WO2008114945A1

WO2008114945A1 - Air mixing apparatus for gas range

Info

Publication number: WO2008114945A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/001233
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gi Pung Jang
Original assignee: Gi Pung Jang
Priority date: 2007-03-16
Filing date: 2008-03-04
Publication date: 2008-09-25
Also published as: KR100802455B1

Abstract

An air mixing apparatus for a gas range with a plurality of burners is provided. The air mixing apparatus includes a housing, a switching disk, a fuel valve and an operating valve. The housing includes a pre-chamber, a mixing chamber in which fuel gas and air are mixed, an air exhaust port via which introduced air is exhausted outside the housing, an air supply port formed between two chambers via which the air flows into the mixing chamber. The switching disk opens the air supply port or the air exhaust port. The fuel valve is coupled to the switching disk and opens or closes a fuel inlet of the housing. The operating valve rotates the fuel valve and the switching disk simultaneously. Therefore, when only some burners are used, the air mixing apparatus prevents the oversupply of air to enhance the combustion efficiency of the burner.

Description

AIR MIXING APPARATUS FOR GAS RANGE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an air mixing apparatus for a gas range, and more particularly, to an air mixing apparatus with a simple structure for enhancing the combustion efficiency of a burner.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Gas ranges used in restaurant kitchens generally have a plurality of burners and conduits, through which air and fuel gas such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) are supplied to the burners. Some gas ranges supply fuel gas and air to the burner through each separate supply conduit, but in this case, the combustion efficiency of the burner is low because fuel gas and air are not sufficiently mixed. Accordingly, most gas ranges, after forcibly mixing fuel gas and air by an air mixing apparatus, supply the fuel gas-air mixture to the burner. In this method, a fan for directing the mixture to the burner should be installed at each air mixing apparatus connected to respective burners, and thus the structure of the gas range is complicated and the production cost is high.

[4] Also, during busy hours such as lunchtime, all burners should be used, but, only some of them are used during unbusy hours. Thus, air supplied through an air supply conduit is concentrated to the used burners, which results in the oversupply of the air. This also reduces the combustion efficiency of the used burner. In order to prevent the oversupply of the air, an air quantity regulator may be installed at the air mixing chamber. However, the air quantity regulator is quite high, and thus the gas range becomes more expensive.

[5] Moreover, in case of a related art operating valve, it is difficult for a user to recognize that fuel gas is shut off, which results in gas leakage.

[6]

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[7] The present invention provides an air mixing apparatus with a simple structure for enhancing combustion efficiency by preventing the oversupply of air.

[8] The present invention also provides an air mixing apparatus for preventing fuel gas leakage by allowing a user to easily recognize whether fuel gas is shut off.

[9] The present invention further provides an air mixing apparatus for improving the safety of the gas range by providing an operating valve with a safety guard. [10]

Technical Solution

[11] According to an aspect of the present invention, an air mixing apparatus for a gas range with a plurality of burners includes: a housing including a mixing chamber in which fuel gas and air are mixed, a pre-chamber separated from the mixing chamber by a partition wall, a fuel inlet formed on the pre-chamber and connected to the mixing chamber, an air inlet formed on the pre-chamber, an air supply port formed on the partition wall through which air introduced into the pre-chamber flows into the mixing chamber, an air exhaust port formed on the pre-chamber through which the introduced air is exhausted outside the housing, and a mixture supply port on the mixing chamber through which the fuel gas-air mixture is supplied to the burner; a switching disk disposed in the pre-chamber and having an opening for selectively opening and closing the air supply port andthe air exhaust port; a fuel valve disposed in the pre-chamber and concentrically coupled to the switching disk, for opening or closing the fuel inlet; and an operating valve coupled to the fuel valve to rotate the fuel valve and the switching disk.

[12] The fuel valve may include a rotary shaft; and a valve disk provided at the rotary shaft for opening or closing the fuel inlet by rotation of the rotary shaft, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the valve disk contacts an inner circumferential surface of the pre-chamber, and a fuel passage is formed in the valve disk and extends in the longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft to communicate the fuel inlet with the mixing chamber.

[13] The valve disk may include a regulation groove formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof for regulating the amount of the fuel gas, wherein an end of the regulation groove is connected to the fuel passage of the valve disk, and the width of the regulation groove gradually decreases toward the other end of the regulation groove.

[14] The valve disk may include a check ball elastically supported at the outer circumferential surface of the valve disk, for closing the fuel inlet by rotation of the valve disk.

[15] The fuel valve may include a valve holder fixedly installed in the pre-chamber and having a center hole and a fuel passage communicated with the fuel inlet; and a valve shaft rotatably inserted in the center hole and having a fuel supply channel that communicates the fuel passage with the mixing chamber by rotation of the valve shaft.

