Firepower adjustment device

Abstract

A firepower adjustment device is provided, which adjusts the firepower of the first and second burners in linkage with a single operating lever (4) that is swing-operated in the horizontal direction. On a cam plate (5) that swings in linkage with the operating lever, there are formed: a first cam hole (511) that engages with a first pin (61) fixed to a first needle valve (31) for the first burner, and a second cam hole (512) that engages with a second pin (62) fixed to a second needle valve (32) for the second burner, which can shorten the vertical dimension of the device. One of the two horizontal orthogonal axes is set as the X-axis, and the other is set as the Y-axis. The axes of the first and second needle valves (31, 32) are parallel to the X-axis, and the first needle valve (31) and the second needle valve (32) are arranged side by side with a spacing in the Y-axis direction. And the cam plate (5) is swung in the horizontal direction. The cam plate (5) and the operating lever (4) can also be provided integrally.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a firepower adjusting device assembled on a gas appliance such as a gas stove, and is used to adjust the firepower of the first and second burners in linkage with a single operating lever that is swung horizontally. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as such a firepower adjusting device, it is well known that a valve housing is provided on a gas supply path for supplying gas to the first and second burners, and a first needle valve capable of changing the gas supply amount to the first burner and a second needle valve capable of changing the gas supply amount to the second burner are arranged in parallel in the valve housing. There is also a cam plate that swings in linkage with the operating lever and is provided outside the valve housing. The cam plate is formed with a first cam hole that engages with a first pin fixed to the first needle valve and a second cam hole that engages with a second pin fixed to the second needle valve. By the swing of the cam plate, the first needle valve advances and retracts along the axial direction of the first needle valve by means of the first cam hole and the first pin, and the gas supply amount to the first burner can be adjusted. Also, the second needle valve advances and retracts along the axial direction of the second needle valve by means of the second cam hole and the second pin, and the gas supply amount to the second burner can be adjusted (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] In this firepower adjusting device, the first needle valve and the second needle valve are arranged in parallel with a space in the vertical direction, and the cam plate swings in the vertical direction. Therefore, the vertical dimension of the firepower adjusting device becomes large, making it difficult to assemble on a thin gas appliance with a reduced vertical dimension.

[0004] Patent Document

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

[0006] The present invention has been completed in view of the above points, and its object is to provide a firepower adjusting device capable of shortening the vertical dimension.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the fire power adjustment device of the present invention can adjust the fire power of the first and second burners in conjunction with a single operating lever that is swung in the horizontal direction. A valve housing is provided on a gas supply path for supplying gas to the first and second burners, and a first needle valve that can change the gas supply amount supplied to the first burner and a second needle valve that can change the gas supply amount supplied to the second burner are arranged in parallel in the valve housing, and the device has a cam plate that swings in conjunction with the operating lever and is provided on the outer side of the valve housing, and the cam plate has a first cam hole that engages with a first pin fixed to the first needle valve, and a second cam hole that engages with a first pin fixed to the second needle valve. The invention relates to a gas burner having a first cam hole and a second cam plate, wherein the first needle valve is moved forward and backward along the axial direction of the first needle valve by means of the first cam hole and the first pin, so as to adjust the amount of gas supplied to the first burner, and the second needle valve is moved forward and backward along the axial direction of the second needle valve by means of the second cam hole and the second pin, so as to adjust the amount of gas supplied to the second burner. The invention is characterized in that when one of the two horizontally orthogonal axes is set as the X-axis and the other as the Y-axis, the axes of the first needle valve and the second needle valve are parallel to the X-axis, the first needle valve and the second needle valve are arranged side by side with a gap in the Y-axis direction, and the cam plate swings in the horizontal direction.

[0008] According to the present invention, by arranging the first needle valve and the second needle valve side by side in the horizontal Y-axis direction, the cam plate can be swung in the horizontal direction, so that the two needle valves can be moved forward and backward along their axial direction, that is, in the horizontal X-axis direction, and the firepower of the first burner and the second burner can be adjusted. Therefore, the vertical dimension of the firepower adjustment device can be shortened. The above-mentioned "horizontal" does not only mean completely horizontal, but also includes a direction slightly inclined from the horizontal.

