Gas stove

Abstract

To provide a gas stove capable of sufficiently reducing clothing ignition or ignition to a combustible material when a burner automatically ignites.SOLUTION: A gas stone comprises: a cover body 14 that can be installed at a predetermined installation position on an upper surface of a top plate 1 in a state of surrounding a lateral periphery on a flame F of a burner 3; and cover body detection means 16 that detects whether the cover body 14 is installed at the installation position. The control means 20 executes an automatic ignition operation permission / prohibition determination process that allows the execution of automatic ignition operation when the cover body detection means 16 detects that the cover body 14 is installed at the installation position, and prohibits the execution of the automatic ignition operation when the cover body detection means 16 does not detect that the cover body 14 is installed at the installation position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas stove equipped with a flat top plate, a burner for heating an object placed on the top surface of the top plate, and a control means for controlling the operation of the burner. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 shows a gas stove that includes a flat top plate (1), a burner (3) that heats an object to be heated (N) placed on the top surface of the top plate, and a control means (control device 20) that controls the operation of the burner, and the control means is configured to be able to perform an automatic ignition operation (keep warm mode) that automatically ignites the burner to heat the object to be heated.

[0003] In the automatic ignition operation of this gas stove, the burner is automatically and repeatedly ignited and extinguished to intermittently heat and keep the object warm. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-201598 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in such gas stoves, the burner is ignited automatically without any ignition operation by the user, so it is necessary to prevent the user's clothing and surrounding combustible materials from igniting when the burner automatically ignites (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "clothing ignition, etc."). In the gas stove described in Patent Document 1, in order to prevent clothing ignition, etc. when the burner automatically ignites, a device is used that does not ignite if there is no heated object on the top plate. However, such a device alone can sometimes be difficult to reliably prevent clothing ignition, etc. when the burner automatically ignites.

[0006] In view of this situation, a main object of the present invention is to provide a gas stove that can reliably prevent clothing from catching fire when the burner is automatically ignited. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The first characteristic configuration of the present invention is a flat top plate, a burner for heating an object to be heated placed on the top surface of the top plate; and a control means for controlling the operation of the burner; The control means is configured to perform an automatic ignition operation in which the burner is automatically ignited to heat the object to be heated, a cover body that can be installed at a predetermined installation position on the top surface of the top plate in a state that surrounds the side periphery of the flame of the burner; a cover body detection means for detecting that the cover body is installed at the installation position, The control means executes an automatic ignition operation feasibility determination process that allows the execution of the automatic ignition operation when the cover body detection means detects that the cover body is installed at the installation position, and prohibits the execution of the automatic ignition operation when the cover body detection means does not detect that the cover body is installed at the installation position.

[0008] According to this configuration, when automatic ignition operation is performed to automatically ignite the burner to heat the heated object during keep-warm, automatic cooking, scheduled cooking, etc., the cover is installed in the installed position, so the sides of the burner flame are enclosed by the cover, and the burner flame formed by automatic ignition without the user's ignition operation during automatic ignition operation does not become an open flame exposed to the user, but is blocked from external contact by the cover. This makes it possible to reliably prevent clothing from catching fire when the burner automatically ignites.

[0009] A second characteristic feature of the present invention is that the device is provided with a notification means for notifying a user that the automatic ignition operation is being performed.

[0010] According to this configuration, when automatic ignition operation is being performed, the alarm means notifies the user. Therefore, even if the sides of the burner are surrounded by a cover body and the state of the burner cannot be seen or is difficult to see, the user can be made aware that the burner will be automatically ignited when automatic ignition operation is performed. For example, it is possible to avoid clothing ignition caused by the user accidentally trying to remove the cover when automatic ignition operation is being performed and the burner is automatically ignited.

[0011] A third characteristic configuration of the present invention is a device including a guide means for guiding installation of the cover body at the installation position, The guide means is configured by distributing magnetically attaching portions, which magnetically attach the upper surface of the top plate and the lower end of the cover body, at a plurality of locations along the circumferential direction.

[0012] According to this configuration, when the cover body is to be installed at a predetermined installation position on the top surface of the tabletop, even if the cover body is slightly deviated from the installation position, the cover body can be moved to the installation position by magnetic force, and the cover body can be easily installed at the correct installation position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] Schematic cross-sectional side view showing the configuration of a gas stove [Figure 2] Cross-sectional plan view of the cover body [Figure 3] Flow diagram showing the process flow of automatic ignition operation possibility determination process [Figure 4] Flow diagram showing the process flow of the keep warm operation [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional plan view of a cover body according to another embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a gas stove according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the gas stove 100 includes a flat top plate 1, a burner 3 for heating an object to be heated N placed on the top surface of the top plate 1, and a control device 20 (an example of a control means) for controlling the operation of the burner 3.

