GAS PRESSURE REGULATING APPARATUS AND COOKING APPLIANCE HAVING SAME

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a gas pressure regulating apparatus and a cooking appliance having the same, and more particularly, to a gas pressure regulating apparatus with an improved structure, and a cooking appliance having the same.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a cooking appliance is an appliance for cooking food by heating the food, and is greatly classified into a type that generates heat for heating food by using electricity and a type that generates heat for heating food by burning a gas.

A cooking appliance including a gas burner cooks food by using a gas as a fuel. The gas burner sprays frames for heating a cooking container containing food by burning a gas.

To maintain constant pressure of a gas that is supplied to the gas burner, a gas pressure regulating apparatus is used.

DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem

The disclosure provides a gas pressure regulating apparatus capable of preventing a crack that may be made by stress concentration of an inlet connecting part coupled with an external gas supply pipe.

The disclosure provides a gas pressure regulating apparatus capable of preventing a crack that may be made by stress concentration of a connecting member coupled with an extension pipe.

The disclosure provides a gas pressure regulating apparatus capable of preventing a bi-metal from being twisted upon supply of overcurrent to the bi-metal due to resistance breaking of a Hot Surface Igniter (HIS).

Technical Solution

A gas pressure regulating apparatus according to a concept of the disclosure includes: a main body including an outlet; a pressure regulating part formed in the main body, and including a diaphragm configured to regulate pressure of a gas flowing to inside of the main body through the outlet; and an inlet connecting part with which an external gas supply pipe is coupled, the inlet connecting part protruding from the main body and including an inlet communicating with the inside of the main body, wherein the inlet connecting part includes a reinforced portion formed in one end of the inlet connecting part along a circumference of the inlet and depressed in a direction which the external gas supply pipe is coupled with the inlet connecting part.

An inclined screw of a female screw type may be formed in an inner surface of the inlet connecting part such that a diameter of the inclined screw is gradually reduced along the direction in which the external gas supply pipe is coupled with the inlet connecting part.

The reinforced portion may include a reinforced plane formed as a surface along a radial direction of the inlet, and a reinforced fence formed around the reinforced plane and surrounding the reinforced plane.

The inlet may be in a shape of a circle, the reinforced plane may be in a shape of a circle, wherein the inlet may be formed at a center of the reinforced plane, and the reinforced fence may be formed with a preset thickness along an external diameter of the reinforced plane.

The reinforced fence may be formed with a thickness of 2.0 mm or more along the direction in which the external gas supply pipe is coupled with the inlet connecting part.

A diameter of the reinforced plane may be 22.0 mm or more.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus may further include: a first connecting member including a coupling body coupled with the main body and a coupling cylinder protruding from the coupling body toward the outside of the main body, wherein a first connecting flow path communicating with the outlet is formed inside the coupling body and the coupling cylinder; and a second connecting member inserted into the first connecting flow path while being in contact with an inner surface of the first connecting flow path, wherein the second connecting member may include a second connecting flow path penetrating the outlet and configured to communicate the inside of the main body with the first connecting flow path.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus may further include an extension pipe coupled with an outer surface of the coupling cylinder, wherein a length between an inner surface of the first connecting flow path and an outer surface of the coupling cylinder may be formed with a constant thickness without a step.

One end of the second connecting member may protrude to the inside of the main body, the gas pressure regulating apparatus may further include a sealing cap coupled with a bi-metal and configured to close the second connecting flow path of the second connecting member in a state in which the sealing cap is in contact with the one end of the second connecting member and open the second connecting flow path of the second connecting member in a state in which the sealing cap is detached from the one end of the second connecting member, wherein the sealing cap may include a first sealing portion configured to be in contact with or detached from the one end of the second connecting member, and a second sealing portion extending from a circumference of the first sealing portion and configured to be in contact with or detached from an inner surface of the main body.

One end of the second connecting member may protrude to the inside of the main body, and the gas pressure regulating apparatus may further include a sealing cap coupled with a bi-metal and configured to close the second connecting flow path of the second connecting member in a state in which the sealing cap is in contact with the one end of the second connecting member and open the second connecting flow path of the second connecting member in a state in which the sealing cap is detached from the one end of the second connecting member, wherein the one end of the second connecting member may include an embossing structure at a portion being in contact with the sealing cap.

One end of the second connecting member may protrude to the inside of the main body, and the gas pressure regulating apparatus may further include a sealing cap coupled with a bi-metal and configured to close the second connecting flow path of the second connecting member in a state in which the sealing cap is in contact with the one end of the second connecting member and open the second connecting flow path of the second connecting member in a state in which the sealing cap is detached from the one end of the second connecting member, and a sealing ring positioned on a circumference of the one end of the second connecting member and configured to be in contact with the sealing cap together with the one end of the second connecting member.

The sealing ring may be in a shape of a tube including a cavity.

