Switch device for an ignition system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a switch device for ignition systems and, more particularly, for use in cooking equipment or heating systems in general, such as to obtain the electrical contact necessary to generate the spark for activating the burner. More preferably, the present invention includes innovative functional and technical aspects capable of promoting the electrical contact necessary to activate the burner, but principally to increase the levels of safety in relation to movement of the controls of cooking equipment/heating equipment, principally in connection with the return movement of said control. Therefore, the present switch device comprises a casing formed by a lower structural body and another, upper structural body, which engage with one another in such a manner as to accommodate, within, flexible contact blades and a rotary core, the structural bodies having contact surfaces provided with at least one projecting portion; furthermore, an axially moveable commutator ring is engaged on said rotary core.

Claims

1. A switch device for an ignition system, the switch device comprising: a casing including a lower structural body and an upper structural body, which engage with one another; flexible contact blades and a rotary core, wherein the flexible contact blades and the rotary core are accommodated within the casing; and an axially moveable commutator ring engaged on said rotary core, wherein: the lower structural body has a contact surface provided with at least one projecting portion, the upper structural body has a contact surface provided with at least one projecting portion, said flexible contact blades are made from metallic material or another material that conducts electricity, and the switch device for an ignition system is configured such that the rotary core is axially stationary.

2. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 1, wherein said contact blades are formed by two-part plates.

3. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 1, wherein said commutator ring comprises at least one upper protuberant portion and at least one lower protuberant portion that respectively interact with the upper structural body and the lower structural body.

4. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 1, wherein the at least one projecting portion of the contact surface of the lower structural body and the at least one projecting portion of the contact surface of the upper structural body are components spaced away from respective centers of the lower structural body and the upper structural body.

5. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 1, wherein the rotary core comprises at least two rails, and the commutator ring has at least two guides.

6. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 1, wherein the rotary core comprises at least two grooves, and the commutator ring has at least two protrusions respectively extending into the grooves of the at least two grooves.

7. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 5, wherein the guides and rails fit relative to one another in a male-female relationship.

8. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 5, wherein said commutator ring comprises at least one upper protuberant portion and at least one lower protuberant portion that respectively interact with the upper structural body and the lower structural body.

9. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 3, wherein the commutator ring further comprises a protruding member extending away from an axial direction of the commutator ring, and the protuberant portions extend in the axial direction, and wherein the protruding member moves, when the commutator ring is rotated, over the contact blades, and wherein the switch device is configured such that when the switch device is returned from a turned-on positon to a turned off-position, the protruding member is shifted in the axial direction, upward or downward, in relation to a free segment of a contact blade of the flexible contact blades and thus does not generate any spark, because the switch device is configured such that the blades do not lie against one another during the return maneuver.

10. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 6, wherein the rotary core includes a central aperture configured to enable passage of a gas tap shaft.

11. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 6, wherein the rotary core includes a central aperture through which extends a gas tap shaft.

12. A switch device for an ignition system, the switch device comprising: a casing including a lower structural body and an upper structural body, which engage with one another; flexible contact blades and a rotary core, wherein the flexible contact blades and the rotary core are accommodated within the casing; and an axially moveable commutator ring engaged on said rotary core, wherein: the lower structural body has a contact surface provided with at least one projecting portion, the upper structural body has a contact surface provided with at least one projecting portion, said rotary core comprises a central aperture for a passage of a gas tap shaft, and rails where guides provided in an internal portion of said commutator ring are engaged, and said commutator ring comprises at least one upper protuberant portion and at least one lower protuberant portion that respectively interact with the upper structural body and the lower structural body.

13. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 12, wherein at least one rail of the rails is arranged vertically or on a slant.

14. A switch device for an ignition system, the switch device comprising: a casing including a lower structural body and an upper structural body, which engage with one another, flexible contact blades and a rotary core, wherein the flexible contact blades and the rotary core are accommodated within the casing; and an axially moveable commutator ring engaged on said rotary core, wherein: the lower structural body has a contact surface provided with at least one projecting portion, the upper structural body has a contact surface provided with at least one projecting portion, the projecting portions interact with the commutator ring, the commutator ring comprises at least one upper protuberant portion and at least one lower protuberant portion, and the commutator ring rests on one of the contact surfaces via the lower protuberant portion and is aligned with the other of the contact surfaces via the upper protuberant portion.

15. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 14, wherein said flexible contact blades are made from metallic material or another material that conducts electricity.

16. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 14, wherein said rotary core comprises a central aperture for a passage of a gas tap shaft, and rails where guides provided in an internal portion of said commutator ring are engaged to enable the commutator ring to move in a direction parallel to an axis of the rotary core.

17. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 14, wherein said lower structural body includes an aperture, and a component forming a portion of the aperture establishes the contact surface of the lower structural body.

18. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 14, wherein the lower structural body has a second contact surface separate and distinct from the contact surface provided with the at least one projecting portion, and the second contact surface includes at least one second projecting portion.

19. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 14, wherein said flexible contact blades are arranged in slots provided in said lower structural body, in said upper structural body, or in both structural bodies.

20. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 15, wherein the switch device for an ignition system is configured such that the rotary core is axially stationary.

21. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 15, wherein the switch device for an ignition system is configured such that lateral positions of the rotary core are entirely maintained relative to the rest of the switch device for an ignition system by components on an outside of the rotary core.

22. The switch device for an ignition system of claim 15, wherein the rotary core includes a central aperture, and wherein the switch device for an ignition system is configured to enable passage of a gas tap shaft through the central aperture.

23. A switch device for an ignition system, the switch device comprising: a casing including a lower structural body and an upper structural body, which engage with one another; flexible contact blades and a rotary core, wherein the flexible contact blades and the rotary core are accommodated within the casing; and an axially moveable commutator ring engaged on said rotary core, wherein: the lower structural body has a contact surface provided with at least one projecting portion, the upper structural body has a contact surface provided with at least one projecting portion, the at least one projecting portion of the contact surface of the lower structural body and the at least one projecting portion of the contact surface of the upper structural body are entirely within a cavity formed by a union of the lower structural body and the upper structural body, said flexible contact blades are made from metallic material or another material that conducts electricity, and the switch device for an ignition system is configured such that the rotary core is axially stationary.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features, advantages and technical effects of the present invention, as indicated above, will be better understood by a person skilled in the art on the basis of the following detailed description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, of preferred embodiments, and with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the switch device for ignition systems of cooking and heating equipment according to the present invention, in the assembled condition;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the switch device that is the subject of the present invention in an expanded view, the assembly sequence being represented by the arrows and broken lines;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate perspective views only of the rotary core of the switch device according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view only of the commutator ring of the switch device according to the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the structural base and of the commutator ring of the switch device that is the subject of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a partial view of the structural base of the switch device, with detail showing the arrangement of the flexible contact blades, according to the present invention;

(8) FIGS. 7A to 7E illustrate the switch device that is the subject of the present invention viewed from different angles in the situation in which the burners are activated;

(9) FIGS. 8A to 8E illustrate the switch device as illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7E from different angles, but in the situation of the control having been returned to the turned-off position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) In accordance with the schematic figures mentioned above, certain preferred and possible illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be described in greater detail below, but it should be made clear that this is a purely illustrative and non-limiting description since the present switch device for ignition systems of cooking equipment and heating systems may include different details and structural and dimensional aspects without thereby departing from the respective scope of protection.

(11) In addition, it is pointed out that certain reference signs indicating the features of the present invention will not be reproduced in all the figures mentioned above, given that reproduction of all the reference signs in all the figures could adversely affect the understanding and definition of the scope of protection in question. Furthermore, there are certain figures in which some of the components are omitted in order to make it possible adequately to view the technical aspects of the present invention.

(12) More particularly, according to FIGS. 1 to 6, the switch device for ignition systems of domestic electrical appliances that is the subject of the present invention comprises a casing 1 constituted by at least two structural bodies, a lower structural body 1a and an upper structural body 1b, which engage with one another, the flexible contact blades L and a rotary core 2 designed to be engaged on the gas tap shaft of the cooking or heating equipment being positioned inside said structural bodies.

(13) The lower structural body 1a comprises a contact surface 4a on which the rotary core 2 rests in a condition in which it may be moved rotationally in relation to the structural body 1a, said contact surface 4a being provided with at least one projecting portion 5a that interacts with a commutator ring 3 engaged movably on said rotary core 2.

(14) According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and especially in connection with the practical assembly thereof, the lower structural body 1a is provided with slots 6 for accommodating said flexible contact blades L. Logically, as must be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, said slots 6 could also be provided in the upper structural body 1b or, furthermore, in both structural bodies, e.g. each body being responsible for supporting one contact blade L, since it is necessary, as a minimum requirement, at least two blades in order to obtain the closure of the electrical contact.

