WO2013111114A1

WO2013111114A1 - Timed control device of a burner of a hob

Info

Publication number: WO2013111114A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/050673
Authority: WO
Inventors: Caterina Anna Rosaria STIMOLA; Stefano LINARI
Original assignee: LINARI ENGINEERING Srl CON UNICO SOCIO
Current assignee: LINARI ENGINEERING Srl CON UNICO SOCIO
Priority date: 2012-01-25
Filing date: 2013-01-25
Publication date: 2013-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-25
Also published as: ITMI20120085A1; RU2014134322A; EP2807425B1; PL2807425T3; EP2807425A1

Description

"TIMED CONTROL DEVICE OF A BURNER OF A HOB"

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a timed control device of a burner of a hob.

In particular, the invention relates to a knob device installed in place of a conventional gas burner adjustment knob of a gas hob, which, in addition to normal manually controlled operation, also enables the burner to be switched off automatically after a time preset by the user and, optionally, further control functions.

BACKGROUND ART

A gas burner of a conventional hob is normally controlled by an adjustment knob which, when rotated manually by the user, acts on a gas supply valve; the knob adjusts the quantity of gas supplied and hence the intensity of the flame.

After use, for example at the end of a cooking cycle, the burner is switched off by the user, again manually, by rotating the knob to close the gas supply valve.

Therefore, adjusting and switching off the gas burner is entrusted to manual operation by the user.

Clearly, the user can be notified of the time that has passed via an external timer, but there are currently no automated controls that switch off the burner at the end of the period of time preset by the user. ·

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a timed control device of a burner of a hob which, in addition to normal manually controlled operation of the usual adjustment knobs, enables the burner to be switched off automatically in a simple and reliable manner, after a time preset by the user, and moreover which can also be easily and quickly installed on existing hobs, provided with conventional adjustment knobs.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a timed control device of a burner of a hob as defined in essential terms in the appended claim 1 and, in its additional features, in the dependent claims.

The device of the invention enables the gas burner to which the device is associated to be switched off automatically after a time set by the user. During cooking the user can check, via indicators, the remaining programmed cooking time and be notified when this time expires.

The device can in any case be used, if the user does not want to employ the automatic switching off function, also as a conventional knob. In this way, moreover, even in the case of a fault or discharged battery, the device can be operated manually and the burner can still be controlled conventionally; the faulty device can also be easily and quickly replaced with a conventional knob.

The device of the invention can also be easily installed in place of normal adjustment knobs, even on hobs already installed. In fact, the device can be purchased and installed freely even by the user, in place of any of the adjustment knobs existing on the gas hob.

According to the specific dimensions of the control rod of the gas valve (on which the existing knob is fixed) and of the hole in the hob from which this rod projects, different models of the device and/or appropriate adapters can be produced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description below of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the figures in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a timed control device of a burner of a hob according to the invention, shown during installation on a hob;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of the device of Fig. 1, installed on the hob.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the accompanying figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a timed control device of a burner of a hob 2.

The hob 2 is substantially known per se and therefore, for the sake of simplicity, will not be described or illustrated in detail .

The hob 2 includes at least one gas supply valve 3, which supplies a gas burner, not shown, and is equipped with a rotatable control rod 4, which projects through an opening 5 formed on a surface 6 of the hob 2 and delimited by an annular edge 7.

In a conventional hob, an adjustment knob is fitted onto the rod 4, by means of which the user can rotate the rod 4 and consequently adjust the supply of gas from the valve 3 and, hence, the intensity of the flame on the burner associated to the valve 3.

In accordance with the invention, the conventional knob is replaced by the device 1.

The device 1 comprises a hollow knob body 10, extending substantially around an axis A which also defines, in use, a rotation axis of the pin 4; the knob body 10 is provided with an inner cavity 11 that houses an electromechanical actuator

12 connectable to the rod 4 for acting on rod 4, and a timer

13 that operates the actuator 12.

The knob body 10 is provided with a connection structure 14, arranged in the cavity 11 and connected to the actuator 12, and with a frame 15, which is fixed axially to the knob body 10 (and axially supports the knob body 10) and is angularly rotatable around the axis A with respect to the knob body 10; the frame 15 is fixable angularly integral to the hob 2 via a coupling system 16.

