Fig. 3. 75 burner as has already been described. Once As shown in Fig. 3, the disc-type gas tap 3 the FFD 26 has latched, the axial depression together with the gas rail 1 is shown as being on the control knob 25 may be released, and located beneath a horizontally disposed panel it may be rotated as required in order to con 57, which might correspond to the spillage trol the flow of gas to the gas burner.

tray of a gas cooker or gas hob, the control 80 In the arrangements of Figs. 2 and 3, the spindle 24 of the gas tap 3 and the top part solenoid operated flame failure device 26 is of the override shaft 39 both extending up- contained within the confines of the gas rail 1.

wards through a hole 58 in the panel 57, the It is also envisaged that the FFD 26 may be control knob 25 being disposed above the provided in a separate housing which may be panel 57. 85 secured to the gas rail 1, this having the ad- In order to ensure that the FFD 26 override vantage that it can be used on existing gas can only be effected at the FULL ON position rail/disc tap arrangements. An arrangement in of the control knob 25, the outer part 53 which the FFD 26 is contained in a separate thereof is provided with a downwardly de- housing is shown in Figs. 4 to 6.

pending peg 56, the lower part of which is in 90 In Fig. 4 there is shown a gas rail 1 having close proximity with the panel 57 which pre- a machined upper surface 2 on which is vents the control knob 25 from being de- mounted a disc-type gas tap 3 having a con pressed unless the peg is positioned above a trol spindle 24 on which is mounted a control first slot 59 in the panel 57 at a position knob 25 of two part form which operates, in corresponding to the OFF position of the con- 95 principle, the same as the control knob 25 of trol knob or alternatively is positioned above a Fig. 3. Alongside the gas tap 3 and also second hole (not shown) in the panel 57 at a mounted on the upper surface 2 of the gas position corresponding to FULL ON of the rail 1 is an FFD housing 70, the lower part of control knob 25. which communicates with the normal gas outThe operation of the arrangement of Fig. 3 100 let bore 8 of the gas rail 1 and from the is as follows: upper part of which extends an operating Assuming the control knob 25 is at the OFF shaft 39 which corresponds essentially to the position. The peg 56 will be positioned above operating shaft 39 of Fig. 3. The FFD housing the slot 59 in the panel and the outer part 53 70 of Fig. 4 is shown in more detail in the of the control knob 25 can be axially de- 105 cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 and in the plan pressed until a point is reached where an in- view of Fig. 6. As will be appreciated espe ner abutment 60 on the inner part 53 con- cially from Fig. 5, the arrangement shown is tacts the lower inner part 61 of the spring 55. very similar to that already described with ref This axial movement may typically be 3.5 erence to Fig. 2 apart from the gas flow path mm. Further axial depression of the outer part 110 which is of necessity different to that of Fig.2.

53 of the control knob 25, typically 1.5 mm, In the Fig. 2 arrangement gas entered the gas now causes the inner part 52 to be axially outlet bore 8 via the passageway 7 in the gas depressed to enable the niting in the gas tap rail 1. The flow of gas through the bore 8 to 3 to be overcome. At this point, depression the subsidiary gas outlet 11 (Fig. 1) was then of the override shaft 39 is avoided by provid- 115 controlled by the FFD 26.

ing that the portions of the inner and outer As can be seen in Fig. 4, gas enters the parts of the control knob 25 that are above gas outlet bore 8 of the gas rail 1 in the usual the shaft 39 are cut-away to provide a cavity way but the end of the bore 8 is sealed by a 62. It is arranged that the length of the slot sealing ball 71 and the gas flow is directed 59 into which the peg 56 now extends, re- 120 upwards into the FFD housing 70 via a further stricts the rotation of the control knob 25 to, passageway 72. Turning now to Fig. 5, the say 10', which is sufficient to overcome the top surface 2 of the gas rail 1 is shown hav niting of the gas tap 3. Further rotation of the ing mounted on it the FFD housing 70. Gas control knob 25 is therefore prevented until enters the housing 70 via the further passage the axial pressure on it is released. Once re- 125 way 72 and is directed via passageways 73 leased, the control knob may be rotated to its and 74 in the housing 70 into the enlarged FULL ON position, in which position the peg portion 10' of the gas outlet bore 8' of the 56 locates above the second hole (not shown) housing 70. Gas flow into the gas outlet bore in the panel 57 and also in this position it is 8' is controlled by the FFD 26 as has already arranged that an internal shoulder 63, shown 130 been described. When the FFD 26 is 'latched', GB2196732A 5 gas enters the bore 8' from the enlarged por tion 10' and is fed out via a gas outlet 75 to an injector (not shown) of a respective gas burner (not shown).

The arrangement of Fig. 5 also differs from that of Figs. 2 and 3 in that the direction of gas flow tends to support the operation of the spring 33 to maintain the closure disc 32 on the valve seat 34. In the arrangements of Figs. 2 and 3, the direction of gas flow tends to oppose the action of the spring 33.

The operation of the arrangement of Figs. 4 to 6 is, in principle, the same as that for Fig.

3 and as such will not be repeated.

Claims (4)

1. A gaseous fuel flow control arrangement comprising a gaseous fuel supply conduit hav ing at least one external surface adapted to form part of the housing of a flow control valve which includes a rotatable flow control member movable relative to the external sur face or a part thereof to control the flow of gaseous fuel from a gas inlet to a gas outlet, control means for effecting rotation of said flow control means about an axis thereof, a flame failure device including a normally closed cut-off valve which is connected between said gas inlet and said gas outlet, and flame failure device override means, including an operating spindle disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from the axis of said flow control means, said control means being axially mov able to effect axial displacement of said oper ating spindle for causing said cut-off valve to be opened, a flame sensor device being pro vided which when operated is effective for causing said flame failure device to be oper ated to maintain the cut-off valve thereof open.

2. A gaseous fuel flow control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which said flame failure device is disposed in said conduit and said operating spindle is disposed within the - housing of said flow, control valve.

3. A gaseous fuel flow control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which the flame fail ure device and said operating spindle are pro vided in -a housing separate from said conduit and from said flow control valve, said housing being mounted on said surface adjacent said flow control valve.

4. A gaseous fuel flow control arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 atThe Patentoffice, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, StMary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD.

Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.

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