[0009] In addition, in the present invention, since the cam plate swings in the horizontal direction, the cam plate and the operating lever swinging in the horizontal direction can be provided integrally, thereby reducing the number of components and achieving cost reduction.

[0010] In the present invention, the first cam hole and the second cam hole preferably partially overlap in the swing direction of the cam plate within a predetermined fan-shaped range centered on the swing center of the cam plate. This can shorten the width of the cam plate in the swing direction, thereby miniaturizing the cam plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a valve unit having a heat power adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Top view of the valve unit.

[0013] Figure 3 Is Figure 1 A side view of the portion of the valve unit configuration having a needle valve.

[0014] Figure 4 Is along Figure 3 A cross-sectional view after cutting along the IV-IV line of

[0015] Figure 5 Is the Figure 1 Stereogram of the state of partial disassembly of the valve unit of

[0016] Figure 6 Is along Figure 2 An enlarged cross-sectional view after cutting along the VI-VI line of

[0017] Figure 7 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.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals

[0019] A... Flame adjustment device, B1... First burner, B2... Second burner, 2... Valve housing, 31... First needle valve, 32... Second needle valve, 4... Operating lever, 5... Cam plate, 511... First cam hole, 512... Second cam hole, 61... First pin, 62... Second pin. Detailed implementation mode

[0020] Figure 1 , Figure 2 The flame adjustment device A of the embodiment of the present invention shown in

[0021] The flame adjustment device A is inside the valve housing 2 at the upper part of the valve unit 1, as shown in Figure 4As shown, it has: a first needle valve 31 for the first burner B1 that can move forward and backward along the front-back direction as the axis direction, and a second needle valve 32 for the second burner B2. In the valve housing 2, there are formed: a first gas outlet 211 that is connected to the first burner B1; a second gas outlet 212 that is connected to the second burner B2; a first valve chamber 231 that communicates with the first gas outlet 211 via a first valve hole 221 and opens in the front direction ( Figure 4 right front in the figure) of the valve housing 2 and is relatively long in the front-back direction; a second valve chamber 232 that communicates with the second gas outlet 212 via a second valve hole 222 and opens in the front direction of the valve housing 2 and is relatively long in the front-back direction; a first gas inlet 241 that allows the gas passing through the on-off valve to flow into the first valve chamber 231; and a second gas inlet 242 that allows the gas passing through the on-off valve to flow into the second valve chamber 232. And in the first valve chamber 231 and the second valve chamber 232, the first needle valve 31 and the second needle valve 32 are slidably inserted from the front.

[0022] The first needle valve 31 and the second needle valve 32 have at their rear ends: needle portions 31a, 32a that can be fitted into the first valve hole 221 and the second valve hole 222, and bypass holes 31b, 32b that allow the gas to flow even when the respective needle portions 31a, 32a are in a state of being fitted into the respective valve holes 221, 222. In addition, the first valve chamber 231 is formed in a stepped shape with a smaller diameter at the rear, and the first gas inlet 241 is provided in the large-diameter portion 231a of the first valve chamber 231. At a portion of the first needle valve 31 that is slightly forward from the needle portion 31a, an O-ring 31c that can be fitted into the smaller-diameter portion 231b at the rear of the first valve chamber 231 is installed. And in a state where the O-ring 31c is fitted into the smaller-diameter portion 231b of the first valve chamber 231, the supply of gas to the first burner B1 is stopped, and when the O-ring 31c is displaced from the smaller-diameter portion 231b to the large-diameter portion 231a of the first valve chamber 231 by the forward movement of the first needle valve 31, the supply of gas to the first burner B1 starts.

