Method of operating a gas burner of a cooking appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10739010-B2
Application number	US-201314417395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2013
Priority date	Aug 28, 2012
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method of operating a gas burner ( 2, 3 ) of a gas cooking appliance ( 1 ). The gas burner ( 2, 3 ) comprises a safety valve ( 7 ) for closing and opening gas supply to the gas burner ( 2, 3 ) and a step valve ( 8 ) for setting a gas flow rate to the gas burner ( 2, 3 ). Shut-off of the gas burner ( 2, 3 ) comprises closing the safety valve ( 7 ) while leaving the step valve ( 8 ) open at least for a predetermined period of time from complete closure of the safety valve ( 7 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Method of operating a gas burner of a gas cooking appliance wherein the gas burner comprises a safety valve for closing and opening gas supply to the gas burner and a step valve for setting a gas flow rate to the gas burner, wherein the gas cooking appliance comprises an electronic control unit adapted to control the safety valve and step valve, wherein a shut off of the gas burner comprises steps of:
closing the safety valve;
leaving the step valve unchanged for an idle time of a predetermined duration from complete closure of the safety valve; and
after said idle time, transferring the step valve to a closed state while the safety valve remains closed
wherein the electronic control unit is programmed to determine the predetermined duration of the idle time.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein upon complete closure of the safety valve, the step valve is gradually transferred to the closed state.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the gas burner is operated in an intermittent mode and wherein the shut-off of the gas burner represents an intermittent shut-off.

4. Method according to claim 3 , wherein an opening state of the step valve is kept constant at least between the intermittent shut-off and a subsequent intermittent start-up.

5. Method according to claim 3 , wherein during intermittent operation, the opening state of the step valve is varied.

6. Method according to claim 1 , wherein start-up of the gas burner comprises transferring the step valve to an ignition opening state, opening the safety valve and generating ignition.

7. Method according to claim 6 , wherein the gas burner is operated in intermittent mode and the start-up represents an intermittent start-up which comprises transferring the step valve from an open state, to the ignition opening state, opening the safety valve and generating ignition.

8. Method according to claim 6 , wherein the ignition opening state corresponds to the fully opened state of the step valve.

9. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the gas burner is operated in continuous mode and an opening state of the step valve is adjusted according to user settings or by an automatic control for performing a pre-determined cooking program.

10. Method of operating a gas burner, wherein the gas burner comprises at least a first and second burner ring, wherein at least one of the first and second burner rings is operated according to the method according to claim 7 .

11. Method according to claim 10 , wherein the gas burner is operated in intermittent mode, and wherein the first burner ring is operated in intermittent mode and the second burner ring is kept in a shut-off state.

12. Method according to claim 10 , wherein the gas burner is operated in continuous mode, wherein start-up of the first burner ring is offset from start-up of the second burner ring.

13. Method according to claim 12 , wherein the step valves of the first and second burner rings are transferred substantially simultaneously to the ignition opening state.

14. A gas cooking appliance comprising at least one gas burner and a control unit adapted to control the gas burner according to the method of claim 7 .

15. A gas cooking appliance according to claim 14 wherein the gas cooking appliance is a cooktop or a gas stove or an oven or a gas hob of professional- or household-type.

16. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined duration of the idle time is based on a usage of the gas burner or a usage of a user interface of the gas cooking appliance.

17. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the safety valve is a solenoid valve and the step valve comprises a stepper motor adapted to actuate a movable part of the step valve for changing or varying the gas flow rate to the gas burner.

18. Method of operating a gas burner of a gas cooking appliance wherein the gas burner comprises a safety valve for closing and opening gas supply to the gas burner and a step valve for setting a gas flow rate to the gas burner, wherein the gas cooking appliance comprises an electronic control unit adapted to control the safety valve and step valve, wherein a shut-off of the gas burner comprises steps of:
closing the safety valve;
leaving the step valve unchanged for a predetermined duration of time from complete closure of the safety valve; and
after said predetermined duration of time, transferring the step valve to a closed state while the safety valve remains closed
wherein the electronic control unit is programmed to determine the predetermined duration of the idle time, and
wherein the shut-off represents a final shut-off after an operational phase.

19. Method according to claim 18 , wherein start-up of the gas burner comprises transferring the step valve to an ignition opening state, opening the safety valve and generating ignition.

20. Method according to claim 19 , wherein the ignition opening state corresponds to the fully opened state of the step valve.

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Products Corp Nv
• Electrolux Home Products Corp Nv

Inventors

• Bassetti Alex
• Spano Fabio

Classifications

• F23N5/203 Primary

  using electronic means · CPC title

• F24C3/126

  on ranges · CPC title

• F23N5/20

  with a time program acting through electrical means, e.g. using time-delay relays · CPC title

• F24C3/12 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title