Gas burner system
A gas burner system includes a power supply device, one or a number of gas burners, one or a number of gas valve for controlling the fuel gas passage(s) of the gas burner(s), one or a number of control device each having an operating device for inputting a command signal, a microprocessor for receiving the command signal from the operating device and outputting a corresponding control signal, a valve control device for driving the gas valve(s) subject to the control signal from the microprocessor, an ignition induction electrode located on each gas burner at one side, and one or a number of igniter and inductor combination device for providing a high voltage current to the ignition induction electrode at each gas burner subject to the control signal from the microprocessor to cause the ignition induction electrode at each gas burner to discharge sparks for burning the discharged fuel mixture so that the igniter and inductor combination device stops from providing the high voltage current when received a feedback flame signal from the ignition induction electrode and sending the feedback signal to the microprocessor.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas burner device and more particularly, to a gas burner system which facilitates operation and flame control.
2. Description of the Related Art
Commercial gas burner apparatus, such as gas ranges and barbecue stoves, commonly use a piezoelectric igniter for ignition. A piezoelectric igniter generates an electric potential in response to applied mechanical stress for causing discharge of sparks for burning a fuel mixture.
Because a piezoelectric igniter is driven to achieve ignition manually by means of rotating a cock, the operation of a gas burner apparatus using a piezoelectric igniter is inconvenient to operate. Further, during the use of a gas burner apparatus from the stage of fuel gas supply to the stage of conversion of fuel gas into thermal energy, fuel gas control and regulation procedure performs the major part. The aforesaid cock provides a fuel gas flow rate regulating function. However, because the cock must be rotated by hand, it is difficult to achieve the desired throttle effect accurately. This problem is insignificant to the application of a gas range in cooking foods. However, the level of attainment, (flame and time control) is quite important when using a barbecue stove or grill to roast meat The control of the level of attainment is subject to accurate flowrate control. Inaccurate flowrate control results in unstable control of the level of attainment, and the quality of each roasted foods will be different.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view.
It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide an electrically controlled gas burner system, which facilitates operation and accurate control of the level of attainment.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the gas burner system comprises a power supply device, at least one gas burner, at least one gas valve for closing/opening the fuel gas passage of each gas burner, at least one control device equal to the number of the at least one gas burner each having an operating device for giving a command signal, a microprocessor, which receives the command signal from the operating device and runs subject to the received command signal and then outputs a corresponding control signal, a gas control device, which drives the at least one gas valve subject to the control signal received from the microprocessor, at least one ignition induction electrode corresponding to the at least one gas burner in number and respectively located on the at least one gas burner at one side, and at least one igniter and inductor combination device for providing a high voltage current to the at least one ignition induction electrode, subject to the control signal received from the microprocessor, to cause the at least one ignition induction electrode to discharge sparks for burning the discharged fuel mixture so that the at least one igniter and inductor combination device stops from providing the high voltage current when received a feedback flame signal from the ignition induction electrode and sending the feedback signal to the microprocessor.
In an alternate form of the present invention, the gas burner system comprises a power supply device, a plurality of gas burners, a plurality of gas valves each controlling the fuel gas passage of one associating gas burner, a control device having an operating device for giving a command signal, a microprocessor, which receives the command signal from the operating device and runs subject to the received command signal and then outputs a corresponding control signal a gas control device, which drives the at least one gas valve subject the control signal received from the microprocessor, a plurality of supplementary control devices corresponding to the number of the gas burners, each supplementary control device comprising a supplementary operating device for giving a command signal and a supplementary microprocessor for receiving and executing the command signal from the supplementary control device and providing a corresponding control signal to the microprocessor and a valve control device for driving the gas valves subject to the control signal received from the supplementary microprocessor, a plurality of ignition and induction electrodes corresponding to the gas burners in number and respectively located on the gas burners at one side, and at least one igniter and inductor combination device, which receives the control signal from the microprocessor and provides a high voltage current to the ignition induction electrodes for discharging sparks for burning the fuel mixture discharged from the associating gas burners when received the control signal from the microprocessor, and stops from providing the high voltage current when received a feedback flame signal from the ignition and induction electrodes and sending the received flame signal to the microprocessor.
