GB2210437A - Valve assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A valve assembly comprises an actuating member 20 operatively associated with valve members 15A, 15B interposed between an inlet 12 and respective outlets 14A, 14B, and having a first operating mode in which first one valve and then both are opened, and a second operating mode in which first the other valve and then both valves are opened. The valve assembly is preferably used in a variable output gas-fuelled grill assembly with first and second burner sections so that in the first mode the inlet may be selectively connected to one burner section or to both and in the second mode the inlet may be selectively connected to the other burner section or to both. <IMAGE>

Description

Valve Assemblies This invention relates to valve assemblies and is especially but not exclusively applicable to control valves for gas appliances and particularly gas cookers.

It is desirable that gas cooker grills should be controllable to provide different outputs dependent on users' requirements. This presents certain difficulties, particularly in relation to grills incorporating surface combustion type burners. Moreover for reasons of cost and convenience it is desirable that control of the different modes of operation be effected through a single control member while still complying with necessary safety standards.

According to the invention there is provided a valve assenbly comprising an inlet, first and second outlets, first and second valve members interposed between said inlet and respective ones of said outlets, and an actuating member operatively associated with said valve members and having selectively usable operating modes each of which has alternative positions in one of which modes one of said valves is first opened and thereafter both valves are opened and in the other of which modes the other of said valves is first opened and thereafter both valves. are opened.

Preferably said actuating member comprises a cam member having cam surfaces operatively engageable with said valve members whereby to move-same into one or other of said operating modes on appropriate movement of the actuating member. Preferably the cam member is mounted for rotation relative to said valve members, rotation in opposite directions initiating respective ones of said operating modes.

Prefably also means is incorporated to prevent movement from one operating mode to the other without first closing both valves.

Preferably also means is incorporated to prevent selection of intermediate positions between the alternative operating positions in each operating mode.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a variable output gas-fueled grill assembly comprising first and second burner sections, inlet means connectible to a common gas supply, and control means interposed between said inlet means and said burner sections, said control means comprising a gas inlet connected to said inlet means, separate gas outlets respectively connected to said burner sections, valve means controlling communication between said gas inlet and respective ones of said gas outlets, and an actuating member operatively connected to said valve means and having a first operating mode in which said gas inlet may be selectively connected to one of said burner sections or to both, and a second operating mode in which said gas inleL may be selectively connected to the other of said burner sections or to both.

Preferably said actuating means comprises a rotary actuating member having cam faces operatively engageable with valve members forming part of said valve means, said actuating member being selectively movable into said first or said second operating mode by movement in opposite directions.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a horizontal cross-section through a valve assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the valve assembly on the line II-II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 -is a side elevation of the valve assembly; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section on the line IV-IV in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a view on the line V-V in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the valve assembly comprises a housing 10 incorporating a pair of side-byside valve assemblies 11A, llB, An inlet passage 12 extends beneath the valve assemblies 11A and llB and is connected to the respective valve assemblies by radial passages 13A, 13B. The valve assemblies 11A and 11B are provided with respective outlets 14A, 14B communicating with different sections of a gas-fired grill assembly incorporating surface combustion type burners.

Mounted within each valve assembly 11A, llB between the respective inlet passage 13A, 13B and the associated outlet passage 14A, 14B is a valve member comprising a head 15A, 15B mounted on a valve spindle 16A, 16B and urged into engagement with a seating 17A, 17B by means of respective compression springs 18A, 185.

Each of the spindles 16A, 165 is provided at the end opposite to the valve head with a roller 19A, 19B engageable with an actuating member described hereafter.

A spring wire 18C interconnects the wheels 18A, 18B and associated spindles 16A, 165 and prevents the spindles from rotating, thereby maintaining the wheels 18A, 18B in correct alignment.

An actuating member 20 is rotatably mounted between the valve assemblies 11A, 115 and comprises a shaft 21 on which is mounted a circular cam plate 22.

