U.S. patent application number 10/941916 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-16 for twin-nozzle gas switch for a barbeque grill.
This patent application is currently assigned to HOSUN UNIVERSAL CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Wuu-Hung Lin.
Application Number | 20060054159 10/941916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36032559 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060054159 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Wuu-Hung |
March 16, 2006 |
Twin-nozzle gas switch for a barbeque grill
Abstract
A twin-nozzle gas switch includes a unitary switch base, a pair
of nozzles, a pair of valve members, a pair of cover members, and a
pair of control rods. The switch base includes a pair of valve
seats, each having a gas regulating section and a gas outlet
section, and a tubular conduit connected integrally to the valve
seats. Each nozzle is mounted at a respective gas outlet section.
Each valve member is mounted rotatably in a respective gas
regulating section. Each cover member is mounted at a respective
gas regulating section. Each control rod extends through a
respective cover member, and is connected to a respective valve
member.
Inventors: |
Lin; Wuu-Hung; (Tan Tsu
Hsiang, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN, LLP
P.O. BOX 10500
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Assignee: |
HOSUN UNIVERSAL CO., LTD.
Tan Tsu Hsiang
TW
|
Family ID: |
36032559 |
Appl. No.: |
10/941916 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/39N ;
126/39E |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23N 2235/16 20200101;
F23N 1/007 20130101; F23N 2235/24 20200101; F23N 2235/18 20200101;
F24C 3/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/039.00N ;
126/039.00E |
International
Class: |
F24C 3/00 20060101
F24C003/00 |
Claims
1. A twin-nozzle gas switch, comprising: a unitary switch base
including a pair of spaced apart valve seats, each of which has a
gas regulating section and a gas outlet section extending from said
gas regulating section, said gas regulating section being formed
with a valve hole that defines a first axis, said gas outlet
section being formed with a gas outlet that defines a second axis,
said first axes of said valve holes of said valve seats being
parallel to each other, said second axes of said gas outlets of
said valve seats being parallel to each other, and a tubular
conduit connected integrally to said valve seats, said tubular
conduit defining a central axis that is transverse said first axes,
and having a connecting portion that is in fluid communication with
said gas regulating sections of said valve seats, and an extension
portion that is in fluid communication with said gas regulating
section of one of said valve seats and that extends outwardly from
said one of said valve seats, said connecting portion being formed
with a gas inlet that is transverse to said central axis, said
extension portion having one end remote from said one of said valve
seats and formed with an opening; a plug for closing said opening;
a pair of nozzles, each of which is mounted at one end of said gas
outlet of a respective one of said valve seats that is remote from
said gas regulating section of the respective one of said valve
seats; a pair of valve members, each of which is mounted rotatably
in said valve hole of a respective one of said valve seats, each of
said valve members being formed with a regulating hole to be
registered with said tubular conduit, and a flow hole extending
along said first axis of said valve hole of the respective one of
said valve seats and in fluid communication with said regulating
hole and said gas outlet of the respective one of said valve seats;
a pair of cover members, each of which is mounted at one end of
said gas regulating section of a respective one of said valve seats
that is remote from said gas outlet section of the respective one
of said valve seats, each of said cover members being formed with a
rod hole along said first axis of said valve hole of the respective
one of said valve seats; and a pair of control rods, each of which
extends through said rod hole in a respective one of said cover
members and is connected to a respective one of said valve
members.
2. The twin-nozzle gas switch as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising: a pair of mounting panels, each of which is mounted to
a respective one of said cover members; and a pair of ignition
units, each of which is mounted on a respective one of said
mounting panels.
3. The twin-nozzle gas switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein each
of said mounting panels is formed with a mounting hole that extends
in a transverse direction with respect to a respective one of said
control rods and that permits extension of the respective one of
said control rods therethrough, and a tab that extends in the
transverse direction into said mounting hole and that is disposed
at one end of said mounting hole.
4. The twin-nozzle gas switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein each
of said ignition units includes: an actuator sleeved on a
respective one of said control rods; a plunger member mounted
slidably in said mounting hole of the respective one of said
mounting panels and acted upon by said actuator; a biasing member
having one end connected to said tab of the respective one of said
mounting panels, and an opposite end abutting against said plunger
member; and an igniter retained on the respective one of said
mounting panels and associated operably with said plunger
member.