[16] The valve shaft may include a regulation groove on an outer circumferential surface thereof for regulating the amount of fuel gas to be introduced into the fuel supply channel, wherein an end of the regulation groove is connected to the fuel supply channel, and the width of the regulation groove gradually decreases toward the other end of the regulation groove.

[17] The operating valve may include a shaft rotatably and movably in longitudinal direction inserted into a center hole of a housing cover to be coupled or decoupled to the valve shaft according to the longitudinal position of the shaft; a decoupling spring coupled between the valve shaft and the shaft for pushing out the shaft from the valve shaft; and a fixing member for allowing the shaft to rotate or fixing the shaft according to the longitudinal position of the shaft.

[18]

Advantageous Effects

[19] The air mixing apparatus according to the present invention prevents the oversupply of air when only some burners are used, which enhances the combustion efficiency of the burner without the air quantity regulator. [20] Also, the air mixing apparatus does not require a fan for supplying the fuel gas-air mixture to the burner, thereby reducing the production cost. [21] Further, the air mixing apparatus improves the safety of the gas range by allowing the user to easily recognize that fuel gas is shut off. [22]

Brief Description of the Drawings [23] Preferred embodiments of the present invention can be understood in more detail from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[24] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas range with a plurality of burners;

[25] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an air mixing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [26] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the air mixing apparatus of FIG. 2 when fuel gas is supplied;

[27] FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the air mixing apparatus of FIG. 3;

[28] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the air mixing apparatus of FIG. 2 when fuel gas is shut off;

[29] FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of the air mixing apparatus of FIG. 5;

[30] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an air mixing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [31] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the air mixing apparatus of FIG. 7 when fuel gas is supplied; and [32] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the air mixing apparatus of FIG. 7 when fuel gas is shut off. [33]

Mode for the Invention

[34] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[35] Referring to FIG. 1, a fuel supply conduit 1 and an air supply conduit 2 are connected to the gas range for supplying fuel gas and air to each air mixing apparatus 10. A mixture supply conduit 8 is connected between the air mixing apparatus 10 and the burner 3. LPG or LNG may be supplied through the fuel supply conduit 1.

[36] Referring to FIG. 2, the air mixing apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 20, a fuel valve 30, a switching disk 40, and an operating valve 50.

[37] The housing 20 includes a mixing chamber 29 and a pre-chamber 25. The mixing chamber 29 is provided at the front of the housing 20. Fuel gas and air are mixed in the mixing chamber 29. The pre-chamber 25 is provided at the rear of the housing 20 and separated from the mixing chamber 29 by a partition wall 25a. A fuel inlet 21 and an air inlet 22 are formed on the pre-chamber 25. An air supply port 26 is formed in the partition wall 25a and the air introduced into the pre-chamber 25 flows into the mixing chamber 29 through the air supply port 26. An air exhaust port 27 is formed on the pre- chamber 25 and the introduced air is exhausted outside the housing 20 through the air exhaust port 27. A mixture supply port 23 is formed on the mixing chamber 29 and the fuel gas-air mixture is supplied to the burner 3 through the mixture supply port 23.

[38] The switching disk 40 is installed in the pre-chamber 25 and has an opening 41 formed only at an upper portion thereof to selectively open and close the air supply port 26 andthe air exhaust port 27. That is, when the air supply port 26 is opened by the switching disk 40, the air exhaust port 27 is closed, and vice versa. A regulation screw 60 may be provided at a position close to the air inlet 22 so as to regulate the amount of air.

[39] A regulation screw 60 is provided at a position close to the air inlet 22 in order to regulate the amount of the air.

[40] The fuel valve 30 is rotatably inserted into an opened rear 24 of the housing 20 to open or close the fuel inlet 21 and coupled to the switching disk 40 through a rotary shaft 31. The fuel valve 30 includes a rotary shaft 31 and a valve disk 32. The valve disk 32 is coupled to the rotary shaft 31. The outer circumferential surface of the valve disk 32 contacts the inner circumferential surface of the pre-chamber 25. The front portion of the rotary shaft 31 is inserted into a center port 28 formed in the partition wall 25 a and the front end of the rotary shaft 31 faces or extends inside the mixing chamber 29. The fuel valve 30 includes a fuel passage 33 formed therein, which com- municates the fuel inlet 21 with the mixing chamber 29. That is, the fuel passage 33 starts from an intake orifice 34a formed on the outer circumferential surface of the valve disk 32, vertically extends to the center of the valve disk 32, and horizontally extends to an exit orifice 34b located at the front end of the rotary shaft 31. When the intake orifice 34a is aligned with the fuel inlet 21, fuel gas is introduced into the fuel passage 33 and flows into the mixing chamber 29.