[0023] Refer to Figures 1 to 5, the combustion power adjustment device A further includes a cam plate 5, which is provided on the outer side of the valve housing 2 and swings in association with the horizontal swing of an operating lever 4 protruding forward from the front surface of a stove body (not shown). The cam plate 5 is formed with a first cam hole 511 engaged with a first pin 61 fixed to the first needle valve 31 and a second cam hole 512 engaged with a second pin 62 fixed to the second needle valve 32. In addition, on the outer surface of the valve housing 2, a guide plate 7 is fixed on the back side of the cam plate 5. The guide plate 7 is formed with a first guide hole 711 and a second guide hole 712 through which the first pin 61 and the second pin 62 are inserted and which are long in the axial direction (front-rear direction) of the first needle valve 31 and the second needle valve 32. Moreover, by the swing of the cam plate 5, via the first cam hole 511 and the first pin 61, the first needle valve 31 moves forward and backward along the axial direction of the first needle valve 31 to adjust the gas supply amount supplied to the first burner B1, and via the second cam hole 512 and the second pin 62, the second needle valve 32 moves forward and backward along the axial direction of the second needle valve 32 to adjust the gas supply amount supplied to the second burner B2.

[0024] In addition, the first guide hole 711 and the second guide hole 712 are slightly inclined with respect to the axial direction so that the first needle valve 31 and the second needle valve 32 can move along the axial direction while slightly rotating. Alternatively, a hole connecting the end of the first cam hole 511 and the end of the second cam hole 512 may be provided to make the first and second cam holes 511, 512 continuous in a connected shape.

[0025] If the cam plate 5 swings counterclockwise in the figure from the Figure 1 , Figure 2 shown minimum combustion power position, then via the first cam hole 511 and the first pin 61, the first needle valve 31 moves from the Figure 4 shown position in one direction (forward) of the axial direction, and the gas supply amount supplied to the first burner B1 changes as shown by line a in Figure 7 , and via the second cam hole 512 and the second pin 62, the second needle valve 32 moves in one direction of the axial direction from the Figure 4 shown position, and the gas supply amount supplied to the second burner B2 changes as shown by line b in Figure 7 .

[0026] Here, if the cam plate 5 swings slowly within a prescribed swing range θa including the swing position where the supply of gas to the first burner B1 starts, there is a possibility of flashback occurring in the first burner B1. Therefore, it is preferable to impart a clicking feeling (or tactile feeling, click feeling) when the cam plate 5 rotates to this swing range θa, so that the cam plate 5 swings rapidly within this swing range θa. Therefore, there is provided a tactile mechanism 8 that imparts a clicking feeling when the cam plate 5 swings to the above-mentioned swing range θa.

[0027] The tactile mechanism 8 is composed of a protrusion 81 provided on the above-mentioned guide plate 7 on the back side of the cam plate 5 and protruding toward the cam plate 5 side, and a leaf spring 82 disposed on the front side of the cam plate 5. An axial support hole 821 for externally fitting the convex portion 25 (described later) that axially supports the cam plate 5 is formed in the leaf spring 82. And, the leaf spring 82 is pressed by a pressing screw 83 screwed into the convex portion 25. As Figure 6 shown, the protrusion 81 always presses against the front end portion 822 of the leaf spring 82 through a through hole 53 formed in the cam plate 5. And, claw portions 823, 824 that engage with a locking hole 54 and a notch 55 formed in the cam plate 5 are provided on the leaf spring 82, and the leaf spring 82 rotates together with the cam plate 5.

[0028] In addition, a convex portion 825 protruding toward the cam plate 5 side is provided at the circumferential center portion of the front end portion 822 of the leaf spring 82. And, when the cam plate 5 rotates to the above-mentioned swing range θa, the convex portion 825 abuts against the protrusion 81 and rises, so that the swing load of the cam plate 5 increases as shown by the c line of Figure 7 and a clicking feeling is imparted. Therefore, within the above-mentioned swing range θa of the cam plate 5, the force applied to the operating lever 4 is increased to counteract the increased swing load, so that the cam plate 5 swings rapidly, and flashback at the first burner B1 can be prevented.