One end of the second connecting member may protrude to the inside of the main body, and the gas pressure regulating apparatus may further include a sealing cap coupled with a bi-metal and configured to close the second connecting flow path of the second connecting member in a state in which the sealing cap is in contact with the one end of the second connecting member and open the second connecting flow path of the second connecting member in a state in which the sealing cap is detached from the one end of the second connecting member, and a sealing ring fixed to the first connecting flow path and configured to be in contact with the sealing cap together with the one end of the second connecting member.

In another aspect, a cooking appliance according to a concept of the disclosure includes: a cooktop or an oven including a gas burner; and a gas pressure regulating apparatus configured to supply a gas supplied from an external gas supply pipe to the gas burner at constant pressure, wherein the gas pressure regulating apparatus includes: a main body including an outlet; a pressure regulating part positioned inside the main body and including a diaphragm configured to maintain a gas flowing through the outlet at constant pressure; and an inlet connecting part with which an external gas supply pipe is coupled, the inlet connecting part protruding from the main body and including an inlet communicating with the inside of the main body, wherein the inlet connecting part includes a reinforced portion formed in one end of the inlet connecting part along a circumference of the inlet and depressed in a direction which the external gas supply pipe is coupled with the inlet connecting part.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus may further include: a first connecting member including a coupling body coupled with the main body and a coupling cylinder protruding from the coupling body toward the outside of the main body, wherein a first connecting flow path communicating with the outlet is formed inside the coupling body and the coupling cylinder; and a second connecting member inserted into the first connecting flow path while being in contact with an inner surface of the first connecting flow path, wherein the second connecting member includes a second connecting flow path penetrating the outlet and configured to communicate the inside of the main body with the first connecting flow path.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus may further include an extension pipe coupled with an outer surface of the coupling cylinder, wherein a wall of the coupling cylinder, defined by an inner surface of the first connecting flow path and an outer surface of the coupling cylinder may be formed with a constant thickness without a step.

Advantageous Effects

According to a concept of the disclosure, a gas pressure regulating apparatus may effectively disperse stress concentration that is generated by gathering of a Teflon tape by forming a reinforced portion having a depressed shape around an inlet through which a gas is supplied.

According to a concept of the disclosure, a gas pressure regulating apparatus may effectively disperse stress concentration that is generated in a coupling process by implementing a constant wall thickness of a connecting member coupled with an extension pipe and forming a connecting flow path therein without making any step.

By inserting a fuse into a circuit between a Hot Surface Igniter (HIS) and a gas pressure regulating apparatus to cause the fuse to blow upon supply of overcurrent to a bi-metal due to resistance breaking of the HIS, the bi-metal may be prevented from being twisted.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an area X of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 show a cross section taken along line A-A of FIG. 3 and a cross section of an external gas supply pipe coupled with an inlet connecting part.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of an area Y of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an area X of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section of a distributor in a cross section taken along line B-B of FIG. 3, in an existing gas pressure regulating apparatus.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of an area Z in the existing gas pressure regulating apparatus of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view corresponding to FIG. 9, in a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing cap of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of a sealing cap of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance and FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of the encircled section of FIG. 12A according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing cap of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing cap of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing cap of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a relation view of a gas pressure regulating apparatus and a Hot Surface Igniter (HIS) used in a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of an area C of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a front view of the area C of FIG. 17.

MODES OF THE INVENTION

Configurations illustrated in the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification are only the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and thus it is to be understood that various modified examples, which may replace the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification, are possible when filing the present application.

Also, like reference numerals or symbols denoted in the drawings of the present specification represent members or components that perform the substantially same functions.

Also, the terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe embodiments, and are not intended to limit and/or restrict the disclosure. It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It will be understood that when the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

Also, it will be understood that, although the terms including ordinal numbers, such as “first”, “second”, etc., may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component could be termed a second component, and, similarly, a second component could be termed a first component, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of associated listed items.

Meanwhile, in the following description, the terms “upper portion”, “lower portion”, “upper end”, “lower end”, “upper surface”, “lower surface”, etc. are defined based on FIG. 1, and the shapes and positions of the components are not limited by the terms.

Also, a fan which will be described below is an example applied to a ceiling type air conditioner, however, the fan may also be applied to another kind of air conditioner, such as a stand type air conditioner or a wall-mounted air conditioner, or another home appliance, such as a refrigerator or a cleaner.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cooking appliance 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include an oven 20 and a cooktop 10. The cooktop 10 may be positioned in an upper portion of the cooking appliance 1, and the oven 20 may be positioned in a lower portion of the cooking appliance 1. Inside the oven 20, a cavity (not shown) may be formed. A cooking material may be accommodated inside the cavity.

