"GAS COCK FOR GAS BURNER"

FIELD OF APPLICATION

[0001] The invention relates to a gas cock comprising a plug or a rotary element, in particular a gas plug or rotary element, in particular for professional apparatuses .

PRIOR ART

[0002] It is known that, in addition to the pilot flame position and the full gas position, gas cocks for professional hob burners comprise a minimum position, which is obtained by continuing to turn the rotary element of the cock in the direction of the opening.

[0003] In professional cocks for burners from the prior art, the minimum and the maximum rate are dependent on the shape and the cross section of a hole that is appropriately located in the side wall of the plug.

[0004] These positions of the cock are fixed and therefore do not allow the gas to be progressively supplied between the full gas position and the minimum gas position, thereby making it more difficult for an operator to finely adjust the cooking temperature of the food.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION [0005] There is therefore the need to overcome the limitations and disadvantages cited with reference to the prior art, and in particular there is the need to be able to finely adjust the cooking temperature by supplying gas to the burner in a more fine and controlled manner .

[0006] Furthermore, there is the need to also be able to accurately adjust the flow of gas during the burner adjustment intervals for low gas rates (low cooking temperature) .

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to be able to finely adjust the gas rate without the need for complicated means for electronically adjusting the flow of gas, thus attempting to maintain a simple and robust mechanical design of the cock.

[0008] This requirement is met by a gas cock for a burner, by a hob and by an oven as per the independent claims attached. The claims that are dependent thereon refer to preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Additional features and the advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the description given below of preferred and non-restrictive embodiments thereof, in which: [0010] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the position of a knob for a cock according to the prior art;

[0011] Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the positions of a knob of a gas cock according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Fig. 3 is an axonometric view of a gas cock for a burner according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Fig. 4 shows a cross section of an axonometric view of the gas cock in Fig. 3 in a configuration in which the pin and the extension of the pin are positioned such that a shutter of a thermocouple is open in order to ignite a burner that may be connected to the cock;

[0014] Fig. 5 to 8 show a cross section of an axonometric view of the gas cock in Fig. 3 in successive configurations in which the gas cock plug (and therefore also the pin) is rotated, in particular in the following sequence: a maximum flow position MAX, a 30 % of the maximum flow position 30-MAX, a 10 % of the maximum flow position 10-MAX and a minimum position MIN;

[0015] Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gas cock in Fig. 3;

[0016] Fig. 10 is a planar view of a conical plug according to one embodiment of the present invention; [0017] Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conical plug in Fig. 10; and

[0018] Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view along the plane A-A in Fig. 11 of the conical plug in Fig. 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Fig. 1 shows the positions of a knob of a typical gas cock for a professional burner from the prior art. As can be seen, the knob can be rotated between a "0" position, in which no gas is supplied (burner off) , a PIL position, in which the gas is guided towards the duct that carries the gas to the pilot flame of the burner, a fixed position MAX (at 90° in Fig. 1), in which a preset maximum gas flow is supplied, and a fixed position MIN (at 150° in the figure), in which a minimum gas flow is supplied that is preset by the gas cock manufacturer .

[0020] Fig. 2 instead shows the positions of a knob of a gas cock according to the present invention, which can be connected to a gas burner. As can be seen, the knob can be rotated between a "0" position, in which no gas is supplied (burner off) , a PIL position, in which the gas is guided towards the duct that carries the gas to the pilot flame of the burner, an initial position MAX

(at 60° in Fig. 2), in which a maximum gas flow is supplied, an end position F (at 330° in Fig. 2), in which a minimum gas flow is supplied and (ideally) an infinite number of intermediate positions between the initial position MAX and the end position F, in which the flow of gas can be varied between the maximum and the minimum flow either fully continuously or at least in intervals. For example, Fig. 2 shows that, according to one variant of the cock, in a position 30-MAX (at 150° in Fig. 2), a flow is supplied that is approximately 30 % of the maximum flow, and at a position 10-MAX (at 270° in Fig. 2), a flow is supplied from the cock that is approximately 10 % of the maximum flow.

[0021] The technical features of a gas cock 1 for a burner according to the present invention will be described in detail in the rest of the description, which features make it possible to adjust the flow of gas as mentioned above .

[0022] In accordance with the attached figures, reference numeral 1 indicates, as a whole, a gas cock for a gas burner, in particular a cock having a conical plug for a professional gas burner that is provided with a pilot flame .

[0023] The gas cock of the present invention is preferably a professional gas cock, that is it is suitable for connection to a burner of a professional gas stove.

Preferably, the professional gas cock is designed to ensure a gas rate of at least 1.3 m3/h for a pressure of 1 mbar for town gas (for example a gas G110), or to ensure at least a rate of 1.2 m3/h for a pressure of 1 mbar for G20 methane, or to ensure at least a rate of 1.5 m3/h for a pressure of 1 mbar for G30 butane.

[0024] It is therefore clear that, in the present discussion, that the term "gas" is meant in its most generic sense, thereby being able to relate to methane gas, butane gas, an air/gas mixture or just air, or a gas intended for the burner.

