"Regulating valve for a gas cooking appliance and gas cooking appliance

incorporating said regulating valve"

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to regulating valves for a gas cooking appliance and to gas cooking appliances incorporating said regulating valves.

PRIOR ART Regulating valves for gas cooking appliances are known to comprise a rotating disc with connection openings, such that rotation of the rotating disc allows regulating the gas flow of the valve between an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit of said valve.

WO20130801 16A2 discloses a regulating valve for a gas cooking appliance comprising a valve body with an inlet conduit through which gas is supplied, and at least one outlet conduit, and an inner cavity fluidically communicated with the inlet conduit, and a rotating disc with a surface in contact with a contact surface of the inner cavity of the valve body, and capable of rotating with respect to said surface of the inner cavity, the surface of the rotating disc and the contact surface of the inner cavity being arranged in a leak-tight manner. The rotating disc comprises a plurality of connection openings for regulating the gas flow between the inner cavity and the outlet conduit of the valve body by means of rotation of the rotating disc. The regulating valve also comprises operating means connected to the rotating disc for operating said rotating disc.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a regulating valve for a gas cooking appliance and a gas cooking appliance incorporating said regulating valve, as defined in the claims.

The regulating valve of the invention comprises a valve body with an inlet conduit through which gas is supplied, and at least one outlet conduit, and an inner cavity fluidically communicated with the inlet conduit; a rotating disc with a surface in contact with a contact surface of the inner cavity of the valve body, and capable of rotating with respect to said surface of the inner cavity, the surface of the rotating disc and the contact surface of the inner cavity being arranged in a leak-tight manner, the rotating disc comprising at least one connection opening for regulating the gas flow between the inner cavity and the outlet conduit of the valve body by means of rotation of the rotating disc; and operating means connected to the rotating disc for operating said rotating disc.

The valve is adapted for supplying different types of combustible gas, the rotating disc being arranged in a different angular position, depending on the type of gas to be supplied, when the operating means of the valve are arranged in a reference position.

The valve of the invention is adapted to the supply of different types of gases without replacing or modifying the rotating disc, and by simply positioning said rotating disc at different angular positions depending on the type of gas to be supplied. It is necessary to simply change the relative position of the rotating disc with respect to a reference position of the operating means. Therefore it is a solution that is easy to implement, having few parts required to be able to change the supply gas, which allows reducing valve costs.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will become evident in view of the drawings and the detailed description of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a section view of a first embodiment of the regulating valve of the invention. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the valve of Figure 1 , in which the cover, the rotating disc, and the operating means have been removed.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the rotating disc of the valve of Figure 1 .

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the valve of Figure 1 , with the actuating shaft decoupled from the coupling shaft.

Figure 5 shows another perspective view of the valve of Figure 1 , with the actuating shaft decoupled from the coupling shaft.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of the valve of Figure 1 , with the actuating shaft and the coupling shaft coupled to one another. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the actuating shaft of the operating means and the coupling shaft of the rotating disc of the valve of Figure 1 decoupled from one another.

Figure 8 shows a section view of a second embodiment of the regulating valve of the invention.

Figure 9 shows a first section view of a third embodiment of the regulating valve of the invention. Figure 10 shows a second section view of the third embodiment of the regulating valve of Figure 9.

Figure 1 1 shows a bottom plan view of the valve of Figure 9, in which the valve body has been removed, the valve being regulated for butane gas, and the valve is in the OFF position.

Figure 12 shows a bottom plan view of the valve of Figure 9, in which the valve body has been removed, the valve being regulated for propane gas, and the valve is in the minimum gas flow position. Figure 13 shows a bottom plan view of the valve of Figure 9, in which the valve body has been removed, the valve being regulated for natural gas, and the valve is in the minimum gas flow position. Figures 14a-c show the position of the holes of the connection opening of the rotating disc with respect to the outlet hole of the inner cavity of the valves of Figures 1 and 8 for natural, propane and butane gases, respectively, when the valves are in the OFF position. Figures 15a-c show the position of the holes of the connection opening of the rotating disc with respect to the outlet hole of the inner cavity of the valves of Figures 1 and 8 for natural, propane and butane gases, respectively, when the valves are in the maximum position. Figures 16a-c show the position of the holes of the connection opening of the rotating disc with respect to the outlet hole of the inner cavity of the valves of Figures 1 and 8 for natural, propane and butane gases, respectively, when the valves are in the minimum position. Figure 17 shows the overlap position of the holes of the connection opening of the rotating disc with respect to the outlet hole of the inner cavity of the valves of Figures 1 and 8 when changing the gas flow for natural, propane and butane gases.

