EP1907756B1

EP1907756B1 - A cooking device

Info

Publication number: EP1907756B1
Application number: EP06780166A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cemalettin Arcelik Anonim Sirketi KALAYCI; Oktay Arcelik Anonim Sirketi IPEK; Yalcin Arcelik Anonim Sirketi YAMAN; Necati Arcelik Anonim Sirketi COKCEKEN
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2005-07-25
Filing date: 2006-07-21
Publication date: 2012-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-21
Also published as: WO2007013014A2; WO2007013014A3; ATE551572T1; PL1907756T3; ES2383612T3; EP1907756A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking device (1) wherein the ignition of the gas burners is performed via a knob (3). When the user turns the knob (3) handle (8) controlling the gas burner for opening the gas valve (2) of the cooking device (1), the user may also use the knob (3) for ignition, pushing lightly on the handle (8) during any moment of the rotational movement is sufficient for initiating ignition.

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking device comprising a gas control knob having ignition function.
In cooking devices, a separate gas lighter or ignitor is frequently needed for igniting the gas burners, the kindling is started by the ignition systems situated on the device. In ignition systems usually there is only one ignition knob and this knob is used for igniting all the gas burners. In this type of cooking devices having an ignition knob separate from the existing knobs adjusting the flow of gas to the gas burners, the user, while turning the gas knob with one hand, presses the ignition knob with the other hand for ignition. In another application, ignition is directly done by the gas knob. In this type of cooking devices, the ignition unit is positioned just behind the knob and is in communication with the knob. With the turning or pressing of the gas knob to open the gas valve, magnetic or electric contact switches activated by the knob actuate the ignition unit for providing ignition.
In the United States Patent no. US 6627828 , the gas flow control knob in a gas appliance also activates the igniter switch. When the knob is depressed from a predetermined distance, the igniter switch is turned on to initiate a sparking operation. The igniter switch is preferably constituted by a multi-piece outer casing within which is mounted multiple igniter contacts, and when the knob is depressed, multiple igniter contacts activated together with an activating member contact the terminal ends having a biased structure transmitting signals to the igniter unit for initiating ignition.
In the European Patent Application no. EP 1500881 , in a cooking device, as the knob is turned, a contrast element connected to the knob actuates a microswitch that is connected to the ignition control.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooking device comprising a knob having a simple structure that is operated to start ignition by pressing on any time during the rotation of the knob.
The cooking device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the first claim and the other features are explicated in the dependent claims.
In the cooking device, gas flow is provided from a gas valve to the gas burners situated on the cook-top and an ignition unit provides the ignition of the gas burners within the structure of the cooking device. The ignition unit is activated by the gas control knob. The knob activates ignition, serving as a switch by means of an activator pin that is affected by axial movement.
There are conductive tips on the knob providing it to serve as a switch and terminal tips connected to the conductive tips allowing a cabled connection to be provided to the ignition unit.
There are contact extensions that complete the circuit by contacting the terminal tips and activate the ignition unit on the activator pin that provides the knob to serve as an activator and springs fitted on the activator pin body for providing the user ease of movement during the pushing motion on the knob for ignition. When the knob is pushed, the activator pin protrudes from a hole on the rear surface of the knob and the movement of the activator pin is not restrained by the rear surface of the knob.
The cooking device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is shown in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a cooking device.
Figure 2 - is the schematic view of a knob, an ignition unit and a spark plug.
Figure 3 - is the exploded view of a knob.
Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a knob.
Figure 5 - is the perspective view of detail A of a knob.
Figure 6 - is the exploded view of a knob comprising an activator pin.
Figure 7 - is the perspective view of a knob and a gas valve.
Figure 8 - is the perspective view of an activator pin.
Figure 9 - is the schematic view of a handle, a transmission means and an activator pin.
Figure 10 - is the schematic view of a transmission means and an activator pin.
Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows:
1. Cooking device
2. Gas valve
3. Knob
4. Panel
5. Ignition unit
6. Cable
7. Spark plug
8. Handle
9. Frame
10. Pusher
11. Coupling
12. Shaft restrainer
13. Spring
14. Housing ring
15. Knob casing
16. Activator pin
17. Body
18. Terminal
19. Conductive tip
20. Contact extension
21. Contact spring
22. Pusher spring
23. Hole
24. Notch
25. Transmission means
The cooking device (1) comprises a gas valve (2) that provides gas flow to the gas burners on the cook-top, a knob (3) providing the gas valve (2) to open and close for adjusting the desired amount of gas flow and serving as an ignitor switch by the user's pushing motion, a panel (4) on which the knob (3) is situated, an ignition unit (5) that starts the ignition process as the knob (3) is pushed serving as an ignitor switch, one or more cables (6) that provide the electrical connection of the knob (3) and the ignition unit (5) and allowing the positioning of the ignition unit (5) anywhere separate from the knob (3), and one or more spark plugs (7) that generate a spark that ignites the gas burners with the signal received from the ignition unit (5).
The knob (3) comprises a handle (8) activated by the user, a frame (9) fixed to the panel (4), inside which the handle (8) moves, on which the knob (3) functions are marked, a transmission means (25) that serves to transmit the rotational and/or the pushing movement of the handle (8), and a knob casing (15) fixed to the panel (4), housing the transmission means (25).
The transmission means (25) comprises a pusher (10) connected to the handle (8) that starts ignition when it makes an axial movement and a coupling (11) that allows its movements in the radial and axial directions, a shaft retainer (12) inside which the gas valve (2) shaft is seated and activated by the coupling (11), a spring (13) on which the shaft retainer (12) is seated and a housing ring (14) on which the spring (13) is seated allowing the rotational movement.
The knob (3) comprises one or more terminals (18) to which the cables are connected and fixed to the knob casing (15), one or more conductive tips (19) that provide the connection of the terminals (18) within the knob casing (15) and an activator pin (16) that provides the electrical connection between the conductive tips (19), fixed to the rear wall of the knob casing (15), positioned between the transmission means (25) and the rear wall of the knob casing (15) without being connected to the transmission means (25), pushed in the axial direction by the transmission means (25), being affected by only the pushing movement of the transmission means (25) in the axial direction without being affected by its rotational movement.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the activator pin (16) is activated by the contact of the pusher (10) situated in the transmission means (25).
The knob casing (15) comprises a hole (23) to which the activator pin (16) is fitted, with one end of the activator pin (16) extending out allowing its free movement in the axial direction.
The activator pin (16) comprises a body (17) that moves by means of the pushing applied via the contact of the transmission means (25), one or more contact extensions (20) connected on the body (17) that contact the conductive tips (19) by the movement of the body (17) in the axial direction, a contact spring (21) positioned between the contact extension (20) and the knob casing (15) so as to surround the body (17), a pusher spring (22) situated on the contact extensions (20) so as to surround the body (17), and one or more notches (24) that prevent its end extending out from the hole (23) to enter into the knob casing (15).
When the handle (8) is rotated to adjust the gas valve (2), the shaft retainer (12) rotates the shaft of the gas valve (2) and gas flow is provided. The axial pushing movement done by the user for effecting ignition is independent of the rotational movement done for adjusting the gas valve (2). Ignition is effected by pushing the handle (8) at a fully closed, fully open or an interval position of the gas valve (2). When the user wants to effect ignition, a pushing movement at any moment while rotating the handle (8) is sufficient and ignition continues as long as the pushing movement is carried on.
When the transmission means (25) pushes the activator pin (16) by making an axial movement, first the force of the contact spring (21) is overcome, providing the contact of the conductive tips (19) with the contact extension (20), if the pushing force is more than necessary, the pusher spring (22) starts to stretch (distend) in the direction of the pushing and the other end of the activator pin (16) extends out from the hole (23). Consequently ignition continues under the variable pressing forces effected by the user. The spring values of the contact and the pusher springs (21, 22) are adjusted such that the ignition continues even if the pushing force is variable.
When one of the gas burners in the cooking device (1) is to be ignited, the gas valve (2) is opened by rotating the handle (8) on the knob (3) connected to the respective gas burner and the handle (8) is pushed at any moment during the rotational movement providing the knob (3) to serve as an ignition switch by means of the contact of the conductive tips (19) with the contact extension (20). Regardless of the position of the handle (8) in the rotational direction, after enough pushing force is applied to overcome the contact spring (21), the conductive tips (19) stay in contact with the contact extension (20) and ignition continues during contact. After the knob (3) serves as an ignition switch by being pushed from the handle (8), the ignition unit (5) is activated by means of the cables (6) and the generated signal provides the spark plug (7) to ignite the gas burner.
In the cooking device (1) of the present invention, when the user rotates the knob (3) handle (8) controlling the gas burner for opening the gas valve (2), he can effect ignition by the same knob (3); applying the desired pushing force on the handle (8) during any moment of the rotating movement will be sufficient.

