JP5117167B2 - Thermal power control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal power adjustment mechanism including an operation knob that is pushed in a fire extinguishing state and protrudes forward in a thermal power adjustment state.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known a gas stove configured such that an electric flow control valve is provided in a gas supply path for supplying gas to a gas burner, and the heating power of the gas burner is adjusted by controlling the opening degree of the flow control valve. In such a gas stove, an operation knob for adjusting thermal power is provided on the front surface, and a rotary encoder for detecting the operation angle of the operation knob is attached to the rear of the operation knob (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  When the operation knob is rotated, the rotary encoder detects the rotation amount, and the rotation amount is input to the control unit. A control part determines the opening degree of a flow control valve from the input rotation amount, operates the motor attached to the flow control valve so that it may become the determined opening degree, and increases / decreases the opening degree of a flow control valve.

  Since the operation knob and the flow rate control valve are not mechanically connected, the rotation range of the operation knob is not restricted. For example, even if the operation knob is turned and the flow control valve opening degree is maximized, the control section further increases the opening degree of the flow control valve. Therefore, it is not necessary to regulate the rotation range of the operation knob.

When igniting, it is necessary to set the opening of the flow control valve to an opening suitable for ignition, for example, an opening corresponding to medium fire, but the control unit automatically sets the opening of the flow control valve during ignition. Adjust to. When the operation knob is turned after ignition, the control unit increases or decreases the opening degree of the flow control valve with reference to a predetermined opening degree at the time of ignition, so there is no need to restrict the turning range of the operation knob. .
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-351521 (FIG. 2)

  As described above, when the operation knob and the flow control valve are not mechanically connected, it is not necessary to regulate the rotation range of the operation knob. The knob can be turned, and the operation knob can be continuously turned in the low heat direction even if the heat is actually low. For this reason, when adjusting the thermal power, the actual thermal power does not match the operational feeling with respect to the operation knob, and the user may feel uncomfortable. In addition, since the actual heating power and the rotation amount of the operation knob do not match in this way, there is a problem that the heating power must be adjusted by actually observing the heating power instead of the operation feeling with respect to the operation knob.

  Such a problem can be solved by providing a stopper or the like so as to restrict the rotation range of the operation knob to the heating power adjustment range even in a gas stove where the operation knob and the flow control valve are not mechanically connected. To do. However, the flow control valve is automatically set to a predetermined heating power at the time of ignition, but the operation knob is not mechanically connected to the flow control valve. No longer match. That is, for example, when the operation knob is ignited again in a state where it is extinguished at a low fire position, the operation knob remains in the low fire position, but the heating power is suitable for ignition, for example, medium fire. If you move to the medium fire position, the firepower will actually become a strong fire.

  When a motor is also attached to the operation knob and the flow control valve is set to a predetermined heating power at the time of ignition, at the same time, the operation knob is also rotated by the motor and automatically rotated to a position corresponding to the heating power at the time of ignition. However, it is necessary to provide a motor for the operation knob, and to add a program for controlling the motor to the control unit, resulting in a problem that the cost increases.

  Then, in view of said problem, this invention makes it a subject to provide the thermal power adjustment mechanism which can eliminate said malfunction.

In order to solve the above problems, a thermal power adjusting mechanism according to the present invention comprises a rotation angle detection means for controlling the opening degree of an electric flow control valve provided in a gas supply path for supplying gas to a gas burner, and the rotation angle. An operation knob connected to the detection means and a holding member that surrounds the operation knob and rotatably holds the operation knob are further held in a fire extinguishing state in which the operation knob is pushed into the holding member, and the fire is extinguished. In the thermal power adjustment mechanism that has a push-push mechanism that pushes the operation knob in the state further to release the holding in the fire extinguishing state and pushes the operation knob to the thermal power adjustment state that protrudes forward, the operation knob is in the thermal power adjustment state, the operation knob A slider that restricts the rotation range of the heater to the heating power adjustment range is provided on one of the operation knob and the holding member, and the slider contacts the stopper Provided on the other side, when the operation knob moves from the fire extinguishing state to the thermal power adjustment state, an ignition position setting unit is provided for contacting the slider and rotating the operation knob to a predetermined ignition position, and holding the operation knob. The slider is made movable so as to avoid the ignition position setting portion when being pushed in , and the slider is biased from the other side toward the one side so that the slider avoids the ignition position setting portion. The urging force is constant except when it is performed .