Figures 18a-e show the position of the holes of the two connection openings of the rotating disc of a fourth embodiment of the regulating valve, with an outer gas outlet conduit and an inner gas outlet conduit with respect to the two outlet holes of the inner cavity of said valve regulated for natural gas when the valve is in an OFF position, in a maximum gas flow position for the outer outlet conduit and a maximum gas flow position for the inner outlet conduit, in a minimum position for the outer outlet conduit and a maximum position for the inner outlet conduit, in an OFF position for the outer outlet conduit and an intermediate gas flow position for the inner outlet conduit, and in an OFF position for the outer outlet conduit and a minimum position for the inner outlet conduit. Figure 19 shows a schematic depiction of a gas cooking appliance incorporating regulating valves according to the invention.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a section view of a first embodiment of the regulating valve 100 of the invention, this regulating valve 100 being manually operated. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the valve of Figure 1 , in which the cover 60, the rotating disc 20, and the operating means 40 of said valve 100 have been removed. Figure 3 shows a plan view of the rotating disc 20 of the valve 100 of Figure 1 . The regulating valve 100 is intended for regulating the gas flow to a burner of a gas cooking appliance, said valve 100 being fluidically communicated with the burner. The gas cooking appliance comprises a gas inlet conduit 1 1 communicating the regulating valve 100 with the main gas inlet of said gas cooking appliance.

The regulating valve 100 comprises a valve body 10 with an inlet conduit 1 1 through which gas is supplied and an outlet conduit 12 for said gas. The valve 100 comprises an inner cavity 13 which is fluidically communicated with the inlet conduit 1 1 , said inner cavity 13 comprising an outlet hole 15 fluidically communicating with the outlet conduit 12. The valve 100 comprises a rotating disc 20 which in turn comprises a surface 21 which, as shown in Figure 1 , is the lower surface of the rotating disc 20, which is in contact with a contact surface 14 of the inner cavity 13 of the valve body 10. The inner cavity 13 of the valve 100 is formed in this embodiment of the valve 100 in a void of the valve body 10, a series of protuberances forming the contact surface 14 being arranged at the bottom of said void, the outlet hole 15 of the inner cavity 13 comprising an elastomeric seal which allows fluidically isolating the rotating disc 20 of the outlet conduit 12, in the contact between the surface 21 of the rotating disc 20 when it is supported in the outlet hole 15. The rotating disc 20 is capable of rotating with respect to the contact surface 14 of the inner cavity 13, maintaining the leak-tightness between the surface 21 of the rotating disc 20 and the contact surface 14 of the inner cavity 13. In this embodiment of the valve 100, the rotating disc 20 comprises a plurality of connection openings 30 that allow regulating the gas flow between the inner cavity 13 and the outlet conduit 12 of the valve body 10 by means of rotation of the rotating disc 20, and when said connection openings 30 and the outlet hole 15 of the inner cavity 13 are arranged in fluidic communication. Furthermore, the regulating valve 100 comprises operating means 40 which are connected to the rotating disc 20 for rotating said rotating disc 20.

The valve 100 is adapted for supplying different types of combustible gas. In this embodiment of the valve 100, said valve 100 allows supplying a first type of gas such as natural gas NG, and a second and third type of gas both derived from liquefied gas LPG, such as propane and butane, respectively. To adapt the valve 100 to the corresponding gas supply, as will be explained in detail below, the rotating disc 20 is arranged in a different angular position CM , <¾, 03 for each supply gas when the operating means 40 are arranged in a reference position Di of the valve 100.