The technical content and other objects and features of the present invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description with reference to the annexed drawings.
Referring to
a power supply device 12, which provides the gas burner system 10 with the necessary working voltage;
a burner 14, which enables a fuel gas to be fully mixed with air for combustion;
a gas valve 16, which controls the passage (the fuel gas passage) through which a fuel gas is supplied to the burner 14;
an operating device 18, which is one of the main input devices of the gas burner system 10 for the inputting of an external command, comprising a power switch PB1 adapted for switching on/off power supply, a flame switch PB2 adapted for heating mode control, a temperature-setting switch PB3 adapted for setting constant temperature mode control, a timer shutdown switch PB4 adapted for shutting down the system at the set time, an upward adjustment switch PB5 and a downward adjustment switch PB6 adapted for adjusting the flame, temperature and tie upwards/downwards respectively, and a lamp switch PB7 adapted for switching on/off a light source 44;
a microprocessor 20 adapted to receive a command from the operating device 18 and to run subject to the received command; and
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- a remote control device 22, which is one of the input devices of the gas burner system 10 for the inputting of an external command for power supply on/off, heating mode, constant temperature setting and shutdown operation controls as well as on/off controls of the light source 44.
The remote control device 22 can be a RF (radio frequency) or IR (infrared) remote control device, comprising a transmitter 22a for transmitting a data code and a receiver 22b for receiving and decoding the data code from the transmitter 22a and sending the decoded data to the microprocessor 20.
According to the embodiment shown in
The gas burner system 10 further comprises:
a valve control device 24, which receives an inputted control signal from the microprocessor to switch the gas valve 16, thereby closing/opening the fuel gas passage; and
a display device 26, which is controlled by the microprocessor 20 to display data including flame, temperature, timer shutdown time and fuel level. The display device 26 can be a LCD or LED display device When a LCD display device is sued, the display device 26 can be modularized with the aforesaid touch control device, forming a touch panel.
The aforesaid operating device 18, microprocessor 20, remote control device 22, valve control device 24 and display device 26 constitute a main control device 28 of the gas burner system 10.
The gas burner system 10 further comprises:
an ignition induction electrode 30, which is disposed at one side of the gas valve 14 for sparks discharging and flame induction, and may be substituted by an ignition electrode and an induction electrode that are adapted for sparks discharging and flame induction respectively; and
an igniter and inductor combination device 32.
When the microprocessor 20 received an “On” command signal from the power switch PB1, it adds a control signal to the valve control device 24 and the igniter 32, causing the valve control device 24 to open the gas valve 16 for enabling a fuel gas to be discharged to the gas burner 14 and simultaneously causing the igniter 32 to provide a high voltage current to the ignition induction electrode 30 for causing the ignition induction electrode 30 to discharge sparks so that the fuel mixture of the fuel gas that is discharged from the gas burner 14 and mixed with air is burned to produce a flame. When a flame is produced, the ignition induction electrode 30 feeds back the detected flame signal to the igniter and inductor combination device 32, causing the igniter and inductor combination device 3 to stop from discharging power (igniting). At the same time, the flame signal is inputted into the microprocessor 20 through the igniter and inductor combination device 32. If flame ignition is failed, the microprocessor 20 drives the igniter and inductor combination device 32 to keep discharging a high voltage for several seconds, and then cuts off the circuit from the valve control device 24 to switch off the gas valve 16 and to stop the supply of the fuel gas when receives no flame signal, returning to a standby mode. This type of igniter and inductor combination device 32 is commonly used in the gas burner of a conventional water heater. With respect to the technical content, please refer to Taiwan Utility Model No. 143956.
