JPH0417326B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field] The present invention relates to an electromagnetic gas valve and a thermocouple gas safety device using a dry battery and a thermocouple as an operating power source for the gas valve.

[Prior art] A thermocouple type gas safety device, which is widely used in bathtubs and instant water heaters, is used to prevent the risk of gas leakage due to the pilot burner going out.
The thermoelectromotive force generated by the pilot burner as a heat source is used to keep the electromagnetic gas safety valve open, which is normally kept closed, by the action of electromagnetic force. The gas safety valve must be forced open by some means until the desired level is reached. Keep the electromagnetic gas safety valve and the electromagnetic gas main valve open or closed for a certain period of time at the beginning of the ignition operation, that is, until the electromotive force of the thermocouple is sufficiently increased and until the gas main valve is ignited. Conventionally, the method for continuing this operation has been to manually press and hold the valve actuation button for a certain period of time, or to rely on power supplied directly from a dry cell battery. However, manual methods are cumbersome to operate, and ignition failures often occur due to insufficient pressing pressure or insufficient pressing time. In addition, a lock mechanism that uses a battery directly as a power source requires a relatively costly switching mechanism with a thermocouple electromotive force sensor or a separate switching mechanism with a timer mechanism to supply control current to the safety valve for a desired period of time. I had to do it, and the batteries used up pretty quickly, so I couldn't ignore the hassle of replacing them.

[Object of the Invention] The object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic gas safety valve and a thermocouple gas safety device using a dry battery and a thermocouple as the operating power source of the safety valve. The aim is to simplify the mechanism for opening the main valve and keeping the main valve closed, and to delay battery consumption.

[Structure of the Invention] The thermocouple gas safety device of the present invention includes an electromagnetic gas safety valve that is provided in a gas supply path and opens when excited, and a pilot burner that is provided in a sub-branch gas supply path downstream of the safety valve. an electromagnetic gas main valve that is interposed in the main branch gas supply path downstream of the safety valve and opens when excited; a main burner that is arranged in parallel with the pilot burner and provided at the tip of the main valve; a sparker assembled close to the pilot burner, a thermocouple assembled close to the pilot burner and electrically connected in parallel with the electromagnetic gas safety valve, and a dry cell battery having a capacitor electrically connected to the fulcrum and electrically connected to the charging side contact. between a first switch for charging, a second switch for electrically connecting the sparker and the battery in conjunction with switching of the first switch to the discharge side contact, and the discharge side contact and each valve; The electromagnetic gas main valve and the electromagnetic gas safety valve are energized by the discharge current of the capacitor during the required time after the first switch is switched to the discharge side contact, and after the required time, the thermoelectric gas main valve and the electromagnetic gas safety valve are energized. A resistor is provided to prevent only the electromagnetic gas main valve from being energized by the electromotive force of the pair.

[Actions and Effects of the Invention] With the above configuration, the thermocouple type gas safety device of the present invention has the following effects.

(Function) Initially, the fulcrum of the first switch is on the charging side,
The capacitor is fully charged by the dry battery.

When igniting, the fulcrum of the first switch is switched to the discharge side contact.

The electromagnetic gas safety valve and main valve are energized by the discharge of the capacitor, the safety valve body opens, and the main valve closes. In conjunction with the above switching, the second switch is closed, the sparker and the dry battery are electrically connected, and the pilot burner is ignited by the spark.

After the required time, the electromagnetic gas main valve is no longer excited by the discharge current of the capacitor and closes. In addition,
The electromagnetic gas safety valve is kept energized by the electromotive force of the thermocouple and kept open.

Due to the resistance, the electromagnetic gas main valve will not be energized and closed by the electromotive force of the thermocouple after the required time has elapsed.

(Effect) With a simple mechanism, the electromagnetic gas safety valve and main valve can be reliably opened and closed for the required time at the beginning of ignition.

Since battery power is used only to energize the sparker and charge the capacitor, battery consumption is low.

