US1972627A - Fuel control means for ranges - Google Patents

Description

S p 1 w. c. LINDEMANN ET AL FUEL CONTROL MEANS FOR RANGES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 13, 1931 W l c. INVENTORS llliiivwrllfimw-vn i W @is.

W I). W BYdT/LATToRNEY w. c. LINDEMANN El AL 1,972,627

FUEL CONTROL MEANS FOR RANGES Filed March 13, 1931 3 Sheets-Shet 2 Sept; 4, 1934.

INVENTORS BYdwaATToRNEY p 1934- w. c. LXNDEMANN ET AL 1,972,627

. FUEL CONTROL MEANS FOR RANGES Filed March 13, 1931 3 Sheets-Shet s INVENTORS W 27 W BYlfi-EOLATTORNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1934 FUEL CONTROL MEANS FOR RANGES Walter C. Lindemann and Adolph T. Schmidt, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to A. J. Lindemann & Hoverson Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a cor- Duration 01' Wisconsin Application March 13,

5Claims.

The present improvements relate in general, to cooking ranges and the like, and more particularly to closed top ranges and means for controlling access of fuel to the heating elements thereof.

A movable top range is described and claimed in the copending application of Lindemann, et al.-, Serial No. 502,043, filed December 13, 1930, and the present invention is in the nature of an improvement thereon. A primary object, among others, of the improvements is to provide a safety device operable in response to the movements of the cover of the range, whereby access of the fuel to the heating elements is prevented, so long as the cover is closed thereover.

A further object is to provide means in the fuel conduit, operable by the movable cover of the range for controlling the passage of fuel therethrough.

Other objects and advantages of the improvements will be apparent to those skilled in the art, upon reference to the accompanying specification and drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation with parts in section of one form of the improvements, showing the valve closed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with certain parts omitted, showing the valve open;

Figs. 3 to 5 are fragmentary views illustrating modified forms. While the embodiments disclosed, illustrate the improvements in their application to ranges employing gaseous fuel, it is understood that the principle is applicable to ranges using electricity or other media for cooking or heating purposes. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the burner box 10 of the range, has the usual open top supporting a grid, beneath which are disposed the conventional burners 11 and 12. A movable closure for covering the burner box and burners may be of any desired type, that illustrated being of the character set forth in the aforementioned copending application. This closure comprises the cover 13 hinged to arm 14 which in turn is pivoted at 15 to the sides of the burner box. Accordingly, the cover may be moved from closed position (Fig. 5) to open position (Fig. 2) and vice versa, so as to conceal or expose the burners as desired.

When the burners are not in use, the cover 1?- may be closed, thus presenting a neat appearance to the range as well as serving as a table or the like. Upon opening the cover, the burners maybe lighted and used for cooking purposes. Should the cover be closed over the burners while 1931, Serial No. 522,226

they are still lighted, the disastrous consequences may well be imagined and the present improvements have therefore been devised to prevent such a possibility.

The main fuel supply pipe 16 conveys fuel to I the manifold 17 extending along the front of the burner box, whence the fuel reaches the burners through conduits 18, only one of which is shown in Fig. 1. The flow of fuel from the manifold to each burner is controlled by individual valves, only one of which is shown at 19. This valve and the companion valves for each burner may be operated by a handle or knob 20 (Fig. 5) exposed along the front face of the range. Accordingly, in prior structures, the flow of fuel is controlled only by such valves, so that it is possible to close the cover over the burner box and inadvertently leave one or more valves open and the burners lighted.

In the present construction, the fuel supply conduit 16 is provided with a valve 21, normally held closed on seat 22 by spring 23. A valve stem 24, connected tothe valve, is pivotally connected to one end of bell crank lever 25, which is pivoted on bracket 26. The other end of lever 25 carries an actuating arm 27 which extends rearwardly and has an end 28 in the path of travel of movable cover 13.

It will be apparent, upon inspection of Fig. 1, that the valve 21 will remain closed, thus cutting off the supply of fuel, so long as the cover 13 is closed or in any position short of complete open position. However, when said cover is moved to open position, as seen in Fig. 2, it will engage arm 2'7, force it inwardly, thereby opening the valve 21 in conduit 16, and permitting access of fuel to the burners under the control of valve 19. The weight of cover 13, in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, serves to hold valve 21 open against the energy of spring 23, so that the burners may be used at will. Withdrawal of the cover from engagement witharm 27, causes valve 21 to close immediately, thereby shutting off the fuel supply to the manifold and burners, so that the latter will be extinguished, whether 'valves 19 100 are left open or not. It is notable that the operation of valve 21 takes place during the final movement of the cover in opening direction and during the initial movement of same in closing direction. Accordingly, the operator is assured 1 5 that the fuel will be turned oil when the cover 13 is closed and in fact shortly after its initial travel in closing direction.

