Position switch, plug valve and gas device

Abstract

A position switch (400), a plug valve (10) and a gas device (1). The position switch (400) comprises: a housing (410), a position limiting assembly (420), a follow-up assembly (430) and a position feedback assembly (450), wherein the follow-up assembly (430) is configured to be connected to a valve stem (300) so as to rotate along with the valve stem (300), and the follow-up assembly (430) can be limited to one among a plurality of positions by the position limiting assembly (420); and the position feedback assembly (450) is used for detecting a current position of the follow-up assembly (430) and outputting a corresponding position feedback signal.

Description

Gear switch, stopcock and gas equipment

[0001] Cross-reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202411017745.9, filed on July 26, 2024, entitled “Gear switch, stopcock and gas equipment”. The entire contents of this application are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully copied herein. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to the technical field of cooking appliance, and in particular, to a gear switch, a stopcock and a gas equipment. BACKGROUND

[0004] The gas equipment utilizes the heat energy generated by the combustion of natural gas or liquefied gas (such as propane, butane, etc.). These high-temperature energy generated by combustion is converted into heat energy that can be used for cooking, heating, drying, etc. By adjusting the flow of gas, the size of the combustion flame can be effectively controlled to meet the user's demand for heat. However, in the related art, the flow regulating device can only regulate the flow, and lacks sufficient information feedback. Users often can only judge the adjustment effect by observing the size of the flame, and it is difficult to accurately understand the specific situation of the current gas flow, which is not convenient for users to use. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, one object of the present application is to provide a gear switch that can feedback the current gear situation for the user to judge and adjust.

[0006] The present application further provides a stopcock using the above-mentioned gear switch.

[0007] The present application further provides a gas equipment having the above-mentioned stopcock.

[0008] The present application provides a gear switch applied to a stopcock, the stopcock comprising a valve rod, the gear switch comprising: a housing, a gear limiting assembly, a follower assembly and a gear feedback assembly, the gear limiting assembly being arranged in the housing, the follower assembly being used to connect with the valve rod to follow the rotation of the valve rod, and the follower assembly being capable of being limited by the gear limiting assembly in one of a plurality of gears, the gear feedback assembly being arranged in the housing and being used to detect the current gear of the follower assembly and output a corresponding gear feedback signal.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present application, the gear feedback assembly comprises at least one of a resistance feedback assembly, a magnetic sensing feedback assembly, a pressure sensing feedback assembly and a photoelectric feedback assembly.

[0010] Optionally, the gear feedback assembly comprises a resistive feedback assembly, the resistive feedback assembly comprising a conductor and a resistor which are electrically connected to each other.

[0011] Optionally, the conductor and / or the resistor are connected to an external power supply to form a closed circuit.

[0012] Optionally, the conductor is mounted on one of the housing and the follower assembly, and the resistor is mounted on the other of the housing and the follower assembly.

[0013] Optionally, under the driving of the follower assembly, one of the conductor and the resistor is movable relative to the other to change the resistance value in the closed circuit, so that the closed circuit outputs a gear feedback signal corresponding to the resistance value.

[0014] Optionally, the resistor comprises a plurality of resistors which are connected in series, and the conductor is electrically connected to different resistors to change the number of resistors connected in the closed circuit, so as to change the resistance value in the closed circuit.

[0015] Optionally, the resistor further comprises a mounting plate and a plurality of conductive elements, and the resistors and the conductive elements are mounted on the mounting plate.

[0016] Optionally, the plurality of conductive elements are arranged at intervals, and the conductive elements are electrically connected to the resistors, and the conductor is connected to different conductive elements to change the number of resistors connected in the closed circuit.

[0017] Optionally, the mounting plate comprises a first surface and a second surface which are opposite to each other, the plurality of conductive elements are mounted on the first surface, and the plurality of resistors are mounted on the second surface.

[0018] Optionally, the resistor further comprises a plurality of wires, and the wires are arranged through the mounting plate and extend to the first surface and the second surface.

[0019] Optionally, two adjacent resistors are connected by the wires and the conductive elements, so that the plurality of resistors are connected in series.

[0020] Optionally, the resistor further comprises a conductive member, a first external terminal and a second external terminal which are mounted on the mounting plate.

[0021] Optionally, the conductive member and the conductive elements are connected to the first external terminal and the second external terminal respectively, the first external terminal and the second external terminal are connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the external power supply respectively, and the conductor is connected to the conductive member and the conductive elements to form the closed circuit.

[0022] Optionally, the conductor is provided with a first conductive part and a second conductive part which are arranged at intervals, the first conductive part is electrically connected to the conductive member, and the second conductive part is electrically connected to one of the plurality of conductive elements.

[0023] Optionally, the electrically-conductive body comprises a mounting portion and an elastic contact portion connected to the mounting portion and bent towards the electrically-conductive element.

[0024] Optionally, the elastic contact portion comprises a first connecting strip and a second connecting strip arranged at intervals.

[0025] Optionally, the first electrically-conductive portion is a first protrusion formed on the first connecting strip, and the second electrically-conductive portion is a second protrusion formed on the second connecting strip.