In FIG. 1, the cooking appliance 1 is shown to include the cooktop 10 and the oven 20. However, the cooking appliance 1 may be configured only with the cooktop 10. That is, the cooking appliance 1 may not include the oven 20. The cooking appliance 1 may be a built-in type or a non-built-in type.

The cooktop 10 may include a gas burner 50 for heating a cooking material. The gas burner 50 may use a gas as an energy source. The gas burner 50 may generate firepower by burning a gas. In FIG. 1, the cooktop 10 is shown to include five gas burners 50, although the number of the gas burners 50 is not limited thereto. Also, the gas burner 50 may be positioned inside the oven 20, as well as the cooktop 50, which is not shown in the drawings.

The cooktop 10 may include a support plate 11. The support plate 11 may form a top surface of the cooking appliance 1. The gas burner 50 may be mounted on the support plate 11.

A container supporting member 12 may be positioned on the support plate 11. A cooking container (not shown) may be put on the container supporting member 12. The container supporting member 12 may be positioned on the support plate 11 in such a way as to be detachable from the support plate 11. The container support member 12 may be positioned on the gas burner 50. A plurality of container support members 12 may be provided.

The oven 20 may be provided below the cooktop 10. Inside the oven 20, a plurality of racks (not shown) may be provided, and a tray may be placed on each rack. Food to be cooked may be accommodated in the tray.

The oven 20 may include a door 21 for selectively opening or closing a front side of the cavity. The door 21 may include a transparent part 22 configured by including a transparent or semitransparent material to enable a user to check a cooking state of food accommodated inside the cavity with his/her naked eye. The transparent part 22 may be provided as multiple glass layers. The multiple glass layers may be arranged at preset lengths to enable air for cooling to pass therethrough.

On a front, upper portion of the cooking appliance 1, a knob 30 may be provided. The knob 30 may be provided to set a function of the cooktop 10 and/or the oven 20. The knob 30 may be provided to control each gas burner 50. A user may control the knob 30 to perform an on/off setting, a temperature setting, a time setting, etc. In FIG. 1, four knobs 30 are shown, although the number of the knobs 30 is not limited to four. The number of the knobs 30 may change. The number of the knobs 30 may correspond to the number of the gas burners 50. The individual knobs 30 may control the corresponding gas burners 50 independently.

The cooking appliance 1 may include a panel portion 40. The panel portion 40 may protrude from an upper portion of the cooktop 10. The panel portion 40 may include a display 41 for displaying, for the user, state information of the cooking appliance 1, such as temperature of a cooking room, a cooking state, etc. Inside the panel portion 40, a controller (not shown) electrically connected to the display 41 and configured to control the cooking appliance 1 may be positioned. The display 41 may be adjacent to the knob 30.

Referring to FIG. 2, a gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 for supplying a gas to the cooktop 10 and/or the oven 20 may be provided on a rear surface of the cooking appliance 1.

A gas (LPG) may change in pressure according to temperature and composition, and the changed pressure may not be supplied as it is to a burner because the pressure is high. The pressure may need to be decompressed to optimal pressure required for completely burning the gas in the gas burner 50. Also, a gas may need to be supplied at constant pressure (static pressure) according to an increase or decrease of a gas consumption amount in the gas burner 50. A failure of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 or a crack made in a main body of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 may cause imperfect combustion or a gas leak.

Although the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 used in an embodiment of the disclosure is shown to be positioned in a lower portion of the rear surface of the cooking appliance 1 for an outer appearance or for a connection structure with an external gas supply pipe 60, the position of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 is not limited thereto.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 may be named as one of various terms, such as a Gas Pressure Regulator (GPR), a pressure regulator, a pressure controller, etc. However, in the cooking appliance 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, which will be described below, the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 will be named and described.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 may receive a gas from the external gas supply pipe 60 through an inlet 131 (see FIG. 4). A main body 101 of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 may include a pressure regulating part 110 and/or a distributing part 12. The gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 may supply a gas supplied from the external gas supply pipe 60 connected with the inlet 131 (see FIG. 4) of the pressure regulating part 110 to the cooktop 10 and/or the oven 20 through an extension pipe 400 connected with an outlet 121 (see FIG. 8) of the distributing part 120.

The inlet 131 (see FIG. 4) of the pressure regulating part 110 may be formed in an inlet connecting part 130 of the main body 101. The external gas supply pipe 60 may be connected with the inlet connecting part 130. A connection structure between the pressure regulating part 110, the inlet connecting part 130, and the external gas supply pipe 60 will be described in detail, below.

In the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100, a plurality of outlets 121 (see FIG. 8) may be provided in the distributing part 120. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, two outlets 121 may be provided. Accordingly, two extension pipes 400 may be connected with the respective outlets 121. Inside the main body 101, a sealing cap 500 for controlling a discharge of a gas through the outlet 121 and a bi-metal 600 with which the sealing cap 500 is connected may be provided. Structures of the outlet 121 and the sealing cap 500 will be described in detail, below.