In Fig. 3, the shut off valve 30 is disposed in a slightly different location in conduit 16. The 110 valve, normally held closed by spring 31, has a plunger 32 extending into the path of travel of the cover 13. When the cover approaches its complete open position, it engages the plunger and moves valve 30 from its seat. The weight of the cover in open position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, maintains the valve in open position thereby permitting the flow of fuel to conduit 16. However, upon initial movement of cover 13 in closing direction, valve 30 closes, thereby insuring that the burners will receive no fuel when, the cover is disposed thereover.

In Fig. 4, the fuel supply line 16 is provided with a rotary plug valve 35, which is actuated by cover 13 through arm 14 which in turn is operatively connected to the valve. Opening and closing of the cover 13 causes corresponding movements of valve 35. Accordingly, the positive movement of the valve by the cover likewise insures closure of the supply line 16 when the cover is closed or approaching such position.

In Fig. 5, the valve 40 has a plunger 41 extending upwardly above the open tc of the burner box 10, where it is engaged by the cover 13 in the final closing movement thereof, whereby the valve is depressed and held in closed position by the cover. open position, the valve will be opened by spring actuated stem 42, permitting access of fuel to the burners.

It is evident from the disclosed embodiments that 'various types of valves may be employed, that they may be disposed at various locations in the fuel supply line and that various means may be provided for causing the valves to be responsive to the movements of the cover.

In ranges of the type disclosed, where the burners are covered at times, it is essential that a safe and foolproof construction be provided since there might be considerable danger if the flames were left burning and the cover inadverfor use in electric ranges wherein a suitable switch or other'circuit maker and breaker may be conveniently disposed in the line conveying cur- "rent to the burners. The operation of such switch by the movable cover of the range for establishing pr'interrupting the flow of electricity, may be accomplished in any desired manner.

, Various ,other modifications within the scope of thepresent improvements/will'be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departingfrom the scope and purview of the m- Upon movement of the cover to vertical position beside the burner, a self closing valve for controlling fuel to said burner, and actuating means separate from said cover for opening said valve and maintaining it open, said actuating means being disposed in the path of travel of said cover and operable by the weight of said cover only whenit is at rest in vertical position.

, 2. A cooking stove comprising a burner, a burner box encompassing said burner, a removable cover releasably secured over said box. a fuel supply conduit for said burner, a spring closedvalve in said conduit, an arm operatively connected to said valve for opening same in opposition to said spring, said am being positioned in the path of travel, in opening direction, of a portion of said cover.

3. A cooking stove comprising a burner, means defining a compartment substantially enclosing said burner, a hinged cover for said compartment,

a conduit connected to said burner for supplying fuel thereto, mechanism for moving said valve in one direction, a rigid member operatively connected to said valve for moving same in an opposite direction, said member being .disposed in the path of travel of said cover during the final opening stage thereof.

4. A fuel control mechanism comprising a burner, a compartment for housing saidburner, a cover for said compartment and burner, said cover being slidably associated with said compartment whereby it may be moved over said burner for closing said compartment or may be removed therefrom and brought to rest in a position exposing said compartment and burner, a conduit for supplying fuel to said burner, a normally closed valve controlling said conduit and means for opening said valve operable by said cover only when it comes to rest in open position.

55A fuel control mechanism comprising a burner, a compartment for housing said burner, a cover for said compartment and burner, said cover being pivotally connected with said com- .partment whereby it may be swung over said burner to repose over the top of said compartment and may be withdrawn therefrom and brought to rest in an upstanding position exposing said compartment and burner, a conduit for supplying fuel to said burner, a spring member maintaining said valve closed at all times save during complete open position of said cover, an actuating member attached to said valve for moving it in opposition to said spring member, said actuating member being in the path of travel of said cover and engageable by said cover in its final travel to upstanding open position, said cover when fully open resting by gravity against said actuating member and holding the valve open by the weight of the cover, and upon initial removal of which said spring member closes said valve materially in advance of disposition of the cover WALTER c. ADOLPH '1'. scmvnn'r.

. over said burner.

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