Gas Burner Timer Knob Layout for Automatic Shut-Off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household gas burners lack an automatic shut-off mechanism that maintains safety against gas leakage when the flame is extinguished and the valve remains open, requiring modifications to existing safety elements and electronic components to function effectively across different temperature conditions.
Innovation Solution
A timer system where all electronic elements are embedded within a control knob, connected via a pair of wires to a safety thermal element, allowing for manual setting of a time interval to simulate flame extinguishing without exposing electronic components to heat, thus maintaining standard electronic functionality and simplifying construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic elements are arranged within the household apparatus housing, then the timer can be integrated into the burner system, but the electronic elements are exposed to high temperatures requiring special temperature-resistant adaptations
Solution Approach 1:
The timer is extracted from the hot housing environment and placed in the external knob assembly, which remains at ambient temperature. This separates the temperature-sensitive electronic elements from the high-temperature zone, eliminating the need for temperature-resistant adaptations while maintaining system integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The knob assembly serves as an intermediary structure that houses the timer externally. This mediator allows the timer to control the gas valve without being directly exposed to heat, using a thermal barrier (the housing structure) to protect the electronic components.
2Ease of manufacture
If electronic elements are placed outside the housing in the knob, then standard electronic components can be used without temperature adaptations, but the timer mechanism becomes more complex with additional wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The knob assembly serves multiple functions: it remains the manual control interface for the gas valve while simultaneously housing the timer electronics. This multi-functionality consolidates control mechanisms rather than adding separate components, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer is merged with the existing knob structure rather than being a separate assembly. The knob's rotational mechanism and the timer's control interface are combined into a single unit, simplifying the user interface and reducing the number of discrete parts.
3Extent of automation
If the timer interrupts the circuit between the thermal element and coil, then automatic gas shut-off is achieved, but the safety thermal element must remain exposed to heat for functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal element continues to perform its self-service safety function by remaining in the hot gas path, detecting flame presence through thermal changes. The timer operates independently in the external knob, allowing both the thermal safety mechanism and electronic timing function to serve their purposes without compromising either.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables automatic gas supply shut-off after a set interval without compromising safety, using standard electronic components and reducing manufacturing costs by avoiding temperature-specific adaptations, while maintaining user-friendly operation akin to other electric heating elements.
Implementation Method 1
a safety device against gas leakage with a gas valve open and the flame extinguished
Implementation Method 2
a coil (5) in the valve (2)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A timer (1) of a household gas burner (3) intended to be installed into a gas cooker, in which a thermal element (6) is foreseen as a safety element against gas leaking with the valve open and the flame extinguished, said thermal element (6) automatically actuating a valve (2). The timer (1) is series connected to a circuit (4) comprising a thermal element (6) and a coil (5) of the valve (2) of the gas burner (3). The timer (1) of the invention is characterized in that it is arranged outside a housing (7) of the cooker, preferably within a two-part control knob (8) of a household apparatus in a way that a conduit (11) reaches the control valve (2) through a bore (12) in the housing (7) of a household apparatus or in the gap between a shaft (13) of the valve (2) and bores (14 and 14a) therefor.