  When the slider comes into contact with the stopper portion, the rotation range of the operation knob is restricted to the heating power adjustment range. At the time of ignition, the operation knob is pushed forward by the push-push mechanism, and using the pushing force, the slider is guided by the ignition position setting unit to automatically move the operation knob to a position corresponding to the heating power at the time of ignition. Turn to. Note that the slider avoids the ignition position setting unit so that the ignition position setting unit does not get in the way during the fire extinguishing operation.

  When three pairs of the ignition position setting portion and the slider are provided at equal intervals around the operation knob, the force for rotating the operation knob acts evenly on the operation knob so that the operation knob can be smoothly moved. It can be rotated.

  As is clear from the above description, the present invention restricts the rotation range of the operation knob to the heating power adjustment range, so that the operation feeling and the heating power are matched, and the user can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable. Note that the position of the operation knob at the time of ignition can be rotated to a position corresponding to the thermal power at the time of ignition without providing a separate actuator such as a motor on the operation knob.

  Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a gas stove to which a thermal power control apparatus according to the present invention is applied. An operation knob 2 for adjusting the heating power of each gas burner (not shown) is provided on the front panel 11 of the gas stove 1 for each gas burner. The operation knob 2 is not ignited in the gas burner, that is, is pushed backward in the fire extinguishing state, and is held in a state of hardly protruding from the front panel 11. When the operation knob 2 held in the fire extinguishing state is further pushed backward, the holding mechanism holding the operation knob 2 in the fire extinguishing state is released, and the operation knob 2 is moved forward by a biasing force of a spring described later. Extruded. In this way, when the operation knob 2 is in the heating power adjustment state protruding forward, the micro switch (not shown) detects that the operation knob 2 is in the heat power adjustment state, and the gas burner corresponding to the operation knob 2 is turned on. Ignition is performed.

  The gas burner is provided with a gas supply pipe for supplying gas to the gas burner, and a flow control valve equipped with a motor is attached to the gas supply pipe. When the control knob 2 is in the heating power adjustment state, the control unit (not shown) sets the opening of the flow control valve to an opening corresponding to medium fire, and activates an igniter provided near the gas burner to ignite the gas burner. .

When the ignition of the gas burner is completed, the operation of the igniter is stopped, and thereafter, the opening degree of the flow control valve is adjusted so that the thermal power increases or decreases when the operation knob 2 is rotated. Note that the upper outer peripheral position of the operation knob 2 has a plurality of light emitting portions 12 is provided for displaying the heating power, emission number of light emitting portion 12 is increased or decreased changes according to the heating power.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the light emitting unit 12 is formed of a transparent resin. Light emitted from a light emitting diode 13 positioned behind the front panel 11 is guided into the light emitting unit 12 and visually observed from the front. In this state, the light emitting unit 12 is configured to look shining.

  The operation knob 2 can move forward and backward as described above, but the operation knob 2 is held by a holder 3 that is a holding member so as to be movable forward and backward. A rotary encoder 4 is fixed on the rotation center of the operation knob 2, and the rotary encoder 4 and the operation knob 2 are connected via a push-push mechanism 5. Therefore, when the operation knob 2 is rotated, the rotary encoder 4 is rotated in conjunction with the operation knob 2 and outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation amount. The control unit can detect the rotation amount of the operation knob 2 from the pulse signal.