When the valve 100 is configured for use with one of the supply gases, for example for natural gas, the rotating disc 20 is arranged in an angular position CM defined between the operating means 40 and the rotating disc 20 when the operating means 40 are in the reference position Di. In order to switch to another type of supply gas, for example propane, the operating means 40 and the rotating disc 20 are decoupled from one another, i.e., they are separated, and the rotating disc 20 is repositioned with respect to the operating means 40. The operating means 40 and the rotating disc 20 are coupled to one another again. Therefore, when the operating means 40 are positioned in the reference position Di, the rotating disc 20 is arranged in a new angular position 02 corresponding to propane gas. In order to adapt to the different supply gases, the operating means 40 comprise an actuating shaft 41 that can be rotated along an angular path A. This angular path A is demarcated by two stops 61 , 62 arranged in a cover 60 of the valve 100. These two stops 61 , 62 correspond with the reference position Di and another position D2, respectively. The rotating disc 20 is attached to a coupling shaft 42 which is coupled to the actuating shaft 41 of the operating means 40. In order to help adapt the valve 100 to the three supply gases, i.e., natural gas, propane gas and butane gas, each of said gases has been identified on the upper outer surface of the cover 60 with the abbreviations G1 , G2 and G3, respectively, and that is how they will be identified hereinafter in this description. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the valve 100 of Figure 1 , with the actuating shaft 41 decoupled from the coupling shaft 42. Figure 5 shows another perspective view of the valve 100 of Figure 1 , with the actuating shaft 41 decoupled from the coupling shaft 42. Figure 6 shows a plan view of the valve 100 of Figure 1 , with the actuating shaft 41 and the coupling shaft 42 coupled to one another. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the actuating shaft 41 of the operating means 40 and the coupling shaft 42 of the rotating disc 20 of the valve 100 of Figure 1 decoupled from one another. In this embodiment of the valve 100, the angular path A corresponds with the path of the gas flow leaving said valve 100 between an OFF position, which corresponds with a position without any gas flow, and a minimum gas flow position, a maximum gas flow and an intermediate gas flow being located between these ends. Reference position Di corresponds with the minimum outlet gas flow position, and position D2 corresponds with the OFF position. In this embodiment, the cover 60 of the regulating valve 100 is attached to the valve body 10 by means of two screws, an inner cavity 13 being formed inside the valve 100. The cover 60 comprises a hole 63 going through it, the coupling shaft 42 of the rotating disc 20 being housed in said hole 63 of the cover 60, going through it. The rotating disc 20 is previously coupled to the coupling shaft 42, the rotating disc 20 being housed in a perimetral groove 49, and a flat area of the outer surface of the coupling shaft 42 being coupled in a semicircular hole 23 of the rotating disc 20. Therefore, when assembling the rotating disc 20 in the valve 100, said rotating disc 20 is housed in the inner cavity 13, the surface 21 thereof being supported on the contact surface 14 of the inner cavity 13, and the coupling shaft 42 is housed in the hole 63 of the cover 60, an upper end 44 of the coupling shaft 42 being shown on the outside of the valve 100, through the hole 63 of the cover 60.

In this embodiment of the valve 100, the base of the upper end 44 of the coupling shaft 42 comprises three housings 511 , 512 and 513 corresponding to each of the three supply gases G1 , G2 and G3, respectively, said housings 511 , 5I 2 and 5I 3 being in the form of a groove. These housings 511 , 512 and 513 are arranged in the corresponding different angular positions CM , 02, 03 of the rotating disc 20, said angular positions CM , 02, 03 being seen from the outside, when the actuating shaft 41 is coupled to the coupling shaft 42, by means of the position of the abbreviations G1 , G2 and G3 of the different supply gases. Obviously other means of identifying the angular positions CM , 02, 03 are also possible. The angular position CM , 02, 03 of the rotating disc 20 for each of the respective gases G1 , G2 and G3 is measured as a reference between the stop 61 and the angular position of each of the housings 511 , 512 and 513 or the corresponding position of each of the abbreviations G1 , G2 and G3. Therefore, in this embodiment of the valve 100, if the angular separation between the housings 511 , 5I 2 and 5I 3 is, for example, 25°, the angular position CM corresponds with an angle of 0°, and the angular positions 02 and 03 are at 25° and 50°, respectively. The actuating shaft 41 comprises an axial stud 46 projecting in a lower end 45 from the base thereof, in the longitudinal direction of the actuating shaft 41 , by way of a protuberance. It also comprises a radial stud 47, by way of a fin, projecting laterally in a specific angular path. When the axial stud 46 of the actuating shaft 41 is housed in the corresponding housing 511 , 5I 2 or 5I 3 of the coupling shaft 42, the radial stud 47 of the actuating shaft 43 is located on the surface of the cover 60, between the stops 61 , 62 of said cover 60, the actuating shaft 41 being able to rotate between said stops 61 , 62 in the angular path A, the radial stud 47 abutting with said stops 61 , 62 at each of the ends of said angular path A. In order to couple the actuating shaft 41 and the coupling shaft 42, the valve 100 comprises attachment means 48 which comprise a screw in this embodiment of the valve 100. The actuating shaft 41 is internally hollow and comprises a transverse wall with a hole that allows the passage of the threaded shaft of said screw 48 and the seating of the head thereof. In addition, the coupling shaft 42 comprises at its upper end 44 a longitudinal threaded hole that allows screwing in the screw 48. Therefore, in order to switch to another type of supply gas, for example from G1 to G2, in the valve 100, the actuating shaft 41 and the coupling shaft 42 are decoupled from one another, i.e., the screw 48 is loosened and they are separated. The axial stud 46 of the actuating shaft 41 is housed in the housing 512 of the coupling shaft 42, and the actuating shaft 41 and the coupling shaft 42 have just been coupled to one another by attaching both by means of the screw 48, thereby repositioning the rotating disc 20 with respect to the actuating shaft 41 of the operating means 40. The radial stud 47 of the actuating shaft 43 is located on the surface of the cover 60, between the stops 61 and 62. The actuating shaft 41 is rotated and the radial stud 47 is positioned against the stop 61 , which corresponds with reference position Di. The rotating disc 20, which is coupled to the coupling shaft 42, is thereby repositioned angularly in a new angular position (¾ corresponding to propane gas.