The extension pipe 400 may be connected with a supply pipe 70 connected with the cooktop 10 and/or a supply pipe 80 connected with the oven 20. However, in the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100, the number of the outlet 121 of the distributing part 120 and the number of the extension pipe 400 connected with the outlets 121 are not limited.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an area X of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 show a cross section taken along line A-A of FIG. 3 and a cross section of an external gas supply pipe coupled with an inlet connecting part. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of an area Y of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a front view of an area X of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the pressure regulating part 110 may include an air hole 114, a regulating spring 112, and a valve 115. The pressure regulating part 110 may receive a gas from the external gas supply pipe 60 through the inlet connecting part 120 positioned at one side.

A diaphragm 111 may be curved in an up-down direction according to pressure of the regulating spring 112, applied from above the diaphragm 111 and a difference between atmospheric pressure and gas pressure applied from below the diaphragm 111. An upper portion of the diaphragm 111 may communicate with the atmosphere through the air hole 114.

The regulating spring 112 may be connected with an elastic upper end of the diaphragm 111. The valve 115 may be connected with a lower end of the diaphragm 111. The regulating spring 112 may generate a force by which the regulating spring 112 may open the valve 115.

In an inside space of the main body 101 shown in FIG. 5, a space below the valve 115 may be defined as a high pressure space. Also, in the inside space of the main body 101 shown in FIG. 5, a space above the valve 115 and a space that connects the pressure regulating part 110 with the distributing part 120 and communicates with the extension pipe 400 may be defined as a low pressure space.

A gas may be filled in the low pressure space and the high pressure space through the inlet 131, and the diaphragm 111 may be curved in the up-down direction according to a change in pressure of the gas. According to curving in up-down direction of the diaphragm 111, the valve 115 connected with the diaphragm 111 may also move in the up-down direction to adjust a degree of opening of an area connected from the high pressure space to the low pressure space, thereby controlling a flow of gas.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the external gas supply pipe 60 may be connected with the inlet connecting part 130. The external gas supply pipe 60 may supply a gas to inside of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 through the inlet 131 of the pressure regulating part 110.

The inlet 131 of the pressure regulating part 110 may be formed in the inlet connecting part 130 of the main body 101. The external gas supply pipe 60 may include a gas pipe coupler 61.

An elastic supply tube of an external gas supply pipe may be fixed to the inlet connecting part 130 through the gas pipe coupler 61. The external gas supply pipe 60 may approach toward the inlet 131 of the pressure regulating part 110 and then supply a gas to inside of the main body 101 of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 through the inlet 131. A direction in which the external gas supply pipe 60 approaches toward the inlet 131 of the pressure regulating part 110 may be defined as a direction P1 in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130.

The inlet connecting part 130 may be coupled with the gas pipe coupler 61 of the external gas supply pipe 60 through structures of a female screw and a male screw. Screw structures of the inlet connecting part 130 and the gas pipe coupler 61 may be inclined screw structures capable of maintaining high airtightness by considering that a kind of fluid is a gas.

In an inner surface of the inlet connecting part 130, an inclined screw of a female screw type may be formed, wherein a diameter L1 of the inclined screw may be gradually reduced along the direction P1 in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130.

Referring to FIG. 5, the inlet connecting part 130 may have a female screw structure, and the gas pipe coupler 61 may have a male screw structure. A Teflon tape may be wound around the gas pipe coupler 61 to improve airtightness.

Typically, the inlet 131 of the inlet connecting part 130 has been chamfered without any reinforced structure such that the gas pipe coupler 61 easily enters the inlet 131. However, because there is no reinforced structure around the inlet 131, the Teflon tape may be gathered around the inlet 131 of the inlet connecting part 130 as the gas pipe coupler 61 around which the Teflon tape is wound is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130, and accordingly, stress may be concentrated.

The stress concentrated around the inlet 131 of the inlet connecting part 130 may generate a crack which causes a leak of a gas that needs to be supplied only to the inside of the main body 101 of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100.

To prevent such a gas leak, a reinforced portion 132 may be formed in the inlet connecting part 130 of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The reinforced portion 132 may be adjacent to the inlet 121 of the inlet connecting part 130. The reinforced portion 132 may be formed at one end of the inlet connecting part 130 along a circumference of the inlet 131. The reinforced portion 132 may be formed by being depressed in the direction in which the external gas supply pipe 60, more specifically, the gas pipe coupler 61 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130.

The reinforced portion 132 may include a reinforced plane 134 and a reinforced fence 135. The reinforced plane 134 may be formed as a surface along a radial direction of the inlet 131. The reinforced plane 134 may form a bottom of a depressed structure of the reinforced portion 132.

The reinforced plane 134 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be perpendicular to the direction P1 in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130, although not limited thereto. However, the reinforced plane 134 may be inclined at a preset angle of inclination with respect to the direction P1 in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130.

