JPH04254111A - Burner controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To continue the combustion of fuel gas in a burner during the time of interruption of the electric power supply in a device that opens the fuel supply route continuously by energizing a solenoid safety valve to open and hold it only when it is judged by an electric current control circuit that the electromotive force of a thermocouple is more than a specified value. CONSTITUTION:During the interruption of electric power supply a thermocouple 21 that generates electromotive force corresponding to the combustion of a burner 2 and a solenoid safety valve 31 that holds open by being energized and continues to open a gas supply route 3 are connected by closing a normally closed type relay switch 54 by means of a relay 52 and a closed circuit is formed. With this arrangement, even in the interruption of electric power supply, the solenoid safety valve 31 is energized and held open by the electromotive force of the thermocouple 21 so that the gas supply route 3 continues to be open and the fuel gas is supplied to a gas burner 2. Cooking by heating can be, therefore, carried out even in the interruption of electric power supply.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for a combustion device such as a stove, which is operated by supplying electricity from a commercial AC power source or other power source.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a control circuit determines the electromotive force of a thermocouple caused by the temperature of the combustion flame of a burner, and this control circuit controls the energization of an electromagnetic safety valve to supply fuel to the burner. A control device for a combustion device that opens and closes a supply path has been proposed. The control device for this combustion device normally energizes the electromagnetic safety valve to keep it open only when the control circuit determines that the electromotive force of the thermocouple has increased to a predetermined value or more.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional technology, when a power outage occurs, the electromagnetic safety valve is not energized and therefore does not remain open, so the fuel supply path is not opened and combustion cannot be performed in the burner. There was an issue. For this reason, there has been a problem in combustion devices such as cooking stoves, for example, that cooking cannot be done during a power outage.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a combustion device that allows combustion in a burner even during a power outage.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention includes a burner that burns fuel, a fuel supply passage that supplies the fuel to the burner, and a valve that is disposed in the fuel supply passage and that holds the valve open when energized. an electromagnetic safety valve that closes when the energization is stopped; an operating means that manually forcibly opens the electromagnetic safety valve; a thermocouple that generates a corresponding electromotive force, a closed circuit that connects the electromagnetic safety valve and the thermocouple, and opening/closing means that opens the closed circuit when energized and closes the closed circuit when energization is stopped; A technical means is adopted that includes an energization control circuit that controls energization of the opening/closing means and also controls energization of the electromagnetic safety valve in accordance with the electromotive force of the thermocouple.

Further, the opening/closing means includes a normally closed relay switch connected to the closed circuit, and a relay coil that opens the relay switch when energized.

The energization control circuit has a relay drive circuit that controls energization and de-energization of the relay coil, and the relay drive circuit controls the relay coil after a predetermined time has elapsed since the energization has been stopped. Stop energizing.

[0008]

[Operation] (Claim 1) According to the present invention, when the electromagnetic safety valve cannot be energized due to a power outage, the opening/closing means closes the closed circuit, so the electromagnetic safety valve and the thermocouple form a closed circuit. Therefore, the fuel is combusted in the burner by igniting the electromagnetic safety valve with the electromagnetic safety valve forcibly held open by manually operating the operating means. While the burner is in the combustion state, the electromagnetic safety valve is energized by the electromotive force of the thermocouple, so the valve is held open and fuel continues to be supplied to the burner, so that the burner continues to burn fuel.

(Claim 2) When the energization control circuit energizes the relay coil, the normally closed relay switch is opened and a closed circuit connecting the electromagnetic safety valve and the thermocouple is opened. When the energization control circuit stops energizing the relay coil, the normally closed relay switch is closed and the closed circuit is closed.

(Claim 3) When a power failure occurs during combustion in the burner, the relay drive circuit stops energizing the relay coil after a predetermined time has elapsed since the energization was stopped. Therefore, by delaying the closing timing of the normally closed relay switch, the closing timing of the closed circuit is delayed. Therefore, even when an electromotive force is generated in the thermocouple due to burner combustion, the energization control circuit stops energizing the electromagnetic safety valve first, so the electromagnetic safety valve closes and the fuel supply path is closed, thereby extinguishing the fire. .

[0011]

Effects of the Invention (Claim 1) The present invention allows combustion to be performed using a burner even in a power outage state, so that it is possible to solve the problem that, for example, cooking cannot be performed for a long time using a burner.

(Claim 2) By using a normally closed relay switch that is activated by energizing a relay coil as the opening/closing means, it is possible to always close a closed circuit during a power outage.