[41] In order to regulate the amount of the fuel gas, a regulation groove 35 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the valve disk 32. An end of the regulation groove

35 is connected to the intake orifice 34a. The width of the regulation groove 35 gradually decreases toward the other end of the regulation groove 35. Thus, the amount of the fuel gas is regulated by rotating the valve disk 32.

[42] A recess 36 is formed at a position opposite to the intake orifice 34a of the valve disk

32, for receiving a spring 37. A check ball 38 is set on the spring 37. When the recess

36 is aligned with the fuel inlet 21, a portion of the check ball 38 is inserted in the fuel inlet 21 by the elasticity of the spring 37 to shut off the fuel gas. In addition, since a "click" sound occurs when the check ball 38 is inserted into the fuel inlet 21, a user can easily recognize whether the fuel gas is shut off.

[43] An outer annular groove 39 is formed at both sides of the intake orifice 34a, respectively, and an annular packing 39a is inserted into the outer annular grooves 39, respectively, to prevent fuel gas leakage.

[44] The operating valve 50 is coupled to the fuel valve 30. The switching disk 40 and the fuel valve 30 may be separately or integrally formed.

[45] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a state of the air mixing apparatus 10 when fuel gas is supplied. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, when the intake orifice 34a of the fuel passage 33 is aligned with the fuel inlet 21, the opening 41 of the switching disk 40 is aligned with the air supply port 26. Thus, the fuel gas flows into the mixing chamber 29 through the fuel passage 33 and the air flows into the mixing chamber 29 through the air supply port 26. Then, the fuel and the air are mixed in the mixing chamber 29.

[46] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a state of the air mixing apparatus 10 when fuel gas is shut off. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when the recess 36 is aligned with the fuel inlet 21 and the check ball 38 closes the fuel inlet 21, the opening 41 is aligned with the air exhaust port 27. Thus, the fuel gas is shut off and the air is exhausted outside the housing 20.

[47] In a word, the pre-chamber 25, the air supply port 26, and the mixing chamber 29 form an air supply path 26a, along which the air flows into the mixing chamber 29, and the pre-chamber 25 and the air exhaust port 27 form an air exhaust path 27a, along which the air is exhausted outside.

[48] In other words, when only some burners are used, air supplied to an air mixing apparatus 10 of an unused burner is exhausted outside the housing 20. Accordingly, the proper amount of the air is supplied to the used burner, which prevents the decrease of the combustion efficiency in the used burner due to the oversupply of the air.

[49] Also, the air mixing apparatus 10 does not require a fan for preventing the oversupply of the air, so that the installation cost is reduced and the user's convenience is improved.

[50] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an air mixing apparatus 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, except for a fuel valve and an operating valve, the air mixing apparatus 100 includes substantially the same components as the air mixing apparatus 10 of FIG. 2.

[51] The fuel valve of the air mixing apparatus 100 is fixedly installed inside the housing

20 and includes a valve holder 60 and a valve shaft 70. The valve holder 60 has a center hole 63 and a fuel passage 61 that is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the valve holder 60 and extends to the center thereof. The fuel passage 61 is connected to the fuel inlet 21. The valve shaft 70 is rotatably inserted into the center hole 63 and includes a fuel supply channel 71 formed therein. The fuel supply channel 71 is connected to the mixing chamber 29, and communicated with the fuel passage 61 of the valve holder 60 according to the rotation position of the valve shaft 70. Also, the valve shaft 70 is rotatably inserted into the center hole of a switching disk 40 of the air mixing apparatus 100.

[52] When the fuel supply channel 71 is aligned with the fuel passage 61 by the rotation of the valve shaft 70, the fuel inlet 21 is communicated with the mixing chamber 29 through the fuel passage 61 and the fuel supply channel 71. Thus, fuel gas flows into the mixing chamber 29. Also, a regulation groove 75 is also formed on the circumferential surface of the valve shaft 70. An end of the regulation groove 75 is connected the fuel supply channel 71. The width of the regulation groove 75 gradually decreases toward the other end of the regulation groove 75. Thus, by changing the position of the fuel passage 61 on the regulation groove 75, the amount of the fuel gas introduced into the fuel supply channel 71 is controlled.

