Electronic Gas Valve Control With Thermocouple Flame Shutoff

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gas valves have separate safety and flow control valves, leading to increased manufacturing costs, low control precision, and mechanical wear, which affects service life and safety.

Innovation Solution

An electronically controlled gas valve device with self-opening solenoid valves and an integrated control module, including a thermocouple for fire detection, and adjustable nozzles for precise gas control, reducing mechanical wear and enhancing safety and control precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate safety valve and flow control valve are used, then each valve can be optimized independently, but manufacturing cost increases and control precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve control reliabilityVSAvoidvalve structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the safety valve and flow control valve into a single integrated valve body structure. The solenoid valve core integrates both the safety valve function (through its opening/closing action) and the flow control valve function (through the cam mechanism that controls gas flow). This merging eliminates the need for separate valves, reducing manufacturing cost and structural complexity while maintaining reliable control through the unified design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If mechanical control mode is used, then the structure is simple, but mechanical wear occurs affecting service life and safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidvalve safety and service life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical control mode with an electronic control system. A control module with microprocessor receives signals (including from thermocouple sensors) and electronically actuates the solenoid valve. This substitution eliminates continuous mechanical contact and wear in the control path, significantly extending service life and improving safety while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized electronic components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The thermocouple system provides self-service safety monitoring by automatically detecting flame presence and signaling the control module to close the valve if flame is lost, without requiring manual intervention. This self-monitoring and self-protection mechanism continuously ensures safety without adding complex external systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If conventional mechanical control is used, then the device is simple to operate, but intelligent control level is low and user requirements are not met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve operation simplicityVSAvoidintelligent control level
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control through thermocouples that continuously monitor flame presence and feed this information back to the control module. The control module automatically adjusts the valve state based on this feedback, providing intelligent safety control. Additionally, the system can receive user inputs and automatically manage gas flow, combining ease of operation with high automation through the microprocessor-based control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 improves intelligent control, reduces mechanical wear, integrates safety and flow control, and extends the service life of the gas valve device while minimizing safety risks.

Implementation Method 1

a solenoid valve core 11, which is used for opening the self-opening solenoid valve 1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

the gas valve device, and in particular the self-opening solenoid valve, is provided with a thermocouple for closing the self-opening solenoid valve when accidental extinguishing of a fire is detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermocouple effect: Thermocouple

Data Source

PatentEP2407721B1Gas valve device and gas stove
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2407721B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2407721B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2407721B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A gas valve device (10) and a gas stove are provided. The gas valve device (10) includes at least one gas inlet (5), gas channel, and nozzle (3), in which the gas inlet (5) is in communication with a main gas pipe, one end of the gas channel is in communication with the gas inlet, the other end of the gas channel is in communication with the nozzle (3), the nozzle (3) is used for supplying a burner with gas, a self-opening solenoid valve (1) is disposed in the gas channel, when the self-opening solenoid valve (1) is open, the gas flows to the nozzle through the self-opening solenoid valve (1); and when the self-opening solenoid valve (1) is closed, the gas is not able to flow to the nozzle (3) through the self-opening solenoid valve (1). The gas valve device (10) further includes a control module (8), and the control module (8) is used for controlling the self-opening solenoid valve (1). The intelligent control level of the gas is improved, and the service life of the gas valve device is increased.