(15) In a further structural variant of the present invention, said contact blades may also be embedded directly and affixed during the process of manufacturing the structural bodies 1a or 1b, principally in those cases where said structural bodies are manufactured by means of an injection-molding process, which would simplify and reduce the costs of the manufacturing process of the present invention.

(16) As illustrated in FIG. 6, according to a preferably advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the contact blades L are constituted by a two-part metallic plate, one of the segments of the plate being inserted into the slot 6 provided in the structural body 1a/1b and the other segment of the plate being arranged so as to remain free and has sufficient elasticity to return to the retracted position of the other blade L in the absence of action of forces. Logically, as must be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, one of the contact blades L, particularly that which does not enter into contact with the commutator ring 3, does not need to be flexible or two-part, and may be a metallic plate or a plate made of another material that conducts electricity which is rigid and with no partition.

(17) With reference, again, to FIG. 2, it is observed that the upper structural body 1b has a format corresponding to the lower structural body 1a such that said bodies can engage and form the casing 1 of the switch device that is the subject of the present invention. More particularly, the upper structural body 1b comprises an aperture 7 through which the end of the rotary core 2 is positioned when the switch device is assembled.

(18) Similar to the case of the lower structural body 1a, the upper structural body 1b also comprises a contact surface 4b provided with at least one projecting portion 5b that interacts with said commutator ring 3 engaged on said rotary core 2. More specifically, said rotary core 2 is positioned such that it can move rotationally in relation to the structural body 1b whenever the user rotates the equipment control.

(19) The rotary core 2 is provided with a central aperture 8 for the passage of the gas tap shaft and, furthermore, comprises rails 9 for the orientation of guides 10 provided in the internal portion of said commutator ring 3. The purpose of these rails 9 is to allow said commutator ring 3 to move axially in accordance with its position in relation to the projecting portions 5a, 5b of the lower 1a and upper 1b structural bodies. More particularly, said commutator ring 3 comprises at least one upper protuberant portion 11 and at least one lower protuberant portion 11, which are designed to act on said projecting portions 5a and 5b of the respective structural bodies 1a and 1b.

(20) FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a preferred embodiment of said rotary core 2, in which the rail 9 is provided on the walls to allow engagement and axial movement of said commutator ring 3, particularly via the guides 10 thereof arranged in the internal wall thereof. According to a possible alternative embodiment of the present invention, said rail 9 may be arranged vertically (as illustrated in the figures), but may also be on a slant.

(21) Furthermore, as mentioned above, said rotary core 2 must comprise at least one rail 9 and said commutator ring must also comprise at least one guide 10 to act in conjunction with said rail 9. However, despite being functional with only one rail and one guide, according to a preferably advantageous embodiment and as illustrated by the appended figures the rotary core 2 comprises at least two rails 9 and the respective commutator ring 3 also has at least two guides 10, which guarantees alignment and avoids the risk of said ring 3 jamming in relation to the rotary core 2.

(22) Reference is made to FIG. 5 which illustrates said commutator ring 3 merely positioned on the lower structural body 1a. In this figure, attention is drawn to the fact that the rotary core 2 has been omitted only to make it easier to see said commutator ring 3 and the contact surface 4a, especially in relation to the projecting portion 5a. More specifically, as may be seen, said commutator ring 3 rests on said contact surface 4a via the lower protuberant portions 11. At the same time, and with reference, now, to FIG. 2, it is pointed out that said commutator ring 3 is aligned with the contact surface 4b of the structural body 1b and, more particularly, via the upper protuberant portions 11.

(23) In addition, it is noted that said commutator ring 3 comprises a peripheral wall 3a that has a kind of cam 12, the purpose of which is to promote the activation of the electrical contacts and, more specifically, the aim of this cam 12 is to force the free segment of the contact blade L toward the other contact blade L in such a manner to obtain closure of the circuit and consequently generation of the spark for activating the burners. Thus, by virtue of the increase in circumference caused by the cam 12 over a specific portion of the commutator ring 3, when it passes via the region of the contact blades L it gives rise to the movement of the free segment of the contact blade against the other blade L, thereby closing the electrical contact of the ignition system.

(24) It is pointed out that, when the control is returned to the turned-off position, the assembly and features of the switch device according to the present invention mean that said cam 12 is shifted axially, upward or downward, in relation to the free segment of the contact blade L and consequently does not generate any spark, since the blades do not lie against one another during the control return maneuver. This structure, and also the functioning of the present invention, will be described in greater detail and made clearer in the following description.

