MXPA01000999A

MXPA01000999A - Electronic gas-lighting device

Info

Publication number: MXPA01000999A
Application number: MXPA/A/2001/000999A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Massimo Aleardi; Raoul Bianchi
Original assignee: Massimo Aleardi; Raoul Bianchi; Miller Europe Spa
Priority date: 1998-07-28
Filing date: 2001-01-26
Publication date: 2001-11-21

Abstract

An electronic gas-lighting device having a casing defined by a cup-shaped body made of electrically insulating material;electronic high-voltage-pulse generating means housed in an inner cavity of the casing accessible through a mouth of the cup-shaped body;and at least one output terminal connected to the electronic pulse generating means and housed through a respective seating duct formed integrally with a bottom wall of the cup-shaped body. A connecting board carrying an electric circuit and extending the full length of the cup-shaped body is positioned substantially closing the mouth, inside the cavity, and carries, on a first face facing the cavity, all the electronic pulse generating means connected mechanically and electrically to one another and to the board by the board itself and the circuit, so as to be housed in one continuous compartment defined by the inner cavity of the casing and by the connecting board, and so as to be embedded, together with the connecting board, in a matrix of insulating polymer resin which fills the whole of the cavity up to a point substantially flush with the mouth of the cavity. The board has at least one through opening enabling the polymer resin to be poured into the casing with the board already in position.

