GB2211917A - Gas taps - Google Patents

Abstract

A gas tap has a rotatable plug to control gas flow and this is mechanically connected to a linearly movable slider, so that movement of the slides results in rotation of the plug. The mechanical connections disclosed are a rack-and-pinion, a linkage 112, 114, and a Geneva wheel 226 and co-operating projections 250 on the slider 244. In the Fig. 5 embodiment the end of link 114 may form the slider. <IMAGE>

Description

GAS TAPS This invention relates to gas taps.

According to the invention a gas tap comprises a rotatable part which is arranged to be turned between at least two positions to control the flow of gas, said rotatable parts being coupled to a member which is linearly displaceable generally transversely of the axis of rotation.

The coupling may be a pinion on the rotatable part meshed with a rack on the linearly slidable part, but many alternative possibilities exist for example a crank and connecting rod arrangement, or a Geneva wheel system.

The invention is particularly useful in two distinct sets of circumstances: firstly for physically disabled people who sometimes have difficulty in grasping a small knob (as on a conventional gas tap) and turning that angularly for finely controlled movements as is necessary to adjust the flame (for example) of a gas cooker. or such people, a slider which can be pushed in a straight line may be easier to control, especially since there is the possibility of making a slider movable for a relatively large distance. The second circumstance is in connection with gas appliances particularly cookers of the kind provided with a lid intended to be folded down over the hob when the cooker is not in use.With such cookers, some means is required to turn off any tap which may have been accidentally left on when the lid is to be folded down, and/or prevent taps being turned on when the lid is in the folded down position covering the hob.

This can be done by making the lid interact with the linearly slidable part or actually engage the linearly slidable part so as to displace it to the off position.

Preferably detent means are provided for the linearly slidable parts to hold them in the off position and require extra pressure or additional movement to release them from that, as a safeguard against inadvertent movement which turns the gas ons Three embodiments of the invention are now more particularly described with reference to the accompany drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a plan of the first embodiments; Figure 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic rear elevation of a second embodiments; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 6 is a plan view of the same, Figure 7 shows a detail of the second embodiment Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the third embodiment. and Figure 9 is a sectional side view of the same.

Turning now to Figures 1 to 3, the tap body 10 is fixed to the gas rail 12 in the usual way and spindle 14 projects from the body and is required to be turned to allow flow of gas from the rail through the tap to a burner, or turned in the opposite direction to the off position to cut off that flow of gas.

Pinion 16 is fast with spindle 14 and is meshed with rack 18 formed on a carrier 20. The carrier traps a number of ball bearings, four in the illustration and indicated by the reference numeral 22 which run in longitudinal tracks formed in a member 26 which is adapted to be fixed to the appliance. Alternatively, the part 26 can be fixed to the tap and hence secured to the cooker or like via the gas rail.

Cover plate 30 is fixed to the carrier to be linearly displaced with the rack and control knob 32 is also fixed to the carrier and moves for example between the full line position of Figure 1 and the chain line of Figure 2 in movement between off and full on conditions of the tap.

Turning now to Figures 4 to 7 of the drawings, the tap therein shown has a body 110 containing a taper plug which is turned for example through 150 deg-. between off and full flow positions. The plug has a crank extension 112 pinned to one end of link 114 which has a slot 116 engaged with pin 118 carried by bracket 120.

The bracket itself, in this embodiment, forms a facia plate 122 which has a long narrow slot 124. The end 126 of the link 114 extends through he slot.

A slider, that is a knob, handle or the like, is guided by the slot and can be displaced linearly along the slot. In this embodiment, the slider is a top hat shaped part 130 having a flange 132 which is engaged behind the facia. One end of the slot. preferably that associated with off position of the gas supply, has detent or like engagement means holding the slider against unintentional movements of the same. This is a safety feature. For example the slot and part 130 may be arranged to allow an axial displacement of the part 130 into a slot enlargement, requiring displacement out of that enlargement before sliding movement. This can be done by the spring 136 displacing the part 130 in a direction away from the gas tap per se so that the additional movement required is to press-in the part 130 towards the gas tap.

However, instead of using a separate part 130 and spring 136 (Figure 4) the end of the link can itself form the slider.

It will be appreciated that the pin 140 coupling the link and crank swings in an arc concentric to the plug axis as the slider moves linearly along the facia, and that slot 116 moves relative to the pin 118 in such movements.

Turning now to Figures 8 and 9, the tap shown therein comprises a body 210, and a plug 212 which is to be turned angularly in the body to control flow of gas therethrough. The plug has a radial slot 214 to pick up a pin 216 carried by a drive connector 216 which is journalled in a fixed back plate 220 in a manner allowing limited movement of the connector along its axis. The drive connector has a face 222 with parallel flats to engage in a slot 224 in a Geneva wheel 226 held to the connector by spring clip 234. A spring 230 is interposed between the plug and connector to urge the peg axially of the plug so as to be engageable in a niting groove 232 having a lateral extension as best seen in Figure 9 to act as the safety detent. Screw 225 holds the assembly in position (see also Figure 9).

Fixed front plate 240 as a slot 242. and slider 244 lies behind the plate with an operating knob or lug 246 projecting through the slot. A handle or enlarged knob (not shown) can be fixed to that lu. The slider has two pins 245, 250 an one side, projecting rearwardly and located adjacent the edge of the bla@e spring 234. One of the pags angages in the radial slot 252 or the other engages in the slot 254 in the Geneva wheel anc tharrangement is such that in linear movement of the slider one per ovens radially outwards from the one slot as the other one moves radially inwards in the other slot with accompanied rotation of the Geneve wheel.

A safet; device is provided; y recess 247 which is engaged by lug 248 on the slider 244.

Assuming the gas tap to be in the off position then peg 21 G cannot turn annularly snout the plug axis until the lug 246 is moved axially to transmit force via the assembly to displace the lug 24E out of the recess 247.

Uhen this has occurred lug 246 can travel along the slot to move the plug annularly to an ON position. This angular movement is accomplished via the Geneva wheel as explained.

It will be appreciated that in any of the three versions the slidable part can be mad to engage with a cooker lid so that as the lid is moved to the closed position all of the sliders - ere more than one gas tap is provided - is displaced to the OFF position and appropriate detent engaged to hold them in that position against inadvertent movement even when the cooker lid is re-opened.

Similarly any of them can be provided with a relatively large handle for use by physically handicapped person such as an arthritic person.

Claims (15)

1. A gas tap comprising a rotatable part which is arranged to be turned between at least two positions to control the flow of gas, said rotatable parts being coupled to a member which is linearly displaceable generally transversely of the axis of rotation.

2. A gas tap as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the coupling is a crank extending radially of the axis of'rotation of the gas tap part, connected to a link pivoted between its ends and extending to the linearly displaceable member.

3. A gas tap as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the coupling is a pinion cn the rotatable part meshed with a rack on the linearly slidable part.

4. A gas tap as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the coupling is a Geneva wheel on the rotatable part connected to a drive pin on the slidable part.

5. A gas tap as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the link and its pivot are relatively displaceable transversely of the axis of the pivot.

6. A gas tap as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the link comprises telescopically slidable parts.

7. A gas tap as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the link has a slot fulcrummed on a fixed pivot pin.

8. A gas tap as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 7 wherein the linearly displaceable part is a slider movable along a slot, and detent means is provided between the slider and the slot at one end of the possible movement associated with the position of the gas tap, requiring a movement other than the sliding movement before the slider is free to move to one of the ON positions of the gas tap.

9. A gas tap as claimed in Claim 3 wherein a carrier track is secured to the tap and the linearly slidable part carrying the rack is guided for movement by said track.

10. A tap has claimed in Claim 9 wherein the linearly slidable part forms a carrier for ball bearings engaged with said track.

11. A tap as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the tap is associated with a housing provided with a slot and the slidable part is movable along the length of said slot, the slidable part carrying the drive pins engaged with the Geneva wheel slots.

12. A tap as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the Geneva wheel is connected to the gas tap by a drive coupling comprising a pin movable relative to an axial slot in the tap part arranged for turning, said pin being located in a niting slot in the tap, and the drive coupling being axially displaced against spring means for niting engagement and disengagement.

13. A gas tap substantially as described with reference to igures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A gas tap substantially as described with reference to Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A gas tap substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.