Gas Shut-Off Valve Delay Mechanism to Prevent Brief Flame Extinction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas shut-off valves for gas burners often extinguish the flame immediately when a cooking vessel is lifted, leading to unnecessary re-ignition and inconvenience, as they lack a mechanism to maintain gas flow for a short duration after the vessel is removed.

Innovation Solution

A gas shut-off valve with a delay device, utilizing a gas damper to slow the actuating element's movement from the open to closed position, allowing fuel gas to flow for a predetermined time interval, preventing immediate flame extinction when a cooking vessel is briefly lifted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the gas shut-off valve closes immediately when the cooking vessel is lifted, then the gas supply is interrupted quickly, but the flame goes out immediately requiring re-ignition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of gas supply maintenanceVSAvoidtime for re-ignition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The delay device is pre-configured with a spring mechanism and damper that automatically activate when the actuating element moves from the open to closed position, creating a predetermined time delay without requiring user intervention or additional controls

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The delay device acts as an intermediary component between the actuating element and the valve body, mediating the closure action through a spring-loaded mechanism with gas damping to extend the closing time and prevent immediate flame extinction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the gas shut-off valve remains open after vessel removal, then the flame continues burning, but gas is wasted continuously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of continuous burningVSAvoidgas consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The valve system transitions from a static immediate-closure design to a dynamic delayed-closure design, where the closing action is adjusted in time based on the actual need, allowing the flame to continue burning only when necessary while automatically cutting off gas supply after the delay period

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a delay device is added to the gas shut-off valve, then the flame remains lit longer, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of flame maintenanceVSAvoidstructure of shut-off valve
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delay device is integrated into the existing valve structure by combining the spring mechanism and gas damper within the valve body housing, merging multiple functions (closure action, delay timing, damping) into a single compact assembly that adds minimal external complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The delay device operates autonomously using the spring's stored energy and gas pressure differential to automatically control the timing of valve closure, eliminating the need for external power sources, controls, or additional complexity in the operating mechanism

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 solution ensures the gas burner flame remains lit for a short duration after the cooking vessel is lifted, eliminating the need for re-ignition and enhancing user convenience by maintaining gas flow until the vessel is removed for an extended period.

Implementation Method 1

the delay device is a gas damper

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3102879B1Gas shut-off valve, gas burner assembly, cooking hob, and stove
Publication Date: 2019.04.17 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3102879B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3102879B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3102879B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a gas shut-off valve (12) for a gas burner (9). Said shut-off valve (12) can be alternatively put in an open or closed state and comprises a delaying device (27) which is designed to delay the moment when the gas shut-off valve (12) is put from the open state into the closed state.