TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a stage group in nine-stage gas taps used in gas cooking appliances, which is located inside a panel of a hob or an oven, and provides a user with a transition feeling between fire levels when the user rotates the button clockwise or counter clockwise to adjust the flame level.

The variation of flame levels between minimum and maximum depends on a conical element provided in the gas tap, wherein since the tap rises gradually from a closed position to a maximum position by the stage group of the present invention, the user is enabled to feel the vibration sensation both acoustically and tactilely each time he/she rotates the button counter clockwise, thereby allowing convenience for visually impaired individuals to use gas cooking appliances.

The stage group according to the invention is made of an elastic material in order to solve the current technical problems, and it can be easily mounted to and removed from the tap by attaching it to the gas tap through the cover. Therefore, it allows the hob or oven supplier to choose whether to present it to the user as a cooking device with a sense of stage or to present it to the user as a cooking device that does not have a sense of stage. In addition, since it is a part that can be easily assembled or disassembled to/from the tap manually, it has a positive effect on the life of the tap in cycle tests performed according to the EN standards to which the gas tap is subjected.

STATE OF THE ART

The existing structures used in currently developed gas taps with 9 flame levels especially for suggesting transition feeling between the flame levels of the tap are designed with parts made of aluminium or other materials, which are the same material as the tap connected to a button attached to the cover or shaft of the gas tap. The existing structure, which is made of the same material as the tap and cannot be easily disassembled, is subjected to 40,000 cycles according to the EN standards to which gas taps are subjected. The shaft, which is rotated 40,000 times in the cycle test, rotates the existing structure on the tap cover. Abrasions occur between the cover and the structure made of the same material, causing the stage piece to lose its function over time, thus negatively affecting the service life of the tap. Abrasion-related particles cause technical problems over time, such as passing between the shaft and the cover to reach the conical part of the tap, causing leakage in the tap, or causing the tap not to rotate as a result of getting stuck in the tap by exceeding the 0.2 N, which is the operating torque of the tap.

One of the embodiments used in the known-state of the art is disclosed in the patent application WO2018121951. The application relates to a cooking appliance. A button attached on the exterior of the panel and a protruding structure rotatable with the button are attached to a shaft of the gas tap located in the panel of the cooking appliance. The element, which is also referred as a frame containing tabs, is mounted to the panel by means of screws. When the user rotates the button, sound and vibration occur as the protrusions reaches the tab on the frame. However, the tab used in the application can be deformed and broken over time due to use.

One of the embodiments used in the known-state of the art is disclosed in the patent application EP2889540. The application relates to hobs comprising gas taps with gas adjustment. In the embodiment, the stage sensation is provided by a collar element attached to the circumference of the button extension with a tight fit. The configuration is located outside the hob panel.

One of the embodiments used in the known-state of the art is disclosed in the patent application US2005284519. The application relates to a gas tap which comprises a conical element providing gas adjustment for cooking appliances. A cover of the tap has many recesses and the stage system is provided by the frictional contact of a circular element having a sliding surface thereon.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a stage system which will make the user feel the transitions between the flame levels caused by the gas passage provided by the gas tap, both in an acoustic and a tactile manner. Another object of the invention is to provide a stage system which will make visually impaired individuals feel the flame level during the use of the hob, both in an acoustic and a tactile manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide the hob supplier with an easily attachable or removable product in order for the supplier to have a choice to present the gas tap to the user with or without a stage.

A further object of the invention is to provide the hob supplier with an easily attachable or removable product in order for the supplier to have a choice to present the gas tap to the user with or without a stage.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a product which is not liable to the EN standards to which the gas tap is subjected.

A further object of the invention is to prevent deformation by the interventions that may occur by positioning behind the hob or oven panel, and to present a structure independent of the button in front of the oven panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a plan view of the gas tap on which the stage group of the invention is mounted.

Figure 2 is an A-A cross-sectional view of the gas tap on which the stage group of the invention is mounted.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the gas tap on which the stage group of the invention is mounted.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the stage group of the invention, without the front cover.

Figure 5 is a side view of the thrust washer.

Figure 6 is a front view of the thrust washer. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the step cylinder.