[53] The operating valve includes a shaft 81, a knob 83, a decoupling spring 88, fixing pins 86, and a connector 84. The shaft 81 is rotatably and movably in longitudinal direction inserted into a hole of a housing cover 20a. The knob 83 is connected to the rear end of the shaft 81 and the connector 84 is connected to the front end. The decoupling spring 88 is coupled between the valve shaft 70 and the connector 84 to push up the shaft 81 in a direction opposite to the valve shaft 70. The fixing pin 86 is coupled to the shaft 81. The fixing pin 86 is caught or supported by a protrusion portion, not shown, formed inside the housing cover 20a. The connector 84 is coupled between the valve shaft 70 and the shaft 81. The connector 84 is coupled to the valve shaft 70 or to be decoupled from it according to the longitudinal position of the shaft 81. Because of the decoupling spring 88, the user should push in and turn the knob 83 at the same time when using the burner 3. Specifically, when the knob 83 is set at OFF position, since the shaft 81 is decoupled from the valve shaft 70, when the user only turns the knob 83, the fixing pin 86 is caught by the protrusion portion of the housing cover 20a, so the knob 83 is not rotated. When the user pushes in the knob 83, the shaft 81 is coupled to the valve shaft 70 and the fixing pin 86 is detached from the protrusion portion. Thus, the user can turn the knob 83 and rotate the valve shaft 70. That is, the user must push in and turn the knob 83 at the same time, which enhances the safety of the gas range.

[54] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the air mixing apparatus 100 when fuel gas is supplied.

Referring to FIG. 8, the fuel inlet 21 is communicated with the mixing chamber 29 through the fuel passage 61 and the fuel supply channel 71, and the opening 41 of the switching disk 40 is aligned with the air supply port 26. Thus, the air flows into the mixing chamber 29 and mixed with the fuel.

[55] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the air mixing apparatus 100 when fuel gas is shut off.

Referring to FIG. 9, the fuel supply channel 71 is not aligned with the fuel passage 61 of the valve holder 60 and the opening 41 is aligned with the air exhaust port 27. Thus, the fuel gas is not introduced into the fuel supply channel 71 and the air is exhausted outside.

[56] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Therefore, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

[1] An air mixing apparatus for a gas range with a plurality of burners, comprising: a housing including: a mixing chamber in which fuel gas and air are mixed; a pre-chamber separated from the mixing chamber by a partition wall; a fuel inlet formed on the pre-chamber and connected to the mixing chamber; an air inlet formed on the pre-chamber; an air supply port formed on the partition wall through which air introduced into the pre-chamber flows into the mixing chamber; an air exhaust port formed on the pre-chamber through which the introduced air is exhausted outside the housing; and a mixture supply port on the mixing chamber through which the fuel gas-air mixture is supplied to the burner; a switching disk disposed in the pre-chamber and having an opening for selectively opening and closing the air supply port andthe air exhaust port; a fuel valve disposed in the pre-chamber and concentrically coupled to the switching disk, for opening or closing the fuel inlet; and an operating valve coupled to the fuel valve to rotate the fuel valve and the switching disk.

[2] The air mixing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel valve comprises: a rotary shaft; and a valve disk provided at the rotary shaft for opening or closing the fuel inlet by rotation of the rotary shaft, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the valve disk contacts an inner circumferential surface of the pre-chamber, and a fuel passage is formed in the valve disk and extends in the longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft to communicate the fuel inlet with the mixing chamber.

[3] The air mixing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the valve disk comprises a regulation groove formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof for regulating the amount of the fuel gas, wherein an end of the regulation groove is connected to the fuel passage of the valve disk, and the width of the regulation groove gradually decreases toward the other end of the regulation groove.

[4] The air mixing apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the valve disk comprises a check ball elastically supported at the outer circumferential surface of the valve disk, for closing the fuel inlet by rotation of the valve disk.

[5] The air mixing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel valve comprises: a valve holder fixedly installed in the pre-chamber and having a center hole and a fuel passage communicated with the fuel inlet; and a valve shaft rotatably inserted in the center hole and having a fuel supply channel that communicates the fuel passage with the mixing chamber by rotation of the valve shaft.

[6] The air mixing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the valve shaft comprises a regulation groove on an outer circumferential surface thereof for regulating the amount of fuel gas to be introduced into the fuel supply channel, wherein an end of the regulation groove is connected to the fuel supply channel, and the width of the regulation groove gradually decreases toward the other end of the regulation groove.

[7] The air mixing apparatus of claim 5 or 6, wherein the operating valve comprises: a shaft rotatably and movably in longitudinal direction inserted into a center hole of a housing cover to be coupled or decoupled to the valve shaft according to the longitudinal position of the shaft; a decoupling spring coupled between the valve shaft and the shaft for pushing out the shaft from the valve shaft; and a fixing member for allowing the shaft to rotate or fixing the shaft according to the longitudinal position of the shaft.