TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to gas cocks with a safety valve for a gas cooking
appliance, and to gas cooking appliances incorporating said gas cocks.
PRIOR ART
[0002] Gas cocks with a safety valve for a gas cooking appliance are known.
[0003] Document
ES1087355U describes a gas cock with a magnetic safety unit for gas cookers. Said gas cock comprises
a body comprising a gas inlet conduit and at least one gas outlet conduit, a regulating
element suitable for regulating the incoming gas flow from the safety valve to the
outlet conduit depending on the angular position thereof, the regulating element being
arranged in a housing of the body fluidically communicated with the safety valve and
with the outlet conduit, and a drive shaft comprising a manually operable main shaft,
said main shaft being rotatable between an initial rotation position and a final rotation
position, and axially movable for acting on a transmission element for opening the
safety valve, the regulating element rotating integrally with said main shaft.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a gas cock with a safety valve for a gas
cooking appliance, and a gas cooking appliance incorporating said gas cock, as defined
in the claims.
[0005] The gas cock of the invention comprises a body comprising a gas inlet conduit and
at least one gas outlet conduit, a regulating element suitable for regulating the
incoming gas flow from the safety valve to the outlet conduit depending on the angular
position thereof, the regulating element being arranged in a housing of the body fluidically
communicated with the safety valve and with the outlet conduit, and a drive shaft
comprising a manually operable main shaft, said main shaft being rotatable between
an initial rotation position and a final rotation position, and axially movable for
acting on a transmission element for opening the safety valve, the regulating element
rotating integrally with said main shaft.
[0006] The regulating element is a rotating disk comprising at least one connection opening
for regulating gas flow to the outlet conduit depending on the angular position thereof,
said rotating disk being axially retained supported on a contact area of the housing
of the body, the contact area comprising at least one outlet hole fluidically communicated
with the gas outlet conduit, the rotating disk being configured for supplying different
types of combustible gas depending on the angular positioning of said rotating disk
with respect to the main shaft, and the drive shaft being configured for fixing the
rotating disk in different angular positions with respect to the main shaft according
to the type of combustible gas to be supplied.
[0007] In the gas cocks with a safety valve of the prior art, the regulating element for
regulating the gas flow rate is a frustoconical part that is form-fitted into a chamber
of the body of the gas cock. The regulating element sometimes seizes up when too much
force is applied thereon by means of the manual drive shaft, and the gas passage may
remain open, causing gas leak. With the element in the form of a rotating disk, the
contact surface in the pushing direction of the drive shaft is reduced, and a possible
gas leakage is prevented.
[0008] The gas cock of the invention is suitable for supplying different types of gases
without replacing or modifying the rotating disk but by simply positioning said rotating
disk in different angular positions with respect to the main shaft of the drive shaft,
depending on the type of gas to be supplied. To that end, the drive shaft is configured
for changing the relative position of the rotating disk with respect to the main shaft
of said drive shaft. It is therefore an easy-to-implement solution with very few parts
needed to enable changing the supply gas, which allows reducing the costs of the valve.
[0009] These and other advantages and features of the invention will become evident in view
of the drawings and detailed description of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the gas cock with a safety valve
of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a sectional perspective view of the gas cock of Figure 1, in which
the main shaft and the transmission shaft are coupled.
Figure 3 shows a sectional perspective view of the gas cock of Figure 1, in which
the main shaft and the transmission shaft are not coupled.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the main shaft of the gas cock of Figure 1.
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the transmission shaft of the gas cock of Figure
1.
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the coupling unit of the main shaft of the gas
cock of Figure 1.
Figure 7 shows a front view of an embodiment of the rotating disk of the gas cock
of Figure 1, with a connection opening comprising a plurality of holes.
Figure 8 shows a bottom perspective view of the cover of the gas cock of Figure 1.
Figures 9a to 9b show a sectional front view of the gas cock of Figure 1, the rotating
disk being arranged in gas flow regulation positions for natural gas and liquefied
petroleum gas, respectively, when the gas cock is in the OFF position.
Figures 10a to 10b show a sectional front view of the gas cock of Figure 1, the rotating
disk being arranged in gas flow regulation positions for natural gas and liquefied
petroleum gas, respectively, when the gas cock is in a minimum MIN position.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Figures 1 to 8 show an embodiment of the gas cock 100 with a safety valve 30 according
to the invention, comprising a gas outlet conduit 12.
