Gas Valve and Control Method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a gas valve and a control method. The gas valve includes a valve body, a valve core disposed inside the valve body, and a valve rod that penetrates one end of the valve body and is combined with the valve core for manipulating the valve core. The gas valve further includes: a motor having an output shaft; a first transmission member, on which a linkage groove extending along the axis of the valve rod is formed, the corresponding central angle of the linkage groove is A1, the rotation stroke of the valve rod is A2, and A1 is greater than or equal to A2; a second transmission member, on which a linkage handle extending into the linkage groove is fixed, and the two ends of the linkage handle and the linkage groove interact and transmit along the circumferential direction of the valve rod; the first transmission member and the second transmission member are both sleeved on the valve rod, one of them rotates synchronously with the valve rod, and the other rotates synchronously with the output shaft; an induction element that detects the rotation angle of the valve rod and is used to control the motor. In this application, since A1 is greater than or equal to A2, that is, when manually adjusting, the valve rod has a certain movement margin and will not drive the motor, reducing the mutual interference between the two driving modes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of gas appliance accessories, and particularly to a gas valve and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] The gas valve is a core component of a gas cooker. It generally includes a valve body, a valve core, a valve rod, a fork and a solenoid valve. Among them, an air inlet passage, an air outlet passage and a valve core cavity between the two are provided inside the valve body. The valve core is frustum-shaped and is installed in the valve core cavity. One end of the valve rod extends into the valve body and passes through the valve core. When the cock valve needs to be opened, the valve rod pushes open the solenoid valve through the fork, and after opening, it can drive the valve core to rotate to adjust the gas flow rate in the air outlet passage.

[0003] In order to automatically control the gas valve, a motor for driving the valve rod is provided on the gas valve. However, generally, the gas valves introduced on the market replace the valve core with a motor drive, and it is impossible to manually adjust the gas output. Even if manual adjustment is possible, there is a potential risk of interference with the motor. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a gas valve and a control method thereof, which can eliminate the potential risk brought by the valve rod during manual operation while realizing electric drive of the valve core.

[0005] The gas valve provided by the present application includes a valve body, a valve core provided inside the valve body, and a valve rod with one end passing through the valve body and engaging with the valve core for manipulating the valve core. The gas valve further includes:

[0006] A motor having an output shaft;

[0007] A first transmission member that rotates synchronously with the valve rod. A linkage groove extending along the axis of the valve rod is provided on the first transmission member. The corresponding central angle of the linkage groove is A1, the rotation stroke of the valve rod is A2, and A1 is greater than or equal to A2;

[0008] A second transmission member. A linkage handle extending into the linkage groove is fixed on the second transmission member, and the linkage handle and the two ends of the linkage groove interact and transmit along the circumferential direction of the valve rod; both the first transmission member and the second transmission member are sleeved on the valve rod, and one of them rotates synchronously with the valve rod, and the other rotates synchronously with the output shaft;

[0009] An induction element that detects the rotation angle of the transmission member that rotates synchronously with the valve rod and is used to control the motor.

[0010] The following also provides several optional ways, which are not additional limitations to the above overall solution, but are only further supplements or optimizations. Without technical or logical contradictions, each optional way can be combined with the above overall solution alone, or multiple optional ways can be combined with each other.

[0011] Optionally, A1 is 120° to 270°. When the valve stem rotates from the closed-fire state to the open-fire state, the rotation direction is the first direction, and when it rotates from the open-fire state to the closed-fire state, the rotation direction is the second direction.

[0012] Each transmission member has an initial position. In the initial position, there is a mutual avoidance between the linkage groove and the linkage handle in the circumferential direction of the valve stem, releasing the stroke for the valve stem to rotate in the first direction.

[0013] Optionally, the corresponding central angle of the stroke is A0, and A0 is greater than or equal to A2.

[0014] Optionally, at the end of the linkage handle adjacent to the linkage groove in the initial position, the linkage handle is frustum-shaped, and its diameter matches the width of the linkage groove.

[0015] Optionally, a magnetic induction element is fixed on the first transmission member, and the induction element is a plurality of Hall sensors arranged around the outer circumference of the valve stem to detect the position of the magnetic induction element.

[0016] Optionally, a driving gear is installed on the output shaft, the second transmission member is a driven gear, and the driving gear is directly meshed with the driven gear or linked through a transmission component.