[0015] The burner 3 is configured to burn a fuel gas G to form a flame F that flows upward from a heating port 2 provided in the top plate 1, thereby heating an object N to be heated that is positioned above the heating port 2. The top plate 1 is provided with a trivet 4 on which an object to be heated N such as a pot can be placed, spaced apart above the heating port 2, and the object to be heated N is placed on the top surface of the top plate 1 with the trivet 4 interposed therebetween.

[0016] The burner 3 is a Bunsen combustion type burner 3 and is equipped with an annular casing member 9 that is provided below the heating port 2 and into which fuel gas G containing an appropriate amount of primary air is supplied, and a plurality of flame holes 7 that are formed on the annular inner surface of the annular casing member 9 and that eject the fuel gas G in an annular inward direction and burn it with the introduction of secondary air from the surrounding area. The burner 3 may be configured so that the fuel gas G is ejected outward for combustion.

[0017] Furthermore, the gas stove 100 is equipped with an adjustment valve 22 capable of adjusting the flow rate of fuel gas G supplied to the annular casing member 9 of the burner 3, a shut-off valve 23 capable of cutting off the supply of fuel gas G to the annular casing member 9 of the burner 3, and an ignition plug 24 for ignition. The control device 20 is configured to control the operation of the adjustment valve 22, shut-off valve 23, and ignition plug 24, etc., to ignite and extinguish the burner 3, adjust the combustion amount of the burner 3, etc., and is configured to be able to perform, for example, a heat retention operation to keep the heated object N warm, and a timer operation to set a time and heat the heated object N, etc.

[0018] A drip tray 8 is provided below the annular casing member 9 of the burner 3 to receive spills that fall through the heating port 2, and this drip tray 8 is provided with an extension mechanism 10 that extends above the top plate 1 through the heating port 2 and is capable of extending and contracting in the vertical direction. This extension mechanism 10 is configured so that one end is fixed to the drip tray 8, and when no heated object N is placed on the trivet 4, the other end is in an extended state protruding above the horizontal surface on which the heated object N is placed on the trivet 4, and when the heated object N is placed on the trivet 4, the other end is pressed down by the bottom of the heated object N and is in a contracted state. The extension mechanism 10 is provided with a contact-type temperature sensor 12 as a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the object N to be heated at the end that comes into contact with the bottom of the object N to be heated.

[0019] The gas stove 100 is equipped with a heated object detection means 13 that detects whether or not a heated object N is placed on the top plate 1, a cover body 14 that can be installed at a predetermined installation position on the upper surface of the top plate 1 in a state that surrounds at least the sides of the flame F formed on the top plate 1, a guide means 15 that guides the installation of the cover body 14 at the installation position, a cover body detection means 16 that detects that the cover body 14 has been installed at the installation position, and an alarm means 17 that alarms various information.

[0020] The object-to-be-heated detection means 13 is composed of a microswitch provided in the extension mechanism 10, and is configured to be in an OFF state when the extension mechanism 10 is in an extended state, and to be in an ON state when the extension mechanism 10 is in a retracted state. In other words, the object-to-be-heated detection means 13 is configured to detect that an object-to-be-heated N is placed on the top plate 1 when the extension mechanism 10 is in a retracted state and is in an ON state.

[0021] The cover body 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to surround at least the entire periphery of the side periphery of the flame F formed on the top plate 1. Although Fig. 2 shows an example in which the cover body 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape, the shape of the cover body 14 may be other cylindrical shapes such as a square cylindrical shape or a pentagonal cylindrical shape.

[0022] The size of cover body 14 in a plan view is such that at least flame F can be accommodated inside cover body 14, and in this embodiment, the size is such that not only flame F but also object to be heated N placed on the top surface of top plate 1 can be accommodated therein. As shown in Fig. 1, when object to be heated N is a pot, the size of cover body 14 in a plan view is such that the lower part of the body of the pot can be accommodated therein. Therefore, the cover body 14 is configured to surround the side periphery of the flame F as well as the side periphery of the lower part of the object to be heated N placed on the top surface of the top plate 1.

[0023] The height of the top end of cover body 14 when installed in the installation position (the position shown in FIG. 1) is set to be at least higher than the height of the bottom surface of the heated object N placed on trivet 4 (i.e., the height of the top end of trivet 4), and is preferably set to a height that is higher than the top end of flame F formed on top plate 1 during automatic ignition operation, which will be described later. Therefore, during automatic ignition operation, which will be described later, flame F is prevented from leaking out from the open top end of cover body 14. Additionally, assuming that the object N to be heated is a typical pot placed on the trivet 4, the height of the upper end of the cover body 14 is set to a height that is below the handle of the pot, for example, approximately midway up and down the pot, so as not to interfere with the handle. Note that multiple types of cover body 14 may be prepared, each with a different size and height in a plan view, depending on the size and shape of the object N to be heated that is assumed to be placed on the top surface of the top plate 1. Also, the cover body 14 may be provided with a notch that recesses downward from its upper end so that the handle of the object N to be heated does not interfere with the cover body 14.