[0026] Optionally, the first connecting strip and the second connecting strip each comprise a bent segment and a straight segment connected to the bent segment, and an end of the bent segment away from the straight segment is connected to the mounting portion and bent towards the electrically-conductive element relative to the mounting portion.

[0027] Optionally, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are arranged on the straight segment of the first connecting strip and the straight segment of the second connecting strip, respectively.

[0028] Optionally, the electrically-conductive member is a ring-shaped electrically-conductive sheet.

[0029] Optionally, the follower assembly comprises a first mounting platform, and a plurality of gear portions are arranged at intervals on an outer circumferential surface of the first mounting platform.

[0030] Optionally, the follower assembly further comprises a second mounting platform connected to the first mounting platform, and the electrically-conductive body is mounted on the first mounting platform and is sleeved on an outer circumferential surface of the second mounting platform.

[0031] Optionally, the electrically-conductive body is sleeved on the outer circumferential surface of the second mounting platform.

[0032] Optionally, a diameter of the first mounting platform is greater than a diameter of the second mounting platform, so that a stepped structure is formed between the first mounting platform and the second mounting platform.

[0033] Optionally, a positioning boss is arranged on a stepped surface of the stepped structure, and the electrically-conductive body is provided with a positioning hole matched with the positioning boss.

[0034] Optionally, an outer circumferential surface of the electrically-conductive body does not exceed an outer circumferential surface of the first mounting platform.

[0035] Optionally, the plurality of gear portions are limiting grooves formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first mounting platform, and the plurality of limiting grooves are arranged at intervals along a circumferential direction of the first mounting platform.

[0036] Optionally, the gear-limiting assembly comprises a ball, and the ball is exitably embedded in the limiting groove along a radial direction of the follower assembly to position the follower assembly.

[0037] Optionally, the gear-limiting assembly further comprises an elastic member connected to the ball, and the elastic member has a force to push the ball along the radial direction of the follower assembly to make the ball embedded in the limiting groove.

[0038] Optionally, the shell comprises a base and a gland, the base and the gland enclose a receiving cavity, and the gland is connected with the base to limit the follower assembly in the receiving cavity.

[0039] Optionally, the gear limiting assembly is arranged on the base.

[0040] Optionally, the resistor body is fixed opposite to the gland.

[0041] Optionally, the conductive body is fixed opposite to the follower assembly.

[0042] Optionally, the gland is provided with a clamping hook, and the outer circumferential surface of the mounting plate is provided with a positioning groove, and the middle part of the clamping hook is clamped in the positioning groove.

[0043] Optionally, the clamping hook part of the clamping hook is buckled on the surface of the mounting plate.

[0044] The embodiment of the present application provides a plug valve, which comprises a valve body, a valve core, a valve rod and a gear switch, the valve body has an inlet and an outlet; the valve core is rotatably arranged in the valve body to adjust the opening degree between the inlet and the outlet; the valve rod is inserted into the valve body along the axial direction of the valve rod and connected with the valve core to drive the valve core to rotate, and the gear switch is connected with the follower assembly to drive the follower assembly to rotate.

[0045] The embodiment of the present application provides a gas equipment, which comprises a stove body, a prompt part and a plug valve, the stove body comprises a rack and a front panel arranged on the rack; the prompt part is electrically connected with the gear feedback assembly; the front panel is provided with a mounting hole, and the gear switch of the plug valve is located in the mounting hole.

[0046] Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter in the description of embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0047] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent and be readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Fig. 1 is a partial structure schematic diagram of a gas equipment provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Fig. 2 is a partial structure schematic diagram of the gas equipment provided by the embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0050] Fig. 3 is a structure schematic diagram of a gear switch provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Fig. 4 is an exploded schematic diagram of the gear switch provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0052] Fig. 5 is an exploded schematic diagram of a resistor body provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Fig. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a resistance body provided by an embodiment of the present application (a mounting plate is not shown);

[0054] Fig. 7 is an exploded schematic diagram of a follow-up assembly and a conductive member provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Fig. 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a conductive member provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Fig. 9 is a structural schematic diagram of a gland provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] A gas appliance utilizes the heat energy generated by the combustion of natural gas or liquefied gas (such as propane, butane, etc.), and the high-temperature energy generated by the combustion is converted into heat energy that can be used for cooking, heating, drying, etc. By adjusting the flow of gas, the size of the combustion flame can be effectively controlled to meet the user's demand for heat. However, the conventional flow regulating device can only regulate the flow, and lacks sufficient information feedback. The user often can only judge the adjustment effect by observing the size of the flame, and it is difficult to accurately understand the specific situation of the current gas flow, which is inconvenient for the user to use.

[0058] Therefore, the present application provides a gas appliance 1 to solve the above technical problems. The gas appliance 1 can be a gas stove, a gas water heater, a gas heater, a gas dryer, a gas fireplace, a gas generator, etc., and the present application does not limit this. The present application takes a gas stove as an example to describe the following content.

[0059] The gas stove can include a stove body, a pipeline device, an ignition device 30, and a plug valve 10, etc. The stove body can include a rack and a burner head arranged on the rack. The burner head receives combustible gas through the pipeline device, and the ignition device 30 ignites the combustible gas in the combustion chamber of the burner head to achieve combustion. The plug valve 10 communicates the pipeline device and the burner head to adjust and control the flow of gas.