The reinforced fence 135 may be formed around the reinforced plane 134 in such a way as to surround the reinforced plane 134. The reinforced fence 135 may protrude from an area being adjacent to the circumference of the reinforced plane 134 in an opposite direction of the direction P1 in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130.

The inlet 131 of the inlet connecting part 130 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be in a shape of a circle. Accordingly, the reinforced plane 134 may also have a shape corresponding to the inlet 131. The reinforced plane 134 may be in a shape of a circle having the inlet 131 at the center. That is, the reinforced plane 134 may be in a shape of a donut section, although not limited thereto. For example, the reinforced plane 134 may be in a shape of one of various planes, which is perpendicular to the direction P1 in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130 or which forms a preset angle with respect to the direction P1.

The reinforced fence 135 may have a preset thickness along an external diameter of the reinforced plane 134. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, an outer circumference of the reinforced fence 135 may be substantially in a shape of a rectangle. The inlet 131 and the reinforced plane 134 may be positioned at a center of the reinforced fence 135. Accordingly, an inner circumference of the reinforced fence 135 may be in a shape of a circle.

The reinforced fence 135 may have a thickness L2 of 2.0 mm or more in the direction in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130. The reinforced plane 134 may have a diameter of 22.0 mm or more. That is, in a case in which the inner circumference of the reinforced fence 135 is in a shape of a circle, a diameter of the inner circumference of the reinforced fence 135 may be 22.0 mm or more.

Through the structure of the inlet connecting part 130 of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100, which is coupled with the external gas supply pipe 60, stress concentration generated by gathering of the Teflon tape around the inlet 131 of the inlet connecting part 130 may be effectively dispersed. Because the stress concentration is dispersed, a crack that may be generated in the inlet connecting part 130 coupled with the external gas supply pipe 60 of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 may be prevented in advance.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section of a distributor in a cross section taken along line B-B of FIG. 3, in an existing gas pressure regulating apparatus. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of an area Z in the existing gas pressure regulating apparatus of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view corresponding to FIG. 9, in a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 may supply a gas supplied from the external gas supply pipe 60 connected with the inlet 131 (see FIG. 4) of the pressure regulating part 110 to the cooktop 10 and/or the oven 20 through the extension pipe 400 connected with the outlet 121 of the distributing part 120.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 may have a structure in which a separate connecting member is fixed around the outlet 121 and the extension pipe 400 is coupled with the connecting member to supply a gas to the cooktop 10 and/or the oven 20, instead of a structure in which the extension pipe 400 extends directly from the main body 101. The reason may be to easily adjust an angle of alignment of the extension pipe 400 with respect to the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 for universal application to the cooking appliance 1 having various specifications.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a first connecting member 200 communicating with the outlet 121 formed in the distributing part 120 of the main body 101, and a second connecting member 300 inserted in and fixed to the first connecting member 200.

The second connecting member 300 is also referred to as a valve seat.

The first connecting member 200 may be coupled with the main body 101 in such a way as to communicate with the outlet 121 formed in the distributing part 120 of the main body 101. The first connecting member 200 may include a coupling body 210 fixed to the main body 101, and a coupling cylinder 220 connected with the extension pipe 400.

The coupling body 210 may be coupled with the main body 101, and a first connecting flow path 223 communicating with the outlet 121 may be formed inside the coupling body 210. The coupling cylinder 220 may protrude from the coupling body 201 toward the outside of the main body 101. That is, the first connecting flow path 223 may penetrate the inside of the first connecting member 200 throughout the coupling body 210 and the coupling cylinder 220 protruding from the coupling body 210. An internal diameter of the first connecting flow path 223 may change from the coupling body 210 toward the coupling cylinder 220.

The extension pipe 400 may be coupled with an outer surface 220a of the coupling cylinder 220. More specifically, one portion of the outer surface 220 of the coupling cylinder 220 may have a male screw structure, and one portion of the extension pipe 400, which is inserted into the coupling cylinder 220, may have a female screw structure.

Referring to FIG. 9, the second connecting member 300 may be inserted into the first connecting flow path 223 while being in contact with an inner surface 224 of the first connecting flow path 223. More specifically, the second connecting member 300 may be inserted into the first connecting flow path 223 formed in the coupling body 210 of the first connecting member 200. A portion of the inner surface 224 of the first connecting flow path 223 may have a female screw structure P, and a male screw structure corresponding to the female screw structure P may be formed in a circumference of a portion of the second connecting member 300.

A ring-shaped sealing member 330 may be provided on a circumference of another portion of the second connecting member 300. The sealing member 330 may function to seal a small gap between the first connecting flow path 223 and the second connecting member 300 in a state in which the second connecting member 300 is inserted in the first connecting flow path 223 formed in the coupling body 210 of the first connecting member 200.

