Fire power adjustment device

Abstract

A heat regulating device is provided, which utilizes the rotation of a cam plate (5) linked to an operating lever (4) to cause needle valves (31, 32) to advance and retreat via cam holes (511, 512) and a pin. The heat regulating device has a touch mechanism (8) that imparts a click feeling when the cam plate rotates within a specified rotation range, and can prevent the cam plate from vibrating when the cam plate is rotated beyond the specified rotation range that imparts the click feeling. The touch mechanism is composed of a protrusion (81) provided on a fixed component (7) opposite to the back of the cam plate and protruding toward the cam plate, and a leaf spring (82) arranged on the front side of the cam plate and rotating together with the cam plate. The protrusion or a convex portion (825) provided on the leaf spring and protruding toward the cam plate is passed through a through hole of the cam plate and is always pressed against the leaf spring or the fixed component. When the cam plate rotates within the specified rotation range, the convex portion abuts against the protrusion and rises, thereby imparting a click feeling.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire power regulating device comprising: a needle valve which is freely arranged in a valve housing and can change the amount of gas supplied to a burner; a cam plate which is arranged outside the valve housing and rotates in conjunction with the swinging of an operating lever; and a pin which is fixed to the needle valve and engages with a cam hole formed in the cam plate. The fire power regulating device utilizes the rotation of the cam plate to advance and retreat the needle valve via the cam hole and the pin, thereby regulating the amount of gas supplied to the burner. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional power adjustment device that provides a click sensation (also known as a tactile sensation) when the cam plate rotates within a predetermined range. This power adjustment device comprises a leaf spring and a retaining plate. The leaf spring, when locked relative to the valve housing, faces the surface of the cam plate. A protrusion protruding toward the cam plate is partially provided. The retaining plate is cut away to receive the protrusion, leaving the retaining plate in the middle of an arc-shaped slot formed in the cam plate. When the cam plate rotates within the predetermined range, the protrusion abuts against the retaining plate and rises, creating a click sensation. Furthermore, conventionally, a disc spring is placed between the head of the cam plate's pressing screw and the cam plate. By slightly compressing the disc spring, a moderate rotational load is applied to the cam plate.

[0003] In the conventional example described above, when the cam plate is rotated beyond the specified range for a click, the convex portion passes over the stopper, abruptly releasing the pressure on the stopper, causing the stopper to vibrate. This vibration is then transmitted to the cam plate, via the cam hole and pin, causing the needle valve to vibrate, potentially resulting in variations in gas flow. Furthermore, the use of a disc spring to apply a rotational load to the cam plate also increases the number of components.

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-306815 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to provide a heat control device that can prevent the vibration of the cam plate when the cam plate is rotated beyond a predetermined rotation range that imparts a click feeling, and can also reduce the number of parts and thus achieve cost reduction.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is characterized in that it comprises: a needle valve which is freely arranged in the valve housing and can change the amount of gas supplied to the burner; a cam plate which is arranged on the outside of the valve housing and rotates in conjunction with the swing of the operating lever; and a pin which is fixed to the needle valve and engages with a cam hole formed in the cam plate. The rotation of the cam plate causes the needle valve to move forward and backward through the cam hole and the pin, thereby adjusting the amount of gas supplied to the burner. The heat adjustment device has a touch mechanism that provides a click feeling when the cam plate rotates to a predetermined rotation range. In this heat adjustment device, when the cam plate facing the valve housing is moved When the surface is set as the back surface, the surface opposite to the surface is set as the front surface, and the valve housing opposite to the back surface of the cam plate, or the component fixed relative to the valve housing is set as the cam plate opposing component, the touch mechanism is composed of a protrusion provided on the cam plate opposing component and protruding from the cam plate side, and a leaf spring arranged on the front side of the cam plate and rotating together with the cam plate. A convex portion protruding toward the cam plate side is provided on a part of the leaf spring, and the protrusion or convex portion passes through a through hole formed in the cam plate and is always pressed against the leaf spring or the cam plate opposing component. When the cam plate rotates to the specified rotation range, the convex portion abuts against the protrusion and rises, thereby giving a clicking feeling.

[0008] According to the present invention, when the cam plate is rotated beyond the specified rotational range that imparts a clicky feel, the convex portion passes over the protrusion, abruptly releasing the pressure exerted by the convex portion on the protrusion. Even if the protrusion vibrates, the protrusion is separated from the cam plate and independent of the cam plate, preventing the vibration from being transmitted to the cam plate. This prevents vibration of the cam plate when the cam plate is rotated beyond the specified rotational range, thereby preventing variations in the gas flow caused by this vibration. Furthermore, because the leaf spring and the cam plate opposing member are constantly in pressure contact via the protrusion or convex portion, the frictional force exerted by the leaf spring on the cam plate opposing member can be used to apply a rotational load to the cam plate. This eliminates the need for the disc spring used in the conventional example to apply the rotational load, reducing the number of components and ultimately reducing costs.

