Gas burner for a household appliance

Abstract

A compact thermoelectric safety actuator having a first body with a first cavity and a second body with a second cavity. The first and second bodies are connected so that the first and second cavities are arranged facing and open to one another. The first body has a gas outlet and the second body has a gas inlet in fluid communication with the gas outlet through the second cavity, An electromagnet of the actuator has a first end portion residing in the first cavity and a second end portion residing in the second cavity. A rotatable arm has a first end with a ferromagnetic frame adapted to engage the second portion of the electromagnet and a second end coupled to a sealing member, each of the tilting arm, ferromagnetic frame and sealing member are arranged in the second cavity. The first sealing member is configured to seat against a seating located on the first body when the arm is in a rest position, the first seating being located between the gas outlet and the second cavity.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A thermoelectric safety actuator comprising:
 a first body having a first cavity and a second body having a second cavity, the first and second bodies being connected so that a gas-tight seal exists between a first contact surface of the first body a second contact surface of the second body and so that the first and second cavities are arranged facing and open to one another, the first body having a gas outlet, the second body having a gas inlet in fluid communication with the gas outlet through the second cavity,   an electromagnet comprising a first end portion with a first end and a second end portion with a second end, the first end portion residing in the first cavity of the first body and the second end portion residing in the second cavity of the second body,   a tilting arm rotatable between a rest position when the electromagnet is de-energized and an activation position when the electromagnet is energized, the tilting arm comprising a moving part with a first end having a ferromagnetic frame and a second end coupled to a first sealing member, each of the tilting arm, ferromagnetic frame and first sealing member arranged in the second cavity of the second body, the first sealing member adapted to seat against a first seating located on the first body when the tilting arm is in the rest position, the first seating being located between the gas outlet and the second cavity, in the rest position the ferromagnetic frame of the tilting arm is located a distance apart from the second end of the electromagnet, in the activation position the ferromagnetic frame of the tilting arm being located against the second end of the electromagnet with the first sealing member being located apart from the first seating on the first body.   
     
     
         17 . A thermoelectric safety actuator according to  claim 16 , wherein an outside portion of the first body is configured to be attached directly to a casing of a gas burner. 
     
     
         18 . A thermoelectric safety actuator according to  claim 17 , wherein the gas outlet is configured to be directly connected to an inlet of an injector located in the gas burner casing. 
     
     
         19 . A thermoelectric safety actuator according to  claim 16 , wherein the gas inlet and gas outlet are arranged substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         20 . A thermoelectric safety actuator according to  claim 16 , wherein the first cavity of the first body and the gas outlet are arranged substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         21 . A thermoelectric safety actuator according to  claim 19 , wherein the first cavity of the first body and the gas outlet are arranged substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         22 . A thermoelectric safety actuator according to  claim 16 , wherein the first seating comprises a portion of the first body which projects into the second cavity of the second body. 
     
     
         23 . A thermoelectric safety actuator according to  claim 16 , wherein a third cavity is provided on an outside of the first body, the third cavity being arranged substantially coaxial with the first cavity, there being located in the third cavity a connection terminal connected to the electromagnet. 
     
     
         24 . A thermoelectric safety actuator according to  claim 16 , wherein the tilting arm is urged toward the rest position by a resilient member residing in the second cavity of the second body. 
     
     
         25 . A thermoelectric safety actuator according to  claim 16 , further comprising a safety shut-off valve having an electromagnetic unit, the electromagnetic unit located at least partially in the interior of the second body and comprising a movable member that moves between a first position when the electromagnet unit is energized and a second position when the electromagnetic unit is de-energized, the safety shut-off valve having a second sealing member that is connected with the moveable member, the second body having a second seating located between the gas inlet and the second cavity of the second body, when the electromagnetic unit is energized the second sealing member is positioned away from the second seating so as to permit a gas flow between the gas inlet and the second cavity of the second body, when the electromagnetic unit is de-energized the second sealing member is positioned against the second seating so as to prevent a gas flow between the gas inlet and the second cavity of the second body. 
     
     
         26 . A thermoelectric safety actuator according to  claim 25 , wherein the gas inlet and the gas outlet are arranged substantially orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
         27 . A gas burner assembly for a gas appliance comprising:
 a burner casing,   an injector situated in the burner casing configured to introduce a gas into the burner, the injector having a gas inlet and a gas outlet,   a thermoelectric safety actuator arranged fixed to the casing and comprising:   a first body having a first cavity and a second body having a second cavity, the first and second bodies being connected so that a gas-tight seal exists between a first contact surface of the first body a second contact surface of the second body and so that the first and second cavities are arranged facing and open to one another, the first body having a gas outlet, the second body having a gas inlet in fluid communication with the gas outlet through the second cavity, the gas outlet being connected to the gas inlet of the injector via a gas-tight connection,   an electromagnet comprising a first end portion with a first end and a second end portion with a second end, the first end portion residing in the first cavity of the first body and the second end portion residing in the second cavity of the second body,   a tilting arm rotatable between a rest position when the electromagnet is de-energized and an activation position when the electromagnet is energized, the tilting arm comprising a moving part with a first end having a ferromagnetic frame and a second end coupled to a first sealing member, each of the tilting arm, ferromagnetic frame and first sealing member arranged in the second cavity of the second body, the first sealing member adapted to seat against a first seating located on the first body when the tilting arm is in the rest position, the first seating being located between the gas outlet and the second cavity, in the rest position the ferromagnetic frame of the tilting arm is located a distance apart from the second end of the electromagnet, in the activation position the ferromagnetic frame of the tilting arm being located against the second end of the electromagnet with the first sealing member being located apart from the first seating on the first body.   
     
     
         28 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 27 , further comprising a thermocouple arranged adjacent the burner and adapted to supply power to the electromagnet when a flame is present in the burner. 
     
     
         29 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the gas inlet and gas outlet of the thermoelectric safety actuator are arranged substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         30 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the first cavity of the first body and the gas outlet are arranged substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         31 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the first cavity of the first body and the gas outlet are arranged substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         32 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the gas outlet of the thermoelectric safety actuator is directly coupled to the gas inlet of the injector. 
     
     
         33 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the first seating comprises a portion of the first body which projects into the second cavity of the second body. 
     
     
         34 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein a third cavity is provided on an outside of the first body, the third cavity being arranged substantially coaxial with the first cavity, there being located in the third cavity a connection terminal connected to the electromagnet. 
     
     
         35 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein a third cavity is provided on an outside of the first body, the third cavity being arranged substantially coaxial with the first cavity, there being located in the third cavity a connection terminal connected to the electromagnet, the thermocouple being electrically coupled to the connection terminal. 
     
     
         36 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the tilting arm is urged toward the rest position by a resilient member residing in the second cavity of the second body. 
     
     
         37 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the thermoelectric safety actuator further comprising a safety shut-off valve having an electromagnetic unit, the electromagnetic unit located at least partially in the interior of the second body and comprising a movable member that moves between a first position when the electromagnet unit is energized and a second position when the electromagnetic unit is de-energized, the safety shut-off valve having a second sealing member that is connected with the moveable member, the second body having a second seating located between the gas inlet and the second cavity of the second body, when the electromagnetic unit is energized the second sealing member is positioned away from the second seating so as to permit a gas flow between the gas inlet and the second cavity of the second body, when the electromagnetic unit is de-energized the second sealing member is positioned against the second seating so as to prevent a gas flow between the gas inlet and the second cavity of the second body. 
     
     
         38 . A gas burner assembly according to  claim 37 , wherein the gas inlet and the gas outlet are arranged substantially orthogonal to one another.