[0001] This invention relates to a cooking hob with gas burners in accordance with the introduction
to the main claim.
[0002] Cooking hobs of the aforesaid type generally comprise a surface or hob plate (of
metal, toughened glass or glass ceramic) in which several seats are provided for burners.
These latter comprise a usual burner body provided advantageously with an igniter
or flame generator and having a flame diffuser or flame spreader, on which a cap is
placed. Each burner receives a gas flow regulated by an actuator controlling the burner
operation. This actuator (generally of knob type) cooperates with a corresponding
valve member associated with a pipe through which gas is fed to the hob.
[0003] This pipe is usually positioned on one side of the hob between the aforesaid hob
plate and a lower plate associated with a support structure (which can be an appropriate
self-supporting structure in a kitchen, or a cabinet if the hob is to be built-in).
Along this side there are provided seats for the knobs cooperating with said valve
members, which are sealedly associated in known manner with the said pipe. From these
members there extend tubes terminating below the burner seats where connections are
provided to the overlying burner.
[0004] This known arrangement comprises a large number of parts (tubes, transmissions, seals
etc.), the presence and assembly requirements of which increase the cost of the hob
and its assembly time. This arrangement also results in considerable cluttering deriving
from the presence of these components and their particular layout below the hob plate.
[0005] Moreover the presence of so many components associated with the main gas feed pipe
means that there is a risk of gas leakage (and hence decreased safety) which although
limited is always present.
[0006] An object of the invention is to provide a gas hob representing an improvement on
similar currently available hobs.
[0007] A particular object of the invention is to provide a hob of the stated type in which
the number of components is small (less than in the case of known hobs), and with
a shorter assembly time than known hobs.
[0008] A further object is to provide a hob of considerable safety.
[0009] These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained
by a cooking hob in accordance with the accompanying claims.
[0010] The invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided
by way of non-limiting example and on which:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of a cooking hob according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-section through the hob of Figure 1, taken in correspondence with
a burner; and
Figure 3 is a section similar to that of Figure 2, but taken through a hob of toughened
glass or glass ceramic.
[0011] The said figures, and in particular Figures 1 and 2, show a cooking hob 1 comprising
a surface or hob plate 2 of metal (for example bare or enamelled steel) having a plurality
of seats 3 (four in Figure 1) for corresponding gas burners 4. The seats 3 are positioned
non-aligned along various edges (for example the front edge 5 and rear edge 6) of
the hob plate 2. Along a side 7 there is provided a control panel 8 on which a plurality
of actuators or knobs 9 are present for activating the flame and regulating the flame
power of each burner 4.
[0012] Each burner comprises a burner body 10 acting as a diffuser and provided with a flame
spreader 11 and a cap 12, a usual igniter or spark plug 13 and an injector 14. An
activator 9A for the spark plugs 13 may, if desired, be provided on the panel 8. On
the hob plate 2 there are provided one (as in Figure 1) or more grids 15, a lid or
closure element 16 hinged in known manner to said hob by a suitable known hinge member
18 being advantageously closable onto said hob plate.
[0013] The hob plate 2 can be superposed, via a suitable gasket 22, on a (known) hollow
structure 20 coupled to a support for the hob (such as a self-supporting structure,
or to a kitchen cabinet if the hob is to be built-in).
[0014] Between the hob plate 2 and the structure 20 there is positioned a pipe 25 for feeding
the gas to each burner. According to a particular characteristic of the invention,
said pipe 25 is a single pipe for all the burners 4 and is bent into a shape such
that it lies below each seat 3 present in the hob plate 2, whatever the arrangement
of the burners (and hence of the relative seats) on this latter. The pipe is closed
at one end 25A.