[0012] The gas cock 100 comprises a body 10 comprising a gas inlet conduit 11 which is fluidically
communicated with the safety valve 30, and the gas outlet conduit 12 suitable for
conducting the incoming gas to a burner (not shown in the drawings). The gas cock
100 further comprises a regulating element suitable for regulating the incoming gas
flow from the safety valve 30 to the outlet conduit 12 depending on the angular position
thereof, the regulating element being arranged in a housing 51 of the body 10 which
is fluidically communicated with the safety valve 30 and with the outlet conduit 12.
The gas cock 100 also comprises a drive shaft 40 comprising a manually operable main
shaft 41, said main shaft 41 being rotatable along an angular path A between an initial
rotation position and a final rotation position, and axially movable for acting on
a transmission element 70 for opening the safety valve 30, the regulating element
rotating integrally with said main shaft 41.
[0013] In this embodiment, the regulating element is a rotating disk 20 comprising a connection
opening 21 for regulating gas flow to the outlet conduit 12 depending on the angular
position thereof. Said rotating disk 20 is axially retained supported on a contact
area 52 of the housing 51 of the body 10, the contact area 52 comprising an outlet
hole 53 which is fluidically communicated with the gas outlet conduit 12. The rotating
disk 20 is configured for supplying different types of combustible gas depending on
the angular positioning of said rotating disk 20 with respect to the main shaft 41,
and the drive shaft 40 is configured for fixing the rotating disk 20 in different
angular positions with respect to the main shaft 41 according to the type of combustible
gas to be supplied.
[0014] The drive shaft 40 also comprises a transmission shaft 46 which pushes the transmission
element 70 when it is moved axially, the rotating disk 20 being coupled to the transmission
shaft 46, and said transmission shaft 46 being coupled to the main shaft 41, the drive
shaft 40 being configured for positioning the main shaft 41 in different angular positions
with respect to the transmission shaft 46 depending on the type of gas to be supplied.
The main shaft 41 comprises an end 43 to which there is coupled an outer knob (not
depicted) that can be operated by the user, and another end 42 which is coupled with
the transmission shaft 46. Said transmission shaft 46 comprises a lower end 48 acting
on the transmission element 70, and an upper end 47 which is coupled with the end
42 of the main shaft 41. The lower end 48 of the transmission shaft 46 is arranged
in the housing 51 when the drive shaft 40 is not axially pushed, and is coupled to
the rotating disk 20 in a coupling hole 24 which is comprised in said rotating disk
20 and has a D shape in this embodiment. Said coupling hole 24 allows the axial movement
of the transmission shaft 46 without axially moving the rotating disk 20. The rotating
disk 20 is arranged facing the transmission element 70.
[0015] The body 10 of the gas cock 100 comprises a through hole 14 which is communicated
through one of its ends 15 with the housing 51, the transmission shaft 46 of the drive
shaft 40 going through the through hole 14, said transmission shaft 46 being tightly
fitted with possibility of rotation and axial movement in said through hole 14. The
other end of the through hole 14 is communicated with a seat of the body 10, a gasket
80 being arranged on said seat surrounding the transmission shaft 46 and tightly fitted
against the seat, assuring the leak-tightness between the two ends of the through
hole 14 of the body 10.
[0016] One face of the rotating disk 20 is supported on the contact area 52 of the housing
51 of the body 10. The contact area 52 on which the rotating disk 20 is supported
comprises a flat support surface comprising a channel surrounding the outlet hole
53, a sealing gasket 57 being housed in said channel pressed against the support face
of the rotating disk 20 when the rotating disk 20 is supported on the contact area
52. Gas flow towards the gas outlet conduit 12 is thereby regulated when the rotating
disk 20 is rotated and when the connection opening 21 of the rotating disk 20 overlaps
with the outlet hole 53.
[0017] The gas cock 100 comprises a cover 60 attached to the body 10 closing, in a leak-tight
manner, a chamber 50 formed by the housing 51 of the rotating disk 20 and a second
housing 55 arranged in the cover 60. The chamber 50 is leak-tight because a sealing
gasket 58 is arranged between the cover 60 and the body 10. The second housing 55
is communicated with the safety valve 30, the transmission element 70 which acts on
the safety valve 30 being housed in the second housing 55. Said second housing 55
is separated in a leak-tight manner from the housing 51 by the rotating disk 20, and
said second housing 55 is fluidically communicated with the safety valve 30. In this
embodiment, the transmission element 70 is a rocker arm, and the safety valve 30 comprises
a shutter closing it, such that when the drive shaft 40 is pushed axially, the lower
end 48 of the transmission shaft 46 presses the transmission element 70, and this
transmission element acts on the shutter, opening the safety valve 30. The incoming
gas can therefore go from the inlet conduit 11, through the safety valve 30, and to
the second housing 55, the chamber 50 being leak-tight.
