IE902691A1

IE902691A1 - Self-adjusting control mechanism for domestic appliances

Info

Publication number: IE902691A1
Application number: IE269190A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Albilux
Priority date: 1989-07-25
Filing date: 1990-07-24
Publication date: 1991-02-27
Also published as: ES2016707A6; EP0412041A2; PT94799A; EP0412041A3

Abstract

SELF-ADJUSTING CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HOUSEHOLD APPARATUS of the kind comprised by an adjustable axis with double articulation (1,2) at each end and anti-turn safety device of the control button (6), the said axis being comprised by two single elements (7,8), with coaxial free sliding coupling and with non-circular coupling in cross-section. The safety device is comprised by a box (10), through which the axis (4) passes bearing the control button (6), which axis has a flange (12), between which and the bottom of the box (10) a return spring (13) is housed, the axis (4) having a projecting radial pivot (15), susceptible to being housed, by biasing the spring (13) in a notch (14) provided for the purpose on the edge of the box (10). The mechanism is especially applied for control of gas operated apparatus.

Description

The present invention relates to a self-adjusting control mechanism for domestic appliances, especially for gas cookers and the like, with an orientable dualarticulation transmission by means of which it is pos5 sible, in a single embodiment, to adapt to the most varied dimensions and arrangements of the elements to be controlled, as may be the case in respect of cooker taps whose level, due to the positioning requirement of the burners, does not always coincide exactly with that of the rod of these taps, which always gives rise to problems in fitting, in order to obtain a smooth and efficient transmission of movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Taps whose control benefits from their dual15 articulation transmission, of the cardan or similar type, are already known and used in these gas appliances with the aim of compensating for the differences in levels already mentioned together with the different distances which may be encountered between the taps and the burn20 ers.

However, although these are relatively simple mechanisms, these embodiments suffer from the fact that they are mechanically over-complicated, with parts interconnected via a screw thread, by means of inter25 mediate parts which give rise to assemblies which are very expensive to manufacture and awkward to fit as it is necessary to adjust their length to the distance between the application points. This is further reflected in the difficulty in obtaining smooth movement of said mechan30 isms, since, if a perfect fit is not obtained, the operation of the control is also affected.

Another constructional detail which also gives rise to problems when fitting these mechanisms is that of the safety device for the taps, which requires pressure on the knob in order to achieve its release before it is possible to rotate the rod of the tap. In conventional embodiments, these devices are operated by compression springs disposed behind the knob and which remain - 3 uncovered, forming places which retain grease and dirt and which require constant cleaning and attention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The mechanism which is the subject of the inven5 tion aims to solve the drawbacks mentioned such that, being of the type which comprises a dual articulation at each one of its ends, like a cardan transmission, the interconnection between both articulated ends consists of two single elements which are coupled so as to slide freely longitudinally and coaxially, with a non-circular coupling cross-section, so that said coupling is completely self-adjusting between relatively wide limits or distances which enable the mechanism to be applied to a variety of appliances without having to consider the relative positions of the taps and of the controls.

Moreover, the safety device consists of a casing, attached to the front of the control panel of the appliance, through which the rod of the control knob passes and inside which is housed, completely insulated from the outside, a spring against which a collar of the actual rod of the control button acts and which thus ensures the return of the assembly to the position of rest. This position, which is required as a safety measure in this type of appliance, is fixed by means of the arrangement, on the edge of the opening opposite to the abovementioned casing, of a notch in which, in said position, a small pivot attached to the actual rod will be introduced by virtue of the action of the inner spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to improve understanding of the text and solely by way of example, without any limiting character, the present description is accompanied by drawings which show a diagrammatic representation of a mechanism with the characteristics indicated.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in longitudinal elevation, of the mechanism applied to a gas cooker, Figure 2 corresponds to a detail, partially in cross-section and also in elevation, of the safety device; Figures 3 and 4 show respective views in longitudinal and transverse section through the plane III-III of the coaxial interconnection of the control; and Figures 5 and 6 show detailed views, also in elevation and on a larger scale, which enable the operation of the safety device to be appreciated.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As may be appreciated from the said drawings, the mechanism, of the type equipped with a dual articulation -1- and -2-, of the cardan type, has the rods -3- and -4for operating the tap -5- and the press knob -6-, respectively, interconnected via two single elements -7-8- coupled so as to slide coaxially, the first of which is hollow and has an axial channel with a square profile -9-, in which the rod with a corresponding cross-section -7- and constituting the complementary element is introduced so as to slide freely. At the respective ends of each one of these elements -7- and -8- are disposed the abovementioned dual articulations -1- and -2-.

Another detail is based on the construction of the safety device for preventing accidental opening, which consists of a casing -10- attached to the front of the control plate -11- of the appliance and through the inside of which the rod -4- of the control knob -6passes. This rod -4- carries a collar -12-, between which and the bottom of the casing is inserted a compression spring -13- which tends to return the assembly to the position of rest.

The casing carries on its edge opposite that where the rod -4-, carrying the control knob -6-, enters a recess -14- in which is fitted a pivot -15- attached radially to the rod -4- when pushed by the spring -13towards the position of rest of the assembly, said position being fixed unless sufficient pressure is exerted on the knob -6-.

As may be seen, the construction of the mechanism cannot be simpler and the structure of the rod formed by the two single elements -7- -8-, coupled so as to slide coaxially, makes it possible to guarantee, within suffi5 ciently wide limits, as a function of the length of each one of them, the coverage of the distance between the tap -5- and the control knob -6-.

The difference in level between both elements will also be compensated for in the conventional manner by the dually articulated couplings -1- and -2-.

For its part, the construction of the safety device and the fact that the active elements are contained inside its casing -14- prevent it being possible for them to be damaged by dirt, grease, etc. which may be caused by the use of the appliance.

Even when, in the embodiment shown as an example and which corresponds to a preferred and especially advantageous construction, mention is made of the sliding coupling between the coaxial elements -7- -8- by means of a square profile, it is obvious that similar results may be obtained provided that the internal profile of the former and the external profile of the latter is not circular, in order to ensure engagement between them.

The mechanism in question may be applied to any appliances in which it is necessary to set up an interconnection covering variable distances and, therefore, in addition to the construction of the mechanism itself being simplified, as has been indicated, fitting of the assembly is made much easier since self-adjustment of the sliding coupling is obtained without having to resort to the construction of mechanisms with different lengths or with complicated adjustment mechanisms which are not always easy to handle in small spaces, as usually happens in this type of appliance.

Claims

1. Self-adjusting control mechanism for domestic appliances, especially for cookers and other gas appliances, of the type which comprises a rod equipped with a dual articulation (1, 2) at its ends and an anti-turn safety device which can be operated by the control knob (6) of the appliance, characterized in that the interconnection rod between the rod (4) of the control knob (6) and the rod (3) of the corresponding tap, and which carries the dual end articulation (1, 2), is formed by two single elements (7-8) which are coupled coaxially together so as to slide freely and with a non-circular coupling cross-section.

2. Mechanism, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the safety device for preventing the accidental turning of the control knob (6) consists of a casing (10) attached to the control panel (11) of the appliance and through the inside of which passes the rod (4) which carries the knob (6), which rod has a collar (12), between which and the bottom of the casing (10) is housed a compression spring which pushes the assembly towards the position of rest, which is fixed by a pivot (15) attached radially to the rod (4), capable of being housed in a groove (14) provided for the purpose on the edge of the casing (10).

3. a self-adjusting control mechanism for domestic appliances according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.