[0024] The cover body 14 is provided with an air inlet 18 that communicates with the inside and outside and is used to introduce secondary air from the outside to the inside of the cover body 14. This air inlet 18 is provided in the lower part of the cover body 14 and is formed at the same height as the flame F of the burner 3. In addition, this air inlet 18 makes it possible to visually observe the flame F of the burner 3 from outside the cover body 14, and the air inlet 18 also functions as a confirmation port for checking the state of the flame F of the burner 3.

[0025] The guide means 15 is a means for guiding the installation of the cover body 14 at a predetermined installation position on the upper surface of the tabletop 1, and is configured by distributing magnetic attachment portions 19, which magnetically attach the upper surface of the tabletop 1 and the lower end of the cover body 14, at multiple locations along the circumferential direction. The magnetically attached portion 19 is configured by providing a magnet 19A on either the top plate 1 or the cover body 14, and a non-magnetic material 19B on the other of the top plate 1 and the cover body 14. In this embodiment, the magnet 19A is provided at the lower end of the cover body 14, and the non-magnetic material 19B is provided on the lower surface of the top plate 1. Furthermore, multiple magnetically attached portions 19 (magnets 19A and non-magnetic materials 19B) are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of cover body 14 when cover body 14 is in the installed position. When cover body 14 is in the installed position, each of the multiple magnets 19A provided on cover body 14 is magnetically attached to each of the multiple non-magnetic materials 19B provided on top plate 1. In this embodiment, the multiple magnetically attached portions 19 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of cover body 14, but this arrangement interval can be changed as appropriate; for example, the arrangement intervals of magnetically attached portions 19 can also be made different depending on the location.

[0026] The cover body detection means 16 is composed of a magnetic sensor that detects the magnetic force of the magnet 19A provided on the cover body 14 when the cover body 14 is in the installation position, and is configured to detect that the cover body 14 is in the installation position by detecting the magnetic field of the magnet 19A when the cover body 14 is installed in the installation position and the magnet 19A is in a position where it is magnetically attracted to the magnetic material 19B.

[0027] The notification means 17 is composed of a display unit 17A that displays and notifies information, and a voice output unit 17B that notifies information by voice. For example, display unit 17A is configured to display the operating status of a keep-warm operation or timer operation as an automatic ignition operation described later, the remaining time in timer operation, etc. Audio output unit 17B is configured to notify by audio that a user operation has been performed, that a timer operation has ended, that cover body 14 has been moved from its installed position, etc. That is, the notification means 17 is configured to notify the user that the above-mentioned warm-keeping operation or the above-mentioned timer operation as an automatic ignition operation, which will be described later, is being executed.

[0028] The control device 20 is configured to be able to execute an automatic ignition operation in which the burner 3 is automatically ignited without an ignition operation by the user to heat the object N to be heated. The control device 20 is also configured to execute an automatic ignition operation execution feasibility determination process that determines whether or not the automatic ignition operation can be executed. Details of the automatic ignition operation execution feasibility determination process will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.

[0029] In the automatic ignition operation feasibility determination process, the heated object detection means 13 determines whether or not the heated object N is detected as being placed on the top surface of the top plate 1 (#1), and the cover body detection means 16 determines whether or not the cover body 14 is detected as being installed in the installation position (#2).

[0030] Then, when the object-to-be-heated detection means 13 detects that the object-to-be-heated N is placed on the top surface of the top plate 1 (Yes in #1), and the cover body detection means 16 detects that the cover body 14 is installed in the installation position (Yes in #2), execution of the automatic ignition operation is permitted (#3). In this state where execution of the automatic ignition operation is permitted, the automatic ignition operation will start when the user operates a predetermined automatic ignition operation start switch (not shown).

[0031] On the other hand, when the object to be heated detection means 13 does not detect that the object to be heated N is placed on the top surface of the top plate 1 (No in #1), or when the cover body detection means 16 does not detect that the cover body 14 is installed in the installation position (No in #2), execution of the automatic ignition operation is prohibited (#4). In this state where execution of the automatic ignition operation is prohibited, the automatic ignition operation will not be started even if the user operates a predetermined automatic ignition operation start switch (not shown). Furthermore, even if the automatic ignition operation has been started and is currently being executed, if execution of the automatic ignition operation is prohibited, the automatic ignition operation that is currently being executed is immediately terminated, and the burner 3 is reliably extinguished.