When igniting, the sparker makes a direct electrical connection to the dry battery, so the spark strength does not weaken and gas ignition can be performed safely and reliably.

[Example] Next, a thermocouple type gas safety device of the present invention will be described based on an example shown in the drawings.

The thermocouple type gas safety device of the present invention includes a dry battery DC,
A relatively large-capacity capacitor C acts as a secondary power source, and the electric power stored in the capacitor C is transferred to an electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 provided in the gas supply path B and an electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 provided in the gas supply path B downstream thereof. A two-contact switch SW1 has the role of switching the circuit for supplying the main valve 4, and a switch SW2 has the function of turning on and off the current from the dry battery DC to the pilot burner ignition sparker 11, which works in conjunction with this switch SW2. There is a circuit (Fig. 1) for charging the capacitor C by a dry battery DC, and a circuit for controlling the discharge of the capacitor C,
Solenoid gas safety valve 2 and solenoid gas main valve 4
It consists of resistors R1 and R2 that adjust the current flowing to the thermocouple and prevent the current generated by the thermocouple from flowing into the electromagnetic gas main valve 4, and a thermocouple 13 that supplies power to the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2. ing.

The arrangement of these main components is shown in FIG.

An electromagnetic gas main valve 4 is interposed in the gas supply path B downstream of the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2, and a main burner 19 is provided beyond the electromagnetic gas main valve 4. Further, downstream of the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2, a pilot burner valve 3 is installed in parallel with the electromagnetic gas main valve 4, and a pilot burner 12 is installed ahead of the pilot burner valve 3. An igniter 18 and a thermocouple 13 are assembled in close proximity to the pilot burner 12.

Next, the structure and operation of the safety device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, which are a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view.

The ignition operating shaft 1 is attached to the top surface of the safety device casing A, which is almost box-shaped as a whole and is also a gas retention space, and the ignition operation shaft 1 is provided in contact with each wall surface of the casing A surrounding this shaft 1. An electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 equipped with a valve body 2a that controls opening and closing of the gas inlet, a pilot burner valve 3, and a gas supply path B downstream of the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 for introducing and shutting off gas to the main burner 19.
The valve is operated against the action force of an electromagnetic gas main valve 4 having a valve body 4a and a built-in spring for keeping each of these valves 2, 3, and 4 normally closed or open. The cams 7, 9, 10 attached to the ignition operating shaft 1 for applying a mechanical action force for release, the pressing piece 5 interlocked with the cams 7, 9, 10, and the desired current for opening and closing the solenoid valve. An interlocking switch SW1 controls the charging and discharging of a relatively large capacity capacitor C charged by a dry battery DC to supply the power for the required time at each time, and a switch SW2 for switching on and off the power to the pilot burner igniter 18. Switch SW2 ON/OFF
The main elements are a cam 10 and a spindle 6 that interlock with each other, and an ammeter 21 for measuring the electromotive force of the thermocouple 13, a neon lamp 22 for igniting the sparker, and a dry heating prevention switch 23 are attached. It is made up of:

The operation of the safety device having the above-mentioned configuration will be sequentially explained below.

Figures 3 and 4 depict the plane and longitudinal section of the safety device when the ignition operating shaft 1 of the safety device is in the “knob stop” position, as well as an electric circuit diagram that controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valve. In FIG. 1, the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 is pushed by a spring a and is in a closed state. The pilot burner valve 3 is kept closed by a spring b. The electromagnetic gas main valve 4 is forcibly pushed by the pressing piece 5 and is in a closed state. A pair of switch SWs in an interlocking relationship
1 and SW2 are connected to spindle 6 by the action of spring c.
is returned, SW2 is opened, and the charging side contact of SW1 is placed in the closed state. As a method for interlocking the switches SW1 and SW2, another interlocking mechanism may be used instead of the spindle 6.

