Assembly comprising a gas valve and a gas/air mixer

Abstract

 Assembly comprising a gas valve (10) and a gas/air mixer (11), wherein the gas valve (10) comprises a gas valve housing (12) providing a gas inlet (13) through which the gas valve (10) is connectable to a gas pipe, and further providing a gas outlet (14) through which the gas valve (10) is connectable to the gas/air mixer (11); wherein the gas/air mixer (11) comprises a gas/air mixer housing (15) providing a gas inlet (16) through which the gas/air mixer (11) is connectable to the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10), providing an air inlet (17), and further providing a gas/air mixture outlet (18); wherein the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) are connected together in such a way that the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) are plugged together and in the plugged-in configuration fixed together by a clip or a clamp (20); and wherein the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) comprise anti-rotation elements (24, 25) preventing a rotation between the gas valve (10) and the gas/air mixer (11) when the same are plugged together.

Description

[0001] The present patent application relates to an assembly comprising a gas valve and a gas/air mixer.

[0002] DE 10 2004 007 123 B3 shows a prior art assembly comprising a gas valve and a gas/air mixer. The gas valve comprises a gas valve housing providing a gas inlet through which the gas valve is connectable to a gas pipe, and further providing a gas outlet through which the gas valve is connectable to the gas/air mixer. The gas/air mixer comprises a gas/air mixer housing providing a gas inlet through which the gas/air mixer is connectable to the gas outlet of the gas valve, providing an air inlet, and providing an gas/air mixture outlet. The gas outlet of the gas valve and the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer are connected together in such a way that a male-like section of the gas outlet of the gas valve is plugged into a female-like section of the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer, wherein the gas outlet of the gas valve and the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer are fixed together in the plugged-in configuration by a clip or a clamp. According to the prior art, the connection between the gas outlet of the gas valve and the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer allows a relative rotation between the gas valve and the gas/air mixer. Against this background, a novel assembly comprising a gas valve and a gas/air mixer is provided.

[0003] The assembly according to the present invention is defined in claim 1. According to the present invention, the gas outlet of the gas valve and the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer comprise anti-rotation elements preventing a rotation between the gas valve and the gas/air mixer when the same are plugged together.

[0004] The claimed invention provides a fixed relative orientation between the gas valve and the gas/air mixer in the plugged-in configuration of the same.

[0005] Preferably, the anti-rotation element of the gas outlet of the gas valve and the anti-rotation element of the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer act together in a form-fit manner when the gas outlet of the gas valve and the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer are plugged together. This provides a simple and reliable anti-rotation feature to prevent a rotation between the gas valve and the gas/air mixer when the same are plugged together.

[0006] Preferably, the gas outlet of the gas valve comprises a male-like section with the anti-rotation element of the gas outlet being provided by a geometrical shape of said male-like section; wherein the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer comprises a female-like section with the anti-rotation element of the gas inlet being provided by a geometrical shape of said female-like section; and wherein said anti-rotation element of the gas outlet of the gas valve engages said anti-rotation element of the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer in a form-fit manner when the male-like section of the gas valve is plugged into the female-like section of the gas/air mixer thereby preventing a rotation between the gas valve and the gas/air mixer when the same are plugged together. This provides a simple and reliable anti-rotation feature to prevent a rotation between the gas valve and the gas/air mixer when the same are plugged together.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer comprise a rotation-limitation element limiting or preventing a rotation of the clip or the clamp when the gas valve and the gas/air mixer are fixed together by the clip or the clamp, wherein the rotation-limitation element of the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer is preferably provided by a protrusion of an outer surface of the gas inlet of the gas/air mixer. This provides a fixed relative orientation between the clip and the gas valve as well as between the clip and the gas/air mixer. Preferred developments of the invention are provided by the dependent claims and the description which follows. Exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail on the basis of the drawing, in which:

Figure 1

shows a perspective view of an assembly according to the present invention comprising a gas valve and a gas/air mixer and a clip or clamp;

Figure 2

shows a partial exploded view of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3

shows a partial cross section though the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 4

shows a first detail of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 5

shows a second detail of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 6

shows a perspective view of the detail of Figure 3 with the clip or clamp being released;

Figure 7

shows a first detail of the detail of Figure 3 with the clip or clamp being mounted to a gas inlet of the gas/air mixer;

Figure 8

shows a second detail of the detail of Figure 3 with the clip or clamp being mounted to a gas outlet of the gas valve;

Figure 9

shows an alternative for the detail of Figure 4; and

Figure 10

shows an alternative for the detail of Figure 5.

