Gas stove

Abstract

A gas stove (1), comprising a top sheet (8), a gas valve (5) which has an actuation stem (13) for actuating the gas valve (5), an actuation knob (16) for actuating the actuation stem (13), and a gasket (21, 21') which is at least partly arranged between the actuation knob (16) and the top sheet (8), wherein the top sheet (8) has a breakthrough (11), a front side (9), and a back side (10), wherein the actuation stem (13) is guided through the breakthrough (11), and wherein the gasket (21, 21') has a sealing section (24) with at least one flexible sealing lip (28, 45, 46) that is pre-tensioned against an inner surface (12) of the breakthrough (11), a disc-shaped first contact section (29) that lies against the back side (10) of the top sheet (8), and a disc-shaped second contact section (32) that lies against the front side (9) of the top sheet.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas stove.

[0002] A gas stove can comprise a gas burner and a gas valve. The gas valve is suitable for adjusting a flow of combustion gas from a main gas pipe of the gas stove to the gas burner. For actuating the gas valve, an actuation knob can be provided. Between the actuation knob and a top sheet of the gas stove can be provided a gasket. The gasket prevents fluids like water or spilled food from entering a space below the top sheet.

[0003] WO 2014 / 155269 A1 describes a waterproof structure of an operating device of a gas stove, wherein the waterproof structure is in the shape of a hollow barrel and comprises a snap portion and a sealing portion that are disposed from bottom to top successively along an axial direction of the waterproof structure, and the snap portion is connected to the sealing portion, wherein the hardness of the snap portion is higher than the hardness of the sealing portion.

[0004] US 6,353,185 B1 describes a grommet which is installed on a wire harness for an automobile and mounted in the penetration hole of an automobile body panel, and a method of installing the grommet in the panel.

[0005] EP 3 290 807 A1 describes a gas cooking zone having a top sheet, a gas valve, an operating element which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to an operating shaft of the gas valve and is intended for operating the gas valve, a sealing element which is arranged at least in sections between the operating element and the top sheet and which has a fastening portion which is accommodated in a breakthrough provided in the hob plate, and a fastening element which is accommodated at least in part in the fastening portion and which is adapted to press the fastening portion radially against a wall of the breakthrough.

[0006] It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved gas stove.

[0007] Accordingly, a gas stove, comprising a top sheet, a gas valve which has an actuation stem for actuating the gas valve, an actuation knob for actuating the actuation stem, and a gasket is provided. The gasket is at least partly arranged between the actuation knob and the top sheet, wherein the top sheet has a breakthrough, a front side, and a back side, wherein the actuation stem is guided through the breakthrough, and wherein the gasket has a sealing section with at least one flexible sealing lip that is pre-tensioned against an inner surface of the breakthrough, so that the sealing lip applies a circumferential pressure against the inner surface of the breakthrough, a disc-shaped first contact section that lies against the back side of the top sheet, and a disc-shaped second contact section that lies against the front side of the top sheet.

[0008] Due to the fact that the sealing lip is pre-tensioned against the inner surface of the breakthrough, the sealing lip is pressed against the inner surface and prevents liquids from passing through the breakthrough. The gasket is easy to assemble. No additional parts are needed for maintaining the functionality of the gasket.

[0009] The gas stove can be named gas hob. The gas stove is a household appliance. For this reason, the gas stove can be named household gas stove. The top sheet can be made of steel, in particular of stainless steel, glass-ceramic or tempered glass. The top sheet can have a thickness of approximately 4 to 8 mm. However, the thickness is arbitrary. The breakthrough can be a cylindrical bore. The top sheet can be named cover sheet. The top sheet covers a cooking trough of the gas stove. The cooking trough can be a deep-drawn metal sheet. Between the cooking trough and the top sheet is provided a space which can receive an electronic board or circuit board and the gas valve. The gasket prevents fluids from entering this space. The gas valve can be mounted to the cooking trough. Preferably, the gas stove has a plurality of gas valves, actuation knobs and gaskets. Accordingly, the top sheet has a plurality of breakthroughs. In the following, only one gas valve, only one actuation knob and only one gasket is referred to, respectively.