Next, Figures 5, 6, and 1 depict the plane and longitudinal cross-sections of the safety device when the ignition operating shaft 1 is rotated counterclockwise to nearly 90 degrees, that is, to the "knob open" state. When the ignition operating shaft 1 rotates, the protrusion 8 is rotated by the action of the cam 7 to open the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2, and the pilot burner valve 3 begins to open against the action of the spring b by the action of the cam 9. . At this time, the cam 10 works to pull the spindle 6 against the spring c, and the two switches SW
1 and SW2 are switched, current flows through the electromagnets of the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 and the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2, the sparker 11 works, the pilot burner 12 ignites, and then an electromotive force is generated in the thermocouple 13. occurs, and the pointer of the ammeter 12 begins to swing.
At that time, the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 and the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 are forcibly attracted by the electricity held by the relatively large capacity condenser C, and the neon lamp 2
2 is also lit. Here, a dry battery DC of 1.5V is used, and a capacitor C with a capacity of, for example, 6.8F and 1.8V is required in order to achieve the purpose of the present invention.

Approximately 10 seconds is appropriate for the time span during which the power stored in the capacitor can be effectively taken out, and this time span is determined by selection of resistors R1 and R2, capacitor capacity, etc. The functions of the resistors R1 and R2 are (a) limiting the current from the capacitor C to arbitrarily set the release time of the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 and the electromagnetic gas main valve 4;

(b) Ammeter 21 due to the current from capacitor C
Make sure that the pointer does not swing until ignition.

(c) Prevent the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 from continuing to be attracted by the electromotive force of the thermocouple 13.

Three points can be raised. The resistance value is R1=R2
Even if the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 is connected to the ammeter 2
1. Since the dry boil prevention switch 23 and the like are connected in parallel, the disconnection time of the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 is longer than that of the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2. Unless the detachment time of the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 is set longer than that of the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2, a safety problem will occur. For the reasons mentioned above, the relationship between the resistance values of the electric circuit components must be determined as follows.

R1, R2 > MVR (resistance of electromagnetic gas main valve 4), SVR (resistance of electromagnetic gas safety valve 2), TCR
(Resistance of thermocouple 13) R1 and R2 should have almost the same resistance value, and MVR,
SVR and TCR have almost the same resistance value.

The plane and longitudinal sections of the safety device at a time after the ignition operating shaft 1 has been rotated to the terminal position and the discharge voltage of the capacitor C has decreased are shown in the seventh and eighth figures.

For about 10 seconds until the capacitor C starts discharging and its effective voltage drops, the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 and the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 are forcibly attracted by the electric power held in the capacitor C. However, the voltage generated by the thermocouple 13 also increases gradually, and this voltage is added to the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2. Resistance R
1 does not add to the electromagnetic gas main valve 4. The power held in capacitor C is then gradually released.

When the voltage applied to the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 decreases to the extent that it loses its adsorption holding force, the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 is released from the forced force, and the electromagnetic gas main valve 4
The main burner 19 is opened by the action of the spring d, gas flows through the main burner 19, and the gas appliance is put into use. At the same time, the lock piece 20 is locked by the action of spring d.
is removed, and the spindle 6 is returned by spring c.
SW2 switches from closed to open, and SW1 switches from open to closed. Then, the sparker 11 stops, the neon lamp 22 goes out, and charging of the capacitor C starts. At first, the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 is forcibly attracted by the power of the condenser C, but halfway through, the power generated by the thermocouple 13 is added, and the gas continues to be attracted.

When the ignition control shaft 1 is rotated clockwise to bring it to the "knob stop" position, the pressure piece 5 is actuated by the action of the cam 9, and the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 is forcibly pushed. At the same time as the gas supply to the burner 19 is stopped, the pilot burner valve 3 is closed by the cam 9, and the gas supply to the pilot burner 12 is stopped. The thermocouple 13 then begins to cool down, the voltage supplied to the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 drops, and the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 also closes, returning to the initial "knob stop" state.

FIG. 9 also shows the thermocouple 13, electromagnetic gas safety valve 2, and electromagnetic gas while the ignition operating shaft 1 is changed from the "knob stop" position to the "knob open" position and then back to the "knob stop" position. The voltage of main valve 4,
The vertical axis shows the interrelationships between the movements of the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2, the electromagnetic main gas valve 4, the pilot burner valve 3 and SW2, the function of the sparker 11, and changes in the gas supply state to the pilot burner 12 and main burner 19. It is finally shown as a horizontal line diagram that changes in the direction.

Switch SW that allows dry battery current to flow through the sparker 11 when turned from “knob stop” to “knob open”
2 is closed, and at the same time SW1 is interlocked to allow the electric power stored in the capacitor C to flow into the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 and the electromagnetic gas main valve 4. The former is opened and the latter is closed for about 10 seconds until the capacitor C finishes discharging. keep it in a closed state. During this time, the thermocouple 13 heated by the pilot burner 12 that was ignited gradually increases its electromotive force, and at least after the ignition operation.
Within 10 seconds, the level required to keep the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 open is reached. On the other hand, as the condenser power supplied to the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 weakens, the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 is opened and the main burner 19 starts combustion. When the thermocouple 13 is returned to the "knob" position, the electromotive force of the thermocouple 13 weakens, the electromagnetic gas safety valve 2 is closed by the spring force, and the electromagnetic gas main valve 4 is mechanically blocked.

Figures 10 and 11 show changes in the voltage or position of each main component on the ignition operating axis when the voltage of the dry battery DC is decreasing and when gas is not being supplied, as in Figure 9. This is a time chart graphed in response to the movement of No. 1, and it can be seen that all of them operate with fail-safety.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit that controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valve, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the operating system of the main components of the safety device of the present invention, and Figs. 3 and 4 are the thermoelectric circuit of the present invention. The top view and longitudinal cross-sectional view of the safety device when the lowering operation shaft of the twin gas safety device is in the “knob stop” position, and Figures 5 and 6 are also shown when the ignition control shaft is in the “knob open” position. A top view and a vertical sectional view of the safety device when the capacitor discharge voltage is sufficiently high, and Figures 7 and 8 show the safety device when it is in the “knob open” position and the capacitor voltage has decreased. Figure 9 is a time chart for explaining the operation, Figure 10 is a top view and longitudinal sectional view of
The figure and FIG. 11 are time charts for a state in which the voltage of the dry battery is decreasing and a state in which gas is not supplied. In the figure, 2...electromagnetic gas safety valve, 11...sparker, 12...pilot burner, 13...
Thermocouple, B...Gas supply path, C...Capacitor, DC...Dry battery, R1, R2...Resistance, SW
1...2 contact switch (first switch), SW
2...Switch (second switch).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An electromagnetic gas safety valve that is installed in a gas supply path and opens when excited; a pilot burner that is installed in a secondary branch gas supply path downstream of the safety valve; and a main branch downstream of the safety valve. an electromagnetic gas main valve that is interposed in a gas supply path and opens when excited; a main burner that is arranged in parallel with the pilot burner and provided at the tip of the main valve; and a sparker that is assembled in close proximity to the pilot burner. a thermocouple assembled in the vicinity of the pilot burner and electrically connected in parallel with the electromagnetic gas safety valve; and a first switch that charges a capacitor electrically connected to a fulcrum with a dry battery electrically connected to a charging side contact. , a second switch that electrically connects the sparker and the battery in conjunction with switching of the first switch to the discharge side contact; and a second switch that is interposed between the discharge side contact and each valve and that connects the first switch to the discharge side contact. The electromagnetic gas main valve and the electromagnetic gas safety valve are energized by the discharge current of the capacitor for the required time after switching to the discharge side contact of the switch, and after the required time, the electromotive force of the thermocouple is used to excite the electromagnetic gas main valve and the electromagnetic gas safety valve. A thermocouple type gas safety device equipped with a resistor that prevents only the type gas main valve from being energized.