The gas burner system 10 further comprises:
a temperature sensor 34, which can be a thermoresistor or any suitable temperature sensing device installed in the gas burner system 10 at a location where the temperature is to be detected, and adapted to detect the surrounding temperature and to add the detected temperature signal to the microprocessor 20 so that the microprocessor 20 can control the operation of the valve control device 24 in driving the gas valve 16 to regulate the fuel gas flowrate subject to the temperature data received from the temperature sensor 34, achieving temperature control;
a fuel gas indicator 36, which comprises a pressure switch 42 electrically connected with the microprocessor 20 and, which is electrically inducted to output a control signal to the microprocessor 20 when the fuel gas pressure dropped below a predetermined low level, causing a fuel low sign or the word of fuel low to be displayed on the display device 26; and
a lighting device 38, which comprises a light source 44 adapted for providing illumination at night. The lighting device 38 is controlled by the microprocessor 20 to switch on/off the light source 44 subject to the signal from the lamp switch PB7. Further, the light source 44 can be a lamp tube or lamp bulb.
The aforesaid gas valve 16, as shown in
The first electromagnetic valve 70a and the second electromagnetic valve 70b are same in structure. For letting the first electromagnetic valve 70a and the second electromagnetic valve 70b cause different throttle effects relative to the fuel gas passage 52, the diameter of the gas outlet 72a of the first electromagnetic valve 70a can be smaller or greater than the gas outlet 72b of the second electromagnetic valve 70b, or alternatively, as shown in
Simply speaking, we the valve block 78a of the first electromagnetic valve 70a is opened, only a small amount of fuel gas is allowed to flow through the gas inlet 80a into the fuel gas passage 82a, and then to flow out of the hole 76a of the first bushing 74a to the outside of the fuel gas passage 52 via the outlet 60 for further combustion. When the valve block 78b of the second electromagnetic valve 70b is opened, a medium amount of fuel gas is allowed to flow through gas inlet 80b into the fuel gas passage 82b, and then to flow out of the hole 76b of the second bushing 74b to the outside of the fuel gas passage 52 via the outlet 60 for further combustion. When the valve block 78a of the first electromagnetic valve 70a and the valve block 78b of the second electromagnetic valve 70b are simultaneously opened (see
The invention is not limited to the aforesaid embodiments. Other modifications can be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the combination of the gas burner 14 and ignition induction electrode 30 shown in
Further, the gas burner system 10c shown in
Further, a side stove can be added to the gas burner system 10b shown in
It is to be understood that the igniter and inductor combination device 32 and the control device 28 in the embodiments shown in
Further, the combination of the gas burner 14, gas valve 16, control device 28 and ignition induction electrode 30 can be duplicated, providing a gas burner system 10f having multiple gas burners 14 (see
Similarly, the igniter and inductor combination: device 32 can be incorporated in the control device 28, and each supplementary control device 28b can be made having an igniter and inductor combination device 32 and adapted for receiving a respective control signal from the microprocessor 20 and the supplementary microprocessor 20b.
A gas burner system made according to the present invention utilizes electronic control, and therefore the operation is easy and, the flame level can be controlled accurately.
Further, the gas burner system has a display device for displaying the operation status, including temperature, flame scale, timer shutdown time and fuel gas level.
Further, the gas burner system is provided with a remote control device so that a user can switch on/off the system, regulate the flame level, set the temperature and set the timer shutdown time at a distance.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A gas burner system comprising:
- a power supply device;
- at least one gas burner, each said gas burner defining a respective fuel gas passage;
- at least one gas valve controllable to close/open the fuel gas passage of each said gas burner;
- at least one control device corresponding to said at least one gas burner in number, each said control device comprising an operating device adapted for giving a command signal, a microprocessor, which receives said command signal from said operating device and runs subject to the received command signal and then outputs a corresponding control signal, and a valve control device, which receives the control signal from said microprocessor and drives said at least one gas valve subject to the received control signal;
- at least one ignition induction electrode corresponding to said at least one gas burner in number and respectively disposed at said at least one gas burner at one side; and
- at least one igniter and inductor combination device adapted for receiving the control signal from said microprocessor and outputting a high voltage current to said at least one ignition induction electrode subject to the received control signal for causing said at least one ignition induction electrode to discharge sparks for burning a fuel mixture being discharged from said at least one gas burner and adapted for receiving a feedback flame signal from at least one ignition induction electrode and inputting the received flame signal into said microprocessor.