(Claim 3) Even if there is a power outage while fuel is being burned in the burner, the fire can be extinguished.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A control device for a combustion apparatus according to the present invention will be explained based on an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a main electrical circuit diagram of a gas stove, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a gas supply path built into the gas stove.

The gas stove 1 includes a gas burner 2, a gas supply path 3, an ignition device 4, and an electric circuit 5. The gas burner 2 burns a mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air (hereinafter referred to as fuel gas). A thermocouple 21 is attached to the gas burner 2 so as to face the flame opening of the gas burner 2. This thermocouple 21 generates a thermoelectromotive force (thermal voltage) corresponding to the temperature of the combustion flame generated by the gas burner 2 .

The gas supply passage 3 is a fuel supply passage of the present invention, and is a passage for supplying fuel gas to the gas burner 2. This gas supply path 3 is provided with an electromagnetic safety valve 31, a manual main valve 32, and a throttle 33.

The electromagnetic safety valve 31 is a conventionally known one consisting of an electromagnetic coil (not shown), a valve body (not shown), etc., and when pressed manually, the valve body is displaced to supply gas. When the passage 3 is opened and the current is applied in this state, the valve is kept open, and when the current is stopped, the valve is closed.

The manual main valve 32 is composed of a valve body (not shown) and the like, and when pressed manually, the valve body is displaced to open and close the gas supply path 3. The throttle 33 is a part that restricts the flow rate of fuel gas.

The ignition device 4 includes an ignition/extinguishing button 41, an igniter (not shown), and the like. The ignition/extinguishing button 41 is an operating means of the present invention, and is of a push-push type equipped with a conventionally known heart cam mechanism. When the ignition/extinguishing button 41 is pressed during ignition, the electromagnetic safety valve 31 and the manual main valve 32 are opened, and when the pressure is released, the manual main valve 32 is held open at an intermediate position.

When extinguishing the fire, the manual main valve 32 is closed by pressing the ignition/extinguishing button 41 again and then releasing it from the intermediate position. The igniter is disposed facing the flame port of the gas burner 2, and ignites the fuel gas when the ignition/extinguishing button 41 is pressed during use.

The electric circuit 5 includes a closed circuit 51 connecting the electromagnetic safety valve 31 and the thermocouple 21;
It has a relay 52 that opens and closes the electromagnetic safety valve 31 and the relay 52, and an energization control circuit 53 that controls energization and de-energization of the electromagnetic safety valve 31 and the relay 52.

The relay 52 is the opening/closing means of the present invention, and includes a normally closed relay switch 54 and a relay coil 55. When closed, the relay switch 54 connects the thermocouple 21 and the electromagnetic safety valve 31 to close (form) the closed circuit 51.

Furthermore, when the relay switch 54 is opened, the connection between the thermocouple 21 and the electromagnetic safety valve 31 is cut off, and the closed circuit 51 is opened. The relay coil 55 opens the relay switch 54 when energized, and closes the relay switch 54 when the energization is stopped.

The energization control circuit 53 includes an ignition detection circuit 56,
It has a safety valve drive circuit 57, a relay drive circuit 58, and a microcomputer 59. The ignition detection circuit 56 sends a signal to the microcomputer 59 when the electromotive force of the thermocouple 21 rises above a predetermined value.

The safety valve drive circuit 57 includes an ignition detection circuit 56
When a signal is output from the microcomputer 59 in response to a signal from the microcomputer 59, the electromagnetic safety valve 31 is energized. Furthermore, when no signal is received from the ignition detection circuit 56 due to a misfire or the like,
The signal from the microcomputer 59 is stopped, and the supply of electricity to the electromagnetic safety valve 31 is stopped.

The relay drive circuit 58 is connected to the ignition/extinguishing button 41
When the microcomputer 59 outputs a signal, the relay coil 55 is energized. The relay drive circuit 58 also includes a timer such as a capacitor, performs a power outage or a fire extinguishing operation using the on/off button 41, and energizes the relay coil 55 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the signal from the microcomputer 59 was stopped. stop. Note that the microcomputer 59 operates when power is supplied from a commercial AC power source (not shown).

The operation of this gas stove 1 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The explanation will be based on. When performing combustion with the gas burner 2 during a power outage, first, the ignition/extinguishing button 41 is manually pressed. Then, the electromagnetic safety valve 31 and the manual main valve 32 are forcibly opened, and the gas burner 2 is supplied through the gas supply path 3.
Fuel gas is supplied to the

When the user ignites the ignition with a match or lighter, the gas burner 2 starts combustion, and the heat of the combustion flame generated by the gas burner 2 causes the thermocouple 21 to ignite.
generates an electromotive force.