[0032] By executing the automatic ignition operation possibility determination process as described above, the flame F of the burner 3 that is formed by automatic ignition without the user's ignition operation during automatic ignition operation does not become an open flame exposed to the user, but is blocked from external contact by the cover body 14. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent clothing from catching fire when the burner 3 is automatically ignited. In this embodiment, in the automatic ignition operation feasibility determination process, in addition to determining whether automatic ignition operation can be performed based on the detection results of the cover body detection means 16, it is also configured to determine whether automatic ignition operation can be performed based on the detection results of the heated object detection means 13, but the determination based on the detection results of the heated object detection means 13 may be omitted as appropriate.

[0033] In this embodiment, a heat retention operation (see Figure 4) in which the burner 3 is automatically and repeatedly ignited and extinguished to intermittently heat the object N to be heated and keep the object N warm is exemplified as an example of the automatic ignition operation described above. That is, in a state where the execution of the automatic ignition operation is permitted by the above-mentioned automatic ignition operation possibility determination process (see FIG. 3), when the user operates the keep-warm operation start switch (not shown), the keep-warm operation (see FIG. 4) is started. On the other hand, in a state where the execution of the automatic ignition operation is prohibited by the above-mentioned automatic ignition operation possibility determination process (see FIG. 3), the keep-warm operation (see FIG. 4) is not started even if the user operates the keep-warm operation start switch (not shown). Furthermore, if the execution of the automatic ignition operation is prohibited by the above-mentioned automatic ignition operation possibility determination process (see FIG. 3) while the keep-warm operation is being performed, the burner 3 is extinguished and the keep-warm operation (see FIG. 4) is terminated.

[0034] The details of the heat retention operation will be described below with reference to FIG. In the heat retention operation, when the temperature T of the object N detected by the temperature sensor 12 falls below a predetermined set lower limit temperature T1 (Yes in #11), the burner 3 is ignited (#12), and when the temperature T of the object N detected by the temperature sensor 12 falls above a predetermined set upper limit temperature T2 that is higher than the set lower limit temperature T1 (Yes in #13), the burner 3 is extinguished (#14). As a result, the temperature T of the object N is maintained within a temperature range above the set lower limit temperature T1 and below the set upper limit temperature T2.

[0035] Here, the set lower limit temperature T1 and the set upper limit temperature T2 can be set to any temperature, for example, the set lower limit temperature T1 can be set to a temperature lower than the target warming temperature To (for example, 70°C) by an allowable margin α (for example, 5°C), and the set upper limit temperature T2 can be set to a temperature higher than the target warming temperature To (for example, 70°C) by an allowable margin α (for example, 5°C). Furthermore, the target warming temperature To is desirably set within a temperature range that can prevent spoilage or burning of the food to be heated N, and can also be configured so that the user can change it at will. In addition, in this embodiment, the automatic ignition operation feasibility determination process (Figure 4) is configured to be executed as a processing flow separate from the heat retention operation (Figure 5) as the automatic ignition operation, but the automatic ignition operation feasibility determination process may also be incorporated into the processing flow of the automatic ignition operation.

[0036] [Another embodiment] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that the configurations of the embodiments described below are not limited to being applied independently, but can also be applied in combination with the configurations of other embodiments.

[0037] (1) In the above embodiment, the keep-warm operation is exemplified as an example of an automatic ignition operation, but the automatic ignition operation may also be an automatic cooking operation in which the burner 3 is automatically turned on and off depending on the cooking content, or a scheduled cooking operation in which the burner 3 is automatically turned on at a set time to start heating the heated object N.

[0038] (2) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the cover body 14 was formed into a cylindrical shape. However, the shape of the cover body 14 may be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the cover body 14 may be formed into a C-shape in a plan view with an opening at the rear side farthest from the user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 baking sheet 3 Burner 14 Cover body 15 Guide means 16 Cover body detection means 17 Notification methods 19 Magnetized part 20 Control device (control means) 100 gas stove N Object to be heated F flame

Claims

1. A flat top plate, a burner for heating an object to be heated placed on the top surface of the top plate; and a control means for controlling the operation of the burner; The control means is configured to perform an automatic ignition operation in which the burner is automatically ignited to heat the object to be heated, a cover body that can be installed at a predetermined installation position on the top surface of the top plate in a state that surrounds the side periphery of the flame of the burner; a cover body detection means for detecting that the cover body is installed at the installation position, The control means executes an automatic ignition operation feasibility determination process that allows the execution of the automatic ignition operation when the cover body detection means detects that the cover body is installed at the installation position, and prohibits the execution of the automatic ignition operation when the cover body detection means does not detect that the cover body is installed at the installation position.

2. 2. The gas stove according to claim 1, further comprising a notification means for notifying a user that the automatic ignition operation is being performed.

3. a guide means for guiding the installation of the cover body to the installation position; 3. The gas stove according to claim 1, wherein the guide means is configured by distributing magnetic portions that magnetically connect the upper surface of the top plate and the lower end of the cover body at multiple locations along the circumferential direction.

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