[0001] The present invention relates to a device which, driven by opening of the door of
a domestic gas-oven, causes a lamp inside the latter to switch on and allows the working
of the automatic electronic igniter, which is instead prevented when the door is closed,
with the lamp being switched off.
[0002] It is known that the recently produced domestic gas-ovens are often provided with
an automatic igniter, of electronic type, for the burner. Contrary to what happens
in the usual ignition of manual type, by means of matches, the oven can be ignited,
in this case, also with the door being closed. This should be usually avoided as inside
the hearth of the oven itself the gas can be accumulated in a certain amount before
blazing-up the flame on the burner, what can involve real explosions when operating
the ignition, with possibly dangerous consequences for the people around and anyhow
harmful for the oven structures themselves, subjected to the shock wave of the conflagration.
[0003] It is known as well that often it is convenient and advantageous to have the oven
hearth lighted when opening the door thereof, for a good view of the interior thereof,
for instance when introducing therein or taking out therefrom foods. Instead the actuation
of the lamp switching button, normally provided on the control panel of the gas-oven,
is not a usual operation, both because it is normal to examine the food cooking point
through the window with the door being closed, while switching on, in such a case,
the internal lamp, and because while opening the door the hands are already busy in
holding the handle and possibly grasping kitchen utensils.
[0004] The object of the present invention is a device which solves at the same time both
the above cited problems, as it is mechanically operated by the gasoven door such
that, in correspondence with the open position thereof, it keeps constantly fed both
the microswitch which controls the electronic igniter to allow the ignition of the
burner with the door being opened, and contemporaneously also the microswitch which
controls the switching on of the lamp provided inside the gas-oven.
[0005] This is obtained by assembling two normally closed contacts in a single switch connected
to the power supply line of the microswitches of both the electric igniter and the
internal lamp, there being provided means suitable to open such contacts in correspondence
with the closing of the gas-oven door.
[0006] These and other objects, advantages and characteristics of the device according to
the present invention will be clearer from the following description of a preferred
embodiment thereof, given as a nonlimiting example with reference to the annexed drawings
wherein:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the gas-oven, with some parts of the casing taken off
to show the device according to this invention;
Figure 2 shows a side view of the sole device in Fig. 1 in correspondence with the closed
position of the door, which is represented open as well in broken lines; and
Figure 3 is a diagram of both the device itself and the electric connections to the microswitches
driven thereby.
[0007] Referring to the drawings, there is represented a gas-oven 1 having a door 2 and
a device 3 according to this invention. This is preferably mounted inside a cavity
13 comprised between an external wall of the oven casing 10 and the hearth 12 thereof.
The device 3 has an appendix 6, e.g. of spring steel, suitable to touch, when the
door is closed, an element 4 integral with door 2.
[0008] The element 4 can be formed by a sector shaped as an arc of a circle and fixed with
an end thereof to the internal frame of door 2, preferably near the lower side of
the door itself, close to one of two hinges 14. A hole or a slot 8 made on the frame
surrounding the mouth of hearth 12 of the gas-oven allows the element 4 to pass inside
cavity 13 in which the device 3 is housed. When the door is open, element 4 is spaced
apart from appendix 6 of device 3, whereas when the door is closed the free end thereof
pushes appendix 6 as shown in Fig. 2, thus causing the double microswitch contained
in the device 3 to click. The block representing the latter in Fig. 3 shows the two
contacts which are normally closed when the door is open, through which both microswitch
MA for the ignition of the burner, as being connected to the igniter AC, and microswitch
ML which controls the switching on of lamp L are fed. A pilot-light suitable to signal
AC working has been designated LS.
[0009] Thus it is clear that, when door 2 is open, device 3 keeps its contacts closed and
therefore it is possible to operate the electronic igniter, while lamp L is on. On
the contrary, when the door is closed, the element 4 pushes a fin 6 which drives device
3, thus causing the double contact to open and therefore switching off lamp L and
preventing any action to operate the igniter. It is clear that an additional switch
can be provided, for instance of the usual button type, to control the switching on
of lamp L even when the door is closed.
1. A device driven by the opening of the door (2) of a domestic gas-oven (1) to light
the interior (12) thereof and for the contemporaneous safety of the electronic ignition,
characterized in that said device (3) is connected to the power supply line of a microswitch
(MA) for enabling the actuation of both an electronic igniter (CA) of the burner of
the gas-oven (1), and a microswitch (ML) for controlling the switching on of a lamp
(L) arranged inside the hearth (12), means being provided (4, 6) suitable to switch
said contacts in the open position when said door (2) is closed.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device (3) comprises a control
appendix (6) for opening normally closed contacts, operable by an element (4) integral
with said door (2) whereby when the door is open the element (4) does not touch said
appendix (6) and when the door is closed said element (4) causes the switching of
the contacts of the device (3) as a consequence of the push exerted on said actuating
appendix (6).
3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that said element (4) is fixed at
one end of the internal zone of the frame of the door (2), near one of two pivoting
hinges (14), and is free at the opposite end, and penetrates inside the structure
of the gas-oven (1) passing through a slot (8) provided on the frame of the mouth
surrounding said hearth (12) of the oven.
4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that said device (3) is housed inside
a cavity (13) comprised between said hearth (12) of the gasoven (1) and a side wall
of oven casing (10) such in a position to cause said appendix (6) to touch the free
end of said element (4) when closing said door ( 2 ).