[0017] Optionally, the gas valve further includes a packaging box fixed to the valve body;

[0018] The valve stem penetrates and extends out of the packaging box, and the extended part serves as a manual operation part;

[0019] The first transmission member, the second transmission member, and the driving gear are all located inside the packaging box;

[0020] The motor is located inside or outside the packaging box.

[0021] Optionally, the gas valve further includes a first elastic member, and the first elastic member acts on at least one of the first transmission member and the second transmission member to drive the two to keep in contact along the axial direction of the valve stem.

[0022] Optionally, the packaging box includes a box body and a cover plate that cooperate with each other. The side of the box body facing away from the valve body has an opening, the cover plate is detachably installed at the opening, and the valve stem extends out of the packaging box from one side of the cover plate;

[0023] The first elastic member is a compression spring, one end abuts against the second transmission member, and the other end abuts against the inner wall of the box body;

[0024] The motor is located outside the encapsulation box, and the output shaft of the motor extends into the box body. The driving gear is sleeved on the output shaft and can slide axially along the output shaft of the motor. A second elastic member is arranged in the box body to limit the driving gear from slipping off the output shaft, and the second elastic member presses between the cover plate and the driving gear.

[0025] The present application also provides a control method for the gas valve described above, including:

[0026] S100. Driving the valve stem and another transmission member to a predetermined position through the motor via a transmission member synchronously rotating with the motor;

[0027] S200. Driving the transmission member synchronously rotating with the motor by the motor to rotate in the opposite direction to that in step S100 until the transmission member returns to the initial position.

[0028] In the gas valve and control method of the present application, since A1 is greater than or equal to A2, that is, there is a certain movement margin for the valve stem during manual adjustment and the motor will not be driven, reducing the mutual interference between the two driving modes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a gas valve according to an embodiment provided by the present application;

[0030] Figure 2 is Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the gas valve in

[0031] Figure 3 is Figure 1 An exploded schematic diagram of the gas valve in

[0032] Figure 4 is Figure 1 An exploded schematic diagram of the gas valve from another perspective in

[0033] Figure 5 is Figure 3 A structural schematic diagram of the first transmission member, the second transmission member and the valve stem in

[0034] Figure 6 is Figure 3 Another perspective structural schematic diagram of the first transmission member, the second transmission member and the valve stem in

[0035] Figure 7 is Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the first transmission member in

[0036] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the state where both the first transmission member and the second transmission member are in the starting position;

[0037] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the valve stem rotating to the limit position in the first direction and the second transmission member being in the initial position;

[0038] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the rotation and reset state of the motor in one embodiment;

[0039] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the rotation and reset state of the motor in another embodiment;

[0040] Figure 12 Control flow block diagram of a gas valve provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0041] The descriptions of the reference numerals in the figures are as follows:

[0042] 1. Valve stem;

[0043] 2. Valve body; 21. Intake passage; 22. Outlet passage; 23. Spool cavity;

[0044] 3. Encapsulation box; 31. Box body; 311. Opening; 32. Cover plate;

[0045] 4. Motor; 41. Output shaft; 42. Driving gear; 43. Groove;

[0046] 5. First transmission member; 51. Linkage groove;

[0047] 6. Second transmission member; 61. Linkage handle; 62. Driven gear;

[0048] 71. First elastic member; 72. Second elastic member;

[0049] 8. Inductive element; 81. Hall sensor; 82. Magnetic induction element;

[0050] 9. Circuit board. Detailed implementation manners

[0051] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0052] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may also be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "disposed on" another component, it can be directly disposed on the other component or there may be an intermediate component at the same time.

[0053] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the technical field to which this application belongs. The terms used herein in the specification of this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0054] As Figures 5 - 6 shown by Y and X in , they are respectively the first direction and the second direction in this application, and the X direction and the Y direction are opposite to each other, and can also be understood as the rotation direction of the valve stem 1.

[0055] As Figures 1 - 2 shown, the gas valve of this application includes a valve body 2, a valve core, and a valve stem 1. An air inlet passage 21, an air outlet passage 22, and a valve core cavity 23 therebetween are provided inside the valve body 2, and the air outlet passage 22 and the valve core cavity 23 intersect to form an air outlet.

[0056] In this embodiment, the valve core is rotatably installed in the valve core cavity 23, and it has an air distribution hole corresponding to the air outlet and communicating with the air inlet passage 21. One end of the valve stem 1 extends into the valve body 2 and is combined with the valve core to drive the valve core to rotate, changing the overlapping area between the air distribution hole and the air outlet to adjust the air output.