[0060] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the plug valve 10 can include a valve body 100, a valve core, a valve rod 300, and a gear switch 400. The valve body 100 has an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the valve body 100 communicates with the pipeline device, and the outlet communicates with the burner head. The valve core is rotatably arranged in the valve body 100 to adjust the opening degree between the inlet and the outlet, thereby adjusting the flow of gas passing through, and further adjusting the size of the combustion flame; the valve rod 300 is inserted into the valve body 100 along its own axial direction and connected with the valve core to drive the valve core to rotate. The gear switch 400 is in transmission connection with the valve rod 300, and can fix the valve rod 300 at one of a plurality of gear positions during the rotation of the valve rod 300, which enables the user to select a fixed gas flow to meet his specific cooking or heating needs.

[0061] In order to achieve the adjustment of the gas flow while being able to feedback the current flow condition, please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the gear switch 400 is improved in the application. The gear switch 400 includes a housing 410, a gear limiting assembly 420, a follower assembly 430, and a gear feedback assembly 450.

[0062] The gear limiting assembly 420, the follower assembly 430, and the gear feedback assembly 450 are all arranged in the housing 410; the follower assembly 430 is used to connect with the valve rod 300 to follow the rotation of the valve rod 300, and the follower assembly 430 can be limited in one of the multiple gears by the gear limiting assembly 420; the gear feedback assembly 450 is used to detect the current gear of the follower assembly 430 and output the corresponding gear feedback signal. Through the combination of the gear limiting assembly 420 and the follower assembly 430, the valve rod 300 can be accurately fixed at one of the multiple preset gears, so that the user can easily select and fix the required gas flow. And through the gear feedback assembly 450, the current gear can be known, so as to facilitate the judgment and adjustment of the required gear.

[0063] The follower assembly 430 of the application is provided with multiple gears, that is, the adjustment of the opening degree of the valve body 100 is stepwise. Each gear in the stepwise adjustment corresponds to a specific gas flow and flame size. The user can select the appropriate gear to meet different cooking needs, such as rapid boiling, medium heat frying, or low heat stewing. The switching between each gear is clear and explicit, and the user can drive the valve rod 300 to rotate to the appropriate gear through the knob, and select the appropriate fire size without excessive adjustment or trial and error.

[0064] In some embodiments, the gas stove can include a prompt element electrically connected with the gear feedback assembly 450, so that the prompt element prompts the user about the current gear condition. The prompt element can be in the form of a display screen, light indication, sound indication, or digital indication, etc., which is not limited by the application. The display screen can display numbers, icons, or words to clearly show the currently selected gear. The light indication can be represented by LED lights of different colors or flashing modes to represent different gears. For example, each gear corresponds to different light states, such as green, yellow, or red light. The digital indication light is similar to the display screen, but only displays numbers. Each number corresponds to a gear, so that the user can quickly identify the currently selected gear. The sound prompt conveys the current gear information to the user through audio prompts or sound signals. This way is more practical for users with visual impairment or who need to operate in a busy environment.

[0065] The gear feedback assembly 450 includes at least one of a resistance feedback assembly, a magnetic sensing feedback assembly, a pressure sensing feedback assembly, and an optoelectronic feedback assembly.

[0066] Specifically, the resistive feedback assembly detects and feeds back the position based on the change of the resistance 4522. It can include a movable resistor 4522 or a potentiometer, whose resistance value changes when the follower assembly 430 changes position. By measuring this resistance value, the system can determine the current gear position. The resistance value can be converted into a voltage signal or a digital signal for processing and display to the user.

[0067] The magnetic feedback assembly detects the position using the change of the magnetic field. It can include a moving magnetic element and a fixed magnetic sensor, whose magnetic field strength or position changes when the follower assembly 430 changes position. This change can be detected and measured by the magnetic sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor or a magnetoresistive 4522 sensor, to determine the current gear position.

[0068] The pressure feedback assembly detects the position using mechanical pressure or deformation. When the follower assembly 430 moves, it exerts different forces or pressures on the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor can measure these changes in force or pressure to determine the current gear position.

[0069] The photoelectric feedback assembly uses optical sensors to detect position changes. It can include a light-emitting diode (LED) and a photosensitive element, such as a photodiode or phototransistor. When the follower assembly 430 changes position, the light path changes, causing the photosensitive element to receive different light signal intensities. By measuring these changes in light signals, the system can determine the current gear position.

[0070] Those skilled in the art can choose appropriate feedback assemblies according to specific application requirements, including cost, performance requirements, and environmental factors. In this application, the specific form of the gear feedback assembly 450 is not limited.

[0071] In some embodiments of the present application, the resistive feedback assembly includes a conductive body 451 and a resistive body 452 connected to each other, the conductive body 451 and / or the resistive body 452 are connected to an external power supply to form a closed circuit, the conductive body 451 is mounted on one of the housing 410 and the follower assembly 430, and the resistive body 452 is mounted on the other one of the housing 410 and the follower assembly 430. Under the driving of the follower assembly 430, one of the conductive body 451 and the resistive body 452 can move relative to the other one to change the resistance value in the closed circuit, thereby causing the closed circuit to output a gear feedback signal corresponding to the resistance value.

