Multi-gas cooker, with a rotary valve provided with interchangeable regulating means

Abstract

The cooking appliance ( 1 ) having a control panel ( 2 ) is equipped with one or more gas flow (Q) regulating valves, wherein the rotary regulating plug ( 6 ) is provided with various peripheral through holes ( 16 - 19 ). The control knob ( 9 ) being interchangeable for fitting to the actuating shaft ( 7 ), is chosen from the two units available, one and the other permitting different angular limit positions of the regulating plug ( 6 ) for the supply of a constant minimum gas flow Qmin, adjusted each one for a different type of gas N gas or LP gas. The outlet conduit ( 5 ) of the valve is equipped with a further injector nozzle ( 21,23 ) for adjusting a constant gas flow Qmax to be fed into the conduit ( 25 ) of the correspondent burner, when the cooking appliance is supplied with a LP gas.

1 . Gas cooking appliance adapted for a supply with different types of gaseous fuel, natural gas (NG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), equipped with one or more regulating valves ( 3 ) for supplying a respective one or more burners, comprising: 
 at least one regulating valve ( 3 ) of the rotary regulating plug ( 6 ) type, having a valve body ( 3   a ) provided with a housing for the regulating plug ( 6 ), an inlet conduit ( 4 ) and an outlet conduit ( 5 ), and an actuating shaft ( 7 ) projecting from a control panel ( 2 ) on the cooking appliance ( 1 ), wherein a regulated gas flow “Q” is directed towards the outlet conduit ( 5 ) to a cooking appliance burner adapted to one of said types of gas,    at least one burner having a feed duct ( 25 ) faced to said valve outlet conduit ( 5 ) and spaced an air gap apart therefrom, in order the burner to be fed with the fuel mixture formed by the maximum gas flow Qmax outcoming the valve outlet conduit ( 5 ),    said rotary regulating plug ( 6 ) provided with a revolution surface and various peripheral opening ( 16 - 19 ) for the passage of a regulated flow “Q” to a central chamber ( 8 ) in communication with said outlet conduit ( 5 ), the passage openings being superimposed in alignment with said inlet conduit ( 4 ), for supplying three different possible flows to the outlet conduit ( 5 ) successively in function of a respective angular position (A) of the regulating plug ( 6 ), a constant maximum flow “Qmax”, a constant minimum flow “Qmin”, and an intermediate flow “Qint”,    said actuating shaft ( 7 ) provided with a means ( 13 ) for guiding the angular travel (A) of the regulating plug ( 6 ), interacting with a rotation stop means ( 12   a ) in the valve body ( 12   a ),    an interchangeable control knob ( 9 ) fitted at the free end of the actuating shaft ( 7 ), provided with a integral means ( 14 ) for guiding the rotation of the shaft ( 7 ) and interacting with a rotation stop means ( 20 ) in a panel ( 2 ) of the appliance,    wherein said both rotation stop means ( 12   a , 20 ) determines an angular position (A) of the regulating plug ( 6 ), for the supply of a constant flow Qmin through one respective opening ( 18 , 19 ),    means built into said valve ( 3 ) outlet conduit ( 5 ) for the injection ( 21 , 23 ) of said maximum Qmax flow controlled by the regulating plug ( 6 ), distinguishing the N gas supply valve ( 3 ) from the LP gas supply valve, so the Qmax injected by the valve is mixed with the primary air and the fuel mixture ( 26 ) supplied at the inlet of said burner feed duct ( 25 ).    
   
   
       2 . The gas cooking appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the regulating plug ( 6 ) comprises a series of said various peripheral openings ( 16 - 19 ), aligned in the rotational direction for the supply of said Qmax, Qint and first and second Qmin flows of either of the N or LP gas types, being of these two successive holes ( 18 , 19 ) calibrated for the supply of the respective constant Qmin, and positioned angularly at the end of a respective travel (A), and said guide means ( 14 ) on the control knob ( 9 ) comprises an integral shoulder or lug ( 14 ) on a base ( 9   a ) facing the control panel ( 2 ), which presents a circular slide groove ( 20 ) establishing the travel extension (A), and one control knob ( 9 ) fitted to the actuating shaft ( 7 ) is chosen between two different units available, with or without said lug ( 14 ) depending in either case on the type of gas, NG or LPG, supplied to the cooking appliance ( 1 ).  
   
   
       3 . The cooker appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein said Qmax flow opening ( 16 ) in the valve regulating plug ( 6 ) being the same for regulation of both types of gas, N or LP, said means for injecting ( 21 , 23 ) the Qmax maximum flow of N gas or LP gas comprise a restrictor disc ( 21 ) fixed into the valve outlet conduit ( 5 ), with a centre hole ( 22 ) calibrated for the injection of a Qmax of N gas, and in the valve ( 3 ) unit for being supplied with LP gas, they further comprise an injection nozzle ( 23 ) provided with a central hole ( 24 ) of smaller calibre than the hole ( 22 ) in said restrictor disc ( 21 ), the nozzle being mounted by hand at the end of the valve outlet conduit ( 5 ), only for the regulating a Qmax flow of LP gas.