[0008] The invention relates to an assembly comprising a gas valve 10 and a gas/air mixer 11. Such an assembly is used to provide gas and air in a proper ratio, to mix the gas and the air thereby providing a gas/air mixture for a gas burner combusting the gas/air mixture within a burner chamber of the same.

[0009] The gas valve 10 comprises a gas valve housing 12. The gas valve housing 12 provides a gas inlet 13 through which the gas valve 13 is connectable to a gas pipe (not shown). The gas valve housing 12 further provides a gas outlet 14 through which the gas valve 10 is connectable to the gas/air mixer 11. The gas valve 10 comprises control elements to control the gas flow though the same. The gas/air mixer 11 comprises a gas/air mixer housing 15. The gas/air mixer housing 15 provides a gas inlet 16 through which the gas/air mixer 11 is connectable to the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10. The gas/air mixer housing 15 further provides an air inlet 17, a gas/air mixture outlet 18.

[0010] In the shown embodiment, the gas/air mixer 11 is an integral part of a gas/air train system comprising the gas/air mixer 11 and a fan housing 39 of a fan. The gas/air mixture outlet 18 is in the shown embodiment provided by a mounting socket 19 of the fan housing 39. The assembly is mountable to a burner or heat exchanger by said mounting socket 19. The fan adjusts the air flow.

[0011] The gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 are connected together.

[0012] The gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 are connected together in such a way that the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 are plugged together and fixed together in the plugged-in configuration by a clip or a clamp 20.

[0013] In the shown preferred embodiment the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 comprises a male-like section 21 like a protrusion and the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 comprises a female-like section 22 like an opening, wherein the male-like section 21 of the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 is plugged into the female-like section 22 of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11. In the plugged-in configuration the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 become sealed against each other by a sealing element 23 positioned between the same.

[0014] The gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 both comprise anti-rotation elements 24, 25 preventing a rotation between the gas valve 10 and the gas/air mixer 11 when the same are plugged together. The anti-rotation element 24 of the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and the anti-rotation element 25 of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 act together in a form-fit manner when the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 are plugged together. This provides a simple and reliable anti-rotation feature to prevent a rotation between the gas valve 10 and the gas/air mixer 11 when the same are plugged together.

[0015] The anti-rotation element 24 of the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 is provided by a geometrical shape of the male-like section 21 of the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10. The anti-rotation element 25 of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 is provided by a geometrical shape of the female-like section 22 of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11.

[0016] As can be best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the anti-rotation element 24 of the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 is provided by an angular, preferably hexagonal, geometrical shape of an outer surface of the male-like section 21 of the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10. The anti-rotation element 25 of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 is provided by an angular, for example hexagonal, geometrical shape of an inner surface of the female-like section 22 of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11.

[0017] The angular geometrical shape provided at the male-like section 21 of the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 engages with the angular geometrical shape provided at the female-like section 22 of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 when the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 are plugged together.

[0018] Such anti-rotation elements 24 and 25 provided by said angular, preferably hexagonal, geometrical shapes withstand high holding torques as these are required for the assembly od a gas pipe to the gas inlet 13 of the gas valve 10. Figures 9 and 10 show an alternative design of the anti-rotation elements 24 and 25. According to Figures 9 and 10, the anti-rotation element 24 of the male-like section 21 of the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 is provided by a crown-like geometrical shape having several protrusions 26 and several recesses 27 positioned side-by-side in circumferential direction of the gas outlet 14.