The end of the shaft 21 opposite to the cam plate 22 is provided with a central bore housing a compression spring 23 serving to urge the shaft into an outer inoperative position shown in the drawings in which a radially directed pin 24 carried by the shaft engages in a recess 25 in the housing 10 thereby preventing rotation of the shaft. In order to operate the actuating member it is necessary to push it towards the valve assembly from this "niting" position to a position in which the pin 24 is clear of the recess 25 and the shaft 21 can then be rotated.

The face of the cam plate 22 directed towards the housing 10 comprises a cam face provided with cam members 25 engageable by the wheels 18A and 18B when the cam member has been moved from the niting position into an operating position in which it may be rotated relative to the valve assembly. The cam surfaces 25 are so disposed around the cam plate 22 and are of such a height relative to the surface of the plate 22 as to move the valve spindles 16A, 16B into desired operative positions against the action of the springs 18A, 185 when the actuating member 20 is rotated. The actuating member may be rotated in either direction, the arrange ment of the cams 25 being such that when rotated in one direction to a first operative position the cam surface moves valve 1-5A into an open position, the valve 15B remaining closed.When moved into a second operative position the cam plate maintains valve 15A open and also opens valve 15B. Thus in the first operative position gas is supplied through outlet 14A but not through outlet 14B. In the second operative position gas is supplied through both outlets to the respective burner sections connected to them.

Rotation of the actuating member 20 in the opposite direction into a first operative position opens valve 15B while valve ISA remains closed. Continued rotation in the same direction into a second operative position opens both valves. Thus when rotated in this direction the control member first supplies gas through outlet 145 but not outlet 14A and in its second position supplies gas through both outlets to the burner sections connected to them.

In use of the valve assembly in the control of gas-fired appliances such as gas-fired grill units, it is important that the actuating member cannot be moved directly from one operative mode to the other. For this purpose a stop member 26 mounted on a spring 27 is located in the path of movement of the pin 24 from the niting to the operative position and also obstructs the path of movement of the pin during rotation of the actuating member. On initial movement of the actuating member 20 from the niting position,the upper surface of the pin 24 slides over the stop member 26 urging it outwardly against the resistance of the spring 27.

Following rotation of the actuating member 20 in one or other direction the stop member 26 returns to its original position under the influence of spring 27. In the event of the user attempting to rotate the actuating member 20 directly from its first to its second operating mode, pin 24 contacts stop member 26, deflects it to one side and is constrained to move into the niting position. Only after return movement from the niting position to the operative position, which lifts the stop member 26 against -the action of the spring 27, can the actuating member be rotated in the opposite direction to the alternative operating mode. In this way one or other operating mode must be selected and once :selected the alternative operating mode can only be selected by first returning the actuating member to the niting position.

The valve assembly may be employed in the control of gas-fueled grill units incorporating surface combustion burners. In such cases it is important that the actuating member should not be adjustable to inter mediate positions between its two operative positions in either of the operative modes. For this purpose the sloping faces of the cams on the cam member 22 and the strength of the coil spring 23 are arranged such that if the actuating member is released when in an intermediate position the force of the spring 23 acting on the cam face will overcome the frictional resistance to rotation and rotate the actuating member into one or other of its operative positions.Preferably the arrangement is such that if the actuating member is positioned between its first and second operative positions it is cammed into the first position and if it is positioned between its off position and its first operative position it is switched off.

Thus in operation of the valve assembly it is first necessary to push the actuating member 20 inwardly to release the pin 24 and permit the actuating member to be rotated. Rotation in one direction opens val-ve 15A in the first operating position and opens both valves if rotated to the second operating position. Direct movement from this mode of operation to the other is prevented by virtue of the stop member 26 and if the other operating mode is to be selected the actuating member is first returned to the niting position then depressed once more and rotated in the opposite direction. Rotation to the first operating position in this direction opens valve 15B while valve 15A remains closed and selection of the second operating position opens both valves.