[0057] Considering the realization of the automatic control of the gas valve, the gas valve of this application further includes a motor 4 fixed on the valve body 2 for driving the valve core. However, in the existing electronically controlled gas valves, in most structures, the output shaft 41 of the motor 4 is directly connected to the valve core, resulting in the inability to set the valve stem 1 and the inability to manually adjust the gas valve. Or when manually adjusting, it may drive the motor to rotate, causing damage to the motor.

[0058] To solve the above problems, as Figures 3 - 7 shown, the gas valve of this application further includes a first transmission member 5, a second transmission member 6, and a sensing element 8. Among them, the first transmission member 5 is provided with a linkage groove 51 extending along the axis of the valve stem 1. The linkage groove 51 is generally in an arc structure and has an equal width. The corresponding central angle of the linkage groove 51 is A1, and the rotation stroke of the valve stem 1 is A2, and A1 is greater than or equal to A2 to prevent the motor 4 from rotating when manually operating the valve stem 1; a linkage handle 61 extending into the linkage groove 51 is fixed on the second transmission member 6, and the linkage handle 61 interacts with both ends of the linkage groove 51 along the circumferential direction of the valve stem 1 for transmission; both the first transmission member 5 and the second transmission member 6 are sleeved on the valve stem 1, and one of them rotates synchronously with the valve stem 1, and the other rotates synchronously with the output shaft 41; the sensing element 8 detects the rotation angle of the valve stem 1 and is used to control the motor 4.

[0059] For the sake of easy understanding, in the following embodiments of the present application, the first transmission member 5 rotates synchronously with the valve stem 1, and the second transmission member 6 is sleeved on the valve stem 1 and rotates synchronously with the motor 4.

[0060] When the gas valve of the present application is manually controlled, since A1 is greater than or equal to A2, that is, when manually adjusting, the valve stem 1 has a certain movement margin and will not drive the motor, thus avoiding damage to the motor. When controlled by the motor 4, the linkage handle 61 of the second transmission member 6 rotates synchronously with the motor 4 until it abuts against the end of the linkage groove 51 of the first transmission member 5. At this time, the second transmission member 6 drives the valve stem 1 to rotate to a predetermined position synchronously through the first transmission member 5.

[0061] In this embodiment, A1 is 120 - 270 degrees. The rotation direction of the valve stem 1 when operating from closing the fire to opening the fire is the first direction (Y direction), and the rotation direction when operating from opening the fire to closing the fire is the second direction (X direction). Each transmission member has an initial position. At the initial position, there is a mutual avoidance between the linkage groove 51 and the linkage handle 61 in the circumferential direction of the valve stem 1, releasing the stroke for the valve stem 1 to rotate in the first direction.

[0062] Specifically, as Figures 8 - 9 shown, M1 is the initial position of the first transmission member 5, M2 is the limit position of the first transmission member 5, and N is the initial position of the second transmission member 6. When the valve stem 1 is the driving member, it only drives the first transmission member 5 to rotate to open the fire in the first direction. At this time, the linkage groove 51 rotates relative to the linkage handle 61. Even when rotating to the limit amplitude (at M2), it does not abut against the linkage handle 61. Therefore, it will not drive the motor, completely eliminating the safety hazard.

[0063] In one embodiment, the corresponding central angle of the above - mentioned stroke is A0, and A0 is greater than or equal to A2. At this time, when the valve stem 1 rotates in the first direction, there is no interference with the motor. Therefore, the hidden danger of the valve stem 1 driving the motor during the operation is completely eliminated.

[0064] In order to minimize the rotation angle of the motor in the first direction, at the initial position, one end of the linkage handle 61 is adjacent to the linkage groove 51. Considering the processing technology, the linkage handle 61 is frustum - shaped, and its diameter matches the width of the linkage groove 51.

[0065] In this embodiment, a magnetic induction element 82 is fixed on the first transmission member 5, and the sensing element 8 is a plurality of Hall sensors 81 arranged around the outer circumference of the valve stem 1 to detect the position of the magnetic induction element 82. Among them, the magnetic induction element 82 is arranged at the edge of the first transmission member 5. The number of the sensing elements 8 can be set according to specific gas - level requirements. For example, if the gas valve has 5 levels, that is, the gas valve is correspondingly provided with 5 Hall sensors 81 corresponding to these 5 fire - power levels. Preferably, the magnetic induction element 82 is a magnet.