The coupling system 16 comprises in particular a reaction ring 17, constituted by an annular element housed in the opening 5 and fixed integral to the hob 2, for example to the edge 7, by means of a coupling 18 (for example a snap coupling) . The reaction ring 17 is fixed angularly integral to the frame 15 by an angular coupling 19, defined by a pair of elements 20, 21 cooperating with each other and carried by the frame 15 and by the reaction ring 17 respectively; in the example illustrated, the coupling 19 between the frame 15 and the ring 17 comprises a pin 20 that projects downwards from the frame 15 and engages a seat 21 formed in the ring 17.

The actuator 12 comprises an electrical motor 22 which, in the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, but not necessarily, is a direct current brushless electrical motor, supplied by a battery 23 housed in the cavity and supported, for example, by the frame 15.

The motor 22 comprises a stator 24 and a rotor 25: the stator 24 is supported integral by the frame 15, while the rotor 25 is connected integral to the connecting structure 14 and, through it, to the knob body 10; the rotor 25 is provided with a seat 26 which receives and engages angularly the rod 4, which is coupled integral to the rotor 25 and rotates with it around the axis A.

The stator 24, which carries inside it permanent magnets cooperating with a winding of the rotor 25, and/or the frame 15 act as support for electronic circuits 27, for connector 28 for charging the battery 23, and for the pin 20 that engages the reaction ring 17 to prevent rotation of the frame 15 with respect to the hob 2.

The device 1 can be supplied electrically through an accumulator or a connection to the electricity network. This connection could also be produced through wireless and radio frequency recharging systems. Recharging of the accumulator can take place by means of sources outside or inside the device, for example: by employing the mechanical energy applied by the user for manually adjusting the knob and converting it, by means of the same actuator, into electrical energy; by employing the difference of temperature between the control rod of the gas supply valve (cold) and the outer surface of the knob body (hot) by means of thermoelectrical generators placed directly inside the knob body.

The timer 13 is, for example, integrated in a control unit 30, in particular a microprocessor control unit, connected to an interface system 31 operable by the user.

In the example shown in Fig. 2, the interface system 31 includes activation buttons 32 (for example, capacitive touch buttons, or other types of buttons and/or selectors) and indicators 33, for example LEDs, arranged on an upper surface 34 of the knob body 10; the buttons 32 (or other equivalent members connected with the control unit 30) are used to set the operating parameters of the device 1, in particular a cooking time, which are supplied to the control unit 30; the indicators 33 are used for indicating to the user (for example, by means of lights, blinkers and/or backlit figures and/or numbers) operation conditions of the device 1.

In use, the control unit 30 acting as timer 13 receives from the user, by means of the interface system 31 and specifically the buttons 32, the required operating parameters (in particular, cooking time, i.e. the time for which the gas burner is switched on) and consequently controls operation of the actuator 12 and in particular of the motor 22; during the operating cycle, the user can view the time set via the indicators 33 (for example, by means of suitable images, lights, numbers and/or sounds) , controlled by the control unit 30.

The device 1 also optionally indicates, through the indicators 33, the condition of the electrical supply and of any residual charge of the battery 23.

After the set cooking time has elapsed, which can also be changed at will by the user during the cooking cycle, the control unit 30 activates the motor 22 to rotate the rod 4 and close the gas supply valve 3, switching off the burner.

The interface system 31 notifies the user of the end of the cooking cycle and/or of its progress by means of the indicators 33, with lights, sounds, pictograms and/or images.

Therefore, the device 1 enables the gas burner to which the device 1 is associated to be switched off automatically after a time preset by the user. During cooking, the user can check, via the indicators 33, the time remaining until completion of the programmed cooking cycle, and be notified when this time elapse .

In any case, if the user does not want to employ the automatic switching off function, the device 1 can also be used as a conventional knob, simply by rotating the knob body 10. In this way, moreover, even in the case of a fault or discharged battery, the device 1 can be operated manually and the burner can still be controlled conventionally.

The torque required to close the valve 3 is applied by the actuator 12 directly on the control rod 4 of the valve 3 (as shown in Fig. 2), or through a reducer, which however offers a slight degree of resistance against free rotation of the knob body 10 in case in which there is a fault or no electricity supply, so as to enable conventional (non automatic) use of the device 1.