Description

ELECTRONIC GAS LIGHTER DEVICE FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic gas lighter device that is economical and easy to assemble, and can be adapted to a metallic body member fe1 driver of an electrical household appliance, in particular a gas stove burner, to light the burners. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Gas stove burners are well known that have built-in electric or electronic lighters, which are manually operated by pressing buttons that generate a spark through which one of the gas burners of the stove is ignited. Known gas lighters comprise a current discharge generating circuit connected to one or more output terminals, where each is connected by a conducting cable to an electrode located in the vicinity of a burner to be ignited: the electrodes are grounded through the stove to which they are adapted. In this way, a spark is generated between each electrode and each burner each time a discharge of high voltage current is generated in the circuit. In a first known type of gas lighter, the various electrical and electronic components of the circuit are housed in a cup-shaped body that defines a compartment made of non-conductive material .3? L £ .- ~~ (typically a polymer) and divided by an inner wall * "in prime compartments q ^ and second from which, **; £ respectively, the supply terminals and the output terminals are extended; the output terminals are connected with respective secondary coils of a transformer, in turn connected with a voltage driver; the coils are housed in the first sub compartment of the compartment and are embedded in an electrically insulating polymer resin from which the supply cables of the primary coils emerge; the cables are connected by connectors, or are welded to the other components of the circuit, which are normally placed on a printed circuit together with the components of an electronic filter, if there is one, to filter any electromagnetic noise produced by generating high voltage pulses; and the printed circuit, together with the electronic components, are housed in the second subcompartment that is closed with a removable cover. Accordingly, the devices of this first type are expensive and their assembly is prolonged, due to the electrical connections between the components in the two subcompartments, and the cost of assembling the cover in the second subcompartment. In addition, in such devices the components of the pulse generator circuit (except for the transformer) are arranged rather close to one another, and to the supply terminals. In a second tip > known as a gas lighter, the generator circuit is embedded in its entirety within a block of polymeric resin which therefore replaces the compartment. However, this type of device is also expensive to assemble, since all the components and their respective connector cables must be assembled without any available support and directly inside the molds in which the resin is poured. As such, devices of this type are viable only if cheap labor is available. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic gas lighter device of the type described, but designed to eliminate the disadvantages described above and which, in particular, is quick, easy and inexpensive to assemble, can even be assembled automatically, and allow electronic components to be located at a considerable distance from the supply terminals. In accordance with the present invention, an electronic gas lighter device is provided for spark igniting when at least one respective burner in an oven, wherein the device comprises a of cup and electronic device high voltage pulse generator housed in an internal cavity of the compartment, where the cavity is accessible through an opening of the cup-shaped body opposite to and oriented? < towards a lower wall of the cup-shaped body%; and, for each burner, at least one output terminal connected to the electronic high voltage pulse generating device and housed through a respective settlement duct in the compartment; further characterized in that it comprises a connector board on which an electrical circuit is placed and which extends throughout the length of the cup-shaped body; where the connector board is essentially placed closing the opening, but still inside the cavity, and supporting, on a first side facing the cavity, all electronic high-voltage pulse generators connected mechanically and electrically with each other and with the connector board by the connector board itself, and where the circuit is supported by the connector board, so that the electronic devices generating high voltage pulses are housed in a continuous compartment defined by the compartment cavity and by the connector board; electronic high-voltage pulse generating devices are embedded, together with the tablery ^ connector, in a matrix of insulating polymeric resin that fills the entire cavity to a point essentially level with the opening; where the connector board possesses at least one inlet opening which allows the polymeric resin to be poured into the compartment, with *% $ £ connector board placed closing the opening. More specifically, the settlement duct in the compartment projects outward from the lower wall of the cup-shaped body, is integral with the cup-shaped body, and is located on the opposite side of the opening; and electronic high-voltage pulse generating devices comprise at least one transformer, which in turn comprises a secondary coil on a tubular insulating support, and a primary coil housed within the tubular insulating support and coaxial with the secondary coil; each end of the secondary coil is connected to its respective output terminal, which is defined by a flat blade connector defined by two opposite faces and mechanically supported by the tubular insulating support, so that the faces are parallel to the axes of the coils. The connector board also preferably comprises at least one supply terminal in a first longitudinal end of the connector board, located in a first end of the compartment; and at least one ground contact at a second longitudinal end of the connector board, opposite first and located at a second end of the compartment. The gas lighter device according to the present invention is M§-fr consequently extremely compact in comparison to similar known devices, while at the same time it is easy and economical to produce, easy to assemble and easy to adapt in the oven, 10 and allows to easily locate an electrical or electronic component with ground connection as far as possible from the end with the supply terminals. This is particularly useful, for example, in case the device comprises an electronic noise filter, whose ground connection is extremely cheap and easy, and does not involve complex assembly operations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an enlarged top plan view of the gas lighter device in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 shows a longitudinal side section 25 of the device of Figure 1, partially assembly. Figure 3 shows a top flat view of the device of Figure 1, fully assembled. Figure 4 shows a section on line IV-IV of Figure 3. Figures 5, 6 and 7 show larger-scale schematic sections of the respective details of the device of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figures 1 to 7, the number 1 indicates the entirety of an electronic gas igniter device adaptable to a known stove 2, which e.e shows only partially and schematically, for simplicity. The device 1 comprises a compartment 2 made of electrically insulating material, defined by a cup-shaped body 4, and having an internal cavity 5 which houses the electronic high-voltage pulse generating devices 6; an edge 8 of the cup-shaped body 4 defines an opening 9 allowing access to the cavity 5. In the non-limiting example shown, the cup-shaped compartment 3 comprises a substantially opposite bottom wall 10 opposite and oriented towards the opening 9; and four side walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 projects perpendicularly from the lower wall 10, and define respective external lateral faces of the 'aw,. "«? Í compartment 3 and respective portions of the edge 8. The high-voltage pulse-generating electical devices 6 comprise a transformer 15 and a voltage driver 16, both essentially known, and possibly several electrical or electronic components also known (not described) in detail for simplicity) that together define a high-voltage pulse generator