As applied to the control of a gas-fired grill unit, the outlets 14A and 14B -are connected to respective sections of the grill having, for example, one third and two thirds of their combined output. Thus selection of one operating mode enables the grill section having one third of total output to be selected or both grill sections to be brought into operation.

Selection of the other operating mode permits the grill section having two thirds of total output to be selected followed, if desired, by the total output of both sections. By virtue of this arrangement it is possible to select one third, two thirds or full grill output utilising a single control member. The arrangement avoids the problem of switching the one third output section on and then off again when turning the two thirds output section on or off which would arise if both sections were controlled by movement of the actuating member to different operative positions in the same direction. The arrangement also prevents direct changeover from one operating mode to the other and automatically ensures the control member adopts one or other of its available operative positions even if set inadvertently or deliberately to an intermediate position.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the constructional details of the valve assembly may be altered considerably provided it is possible to carry out the desired operating functions. The cam members may be located in different positions and may. be arranged to open the valves to different extents dependent on requirements.

The cam plate may also be adapted to operate three or more valve members if desired. Moreover while reference has been made herein primarily to use in association with gas cooker grills, the valve assembly may be employed in a wide range of other situations and could be used, for example, for control of a gas fire.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (15)

1. A valve assembly comprising an inlet, first and second outlets, first and second valve members interposed between said inlet and respective ones of said outlets, and an actuating member operatively associated with said valve members and having selectively usable operating modes each of which has alternative positions in one of which modes one of said valves is first opened and thereafter both valves are opened and in the other of which modes the other of said valves is first opened and thereafter both valves are opened.

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said actuating member comprises a cam member having cam surfaces operatively engageable with said valve members whereby to move same into one or other of said operating modes on appropriate movement of the actuating member.

3. A valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein said cam member is mounted for rotation relative to said valve members, rotation in opposite directions initiating respective ones of said operating modes.

4. A valve assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein means is incorporated to prevent movement from one operating mode to the other without first closing both valves.

5. A valve assembly according to claim 4, wherein said means comprises abutment means mounted on said actuating member, and spring urged stop means interposed in the path of movement of said abutment means during operation of said actuating member, engagement between said abutment means and said stop means preventing direct movement of said actuating member from one of said operating modes to the other, while initial movement of said actuating member from an off or "niting" position displaces said stop means against its spring bias out of the path of movement of said abutment member whereby to allow said actuating member to be moved to either of said operative modes.

6. A valve assembly according to claim 5, wherein said stop means has opposed faces extending transversely of the direction of movement of said abutment means when the actuating member is in either of its operating modes and a cam face extending across the direction of movement of said abutment means when the actuating member is moved from its "niting" towards its operative positions, whereby movement from the "niting" position displaces said stop means out of the path of movement of said abutment means to permit the actuating member to be moved to either of said operative modes.

7. A valve assembly according to any preceding claim including means operable to prevent selection of intermediate positions between the alternative operating positions in each operating mode.

8. A valve assembly according to claim 7, wherein said means to prevent selection of intermediate positions comprises cam surfaces and spring means associated with said valve members to rotate said actuating member into an adjacent operating position from any intermediate position.

9. A valve assembly according to claims 2 and 8, wherein said cam surfaces are formed on said cam member.

10. A valve assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A gas-fueled grill assembly incorporating a valve assembly according to any preceding claim.

12. A variable output gas-fueled grill assembly comprising first and second burner sections, inlet means connectible to a common gas supply, and control means interposed between said inlet means and said burner sections, said control means comprising a gas inlet connected to said inlet means, separate gas outlets respectively connected to said burner sections, valve means controlling communication between said gas inlet and respective ones of said gas outlets, and an actuating member operatively connected to said valve means and having a first operating mode in which said gas inlet may be selectively connected to one of said burner sections or to both, and a second operating mode in which said gas inlet may be selectively connected to the other of said burner sections or to both.

13. A grill assembly according to claim 12, wherein said valve means comprises a valve assembly according to any of claims 2 to 10.

14. A variable output gas-fueled grill assembly substantially as hereinbefore described.

15. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.