Figure 8 is a front view of the step cylinder.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 . Gas tap

1.1. Body

1.2. Shaft

1.3. Cover

1.3.1. Mounting hole

1.4. Conical

2. Stage group

2.1. Front cover

2.1.1. Hole

2.1.2. Opening

2.2 Rear cover

2.2.1. Rotating surface

2.2.2. Tab

2.2.3. Mounting thread

2.2.4. Switch Hole

2.3. Thrust washer

2.3.1. D form

2.3.2. Protrusion

2.4. Step cylinder

2.4.1. Cavity

2.4.1.1. Cavity length

2.4.1.2. Cavity width

2.4.1.3. Base

2.4.2. Recess

2.4.3. Step

2.5. Ball

2.5.1. Ball socket

2.6. Spring

3. Switch DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The gas taps used in gas cooking devices reach the ignition levels such as off, maximum ignition and minimum ignition. This type of taps is called classical ignition taps. In addition to these, a gas tap (1) with 9 different flame lengths having 9 ignition stages is also used in gas cooking devices. In classical ignition taps and 9-stage gas taps, gas passage is provided by a conical (1 .4) element. Flame lengths are provided as maximum and minimum in conventional ignition taps. However, in 9-stage gas taps (1), flame lengths between the maximum and minimum can also be observed in the burners.

The invention relates to a stage group (2) which can be easily mounted on a nine-stage gas tap (1) provided in the gas cooking appliances for adjusting the gas and comprising a conical (1.4) element, a body (1.1) comprising the conical (1.4) element, a cover (1.3) which encloses the body (1.1) to provide sealing, a shaft (1.2) which is in connection with the conical (1.4) element and connected with the cooker button, wherein the stage group (2) allows the user to feel the flame levels between the maximum and minimum caused by the gas passage when the button is rotated clockwise or counter clockwise, both acoustically and tactilely. The stage group (2) according to the invention consists of a front cover (2.1), a rear cover (2.2), a step cylinder (2.4), a thrust washer (2.3), a ball (2.5) and a spring (2.6).

The front cover (2.1) comprises a hole (2.1.1) with a diameter of 21.5 mm. The thrust washer (2.3) passes through this hole (2.1.1). The diameter of the hole (2.1.1) is designed to be smaller than the diameter of the thrust washer (2.3) so that the thrust washer (2.3) contained in the stage group (2), which is mounted on the gas tap (1) and a plan view of which is given in Figure 1 , does not protrude upwards.

As shown in Figure 3, shaft (1.2) of the gas tap (1) passes through the thrust washer (2.3). When the step group (2) is viewed from the top, the thrust washer (2.3) is located between the front cover (2.1) and the rear cover. Therefore, the thrust washer (2.3) has the same D form (2.3.1) with the shaft (1.2). The thrust washer has a conical form as illustrated in Figure 5 and comprises four protrusions (2.3.2) that allow the thrust washer to move forward and backward inside the step cylinder (2.4) by means of the forward movement provided to the shaft. These protrusions enlarge the diameter of the thrust washer (2.3) by 7% and prevent the thrust washer from removing out of the front cover when it moves forward and turns back.

The step cylinder (2.3.4) comprises four cavities (2.4.1) in the same form as the protrusions

(2.3.2) contained in the thrust washer (2.3), as shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8. Therefore, the thrust washer (2.3) can move as much as the length (2.4.1.1) of the cavity (2.4.1) in the step cylinder (2.4). The cavities (2.4.1) in the step cylinder are designed to be 4.5mm in length (2.4.1.1) and 4mm in width (2.4.1.2). In order to restrict the forward movement of the thrust washer (2.3), the length of the cavity is designed to have a gap of 0.7 mm from its base. The protrusions (2.3.2) in the thrust washer (2.3) and the cavities (2.4.1) in the step cylinder (2.4) overlap each other. In this way, the thrust washer (2.3) transmits the rotational movement received from the shaft (1.2) to the step cylinder by means of its protrusions

(2.3.2), like a gear system, so that it ensures the rotation of the step cylinder (2.4). The step cylinder (2.4) provides the rotational movement by means of a recess (2.4.2) with a depth of 1.3 mm provided at the base (2.4.3) thereof. Thanks to the recess (2.4.2), the step cylinder (2.4) is supported on a rotating surface (2.2.1) with a diameter of 29.5 mm and a length of 1.5 mm located on the rear cover (2.2), such that the step cylinder (2.4) rotates clockwise. Moreover, as illustrated in Figure 8, the step cylinder comprises 10 oval-shaped steps (2.4.3) that will overlap the ball when rotated clockwise or counter clockwise.