[0010] The actuation stem can be rotated by means of the actuation knob. The gas valve is preferably arranged below the top sheet. That means, the gas valve faces the back side of the top sheet. The actuation stem is guided through the breakthrough. In particular, the actuation stem is guided from the back side to the front side of the top sheet. The actuation stem can be rotated to adjust the flow of combustion gas from a gas main pipe to the gas burner. Depending on an angle of rotation of the actuation stem, the flow of combustion gas from the gas main pipe to the gas burner can be increased, decreased or completely blocked. The gas valve preferably is a gas regulating valve. The gas valve is suitable for regulating a steam of combustion gas from the main gas pipe to the gas burner continuously or stepwise. In particular, the gas valve is a so-called step valve.

[0011] The gasket being "at least partly" arranged between the actuation knob and the top sheet means in this context that a part or section of the gasket is placed between the actuation knob and the top sheet. This does not exclude that parts or sections of the gasket are not placed between the actuation knob and the top sheet. For example, the first contact section is arranged below the top sheet and the sealing section is arranged within the breakthrough of the top sheet. "Pre-tensioned" in this context means that the sealing lip applies a circumferential pressure, in particular a circumferential pressure constantly, against the inner surface of the breakthrough. The inner surface of the breakthrough is preferably cylinder-shaped. The first contact section and the second contact section preferably sandwich the top sheet between them.

[0012] That the sealing lip is "flexible" in this context means that the sealing lip is easily deformable. Preferably, the sealing section and / or the sealing lip are resiliently deformed when being assembled in the breakthrough of the top sheet. This can be reached by using a plastic or rubber material for producing the gasket. For example, the gasket can be made from a silicone material or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). In particular, the gasket can be made from a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). "Disc-shaped" in this context means that the contact sections both protrude from the sealing section along a radial direction of the gasket. The circumferential pressure preferably also acts in the radial direction. Preferably, the gasket is constructed rotation-symmetric around a middle axis or symmetry axis. The radial direction is oriented perpendicular to the symmetric axis and points away from the symmetric axis. The gasket preferably also has a longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction is arranged parallel to the symmetry axis.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the gasket is at least partly received in the actuation knob. This means that the gasket can be placed at least partly inside the actuation knob. According to a further embodiment, the actuation knob comprises a sleeve section that at least partly receives the gasket.

[0014] The sleeve section preferably has a cylinder-shape or tube-shape. The sleeve section in particular encompasses the gasket at least partly.

[0015] According to a further embodiment, the sealing section has a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface, wherein the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface are inclined towards each other, and wherein an intersection of the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface forms the sealing lip.

[0016] The sealing surfaces are preferably arranged roof-shaped or V-shaped.

[0017] According to an unclaimed further embodiment, the first contact section and the second contact section are inclined towards each other in such a way that a distance between the first contact section and the second contact section decreases in a radial direction of the gasket.

[0018] This helps the contact sections getting pressed against the front side and the back side of the top sheet. In particular, the contact sections are pre-tensioned against the front side and the back side of the top sheet. Liquid tightness can be improved in that way.

[0019] According to a further embodiment, the gasket comprises an outer circumferential wall and an inner circumferential wall which is arranged inside the outer circumferential wall.

[0020] Preferably, the circumferential walls are arranged coaxially. Between the outer circumferential wall and the inner circumferential wall, liquid that has passed between the actuation knob and the gasket can be trapped. The liquid can then evaporate.

[0021] According to a further embodiment, the outer circumferential wall protrudes from the second contact section, wherein the inner circumferential wall protrudes from the sealing section.

[0022] The outer circumferential wall and the inner circumferential wall preferably both protrude in the longitudinal direction of the gasket.

[0023] According to a further embodiment, the second contact section is arranged between the outer circumferential wall and the inner circumferential wall.

[0024] In this way, the second contact section connects the outer circumferential wall to the inner circumferential wall.

[0025] According to a further embodiment, the inner circumferential wall is cone-shaped or cylinder-shaped.

[0026] "Cone-shaped" in this context means in the form of a truncated cone or frustum. "Cylinder-shaped" in this context means tube-shaped with a circular cross-section.