Referring to FIG. 10, the first connecting member 200 of the existing gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 forms a step at a portion extending from the coupling body 210 toward the coupling cylinder 220, and a thickness of the portion is not constant. Accordingly, the portion extending from the coupling body 210 toward the coupling cylinder 220 is easily broken in a process in which the extension pipe 400 is coupled with the first connecting member 200.

Accordingly, a length L4 between the inner surface 224 of the first connecting flow path 223 and the outer surface 220a of the coupling cylinder 220 of the first connecting member 200 may be formed with a constant thickness without any step. More specifically, the first connecting flow path 223 from one portion of the inner surface 224 of the first connecting flow path 223, provided as a female screw structure P, to one end of the first connecting member 200 with which the extension pipe 400 is coupled may be formed without any step.

Particularly, a portion R extending from the coupling body 210 toward the coupling cylinder 220 may be set to have a great radius of curvature, or the portion R may be subject to stress dispersion through polygonal chamfering.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing cap of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of a sealing cap of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance and FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of the encircled section of FIG. 12A according to another embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing cap of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of a sealing cap of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing cap of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include the sealing cap 500 for opening or closing a second connecting flow path 310, and the bi-metal 600 connected with the sealing cap 500 to implement an operation of opening or closing the sealing cap 600.

One end 320 of the second connecting member 300 may protrude to the inside of the main body 101. That is, referring to FIG. 11, the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300 may protrude in a direction D2 toward the inside of the main body 101 from a housing of the main body 101.

A portion of the inner surface 224 of the first connecting flow path 223 may be provided as a female screw structure P, and a male screw structure corresponding to the female screw structure P may be provided in a circumference of a portion of the second connecting member 300, as described above.

A degree by which the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300 protrudes to the inside of the main body 101 may be adjusted according to an amount of coupling between the female screw structure P formed in the portion of the inner surface 224 of the first connecting flow path 223 and the male screw structure corresponding to the female screw structure P and formed in the circumference of the portion of the second connection member 300.

The sealing cap 500 may be coupled with the bi-metal 600 in such a way as to close the second connecting flow path 310 of the second connecting member 300 in a state in which the sealing cap 500 is in contact with the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300 and open the second connecting flow path 310 of the second connecting member 300 in a state in which the sealing cap 500 is detached from the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300. The sealing cap 500 may be made of an elastic material.

Upon inserting of a fine foreign material between the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300 and the sealing cap 500, a gap may be formed, and the gap may cause a gas to continue to leak out through the gas burner 50 even when a user does not use the cooking appliance 1.

To prevent such a gas leak, the sealing cap 500 may need to be improved in shape or a separate sealing structure may need to be added in the second connecting member 300.

Referring to FIG. 11, the sealing cap 500 used in the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a first sealing portion 510 configured to be in contact with or detached from one end of the second connecting member 300, and a second sealing portion 520 extending from a circumference of the first sealing portion 510 and configured to be in contact with or detached from an inner surface of the main body 101.

Because the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300 protrudes to the inside of the main body 101, a thickness in direction D2 of the second sealing portion 520 may be greater than a thickness in direction D2 of the first sealing portion 510. Accordingly, the first sealing portion 510 may primarily seal the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300 protruding to the inside of the main body 101, and then the second sealing portion 520 may be in contact with the inner surface of the main body 101 for secondary sealing.

Accordingly, although a fine foreign material is inserted between the first sealing portion 510 and the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300, the secondary sealing by the second sealing portion 520 may prevent a gas from continuing to leak out through the gas burner 50.

Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, one end 320 of a second connecting member used in a gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the disclosure may include an embossing structure at a portion being in contact with a sealing cap 500. The embossing structure according to another embodiment of the disclosure may be a plurality of convex uneven structures protruding in a direction D2 toward inside of a main body 101 from the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300.

The sealing cap 500 used in the one end 320 of the second connecting member 320 used in the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the disclosure is shown to include only a first sealing portion 510, although not limited thereto. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the sealing cap 500 may include both the first sealing portion 510 and a second sealing portion 520.

By the structure, although a fine foreign material is inserted between the sealing cap 500 and the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300, the foreign material may be inserted into the embossing structure, and accordingly, airtightness between a top end of the embossing structure and the sealing cap 500 may be maintained, thereby preventing a gas from leaking out through the gas burner 50.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a sealing ring 530 may be provided on a circumference of an outer surface of an area being adjacent to a sealing cap 500 in one end 320 of a second connecting member 320 used in a gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

The sealing ring 530 may be maintained in a fixed state by being in close contact with the area being adjacent to the sealing cap 500 in the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300. An upper end of the sealing ring 530 may be in contact with the sealing cap 500 together with the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300.

The sealing ring 530 may include a cavity 531 being in a shape of a ring corresponding to the shape of the sealing ring 530, as shown in FIG. 14.