2. The gas burner systems as claimed claim 1, further comprising at least one supplementary operating device corresponding to said at least one gas burner in number, each said supplementary operating device being operable to provide a command signal to said microprocessor, and at least one supplementary display device corresponding to said at least one supplementary operating device in number and controllable by said microprocessor for data output.
3. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said at least one gas burner and the number of said at least one gas valve are 1.
4. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said at least one gas burner and the number of said at least one gas valve are same and at least 2, and the fuel gas passage of each said gas burner is controllable by one respective gas valve.
5. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said at least one gas burner is at least 2; the number of said at least one gas valve is 1 and the single gas valve controls the fuel gas passage of each of the gas burners.
6. A gas burner system comprising:
- a power supply device;
- a plurality of gas burners, each said gas burner defining a respective fuel gas passage;
- a plurality of gas valves controllable to close/open the fuel gas passages of said gas burners respectively;
- a control device, said control device comprising an operating device adapted for giving a command signal, a microprocessor, which receives said command signal from said operating device and runs subject to the received command signal and then outputs a corresponding control signal, and a valve control device, which receives the control signal from said microprocessor and drives said gas valve subject to the received control signal;
- a plurality of supplementary control devices corresponding to said gas burners in number, each said supplementary control device comprising a supplementary operating device for giving a command signal, a supplementary microprocessor, which receives the command signal from said supplementary operating device and runs subject to the received command signal and then outputs a corresponding control signal, and a valve control device, which receives the control signal from said supplementary microprocessor and drives the associating gas valve subject to the received control signal;
- a plurality of ignition induction electrodes corresponding to said gas burners in number and respectively disposed at said gas burners at one side; and
- at least one igniter and inductor combination device adapted for receiving the control signal from said microprocessor and outputting a high voltage current to said ignition induction electrodes subject to the received control signal for causing said ignition induction electrodes to discharge sparks for burning a fuel mixture being discharged from said gas burners and adapted for receiving a feedback flame signal from said ignition induction electrodes and inputting the received flame signal into said microprocessor.
7. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the number of said gas valves is one more than the number of said supplementary control device, and the additional gas valve is controllable by the valve control device of said control device.
8. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, further comprising a side stove, said side stove comprising:
- a gas burner, which defines a fuel gas passage;
- a gas valve controllable to close/open the fuel gas passage of the gas burner of said side stove;
- a supplementary control device, said supplementary control device comprising a supplementary operating device for giving a command signal, a supplementary microprocessor, which receives the command signal from said supplementary operating device and runs subject to the received command signal and then outputs a corresponding control signal, and a valve control device, which receives the control signal from said supplementary microprocessor and drives the gas valve of said side stove subject to the received control signal;
- an ignition induction electrode disposed at one side of the gas burner of said side stove, and
- an igniter and inductor combination device adapted for receiving the control signal from said supplementary microprocessor and outputting a high voltage current to the ignition induction electrode of said side stove subject to the received control signal for causing the ignition induction electrode of said side stove to discharge sparks for burning a fuel mixture being discharged from the gas burner of said side stove and adapted for receiving a feedback flame signal from the ignition induction electrode of said side stove and inputting the received flame signal into said supplementary microprocessor.
9. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, further comprising a temperature sensor electrically connected to said microprocessor.
10. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, further comprising a lighting device, said lighting device comprising a light source controllable by said microprocessor to emit light.
11. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, further comprising a fuel gas indicator, said fuel gas indicator comprising a pressure switch electrically connect to said microprocessor.
12. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, further comprising a remote control device, said remote control device comprising a transmitter adapted for transmitting a data code, and a receiver adapted for receiving and decoding said data code from said transmitter and sending the decoded data to said microprocessor.
13. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, wherein said operating device comprises a power switch, a lamp switch, a flame switch, a temperature setting switch, a time setting switch, an upward adjustment switch and a downward adjustment switch; said control device comprises a display device controllable by said microprocessor for displaying output data from said microprocessor.
14. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, wherein said operating device is a touch control device, comprising a touch control IC and a touch panel for receiving input signal from a touch tip.
15. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, wherein said operating device is a remote control device, comprising a transmitter for transmitting a data code and a receiver for receiving and decoding said data code and sending the decoded data to said microprocessor.
16. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 6 or 8, wherein said supplementary operating device comprises a power switch and flame switches; said supplementary control device comprises a supplementary display device controllable by said supplementary microprocessor for displaying output data of said supplementary microprocessor.
17. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 2, 6 or 8, wherein said supplementary operating device is a touch control device, comprising a touch control IC and a touch panel for receiving input signal from a touch tip.
18. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, wherein each said gas valve comprises:
- a valve housing, said valve housing comprising a fuel gas passage and at least one mounting hole, the fuel gas passage of said valve housing having an inlet and at least one outlet, said at least one mounting hole being disposed in communication with the fuel gas passage of said valve housing between said inlet and said at least one outlet; and
- at least one electromagnetic valve respectively mounted in said at least one mounting hole and adapted for closing/opening the fuel gas passage of said valve housing.
19. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said at least one mounting hole of said valve housing includes a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole; said at least one electromagnetic valve comprises a first electromagnetic valve mounted in said first mounting hole and a second electromagnetic valve mounted in said second mounting hole, said first electromagnetic valve and said second electromagnetic valve being respectively controlled to close/open the fuel gas passage of said valve housing.
20. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said first electromagnetic valve has an air hole, said second electromagnetic valve has an air hole, and the air hole of said first electromagnetic valve and the air hole of said second electromagnetic valve have different diameters.
21. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said first electromagnetic valve has a first bushing mounted in the air hole thereof, said second electromagnetic valve has a second bushing mounted in the air hole thereof, and said first bushing and said second bushing have a different inner diameter.
22. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, wherein each said ignition induction electrode is comprised of an ignition electrode and an inductor electrode.
23. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1 or 6, wherein said operating device is a touch control device, comprising a touch control IC and a touch panel for receiving input signal from a touch tip; said control device comprises a display device incorporated with said touch control device to form a module of touch panel.
24. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said supplementary operating device is a touch control device, comprising a touch control IC and a touch pane for receiving input signal from a touch tip, said touch control device and said supplementary display device forming a module of touch panel.
25. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said supplementary operating device is a touch control device, comprising a touch control IC and a touch panel for receiving input signal from a touch tip; said supplementary control device comprising a supplementary display device, said supplementary display device forming with said touch control device a module of touch panel.
26. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said at least one igniter and inductor combination device is equal to the number of said at least one control device, and said at least one igniter and inductor combination device is respectively incorporated in said at least one control device for receiving the control signal from the associating microprocessor.
27. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the number of said at least one igniter and inductor combination device is equal to the sum of the number of said control device and the number of said supplementary control devices, and said control device and said supplementary control devices each have one said igniter and inductor combination device incorporated therein to form a part thereof for receiving the control signal from the associating microprocessor and the associating supplementary microprocessor.
28. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the number of said at least one igniter and inductor combination device is equal to the number of said supplementary control devices, and each said supplementary control devices has one said igniter and inductor combination device incorporated therein to form a part thereof for receiving the control signal from the associating supplementary microprocessor.
29. The gas burner system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the igniter and inductor combination device of said side stove is incorporated in the supplementary control device of said side stove, forming a part of the supplementary control device of said side stove.
Type: Application
Filed: May 12, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 23, 2009
Inventor: Wen Chou Chen (Shu Lin City)
Application Number: 12/152,190
International Classification: F23N 5/00 (20060101);