The valve 100 can be adapted in the same way to the different supply gases by positioning the actuating shaft 41 of the operating means 40 in position D2 corresponding to the OFF position of the valve 100.

Figure 8 shows a section view of a second embodiment of the regulating valve 100' of the invention. Said valve 100' comprises the same elements as those described for the first embodiment of the valve 100, and the adaptation for supplying the different types of gas G1 , G2 and G3 is done in the same way. In this second embodiment, the operating means 40 of the valve 100' also comprise a motor 70 connected with the rotating disc 20. The way to connect the motor 70 with the rotating disc 20 will be explained below with the description of the third embodiment of the regulating valve 100". This second embodiment of the valve 100' allows external control thereof, such that the gas flow of the valve 100' can be manually regulated by the user by means of the actuating shaft 41 of the operating means 40, or remotely controlled by acting on the motor 70, as will be explained below. Figure 9 shows a first section view of a third embodiment of the regulating valve 100" of the invention, and Figure 10 shows a second section view of the third embodiment of the regulating valve 100" of Figure 9. In this third embodiment of the valve 100", said valve 100" also comprises a valve body 10 with a gas inlet conduit 1 1 , a gas outlet conduit 12, and an inner cavity 13 demarcated by a cover 60 of the valve 100" and the valve body 10. Said valve also comprises a rotating disc 20 with a surface 21 in contact with a contact surface 14 of the inner cavity 13. The rotating disc 20 is capable of rotating with respect to the contact surface 14, the surface 21 of the rotating disc 20 and the contact surface 14 of the inner cavity 13 being arranged in a leak-tight manner.

Figure 1 1 shows a bottom plan view of the valve 100" of Figure 9, in which the valve body 10 has been removed, the valve 100" being regulated for butane gas and said valve 100" being in the minimum position. Figure 12 shows a bottom plan view of the valve 100" of Figure 9, in which the valve body 10 has been removed, the valve 100" being regulated for propane gas and said valve 100" being in the minimum position, and Figure 13 shows a bottom plan view of the valve 100" of Figure 9, in which the valve body 10 has been removed, the valve 100" being regulated for natural gas, and said valve 100" being in the minimum position. The rotating disc 20 comprises a plurality of connection openings 30 that allow regulating the gas flow of the valve 100" between the inner cavity 13 and the outlet conduit 12 by means of rotation of the rotating disc 20, and when the connection openings 30 and an outlet hole 15 of the inner cavity 13 are fluidically connected. The valve 100" comprises operating means 40 connected to the rotating disc 20 for rotating said rotating disc 20. The valve 100" is adapted for supplying different types of combustible gas G1 , G2 and G3, the rotating disc 20 being arranged in a different angular position CM , 02 and 03, depending on the type of gas to be supplied, when the operating means 40 are arranged in a reference position Di. In this third embodiment of the valve 100", to switch from one type of gas to another the reference position Di for each of the supply gases G1 , G2 and G3 of the operating means 40 is modified, the different reference positions being Dn, D12, D13, respectively, such that once said reference position is modified, the angular position CM , 02 and 03 of the rotating disc 20 is different when the operating means 40 are arranged in said reference positions Dn, D12, D13.