The sealing cap 500 used in the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300 used in the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the disclosure is shown to include only a first sealing portion 510, although not limited thereto. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the sealing cap 500 may include both the first sealing portion 510 and a second sealing portion 520.

By the structure, by expanding an area being in contact with the sealing cap 500 without additionally changing a process for manufacturing the second connecting member 300, the second connecting flow path 310 may be more effectively opened or closed.

Referring to FIG. 15, an inner sealing portion 540 may be provided on a circumference of an inner surface of an area being adjacent to a sealing cap 500 in one end 320 of a second connecting member 300 used in a gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

The inner sealing portion 540 may be substantially in a shape of a ring. One end of the inner sealing portion 540 may be fixed to an inner sealing portion fixing groove 340 formed in an inner surface of the second connecting member 300, and the other end of the inner sealing portion 540 may be in contact with the sealing cap 500 together with the one end 320 of the second connecting member 300.

FIG. 16 is a relation view of a gas pressure regulating apparatus and a Hot Surface Igniter (HIS) used in a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The gas burner 50 of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure may have a structure that ignites a fire through a HIS 900 upon a jet of gas. Because a gas is supplied according to detachment of the sealing cap 500 from one end of the second connecting member 300 in the distributing part 120 of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 and a fire needs to ignite through the HIS 900 upon a jet of gas through the gas burner 50, the HIS 900 may be electrically connected to the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100.

In a case in which as a result of resistance breaking of the HIS 900, overcurrent is supplied to the bi-metal 600 to generate heat, the bi-metal 600 may be twisted, and accordingly, a state in which the sealing cap 500 is detached from one end of the second connecting member 300 may be maintained. Accordingly, even when a user does not use the cooking appliance 1, a gas may continue to leak out through the gas burner 500.

By inserting a fuse 700 into a circuit between the HIS 900 and the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 to cause the fuse 700 to blow upon supplying of overcurrent to the bi-metal 600 due to resistance breaking of the HIS 900, the bi-metal 600 may be prevented from being twisted.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a gas pressure regulating apparatus used in a cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of an area C of FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a front view of the area C of FIG. 17.

Referring to FIG. 17, a gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 used in a cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure may include an inlet connecting part 130a that is different from that of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 used in the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Components, which will be not described below, except for the inlet connecting part 130a may be the same as the corresponding ones included in the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and may be assigned the same reference numerals.

For example, the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 of the cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure may include the main body 101 including the pressure regulating part 110 and the distributing part 120, like the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 may supply a gas supplied from the external gas supply pipe 60 (see FIG. 2) connected to the inlet 131 (see FIG. 18) of the pressure regulating part 110 to the cooktop 10 and/or the oven 20 through the extension pipe 400 connected to the outlet 121 (see FIG. 8) of the distributing part 120.

Also, the inlet connecting part 130a of the cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure may be connected to an external gas supply pipe in the same way as the inlet connecting part 130 of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure as described above. Accordingly, a detailed description about this will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 of the cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure may include the inlet connecting part 130a.

The inlet connecting part 130a may include an inlet 131a.

In the inlet connecting part 130a, a reinforced portion 132a may be formed. The reinforced portion 132a may be formed in one end of the inlet connecting part 130a along a circumference of the inlet 131a.

The reinforced portion 132a may be formed by being depressed in a direction which the external gas supply pipe 60, more specifically, a gas pipe coupler 61 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130a.

The reinforced portion 132a may include a reinforced plane 134a and a reinforced fence 135a.

The reinforced plane 134a may be formed as a surface along a radial direction of the inlet 131a. The reinforced plane 134a may form a bottom of a depressed structure of the reinforced portion 132a.

The reinforced plane 134a according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be perpendicular to a direction P1 in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130a, although not limited thereto.

However, the reinforced plane 134a may be inclined at a preset angle of inclination with respect to the direction in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130a.

The reinforced fence 135 may be formed on a circumference of the reinforced plane 134a in such a way as to surround the reinforced plane 134a. The reinforced fence 135a may protrude from an area being adjacent to the circumference of the reinforced plane 134a in an opposite direction of the direction in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130a.

The inlet 131a of the inlet connecting part 130a according to another embodiment of the disclosure may be in a shape of a circle. Accordingly, the reinforced plane 134a may also have a shape corresponding to the inlet 131a. That is, the reinforced plane 134a may be in a shape of a circle having the inlet 131a at the center.

A diameter of the inlet 131a may be about 24.0 mm or more. Preferably, the diameter of the inlet 131a may be about 24.0 mm.

However, the shape of the reinforced plane 134 is not limited to this. For example, the reinforce plane 134a may be in a shape of one of various planes, which is perpendicular to the direction in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130a or which forms a preset angle with respect to the direction.