[0025] The gas cock 1 comprises a cock body 10, which is preferably made in one piece, for example made of a brass alloy. A plug receiving seat 2 and a gas passage opening 3 for the passage of the gas from or to the plug receiving seat 2 are made in the cock body 10.

[0026] The gas cock 1 also comprises a conical plug 4, which comprises a side wall 41 that extends around a central conical plug axis X. This side wall 41 is therefore truncated cone-shaped. The side wall 41 is housed in a gas-tight manner in the plug receiving seat

2. In particular, the side wall 41 is rotatably and sealingly housed in the plug receiving seat 2 and can rotate about the central plug axis X.

[0027] Therefore, the plug receiving seat 2 is also truncated cone-shaped, at least in part.

[0028] The side wall 41 comprises an inner wall surface 410, which defines an inner cavity 43 of the conical plug 4 and an outer wall surface 411, which is opposite the inner wall surface 410. In particular, the inner cavity 43 is a cavity that passes inside the conical plug 4 in the axial direction of the central plug axis X.

[0029] The conical plug 4 also comprises a plug opening 42 for the passage of gas from or to the plug receiving seat 2 through the inner cavity 43 on the basis of a presettable angle of rotation between the cock body 10 and the conical plug 4. In other words, the gas originating from a gas supply system (not shown in the figures) initially passes into the inner cavity 43, then through the plug opening 42 and passes into the plug receiving seat 2, or, according to an alternative variant (not shown) , the gas originating from a gas supply system initially passes into the plug opening 42 towards the plug receiving seat 2 and therefore into the inner cavity

43 towards a different portion of the cock body. [0030] A groove 6 that is connected to the plug opening 42 is made in the outer wall surface 411 of the side wall 41 of the conical plug 4.

[0031] This groove 6 is suitable for being positioned, at least in part, in the region of the gas passage opening 3 of the cock body 10 on the basis of the presettable angle of rotation a. In particular, depending on the angular position of the conical plug 4, when at least part of the groove 6 is in communication with the gas passage opening 3, fluid communication is obtained between the inner cavity 43, the plug receiving seat 2 and the gas passage opening 3.

[0032] In accordance with the invention, the groove 6 comprises at least one modulating portion M that predominantly extends between a first angular position Cl and a second angular position C2 in a circumferential direction C of rotation of the conical plug 4. The depth H of the groove 6 either increases or decreases between the first angular position Cl and the second angular position C2. The depth H is intended to be measured in the radial direction R, which is perpendicular to the side wall 41. [0033] In this way, depending on the angular position of the conical plug 4 with respect to the cock body 10, the rate of gas passing from the inner cavity 43 to the conical plug receiving seat 2, and therefore to the gas passage opening 3, is modulated.

[0034] According to a preferred variant, the groove 6 has a depth H that monotonically increases or monotonically decreases between the first angular position Cl and the second angular position C2. This guarantees almost continuous modulation of the gas flow depending on the angular position of the conical plug 4 with respect to the cock body 10.

[0035] The groove 6 is preferably a blind groove at least in the portion between the first angular position Cl and the second angular position C2.

[0036] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the groove 6 has a cross section that lies on a plane that is perpendicular to the central plug axis X and has a substantially "C" or "U" or "V" shape or equivalent, in which the open region faces towards the outer wall surface 411. In other words, the open region of the "C" or "U" or "V" shape faces the plug receiving seat 2.

[0037] The modulating portion M preferably extends in the circumferential direction at a portion angle b that is greater than 90° or, even more preferably, at a portion angle b that is greater than 150°, for example 170°. This degree of angular extension of the groove makes it possible to suitably and finely modulate the gas rate on the basis of the relative rotation between the conical plug and the plug receiving seat 2.

[0038] The groove 6 preferably has a transverse dimension T, which is parallel to the central conical plug axis X and is smaller than or equal to the transverse dimension T1 of the plug opening 42.

[0039] At the point of greatest depth H of the groove 6 in the modulating portion M, for example in the first angular position Cl, the relationship between the depth H and the thickness of the side wall 41 of the conical plug 4 is preferably between 0.7 and 0.9, preferably 0.875. At the same time as, or independently from, the above-mentioned relationship, at the point of smallest depth H of the groove 6 in the modulating portion M, for example in the second angular position C2, the relationship between the depth H and the thickness of the side wall 41 of the conical plug 4 is between 0.2 and 0.4, preferably 0.375.

[0040] In the above-mentioned cases, the thickness of the side wall 41 is intended to be measured as the distance between the inner wall surface 410 of the conical plug

4 and the outer wall surface 411.

[0041] In accordance with an advantageous variant, a blind pocket 45 is made downstream of the second angular position C2 in the direction that proceeds from the greatest depth H to the smallest depth H of the groove 6, which has a pocket depth HI that is greater than the depth H of the groove 6 when measured in the second angular position C2.

[0042] The presence of the blind pocket 45 makes it possible to be able to collect any lubricant excess that is between the conical plug 4 and the plug receiving seat 2 during the relative rotation thereof so as not to reduce or even interrupt the correct flow of gas through the groove 6.

[0043] According to one variant, an angular distance of at least 170°, preferably at least 180°, is preferably provided between the furthest point of the plug opening 42 and the furthest point of the blind pocket 45, which distance is measured in the circumferential direction.

[0044] The conical plug 4 preferably comprises an auxiliary groove 47, which is at a spacing from the groove 6 in the axial direction of the central plug axis 6. [0045] This auxiliary groove 47 mainly extends in the circumferential direction C and is designed for the passage of gas towards an auxiliary opening 7 made in the cock body 10, which is different from the gas passage opening 3 and is intended for supplying a gas rate that is smaller than the gas rate of the gas passage opening 3. This auxiliary groove 47 is preferably intended for the passage of gas towards an auxiliary channel AUX made in the cock body 10 and is connected to the auxiliary opening 7 in order to supply gas to the nozzle of a pilot flame on the gas burner.

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment, the cock body 10, which is preferably formed as one piece, predominantly extends along a body axis X ' , and, in addition to the plug receiving seat 2, comprises a thermocouple receiving cavity 9 that communicates with the plug receiving seat 2. The thermocouple receiving cavity 9 is preferably tubular and arranged coaxially with the body axis X ' , for example such that the body axis X ' coincides with the central plug axis X. The thermocouple receiving cavity 9 is in communication with the plug receiving seat 2 by means of a window 91 in which a shutter 92 of a thermocouple 93, which may be housed in the thermocouple receiving cavity 9, can selectively sealingly engage.

[0047] It should be noted that, in Fig. 5 to 9, in order to simplify the representation, the shutter 92 is always shown closing the window 91. However, it is clear that the thermocouple 9 needs to be activated so that the shutter 92 does not engage with the window 91 in order for gas to pass from the thermocouple receiving cavity

9 to the inner cavity 43 of the shutter.

[0048] The cock body 10 also comprises a gas inlet IN that is in direct fluid communication with the thermocouple receiving cavity 9 so that gas can enter the cock body

10 from a gas supply system.

[0049] The gas inlet IN is, for example, a tubular extension 101 that projects in the radial direction from the tubular wall that defines the thermocouple receiving cavity 9.

[0050] The cock body 10 also comprises a gas outlet OUT that is in direct fluid communication with the gas passage opening 3, and, therefore, with the plug receiving seat 2.

[0051] The gas outlet OUT is, for example, a tubular extension 102 that projects in the radial direction from the seat wall 21 that defines the plug receiving seat 2. [0052] Furthermore, the auxiliary channel AUX, which is intended for the passage of gas to the nozzle for the pilot flame, is preferably a tubular channel, a portion of which extends perpendicularly to both the gas inlet IN and the gas outlet OUT, thereby allowing a compact cock body to be formed.

[0053] The conical plug 4 is preferably integrally coupled to a pin 30, which projects from the cock body 10 and to which a knob is fixed that is manually rotated by the operator.

[0054] Preferably, the pin 30 comprises an extension 31, which extends inside the inner cavity 43 of the conical plug 4, which plug, in a configuration that is advanced with respect to a base configuration, is suitable for pushing the shutter 92 of the thermocouple 93 so as to open the passage of gas from the thermocouple receiving cavity 9 to the inner cavity 43 of the conical plug 4. This configuration is used for the initial passage of gas when igniting the burner (or the pilot flame) . A return spring 32 is preferably placed around the extension 31, as shown in Fig. 9, for example.

[0055] Once the burner has been ignited, electrical consent is sent to the thermocouple such that the shutter 92 is, and remains, disengaged from the window 91 in order to allow the passage of gas.

[0056] It is clear that the present invention is also aimed at a professional gas hob having a gas burner, in which the supply of gas to the burner is adjusted by means of the gas cock for a burner that is described in the preceding paragraphs .

[0057] Similarly, it is clear that the present invention also refers to a gas oven comprising a gas burner, in which the supply of gas to the burner is adjusted by means of the gas cock for the gas burner 1 described so far .

[0058] Innovatively, the present invention makes it possible to adjust the rate of outgoing gas on the basis of the angular position of the conical plug (and therefore of the knob) more finely. This also makes it possible to be able to suitably adjust and preset the cooking temperature of the food in a professional gas burner .

[0059] Furthermore, the large rotation capacity of up to

330° of the pin (knob) of the gas cock and, consequently, of the conical plug 4, allows for accurate and stable modulation of the cooking flame. [0060] In particular, the particular geometry of the groove, which has a continuously variable depth and is substantially milling on a conical plug made of one piece in the preferred embodiment thereof, makes it possible to maintain a stable flame for the entire modulation angle from the first angular position Cl to the second angular position C2.

[0061] In particular, a constant modulation ratio is guaranteed over the entire modulating portion of the groove. This modulating ratio is preferably 1:6 over the entire modulating portion.

[0062] The flow of gas can therefore advantageously be finely mechanically adjusted without the need for an intervention by means of an electronic control device.

[0063] Furthermore, this guarantees the possibility of modulating the gas flow supplied to the burner without complicating the geometry of the known cocks and thereby keeping the same number of components that these known cocks already comprise.

[0064] In order to meet contingent and specific needs, an expert in the field may make several modifications and variations to the invention described above, all of which are, however, included in the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.