The use of a brushless motor makes it possible to avoid the use of motion reducers, and also to use the same motor as buzzer, without requiring rotation for this purpose, through the use of appropriate modulations of the electrical voltages applied to the motor windings.

The device 1 can be installed on any type of hob, in place of one or more adjustment knobs of the gas burners. The device 1 can be mounted directly in the factory on a new hob, or be installed later by the user on an existing hob, in place of a standard knob. This operation does not require the use of any special tools or equipment, given that standard knobs are always removable to allow normal cleaning.

Installation can be carried out without the aid of special tools or instruments, simply by removing the existing knob, fixing the reaction ring 17 inside the opening 5 of the hob 2 that is made accessible and then inserting the knob body 10 of the device 1 on the rod 4 of the gas supply valve 3, taking care to respect the reference provided by the reaction ring 17. The original knob can be re-installed at any time, even without removing the reaction ring 17.

In a variant, the device also enables adjustment (increasing or decreasing) of the power of the gas burner to maintain the temperature of the content of the receptacle placed on the burner according to the user's settings. this case, the device 1 is associated to a temperature sensor, which is able to sense the temperature inside the receptacle and is equipped with communication towards the device 1 to transmit the temperature data detected to the control unit 30. Communication can take placed via a cable, or be of wireless type. In this variant, the device 1 can also be equipped with a system for interaction with electronic devices equipped with suitable interface, such as PCs, tablets or smartphones .

Finally, it is understood that further modifications and variants can be made to the device described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the appended claims .

Claims

1. A timed control device (1) of a burner of a hob, comprising: a frame (15), fixable angularly integral to a hob (2) via a coupling system (16); a knob body (10), extending substantially around an axis (A) and supported axially by the frame (15) and angularly rotatable around the axis (A) with respect to the frame (15); an electromechanical actuator (12) having a stator (24), supported by the frame (15), and a rotor (25) supported by the knob body (10) and connectable to a control rod (4) of a gas supply valve (3) of the hob (2) for acting on the control rod (4) ; and a timer (13) that operates the actuator (12) so as to rotate the rotor (25) with respect to the frame (15) after a preset time period.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor (25) is integrally connected to the knob body (10) via a connection structure (14) and is provided with a seat (26) dimensioned to receive and engage angularly the control rod (4) of the gas supply valve (3) .

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the timer (13) is integrated in a microprocessor control unit (30) .

4. A device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (30) , for example a microprocessor control unit, acting as the timer (13) and connected to an interface system (31) operable by the user.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the interface system (31) includes activation buttons (32), connected to the control unit (30) for setting operation parameters of the device (1), and indicators (33), operated by the control unit (30) for indicating to the user operation conditions of the device ( 1 ) .

6. A device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling system (16) comprises a reaction ring (17), fixable to the hob (2) by means of a coupling (18) and fixed angularly integral to the frame (15) by an angular coupling (19), defined by a pair of elements (20, 21) cooperating with each other and carried by the frame (15) and by the reaction ring (17) respectively.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the angular coupling (19) between the frame (15) and the reaction ring

(17) is defined by a pin (20) that projects downwards from the frame (15) and engages a seat (21) formed in the reaction ring

(17) and/or in the hob (2).

8. A device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (12) comprises a brushless electrical motor ( 22 ) .

9. A device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an electrical supply (23), for example a battery, an accumulator or a connection, optionally a wireless connection, to the electricity network.

10. A device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an electrical recharging system that employs the mechanical energy applied by the user for rotating the knob body (10) and converts such mechanical energy, by means of the actuator (12), into electrical energy; or employs the difference of temperature between the control rod (4) of the gas supply valve (3) and an outer surface of the knob body (10) by means of one or more thermoelectrical generators.

11. A device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, if the user does not want to use the automatic switching off function, the rotor (25) of the actuator (12) is manually rotatable with respect to the frame (15) via the knob body (10) .

12. A device according to one of the preceding claims, associated to a temperature sensor and having a control unit (30) that is programmed for moving the rotor (25) of the actuator (12) and hence the control rod (4) of the gas supply valve (3) as a function of temperature data received from the temperature sensor.