The reference positions Dn, D12, D13 are defined by means of stops 8Ο1, 8Ο2, 8Ο3 of the valve 100", which can be added or removed. To adapt it to the different supply gases, the operating means 40 comprise a motor 70 connected with the rotating disc 20. In this valve 100", as well as in the valve 100' of the second embodiment, the rotating disc 20 comprises a serrated edge 24, and the motor 70 comprises an output which is a rotary gear 71. Therefore, the rotary gear 71 of the motor 70 and the serrated edge 24 of the rotating disc 20 engage one another, which allows rotation of the motor 70 to be translated into rotation of the rotating disc 20. Furthermore, the valve 100" comprises a connecting shaft 90 which allows connecting the motor 70 with the center of the rotating disc 20, which allows matching the rotation by the rotary gear 71 on the rotating disc 20. The rotation of the rotating disc 20 takes place along an angular path Αι, A2, A3 corresponding to each of the supply gases G1 , G2, G3. This angular path Αι, A2, A3 is demarcated at one end with a closing stop 81 for the different gases G1 , G2 and G3, and at the other end with stops 8O1 , 8Ο2, 8Ο3, using the center of the rotating disc 20 as a reference. A projection 22 of the rotating disc 20 interacts with said stops 8Ο1 , 8Ο2, 8Ο3. The stops 8Ο1 , 8Ο2, 8Ο3 and the closing stop 81 correspond with reference positions Dn , D12, D13 and position D2, respectively.

In this embodiment of the valve 100", each of the angular paths Αι , A2, A3 corresponds, for each of the supply gases G1 , G2 and G3, respectively, with the path of the gas flow leaving said valve 100", between an OFF position which corresponds with the position without any gas flow, and a minimum gas flow position, a maximum gas flow and an intermediate gas flow being located between these ends. Reference positions Dn , D12, D13 correspond with the minimum outlet gas flow position, and position D2 corresponds with the OFF position of the valve 100".

The angular position CM , 02 and 03 of the rotating disc 20 for each of the respective gases G1 , G2 and G3, is measured as a reference between the stop 8Ο3, which corresponds to the minimum gas flow for the gas G3, and the angular position of each of the stops 8Ο1 , 8Ο2, 8Ο3. Therefore, in this embodiment of the valve 100", if the angular separation between the stops 8Ο1 , 8Ο2, 8Ο3 is 25°, for example, the angular position CM corresponds with an angle of 50°, and the angular positions 02 and 03 are at 25° and 0°, respectively.

Therefore, in order to switch to another type of supply gas, for example from G1 to G2, in the valve 100", the stop 8Ο1 corresponding to the minimum gas flow for G1 is removed, and the stop 8Ο2 corresponding to the minimum gas flow for G2 is added, the motor 70 is operated and rotates the rotating disc 20 until the projection 22 of the rotating disc 20 interacts with the stop 8Ο2. Therefore, the rotating disc 20 is repositioned at angular position 02. The rotating disc 20 can be rotated from said position until the position of the closing stop 81 in order to change the gas flow of the valve 100" with gas G2.

Figures 14a-c show the position of holes 31 i-31 _n of the connection openings 30 of the rotating disc 20 with respect to the outlet hole 15 of the inner cavity 13 of the valves 100 and 100' of Figures 1 and 8 for natural, propane and butane gases, G1 , G2 and G3, respectively, when the valves 100 and 100' are in the OFF position. Figures 15a-c show the position of holes 31 i-31 _n of the connection openings 30 of the rotating disc 20, with respect to the outlet hole 15 of the inner cavity 13 of the valves 100 and 100' of Figures 1 and 8 for natural, propane and butane gases, G1 , G2 and G3, respectively, when the valves 100 and 100' are in the maximum gas flow position. Figures 16a-c show the position of holes 311-31 _n of the connection opening 30 of the rotating disc 20 with respect to the outlet hole 15 of the inner cavity 13 of the valves 100 and 100' of Figures 1 and 8 for natural, propane and butane gases G1 , G2 and G3, respectively, when the valves 100 and 100' are in the minimum gas flow position. In turn, Figure 17 shows the overlap position of holes 31 i-31 _n of the connection opening 30 of the rotating disc 20 with respect to the outlet hole 15 of the inner cavity 13 of the valves 100 and 100' of Figures 1 and 8 when the gas flow is changed for natural, propane and butane gases G1 , G2 and G3.