[0018] To couple the main shaft 41 and the transmission shaft 46 of the drive shaft 40,
the gas cock 100 comprises an attachment element 97 which, in this embodiment of the
gas cock 100, is a screw. In this embodiment, the main shaft 41 is hollow, comprising
a through hole 98 open at its upper end 43 and lower end 42. In this embodiment of
the main shaft 41, the lower end 42widens, generating an inner cavity 42c. On the
other hand, in this embodiment of the gas cock 100, the transmission shaft 46 comprises
at its upper end 47 a widening, forming a head 47a, said head 47a comprising a threaded
hole 47b in its upper portion facing the lower end 42 of the main shaft 41.
[0019] In this embodiment of the gas cock 100, the drive shaft 40 comprises a coupling unit
95 fixed to the lower end 42 of the main shaft 41. In this embodiment, the coupling
unit 95 comprises an annular central body comprising axially a central through hole
95a. An axial stud 98 that protrudes towards the transmission shaft 46 and a radial
stud 99 that projects laterally project from the central body. The lower end 42 of
the main shaft 41 comprises on the lower edge a first groove 42a and a second groove
42b which are arranged opposite one another in this embodiment, the radial stud 99
and the axial stud 98 being coupled, respectively, in said grooves 42a and 42b. The
coupling unit 95 is therefore part of the main shaft 41, and they are riveted to assure
the integral fixing thereof. To that end, in this embodiment the main shaft 41 is
made of brass, and it can also be made of aluminum, and the coupling unit is made
of steel.
[0020] To couple the main shaft 41 and the transmission shaft 46, before coupling the coupling
unit 95 to the main shaft 41, the head of the attachment element 97 is introduced
in the cavity 42c of the main shaft 41, and the coupling unit 95 and the main shaft
41 are then riveted. In other (not depicted) embodiments, the main shaft comprises
the stud and the radial stud at its lower end, the through hole of the main shaft
being of such dimensions that it allows introduction of the attachment element from
the opening of the through hole at the upper end of the main shaft. The head of the
attachment element 97 is supported on the upper portion of the central body of the
coupling unit 95, and the threaded body of said attachment element 97 goes through
the through hole 95a, the attachment element 97 being screwed into the hole 47b of
the transmission shaft 46.
[0021] Similarly, to uncouple the main shaft 41 and the transmission shaft 46, the attachment
element 97 is acted on whereby it is released, and to that end the user accesses the
head of said attachment element 97 with a suitable tool through the opening of the
through hole 44 of the main shaft 41 at its upper end 43. Once the attachment element
97 has been released, the transmission shaft 46 is axially moved downwards. The gas
cock 100 comprises a spring 94 which is arranged between a washer 96 and an abutment
surface 47c of the transmission shaft 46, which is the lower portion of the head 47a.
The washer 96 covers the seat on which the gasket 80 is arranged, being coupled in
this embodiment to the transmission shaft 46 going therethrough. The spring 94 allows
returning the transmission shaft 46, and along with said transmission shaft 46 the
drive shaft 40, when the main shaft 41 and the transmission shaft 46 are coupled,
to a standby position when it stops pushing said drive shaft 40, by means of the main
shaft 41, for pushing the transmission element 70 and opening the safety valve 30.
[0022] The transmission shaft 46 comprises in the head 47a a housing 49 which in this embodiment
is a partial perimetral gap at the edge of the head 47a. This housing 49 has two stops
49
1 and 49
2 arranged at the ends defining two angular positions α
1, α
2, respectively. When the main shaft 41 and the transmission shaft 46 are coupled,
the axial stud 98 is arranged in the housing 49. Depending on the supply gas which,
in this embodiment of the gas cock 100, consists of two gases, i.e., natural gas and
liquefied petroleum gas, the gas cock 100 is configured for natural gas by the axial
stud 98 being arranged in the stop 49
1, and configured for liquefied petroleum gas by the axial stud 98 being arranged in
the stop 49
2, so the main shaft 41 is positioned in different angular positions with respect to
the transmission shaft 46, and therefore to the rotating disk 20 to which it is coupled.
[0023] When the main shaft 41 and the transmission shaft 46 are uncoupled, the end of the
attachment element 97 is in contact with the hole 47b of the transmission shaft 46,
without being fixed, and the axial stud 98 of the coupling unit 95 has a length such
that said axial stud 98 is still arranged in the housing 49 of the transmission shaft
46, such that the main shaft 41 and the transmission shaft 46 are not separated from
one another. The spring 94 of the gas cock 100 therefore pushes the transmission shaft
46, and the user first rotates the main shaft 41 with the suitable tool until the
axial stud 98 abuts with one of the stops 49
1 and 49
2 corresponding with the supply gas, and then acts on the attachment element and fixes
the main shaft 41 and the transmission shaft 46 in the defined position with the suitable
tool.
