TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to regulation valves and in particular to an outlet pipe that supplies a burner with two or more flame crowns.

PRIOR ART

There are known burners with two flame crowns where each crown is supplied independently by a gas regulation valve, or where a single valve supplies both crowns.

EP0485645 B1 thus discloses a burner with two crowns that comprises a collector to which may be attached one or two regulation valves. In the event that a single valve is attached, it is able to simultaneously supplying the two flame crowns.

In contrast ES2200015 T3 describes a regulation valve for a gas cooking appliance that comprises a gas inlet hole and a gas outlet hole directed towards a gas burner. Said valve also comprises a regulation member housed in a body and a drive shaft that comprises a projection on the bottom part. Said drive shaft is guided on the regulation member, which comprises end-of-stroke stops that interact with the projection of the drive shaft.

BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a gas regulation valve as defined in the claims. The regulation valve of the invention is suitable for supplying, through a gas outlet pipe, at least one burner that comprises at least two flame crowns. Said valve comprises: a rotating regulation member housed in a valve body, which, by rotating said member, it closes or opens the passage of the gas flow, varying the gas flow depending on the angle rotated by the regulation member, a drive shaft that rotates in conjunction with the regulation member, - a guide cover that comprises end-of-stroke stops that delimit the angular stroke of the regulation member, and

a projection, comprised on the drive shaft, that determines the end of the angular stroke of the regulation member when it interacts with the end-of- stroke stops disposed on the guide cover.

The valve also comprises stopper means that interact with the projection of the drive shaft, delimiting the angular movement of the rotating regulation member when the drive shaft is operated axially. The regulation valve of the invention brings about a reduction, during the burner ignition process -in which the drive shaft is operated axially- the ignition time between the crowns, known as the inter-ignition time, as well as a reduction in the amount of unburned gas during the burner ignition process, due to with the stopper means is ensured the necessary gas flow for this purpose. As a result, it complies with safety regulations.

These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be made evident in the light of the drawings and the detailed description thereof. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a first diagram without a flame and a second diagram with a flame of a double-crown burner. Figure 2 shows a view in perspective of a first embodiment of the regulation valve according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows cross-section Ill-Ill of the valve of Figure 2. Figure 4 shows cross-section IV-IV of Figure 3 of the guide cover, the drive shaft, the regulation member and the stopper means.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft, the guide cover, the regulation member and the stopper means of the valve of Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows a plant view of the stopper means of the embodiment of Figure 2.

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft, the guide cover, the regulation member and the stopper means of a second embodiment.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the stopper means of the second embodiment of Figure 7.

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft, the guide cover, the regulation member and the stopper means of a third embodiment.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the stopper means of the third embodiment of Figure 9. Figure 1 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft, of the guide cover, the regulation member and the stopper means of a fourth embodiment.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the stopper means of the fourth embodiment of Figure 1 1.

Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft, the guide cover, the regulation member and the stopper means of the fourth embodiment of Figure 1 1 .

Figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft, the guide cover, the regulation member and the stopper means of a fifth embodiment.

Figure 15 shows a perspective view of the stopper means of the fifth embodiment of Figure 14. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the guide cover of a sixth embodiment. DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The regulation valve 1 of the invention is suitable for use in conjunction with a safety system (not shown in the figures), now required by law, so that the gas flow stops in the event of the flame going out, and it is well known in the prior art. Said safety system comprises a magnetic unit and a thermocouple, and as a result of this system and for the purposes of opening the gas flow to the corresponding burner, the control button (not shown in the figures) of the valve 1 must be kept pressed axially and rotated in relation to a closed-valve OFF position. While pressure is maintained on the control button, the magnetic unit is pushed and the gas passage is opened, the burner being ignited thanks to a spark plug disposed close to the burner.

Figure 1 shows an example of a burner 2 that is supplied by the regulation valve 1 of the invention. Said burner 2 comprises two flame crowns, an inner crown 3a and an outer crown 3b, where next to the outer crown 3b, a spark plug 13 and a thermocouple 14 are disposed.

As the control button is pressed for a certain period of time, the thermocouple 14, which is also disposed close to the burner 2, is heated by the flame and starts to supply the magnetic unit, which is switched on and locked in the open position, enabling from that point onwards the passage of the gas flow without the need to press the control button. In the event of the flame going out, the thermocouple 14 stops supplying the magnetic unit, which switches off, thereby closing the passage of the gas flow.

Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of a regulation valve 1 for a gas cooking appliance suitable for supplying at least one burner 2 with two crowns, an inner crown 3a and an outer crown 3b. The valve 1 comprises: - a rotating regulation member 4 housed in a valve body 5 as shown in

Figure 3, which, by rotating said member 4, it closes or opens the passage of the gas flow, varying the gas flow depending on the angle rotated by the regulation member 4,

a drive shaft 6 that rotates in conjunction with the regulation member 4 and which pushes the magnetic unit, when it is switched on by the control button, in order to open the passage of the gas flow during the burner 2 ignition process,

a guide cover 7 that comprises end-of-stroke stops that delimit the angular stroke of the regulation member 4, and a projection 8 comprised on the drive shaft 6 that determines the end of the angular stroke of the regulation member 4 when it interacts with the end-of-stroke stops disposed on the guide cover 7. The valve 1 also comprises stopper means 9, elastic or rigid, which interact with the projection 8 of the drive shaft 6, delimiting the angular movement of the rotating regulation member 4 when the drive shaft 6 is operated axially.

As stated, in order to open the passage of the gas flow, first of all the control button must be pressed axially. Said control button is fitted on the free end of the drive shaft 6, with the result that when it is pressed it acts on the drive shaft 6, moving it axially. When the control button is no longer pressed, the drive shaft 6 returns to the previous axial position. As shown in Figure 3, the rotating regulation member 4 is housed in a main body 5 and has a plurality of holes, not shown in the figures, which, as a result of being turned, the inlet holes are facing a gas inlet pipe 12, supplying thus a "Q" flow through an outlet pipe 1 1 . This outlet pipe 1 1 is directed towards the burner 2, shown in Figure 1 , of the gas cooking appliance.

The drive shaft 6 rotates in conjunction with the regulation member 4 and has a projection 8 that determines the end of the angular stroke of the regulation member 4 when it interacts with an end-of-stroke stop for the minimum flow (Q _min ) disposed on the guide cover 7 as shown in Figure 4. When the drive shaft 6 is operated axially, the projection 8 interacts with the stopper means 9, delimiting the angular movement of the rotating regulation member 4 at an angle A1 instead of at the maximum angle A2 corresponding to the position of minimum flow (Q _min ).

During the burner 2 ignition process, if the drive shaft 6 is operated axially in the angular section a, the stopper means 9 prevent the drive shaft 6 from being moved axially, preventing it from pushing the magnetic unit, thereby preventing the opening of the passage of the gas flow.

Said stopper means 9 has an angle a, as shown in Figure 4, and are disposed at least partially inside the guide cover 7 in a front position close to the end-of-stroke stop for the minimum flow (Q _min ).

The angular section a is sufficient to guarantee the necessary flow for the ignited flame on the outer crown 3b to be sufficiently strong to ignite the inner crown 3a in a short period of time.

The regulation valve 1 of the invention reduces, during the burner 2 ignition process, the ignition time between the outer crown 3b and the inner crown 3a, known as the inter-ignition time. In addition, the amount of unburned gas during the burner 2 ignition process is reduced. As a result, it complies with safety regulations.

Figure 4 shows an example of the rotaion angles "A". From an OFF angular position (closed valve 1 ) and in an anti-clockwise direction, the regulation member 4 regulates the supply of different gas flows, maximum flow (Q _max ), intermediate flow (Q _int ) and minimum flow (Q _min ), in accordance with the angle "A" rotated.

In the preferred embodiment, as in the rest of the embodiments shown in the figures, as shown in detail in Figure 4, the regulation member 4 rotates up to an angle "AO", for the supply of a maximum flow (Q _max ). If the rotation of the regulation member 4 continues, an intermediate flow (Q _int ) is supplied. The flow Q _int , being smaller than Qmax, falls in accordance with the angle "A" rotated, until it meets an end-of-stroke stop 16 where the flow supplied is Q _min , being in this case the angular position of the regulation member 4 "A2". "A2" varies between 160° and 210° depending on whether it is a valve regulation Q _min . or not. In the ignition process the burner 2, the angular position of the regulation member 4 is "A1 " at most.

Figures 5 and 6 show the first embodiment of the invention where the stopper means 9 have an elastic behaviour and the shape of a pin, as shown in Figure 6, although other configurations are not ruled out. Said stopper means 9 comprise a substantially straight section where the stop member 10 is disposed and at least one pinched area (30) disposed in the gap between said substantially straight section and a second section at least partially facing the substantially straight section. In addition, the guide cover 7 comprises two openings 17 and 18, said substantially straight section thus being capable of being inserted through said openings 17 and 18 in the guide cover 7. Said substantially straight section enters through the first opening 17 and exits through the second opening 18, although the substantially straight section may not pass through said second opening 18. The part of the substantially straight section that is disposed inside the guide cover 7 constitutes the stop member 10. The first opening 17 and the second opening 18 are separated by an angle a, as shown in Figure 5. As the stopper means 9 have an elastic behaviour, when said stopper means 9 are inserted in the guide cover 7 said pinched area (30) exerts a pressure against the guide cover 7, thereby fixing the stopper means 9. In this embodiment the angle "A2" rotated by the regulation member 4 is 210°, although the invention may be adapted so that it may function with an angle "A2" of 160°. In an advantageous manner, in this embodiment it is possible to insert the stopper means 9 at the end of the process without having to change the production and control process involved in the manufacture of the valve.

