Gas stove

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas stoves face challenges in preventing liquids from entering the space below the top sheet, particularly around the actuation mechanism, which can compromise the functionality and integrity of the electronic components.

Innovation Solution

A gasket with a flexible sealing lip is arranged between the actuation knob and the top sheet, pre-tensioned to apply circumferential pressure against the breakthrough, ensuring a liquid-tight seal and protecting the underlying components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gasket with a pre-tensioned sealing lip is used, then liquid-tight sealing is improved, but the complexity of the gasket structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid-tight sealingVSAvoidgasket structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket utilizes a flexible sealing lip made of elastomeric material that can deform and conform to the breakthrough opening. This flexible membrane approach creates an effective liquid-tight seal without requiring complex rigid structures, multiple components, or extensive machining, thereby resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing lip is pre-tensioned during gasket manufacturing or installation to apply circumferential pressure against the inner surface of the breakthrough immediately upon assembly. This preliminary action ensures liquid-tight sealing from the start without requiring additional adjustment mechanisms or complex fastening systems, thus improving reliability while maintaining simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If a pre-tensioned sealing lip is used, then ease of assembly is improved, but the manufacturing complexity of the gasket increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidgasket manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket manufacturing process incorporates pre-tensioning of the sealing lip by controlling material properties, geometric parameters, or assembly conditions such that the elastomeric material naturally develops circumferential pressure against the breakthrough. This parameter-based approach enables easy assembly while integrating the pre-tensioning feature directly into the manufacturing process rather than requiring separate complex assembly steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing lip's pre-tensioning is designed to be self-generating through the inherent elasticity and geometric configuration of the gasket material itself. Once installed, the elastomeric sealing lip automatically maintains circumferential pressure without requiring external adjustment mechanisms, complex fastening systems, or additional components, thereby simplifying both assembly and manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The gasket effectively prevents liquids from entering the space below the top sheet, maintaining the functionality of the actuation mechanism and protecting electronic components without requiring additional parts, thus enhancing the stove's reliability and ease of assembly.

Implementation Method 1

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

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4042072B1Gas stove
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP4042072B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4042072B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4042072B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

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.