electric circuit 17 (operating in a known manner). The electric circuit 17 preferably also comprises an electromagnetic noise suppressor device 18, for example an essentially known electronic noise filter. The transformer 15 is essentially cylindrical and comprises a primary coil 21 and two secondary coils 22 and 23 identical; the primary coil 21 is wound around a cylindrical core 24 of magnetic material (typically ferrite); and the secondary coils 22 and 23 are coaxial and concentric with respect to the primary coil 21, they are located radially outwardly relative to the primary coil 21, and are longitudinally separated from each other. In particular, the secondary windings 22 and 23 are wound around respective essentially cylindrical tubular insulating supports 25 made of, for example, polymeric insulating material; and the primary coil 21 is inserted coaxially inside the tubular supports 25. In accordance with a Known construction solution, the coils of the secondary coils 22 and 23I1 are housed in several annular seats defined by respective radial flanges in the; external lateral surfaces of the tubular supports 25, so that the tubular supports 25 mechanically support the respective secondary coils 22 and 23, and the primary coil 21 inserted inside the tubular supports. The secondary coils 22 and 23 are connected, at respective opposite ends, with respective pairs of output terminals 26 and 27, where each of them, to be used, supply their corresponding burner of the stove 2. In particular, the terminals output 26 and 27 are defined by respective flat blade connectors made, for example, of conductive metal and where each is defined by two opposite faces 28 and 29. In accordance with the present invention, connectors 26 and 27 are mechanically supported by tubular supports 25, so that the faces 28 and 29 are parallel to the axes of the coils 21, 22 and 23. The connectors 26 and 27 are housed through respective settling ducts 30 defined per respective tubular projections formed integrally with the compartment 3, and projecting perpendicularly outwardly from the bottom wall 10, on the opposite side of the opening 9. Near a first longitudinal end 31 of L compartment 3, the lower wall 10 also possesses two other settling ducts 32 for the respective supply terminals 33 of the electric circuit 17, which may also be advantageously defined by flat connectors of blade as the output terminals 26 and 27. The device 1 also comprises fast adapting devices 35 for adaptation to a conductive metal body element of an appliance appliance, in particular to a conductive surface 36 of the stove 2. In the example not limiting shown in Figures 1 to 7, fast adapting devices 35 comprising the snap-in connector elements 37 integrally formed with the compartment 3, projecting outward from the side wall 11 of the compartment 3, extend essentially parallel to each other. the bottom wall 10, and are joined with respective retainer seats 38 formed on the surface conductive 36 of the stove 2. In accordance with the present invention, the electrical circuit 17 of the device 1 is supported by a connector board 40 that extends along the length of the cup-shaped body 4 defining the compartment 3; the connector board 40 is essentially placed closing the opening 9 of the cavity 5, but still inside the cavity 5, and defines, together with the cavity 5, a continuous compartment 41; the connector board 40 supports, on a first face 42 facing the cavity 5, electronic high-voltage pulse generating devices 6 which are therefore completely housed within the continuous compartment 41; and the electronic high-voltage pulse generating devices 6 are mechanically and electrically connected to each other and to the connected board 40 through the connector board itself and the electrical circuit 17. In the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 7, the connector board 40 is a flat rectangular board inserted into the cavity 5 of the compartment 3, parallel to the bottom wall 10 of the compartment 3, and with the first face 42 facing the bottom wall 10. The electronic pulse generating devices high voltage 6 and the connector board 40 are embedded in a matrix 43 of insulating polymeric resin that fills the entire cavity 5 to a point essentially level with the opening 9. To allow the polymeric resin to be poured into the cavity 5 with the connector board 40 already placed closing the opening 9, the connector board 40 has an opening 44 of any shape, and several holes 45 located far from opening 44; consequently, the opening 44 allows the polymeric resin to be poured into the cavity 5 through the connector board 40, while the holes 45 allow air to be expelled from the continuous compartment 41 to the pour the polymer resin. The electronic high-voltage pulse generating devices 6 are therefore housed within the continuous compartment 41 and embedded in the polymer resin matrix 43. In particular, the transformer 15 and the voltage driver 16 are therefore also located on the same side of the connector board 40, between the connector board 40 and the bottom wall 10 of the compartment 3; and the voltage driver 16 projects perpendicularly from the first face 42 of the connector board 40 towards the bottom wall 10, and is partially housed in a respective semi-cylindrical seat 46 projecting from the bottom wall 10, outside of the compartment 3, and defining a semi-cylindrical projection in the lower wall 10. The supply terminals 33 of the electric circuit 17 are located at a first longitudinal end 47 of the connector board 40, located at the longitudinal end 31 of the compartment 3; the connector board 40 also comprises a ground contact 50 at the second longitudinal end 48 of the connector board, opposite the first longitudinal end 47 and located at a longitudinal end 49 of the compartment 3; the transformer 15 is located near the longitudinal end 48 of the connector board 40 having the ground contact 50; and the voltage driver 16 is located near the longitudinal end 47 of the connector board 40, between the transformer 15 and the supply terminals 33, and essentially adjacent to the supply terminals 33. The ground contact 50 extends through of the polymer resin matrix 43, on the side opposite the bottom wall 10. In the preferred embodiment shown, the ground contact 50 is connected to a generic component 51 of the electrical circuit 17, which in turn is mechanically connected and electrically with the face 42 of connector board 40. The ground contact 50 extends, through the opening 44 in the connector board 40, through the edge 8 defining the opening 9, and more specifically through the portion of the edge 8 defined by the side wall 11 of the compartment 3. In particular, the ground contact 50 has an end portion 52 projecting outward from the continuous compartment 41 and the outer matrix 43, and which is positioned parallel to an external lateral surface 53 of the compartment 3, for example, an outer surface of the side wall 11, so that the end portion 52 of the ground contact 50 is externally available in the side wall 11 of the compartment 3 , on the same side as the snap connectors 37, and in use is clamped between the compartment 3 and the conductive surface 36 of the stove 2 to quickly connect to ground the connector board 40, and in particular the component 51, which is shown schematically in Figure 5 (where the components shown do not have the exact proportions). The ground contact 50 can, of course, be connected to the conductive surface 36 of the stove 2 in other ways than those described above, for example using a connector element of any known type adapted to the free end of the end portion 52. , and that is placed under pressure inside a respective seat in the stove 2. The component 51 of the electric circuit 17, to which the ground contact 50 is connected, is advantageously a component of the electronic noise filter 18, for example a capacitor (which, according to a known solution, needs a ground connection). By virtue of the shaping of the device 1 according to the present invention, the ground contact 50 is located as far as possible from the supply terminals 33. In addition, the tubular supports 25 of the transformer , which mechanically support the secondary coils 22 and 23 and the primary coil 21, are preferably integrally and detachably connected with the connector board 40, ie by several fastening bolts 54 inserted into respective holes 55 in the connector board 40.