[0027] According to a further embodiment, a top end of the outer circumferential wall and a top end of the inner circumferential wall are arranged on the same height or on different heights.

[0028] The top ends can be rounded. Preferably, the top end of the inner circumferential wall is arranged below the top end of the outer circumferential wall. Alternatively, the top ends are arranged on the same height.

[0029] According to a further embodiment, the outer circumferential wall comprises a cylinder-shaped first wall section, a disc-shaped second wall section, and a cylinder-shaped third wall section, wherein the second wall section is arranged between the first wall section and the third wall section.

[0030] Due to this arrangement, the outer circumferential wall resembles the form of a cylinder spring and can therefore be reversible compressed like a spring. This is advantageously when pressing the actuation knob down to ignite the gas burner, for example.

[0031] According to a further embodiment, the sealing section comprises a first sealing lip and a second sealing lip.

[0032] The number of sealing lips is arbitrary. There can also be provided only one sealing lip. Preferably, the sealing lips are disc-shaped. The sealing lips can protrude from the sealing section in the radial direction of the gasket.

[0033] According to a further embodiment, the first sealing lip and the second sealing lip are spaced apart from each other.

[0034] Preferably, the first sealing lip and the second sealing lip are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the gasket. The distance between the sealing lips is arbitrary. Preferably, the distance is some millimeters. Embodiments of the gasket comprising more than one sealing lip are preferably used for top sheets with bigger thicknesses.

[0035] According to a further embodiment, the gasket is reversibly compressible in a longitudinal direction thereof.

[0036] This can be used for pressing down the actuation knob to ignite the gas burner. Preferably, the gasket deforms itself back from a deformed state into a non-deformed state, in particular like a spring. "Reversibly" means that the gasket can be deformed from the deformed state into the non-deformed state and vice versa.

[0037] According to a further embodiment, the gasket is formed integrally.

[0038] The gasket preferably is made of one piece. "One piece" in this context means that the gasket forms a common structural component and is not made of different separate parts that are assembled to form the gasket. "Monolithic" or "integrally" in this context means that the gasket is formed through the whole part of the same material. The gasket can be a one-piece injection molded part.

[0039] Further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and dependent claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a top view of one embodiment of a gas stove; Fig. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the gas stove according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a gasket for the gas stove according to Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a gasket for the gas stove according to Fig. 1.

[0040] In the Figures, like reference numerals designate like or functionally equivalent elements, unless otherwise indicated.

[0041] Fig. 1 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of a gas hob or gas stove 1. The gas stove 1 can be a household appliance or part of a household appliance. The gas stove 1 comprises a cooking trough 2. The cooking trough 2 is a deep-drawn metal sheet. The cooking trough 2 is covered by means of a cover plate or top sheet (not shown). The gas stove 1 further has at least one gas burner arrangement 3. The number of gas burner arrangements 3 is arbitrary. As Fig. 1 shows, there can be provided five gas burner arrangements 3.

[0042] Each gas burner arrangement 3 comprises a gas valve 5 which is attached to a main gas pipe 4, a gas burner 6 and a gas conduit 7 which connects the gas valve 5 to the associated gas burner 6. The gas valve 5 preferably is a gas regulating valve. The gas valve 5 is suitable for regulating a stream of combustion gas from the main gas pipe 4 to the gas burner 6 continuously or stepwise. In particular, the gas valve 5 is a so-called step valve. The gas valve 5 is preferably clamped to the main gas pipe 4.

[0043] Fig. 2 shows a partial sectional view of the gas stove 1. As mentioned afore, the gas stove 1 has a top sheet 8. The top sheet 8 covers the cooking trough 2 which is shown in Fig. 1. The top sheet 8 is a glass plate or a glass-ceramic plate. The top sheet 8 can also be made of metal, in particular stainless steel. The top sheet 8 has a thickness t. The thickness t can have a value between 4 and 8 mm, for example. The top sheet 8 has a front side 9 and a back side 10. The front side 9 is averted the cooking trough 2. The back side 10 is facing the cooking trough 2. The top sheet 8 comprises a number of breakthroughs 11. The number of breakthroughs 11 is the same as the number of gas valves 5. Each gas valve 5 has its own breakthrough 11. The breakthroughs 11 are cylindrical bores. Each breakthrough 11 has a cylindrical inner surface 12. In the following only one breakthrough 11 and only one gas valve 5 will be referred to.

