Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6364656
-
Patent Number
6,364,656
-
Date Filed
Monday, August 21, 200023 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, April 2, 200222 years ago
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 431 255
- 431 46
- 431 61
- 431 60
- 431 78
- 431 80
- 137 65
- 137 66
- 236 10
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A gas burner includes a gas valve block having a gas input control part connected to a fuel gas source and a gas output control part connected to a flame tube and gas nozzle for producing an igniting flame for burning fuel gas outputted through the flame tube, a differential pressure device adapted to control the fuel gas passage between the gas input control part and the gas output control part through a normal-close valve and a normal-open valve, an electronic igniter controlled by a cock in the gas valve block through a micro-switch to discharge sparks through discharging electrode means for burning fuel gas outputted through the gas nozzle, and a temperature switch for controlling the operation of the normal-open valve and the electronic igniter subject to a predetermined temperature range.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to gas burners, and more particularly to such a gas burner, which uses a differential pressure device to control the fuel passage from a fuel gas source to the flame tube for main flame, and normal-close and normal-open valve means to control the fuel passage from the fuel gas source to the gas nozzle for igniting flame for burning fuel gas from the flame tube.
In countries of high degree of altitude, people usually use gas burners to keep rooms warm. Regular gas burners for this purpose commonly use a piezoelectric ignition switch (cock) to control the ignition of fuel gas and the intensity of the flame. When in use, the user must hold the piezoelectric ignition switch in the depressed position after the presence of the ignition flame, and then release the piezoelectric ignition switch after the presence of the desired main flame. In case the main flame and/or the igniting flame is extinguished by wind or an accident, the user must depress the piezoelectric ignition switch and then rotate it from the off-position to the on-position again to ignite the ignition flame so as to further ignite the main flame.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has been accomplished to provide a gas burner, which eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional gas burners. It is one object of the present invention to provide a gas burner, which is easy and efficient in use. It is another object of the present invention to provide a gas burner, which prevents a fuel gas leakage when the main flame is extinguished accidentally. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a gas burner, which is automatically controlled to keep the ambient temperature within the desired range. According to one aspect of the present invention, the gas burner comprises a gas valve block having a gas input control part connected to a fuel gas source and a gas output control part connected to a flame tube and gas nozzle for producing an igniting flame for burning fuel gas outputted through the flame tube, a differential pressure device adapted to control the fuel gas passage between the gas input control part and the gas output control part through a normal-close valve and a normal-open valve, and an electronic igniter controlled by a cock in the gas valve block through a micro-switch to discharge sparks through discharging electrode means for burning fuel gas outputted through the gas nozzle. According to another aspect of the present invention, a temperature switch is electrically connected between the normal-open valve and the electronic igniter, and adapted to automatically control the operation of the normal-open valve and the electronic igniter subject to a predetermined temperature range.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a front view of a gas valve block for a gas burner according to the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a left side view of the gas valve block shown in
FIG. 1
, showing the arrangement of the internal fuel gas passage.
FIG. 3
is a sectional view of the gas valve block shown in
FIG. 1
, showing the internal structure of the gas output control part.
FIG. 4
illustrates the arrangement of the whole system of the gas burner according to the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of
FIG. 4
, showing the arrangement of the differential pressure device and the gas valve block.
FIG. 6
is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of
FIG. 5
, showing the internal structure of the differential pressure device.
FIG. 7
is a front view of a part of the present invention, showing the cock and the micro-switch installed in the gas valve block.
FIG. 8
is a left side view of FIG.
7
.
FIG. 9
is similar to
FIG. 5
but showing the valve stem of the differential pressure device opened from the communication hole of the gas valve block.
FIG. 10
illustrates the relationship between the cock and the gas input control part of the gas valve block according to the present invention.
FIG. 11
illustrates a gas filter element installed in the gas input control part of the gas valve block according to the present invention.
FIG. 12
illustrates an alternate form of the gas burner according to the present invention.
FIG. 13
illustrates an alternate form of the gas valve block according to the present invention.
FIG. 14
illustrates an alternate form of the differential pressure device according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. from
1
through
3
, a gas valve block
10
is shown comprising a gas input control part
13
, and a gas output control part
14
having a mounting end
16
. The gas input control part
13
comprises a gas inlet
11
, and an axle hole
12
in communication with the gas inlet
11
. The gas output control part
14
comprises a gas passage
15
in communication with the axle hole
12
of the gas input control part
13
. The gas passage
15
comprises a gas input hole
17
, a gas output hole
19
, and a communication hole
18
connected between the gas input hole
17
and the gas output hole
19
.