  The push-push mechanism 5 includes a movable part 51 fixed to the operation knob 2, a fixed part 52 fixed to the rotary encoder 4 side, and a coil spring 53 contracted between the movable part 51 and the fixed part 52. Has been. In addition, when the operation knob 2 is pushed in from the heating power adjustment state in which the operation knob 2 protrudes as shown in FIG. 2 to put out the fire extinguishing state, the movable portion 51 engages with the fixed portion 52 and resists the biasing force of the coil spring 53. The movable portion 51 is held in a state of being engaged with the fixed portion 52. However, when the operation knob 2 is pushed in again, the engagement between the movable portion 51 and the fixed portion 52 is released, and the operation knob 2 is moved together with the movable portion 51. The coil spring 53 is configured to be pushed forward by the urging force.

  Three sliders 6 projecting radially outward are provided at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the rear end of the operation knob 2. The slider 6 is urged outward by a coil spring 61 and is always in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the holder 3, but can move radially inward against the urging force of the coil spring 61. It is held on the operation knob 2 so that it can be made.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a stopper portion 32 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the holder 3 to restrict the rotation range of the operation knob 2 in the heating power adjustment state to the heating power adjustment range. Therefore, if the operation knob 2 is rotated while the operation knob 2 is protruding, the slider 6 cannot be further rotated from the position where the slider 6 is in contact with the stopper portion 32.

  An ignition position is also provided on the inner peripheral surface of the holder 3 to automatically rotate the rotation position of the operation knob 2 to the medium fire position, which is the ignition heating power, when the operation knob 2 protrudes from the fire extinguishing state to the heating power adjustment state. A setting unit 31 is provided. The guide surface 31a on the rear side of the ignition position setting unit 31 is substantially perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface of the holder 3. Therefore, when the slider 6 moves forward from the rear of the ignition position setting unit 31, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, when the slider 6 abuts on the guide surface 31a, the slider 6 moves along the guide surface and passes through the passage 33 provided at the medium-fire position. Therefore, the turning position of the operation knob 2 is turned to the medium fire position on the way to the ignition state.

  The entire area of the front side surface of the ignition position setting portion 31, that is, the range sandwiched between the stopper portion 32 and the passage 33 is defined as the slope 31b. Therefore, when the operation knob 2 is pushed from the heating power adjustment state to the fire extinguishing state, the slider 6 climbs the slope 31b and further proceeds along the surface of the ignition position setting unit 31 to get over the ignition position setting unit 31. Become.

  3 formed of the stopper portion 32 and the ignition position setting portion 31 were formed in three sets at equal intervals on the inner peripheral surface of the holder 3 so as to correspond to the three sliders 6.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described form, You may add a various change in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

The figure which shows the structure of one embodiment of this invention Sectional view of the thermal power control mechanism according to the present invention The figure which shows the inner peripheral surface of a holder Diagram showing the locus of the slider

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas cooker 3 Holder 4 Rotary encoder 5 Push push mechanism 6 Slider 31 Ignition position setting part 31a Guide surface 31b Slope 32 Stopper part 33 Passage

Claims (2)

A rotation angle detecting means for controlling the opening degree of an electric flow control valve provided in a gas supply path for supplying gas to the gas burner, an operation knob connected to the rotation angle detection means, and surrounding the operation knob A holding member that rotatably holds the operation knob, holds the operation knob in a fire extinguishing state that is pushed into the holding member, and holds the operation knob in a fire extinguishing state by further pushing in the extinguishing operation knob. In the thermal power adjustment mechanism that has a push-push mechanism that releases and pushes the operation knob to the forward with the thermal power adjustment state, the operation knob is in the thermal power adjustment state and the stopper section that limits the rotation range of the operation knob to the thermal power adjustment range is operated. Provided on one of the knob and holding member, and provided on the other with a slider that contacts the stopper, and the operation knob adjusts the thermal power from the fire extinguishing state. An ignition position setting unit that contacts the slider and rotates the operation knob to a predetermined ignition position when moving to the state is provided, and the ignition position setting unit is avoided when the operation knob is pushed into the holding state. The slider is movable , the slider is urged from the other side toward the one side, and the urging force is constant except when the slider avoids the ignition position setting portion . A thermal power control mechanism characterized by that.   2. The thermal power adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein three pairs of the ignition position setting portion and the slider are provided at equal intervals around the operation knob.

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