Gas Valve Sequencing for Fast Ignition and Flame Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas fittings for cooking appliances lack a direct and efficient method to transition from a closed position to a full fire position without intermediate steps, which can lead to air diffusion and delayed ignition of the gas/air mixture.

Innovation Solution

A gas fitting with a main switching valve and multiple control switching valves, where the main switching valve is open in full fire and small fire positions, and control switching valves are closed one after the other to gradually reduce the gas flow, utilizing a rotatable handle for precise adjustment and a control disk to cover/uncover openings for valve control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a gas fitting transitions directly from closed position to full fire position without intermediate steps, then the gas flow can be quickly established for immediate ignition, but air diffusion into the system occurs which delays ignition of the gas/air mixture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas flow establishment speedVSAvoidignition delay time
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary flushing of air from the gas lines and burner before establishing full gas flow. The control unit activates the gas valve to open position 100% and simultaneously activates the burner, allowing any remaining air to be purged before ignition occurs, ensuring immediate combustion when gas flows

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gas valve maintains continuous operation at 100% open position during both the flushing phase and the combustion phase, eliminating intermediate closing actions that would interrupt the gas flow and cause additional ignition delays. The valve remains continuously open to ensure uninterrupted gas supply

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Ease of operation

If multiple control switching valves are used to provide gradual adjustment from full fire to small fire position, then precise gas flow control is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas flow adjustment precisionVSAvoidnumber of control valves
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas flow control is segmented into discrete steps by providing multiple control switching valves (first, second, third control switching valves) that can be individually activated or deactivated. Each valve controls a specific portion of the gas flow, allowing the system to achieve precise gradual adjustment from full fire to small fire position by selectively opening or closing individual valves in sequence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit dynamically activates or deactivates specific control switching valves based on the selected operating mode (small fire, medium fire, large fire). The system transitions between different valve configurations dynamically rather than using fixed mechanical adjustments, enabling flexible and precise gas flow control adapted to different cooking requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3220046B1Gas valve and cooking apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3220046B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3220046B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3220046B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a gas fitting (4) for adjusting a gas volume flow fed to a gas burner of a cooking appliance, in particular a gas cooking appliance, with a main switching valve (22) designed as an open/close valve and a plurality of main switching valves (22) arranged downstream of the main switching valve (22) as open Closing valves of control switching valves (28 - 32), the gas fitting (4) for setting the gas volume flow from a closed position (GP) without intermediate positions (ZP) directly into a full fire position (VP) and from the full fire position (VP) via a number of intermediate positions ( ZP) can be gradually brought into a small fire position (KP), with the main switching valve (22) being open in the full fire position (VP), in each intermediate position (ZP) and in the small fire position (KP), and with the control switching valves (28 - 32) being the bringing of the gas valve (4) from the full fire position (VP) to the small fire position (KP) can be closed one after the other.