In any of the embodiments of the regulating valve 100, 100', and 100" described above, the inner cavity 13 of the valve body 10 comprises an outlet hole 15 fluidically communicating with the outlet conduit 12. The rotating disc 20 comprises the connection openings 30, said connection openings 30 in these embodiments of the valve 100, 100' and 100" comprising a plurality of holes 311-31 _n having different sections arranged in an angular path B, this angular path B being smaller than or the same as angular path A. Specifically, in the valves 100 and 100' shown the rotating disc 20 comprises n=14 holes, and valve 100" comprises n=17 holes. Said holes 311-31 n have different diameters, hole 311 in said valves 100, 100', and 100" having a different irregular shape. The order in which the holes 311-31 _n are arranged in the angular path B is not related to having an increasing or decreasing section, but rather said sections of the holes 311-31 _n are combined such that the gas flow of the valve 100, 100' and 100" can be regulated between the OFF position and the minimum flow position, and in the inverse order, continuously and obtaining the same regulating positions with the operating means 40 for the different supply gases G1 , G2 and G3. In these embodiments of the valves 100, 100' and 100", the regulation of the gas flow for the different supply gases G1 , G2 and G3 is obtained by a number of three consecutive holes out of n holes 31 i-31 _n of the connection opening 30 of the rotating disc 20 overlapping with the outlet hole 15. The rule is complied with except at the beginning and end of the angular path B of the connection opening 30, specifically for the maximum outlet flow for gas G1 and for the minimum outlet flow for gas G3. The changes in gas flow between one specific flow rate and another flow rate are obtained by means of the exit of one hole of one end of the three holes overlapping with the outlet hole 15, and by means of the entry of a new hole with respect to the other end of the outlet hole 15 at the same time.

In another motor-powered embodiment of the valve 100" (not shown in the drawings), said valve does not comprise the stops 80ι, 8Ο2, 8Ο3. Regulating the gas flow in the different positions of the valve between the OFF position and the minimum gas flow position is done with the motor 70 controlled by an electronic control of the gas appliance where the valve is assembled, and which will be described below. The electronic control determines in which position the motor 70 must stop when operating the rotating disc 20 and the connection opening 30 of the rotating disc 20 is thereby positioned with respect to the outlet hole 15. The valve is adapted to the different supply gases by means of controlling the electronic control on the motor 70 and positioning the rotating disc 20 by means of said motor 70 in the different angular paths Αι, A2, A3 defined for each of the respective gases G1 , G2 and G3. The closing stop 81 is used as a reference position for the electronic control for determining the different angular paths Αι, A2, A3. The valve may not have the closing stop 81 , in which case the reference position can be any other element of the valve defined for said function, or even a virtual reference position.

Figures 18a-e show the position of the holes 31 i-i-311-7 and 312-1-312-8 of two sets of connection openings 30i and 3Ο2 of the rotating disc 20 of a fourth embodiment of the regulating valve comprising two outlet conduits, each with its respective outlet hole 15i and 152: an outer gas outlet conduit and an inner gas outlet conduit. Figures 18a-e show, respectively, the valve in an OFF position, in a maximum gas flow position for the outer outlet conduit and maximum gas flow position for the inner outlet conduit, in a minimum position for the outer outlet conduit and a maximum position for the inner outlet conduit, in an OFF position for the outer outlet conduit and an intermediate gas flow position for the inner outlet conduit, and in an OFF position for the outer outlet conduit and a minimum position for the inner outlet conduit.

This fourth embodiment of the regulating valve is similar to valves 100 and 100', although it is can also be applied to the motor-powered valve 100", said valve comprising a valve body with two outlet conduits and a corresponding number of outlet holes 15i and 152, said outlet holes 15i and 152 fluidically communicating with the outlet conduits. Each valve supplies gas to a burner, this burner being able to have one or several rings. Each of the gas outlet conduits of the valve supplies gas to each of the rings. Therefore, in this fourth embodiment the valve comprises two gas outlet conduits, an outer outlet conduit for the outer ring of the burner, and an inner outlet conduit for the inner ring of the burner.