[0029] Here, one of the two horizontally orthogonal axes, i.e., the front-rear direction axis, is set as the X-axis, and the other, i.e., the lateral axis, is set as the Y-axis. In the present embodiment, the axes of the first needle valve 31 and the second needle valve 32 are parallel to the X-axis, and the first needle valve 31 and the second needle valve 32 are arranged in parallel with a gap in the Y-axis direction. In addition, a shaft support hole 52 is formed in the cam plate 5, and the shaft support hole 52 is externally fitted to a boss portion 25 protruding from the upper surface of the valve housing 2. The cam plate 5 swings along the horizontal direction with the boss portion 25 as a fulcrum. Thus, by arranging the first and second needle valves 31 and 32 in parallel in the horizontal Y-axis direction, the cam plate 5 can be swung along the horizontal direction, so that the two needle valves 31 and 32 advance and retreat along the horizontal X-axis direction, which is their axis direction, and the firing powers of the first and second burners B1 and B2 can be adjusted. Therefore, the vertical dimension of the firing power adjustment device A can be shortened, and the firing power adjustment device A can also be assembled in a thin gas stove with a reduced vertical dimension.

[0030] In addition, since the cam plate 5 swings along the horizontal direction, the cam plate 5 and the operating rod 4 that swings along the horizontal direction can be integrated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an operating rod 4 is integrally formed and bent at the outer edge of the cam plate 5, and the cam plate 5 and the operating rod 4 are arranged as one body. Thereby, the number of components can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

[0031] In addition, in the present embodiment, as Figure 2 clearly shown, within a specified fan-shaped range W centered on the swing center of the cam plate 5, the first cam hole 511 and the second cam hole 512 partially overlap in the swing direction of the cam plate 5. Thereby, the width of the cam plate 5 in the swing direction can be shortened, and the cam plate 5 can be miniaturized.

[0032] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, guide holes corresponding to the above-mentioned first guide hole 711 and second guide hole 712 may be formed in the valve housing 2, the guide plate 7 may be omitted, and protrusions for the touch mechanism 8 may be integrally formed in the valve housing 2. However, since the valve housing 2 is usually made of die-cast aluminum, it is difficult to ensure durability when forming guide holes and protrusions in the valve housing 2. Therefore, it is preferable to provide the guide plate 7 as in the above embodiment, and form the first guide hole 711, the second guide hole 712, and the protrusion 81 in the guide plate 7. In addition, in the above embodiment, the firing powers of the burners B of the stove having the first burner B1 composed of a main burner and the second burner B2 composed of a sub-burner are adjusted, but the present invention can also be applied to a firing power adjustment device for adjusting the firing powers of the first burner composed of an upper-fire burner and the second burner composed of a lower-fire burner of a grill.

Claims

1. A firepower adjustment device, which can adjust the firepower of the first and second burners in linkage with a single operating lever that is swung horizontally, a valve housing is provided on the gas supply path for supplying gas to the first and second burners, and in the valve housing are arranged in parallel: a first needle valve capable of changing the gas supply amount to the first burner, and a second needle valve capable of changing the gas supply amount to the second burner. It has: a cam plate that swings in linkage with the operating lever and is provided outside the valve housing. On the cam plate are formed: a first cam hole that engages with a first pin fixed to the first needle valve, and a second cam hole that engages with a second pin fixed to the second needle valve. By the swing of the cam plate, the first needle valve advances and retreats along the axial direction of the first needle valve by means of the first cam hole and the first pin to adjust the gas supply amount to the first burner, and the second needle valve advances and retreats along the axial direction of the second needle valve by means of the second cam hole and the second pin to adjust the gas supply amount to the second burner. It is characterized in that When one of the two axes orthogonal in the horizontal direction is set as the X-axis and the other is set as the Y-axis, the axes of the first needle valve and the second needle valve are parallel to the X-axis, the first needle valve and the second needle valve are arranged in parallel with a spacing in the Y-axis direction, and the cam plate swings along the horizontal direction. Within a specified fan-shaped range centered on the swing center of the cam plate, the first cam hole and the second cam hole partially overlap in the swing direction of the cam plate.

2. The firepower adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that The cam plate is integral with the operating lever.

Images