Referring to
FIGS. 4 and 5
, a gas burner
90
is shown comprising a gas valve block
10
(same as the aforesaid gas valve block), a cock
20
coupled to the gas valve block
10
, a differential pressure device
35
coupled to the gas valve block
10
, the differential pressure device
35
comprising a normal-close valve
40
and a normal-open valve
50
, a micro-switch
29
driven by the cock
20
, an electronic igniter
60
, a battery
63
, a gas nozzle
64
, a spark discharging electrode
65
, an induction electrode
66
, and a flame tube
67
having flame holes
68
. The normal-close valve
40
has a gas outlet
45
connected to the gas nozzle
64
by a gas pipe. The gas output hole
19
of the gas output control part
14
of the gas valve block
10
is connected to the flame tube
67
by a gas pipe. The electronic igniter
60
is electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals
33
and
34
of the micro-switch
29
, and also electrically connected to the terminal
43
of the normal-close valve
40
and the terminal
53
of the normal-open valve
50
. A temperature switch
61
is installed in the circuit between the electronic igniter
60
and the normal-open valve
50
. The spark discharging electrode
65
and the induction electrode
66
are respectively connected to the electronic igniter
60
. The battery
63
is connected to the electronic igniter
60
to provide the necessary working voltage.
Referring to FIG.
6
and
FIG. 5
again, the differential pressure device
35
comprises a right shell
36
, the right shell
36
comprising a mounting portion
38
adapted for coupling to the mounting end
16
of the gas valve block
10
and a through hole
82
through the mounting portion
38
, a left shell
37
, a rubber diaphragm
87
retained between the right shell
36
and the left shell
37
and dividing the differential pressure device
35
a right gas chamber
83
and a left gas chamber
84
, a gas passage
85
communicating between the right gas chamber
83
and the left gas chamber
84
, a diaphragm rod
80
, the diaphragm rod
80
having one end perpendicularly connected to the center of one side of the rubber diaphragm
87
and an opposite end extended out of the through hole
82
of the mounting portion
38
into the inside of the gas valve block
10
and terminating in a valve stem
39
and a valve washer
89
on the valve stem
39
, a compression spring
81
mounted on the valve rod
80
and stopped between the valve stem
39
and the mounting portion
38
of the right shell
36
outside the through hole
82
. The compression spring
81
imparts a pressure to the valve stem
39
, causing the valve stem
39
and the valve washer
89
to close the communication hole
18
. The aforesaid normal-close valve
40
and normal-open valve
50
are bilaterally installed in the left shell
37
. The normal-close valve
40
comprises a valve port
41
disposed in communication between the gas outlet
45
thereof and the left gas chamber
84
, a winding
44
connected to the terminal
43
thereof, and a valve flap
42
adapted to close the valve port
41
when the winding
44
is energized, or to open the valve port
41
when the winding
44
is disenergized. The normal-open valve
50
comprises a winding
54
connected to the terminal
53
thereof, a gas hole
86
in communication between the gas passage
85
and the left gas chamber
84
, a valve port
51
in communication between the gas passage
85
and gas hole
86
, and a valve flap
52
adapted to close the valve port
51
when the winding
54
is energized, or to open the valve port
51
when the winding
54
is disenergized.
Referring to
FIGS. 7
,
8
and
10
, the cock
20
comprises a cock body
22
inserted into the axle hole
12
of the gas input control part
13
of the gas valve block
10
, a gas inlet
23
disposed at one lateral side of the cock body
22
and connected to the gas inlet
11
of the gas input control part
13
of the gas valve block
10
, a gas outlet
24
disposed at the bottom side of the cock body
22
in communication with the gas inlet
23
and connected to the gas passage
15
of the gas output control part
14
of the gas valve block
10
, and a shank
21
extended from the top side of the cock body
22
and fixedly mounted with a knob
26
and a control wheel
27
. The control wheel
27
has a peripheral notch
28
, which receives a roller
30
at the distal end of an actuating rod
31
of the micro-switch
29
. The actuating rod
31
is adapted to activate a contact
32
, so as to close/open the circuit between the positive and negative terminals
33
and
34
of the micro-switch
29
.
Referring to FIG.