[0024] To finish configuring the gas cock 100 to one of the supply gases, the drive shaft
40 must always be arranged in a reference position D1, such that when the main shaft
41 and the transmission shaft 46 are coupled, and the main shaft 41 angularly moved
with respect to the transmission shaft 46, when the drive shaft 40 is brought to the
reference position D1, the rotating disk 20 will be angularly moved at an angle equivalent
to the angular difference between α
1 and α
2 between the two supply gases defined in this embodiment. To that end, the radial
stud 99 is arranged in the reference position D1. In this embodiment of the gas cock
100, this reference position D1 corresponds with the initial rotation position of
the main shaft 41, although in other embodiments it may correspond with the final
rotation position, for example. In this embodiment, this initial rotation position
of the main shaft 41 corresponds with the position with minimum gas flow, the final
rotation position corresponding with the position with no gas flow.
[0025] The gas cock 100 comprises a cap 90 which is fixed to the body 10 and with the main
shaft 41 going through same, specifically in this embodiment of the gas cock 100 through
the lower end 42 where the main shaft 41 widens forming the inner cavity 42c. There
is formed between the washer 96 and the cap 90 a second chamber 91 inside which there
is arranged the spring 94, the coupling unit 95, and the upper end 47 of the transmission
shaft 46. This second chamber 91 is arranged opposite the chamber 50 in reference
to the body 10 of the gas cock 100, and in the direction of the drive shaft 40, both
chambers 50 and 42 being separated by the through hole 14 of the body 10. The cap
90 comprises therein a sliding surface for the radial stud 99, which is pushed against
the cap 90 by means of the spring 94, and two stops 92 and 93 of the angular path
A of the main shaft 41 between the initial rotation position and the final rotation
position, the position of stop 92 corresponding to the reference position D1. In this
embodiment of the gas cock 100, the radial stud 99 is positioned in the stop 92.
[0026] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the rotating disk 20 with a
connection opening 21 comprising ten holes 25
1-25
10, the hole of one end 25
10 having larger dimensions, and in terms of their diameter the holes being arranged
such that a series of holes of different diameters are interposed within a series
of holes increasing in size, in order to obtain a more regular gas flow in the outlet
of the gas cock 100. This row of holes has a radial shape, such that to obtain the
gas flow rate required in the gas outlet conduit 12, regulation is performed by overlapping
a number of consecutive holes 25
1-25
10 with the outlet hole 53, and the change in gas flow is performed by means of said
overlapping holes 25
1-25
10 leaving and entering the ends of the outlet hole 53 at the same time.
[0027] Figures 9a to 9b show a sectional front view of the gas cock of Figure 1, the rotating
disk 20 being arranged in gas flow regulation positions for natural gas and liquefied
petroleum gas, respectively, when the gas cock 100 is in the OFF position in which
it does not supply any gas, such that the connection opening 21 of the rotating disk
20 does not overlap with the outlet hole 53 for any of the two gas supplies.
[0028] Figures 10a to 10b show a sectional front view of the gas cock of Figure 1, the rotating
disk 20 being arranged in gas flow regulation positions for natural gas and liquefied
petroleum gas, respectively, when the gas cock 100 is in the minimum MIN gas flow
position, such that holes 25
1-25
3 overlap with the outlet hole 53 when the gas cock 100 is configured for supplying
natural gas, and only the hole 25
1 overlaps with the outlet hole 53 when the gas cock 100 is configured for supplying
liquefied petroleum gas.
1. Gas cock with a safety valve for a gas cooking appliance, comprising a body (10) comprising
a gas inlet conduit (11) fluidically communicated with the safety valve (30), and
at least one gas outlet conduit (12); a regulating element suitable for regulating
the incoming gas flow from the safety valve (30) to the outlet conduit (12) from the
safety valve (30) depending on the angular position thereof, the regulating element
being arranged in a housing (51) of the body (10) fluidically communicated with the
safety valve (30) and with the outlet conduit (12); and a drive shaft (40) comprising
a manually operable main shaft (41), said main shaft (41) being rotatable between
an initial rotation position and a final rotation position, and axially movable for
acting on a transmission element (70) for opening the safety valve (30), the regulating
element rotating integrally with said main shaft (41), characterised in that the regulating element is a rotating disk (20) comprising at least one connection
opening (21) for regulating gas flow to the outlet conduit (12) depending on the angular
position thereof, said rotating disk (20) being axially retained supported on a contact
area (52) of the housing (51) of the body (10), the contact area (52) comprising at
least one outlet hole (53) fluidically communicated with the gas outlet conduit (12),
the rotating disk (20) being configured for supplying different types of combustible
gas depending on the angular positioning of said rotating disk (20) with respect to
the main shaft (41), and the drive shaft (40) being configured for fixing the rotating
disk (20) in different angular positions with respect to the main shaft (41) according
to the type of combustible gas to be supplied.
