Gas valve unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas valve units for burners face issues such as complexity, high cost, non-interchangeability with standard cooktops, inadequate precision in power level adjustment, wear, and safety concerns due to overpressure and thermal expansion, as well as high manufacturing costs and limited customization.
Innovation Solution
A compact gas valve unit with a disc-shaped element and a control linkage system that includes a safety valve, an electromagnet, and a disc-shaped element with varying passage zones, allowing precise and repeatable adjustment of gas flow, ensuring tight sealing, and compatibility with different gases, while being easily customizable and cost-effective.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rotating disc with direct contact to the valve body surface is used, then gas flow adjustment is achieved, but wear increases and cycles of use reduce
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing ring made of elastomer or PTFE is introduced as an intermediary between the rotating disc and the valve body surface. This sealing ring rotates with the disc while maintaining contact with the stationary valve body, thereby eliminating direct metal-to-metal contact and preventing wear of the disc while ensuring gas-tight sealing during gas flow adjustment.
2Device complexity
If metal disc直接接触 metal surface is used, then structural simplicity is achieved, but thermal expansion causes negative effects
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit employs a composite material structure where a sealing ring made of elastomer or PTFE is integrated with the rotating disc. This combination of materials (metal disc + polymer sealing ring) allows the structure to accommodate thermal expansion differences between metals and polymers, eliminating negative effects while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Reliability
If cylindrical shutters with seals are used, then on-off control is achieved, but miniaturization is not possible and size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit is segmented into multiple independent on-off valves, each with its own small aperture in the rotating disc. This segmentation allows each valve to be miniaturized while maintaining reliable on-off control through the alignment or misalignment of apertures with the gas passage, enabling compact overall dimensions.
4Ease of operation
If continuous rotation control is used, then power level adjustment is achieved, but precise positioning at specific levels is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating disc is equipped with multiple apertures arranged at specific angular positions, creating periodic flow paths. By aligning specific apertures with the gas passage through discrete rotational positions, the system achieves precise positioning at predetermined power levels while maintaining the capability for continuous adjustment between levels.
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 provides a compact, cost-effective, and highly customizable gas valve unit with precise control over gas flow, improved safety, and reduced wear, ensuring reliable operation with various gases and easy interchangeability with existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
the on-off valves can be electromagnetically operated, e.g. individually controlled, by means of an electronic control unit, an electromagnet which is associated with each on-off valve
Implementation Method 2
each of which comprises a vertically movable cylindrical shutter and a corresponding spring which acts on the shutter so as to push it towards a seal and thus close the gas passage opening associated with each on-off valve
Data Source
AI summary
A gas valve unit to be connected to a gas source includes a body having an inlet, a main chamber in the body communicating with the inlet and having a main outlet communicating with the outlet of the gas valve unit, a disc-shaped element in the main chamber with one or more openings putting the main chamber in communication with the main outlet hole and rotatable between a closing position, where the main outlet hole is entirely covered by the disc-shaped element, and at least two opening positions in which the one or more openings face, at least in part, the main outlet hole to enable gas passage from the main chamber to the main outlet hole via the through opening, and a control unit associated causing the snapping rotation of the disc-shaped element between the closing position and an opening position, and between the at least two opening positions.