[0044] The gas valve 5 is arranged below the top sheet 8. That means, the gas valve 5 faces the back side 10 of the top sheet 8. The gas valve 5 has an actuation stem 13 which is guided through the breakthrough 11. In particular, the actuation stem 13 is guided from the back side 10 to the front side 9 of the top sheet 8. The actuation stem 13 can be rotated to adjust the flow of combustion gas from the main gas pipe 4 to the gas burner 6. Depending on an angle of rotation of the actuation stem 13, the flow of combustion gas from the main gas pipe 4 to the gas burner 6 can be increased, decreased or completely blocked. An electronic board or circuit board 14 is arranged between the gas valve 5 and the top sheet 8. In use of the gas stove 1, the circuit board 14 has to be protected from fluids like water or spilled food. The actuation stem 13 can be guided through the circuit board 14.

[0045] The gas stove 1 further comprises an actuation arrangement 15 for actuating the gas valve 5. The actuation stem 13 can be part of the actuation arrangement 15. The actuation arrangement 15 has an actuation knob 16 which is attached to the actuation stem 13 in a torque proof manner. The actuation knob 16 is associated with the front side 9 of the top sheet 8. By means of the actuation knob 16, the gas valve 5 can be actuated. The actuation knob 16 has a handling element 17 which can be gripped by a user with two fingers. The handling element 17 can be an injection molded part.

[0046] The actuation knob 16 further has an attachment element 18 that is attached to the actuation stem 13. The attachment element 18 can also be an injection molded part. The handling element 17 and the attachment element 18 can be formed as a single part. However, handling element 17 and the attachment element 18 can be provided as two separate parts that are clipped together. The attachment element 18 has a receiving section 19 for receiving the actuation stem 13.

[0047] The attachment element 18 also has a sleeve section 20. The sleeve section 20 can also be a separate part of the actuation knob 16 that is attached to the attachment element 18. The sleeve section 20 runs around the actuation stem 13 circumferentially. The sleeve section 20 has a cylindrical shape and is hollow. To ignite the gas burner 6, the actuation knob 16 can be pressed down in an ignition direction ID. The ignition direction ID is directed towards the front side 9 of the top sheet 8.

[0048] The actuation arrangement 15 further comprises a gasket 21 which is shown in a cross-sectional view in Fig. 3. The function of the gasket 21 is to prevent liquids like water or spilled food from entering a space 22 below the top sheet 8 through the breakthrough 11. The gasket 21 preferably is made of one piece. "One piece" in this context means that the gasket 21 forms a common structural component and is not made of different separate parts that are assembled to form the gasket 21. Preferably, the gasket 21 is formed monolithic or integrally. "Monolithic" or "integrally" in this context means that the gasket 21 is formed through the whole part of the same material. For example, the gasket 21 can be made from a silicone material or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). In particular, the gasket 21 can be made from a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The gasket 21 can be an injection molded part. The gasket 21 is compressible in a longitudinal direction L thereof.

[0049] The gasket 21 is rotation-symmetrically constructed and has a middle axis or symmetry axis 23. The longitudinal direction L is arranged parallel to the symmetry axis 23. The gasket 21 has a ring-shaped sealing section 24. By means of the sealing section 24, the gasket 21 is sealed against the inner surface 12 of the breakthrough 11. The sealing section 24 is pre-tensioned against the inner surface 12. "Pre-tensioned" in this context means that the sealing section 24 applies a circumferential pressure P on the inner surface 12 of the breakthrough 11 to seal the sealing section 24 against the inner surface 12. The sealing section 24 has an inner surface 25. The inner surface 25 has a cylindrical shape and runs around the symmetry axis 23. The sealing section 24 has two sealing surfaces 26, 27 which are arranged roof-shaped and meet at a circumferential sealing lip 28.