9
and
FIGS. 4 and 6
again, when operating the knob
26
to rotate the cock
20
in one direction, the roller
30
is driven by the notch
28
of the control wheel
27
to force the actuating rod
31
in activating the contact
32
, thereby causing the terminals
33
and
34
of the micro-switch
29
to be electrically connected, and therefore the electronic igniter
60
is driven to discharge sparks through the discharging electrode
65
and to give a signal to the normal-close valve
40
, causing the valve flap
42
to be driven by the winding
44
to open the valve port
41
. At the same time, the gas inlet
23
and gas outlet
24
of the cock
20
are respectively disposed in communication with the gas inlet
11
of the gas input control part
13
of the gas valve block
10
and the gas passage
15
of the gas output control part
14
of the gas valve block
10
, enabling fuel gas to pass through the through hole
82
, the right gas chamber
83
, the gas passage
85
, the gas hole
86
and the valve port
51
into the left gas chamber
84
, and then to pass from the left gas chamber
84
through the valve port
41
and the gas outlet
45
to the gas nozzle
64
and then to be burned by sparks discharged through the discharging electrode
65
. Because the valve port
41
of the normal-close valve
40
is opened, an igniting flame goes out of the gas nozzle
64
. Upon the presence of the igniting flame, the induction electrode
66
is induced to give a signal to the electronic igniter
60
, causing the electronic igniter
60
to stop discharging sparks through the discharging electrode
65
, and to send a signal to the normal-open valve
50
. Upon receive of the signal from the electronic igniter
60
, the normal-open valve
50
is driven to close the valve port
51
, preventing fuel gas to pass from the right gas chamber
83
to the left gas chamber
84
, and enabling fuel gas to be completely guided out of the left gas chamber
84
to the gas nozzle
64
. When the fuel gas in the left gas chamber
84
is gradually reduced, the air pressure in the right gas chamber
83
becomes higher than the left gas chamber
84
, thereby causing the rubber diaphragm
87
to be forced by air pressure displace in direction from the right gas chamber
83
toward the left gas chamber
84
, and at the same time the diaphragm rod
80
is moved with the rubber diaphragm
87
leftwards, causing the valve stem
39
to compress the compression spring
81
, and to open the gas input hole
17
, for enabling fuel gas to pass from the gas input hole
17
through the communication hole
18
and the gas output hole
19
to the flame holes
68
of the flame tube
67
for burning by the flame at the gas nozzle
64
, and therefore a main flame is produced at the flame tube
67
.
In case the igniting flame and the main flame are extinguished by an accident, the induction electrode
66
receives no flame, and the electronic igniter
60
is stopped from sending the signal to the normal-open valve
50
, thereby causing the winding
54
of the normal-open valve
50
to open the valve flap
52
from the valve port
51
, enabling fuel gas to pass from the right gas chamber
83
to the left gas chamber
84
again. When fuel gas passes from the right gas chamber
83
to the left gas chamber
84
, the air pressure in the left gas chamber
84
is gradually increased and becomes in balance with the right gas chamber
83
soon. When the air pressure in the left gas chamber
84
is in balance with the right gas chamber
83
, the rubber diaphragm
87
is returned to its former position, thereby causing the valve stem
39
to close the communication hole
18
again, preventing a leakage of fuel gas. At this time, the valve flap
42
of the normal-close valve
40
is still opened from the valve port
41
, enabling the electronic igniter
60
to drive the discharging electrode
65
to discharge sparks. If the trouble, which caused the aforesaid accident to happen, still exists at this time, the electronic igniter
60
immediately cuts off the signal from the normal-close valve
40
, causing the winding
44
of the normal-close valve
40
to be disenergized, and therefore the valve flap
42
is forced to close the valve port
41
.
The aforesaid temperature switch
61
is turned to a broken circuit status when its temperature surpasses a set level, causing the winding
54
of the normal-open valve
50
to be disenergized, so as to extinguish the main flame. At this time the igniting flame still exists. When the main flame is extinguished, and the temperature of the temperature switch
61
drops below the set level, the temperature switch
61
is turned from the broken circuit status to a close circuit status, causing the winding
54
of the normal-open valve
50
to be energized, and therefore the ignition flame is produced again to burn fuel gas at the flame holes
68
of the flame tube
67
. Further, a flame adjustment lever
72
is installed and adapted to adjust the intensity of the main flame.