[0009] However, in a fire control device, a guide plate is usually fixed to the outer surface of the valve housing, which has a guide hole formed therein for inserting the pin and which is long in the direction of advance and retreat of the needle valve. In this case, it is preferable that the guide plate constitutes the cam plate-opposing component, thereby achieving component commonality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a valve unit having a heat control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Top view of the valve unit.

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A side view of a portion of the valve unit configured with a needle valve.

[0013] Figure 4 It is along Figure 3 Top view after cutting along line IV-IV.

[0014] Figure 5 It will Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of a partially exploded state of a valve unit.

[0015] Figure 6 It is along Figure 2 Enlarged cross-sectional view after cutting along line VI-VI.

[0016] Figure 7 This is a graph showing the relationship between the rotational position of the cam plate, the gas supply amount, and the rotational load of the cam plate.

[0017] Description of Reference Numerals

[0018] A…firepower adjustment device, B…stove burner (burner), 2…valve housing, 31, 32…needle valve, 4…operating lever, 5…cam plate, 511, 512…cam hole, 53…through hole, 61, 62…pin, 7…guide plate, 711, 712…guide hole, 8…touch control mechanism, 81…protrusion, 82…leaf spring, 825…convex portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Figure 1 、 Figure 2 The illustrated embodiment of the present invention, depicting a heat control device A, can vary the amount of gas supplied to a stove burner B, which includes a large-capacity main burner Ba and a small-capacity auxiliary burner Bb. The heat control device A is mounted above a valve unit 1. The valve unit 1 has an operating member 11 mounted at its lower front end, activated by pressing an ignition / extinguishing button (not shown) on the front surface of the stove body. Although not shown, the lower portion of the valve unit 1 houses an electromagnetic safety valve and an on-off valve downstream thereof. Pressing the operating member 11 rearward forces the electromagnetic safety valve to open, forcing the on-off valve to open, allowing gas to be supplied to the stove burner B.

[0020] The fire regulating device A is in the valve housing 2 at the upper part of the valve unit 1, as shown in FIG. Figure 4As shown, it has: a first needle valve 31 for the main burner Ba, which is freely arranged to advance and retreat in the front-to-back direction, and a second needle valve 32 for the auxiliary burner Bb. The valve housing 2 is formed with: a first gas outlet 211, which is connected to the main burner Ba; a second gas outlet 212, which is connected to the auxiliary burner Bb; a first valve chamber 231, which is connected to the first gas outlet 211 via a first valve hole 221, and is long in the front-to-back direction toward the front of the valve housing 2 ( Figure 4 The valve housing 2 has a second valve chamber 232, which is connected to the second gas outlet 212 via the second valve hole 222 and opens long in the front-to-back direction toward the front of the valve housing 2. The valve housing 23 has a first gas inlet 241, which allows the gas passing through the on-off valve to flow into the first valve chamber 231. The valve housing 232 also has a second gas inlet 242, which allows the gas passing through the on-off valve to flow into the second valve chamber 232. Furthermore, the first and second needle valves 31 and 32 are slidably inserted from the front into the first and second valve chambers 231 and 232.

[0021] The first and second needle valves 31 and 32 have needles 31a and 32a at their rear ends that fit into the first and second valve holes 221 and 222, respectively, and bypass holes 31b and 32b that allow gas to flow even when the needles 31a and 32a are fitted into the valve holes 221 and 222, respectively. Furthermore, the first valve chamber 231 has a stepped shape with a smaller diameter at the rear, and a first gas inlet 241 is provided in the larger diameter portion 231a of the first valve chamber 231. An O-ring 31c is attached to a portion of the first needle valve 31 slightly forward of the needle 31a, which fits into the smaller diameter portion 231b at the rear of the first valve chamber 231. Furthermore, when the O-ring 31c is engaged with the small-diameter portion 231b of the first valve chamber 231, gas is not supplied to the main burner Ba. When the first needle valve 31 moves forward and the O-ring 31c is displaced from the small-diameter portion 231b of the first valve chamber 231 to the large-diameter portion 231a, gas starts to be supplied to the main burner Ba.