Figures 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the invention where the stopper means 9 comprise a U-shaped section where the stop member 10, having an angle a (as shown in Figure 8), is disposed, and a housing 24. The U-shaped section follows the outline of the outer wall of the guide cover 7. In addition, said guide cover 7 comprises a side opening 25, approximately on the end-of-stroke stop 16 for the minimum flow (Q _min ), which allows said U-shaped section to be inserted in the guide cover 7. At least part of the outer area of the U-shaped section is disposed inside the guide cover 7, thereby constituting the stop member 10, and the internal area of the U-shaped section, closest to the housing 24, is disposed on the outside of the guide cover 7. Said U-shaped section embraces the guide cover 7. As shown in Figure 7, the housing 24 is guided on connection means 21 , preferably a screw, used to fix the guide cover 7 and the main body 5, which allows the stopper means 9 to be positioned and/or fixed. In this second embodiment the angle "A2" rotated by the regulation member 4 is 160°, although the invention may be adapted so that it may operate with an angle "A2" of 210°.

Figures 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the invention. In this case, the stopper means 9 comprise a housing 19, preferably with a circular section, and a protuberance of at least one angle a. Said protuberance comprises two projections 27 on each side, as shown in Figure 10. Additionally, the guide cover 7 comprises a front opening 20 with an angle that is slightly greater than a, which allows said protuberance to be inserted through said opening 20 without difficulty, the part of the protuberance remaining inside the cover 7 constituting the stop member 10. The side projections 27 come up against the outer wall of the guide cover 7, and the connection means 21 , preferably a screw, fix the stopper means 9 to the main body 5 of the valve 1 through the housing 19, as shown in Figure 9. In this third embodiment the angle "A2" rotated by the regulation member 4 is 160°, although the invention may be adapted so that it may operate with an angle "A2" of 210°. In an advantageous manner, in this embodiment it is possible to integrate the assembly of the stopper means 9 in the valve production phase or, if required, the assembly may be carried out following the phase in which the minimum flow (Q _min ) setting is checked, a critical phase in the production process. Figures 1 1 , 12 and 13 show a fourth embodiment of the invention where the stopper means 9 have a half- stop bushing shape and comprise, on the ends, claw- or hook- shaped projections 27 that are used to fix, in clips manner, said stopper means 9 to the guide cover 7, as shown in Figure 1 1. The stopper means 9 also comprise a radially directed protuberance having an angle a. In addition, the guide cover 7 comprises an opening 26 with an angle slightly greater than a, with said protuberance thus being capable of being inserted without difficulty in the guide cover through said opening, the part of said protuberance remaining disposed inside the guide cover 7 constituting the member 10. In this fourth embodiment the angle "A2" rotated by the regulation member 4 is 160°, although the invention may be adapted so that it may operate with an angle "A2" of 210°. In this embodiment it is also possible to insert the stopper means at the end of the process without having to change the production and control process involved in the manufacture of the valve.

Figures 14 and 15 show a fifth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the stopper means 9 comprise a circular ring disposed inside the guide cover 7. In this embodiment no additional opening needs to be made in the guide cover and the stopper means 9 are hidden. Said stopper means 9 comprise a first axially directed protuberance that constitutes the stop member 10 and which has an angle a, as shown in Figure 15. Said first protuberance comprises a side wall 22. The stopper means 9 also comprise a second axially directed protuberance, not being important the angle it has, and said second protuberance also comprises a second side wall 23. The outer diameter of the ring is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the guide cover 7, allowing enough gap to insert the ring in the guide cover 7 without difficulty and preventing the ring from moving inside the guide cover 7. In order to position and fix the stopper means 9 they are fitted in such a way that the side wall 22 of the first protuberance is close to the end-of-stroke stop 16 corresponding to the passage of minimum flow (Q _m i _n ), and the second side wall 23 of the second protuberance is close to the end-of-stroke stop 15 corresponding to the closed-valve OFF position. In this fifth embodiment the angle "A2" rotated by the regulation member 4 is 210°, although the invention may be adapted so that it may operate with an angle "A2" of 160°.

Figure 16 shows a guide cover 7 of a sixth embodiment where said guide cover 7 comprises an opening 28 formed by the bending inwards of part of the wall of said guide cover 7. Said bent wall has an angle a as shown in Figure 16 and constitutes the stop member 10, said stop member 10 being disposed in the bottom part of the opening 28. In this embodiment, additional stopper means do not need to be added. In this embodiment the angle "A2" rotated by the regulation member 4 is 160° although the invention may be adapted so that it may operate with an angle "A2" of