[0066] The first transmission member 5 is generally disc-shaped. The first transmission member 5 has a through hole for the valve stem 1 to pass through. The outer side wall of the valve stem 1 fits against the inner wall of the through hole, and the contour of the through hole is non-circular. The first transmission member 5 is sleeved on the valve stem 1 and slides axially along the valve stem 1. Among them, the through hole on the first transmission member 5 of the present application is D-shaped, and the local cross-section of the valve stem 1 is also D-shaped.

[0067] The motor 4 has an output shaft 41, and a driving gear 42 is installed on the output shaft 41. The second transmission member 6 is a driven gear 62. The driven gear 62 is sleeved on the valve stem 1 and slides axially along the valve stem 1, and is rotationally matched with the valve stem 1. The driving gear 42 is directly meshed with the driven gear 62 or linked through a transmission component. In the figure, it is directly meshed.

[0068] The gas valve further includes an encapsulation box 3 fixed to the valve body 2. The valve stem 1 extends through the encapsulation box 3, and the extended part serves as a manual operation part. The first transmission member 5, the second transmission member 6, and the driving gear 42 are all located inside the encapsulation box 3, and the motor 4 is located inside or outside the encapsulation box 3.

[0069] In an embodiment, considering that the two always keep in contact with each other along the axial direction of the valve stem 1, the gas valve further includes a first elastic member 71, and the first elastic member 71 acts on at least one of the first transmission member 5 and the second transmission member 6. Preferably, one end of the first elastic member 71 abuts against the bottom of the encapsulation box 3, and the other end abuts against the second transmission member 6.

[0070] The encapsulation box 3 includes a box body 31 and a cover plate 32 that cooperate with each other. A circuit board 9 that fits against the inner surface of the cover plate 32 is also installed inside. An opening for the valve stem 1 to pass through is provided at the middle position of the circuit board. The Hall sensor 81 is arranged around the opening. The box body 31 is installed on the outside of the valve body 2 by means of screws or the like. An opening 311 is provided on the side of the box body 31 facing away from the valve body 2. The cover plate 32 and the circuit board 9 are detachably installed at the opening 311 by means of screws or the like. The valve stem 1 extends out of the encapsulation box 3 from one side of the cover plate 32. Preferably, the first elastic member 71 is a compression spring, one end abuts against the second transmission member 6, and the other end abuts against the inner wall of the box body 31.

[0071] The motor 4 is located outside the encapsulation box 3, and the output shaft 41 of the motor 4 extends into the box body 31. The driving gear 42 is sleeved on the output shaft 41 and slides axially along the output shaft 41 of the motor 4. A second elastic member 72 for restricting the driving gear 42 from slipping out of the output shaft 41 is arranged inside the box body 31. The second elastic member 72 is pressed between the cover plate 32 and the driving gear 42. Preferably, the second elastic member 72 is a compression spring. A groove 43 is provided on the side of the driving gear 42 facing the cover plate 32, and one end of the second elastic member 72 is placed in the groove 43.

[0072] As Figures 10 - 11 shown, it is for the motor 4 to drive the second transmission member 6 to rotate (Figure 10 Rotate in the first direction, Figure 11 rotate in the second direction), until the second transmission member 6 is linked with the first transmission member 5 to reach a preset firepower value, and then the motor 4 drives the second rotating member to rotate in the opposite direction to the original position N. Among them, the dotted linkage handle 61 is the state where the first transmission member 5 is linked with the second transmission member 6, and the solid-line linkage handle 61 is the state where the motor returns to the original position N in the opposite direction.

[0073] When the valve stem 1 is used as the driving member, it can drive the first transmission member 5 to rotate within the range of A2 amplitude, that is, adjust the specific firepower of the gas within this range.

[0074] Based on the gas valves in the above embodiments, as Figure 12 shown, the present application also provides a control method for a gas valve, including:

[0075] The motor 4 drives the second transmission member 6 to rotate until the linkage handle 61 abuts against the end of the linkage groove 51, and then the second transmission member 6 synchronously drives the valve stem 1 to rotate to a predetermined position through the first transmission member 5. At this time, the Hall sensor 81 detects the magnetic induction element 82, and controls the motor 4 to stop working, that is, the firepower adjustment of the cooker is completed;

[0076] The motor 4 drives the second transmission member 6 to rotate in the opposite direction to the initial position N, and its reverse rotation angle is equal to the rotation angle in the first direction or the second direction in the initial state.