[0072] For example, the resistor body 452 is mounted on the housing 410, and the conductive body 451 is mounted on the follower assembly 430. When the valve rod 300 drives the follower assembly 430 to rotate, the conductive body 451 can rotate with the follower assembly 430, so that the conductive body 451 moves relative to the resistor body 452. Thus, by changing the relative contact position between the conductive body 451 and the resistor body 452, the resistance value of the closed circuit is changed, and the closed circuit outputs a gear feedback signal corresponding to the resistance value, so that the user can know the current gear position.

[0073] In this application, the resistance value changes linearly when the conductive body 451 and the resistor body 452 move. This linear relationship means that the change in resistance value can directly and accurately reflect the change in position of the follower assembly 430, thereby finely adjusting the gas flow. Moreover, the response speed of the resistance feedback assembly is generally fast, and since the resistance value changes instantaneously, the feedback signal can be quickly transmitted to the control system, achieving rapid feedback of the gas flow. In addition, the resistance feedback assembly has high stability and is not easily affected by environmental factors. Temperature changes and electromagnetic interference are common problems faced by many electronic devices, but the resistance feedback assembly effectively reduces the influence of these external factors on the accuracy of the feedback signal through its simple physical principle and structural design. This allows the resistance feedback assembly to maintain stable performance in harsh environmental conditions. Moreover, the manufacturing process of the resistance feedback assembly is simple and the required material cost is relatively low, making it more economical and practical than other types of feedback assemblies.

[0074] The resistor body 452 includes a plurality of resistors 4522 connected in series; the conductive body 451 is electrically connected to different resistors 4522 to change the number of resistors 4522 connected in the closed circuit, thereby changing the resistance value in the closed circuit. Specifically, by changing the electrical connection of the conductive body 451 to different resistors 4522, the number of resistors 4522 connected in the closed circuit can be selectively connected, thereby changing the total resistance value of the closed circuit. Since the resistor body 452 includes a plurality of series-connected resistors 4522, the required resistance value can be selected according to specific needs. The value of each resistor 4522 is known and can be accurately calculated and controlled. Therefore, by combining different resistors 4522, precise resistance value adjustment can be achieved to meet specific feedback requirements. Compared with using a single large resistor 4522 regulator, this series resistor body 452 design can save space and be more convenient to install in limited on-board space or device internal space.

[0075] Of course, in other embodiments, the resistor body 452 can also be in the form of a long strip, and the conductive body 451 can change the resistance value in the closed circuit by being connected at different positions of the resistor body 452, without being limited thereto.

[0076] In order to facilitate the electrical connection between the conductive body 451 and the different resistors 4522, the resistor body 452 further comprises a mounting plate 4521 and a plurality of conductive elements 4523, the resistors 4522 and the conductive elements 4523 are mounted on the mounting plate 4521, the plurality of conductive elements 4523 are arranged at intervals, and the conductive elements 4523 are electrically connected with the resistors 4522. The conductive body 451 is connected with different conductive elements 4523 to change the number of resistors 4522 connected in the closed circuit.

[0077] The mounting plate 4521 serves as a support platform for the resistors 4522 and the conductive elements 4523, providing stable fixing points for them, ensuring their accurate position in the circuit and reducing circuit failure caused by loose or displaced elements. The mounting plate 4521 can also serve as a heat dissipation channel to help dissipate the heat generated by the resistors 4522 during operation. At the same time, it can also provide necessary insulation protection to prevent short circuit or leakage in the circuit.

[0078] The conductive elements 4523 can be in the form of conductive sheets and arranged at intervals on the mounting plate 4521. The contact area between the conductive sheet and the conductive body 451 is large, and the contact pressure is uniformly distributed, which helps to reduce the contact resistance 4522 and reduce signal loss. Moreover, the conductive sheet is usually made of wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials, which can withstand long-term use without being easily damaged. For example, but not limited to, copper, aluminum, silver, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, composite polymer conductive materials (such as nickel-coated graphite powder, nickel-coated carbon fiber carbon black, metal powder, metal foil, metal fiber, carbon fiber, etc.).

[0079] The application adopts a step adjustment mode, and one gear can correspond to one resistance value, so the above-mentioned form of multiple resistors 4522 in series can be adopted. Compared with the form of resistance 4522 feedback in step adjustment, step adjustment is continuous sliding, so long resistor body 452 or long potentiometer is needed, however, in long-term use, the sliding contact part of these resistor body 452 or potentiometer will be worn, which is easy to cause the change or failure of resistance value. The application is through the connection of the conductive element 4525 with different conductive sheets to change the number of resistors 4522 connected in the closed circuit, which can avoid the wear problem of the sliding contact part of the resistor body 452.

[0080] In addition, the common potentiometer used in the step adjustment may have a resistance value drift problem, and a high-precision potentiometer has a high cost. In the present application, the multiple resistors 4522 are connected in series to avoid such drift by fixing the resistance value, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the circuit and reducing the cost to a certain extent. Moreover, the resistance value of some potentiometers may change with temperature, but the multiple fixed resistors 4522 connected in series in the present application can reduce the influence of the temperature coefficient. Because the resistance value of each resistor 4522 is fixed and not easily affected by temperature changes, the temperature stability of the entire circuit is higher. The multiple resistors 4522 connected in series in the step adjustment of the present application have lower cost, higher stability, and are easier to install, and can be designed to be small in size.