[0019] The anti-rotation element 25 of the female-like section 22 of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 is provided by a crown-like geometrical shape having several protrusions 28 and recesses 29 positioned side-by-side in circumferential direction of the gas inlet 16.

[0020] The protrusions 26 of the crown-like geometrical shape of the anti-rotation element 24 of the gas valve 10 engage with the recesses 29 of the crown-like geometrical shape of the anti-rotation element 25 of the gas/air mixer 11 and the protrusions 28 of the crown-like geometrical shape of the anti-rotation element 25 of the gas/air mixer 11 engage with the recesses 27 of the crown-like geometrical shape of the anti-rotation element 24 of the gas valve 10 when the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 are plugged together. Such anti-rotation elements 24 and 25 provided by said crown-like geometrical shapes provide less clearance in the connection.

[0021] As mentioned above, the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 are fixed together in the plugged-in configuration by a clip or a clamp 20.

[0022] The gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 comprises a rotation-limitation element 30 limiting or preventing a rotation of the clip or the clamp 20 when the gas valve 10 and the gas/air mixer 11 are fixed together by the clip or the clamp 20. Said rotation-limitation element 30 of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11 is provided by a protrusion 31 of an outer surface of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11.

[0023] The clip or the clamp 20 comprises two halves 32, 33 (see Figures 2, 6, 7 and 8) that are attached to each other at first ends of the same providing an elastically deformable clip or the clamp 20.

[0024] Each half 32, 33 comprises a first clamping leg 34 engaging an outer section of the gas outlet 14 of the gas valve 10 and second clamping leg 25 engaging an outer section of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11. The first clamping leg 34 and the second clamping leg 35 of each half 32, 33 are at least partially separated by a slot 36. Each slot 36 engages with a protrusion 37 provided at an outer surface of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11; wherein said protrusion 37 is provided opposite to the protrusion 31 providing the rotation-limitation element 30.

[0025] The protrusion 37 acting together with the slots 36 of the clamp 20 has a circumferential expanse of approximately 180° and the protrusion 31 providing the rotation-limitation element 30 for the clamp 20 has a circumferential expanse of approximately 80°.

[0026] The second clamping leg 35 of each half 32, 33 is guided within a groove 38 provided at the outer surface of the gas inlet 16 of the gas/air mixer 11. The groove 38 is at one side partially confined by the protrusion 37. The rotation-limitation element 30 serves as stop element for second, free ends of the halves 32, 33 being opposite to the first ends of the same, namely as stop elements for the free ends of the second clamping legs 35 of the halves 32, 33.

[0027] The free ends of the halves 32, 33 of the clip or the clamp 20 confine an angle of approximately 100°. The protrusion 31 providing the rotation-limitation element 30 for the clamp 20 is positioned between said free ends when the clamp 20 is in the mounting position. A slight rotation of the clamp 20 in the mounting position of the same is possible, wherein the protrusion 31 providing the rotation-limitation element 30 acts as stop element limiting said rotation.

[0028] The present invention provides at least a fixed relative orientation between the gas valve 10 and the gas/air mixer 11 in the plugged-in configuration of the same. Preferably, the present invention further provides a fixed relative orientation between the clip 20 and the gas valve 11 as well as between the clip 20 and the gas/air mixer 11 when the gas valve 10 and the gas/air mixer 11 are fixed together by the clip 20 in the plugged-in configuration of the same.

List of reference signs

[0029] 