[0050] The gasket 21 further has a first contact section 29. The first contact section 29 is disc-shaped. In an assembled status of the actuation arrangement 15, the first contact section 29 lies against the back side 10 of the top sheet 8. The first contact section 29 protrudes from the sealing section 24 in a radial direction R of the gasket 21. The radial direction R is arranged perpendicular to the symmetry axis 23. The first contact section 29 has a front side 30 that faces the back side 10 of the top sheet 8 and a back side 31 that faces away from the back side 10.

[0051] The gasket 21 also comprises a second contact section 32. The second contact section 32 is disc-shaped. In an assembled status of the actuation arrangement 15, the second contact section 32 lies against the front side 9 of the top sheet 8. In the longitudinal direction L, the second contact section 32 is spaced apart from the first contact section 29 with a distance d. The distance d decreases in the radial direction R. The second contact section 32 protrudes from the sealing section 24 in the radial direction R. The second contact section 32 has a back side 33 that faces the front side 9 of the top sheet 8 and a front side 34 that faces away from the front side 9. The first contact section 29 and the second contact section 32 are arranged inclined towards each other.

[0052] A circumferential first wall section 35 protrudes from the second contact section 32 in the longitudinal direction L. The first wall section 35 is cylinder-shaped. From the first wall section 35, a disc shaped second wall section 36 protrudes in direction of the symmetry axis 23. From the second wall section 36, a second circumferential third wall section 37 protrudes along the longitudinal direction L. An upper end or top end 38 of the third wall section 37 can be rounded. The top end 38 is encompassed in the sleeve section 20 of the actuation knob 16. The wall sections 35 to 37 form an outer circumferential wall 39 of the gasket 21.

[0053] The gasket 21 has an inner circumferential wall 40 which is encompassed inside the outer circumferential wall 39. The inner circumferential wall 40 is cone-shaped and protrudes from the sealing section 24 in the longitudinal direction L. An upper end or top end 41 of the inner circumferential wall 40 can be placed on the same height as the top end 38 of the outer circumferential wall 39. The inner circumferential wall 40 has an inner surface 42 which is also cone-shaped. The inner surfaces 25, 42 together form a common inner surface 43 of a central breakthrough 44 of the gasket 21. The actuation stem 13 is guided through the breakthrough 44.

[0054] The function of the gasket 21 will be explained in the following. When the gasket 21 is mounted in the breakthrough 11 of the top sheet 8, the sealing section 24 presses against the inner surface 12 of the breakthrough 11 with the pressure P. The sealing lip 28 can be deformed and the inner surface 25 of the sealing section 24 can bulge inwardly towards the symmetry axis 23. By applying the pressure P in a circumferential way, the sealing section 24 is sealed against the inner surface 12 so that no fluid can pass between the sealing section 24 and the inner surface 12. The first contact section 29 lies against the back side 10 of the top sheet 8 and the second contact section 32 lies against the front side 9 of the top sheet 8.

[0055] The actuation stem 13 is guided through the breakthrough 44 and the top end 38 of the outer circumferential wall 39 is received in the sleeve section 20 of the actuation knob 16. The gasket 21 can be compressed in the longitudinal direction L. This can be necessary for igniting the gas burner 6. In the case that fluid leaks between the sleeve section 20 and the top end 38 of the outer circumferential wall 39, the fluid is stopped by the inner circumferential wall 40 so that the fluid cannot reach the circuit board 14. The fluid being trapped between the circumferential walls 39, 40 can then evaporate. Due to the fact that the gasket 21 is only one component, mounting of the gasket 21 is very easy. It is cheaper than known solutions and can be assembled quicker.