2. Gas cock according to claim 1, wherein the drive shaft (40) comprises a transmission
shaft (46) which pushes the transmission element (70) when it is moved axially, the
rotating disk (20) being coupled to the transmission shaft (46), and said transmission
shaft (46) being coupled to the main shaft (41), the drive shaft (40) being configured
for positioning the main shaft (41) in different angular positions with respect to
the transmission shaft (46) depending on the type of gas to be supplied.
3. Gas cock according to claim 2, comprising an attachment element (97) fixing the main
shaft (41) and the transmission shaft (46), where the main shaft (41) and the transmission
shaft (46) can be uncoupled by acting on the attachment element (97), the transmission
shaft (46) being axially moved when it is uncoupled from the main shaft (41), the
attachment element (97) preferably being a screw.
4. Gas cock according to claim 3, wherein the main shaft (41) comprises an axial through
hole (44) that opens into a cavity (42c), and the transmission shaft (46) comprises
an hole (47b), the attachment element (97) being arranged in the cavity (42c) and
fixed in the hole (47b), said attachment element being able to be operated through
the through hole (44) of the main shaft (41).
5. Gas cock according to claim 4, wherein an axial stud (98) protrudes from the main
shaft (41) towards the transmission shaft (46), the transmission shaft (46) comprising
a housing (49) with at least two stops (491, 492) arranged in different angular positions (α1, α2), the stud (98) being coupled in the corresponding angular position (α1, α2) depending on the gas to be supplied.
6. Gas cock according to claim 5, wherein the drive shaft (40) comprises a coupling unit
(95) fixed to the main shaft (41), said coupling unit (95) comprising the axial stud
(98), and said coupling unit (95) together with the cavity (42c) of the main shaft
(41) demarcating a housing in which an operable end of the attachment element (97)
is arranged, the coupling unit (95) comprising an axial through hole (95a) with the
other end of the attachment element (97) going through same, said end being coupled
to the transmission shaft (46).
7. Gas cock according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the axial stud (98) has a length such
that it is still arranged in the housing (49) when the transmission shaft (46) is
uncoupled from the main shaft (41).
8. Gas cock according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the coupling unit (95) comprises
a radial stud (99) and the main shaft (41) comprises a first groove (42a) and a second
groove (42b) in which the radial stud (99) and the axial stud (98) of the coupling
unit (95) are coupled, respectively.
9. Gas cock according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the rotating disk (20) is arranged
in a different angular position depending on the gas to be supplied, when the stud
(98) is coupled in the corresponding position (491, 492), and the radial stud (99) is arranged in a reference position (D1).
10. Gas cock according to claim 9, wherein the reference position (D1) corresponds with
the initial rotation position or the final rotation position of the main shaft (41),
the initial rotation position of the main shaft (41) preferably corresponding with
the position with minimum gas flow, and the final rotation position with the position
with no gas flow.
11. Gas cock according to claim 9 or 10, comprising a cover (90) which is fixed to the
body (10) and with the main shaft (41) going through same, the cover (90) comprising
therein two stops (92, 93) for stopping the main shaft (41) in the rotation thereof
between the initial rotation position and the final rotation position, the position
of one of said stops (92, 93) corresponding to the reference position (D1), the radial stud (99) of the main shaft (41) abutting with the stops (92, 93) in
the rotation thereof.
12. Gas cock according to any of claims 2 to 12, comprising a spring (94) which is arranged
between a washer (96) and an abutment surface (47c) of the transmission shaft (46),
said spring (94) returning the drive shaft (40) to a standby position when it stops
pushing said drive shaft (40) for opening the safety valve (30).
13. Gas cock according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body (10) comprises
a through hole (14) communicated through one of its ends with the housing (51), the
drive shaft (40) going through the through hole (14) in a tightly fitted manner and
with possibility of rotation, the other end of the through hole (14) being communicated
with a seat comprising a gasket (80) which assures leak-tightness.
14. Gas cooking appliance, characterised in that it comprises at least one gas cock according to any of the preceding claims.