(19)
(11) EP 0 801 269 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
26.01.2005 Bulletin 2005/04

(21) Application number: 97104383.1

(22) Date of filing: 14.03.1997
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7F24C 3/08, F24C 3/12

(54)

Cooking hob

Kochmulde

Plaque de cuisson


(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR GB SE

(30) Priority: 12.04.1996 IT MI960715

(43) Date of publication of application:
15.10.1997 Bulletin 1997/42

(73) Proprietor: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Benton Harbor Michigan 49022 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Distaso, Alessandro, c/o Whirlpool Europe s.r.l.
    21024 Biandronno (IT)
  • Pellegrini, Antonio, c/o Whirlpool Europe s.r.l.
    21024 Biandronno (IT)
  • Ruschetta, Severino, c/o Whirlpool Europe s.r.l.
    21024 Biandronno (IT)

(74) Representative: Guerci, Alessandro 
Whirlpool Europe S.r.l. Patent Department Viale G. Borghi 27
21025 Comerio (VA)
21025 Comerio (VA) (IT)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A- 0 023 445
US-A- 4 354 478
GB-A- 2 036 295
US-A- 5 323 759
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] This invention relates to a gas cooking hob in accordance with the introduction to the main claim. US-A-5 323 759 discloses a cooking hob according to the preamble of claim 1. The gas burners of this known cooking hob are placed entirely on the superposed structures defining the cooking hob.

    [0002] As is well known, the usual burners comprise an injector carrier arranged between (substantially flat) superposed structures defining the cooking hob. The injector carrier is fixed to at least one of these structures by screws. The injector carrier also supports the usual spark plug or similar ignition means for generating the flame by triggering combustion of the gas leaving a usual diffuser secured upperly to the injector carrier and provided on the upper structure of the cooking hob. Finally, said injector carrier is connected to a usual feed conduit for the gas to reach said diffuser.

    [0003] US-A-4 354 478 discloses a cooking hob in which, for each gas burner, it is necessary to use a pair of bolts fixing the burner to the base wall of a box casing.

    [0004] As stated, the injector carrier is secured to the superposed structures of the cooking hob. This is achieved by fixing elements which fix the injector carrier to the lower structure of said hob and at least one screw for fixing the injector carrier to the upper structure of said hob. Because of the shape of said burner part and of the described structures, the said fixing is difficult to achieve on mounting the cooking hob.

    [0005] Additionally, in known burners problems can also arise with regard to the position of said spark plug. In known arrangements this is screwed or otherwise fixed in a hole provided in a flange or lug of the injector carrier. Most of the body of the spark plug projects from said hole. Because of this, if the spark plug is operated in the absence of the gas diffuser or of the flame (for example during a test of its operation after its fixing to the injector carrier or, for example, because its operating pushbutton has been accidentally pressed during the cleaning of the cooking hob), the electrical discharge generated by it could return along its body and discharge through the high voltage generator to which the spark plug is connected; this could cause obvious problems in such a generator (which is responsible for the operation of all the spark plugs of said hob), with obvious consequences for the use of the cooking hob.

    [0006] Moreover, known injector carriers do not allow easy, reliable and fast connection to the gas feed conduits connected to it.

    [0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a burner which represents an improvement over known burners.

    [0008] A particular object of the invention is to provide a burner of the stated type, the injector carrier of which can be quickly and securely fixed to the cooking hob structure, which can be safely fixed to the gas feed conduit, and which supports the corresponding spark plug in such a manner as to protect it and its connection to the high voltage generator in the case of electricity discharge in the absence of the flame diffuser.

    [0009] These objects are attained by a burner in accordance with claim 1.

    [0010] The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and in which:

    Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a injector carrier of the burner according to the invention, together with certain members connected to it;

    Figure 2 is a view from below of the injector carrier of Figure 1;

    Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 4 through the injector carrier associated with the lower structure of a cooking hob during the first stage in the fixing together of said parts;

    Figure 4 is a view from below of the structure of Figure 3 in the state of assembly shown in that figure;

    Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 but in a different stage in the fixing of the injector carrier to the lower structure of the cooking hob;

    Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, but in the assembly stage shown in Figure 5;

    Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through that part of the injector carrier of the preceding figures for connection to the burner gas feed conduit;

    Figure 8 is a view from above of the injector carrier of the burner according to the invention.