[0056] Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a gasket 21'. The gasket 21' according to Fig. 4 differs from the gasket 21 according to Fig. 3 mainly in that it is suitable for top sheets 8 with a greater thickness t. For this reason, the gasket 21'has not only one sealing lip 28 but two sealing lips 45, 46. The sealing lips 45, 46 apply the pressure P to the inner surface 12 of the breakthrough 11. The inner circumferential wall 40 is not cone-shaped but cylindrical. The top end 38 of the outer circumferential wall 39 protrudes over the top end 41 of the inner circumferential wall 40 in the longitudinal direction L.Reference Numerals:

[0057] 1gas stove 2cooking trough 3gas burner arrangement 4main gas pipe 5gas valve 6gas burner 7gas conduit 8top sheet 9front side 10back side 11breakthrough 12inner surface 13actuation stem 14circuit board 15actuation arrangement 16actuation knob 17handling element 18attachment element 19receiving section 20sleeve section 21gasket 21'gasket 22space 23symmetry axis 24sealing section 25inner surface 26sealing surface 27sealing surface 28sealing lip 29contact section 30front side 31back side 32contact section 33back side 34front side 35wall section 36wall section 37wall section 38top end 39outer circumferential wall 40inner circumferential wall 41top end 42inner surface 43inner surface 44breakthrough 45sealing lip 46sealing lip ddistance IDignition direction Llongitudinal direction Ppressure Rradial direction tthickness

Claims

1. A gas stove (1), comprising a top sheet (8), a gas valve (5) which has an actuation stem (13) for actuating the gas valve (5), an actuation knob (16) for actuating the actuation stem (13), and a gasket (21, 21') which is at least partly arranged between the actuation knob (16) and the top sheet (8), wherein the top sheet (8) has a breakthrough (11), a front side (9), and a back side (10), wherein the actuation stem (13) is guided through the breakthrough (11), and wherein the gasket (21, 21') has a disc-shaped first contact section (29) that lies against the back side (10) of the top sheet (8), and a disc-shaped second contact section (32) that lies against the front side (9) of the top sheet, the gasket (21,21') being characterized in that it further has a sealing section (24) with at least one flexible sealing lip (28, 45, 46) that is pre-tensioned against an inner surface (12) of the breakthrough (11), so that the sealing lip (28, 45, 46) applies a circumferential pressure against the inner surface (12) of the breakthrough (11).

2. The gas stove according to claim 1, wherein the gasket (21, 21') is at least partly received in the actuation knob (16).

3. The gas stove according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuation knob (16) comprises a sleeve section (20) that at least partly receives the gasket (21, 21').

4. The gas stove according to one of claims 1 - 3, wherein the sealing section (24) has a first sealing surface (26) and a second sealing surface (27), wherein the first sealing surface (26) and the second sealing surface (27) are inclined towards each other, and wherein an intersection of the first sealing surface (26) and the second sealing surface (27) forms the sealing lip (28).

5. The gas stove according to one of claims 1 - 4, wherein the gasket comprises an outer circumferential wall (39) and an inner circumferential wall (40) which is arranged inside the outer circumferential wall (39).

6. The gas stove according to claim 5, wherein the outer circumferential wall (39) protrudes from the second contact section (32), and wherein the inner circumferential wall (40) protrudes from the sealing section (24).

7. The gas stove according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the second contact section (32) is arranged between the outer circumferential wall (39) and the inner circumferential wall (40).

8. The gas stove according to one of claims 5 - 7, wherein the inner circumferential wall (40) is cone-shaped or cylinder-shaped.

9. The gas stove according to one of claims 5 - 8, wherein a top end (38) of the outer circumferential wall (39) and a top end (41) of the inner circumferential wall (40) are arranged on the same height or on different heights.

10. The gas stove according to one of claims 5 - 9, wherein the outer circumferential wall (39) comprises a cylinder-shaped first wall section (35), a disc-shaped second wall section (36), and a cylinder-shaped third wall section (37), and wherein the second wall section (36) is arranged between the first wall section (35) and the third wall section (37).

11. The gas stove according to one of claims 1 - 10, wherein the sealing section (24) comprises a first sealing lip (45) and a second sealing lip (46).

12. The gas stove according to claim 11, wherein the first sealing lip (45) and the second sealing lip (46) are spaced apart from each other.

13. The gas stove according to one of claims 1 - 12, wherein the gasket (21, 21') is reversibly compressible in a longitudinal direction (L) thereof.

14. The gas stove according to one of claims 1 - 13, wherein the gasket (21, 21') is formed integrally.

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