Twin-Circuit Gas Valve Flow Staging for Reliable Burner Ignition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dual-circuit gas valve units for gas burners face challenges in precise and reproducible adjustment of gas volume flows, often resulting in difficulties in setting desired combustion outputs and ensuring reliable ignition.

Innovation Solution

The gas valve unit incorporates multiple open/close valves and throttle points, controlled by magnetically active bodies, allowing for precise adjustment of gas volume flows with the ability to set both gas outlets to maximum value immediately upon opening, ensuring quick filling of gas-carrying components and reliable ignition. This design includes at least two magnetically active bodies to synchronize the opening and closing of valves, ensuring optimal gas distribution across multiple switching positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single actuating element is used to control both gas flows, then device complexity is reduced, but adjustment precision and reproducibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve structure complexityVSAvoidgas volume flow adjustment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The gas valve unit is segmented into two independent control systems: a first actuating element (rotatable valve body) for controlling the first gas outlet, and a second actuating element (push-button mechanism) for controlling the second gas outlet. This segmentation allows each outlet to be adjusted independently with precise control, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and adjustment precision by dividing the single complex control into two simpler, specialized controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the fully closed position is immediately followed by maximum output position, then ignition reliability is improved, but loss of time for controlled gas flow adjustment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveignition reliabilityVSAvoidtime for gas flow adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The valve system incorporates preliminary action by providing intermediate switching positions between the fully closed and maximum output positions. The first actuating element can be rotated to intermediate positions that open the first gas outlet partially before reaching maximum flow, and the second actuating element can be pressed to activate the second gas outlet in a controlled sequence. This preliminary action allows gas-carrying components to be gradually filled with gas, maintaining ignition reliability while reducing the time loss by avoiding abrupt transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If multiple open/close valves and throttle points are used, then gas volume flow adjustment precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas volume flow adjustment precisionVSAvoidvalve and throttle component quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple control functions into integrated valve assemblies. The first open/close valve and first throttle point are combined in a single valve unit controlled by the first actuating element, and similarly for the second valve and throttle point controlled by the second actuating element. This merging reduces device complexity by integrating components that would otherwise be separate, while maintaining the precision benefits of having both open/close control and throttle control for each gas outlet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables exact and reproducible multi-stage adjustment of gas volume flows, ensuring reliable ignition and optimal combustion output by quickly filling gas-carrying components and preventing flame extinguishment during switching, thereby enhancing the adjustability and reliability of dual-circuit gas burners.

Implementation Method 1

controlled by magnetically active bodies, allowing for precise adjustment of gas volume flows

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP2572143B1Gas valve unit having two gas outlets
Publication Date: 2014.07.16 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2572143B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2572143B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2572143B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The subject matter of the invention is a gas valve unit for setting gas volumetric flows to a twin-circuit gas burner of a gas appliance, in particular a gas cooking appliance, wherein the gas valve unit has a gas inlet (3) and two gas outlets (11, 12). According to the invention, the gas volumetric flow to at least one of the gas outlets (12) can be set in a multiple-stage manner. In a zero position of the gas valve unit, the gas volumetric flow to both gas outlets (11, 12) is interrupted. In a switching position which is adjacent to the zero position, the gas volumetric flow which can be set in a multiple-stage manner is set to a maximum value. In order to set the gas volumetric flow which is fed to a first gas outlet (11), the gas valve unit has at least two first open/shut valves (15) and at least two first throttle points (17), preferably at least three first open/shut valves (15) and at least three first throttle points (17). In order to set the gas volumetric flow which is fed to a second gas outlet (12), the gas valve unit has at least two second open/shut valves (16) and at least two second throttle points (18), preferably at least four second open/shut valves (16) and at least four second throttle points (18).