Claims

A cooking device (1) comprising a gas valve (2) that adjusts the gas flow to the gas burners situated on the cook-top, an ignition unit (5) that starts the ignition process and one or more cables (6) providing the electrical connection to the ignition unit (5) and a knob (3) comprising:
- a handle (8),

- a transmission means (25) that serves to transmit the rotational and/or pushing movement of the handle (8),

- a knob casing (15) fixed to a panel (4), housing the transmission means (25).

- one or more terminals (18) which are fixed to the knob casing (15) and to which the cables are connected,

- one or more conductive tips (19) that provide the connection of the terminals (18) within the knob casing (15) and characterized in that said knob further comprises:

- an activator pin (16) that provides the electrical connection between the conductive tips (19), fixed to the rear wall of the knob casing (15), positioned between the transmission means (25) and the rear wall of the knob casing (15) without being connected to the transmission means (25), pushed in the axial direction by the transmission means (25), wherein the activation pin is only affected by the pushing movement of the transmission means (25) in the axial direction without being affected by the rotational movement of the transmission means (25).
A cooking device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the transmission means (25) has a pusher (10) connected to the handle (8) that starts ignition by contacting the activator pin (16) when it makes an axial movement.
A cooking device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the activator pin (16) has a body (17) that moves by means of the pushing movement applied via the transmission means (25), one or more contact extensions (20) connected on the body (17) that contact the conductive tips (19) by the movement of the body (17) in the axial direction.
A cooking device (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that the activator pin (16) has a contact spring (21) positioned between the contact extension (20) and the knob casing (15) so as to surround its body (17), and a pusher spring (22) situated on the contact extensions (20).
A cooking device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that the knob (3) comprises a hole (23) situated on the knob casing (15) inside which the activation pin is fitted so that the activation pin is pushed by the transmission means (25) on one of its ends is provides the other end of the activator pin (16) to extend out allowing a free movement in the axial direction, and characterized in that the activator pin (16) has one or more notches (24) that prevent its end extending out from the hole (23) to enter into the knob casing (15).