[0022] Reference Figures 1 to 5The heat adjustment device A also includes a cam plate 5, which is mounted outside the valve housing 2 and rotates in conjunction with the swinging of an operating lever 4 protruding from the front of the stove main body (not shown). A first pin 61 and a second pin 62 are fixed to the first and second needle valves 31 and 32 and engage with first and second cam holes 511 and 512 formed in the cam plate 5. The cam plate 5 has a shaft support hole 52 formed therein, which is fitted onto a boss 25 protruding from the upper surface of the valve housing 2. The cam plate 5 rotates about the boss 25. Furthermore, a guide plate 7 is fixed to the outer surface, or upper surface, of the valve housing 2, below the cam plate 5. The guide plate 7 has a first guide hole 711 and a second guide hole 712, which are elongated in the front-to-back direction (the direction of advance and retreat of the first and second needle valves 31 and 32), for insertion of the first and second pins 61 and 62. Furthermore, the guide holes 711 and 712 are slightly inclined in the lateral direction relative to the front-rear direction so that the needle valves 31 and 32 can move in the front-rear direction while slightly rotating.

[0023] If the cam plate 5 is moved from Figure 1 、 Figure 2 The minimum fire position shown in the figure rotates counterclockwise in the figure, and the first needle valve 31 is opened from the first cam hole 511 and the first pin 61. Figure 4 The position shown in the figure moves forward, and the gas supply to the main burner Ba is as follows Figure 7 The second needle valve 32 changes as shown by the line a of FIG. 5 , and the second needle valve 32 changes from Figure 4 The position shown in FIG. 1 is moved forward, and the amount of gas supplied to the auxiliary burner Bb is as follows: Figure 7 The change is shown as line b.

[0024] Here, if the cam plate 5 rotates slowly within a predetermined rotation range θa, including the rotation position at which gas supply to the main burner Ba is started, there is a risk of flashback occurring in the main burner Ba. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a click when the cam plate 5 rotates within this rotation range θa so that the cam plate 5 rotates rapidly within this rotation range θa.

[0025] Therefore, in this embodiment, a touch mechanism 8 is provided that provides a click sensation when the cam plate 5 rotates within the aforementioned rotation range θa. Below, the touch mechanism 8 will be described in detail, with the surface of the cam plate 5 facing the valve housing 2 (the lower surface) being referred to as the back surface, the surface opposite to this surface (the upper surface) being referred to as the front surface, and the valve housing 2 or a member fixed to the valve housing 2 facing the back surface of the cam plate 5 being referred to as the cam plate opposing member. The touch mechanism 8 comprises a protrusion 81 provided on the cam plate opposing member and projecting upward toward the cam plate 5, and a leaf spring 82 disposed on the front surface of the cam plate 5. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cam plate opposing member is formed by the guide plate 7, and the protrusion 81 is formed on the guide plate 7. A shaft support hole 821 is formed in the leaf spring 82. This shaft support hole 821, along with the shaft support hole 52 of the cam plate 5, is fitted onto the aforementioned boss portion 25 on the upper surface of the valve housing 2. Furthermore, the leaf spring 82 is pressed from above by the pressing screw 83 screwed into the boss portion 25. Figure 6 As shown, the protrusion 81 passes through the through hole 53 formed in the cam plate 5 and is constantly pressed from below against the front end 822 of the leaf spring 82. Furthermore, the leaf spring 82 is provided with claws 823 and 824 that engage with the locking hole 54 and notch 55 formed in the cam plate 5. The leaf spring 82 rotates together with the cam plate 5.

[0026] In addition, a convex portion 825 is provided at the circumferential center of the front end portion 822 of the leaf spring 82. The convex portion 825 protrudes toward the cam plate 5, that is, toward the lower side. When the cam plate 5 rotates to the above-mentioned rotation range θa, the convex portion 825 abuts against the protrusion 81 and rises, thereby reducing the rotation load of the cam plate 5 as shown in FIG. Figure 7 Therefore, within the rotation range θa of the cam plate 5, the force applied to the operating lever 4 is increased to resist the increased rotational load, thereby rapidly rotating the cam plate 5 and preventing flashback at the main burner Ba.

[0027] When the cam plate 5 is rotated beyond the aforementioned rotational range θa, which provides a clicky feel, the convex portion 825 rides over the protrusion 81, abruptly releasing the pressure exerted by the convex portion 825 on the protrusion 81, which can easily cause the protrusion 81 to vibrate. However, even if the protrusion 81 vibrates, since the protrusion 81 is independent and separated from the cam plate 5, the vibration of the protrusion 81 is not transmitted to the cam plate 5. Therefore, vibration of the cam plate 5 when rotating beyond the aforementioned rotational range θa can be prevented, thereby preventing variations in the gas flow caused by such vibration.