[0081] To further effectively utilize the on-board space, please refer to FIGS. 4-6, the mounting plate 4521 includes a first surface and a second surface facing away from each other, a plurality of conductive elements 4523 are mounted on the first surface, and a plurality of resistors 4522 are mounted on the second surface; the resistor body 452 further includes a plurality of wires 4524, the wires 4524 are arranged through the mounting plate 4521 and extend to the first surface and the second surface, and two adjacent resistors 4522 are connected by the wires 4524 and the conductive elements 4523, so that the multiple resistors 4522 are connected in series. Specifically, the present application is located at one resistor 4522 connected to another conductive element 4523 at one end by the wire 4524, and the conductive element 4523 is connected to the resistor 4522 located at the back side of the resistor 4522 by the wire 4524, and so on. The multiple resistors 4522, the multiple wires 4524, and the multiple conductive elements 4523 are connected in turn. At this time, the conductive element 4525 is connected to different conductive elements 4523, that is, the number of resistors 4522 connected to the circuit can be achieved.

[0082] The present application maximizes the use of the surface area of the mounting plate 4521 by mounting the conductive elements 4523 and the resistors 4522 on both sides of the mounting plate 4521, reduces the space conflict between elements, and thus saves valuable on-board space. In addition, the wires 4524 arranged through the mounting plate 4521 can sequentially connect the multiple resistors 4522 and the multiple conductive elements 4523, which can simplify the circuit wiring, reduce the number of wires 4524 and the number of intersections, and thus reduce the risk of circuit failure. Since the conductive elements 4523 and the resistors 4522 are mounted on both sides of the mounting plate 4521, it is more convenient to access and replace faulty elements during maintenance. In addition, if it is necessary to upgrade the circuit performance, it is also easier to add or replace elements such as resistors 4522.

[0083] Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, in order to facilitate the installation of the resistor 4522, the resistor body 452 further comprises a plurality of connecting pieces 4526, which are installed on the second surface and connected with the conductive wires 4524, and the resistor 4522 is connected with the conductive wires 4524 through the connecting pieces 4526.

[0084] In some embodiments, referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the resistor body 452 further comprises a conductive member 4525 installed on the mounting plate 4521, a first external terminal 471 and a second external terminal 472, the conductive member 4525 and the conductive element 4523 are connected with the first external terminal 471 and the second external terminal 472 respectively, the first external terminal 471 and the second external terminal 472 are connected with the positive and negative poles of an external power supply respectively, and the conductive body 451 connects the conductive member 4525 and the conductive element 4523 to form a closed circuit. The external terminals are all installed on the mounting plate 4521, which facilitates the electrical connection with external circuits, and the conductive member 4525 and the conductive element 4523 are connected through the conductive body 451 to turn on the circuit and realize the feedback of the circuit signal. The conductive member 4525, the external terminals, the conductive element 4523 and the resistor 4522 are all closely installed on the mounting plate 4521 in the present application, so that the entire circuit structure is compact, the space utilization rate is high, and the volume and weight of the circuit are reduced.

[0085] Of course, in other embodiments, the conductive body 451 can be connected with the positive and negative poles of the power supply, or the conductive member 4525 and the series resistor 4522 can be connected with the positive and negative poles of the power supply respectively, and the present application does not limit this.

[0086] In order to facilitate the connection of the conductive body 451 with the conductive member 4525 and the conductive element 4523, referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the conductive body 451 is provided with a first conductive part 4515 and a second conductive part 4516 which are arranged at intervals, the first conductive part 4515 is electrically connected with the conductive member 4525, and the second conductive part 4516 is electrically connected with one of the plurality of conductive elements 4523. The interval arrangement of the first conductive part 4515 and the second conductive part 4516 makes it clear to identify which part should be connected with the conductive member 4525 and which part should be connected with the conductive element 4523 during the connection process, thereby reducing the possibility of incorrect connection. Since the connection points are clear, it can be ensured that the electrical connection between the conductive body 451 and the conductive member 4525 and the conductive element 4523 is firm and reliable, and the circuit failure caused by poor contact or looseness is reduced.

[0087] Further, please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 again, in order to improve the stability of the connection between the conductive body 451 and the conductive member 4525 and the conductive element 4523, the conductive body 451 comprises a mounting portion 4511 and an elastic contact portion 4512 connected with each other, the elastic contact portion 4512 is connected with the mounting portion 4511 and is bent towards the conductive element 4523, the elastic contact portion 4512 comprises a first connecting strip 4513 and a second connecting strip 4514 arranged at intervals; wherein the first conductive portion 4515 is a first protrusion formed on the first connecting strip 4513, and the second conductive portion 4516 is a second protrusion formed on the second connecting strip 4514. Since the elastic contact portion 4512 can be bent towards the conductive element 4523, it can ensure that the contact effect is still good under different temperature and vibration conditions. The elastic contact portion 4512 has the characteristics of automatic adaptation and close contact, so the operation steps can be simplified and the installation difficulty can be reduced during the installation process. The first protrusion and the second protrusion serve as conductive portions, directly contact with the conductive member 4525 and the conductive element 4523, increase the contact area, reduce the contact resistance 4522, and thus improve the stability and efficiency of the circuit.