5. The twin-nozzle gas switch as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising an adaptor connected threadedly to said gas inlet.
6. The twin-nozzle gas switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
first and second axes of each of said valve seats form an obtuse
angle therebetween.
7. The twin-nozzle gas switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
switch base is formed integrally by casting.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a gas switch, more particularly to
a twin-nozzle gas switch for a barbeque grill.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional twin-nozzle gas
switch 1 is shown to include a pair of valve seats 11, a tubular
conduit 12 connected to the valve seats 11, a pair of valve members
(not visible) mounted rotatably in the valve seats 11, and a pair
of control rods 13 connected to the valve members. Each of the
valve seats 11 has a lateral side formed with a threaded section
111. The tubular conduit 12 has a pair of connecting sections 121
and an intermediate section 122 between the connecting sections
121. Each of the connecting sections 121 is connected to the
threaded section 111 of a respective one of the valve seats 11. The
intermediate section 122 is formed with a gas inlet 123 for
connecting to a gas source (not shown). Each of the control rods 13
is operable to rotate the respective valve member so as to regulate
gas flow through the corresponding valve seat 11.
[0005] In the conventional twin-nozzle gas switch 1, the valve
seats 11 and the tubular conduit 12 are manufactured as three
separate components that are to be coupled together through the
threaded sections 111 and the connecting sections 121. The
following are some of the disadvantages of the aforesaid
twin-nozzle gas switch 1:
[0006] 1. Manufacturing costs are relatively high due to the need
to fabricate and assemble three separate components.
[0007] 2. In view of the threaded engagement between the sections
111, 121, it is difficult to control the valve seats 111 to have a
uniform distance with the gas inlet 123, which can affect even
distribution of gas to the valve seats 11. As shown in FIG. 1, in
case the distances (W1, W2) between each valve seat 111 and the gas
inlet 123 are unequal, gas distribution to the valve seats 11 will
be uneven.
[0008] 3. The air seal effect at the sections 111, 121 is not
satisfactory and is liable to deteriorate upon loosening of the
threaded connections at the sections 111, 121, which leads to
undesired gas leakage that exposes users to danger.
[0009] 4. In view of the threaded engagement between the sections
111, 121, it is difficult to control the valve seats 111 such that
the axes (L1, L2) thereof lie on a desired plane, which can
obstruct proper installation of the gas switch 1 in a barbeque
grill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a twin-nozzle gas switch that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks
of the prior art.
[0011] According to this invention, a twin-nozzle gas switch
comprises a unitary switch base, a plug, a pair of nozzles, a pair
of valve members, a pair of cover members, and a pair of control
rods.
[0012] The switch base includes a pair of spaced apart valve seats
and a tubular conduit. Each of the valve seats has a gas regulating
section and a gas outlet section extending from the gas regulating
section. The gas regulating section is formed with a valve hole
that defines a first axis. The gas outlet section is formed with a
gas outlet that defines a second axis. The first axes of the valve
holes of the valve seats are parallel to each other. The second
axes of the gas outlets of the valve seats are parallel to each
other. The tubular conduit is connected integrally to the valve
seats, defines a central axis that is transverse the first axes,
and has a connecting portion that is in fluid communication with
the gas regulating sections of the valve seats, and an extension
portion that is in fluid communication with the gas regulating
section of one of the valve seats and that extends outwardly from
said one of the valve seats. The connecting portion is formed with
a gas inlet that is transverse to the central axis. The extension
portion has one end remote from said one of the valve seats and
formed with an opening that is closed by the plug.
[0013] Each of the nozzles is mounted at one end of the gas outlet
of a respective one of the valve seats that is remote from the gas
regulating section of the respective one of the valve seats.
[0014] Each of the valve members is mounted rotatably in the valve
hole of a respective one of the valve seats, and is formed with a
regulating hole to be registered with the tubular conduit, and a
flow hole extending along the first axis of the valve hole of the
respective one of the valve seats and in fluid communication with
the regulating hole and the gas outlet of the respective one of the
valve seats.