"Opposite ends of the primary coil 21 are also electrically connected to the electrical circuit 17, in any known manner, by a pair of insulated electrical conductors 56, in turn electrically and mechanically connected with respective connector terminals 57 on the board connector 40. For example, the insulated electrical conductors 56 are conductive wires coated with insulating material, and the connector terminals 57 are defined by respective blade contacts projecting from a second face 58, opposite the first face 42, of the connector board 40 and having respective V-shaped notches with cutting edges, when the respective ends of the insulated electrical conductors 56 are pressed into the V-shaped notches of the blade contacts, the cutting edges of the notches cut the ends in a manner that sufficiently partial and deep to expose the respective conductive cables in the interi Of course, the insulated electrical conductors 56 can be connected to connector terminals 57 in any other known manner, for example with welding. It is clear that other changes can be made to the device in addition to those described above, but without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An electronic gas lighter device for igniting with a spark at least one respective burner in an oven, wherein the device comprises a compartment defined by a cup-shaped body and made of electrically insulating material; electronic high-voltage pulse generating devices housed in an internal cavity of the compartment, wherein the cavity is accessible through an opening in the cup-shaped body, opposite to and facing a lower wall of the cup-shaped body; and, for each burner, at least one output terminal connected to the electronic high voltage pulse generating devices and housed through a respective settlement duct in the compartment; further characterized in that it comprises a connector board supporting an electrical circuit and extending the entire length of the cup-shaped body; the connector board is essentially placed closing the opening but they are still inside the cavity, and supporting, on a first side oriented towards the cavity, all the electronic devices generating high voltage pulses mechanically and electrically connected to each other and to the board connector via the connector board itself, and the circuit is supported by the connector board, so that the electronic devices generating high voltage pulses are housed in a continuous compartment defined by the compartment cavity and by the connector board; the electronic high-voltage pulse generating devices are embedded, together with the connector board 5, in an insulating polymeric resin matrix that fills the entire cavity to a point essentially level with the opening; the connector board has at least one opening that allows the polymer resin to be poured into the compartment, with the connector board already placed 10 closing the opening. A device as specified in claim 1, characterized in that the settlement duct in the compartment projects outwardly from the lower wall of the cup-shaped body, and is located on the side opposite the opening; and that the electronic high-voltage pulse generating devices comprise at least one transformer, which in turn comprises a secondary coil on an insulating tubular support, and a primary coil housed within the tubular support 20 insulating and coaxial with the secondary coil; each end of the secondary coil is connected to a respective output terminal, defined by a flat blade connector defined by two opposite faces and supported mechanically by the insulating tubular support, so that the faces are parallel to the axis of the coils.
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3. A device as specified in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connector board comprises at least one supply terminal at a first longitudinal end of the connector board, located at a first end of the compartment; and at least one ground contact at a second longitudinal end of the connector board, opposite to the first and located at the second end of the compartment.
4. A device as specified in claim 3, characterized in that the ground contact extends through the polymeric resin matrix, on the side opposite the lower wall, and has an end portion projecting outward from the continuous compartment, and outside the polymer resin matrix; the end portion of the ground contact is placed parallel to an external lateral surface of the compartment.
A device as specified in claim 4, characterized in that the ground contact extends through the opening in the connector board, and traversing an edge of the opening.
6. A device as specified in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it also comprises a quick adaptation device for fastening to a conductive metal body element of a household appliance, in particular to a gas burner of an oven; wherein the quick adaptation device comprises a respective pressure connector device that is integrally formed in the compartment, projects from a side wall of the cup-shaped body defining the compartment, and extends essentially parallel to the bottom wall; the end portion of the ground contact is available externally on the side wall of the compartment, on the same side as, and between the pressure connector device, and which is fixed, in use, between the compartment and a conductive surface of the body member metal conductor of a household appliance to quickly connect the conductor board to ground.
A device as specified in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector board comprises, in combination, at least the opening, and at least one hole located remote from the opening and through which air is expelled from the compartment continuous when the continuous compartment is filled with resin to form the matrix.
8. A device as specified in claim 2, characterized in that the electronic high-voltage pulse generating devices also comprise a voltage driver that projects perpendicularly from the connector board to the lower wall, and is partially housed in a seat

~ - Semi-cylindrical Mg that defines a semi-cylindrical projection on the outside of the interior wall.
9. A device as specified in claim 3, characterized in that the high-voltage electronic pulse generating devices comprise an electronic electromagnetic noise filter; the ground contact is connected to a component of the electromagnetic noise electronic filter mechanically and electrically connected to the connector board.
A device as specified in claim 2, characterized in that the insulating tubular support mechanically supports the first and secondary coils, and is integrally and detachably connected to the connector board by at least one respective fastening bolt; where the opposite ends of the primary coil are electrically connected to the electrical circuit on the connector board by two isolated electrical conductors connected mechanically and electrically with respective terminals on the connector board.
11. A device as specified in claim 10, characterized in that the insulated electrical conductors are welded at the terminals.
12. A device as specified in claim 10, characterized in that the terminals to which the insulated electrical conductors are connected are defined by respective blade contacts projecting from the first face of the conductor board, and having respective notches in V-shape in which the respective ends of the insulated electrical conductors are pressed to be partially cut by respective cutting edges of the notches, at a depth sufficient to expose the respective conductor cables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An electronic gas lighter device having a compartment defined by a cup-shaped body made of electrically insulating material; electronic devices 5 high voltage pulse generators housed

• in an internal cavity of the compartment, where the cavity is accessible through an opening in the cup-shaped body; opposite to and oriented towards a lower wall of the cup-shaped body; and at least one terminal

10 output connected to high voltage electronic pulse generating devices and housed through

• a respective settlement duct integrally formed with a cup-shaped lower body wall. A connector board that supports an electrical circuit and extends

The entire length of the cup-shaped body is essentially arranged by closing the opening, inside the cavity, and supporting, on a first side oriented towards the cavity, all the electronic devices generating pulses of

• high voltage mechanically and electrically connected to each other and

20 with the connector board through the connector board itself, so that they are housed in a continuous compartment defined by the interior cavity of the compartment and by the connector board; and to be embedded, together with the connector board, in a matrix of insulating polymeric resin that

25 fills the entire cavity to a point essentially

* "* **: - * level with the opening The connector board has at least one opening that allows the polymer resin to be poured into the compartment, with the connector board already placed closing the opening.

•