[0088] Please continue to refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the first connecting strip 4513 and the second connecting strip 4514 each comprise a bent segment 4517 and a straight segment 4518 connected with each other, the end of the bent segment 4517 away from the straight segment 4518 is connected with the mounting portion 4511 and is bent towards the conductive element 4523 relative to the mounting portion 4511, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion are arranged on the straight segment 4518 of the first connecting strip 4513 and the straight segment 4518 of the second connecting strip 4514 respectively. The bent segment 4517 arranged in the present application can make the part of the conductive body 451 contacting with the conductive member 4525 and the conductive element 4523 have a certain deformation ability, so that the first conductive portion 4515 and the second conductive portion 4516 can be stably electrically connected with the conductive member 4525 and the conductive element 4523 respectively. The straight segment 4518 arranged can make the first conductive portion 4515 and the second conductive portion 4516 relatively parallel to the conductive member 4525 and the conductive element 4523 in the up-down direction, which is easier to position and align, and the contact area can be larger and the stability of the connection can be higher.

[0089] The conductive member 4525 is a ring-shaped conductive piece. It can be understood that, since the follow-up assembly 430 can be a circle when rotating, the follow-up assembly 430 can drive the rotation of the conductive body 451 during the rotation process, and the conductive member 4525 is designed as a ring-shaped conductive piece, so that the conductive body 451 can be connected with the conductive member 4525 no matter where it rotates. The conductive element 4523 can be arranged at the position of the gear that needs to be fed back. It can be understood that, when the follow-up assembly 430 rotates to each gear, the conductive body 451 can be electrically connected with a conductive element 4523. Among them, when the follow-up assembly 430 is in the zero position, that is, when the plug valve 10 is in the closed state, there should also be a gear corresponding to the setting.

[0090] Please refer to FIG. 7, the follow-up assembly 430 includes a first mounting table 431 and a second mounting table 432 connected with each other, the outer periphery of the first mounting table 431 is arranged with a plurality of gear portions; wherein the conductive body 451 is mounted on the first mounting table 431 and is sleeved on the outer periphery of the second mounting table 432, and the resistor body 452 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the second mounting table 432. In this way, the gear portions can be formed on the follow-up assembly 430, and the relative fixation of the conductive body 451 can be facilitated, so that the conductive body 451 can rotate with the rotation of the follow-up assembly 430. Among them, the mounting plate 4521 is provided with a center hole, the second mounting table 432 is arranged through the center hole, and the plurality of resistors 4522 and the plurality of conductive elements 4523 are arranged in a circumferential array around the center hole.

[0091] Further, please refer to FIG. 7, the diameter of the first mounting table 431 is greater than the diameter of the second mounting table 432, so that a stepped structure 433 is formed between the first mounting table 431 and the second mounting table 432, the stepped surface 4331 of the stepped structure 433 is provided with a positioning boss 4332, and the conductive body 451 is provided with a positioning hole 4519 matched with the positioning boss 4332. Among them, the mounting portion 4511 of the conductive body 451 is provided with a positioning hole 4519, during the mounting, the mounting portion 4511 is attached to the stepped surface 4331, and the positioning boss 4332 is matched and fixed with the positioning hole 4519, so as to fix the conductive body 451 on the first mounting table 431. In other embodiments, screws or other fasteners can be used to fix the conductive body 451 on the mounting surface. In this application, the conductive body 451 is attached and fixed on the mounting surface of the follow-up assembly 430, so that during the rotation of the follow-up assembly 430, no rotation clearance is generated between the follow-up assembly 430 and the conductive body 451, and the accuracy of the signal feedback is improved. In some embodiments, the outer periphery of the resistor body 452 does not exceed the outer periphery of the first mounting table 431. That is, in the radial direction of the first mounting table 431, the outer periphery of the mounting plate 4521 does not exceed the outer periphery of the first mounting table 431, so that the volume of the gear switch 400 can be smaller.

[0092] Please refer to Fig. 4, the plurality of gear portions are limiting grooves 423 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first mounting base 431, the plurality of limiting grooves 423 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the first mounting base 431, the gear limiting assembly 420 comprises a ball 422 and an elastic member 421. The ball 422 is exitably embedded in the limiting groove 423 along the radial direction of the follower assembly 430 to position the follower assembly 430; the elastic member 421 is connected with the ball 422, and the elastic member 421 has a force to push the ball 422 along the radial direction of the follower assembly 430 to make the ball 422 embedded in the limiting groove 423. The elastic member 421 can be a spring, which is connected with the ball 422 and applies a pushing force to the ball 422 along the radial direction of the follower assembly 430. This pushing force makes the ball 422 keep in contact with the limiting groove 423, ensuring the stability of the positioning. At the same time, when it is needed to switch the gear, the rotation of the follower assembly 430 can overcome the pushing force of the elastic member 421, so that the ball 422 exits from the limiting groove 423 and allows the follower assembly 430 to move to the next gear. Once the external force disappears, the elastic member 421 pushes the ball 422 to re-embed in the new limiting groove 423, completing the switching and positioning of the gear. This positioning method is simple, low in cost, and convenient to install.