    [0011] With reference to said figures, a burner comprises an injector carrier 1 with a substantially cup-shaped body 2 flanged along its edge 3. Laterally, the body 2 comprises a tubular cylindrical projection 4 for connecting the injector carrier to a conduit 5 for feeding gas to an injector (not shown) to be positioned in a seat 7 provided in the centre of the body 2. The tubular projection projects partially from a lower wall 10 of the base 11 of the body 2 in which, within this latter, there is provided said seat 7.

    [0012] From the wall 10 there upwardly project two diametrically opposite seats 13 for elements 14 (integral with said seats or defined by screws or similar members) for fixing the body 2 to the lower structure 15 of a cooking hob (not shown) which also comprises an upper structure 16 (Figure 5) to overlie the body 2. This latter structure comprises a cavity 18 to enable the other usual parts of the burner (for example a usual flame diffuser) to be coupled to the injector carrier 1. On the wall 10, on an ideal circumference connecting together said seats 13 and the elements 14 (hereinafter jointly known by the term "fixing means 14"), there are provided diametrically opposing substantially L-shaped projections 20 and a projecting centering element 21 positioned at the centre of the injector carrier. On said ideal circumference equidistant between a projection 20 and the adjacent fixing means 14 there is provided a further projection 23 having a height (from said wall) equal to the height of the projection 4. The fixing means 14 and the projections 20 have heights (from the wall 10) greater than the heights of the projections 4 and 23.

    [0013] The element 21 is arranged to cooperate with a corresponding recess (not shown) provided in the structure 15. Each fixing means 14 and that projection 20 which follows said fixing means in the anticlockwise direction along said ideal circumference are arranged to cooperate with an arched recess or slot 30 having a widened end 31. The slots 30 allow simple connection of the injector carrier 1 to the structure 15. In this respect, during the assembly of the cooking hob, the fixing means 14 are arranged in the ends 31 of the slots 3 (Figure 4). The body 2 is then rotated in the direction of the arrow F of Figure 2 (ie in the clockwise direction in the illustrated embodiment) so that in each slot 30 the corresponding fixing means 14 are brought to the other end 33 of the slot, distant from the end 31 (Figure 6). The raised part 20A of that projection 20 which follows the means 14 penetrates into the end 31 to lock the rotation of the body in the opposite direction to the arrow F. The injector carrier 1 hence remains fixed to the lower structure 15 of the cooking hob.

    [0014] The body 2 also comprises a seat 40 for a screw 41 which fixes the upper structure 16 of the cooking hob. This seat is formed in a portion 42 of the body 2 which projects from its edge 3 towards the injector seat 7.

    [0015] The injector carrier 1 also comprises a seat 45 for a spark plug 46. This seat is formed in the flange 3A of the edge 3 and comprises a frusto-conical portion 47 projecting upwards from this latter and open at 48 on one of its sides. The usual electric cable 49 connecting the spark plug 46 to a usual high voltage generator (not shown) passes through this opening. The spark plug is then locked in said seat 45 by a substantially U-shaped elastic element inserted into a seat 51 lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis W of the seat 45.

    [0016] The portion 47 protects a large part of the spark plug body 46A and can receive any electrical discharge emitted by the spark plug in the absence of the usual flame diffuser. In this manner, said discharge or spark is discharged to earth (via a connection between the body 2 and earth, not shown) without it damaging said high voltage generator.

    [0017] Finally, the projection 4 on the body 2 receives by simple insertion the end 5A of the conduit 5, about which there is positioned an O-ring 55 inserted in a seat 56 in said projection.

    [0018] The conduit 5 is simply inserted into the projection 4 and is retained therein by the shape of the conduit 5 itself. In this respect, this latter comprises two parallel portions (5A and 5B), the first connected to the body 2 and the second fixed to a known gas feed source in which there is located a usual valve 57 controlled by a known knob or tap 58.

    [0019] The burner with an injector carrier as described is advantageous for use on a cooking hob and provides considerable safety in use against electrical discharges generated by the spark plug if the flame diffuser has been removed from the injector carrier. The burner is easy to connect to the gas feed conduit.

    [0020] One embodiment of the invention has been described. Others however are possible in the light of the present claims.