[0015] The pipe 25 is connected to a fixed gas main via a usual connection member 26, and
has a plurality of apertures 27 (of number equal to the number of burners 4), to be
positioned below the seats 3. Valve members 28 connected to the injector 14 are sealedly
arranged on these apertures and are controlled by respective actuators or knobs 9
via known remote operating means, such as a universal joint 29 (as shown in Figure
2), a flexible cable or the like connected to the knobs 9 in known manner. Each valve
member 28, provided with the necessary seals, is coupled to the corresponding aperture
27 via a usual clamping member 30. The valve member preferably comprises, connected
to a spark generator 32 connected to the spark plug 13, a usual sensor 31 for sensing
gas flow to the injector. By means of this sensor, the spark plug is automatically
activated on commencement of gas feed to the burner. This is an alternative to the
aforestated activator 9A.
[0016] According to a further characteristic of the invention, if the hob plate 2 is of
metal, each seat 3 is formed by pressing, with a shape such that it itself defines
the support 35B for the body 10 of the corresponding burner 4. In this situation (see
Figure 2), the base 35 is provided with a small through hole 37 for receiving the
injector 14, which is fixed on this base by a nut 38 or a similar element.
[0017] If the hob plate is of toughened glass or glass ceramic (see Figure 3, in which parts
corresponding to those of Figures 1 and 2 are indicated by the same reference numerals),
the body of the burner 10 is carried by a metal support 40 which has a pressed and
drawn part provided with a base 42 similar to said base 35, and is coupled in a sealed
manner (via an element 41) to the hob plate 2. The support 40 is coupled to the toughened
glass or glass ceramic hob plate 2 via an elastic element 43 positioned below the
hob plate 2.
[0018] As an alternative the support 40 can be an interacting part of the valve member 28.
[0019] The invention reduces the number of components of the hob, to provide a very safe
product. This is achieved by the particular arrangement of the pipe 25, which supports
the injectors directly below each seat 3 for a corresponding burner and the valve
member 28 connected to each injector, and by the particular shape of the hob plate
2 which where possible acts as a support for the burner body 10.
1. A gas hob (1) comprising a surface or hob plate (2) with which there are associated
a plurality of burners (4) arranged non-aligned in corresponding seats (3) provided
in said hob plate (2) at a distance from various edges (5, 6) of this latter, with
each burner (4) there operationally cooperating a valve member (28) for feeding gas
to a burner body or diffuser (10) provided with a flame spreader (11) and a cap (12),
said member (28) being caused to open and/or close by a corresponding actuator or
knob (9), a pipe (25) being provided for feeding the gas to the various burners (4),
characterised in that said pipe (25) is a single pipe for all the burners (4) and
is positioned below each of these latter, the valve member (28) of each burner being
associated with said pipe (25) and being positioned in correspondence with the respective
burner seat (3) provided in the hob.
2. A gas hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the valve member (28) of each
burner associated with the single gas pipe cooperates with a corresponding injector
positioned coaxial with the diffuser (10) of the burner (4).
3. A gas hob as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the valve member (28) is connected
via transmission means (29) to the actuator or knob (9) for controlling and regulating
the burner (4).
4. A gas hob as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the transmission means are
a universal joint (29).
5. A gas hob as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the transmission means are
a flexible cable.
6. A gas hob as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that with the valve member (28)
there is associated a sensor (31) for sensing gas flow to the injector (14), said
sensor (31) being connected to a spark generator (32) connected to an element (13)
for igniting the flame on the burner (4).
7. A gas hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the seat (3) for each burner
(4) defines a support for this latter.
8. A gas hob as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the seat (3) for each burner
(4) is formed by pressing and locally drawing the hob plate, said seat (3) hence defining
in said hob plate (2) a support (35B) for the burner body or diffuser (10), provided
with a base (35) in which there is a through hole containing the injector (14), which
is fixed to said base by fixing means (38).
9. A gas hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the burner comprises a pressed
portion (40) defining the burner support and supporting the diffuser (10), said portion
resting on the glass ceramic hob plate (2) and being sealedly coupled to this latter,
said portion being associated with an elastic element positioned below the hob plate
(2) to retain said portion on this latter, said portion having a base (42) with which
the burner injector is associated.
10. A gas hob as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the burner support (40) forms
part of the valve member (28).