[0077] When the valve stem 1 is manually operated, the valve stem 1 only drives the first transmission member 5 to rotate within the range of A2 amplitude to adjust the firepower of the cooker. Since A0 is greater than or equal to A2, the first transmission member 5 and the second transmission member 6 can never enter the linked state, avoiding interference with the motor 4.

[0078] The technical features of the above-described embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity of description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as the combinations of these technical features do not conflict, they should all be considered as the scope recorded in this specification. When the technical features in different embodiments are shown in the same drawing, it can be regarded that the drawing also discloses the combination examples of the various embodiments involved at the same time.

[0079] The above-described embodiments only represent several implementation manners of the present application, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, several deformations and improvements can still be made, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. Gas valve, comprising a valve body, a valve core disposed inside the valve body, and a valve rod that penetrates one end into the valve body and engages with the valve core for manipulating the valve core, characterized in that, The gas valve further includes: a motor having an output shaft; a first transmission member on which a linkage groove extending along the axis of the valve stem is formed, the central angle corresponding to the linkage groove being A1, the rotation stroke of the valve stem being A2, and A1 being greater than or equal to A2; a second transmission member on which a linkage handle extending into the linkage groove is fixed, and the linkage handle interacts with both ends of the linkage groove in the circumferential direction of the valve stem for transmission; both the first transmission member and the second transmission member are sleeved on the valve stem, one of them rotates synchronously with the valve stem, and the other rotates synchronously with the output shaft; a sensing element that detects the rotation angle of the transmission member rotating synchronously with the valve stem and is used to control the motor.

2. The gas valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, A1 is 120 to 270 degrees. When the valve stem is operated from the closed-fire state to the open-fire state, the rotation direction is the first direction, and when the valve stem is operated from the open-fire state to the closed-fire state, the rotation direction is the second direction; Each transmission member has an initial position. In the initial position, there is a clearance in the circumferential direction of the valve stem between the linkage groove and the linkage handle to release the stroke for the valve stem to rotate in the first direction.

3. The gas valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The central angle corresponding to the stroke is A0, and A0 is greater than or equal to A2.

4. The gas valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, In the initial position, at the end of the linkage handle adjacent to the linkage groove, the linkage handle is frustum-shaped, and the diameter matches the width of the linkage groove.

5. The gas valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, A magnetic induction element is fixed on the first transmission member, and the sensing element is a plurality of Hall sensors arranged around the outer circumference of the valve stem to detect the position of the magnetic induction element.

6. The gas valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, A driving gear is installed on the output shaft, the second transmission member is a driven gear, and the driving gear is directly meshed with the driven gear or linked through a transmission component.

7. The gas valve according to claim 6, characterized in that, The gas valve further includes a packaging box fixed to the valve body; The valve stem extends through the packaging box, and the extended part serves as a manual operation part; The first transmission member, the second transmission member, and the driving gear are all located inside the packaging box; The motor is located inside or outside the packaging box.

8. The gas valve according to claim 7, characterized in that, The gas valve further includes a first elastic member that acts on at least one of the first transmission member and the second transmission member to drive the two to keep in contact along the axial direction of the valve stem.

9. The gas valve according to claim 8, characterized in that, The packaging box includes a box body and a cover plate that cooperate with each other. The side of the box body facing away from the valve body has an opening, the cover plate is detachably installed at the opening, and the valve stem extends out of the packaging box from one side of the cover plate; The first elastic member is a compression spring, one end of which abuts against the second transmission member, and the other end abuts against the inner wall of the box body; The motor is located outside the packaging box, and the output shaft of the motor extends into the box body. The driving gear is sleeved on the output shaft and slides axially along the output shaft of the motor. A second elastic member that restricts the driving gear from slipping out of the output shaft is arranged inside the box body, and this second elastic member is pressed between the cover plate and the driving gear.

10. The control method of the gas valve according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, Including: S100. Driving the valve stem and another transmission member to rotate to a predetermined position through the motor via the transmission member rotating synchronously therewith; S200. Drive the transmission part that rotates synchronously with the motor to rotate in the opposite direction to that in step S100 until the transmission part returns to its initial position.

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