[0015] Each of the cover members is mounted at one end of the gas
regulating section of a respective one of the valve seats that is
remote from the gas outlet section of the respective one of the
valve seats, and is formed with a rod hole along the first axis of
the valve hole of the respective one of the valve seats.
[0016] Each of the control rods extends through the rod hole in a
respective one of the cover members, and is connected to a
respective one of the valve members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a top view of a conventional twin-nozzle gas
switch;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of the gas switch of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a top view of a barbeque grill that incorporates
the preferred embodiment of a twin-nozzle gas switch according to
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a side view of the barbeque grill of FIG. 3;
[0022] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of a twin-nozzle gas switch according to the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a switch base of the preferred
embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 7 is an end view of the switch base of FIG. 6;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment;
and
[0026] FIG. 9 is a top view of the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the preferred embodiment of a
twin-nozzle gas switch according to the present invention is shown
to be adapted for use in a barbeque grill 2 that includes a lower
grill body 21, an upper grill cover 22 for covering the grill body
21, a burner 23 disposed on the grill body 21, a pair of parallel
burner pipes 24 connected to the burner 23, a pair of barriers 25
disposed proximate to the burner 23, and a grill plate 26 mounted
above the burner 23.
[0028] With further reference to FIG. 5, the twin-nozzle gas switch
is disposed on one side of the grill body 21, and includes a
unitary switch base 30, a plug 33, an adaptor 34, a pair of nozzles
40, a pair of valve members 50, a pair of cover members 60, a pair
of control rods 70, a pair of mounting panels 80, and a pair of
ignition units 90.
[0029] The switch base 30 includes a pair of spaced apart valve
seats 31 and a tubular conduit 32 that are integrally formed by
casting.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, each of the valve seats 31,
which are parallel to each other, has a gas regulating section 311
and a gas outlet section 312 extending from the gas regulating
section 311. The gas regulating section 311 is formed with a valve
hole 313 that defines a first axis (Z1). The gas outlet section 312
is formed with a gas outlet 314 that defines a second axis (Z2).
The first axes (Z1) of the valve holes 313 of the valve seats 31
are parallel to each other. The second axes (Z2) of the gas outlets
314 of the valve seats 31 are parallel to each other. Moreover, the
first and second axes (Z1, Z2) of each of the valve seats 31 form
an obtuse angle therebetween. The tubular conduit 32 is connected
integrally to the valve seats 31, defines a central axis (Z3) that
is transverse to the first axes (Z1), and has a connecting portion
321 that is disposed between and that is in fluid communication
with the gas regulating sections 311 of the valve seats 31, and an
extension portion 322 that is in fluid communication with the gas
regulating section 311 of one of the valve seats 31 and that
extends laterally and outwardly from said one of the valve seats
31. The connecting portion 321 is formed with a gas inlet 323 that
is transverse to the central axis (Z3) The extension portion 322
has one end remote from said one of the valve seats 31 and formed
with an opening 324. During the manufacture of the switch base 30,
a cutting tool (not shown) is extended into the valve holes 313 of
the valve seats 31 via the opening 324. The opening 324 is to be
closed by means of the plug 33, as best shown in FIG. 9.
[0031] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 9, the adaptor 34 is connected
threadedly to the gas inlet 323, and can be adjusted to a suitable
angle for coupling with a gas supply tube (not shown).
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 5, 8, and 9, each of the nozzles 40 is
mounted at one end of the gas outlet 314 of a respective one of the
valve seats 31 that is remote from the gas regulating section 311
of the respective valve seat 31. The nozzles 40 are used to connect
the burner pipes 24 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) to the valve seats 31 such
that gas flowing out of the gas outlets 314 of the valve seats 31
can be supplied to the burner 23 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
[0033] Each of the valve members 50 is mounted rotatably in the
valve hole 313 of a respective one of the valve seats 31, and is
formed with a regulating hole 51 to be registered with the tubular
conduit 32, and a flow hole 52 extending along the first axis (Z1)
of the valve hole 313 of the respective one of the valve seats 31
and in fluid communication with the regulating hole 51 and the gas
outlet 314 of the respective one of the valve seats 31.