Referring to
FIGS. 11 and 14
and
FIG. 5
again, gas filter elements
70
may be installed in the gas inlet
11
and in the fuel gas passage in front of the differential pressure device
35
to remove solid matter from fuel gas.
FIG. 12
shows an alternate form of the present invention. According to this alternate form, a manual switch
71
is installed in the gas burner
90
and connected to the electronic igniter
60
instead of the aforesaid micro-switch
29
and control wheel
27
. When the manual switch
71
is in the “off” position, the user needs not to turn the knob
26
to the closed position, and the user can directly switch on the manual switch
71
to turn on the electronic igniter
60
.
FIG. 13
shows an alternate form of the gas valve block
10
. In the aforesaid embodiments, the gas output control part
14
is formed integral with the gas input control part
13
. According to this alternate form, the gas output control part
14
and the gas input control part
13
are two separated members detachably coupled together. When the gas output control part
14
and the gas input control part
13
are coupled together, rubber seal means must be installed to seal the connection area between the gas output control part
14
and the gas input control part
13
.
FIG. 14
shows an alternate form of the pressure differential device
35
. According to this alternate form, a valve
47
is installed in one side of the rubber diaphragm
87
to control the passage of the communication hole
18
, a disk
48
is installed in the other side of the rubber diaphragm
87
, and a spring
49
is connected between the disk
48
and the left shell
37
. When the valve
47
is forced by the spring
49
to close the communication hole
18
when the air pressure at one side of the rubber diaphragm
87
is maintained in balance with the air pressure at the other side of the rubber diaphragm
87
. According to this embodiment, the gas output control part
14
and the gas input control part
13
can be made integral with each other, or separately made and then coupled together.
It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended for use as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.
Claims
- 1. A gas burner comprising:a gas valve block, said gas valve block comprising a gas input control part, and a gas output control part, said gas input control part comprising a gas inlet, and an axle hole in communication with the gas inlet, said gas output control part comprising a gas passage in communication with the axle hole of said gas input control part, the gas passage of said gas output control unit comprising a gas input hole, a gas output hole, and a communication hole connected between the gas input hole and the gas output hole; a cock installed in the axle hole of said gas valve block and rotated to close/open the passage between the gas inlet of said gas input control part of said gas valve block and the gas input hole of said gas output control part of said gas valve block; a gas nozzle; a flame tube connected to the gas output hole of said gas output control part of said gas valve block, said flame tube having a plurality of flame holes; a differential pressure device coupled to the gas output control part of said gas valve block and adapted to close/open the communication hole between the gas input hole and gas output hole of said gas output control part of said gas valve block, said differential pressure device defining a right gas chamber disposed in communication with the communication hole of said gas output control part of said gas valve block, a left gas chamber, a rubber diaphragm suspended between said right gas chamber and said left gas chamber, a diaphragm rod moved with said rubber diaphragm to close/open the communication hole of said gas output control part of said gas valve block, and spring means adapted to force said diaphragm rod into a position of closing the communication hole of said gas output control part of said gas valve block; discharging electrode means; an electronic igniter controlled to discharge sparks through said discharging electrode means for burning fuel gas outputted through said gas nozzle to produce an igniting flame for burning fuel gas outputted through the flame holes of said flame tube; a battery adapted to provide a necessary working voltage to said electronic igniter; a micro-switch controlled by said cock to turn on/off said electronic igniter; a normal-close valve installed in said differential pressure device and electrically connected to said electronic igniter and suitable to be used in a fuel gas passage connected between the left gas chamber of said differential pressure device and said gas nozzle; a normal-open valve installed in said differential pressure device and electrically connected to said electronic igniter and controlled by said micro-switch to control a fuel gas passage between said right gas chamber and said left gas chamber of said differential pressure device; and an induction electrode electrically connected to said electronic igniter, and adapted to detect whether an igniting flame occurs and to output a signal to said electronic igniter and said normal-open valve when no ignition flame at said gas nozzle is detected, for causing said electronic igniter to stop discharging sparks through said discharging electrode means and said normal-open valve to close the passage between said right gas chamber and said left gas chamber.
- 2. The gas burner of claim 1 further comprising a temperature switch electrically connected between said normal-open valve and said electronic igniter for controlling an operation of said normal-open valve and an operation of said electronic igniter to be within a predetermined temperature range.
- 3. The gas burner of claim 1 further comprising gas filter means installed in the gas input control part of said gas valve block.
US Referenced Citations (4)