[0093] Please refer to Fig. 4, the shell 410 comprises a base 411 and a cover 412, the base 411 and the cover 412 enclose a containing cavity, the cover 412 is connected with the base 411 to limit the follower assembly 430 in the containing cavity, and the gear limiting assembly 420 is arranged on the base 411; wherein the resistor body 452 is fixed opposite to the cover 412, and the conductive body 451 is fixed opposite to the follower assembly 430.

[0094] Wherein, the base 411 can be provided with a mounting groove and a fixed groove communicating with the mounting groove, and the gear limiting assembly 420 is mounted in the fixed groove. After the conductive body 451 is mounted on the follower assembly 430, the follower assembly 430 is embedded in the mounting groove, at this time, the ball 422 will be in contact with the gear on the outer circumferential surface of the follower assembly 430. Then the mounting plate 4521 is fixed opposite to the cover 412, so as to mount the resistor body 452 on the cover 412, and then the cover 412 is covered on the base 411 and connected with the base 411, thereby forming a semi-enclosed containing cavity, so that the installation work of the gear switch 400 is completed, and the shell 410 can also protect the internal parts. In addition, the cover 412 and the base 411 are both provided with an opening, the middle part of the follower assembly 430 is provided with a fixing hole, the valve rod 300 passes through the opening and is fixed opposite to the fixing hole of the follower assembly 430 in the circumferential direction, and the valve rod 300 is fixedly connected with the valve core through the fixing hole. In this way, the valve rod 300 rotates at the same time to drive the valve core of the follower assembly 430 to rotate.

[0095] The cover 412 can be connected with the base 411 by screw thread, buckle, bolt, etc. The design of the cover 412 usually takes into account easy disassembly and reinstallation, so as to maintain or replace the follow-up assembly 430.

[0096] Further, the inner wall surface of the cover 412 of the present application can be provided with a mounting groove, and the second mounting platform 432 is at least partially embedded in the mounting groove away from the first mounting platform 431. In this way, the stability of the relative rotation of the follow-up assembly 430 can be improved. Further, the end of the first mounting platform 431 away from the second mounting platform 432 is provided with a protruding portion, and the base 411 is also provided with a mounting groove. The protruding portion is embedded in the mounting groove and rotates in the mounting groove, thereby further improving the stability of the rotation of the follow-up assembly 430.

[0097] In order to facilitate the relative fixation of the resistance body 452 and the cover 412, please refer to FIG. 9, the cover 412 is provided with a hook 4121, and the outer peripheral surface of the mounting plate 4521 is provided with a positioning groove 4527. The middle part of the hook 4121 is clamped in the positioning groove 4527, and the hook 4121 part of the hook 4121 is buckled on the surface of the mounting plate 4521. In this way, the middle part of the hook 4121 is positioned in cooperation with the positioning groove 4527, so that the resistance body 452 and the cover 412 are relatively fixed in the radial direction, and the end of the hook 4121, i.e. the hook 4121 part is buckled on the surface of the mounting plate 4521. So that the resistance body 452 and the cover 412 are relatively fixed in the axial direction. In this way, when the hook 4121 part is completely buckled in place with the mounting plate 4521, it will form a locking mechanism to prevent the resistance body 452 from loosening or falling off during the operation of the follow-up assembly 430.

[0098] In some embodiments, please refer back to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cooktop of the gas stove of the present application further comprises a front panel 20 arranged on the rack. The front panel 20 is provided with a mounting hole 21, and the range switch 400 of the cock valve 10 is embedded in the mounting hole 21. By embedding the range switch 400 inside the front panel 20, the protrusion degree of the range switch 400 outside the cooktop can be significantly reduced, thereby reducing the occupation of the overall space of the cooktop. Moreover, the front panel 20 can protect the range switch 400 from external impact and pollution to some extent, thereby prolonging the service life of the range switch 400.

[0099] In the description of the application, reference has been made to descriptive terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "an embodiment", "example", "specific example" or "some examples" etc. Such terminology means that a particular feature, structure, material or characteristic being described is included in at least one embodiment or example of the application. The illustrative appearances of such terminology in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, it is appreciated that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0100] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications, substitutions, combinations, and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the application, which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A gear switch, wherein, The application is applied to a cock valve, the cock valve comprises a valve stem, the gear switch comprises: a housing; a gear limiting assembly arranged in the housing; a follower assembly for connecting with the valve stem to follow the valve stem to rotate, and the follower assembly can be limited to one of multiple gears by the gear limiting assembly; and a gear feedback assembly arranged in the housing for detecting the gear where the follower assembly is currently located and outputting a corresponding gear feedback signal.

2. The shift switch according to claim 1, wherein The gear feedback assembly comprises at least one of a resistance feedback assembly, a magnetic sensing feedback assembly, a pressure sensing feedback assembly and a photoelectric feedback assembly.

3. The gear switch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The gear feedback assembly comprises a resistance feedback assembly, the resistance feedback assembly comprises a conductor and a resistor which are electrically connected with each other, the conductor and / or the resistor are connected with an external power supply to form a closed circuit, the conductor is mounted on one of the housing and the follower assembly, and the resistor is mounted on the other one of the housing and the follower assembly; Under the driving of the follower assembly, one of the conductor and the resistor can move relative to the other one to change the resistance value in the closed circuit, so that the closed circuit outputs a gear feedback signal corresponding to the resistance value.

4. The shift switch according to claim 3, wherein, The resistor comprises multiple resistors which are connected in series. The conductor is electrically connected with different resistors to change the number of resistors connected in the closed circuit, so as to change the resistance value in the closed circuit.

5. The gear switch according to claim 3 or 4, wherein The resistor further comprises a mounting plate and multiple conductive elements, the resistor and the conductive elements are mounted on the mounting plate, the multiple conductive elements are arranged at intervals, and one of the conductive elements is electrically connected with the resistor, the conductor is connected with different conductive elements to change the number of resistors connected in the closed circuit.

6. The shift switch of claim 5, wherein, The mounting plate comprises a first surface and a second surface which are away from each other, the multiple conductive elements are mounted on the first surface, and the multiple resistors are mounted on the second surface. The resistor further comprises multiple wires, the wires are arranged in the mounting plate and extend to the first surface and the second surface, and adjacent two resistors are connected through the wires and the conductive elements, so that the multiple resistors are connected in series.

7. The gear switch according to claim 5 or 6, wherein The resistor further comprises a conductive piece, a first external terminal and a second external terminal which are mounted on the mounting plate, the conductive piece and the conductive elements are connected with the first external terminal and the second external terminal respectively, the first external terminal and the second external terminal are connected with the positive and negative poles of an external power supply respectively, and the conductor is connected with the conductive piece and the conductive elements to form the closed circuit.

8. The gear switch according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein, The conductor is provided with a first conductive part and a second conductive part which are arranged at intervals, the first conductive part is electrically connected with the conductive piece, and the second conductive part is electrically connected with one of the multiple conductive elements.

9. The gear switch of claim 8, wherein, The conductor comprises a mounting part and an elastic contact part which are connected with each other, the elastic contact part is connected with the mounting part and is bent towards the conductive element, and the elastic contact part comprises a first connecting strip and a second connecting strip which are arranged at intervals. The first conductive part is a first protrusion formed on the first connecting strip, and the second conductive part is a second protrusion formed on the second connecting strip.

10. The shift switch according to claim 9, wherein, The first connecting strip and the second connecting strip each comprise a bent segment and a straight segment connected to each other, one end of the bent segment away from the straight segment is connected to the mounting part, and the bent segment is bent towards the conductive element relative to the mounting part, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion are arranged on the straight segment of the first connecting strip and the straight segment of the second connecting strip respectively.

11. The gear switch according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein, The conductive part is a ring-shaped conductive sheet.

12. The gear switch of any one of claims 3-11, wherein, The follower assembly comprises a first mounting table and a second mounting table connected to each other, and a plurality of gear parts are arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the first mounting table at intervals. The conductive body is mounted on the first mounting table and is sleeved on the outer circumferential surface of the second mounting table, and the resistor is sleeved on the outer circumferential surface of the second mounting table.

13. The gear switch of claim 12, wherein, The diameter of the first mounting table is greater than the diameter of the second mounting table, so that a stepped structure is formed between the first mounting table and the second mounting table, a positioning boss is arranged on the stepped surface of the stepped structure, and the conductive body is provided with a positioning hole matched with the positioning boss.

14. The gear switch according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, The outer circumferential surface of the resistor does not exceed the outer circumferential surface of the first mounting table.

15. The gear switch of any one of claims 12-14, wherein, The plurality of gear parts are limiting grooves formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first mounting table, and the plurality of limiting grooves are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the first mounting table. The follower assembly comprises: a plurality of balls which are exitably embedded in the limiting grooves along the radial direction of the follower assembly to position the follower assembly; and 16. The gear switch of any one of claims 5-15, wherein, a plurality of elastic members connected to the balls and having a force to push the balls along the radial direction of the follower assembly so that the balls are embedded in the limiting grooves. The shell comprises a base and a gland, the base and the gland enclose a receiving cavity, the gland is connected with the base to limit the follower assembly in the receiving cavity, and the gear limiting assembly is arranged on the base.

17. The gear switch of claim 16, wherein, The resistor is fixed relative to the gland, and the conductive body is fixed relative to the follower assembly.

18. A stopcock valve wherein, The gland is provided with a clamping hook, the outer circumferential surface of the mounting plate is provided with a positioning groove, the middle part of the clamping hook is clamped in the positioning groove, and the clamping hook part of the clamping hook is buckled on the surface of the mounting plate. It comprises: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet; a valve core rotatably arranged in the valve body to adjust the opening degree between the inlet and the outlet; a valve rod inserted into the valve body along the axial direction of the valve rod and connected with the valve core to drive the valve core to rotate; and the gear switch according to any one of claims 1-17, wherein the valve rod is connected with the follower assembly to drive the follower assembly to rotate.

19. A gas appliance wherein, It comprises: a hob comprising a rack and a front panel arranged on the rack; a prompt member electrically connected with the gear feedback assembly; and the plug valve according to claim 18; wherein the front panel is provided with a mounting hole, and the gear switch of the plug valve is located in the mounting hole. ​

Images