[0034] Each of the cover members 60 is mounted at one end of the
gas regulating section 311 of a respective one of the valve seats
31 that is remote from the gas outlet section 312 of the respective
valve seat 31, and is formed with a rod hole 61 along the first
axis (Z1) of the valve hole 313 of the respective valve seat
31.
[0035] Each of the control rods 70 extends through the rod hole 61
in a respective one of the cover members 60, and is connected to a
respective one of the valve members 50.
[0036] Each of the mounting panels 80 is mounted to a respective
one of the cover members 60, and is formed with a mounting hole 81
that extends in a transverse direction with respect to a respective
one of the control rods 70 and that permits extension of the
respective one of the control rods 70 therethrough, and a tab 82
that extends in the transverse direction into the mounting hole 81
and that is disposed at one end of the mounting hole 81. The
mounting hole 81 in each of the mounting panels 80 has a periphery
formed with a set 83 of retaining elements that are spaced apart
from the tab 82 in the transverse direction. In this embodiment,
the set 83 of retaining elements include two pairs of notches 831
formed in upper and lower peripheral edges of the mounting hole
81.
[0037] Each of the ignition units 90 is mounted on a respective one
of the mounting panels 80, and includes an actuator 91, a plunger
member 92, a biasing member 93, an igniter 94 and a resilient plate
95. The actuator 91 is sleeved on a respective one of the control
rods 70. The plunger member 92 is mounted slidably in the mounting
hole 81 of the respective one of the mounting panels 80, and is
acted upon by the actuator 91. In this embodiment, the plunger
member 92 is frustoconical in shape, and includes a plunger body
921 that is formed with a pair of slide grooves 922 to permit
slidable retention of the plunger body 921 in the respective
mounting hole 81. The plunger body 921 is further formed with a
striker portion 923 (see FIG. 9). The biasing member 93, which is a
coiled compression spring in this embodiment, has one end connected
to the tab 82 of the respective one of the mounting panels 80, and
an opposite end abutting against one end of the plunger member 92
opposite to the striker portion 923. In this embodiment, the
igniter 94 has a casing portion 941 that is retained in one end of
the mounting hole 81 of the respective one of the mounting panels
80 opposite to the tab 82, an actuated part 942 extending through
the casing portion 941 and disposed to confront the striker portion
923 of the plunger member 92, and two sets of stop blocks 943
formed on the casing portion 941 to engage the respective mounting
panel 80, thereby enhancing retention of the igniter 94 in the
respective mounting hole 81. The resilient plate 95 is retained in
the mounting hole 81 of the respective one of the mounting panels
80 by virtue of engagement with the notches 831, and serves to fix
the igniter 94 in the respective mounting hole 81.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 9, when one of the control rods 70 is
rotated by the user, the corresponding one of the valve members 50
rotates to permit the flow of gas to the burner 23. At the same
time, one of the actuators 91 rotates so as to drive the
corresponding plunger member 92 to compress the corresponding
biasing member 93. At the instant the actuator 91 rotates to an
extent that it ceases to engage the corresponding plunger member
92, due to the stored force of the corresponding biasing member 93,
the striker portion 923 of the plunger member 92 is able to apply a
striking force on the actuated part 942 of the igniter 94, thereby
triggering the igniter 94 to generate an ignition voltage. In
practice, the ignition voltage is discharged proximate to the
burner 23 at one of the barriers 25 so as to ignite the gas that is
supplied to the burner 23. Thereafter, through the control of the
control rod 70, the corresponding valve member 50 is adjusted to
regulate the strength of the flame output at the burner 23 to suit
actual cooking requirements.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, since the switch base 30 of
the twin-nozzle gas switch of this invention is integrally formed,
the distances (W) between each valve seat 31 and the gas inlet 323
are maintained equal, and the nozzles 40 do not deviate from
desired installation positions. Therefore, when the gas switch of
this invention is in use, gas leakage through the switch base 30 is
avoided due to the use of a unitary component, even gas
distribution to the valve seats 31 is ensured, and installation of
the gas switch in the barbeque grill 2 is fast and easy to
conduct.
[0040] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *