GB2264770A

GB2264770A - Gas taps

Info

Publication number: GB2264770A
Application number: GB9304664A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert James
Original assignee: Concentric Controls Ltd
Current assignee: Concentric Controls Ltd
Priority date: 1992-03-07
Filing date: 1993-03-08
Publication date: 1993-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-08
Also published as: GB9304664D0; GB2264770B

Abstract

A barbecue tap to control gas from an LP bottle to a pair of burners has a single body containing a plug valve which can be rotated so that in sequence it goes from an off position through an on position connecting one of the burners, and then to a position connecting both of the burners. A piezo-electric device is arranged to be operated to light one of the burners and a flame failure device to cut off all flow of gas when the flame is extinguished. <IMAGE>

Description

GAS TAPS This invention relates to gas taps. It is known to use liquified petroleum gas for portable appliances for example barbecues. A conventional arrangement of these is to have two burners supplied from a common gas bottle via individual taps. The user instructions state that the burners are to be lit sequentially using first one tap, and after satisfactory establishment of flame, using the other.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements.

According to the invention, a gas tap comprises a single body, a single inlet to the body, a taper plug reciprocally rotatable in a complementary bore in the body between one position in which a pair of separate outlets from the body are connected to said inlet, through a second position in which said inlet is connected to a predetermined one of said outlets but not to the other, and a third position in which neither of said outlets is connected to said inlet.

Preferably a piezo-electric igniter is associated with the tap, and arranged so that a spindle which is rotatable to turn said plug between said positions is also axially displaceable to operate the niter.

Preferably a flame failure device is associated with a burner fed from the outlet which is supplied when the tap is in said second position, and connected to the tap in such a manner that if there is no flame present at that burner, the gas supply is automatically cut-off.

This too may be connected to the said axially displaceable spindle so that axial displacement may hold a valve open against a spring, and a magnet connected to the flame failure device also (when energised by a flame at the burner) holds open the valve. So the operation is for the spindle to be displaced to ignite the gas, and held displaced whilst a flame operates the magnet. and then the spindle may be released.

The invention is further illustrated and described with reerence to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a barbecue tap according to the prior art: Figure 2 is a plan vie taken in the direction of the arrow A, Figure 1, showing the known barbecue tap; Figure 3 is a plan view of the barbecue tap of the invention: Figure 4 is a side elevation of the barbecue tap of the invention: Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 3 and 4 showing a barbecue tap of the invention with piezo ignition; Figures 7 and 8 are similar to Figures 3 and 4 showing the barbecue tap of the invention with a flame failure device fitted; and Figures 9 and 10 are similar to Figures 3 and 4 showing a barbecue tap of the invention with both piezo ignition and a flame failure device fitted.

Referring to the drawings, the prior art arrangement uses a pair of separate bodies 10 12 each of which contains a plug valve turned by a corresponding spindle 14 16 between on and off conditions. The bodies 10 12, which are mirror images of one another, have their inlets connected to a common manifold 18 connected to supply for example to a gas bottle at 20 and with the possibility of a flame failure device connected to bore 22 for the purpose of closing the gas supply and preventing any reaching either of the bodies 10 12 unless and until a flame is established at one burner. Each of the bodies 10 12 is individually connected to a separate one of the burners.

Turning now to the invention and first to Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that there is only a single body 30 provided with an inlet connection 32 and a pair of outlet connections 34 36 which are supplied with gas together when the spindle 38 is in one position, and only one of them for example the outlet 36 may be supplied when the spindle is in another position, and neither will be supplied when the spindle is in a third position.

In Figures 5 and 6 the arrangement is the same as in Figures 3 and 4 except that a piezo ignition device 40 is fitted to the spindle allowing the spindle to be displaced axially relative to the valve plug (not shown) so as to actuate the igniter and cause a spark at one of the burners to light the gas. It is assumed that the spindle has been turned to the position at which the first burner is supplied with gas for this purpose, and preferably the arrangement is such that the axial displacement is only possible when the angular position of the spindle is appropriate for the purpose. This can be done by providing the spindle with a particular cross section and making an aperture in a part 40 through which the spindle slides which is appropriate to receive that cross section but only when appropriately angularly aligned.

The arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8 is also the same as that in Figures 3 and 4 except that in this instance a flame failure device 70 is fitted, in the form of a valve which is springloaded to close the inlet and prevent gas reaching either of the outlets, the valve being arranged to be displaced and held open by axial displacement of the spindle, and again such axial displacement may be possible only in a particular angular position of the spindle. There is also an electromagnet provided to hold the valve in the open position when the spindle is released, providing an appropriate electric current is supplied, and this is due to the existence of a steady flame at the associated burner.

The arrangement in Figures 9 and 10 is the same as that in Figures 3 and 4 except that there is both a piezo ignition device and a flame failure device fitted. This is the preferred form of the invention.

Claims

1. A gas tap comprising a single body, a single inlet to the body, a taper plug reciprocally rotatable in a complementary bore in the body between one position in which a pair of separate outlets from the body are connected to said inlet, through a second position in which said inlet is connected to a predetermined one of said outlets but not to the other, and a third position in which neither of said outlets is connected to said inlet.

2. A gas tap as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a piezoelectric igniter is associated with the tap and arranged so that a spindle which is rotatable to turn said plug between said positions is also axially displaceable to operate the igniter.

3. A gas tap according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a flame failure device is associated with a burner fed from the outlet which is supplied when the tap is in said second position, and connected to the tap in such a manner that if there is no flame present at that burner, the gas supply is automatically cut off.

4. A gas tap substantially as described with reference to any of Figures 3-10 of the accompanying drawings.