As shown in Figure 3, the stage group (2) is formed by joining the front cover (2.1) and the rear cover (2.2) to cover the system. As can be seen in Figure 2, the front cover (2.1) and the rear cover (2.2) are joined to form a ball socket (2.5.1) in the form of a hollow cylinder with a diameter of 7 mm and a length of 9 mm. The ball socket (2.5.1) comprises a ball with a diameter of 5 mm, and a spring (2.6) which pushes the ball into the step cylinder. The ball (2.5) pushed towards the step cylinder (2.4) coincides with the steps (2.4.3) and is seated on the steps (2.4.3) each time the step cylinder (2.4) rotates.

The length and width of the front cover (2.1) and the rear cover (2.2) are the same. The front cover (2.1) and the rear cover (2.2) can easily engage with each other through 4 openings (2.1.2) contained in the front cover (2.1) by means of the tabs (2.2.2) provided on the rear cover (2.2). The step cylinder (2.4) is located inside the front cover (2.1) and the rear cover (2.2) that are attached to each other while the thrust washer (2.3) is located inside the step cylinder (2.4). The front cover (2.1) prevents the thrust washer (2.3) and the step cylinder (2.4) from removing. Two mounting threads (2.2.3) are designed on the rear cover (2.2) that allow the stage group (2) to be attached through the mounting hole (1.3.1) located in the tap cover (1.3). Thanks to said mounting thread (2.2.3), the stage group (2) can be easily mounted or disassembled to/from the tap (1) through the cover (1 .3) according to the preference of the hob supplier. Furthermore, since the stage group (2) is made of elastic materials, it will have a positive effect on the life of the tap in 40,000 cycles to be performed in accordance with the EN standards, which are the gas tap standards, thereby preventing technical problems that may occur in the tap (4) due to the 40,000 cycles caused by the step suppliers made of aluminium or other metals currently used.

According to the stage group (2) of the invention, the shaft (1.2) contained in the gas tap (1) moves forward when the user presses the button on the hob. As the shaft (1.2) moves forward, the thrust washer (2.3) moves forward simultaneously to push the switch (3) through the switch hole (2.2.4) on the rear cover (2.2) such that the ignition switch is operated. When the user rotates the shaft (1.2) clockwise from the closed position by 90°, gas passes through the gas tap (1) at a maximum flow rate. Thus, the flame level in the burners reaches the maximum level. The flame level decreases each time the user rotates the shaft (1.3) with an angle of at least 15° and maximum 45°. The level of the flame decreases to the minimum as the user rotates the shaft at least 15° and maximum 45° with respect to the previous position such that the flame has 9 different dimensions.

Without the stage group (2) of the invention, the stage of the flame cannot be determined when the user rotates the button. For this reason, the stage group (2) according to the invention has been provided. The stage group (2) of the invention starts to operate by the rotation of the thrust washer (2.3) when the user rotates the shaft 90° after the ignition switch is operated. By means of the protrusions (2.3.2) provided at the thrust washer (2.3), the thrust washer (2.3) is supported in the cavities (2.4.1) of the step cylinder (2.4) and ensures that the step cylinder (2.4) rotates simultaneously with itself like a gear wheel. In the socket where the front cover (2.1) and the rear cover (2.2) close on each other to form the ball socket (2.5.1), there are provided the ball (2.5) and the spring (2.6) that pushes the ball (2.5) towards the steps (2.4.3) of the step cylinder (2.4). Therefore, when the step cylinder (2.4) rotates 90°, the ball (2.5) and steps (2.4.3) overlap each other. Thanks to the overlapping balls (2.5) and steps (2.4.3), when the user rotates the button clockwise by the angles mentioned above compared to the previous position, the user both hears a sound and feels the transition with the vibration that occurs in the steps (2.4.3) during the rotation process. Thus, the user can understand the flame level. With the stage group according to the invention, the technical problem of not understanding the flame level experienced by visually impaired individuals and the technical problem in the use of the cooker has been solved.