10

gas valve

11

gas/air mixer

12

gas valve housing

13

gas inlet

14

gas outlet

15

gas/air mixer housing

16

gas inlet

17

air inlet

18

gas/air mixture outlet

19

mounting socket

20

clamp

21

male-like section

22

female-like section

23

sealing element

24

anti-rotation element

25

anti-rotation element

26

protrusion

27

recess

28

protrusion

29

recess

30

rotation-limitation element

31

protrusion

32

half

33

half

34

clamping leg

35

clamping leg

36

slot

37

protrusion

38

groove

39

fan housing

Claims

1. Assembly comprising a gas valve (10) and a gas/air mixer (11),
wherein the gas valve (10) comprises a gas valve housing (12) providing a gas inlet (13) through which the gas valve (10) is connectable to a gas pipe, and further providing a gas outlet (14) through which the gas valve (10) is connectable to the gas/air mixer (11);
wherein the gas/air mixer (11) comprises a gas/air mixer housing (15) providing a gas inlet (16) through which the gas/air mixer (11) is connectable to the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10), providing an air inlet (17), and further providing an gas/air mixture outlet (18);
wherein the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) are connected together in such a way that the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) are plugged together and in the plugged-in configuration fixed together by a clip or a clamp (20);
characterized in that
the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) comprise anti-rotation elements (24, 25) preventing a rotation between the gas valve (10) and the gas/air mixer (11) when the same are plugged together.

2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the anti-rotation element (24) of the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and the anti-rotation element (15) of the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) act together in a form-fit manner when the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) are plugged together.

3. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) comprises a male-like section (21) with the anti-rotation element (24) of the gas outlet (14) being provided by a geometrical shape of said male-like section (21);
the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) comprises a female-like section (22) with the anti-rotation element (25) of the gas inlet (16) being provided by a geometrical shape of said female-like section (22);
said anti-rotation element (24) of the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) engages said anti-rotation element (25) of the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) in a form-fit manner when the male-like section (21) of the gas valve (10) is plugged into the female-like section (22) of the gas/air mixer (11) thereby preventing a rotation between the gas valve and the gas/air mixer when the same are plugged together.

4. Assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
the anti-rotation element (24) of the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) is provided by a crown-like geometrical shape having several protrusions (26) and several recesses (27) positioned side-by-side in circumferential direction of the gas outlet (14);
the anti-rotation element (25) of the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) is provided by a crown-like geometrical shape having several protrusions (28) and recesses (29) positioned side-by-side in circumferential direction of the gas inlet (16);
the protrusions (26) of the crown-like geometrical shape of the anti-rotation element (24) of the gas valve (10) engage with the recesses (29) of the crown-like geometrical shape of the anti-rotation element (25) of the gas/air mixer (11) and that the protrusions (28) of the crown-like geometrical shape of the anti-rotation element (25) of the gas/air mixer (11) engage with the recesses (27) of the crown-like geometrical shape of the anti-rotation element (24) of the gas valve (10) when the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) are plugged together.

5. Assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
the anti-rotation element (24) of the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) is provided by an angular, preferably hexagonal, geometrical shape of an outer surface of the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10);
the anti-rotation element (25) of the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) is provided by an angular, preferably hexagonal, geometrical shape of an inner surface of the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11);
the angular geometrical shape of the gas valve (10) engages with the angular geometrical shape of the gas/air mixer (11) when the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) are plugged together.

6. Assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that
the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) comprise a rotation-limitation element (30) limiting or preventing a rotation of the clip or the clamp (20) when the gas valve (10) and the gas/air mixer (11) are fixed together by the clip or the clamp (20).

7. Assembly as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the rotation-limitation element (30) of the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11) is provided by a protrusion (31) of an outer surface of the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11).

8. Assembly as claimed claim 6 or 7, characterized in that
the clip or the clamp (20) comprises two halves (32, 33) that are attached to each other at first ends of the same providing an elastically deformable clip or the clamp (20);
each half (32, 33) comprises a first clamping leg (34) engaging a section of the gas outlet (14) of the gas valve (10) and second clamping leg (35) engaging a section of the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11);
the first clamping leg (34) and the second clamping leg (35) of each half (32, 33) are at least partially separated by a slot (36);
each slot (36) engages with a protrusion (37) provided at an outer surface of the gas inlet (16) of the gas/air mixer (11), wherein said protrusion (37) is provided opposite to the rotation-limitation element (30);
the rotation-limitation element (30) serves as stop element for second, free ends of the halves (32, 33) being opposite to the first ends of the same.

9. Assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that
the gas/air mixer (11) is an integral part of a gas/air train system comprising the gas/air mixer (11) and a fan housing (39) of a fan.

Drawing