[0028] Furthermore, because the leaf spring 82, which rotates with the cam plate 5, is constantly in pressure contact with the protrusion 81 provided on the guide plate 7, the cam plate's opposing member, the frictional force of the leaf spring 82 against the protrusion 81 applies a rotational load to the cam plate 5. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as the distal end 822 of the leaf spring 82 is lifted by the protrusion 81, a downward pressing force acts on the portion surrounding the shaft support hole 821 of the leaf spring 82, with the pressing screw 83 serving as a fulcrum. Furthermore, this pressing force presses the portion surrounding the shaft support hole 52 of the cam plate 5 against the portion of the valve housing surrounding the boss 25. Therefore, the frictional force of the cam plate 5 against the valve housing 2 also applies a rotational load to the cam plate 5. Consequently, the disc spring of the conventional example, which applies a rotational load, can be eliminated, reducing the number of components and achieving cost reductions. Furthermore, by forming the protrusion 81 on the guide plate 7, component commonality is achieved, further reducing costs.

[0029] However, it is also possible to form guide holes corresponding to the first guide hole 711 and the second guide hole 712 in the valve housing 2, omit the guide plate 7, and use the valve housing 2 itself as the cam plate-opposing member, with the protrusion 81 integrally formed on the valve housing 2. However, since the valve housing 2 is typically made of aluminum die-cast, ensuring durability is difficult if the guide holes or protrusion 81 are formed in the valve housing 2. Therefore, it is preferable to provide the guide plate 7 as in the above-described embodiment, so that the guide plate 7 constitutes the cam plate-opposing member and the protrusion 81 is formed on the guide plate 7.

[0030] In addition, in the above embodiment, if Figure 3 As shown, the guide plate 7 floats on the upper surface of the front portion of the valve housing 2, which forms the first valve chamber 231 and the second valve chamber 232. Furthermore, the cam plate 5 also floats on the upper surface of the guide plate 7. Therefore, a protrusion 26 is provided on the upper surface of the front end of the valve housing 2, which abuts against the lower surface of the guide plate 7. This prevents the guide plate 7 from deflecting downward due to the downward pressing force applied to the protrusion 81 by the leaf spring 82. Furthermore, a protrusion 72 is provided on the front end of the guide plate 7, which abuts against the lower surface of the front end of the cam plate 5. This prevents the operating lever 4 from tilting downward when the operating lever 4 is operated.

[0031] While embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the above embodiment, the protrusion 81 provided on the cam plate opposing member (guide plate 7) passes through the through-hole 53 formed in the cam plate 5 and is constantly in pressure contact with the leaf spring 82. Alternatively, the protrusion 81 may be formed so as not to reach the surface of the cam plate 5. Instead, the protrusion 825 provided on the leaf spring 82 may be enlarged, and the protrusion 825 may pass through the through-hole 53 formed in the cam plate 5 and constantly be in pressure contact with the cam plate opposing member. In this case, when the cam plate 5 rotates within a predetermined rotation range θa, the protrusion 825 abuts against the protrusion 81 and rises, thereby also providing a click feeling.

[0032] Furthermore, while the heat control device A in the above embodiment includes a pair of first and second needle valves 31 and 32, the present invention can also be applied to a heat control device having a single needle valve. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the operating lever 4 is integrally formed with the cam plate 5. However, the cam plate 5 and the operating lever 4 may be provided as separate components, with the cam plate 5 rotating via an appropriate linkage mechanism by the swinging of the operating lever 4.

Claims

1. A firepower adjustment device, The fire power adjustment device comprises: a needle valve which is freely arranged in a valve housing and can change the amount of gas supplied to the burner; a cam plate which is arranged outside the valve housing and rotates in conjunction with the swing of the operating lever; and a pin which is fixed to the needle valve and engages with a cam hole formed in the cam plate. The rotation of the cam plate causes the needle valve to advance and retreat via the cam hole and pin, thereby adjusting the amount of gas supplied to the burner. The heating power adjustment device has a touch mechanism that provides a click feeling when the cam plate rotates to a predetermined rotation range, and is characterized in that: When the surface of the cam plate facing the valve housing is defined as the back surface, the surface opposite to the back surface is defined as the front surface, and the valve housing or a member fixed to the valve housing facing the back surface of the cam plate is defined as the cam plate opposing member, the touch mechanism is composed of a protrusion provided on the cam plate opposing member and protruding toward the cam plate, and a leaf spring disposed on the front side of the cam plate and rotating together with the cam plate. A convex portion protruding toward the cam plate is provided on a part of the leaf spring. The protrusion or convex portion passes through a through hole formed in the cam plate and is always pressed against the leaf spring or the cam plate opposing component. When the cam plate rotates to the specified rotation range, the convex portion abuts against the protrusion and rises, thereby giving a clicking feeling.

2. The heat adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A guide plate is fixed on the outer surface of the valve housing, which has a guide hole for inserting the pin and is long in the forward and backward direction of the needle valve. The cam plate opposing member is constituted by the guide plate.

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