Depending on the position of the operating means 40 of the valve, the user can select the regulation of the gas flow of the two rings of the burner. When the user selects any of the gas flow regulating positions, there is fluidic communication between the outlet conduits of the valve and two connection openings 30i and 302 comprised in the rotating disc 20 through the respective outlet holes 15i and 152, communicating opening 30i with the inner outlet conduit and opening 3Ο2 with the outer outlet conduit.

Each set of connection openings 30i and 3Ο2 comprises a plurality of holes 311-1- 31 i-n and 3l 2-i-3l 2-n having different sections arranged in respective angular paths Bi and B2. These angular paths Bi and B2 are arranged in different radii with respect to the center of the rotating disc 20. These angular paths Bi and B2 are smaller than or at most the same as angular path A of manually operated valves, or the same as or smaller than the angular paths Αι, A2, A3 of electrically operated motor-powered valves. The outlet holes 15i and 152 are arranged in the valve body in a radial and angular position with respect to the rotating disc 20 such that rotation of the rotating disc 20 allows fluidically communicating said outlet holes 15i and 152 successively with the respective connection openings 30i and 3Ο2. Specifically, the rotating disc 20 comprises n=7 holes in connection opening 30i and comprises n=8 holes in connection opening 3Ο2. Said holes 31 i-i-311-7 and 312-1-312-8 have different diameters, the holes 311-1 and 312-8 having a different irregular and elongated shape. The order in which the holes 31 i-i-311-7 and 312-1-312-8 are arranged in the angular paths Bi and B2 is not related to having an increasing or decreasing section, but rather said sections of the holes 31 i-i-311-7 and 312-1-312-8 are combined such that the gas flow of the valve can be regulated between the OFF position and the minimum flow position, and in the inverse order, continuously and obtaining the same regulating positions with the operating means 40 for the different supply gases G1 , G2 and G3. Therefore, and as shown in Figures 18a-e, in one embodiment of the rotating disc 20 and the valve adapted for natural gas G1 , in the OFF position of the valve the connection openings 30i and 302 are not fluidically communicated with the outlet holes 15i and 152. Therefore, there is no gas flow to the burner. When the valve is in a maximum gas regulating position for the outer outlet conduit and a maximum position for the inner outlet conduit, the holes 311-1 , partially, and 312-1 and 312-2 are communicated, respectively, with the outlet holes 15i and 152.

When the valve is in a minimum gas regulating position for the outer outlet conduit and a maximum position for the inner outlet conduit, the holes 311-1 , partially, and the holes 311-2 and 311-3, and hole 312-8 are communicated, respectively, with the outlet holes 15i and 152.

When the valve is in an OFF regulating position for the outer outlet conduit and an intermediate gas flow position for the inner outlet conduit, the holes 311-2, 311-3 and 311-4, and no hole in opening 3Ο2 are communicated, respectively, with the outlet holes 15i and 152.

When the valve is in an OFF regulating position for the outer outlet conduit and a minimum position for the inner outlet conduit, the hole 311-7, and no hole in the opening 3Ο2 are communicated, respectively, with the outlet holes 15i and 152.

Continuous gas flow regulation is thereby obtained in each of the rings of the burner, and an overlap, and therefore the flame does not jump in the burner between the rings of the burner.

The invention also relates to a gas cooking appliance incorporating regulating valves according to the invention. By way of illustration, Figure 19 shows a schematic block depiction of a gas cooking appliance 600. In the example of Figure 19, the gas cooking appliance 600 comprises four burners 10, each with a respective regulating valve 100" according to the third embodiment of the invention. There are arranged in the gas inlet conduit, in a position before the regulating valves 100", a cutoff valve 400 and then a safety valve 500. The gas cooking appliance 600 further comprises a control unit 200 controlling the regulating valves 100". The control unit 200 receives the orders that the user enters through a user interface (not depicted in the drawings). If regulating valves 100 according to the first embodiment are used, there will not be a control device 200 acting on said valves because the user would act directly on the regulating valves. If regulating valves 100' according to the second embodiment are used, the general scheme is the same as that of Figure 19.

The gas cooking appliance can be, for example, a gas cooktop, a gas cooker, a gas oven or a grill. The number of regulating valves comprised in the gas appliance will correspond with the number of gas burners comprised in said gas appliance.