    Claims

    1. Cooking hob comprising a lower structure (15) and an upper structure (16),a gas burner having a support part or injector carrier (1) to be fixed to said lower structure (15) and said upper structure (16), means for coupling the support part or injector carrier (1) of the gas burner to the lower structure (15), such means being on the lower face (10) of the support part or injector carrier (1) for cooperating with the lower structure (15) of the cooking hob, said part (1) being connectable to a gas feed conduit (5) in which there is a usual valve (57) controlled by a knob or tap (58) positioned on the cooking hob,
    characterised in that said coupling means (13, 14, 20) are seats (13) for elements (14) for fixing the injector carrier (1) to the lower structure of the cooking hob, and projections (20), these latter and said seats projecting from the underside of the body (2) of the injector carrier (1) and being positioned at a short distance from each other along an arc of an ideal circumference, the fixing elements (14) and said projections (20) being arranged to cooperate with arched slots (30, 31) of said lower structure (15) to facilitate the fixing by rotation of said injector carrier (1) to said lower structure (15), said seats and projections and arched slots (13, 14, 20, 30, 31) hence fixing the injector carrier (1) to the lower structure (15),
    on the lower face (10) of the injector carrier (1) there being provided centering means for the correct positioning of the injector carrier (1) on said structure (15). ]
     
    2. Cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the projections (20) are substantially of L-shape and comprise a part (20A) arranged to cooperate with one end (31) of the arched slots (30).
     
    3. Cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising at least one seat (40) for a corresponding screw (41) fixing the upper part (16) of the cooking hob to the injector carrier (1).
     
    4. Cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising a seat (45) for a flame activation spark plug (46) provided in a flanged edge (3) of the body (2) of the injector carrier (1), said seat (48) comprising a portion (47) rising from said edge (3) and embracing the body (46A) of the spark plug (46).
     
    5. Cooking hob as claimed in claim 4, characterised by comprising elastic means (50) for securing the spark plug (46) to the injector carrier body (2).
     
    6. Cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the injector carrier (1) comprises a tubular projection (4) associated with the base (10) of its body (2) to receive by simple insertion-coupling one end (5A) of the gas feed conduit (5).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Kochmulde, umfassend einen unteren Aufbau (15) sowie einen oberen Aufbau (16), einen Gasbrenner mit einem Abstützteil oder Injektionsträger (1), der an dem unteren Aufbau (15) und dem oberen Aufbau (16) zu fixieren ist, Mittel zum Verbinden des Abstützteils oder Injektionsträgers (1) des Gasbrenners mit dem unteren Aufbau (15), wobei diese Mittel an der unteren Oberfläche (10) des Abstützteils oder Injektionsträgers (1) zum Zusammenwirken mit dem unteren Aufbau (15) der Kochmulde vorliegen, wobei dieser Teil (1) mit einer Gas-Zufuhrleitung (5), in der ein übliches Ventil (57), welches mittels eines Drehknopfs oder Hahns (58), der an der Kochmulde positioniert ist, geregelt werden kann, verbindbar ist, zusammenwirkt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verbindungsmittel (13, 14, 20) Sitze (13) für Elemente (14) zum Fixieren des Injektionsträgers (1) an dem unteren Aufbau der Kochmulde sowie Vorsprünge (20) sind, wobei die letztgenannten und die Sitze von der Unterseite des Körpers (2) des Injektionsträgers (1) hervorstehen und mit einem kurzen Abstand voneinander entlang eines Kreisbogens eines idealen Umfangs positioniert sind, wobei die Fixierungselemente (14) und die Vorsprünge (20) so angebracht sind, dass sie mit den bogenförmigen Schlitzen (30, 31) des unteren Aufbaus (15) zusammenwirken, um das Fixieren des Injektionsträgers (1) an dem unteren Aufbau (15) durch Drehung zu erleichtern, wodurch diese Sitze und Vorsprünge und bogenförmigen Schlitze (13, 14, 20, 30, 31) somit den Injektionsträger (1) an dem unteren Aufbau (15) fixieren, wobei an der unteren Oberfläche (10) des Injektionsträgers (1) Zentrierungsmittel für die korrekte Positionierung des Injektionsträgers (1) an diesem Aufbau (15) vorliegen.
     
    2. Kochmulde wie in Anspruch 1 beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorsprünge (20) im Wesentlichen eine L-Form aufweisen und einen Teil (20A) umfassen, der so angebracht ist, dass er mit einem Ende (31) der bogenförmigen Schlitze (30) zusammenwirkt.
     