(25) FIGS. 7A-7E and 8A-8E illustrate various views of the switch device according to the present invention from different angles and in the form of different cross sections, the aim being to illustrate as clearly as possible the assembly and, principally, the operation of the present invention and, more specifically, at the time of activation of the burners (FIG. 7) and at the time of the return movement of the control of the heating system equipment (FIG. 8).

(26) As may be observed, FIGS. 7A to 7E illustrate the switch device of the present invention at the time when the user is rotating the equipment control in order to activate the ignition system and consequently to activate the burners. In this case, it will be seen that the rotary core 2, together with the commutator ring 3, is in such a position that the cam 12 is aligned with the free segment of the contact blade L and consequently, as the commutator ring 3 is rotated, the cam 12 thereof begins to push the free segment of the blade L aside toward the other flexible contact blade L.

(27) Particularly with reference to FIGS. 7D and 7E, it is possible to observe that, in the situation of the burners having been activated, the projecting portion 5b of the upper structural body 1b interacts with the upper protuberant portion 11 of the commutator ring 3, causing the guide 10 of the commutator ring 3 to be positioned in the lower portion of the rail 9 of the rotary core. In other words, the interaction between the projecting 5b and protuberant portion 11 ensure that the commutator ring 3 is positioned in the lower region of the rotary core 2, and consequently said cam 12 is at the same level as the contact blades L. Logically, as must be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention the guide 10 of the commutator ring 3 is positioned in the upper portion of the rail 9 of the rotary core 2 and, in this case, said contact blades are arranged in a more elevated configuration.

(28) It should be made clear that, with this assembly and in this situation, it is possible to guarantee activation of the ignition system, thereby principally eliminating any risk of failure potentially caused by undesired axial movement of the commutator ring 3, since the cam 12 rests against the contact blades L, and there is also interaction between the protuberant portions 11 and 11 and the contact surfaces 4a and 4b of the structural bodies 1a/1b of the casing 1.

(29) With reference, now, to FIGS. 8A to 8E, the switch device according to the present invention can be seen at the time when the user is moving the control of the cooking/heating equipment in the direction of return to the turned-off position, i.e. the rotary core 2 of the switch device is rotating in the opposite direction from that stated above with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7E.

(30) In this case, it is noted that the rotary core 2, together with the commutator ring 3, is in the position in which the cam 12 is out of alignment in relation to the free segment of the contact blade L and consequently, as said commutator ring 3 is rotated, the cam 12 thereof does not make contact with said free segment of the blade L and therefore a blade is not pushed aside toward the other contact blade.

(31) With particular reference to FIGS. 8D and 8E, it is noted that, in this condition of return of the control to the turned-off position, the projecting portion 5a of the lower structural body 1a interacts with the lower protuberant portion 11 of the commutator ring 3 such that said guide 10 of the ring 3 is arranged in the upper region of the rail 9 of the rotary core 2 or, alternatively, in the lower portion of the rail 9, depending on the positioning of said contact blades L. More specifically, it is noted that the interaction between the projecting portion 5a and protuberant portion 11 ensures that the commutator ring 3 is positioned in the upper region of the rotary core 2 and thus said cam 12 moves over the contact blades L, i.e. the cam 12 passes above the flexible contact blade L. According to the alternative embodiment of the present invention, the interaction between the projecting 5b and protuberant 11 portions guarantees that the commutator ring 3 is positioned in the lower region of the rotary core 2 and thus said cam 12 moves below the contact blades L, i.e. the cam 12 passes below the flexible contact blade L.

(32) By virtue of this assembly, it is possible to ensure that said flexible contact blades L do not lie against one another and consequently it is guaranteed that there will be no generation of the so-called return sparks. This is possible because, once again, said commutator ring 3 rests on the contact blades and thus movement of said commutator ring 3 in the axial direction and consequently of the contact blades L is prevented. Thus, the cam 12 is successfully prevented from unintentionally or undesirably moving the contact blades L at the time when the control is returning to the turned-off position.

(33) Lastly, taking all the aforesaid into consideration, it is important to point out that the present description is aimed only at describing preferred embodiments of the ignition system switch device according to the present invention in an illustrative manner. Thus, as persons skilled in the art well understand, numerous structural modifications, variations and combinations of the elements having the same functions substantially in the same form in order to achieve the same results are possible and these should be included within the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.