Control device for gas taps

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9696041-B2
Application number	US-201314403879-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2013
Priority date	May 25, 2012
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A control device for gas appliances comprises:
a manual-control element ( 22 ), which can be turned about a first axis (A) for setting a time interval; a circuit arrangement ( 25 ) that includes a sensor device, configured for detecting movements of the manual-control means ( 22 ); and a supporting structure ( 21 ), which can be associated in a stationary way to a gas tap ( 10 ), the supporting structure ( 21 ) being designed for being mounted within a body of a gas appliance.

At least one of the manual-control element ( 22 ) and the supporting structure ( 21 ) has an axial cavity or defines at least part of a passage, where there can be received a corresponding part of the gas tap ( 10 ).
A part of the sensor device is movable with respect to a second axis (B), and operatively set between the manual-control element ( 22 ) and the movable part of the sensor device is a transmission arrangement ( 28 - 30 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gas appliance control device, for appliances that comprise at least one gas tap having a safety valve that includes an electromagnet to be supplied with an electric current generated by a thermo-electric generator, wherein the gas appliance control device comprises:
a manual-control member movable or rotatable with respect to a first axis for setting a time interval;
a circuit arrangement that includes:
a control element,
first electrical-connection means, configured for connection to an electromagnet of a safety valve,
second electrical-connection means, configured for connection to a thermo-electric generator,
a sensor device, configured for detecting movements of the manual-control member and supplying corresponding signals to the control element, the sensor device including a movable part configured to be set in motion following upon a movement of the manual-control member;

a supporting structure, configured to be associated in a stationary way with respect to a gas tap, the supporting structure being designed to be housed at least in part within a body of a gas appliance;
wherein the control element is configured for modifying a state of an electrical connection between the first electrical-connection means and the second electrical-connection means upon expiry of said time interval;
wherein at least one of the manual-control member and the supporting structure defines at least part of a passage adapted to receive a corresponding part of the gas tap;
wherein the movable part of the sensor device is movable or rotatable with respect to a second axis; and
wherein operatively set between the manual-control member and the movable part of the sensor device is a transmission arrangement.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a first transmission member, which is substantially coaxial to the manual-control member and is configured to move or turn therewith.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the transmission arrangement includes at least one second transmission member, which is engaged in motion with the first transmission member and is configured to set in motion the movable part of the sensor device.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the second transmission member and the movable part of the sensor device is rotatable about the second axis, which is substantially parallel to the first axis.

5. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the movable part of the sensor device includes an element integral with, or fixed in motion with respect to, the second transmission member.

6. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the first transmission member is rotatably supported by a corresponding portion of a casing of the supporting structure at said passage.

7. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the first transmission member has an axial cavity adapted to receive a corresponding part of the gas tap, the axial cavity of the first transmission member defining at least one respective part of said passage.

8. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the transmission arrangement includes an intermediate member that is operatively set between the manual-control member and the first transmission member, to move or turn therewith according to the first axis.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein in an axial cavity of the intermediate member there is at least partially received, in a separable way, a cylindrical portion of the manual-control member.

10. The control device according to claim 8 , wherein the intermediate member is juxtaposed with respect to the first transmission member and has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the first transmission member, in such a way that a peripheral annular region of an end face of the intermediate member faces one or more light-emitters, and wherein the intermediate member is made of a material designed to transmit light generated by the one or more light-emitters.

11. The device according to claim 2 , wherein:
the manual-control member has a cylindrical portion for engagement with the first transmission member; and
from one face of the first transmission member generally set facing the manual-control member there rise engagement elements, configured to be fitted in respective first axial recesses defined in an outer surface of said cylindrical portion of the manual-control member.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of a casing of the supporting structure and one element internal to said casing is configured for enabling access to an adjustment member provided in an external region of the gas tap.

13. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the engagement elements comprise at least two appendages, which are substantially cylindrical and are set in diametrically opposite positions, and the first axial recesses have a substantially semi-cylindrical profile.

14. The device according to claim 11 , wherein:
the transmission arrangement includes an intermediate member that is operatively set between the manual-control member and the first transmission member, to move or turn therewith according to the first axis;
in an axial cavity of the intermediate member there is at least partially received, in a separable way, said cylindrical portion of the manual-control member; and
the intermediate member has, at a surface of the corresponding axial cavity, second axial recesses for coupling with said engagement elements of the first transmission member.

15. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the manual-control member is coupled in a separable way to the first transmission member.

16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a circuit board having a respective opening at said passage.

17. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit arrangement includes light-emitting means.

18. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the light-emitting means comprise at least one from among:
one or more light emitters operatively arranged within a casing of the supporting structure;
one or more light emitters arranged in the proximity of said passage; and
a plurality of light emitters operatively arranged according to a circular or arched shape.

19. The control device according to claim 1 , further comprising a motion-transmission element configured for transmitting an axial movement of a control rod of the gas tap to a switching element of the circuit arrangement.

20. A gas appliance, comprising a gas appliance control device according to claim 1 , wherein the gas appliance comprises at least one gas tap for control of the supply of gas to a burner, the gas appliance having a body, partially housed within which is the gas tap, the body having at least one passage in a position corresponding to the gas tap, wherein the supporting structure of the gas appliance control device is substantially housed within the body with the manual-control member that project at least partially on the outside of the body through the said opening.

Assignees

• Eltek Spa

Inventors

• Moro Marco
• Savini Paolo

Classifications

• F23N5/107

  using mechanical means, e.g. safety valves · CPC title

• F23N1/007

  using mechanical means (F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• F24C3/126 Primary

  on ranges · CPC title

• F23N5/203

  using electronic means · CPC title

• F24C3/085

  on ranges · CPC title