    3. Kochmulde wie in Anspruch 1 beansprucht, gekennzeichnet durch Umfassen zumindest eines Sitzes (40) für eine korrespondierende Schraube (41), die den oberen Teil (16) der Kochmulde an dem Injektionsträger (1) fixiert.
     
    4. Kochmulde wie in Anspruch 1 beansprucht, gekennzeichnet durch Umfassen eines Sitzes (45) für einen Flammen-Aktivierungs-Funkenstecker (46), der in einer geflanschten Kante (3) des Körpers (2) des Injektionsträgers (1) vorgesehen ist, wobei dieser Sitze (48) einen Abschnitt (47) umfasst, der von dieser Kante (3) ansteigt und den Körper (46A) des Funkensteckers (46) umgibt.
     
    5. Kochmulde wie in Anspruch 4 beansprucht, gekennzeichnet durch umfassen von elastischen Mitteln (50) zum Absichern des Funkensteckers (46) an dem Injektionsträger-Körper (2).
     
    6. Kochmulde wie in Anspruch 1 beansprucht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Injektionsträger (1) einen röhrenförmigen Vorsprung (4) umfasst, der mit der Basis (10) von dessen Körper (2) verbunden ist, um durch einfaches Einführungs-Koppeln ein Ende (5A) der Gas-Zufuhrleitung (5) aufzunehmen.
     


    Revendications

    1. Table de cuisson comprenant une structure inférieure (15) et une structure supérieure (16), un brûleur à gaz comportant une partie de support ou un support d'injecteur (1) destiné à être fixé à ladite structure inférieure (4) et à ladite structure supérieure (16), des moyens de couplage de la partie de support ou du support d'injecteur (1) du brûleur à gaz à la structure inférieure (15), de tels moyens étant situés sur la face inférieure (10) de la partie de support ou du support d'injecteur (1) de manière à coopérer avec la structure inférieure (15) de la table de cuisson, ladite partie (1) pouvant être raccordée à un conduit d'amenée de gaz (5), dans lequel est disposée une vanne usuelle (57) commandée par un bouton ou un robinet (58) disposé dans la table de cuisson, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens de couplage (13,14,20) sont des appuis (13) pour des éléments (14) pour la fixation du support d'injecteur (1) à la structure inférieure de la table de cuisson, et les parties saillantes (20), ces dernières et lesdits appuis faisant saillie à partir de la surface inférieure du corps (2) du support d'injecteur (1) et étant positionnés à une courte distance les uns des autres le long d'un arc d'une circonférence idéale, les éléments de fixation (14) et lesdites parties saillantes (20) étant agencés de manière à coopérer avec des fentes arquées (30, 31) de ladite structure inférieure (15) de manière à faciliter la fixation par rotation dudit support d'injecteur (1) sur ladite structure inférieure (15), lesdits appuis et lesdites parties saillantes et des fentes arquées (13,14, 20,30,31) fixant par conséquent le support d'injecteur (1) à la structure inférieure (15), et sur la face inférieure (10) du support d'injecteur (1) sont prévus des moyens de centrage pour le positionnement correct du support d'injecteur (1) sur ladite structure (15).
     
    2. Table de cuisson selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les parties saillantes (20) possèdent essentiellement une forme de L et comprennent une partie (20A) agencée de manière à coopérer avec une extrémité (31) des fentes arquées (30).
     
    3. Table de cuisson selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend au moins un appui (40) pour une vis correspondante (41) fixant la partie supérieure (16) de la table de cuisson à un support d'injecteur (1).
     
    4. Table de cuisson selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend un siège (45) pour une bougie d'allumage (46) pour l'activation d'une flamme, prévue dans un bord bridé (3) du corps (2) du support d'injecteur (1), ledit appui (48) comprenant une partie (47) qui remonte à partir dudit bord (3) et enserre le corps (46A) de la bougie d'allumage (46).
     
    5. Table de cuisson selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend des moyens élastiques (50) pour fixer la bougie d'allumage (46) au corps (2) du support d'injecteur.
     
    6. Table de cuisson selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le support d'injecteur (1) comprend une partie saillante tubulaire (4) associée à la base (10) de son corps (2) pour recevoir, au moyen d'un simple accouplement par insertion d'une extrémité (5A) du conduit (5) d'amenée de gaz.
     




    Drawing