The reinforced fence 135a may have a preset thickness along an external diameter of the reinforced plane 134a. The inlet 131a and the reinforced plane 134a may be positioned at a center of the reinforced fence 135a Accordingly, an inner circumference of the reinforced fence 135a may be in a shape of a circle.

Referring to FIG. 19, the reinforced fence 135a may have a preset thickness outward in a radial direction of the reinforced plane 134a. The reinforced fence 135a may have an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The inner circumference of the reinforced fence 135a may be in a shape of a circle.

Accordingly, a diameter length of the inner circumference of the reinforced fence 135a may be equal to a diameter length of the reinforced plane 134a. The diameter length of the reinforced plane 134a may be about 24.0 mm or more, which is equal to the diameter of the inlet 131a.

A lower thickness h1 of the reinforced fence 135a may be 6.0 mm or more.

The lower thickness h1 of the reinforced fence 135a may be a minimum distance between the inner circumference and the outer circumference at a certain lower portion of the reinforced fence 135a.

Also, a left thickness h2 of the may be 6.0 mm or more.

The left thickness h2 of the reinforced fence 135a may be a minimum distance between the inner circumference and the outer circumference at a certain left portion of the reinforced fence 135a.

Also, a right thickness h3 of the may be 6.0 mm or more.

The right thickness h3 of the reinforced fence 135a may be a minimum distance between the inner circumference and the outer circumference at a certain right portion of the reinforced fence 135a.

Also, an upper thickness h4 of the reinforced fence 135a may be 6.0 mm or more.

The upper thickness h4 of the reinforced fence 135a may be a minimum distance between the inner circumference and the outer circumference at a certain upper portion of the reinforced fence 135a.

Accordingly, the reinforced fence 135a may have a thickness of minimally 6.0 mm or more along a direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130a.

Also, the reinforced fence 135a may have a thickness of 4.0 mm or more in the direction in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130a. The thickness may be a length from a location at which the reinforced fence 135a is connected with the reinforced plane 134 to a front surface of the reinforced fence 135a. That is, the thickness may be a length of the reinforced fence 135a protruding outward from the reinforced plane 134a.

Accordingly, the inlet connecting part 130a of the gas pressure regulating apparatus of the cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure may include the reinforced portion 132a that is thicker than that of the inlet connecting part 130 of the gas pressure regulating apparatus of the cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure. More specifically, the reinforced fence 135a of the reinforced portion 132a may be thick.

Therefore, stress concentration generated by gathering of the Teflon tape around the inlet 131a of the inlet connecting part 130a may be more effectively dispersed. Because the stress concentration is dispersed, a crack that may be generated in the inlet connecting part 130a coupled with the external gas supply pipe 60 of the gas pressure regulating apparatus 100 may be prevented in advance.

Also, an upper shape of the reinforced fence 135a of the inlet connecting part 130a of the gas pressure regulating apparatus of the cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure may be different from a lower shape of the reinforced fence 135a.

More specifically, the lower shape of the reinforced fence 135a may be inclined downward from a side portion of the reinforced fence 135a. Accordingly, strength of the reinforced portion 132a may increase.

In addition, unlike the above description, the reinforced fence 135a of the inlet connecting part 130a of the gas pressure regulating apparatus of the cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure may have a thickness of 2.0 mm or more in the direction in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130a.

That is, by reducing a length of the reinforced fence 135a protruding from the reinforced plane 134a, an area on which the inlet connecting part 130a is in contact with the gas pipe coupler 61 of the external gas supply pipe 60 may be widened, which leads to securing of airtightness.

Alternatively, the inlet 131a of the inlet connecting part 130a of the gas pressure regulating apparatus of the cooking appliance according to another embodiment of the disclosure may have a diameter of 27.0 mm or more.

In other words, a diameter length of the reinforced plane 134a of the inlet connecting part 130a may be about 27.0 mm or more which is equal to a diameter length of the inlet 131a.

Accordingly, by widening an area on which the gas pipe coupler 61 of the external gas supply pipe 60 is in contact with the inlet connecting part 130a, airtightness may be more secured.

Also, in view of maximizing airtightness, the thickness of the reinforced fence 135a in the direction in which the external gas supply pipe 60 is coupled with the inlet connecting part 130a may be 2.0 mm or more, and the diameter of the inlet 131a of the inlet connecting part 130a may be 27.0 mm or more.

So far, specific embodiments have been shown and described, however, the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. It should be interpreted that various modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the technical art to which the disclosure belongs, without deviating from the gist of the technical concept of the disclosure, which is defined in the following claims.

Number	Date	Country	Kind
10-2020-0133627	Oct 2020	KR	national
10-2021-0136801	Oct 2021	KR	national

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	PCT/KR2021/014336	Oct 2021	WO
Child	18157636		US

GAS PRESSURE REGULATING APPARATUS AND COOKING APPLIANCE HAVING SAME

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CPC

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Priority Claims (2)

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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