It should be noted that since the power is out, no signal from the microcomputer 59 is sent to the relay drive circuit 58, so the relay coil 55 is also not energized. Therefore, when the relay switch 54 is closed, a closed circuit 51 connecting the electromagnetic safety valve 31 and the thermocouple 21 in an annular manner is formed.

As a result, the electromagnetic safety valve 31 is energized by the electromotive force of the thermocouple 21.
Even if the user releases the ignition/extinguishing button 41 after reaching the predetermined electromotive force required to keep the valve open, the electromagnetic safety valve 31
is held open, and the manual main valve 32 is locked at the open position by the heart cam mechanism.

Therefore, the gas supply path 3 is connected to the gas burner 2.
Since fuel gas continues to be supplied from the gas burner 2, combustion continues in the gas burner 2. That is, in this embodiment, since combustion can be performed using the gas burner 2 even in a power outage state, cooking can be performed even if the power outage state continues for a long time. Note that if a misfire occurs during use during a power outage, the thermocouple 21 will not generate an electromotive force and the electromagnetic safety valve 3 will
No. 1 is no longer energized and the valve is closed, stopping the supply of fuel gas.

[0032] If a power failure occurs during cooking with the gas burner 2, the power supply to the electric circuit 5 is stopped, and therefore the signal from the microcomputer 59 to the relay drive circuit 58 is stopped. At this time, the relay drive circuit 58 continues to energize the relay coil 55 until a predetermined time elapses using a timer such as a capacitor.

During this time, no signal from the microcomputer 59 is sent to the safety valve drive circuit 57, and the electromagnetic safety valve 3
1 is stopped, and the electromagnetic safety valve 31 is closed. Therefore, the gas supply path 3 is closed, the supply of fuel gas to the gas burner 2 is cut off, and the fire is reliably extinguished. That is, in the event of a power outage while cooking with the gas burner 2, the system operates on the safe side.

(Modification) In this embodiment, a relay is used as the opening/closing means, but a semiconductor switching element such as a transistor may also be used. In this embodiment, gaseous fuel was used as the fuel, but liquid fuel such as kerosene may also be used.

[0035] The power outage state includes not only the case where the supply of alternating current from the commercial AC power supply is stopped but also the case where the dry battery is disconnected.

In this example, the electromagnetic safety valve was forcibly opened only manually, and the valve was kept open by applying electricity. It is also possible to use one in which the valve is held by energizing. In this case, the electromagnetic coil for forced valve opening is often provided separately in addition to the electromagnetic coil for holding the valve open.

In this embodiment, when the electromotive force of the thermocouple is above a predetermined value, the ignition detection circuit sends a signal to the microcomputer, and in response, the microcomputer sends a signal to the safety valve drive circuit. , a signal may be sent to the microcomputer when the time gradient of the electromotive force, that is, the value of the electromotive force is not in a downward trend. Alternatively, the ignition detection circuit may send out a signal corresponding to the magnitude of the electromotive force to the microcomputer, and the microcomputer may analyze the signal and determine whether to send the signal to the safety valve drive circuit.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a main electrical circuit diagram of a gas stove employing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a gas supply path built into the gas stove.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Gas stove 2 Gas burner (burner) 3 Gas supply path (fuel supply path) 21 Thermocouple 31 Solenoid safety valve 41 Turn off button (operation means) 51 Closed circuit 52 Relay (opening/closing means) 53 Energization control circuit 54 Normally closed relay switch 55 Relay coil 58 Relay drive circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claim 1: (a) a burner for burning fuel;
b) a fuel supply path for supplying the fuel to this burner;
c) an electromagnetic safety valve disposed in the fuel supply path, which holds the valve open when energized and closes when the energization is stopped; and (d) operating means for manually forcibly opening the electromagnetic safety valve. (e) a thermocouple disposed facing the flame opening of the burner and generating an electromotive force according to the temperature of the combustion flame of the burner; and (f) a closure connecting the electromagnetic safety valve and the thermocouple. (g) opening/closing means that opens the closed circuit when energized and closes the closed circuit when energization is stopped; and (h) controlling energization of the opening/closing means and controlling the electromotive force of the thermocouple. and an energization control circuit that controls energization of the electromagnetic safety valve in accordance with the above. 2. The combustion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening/closing means includes a normally closed relay switch connected to the closed circuit, and a relay coil that opens the relay switch when energized. control device. 3. The energization control circuit includes a relay drive circuit that controls energization and de-energization of the relay coil, and the relay drive circuit controls the relay coil after a predetermined time has elapsed since the energization is stopped. 3. The control device for a combustion device according to claim 2, wherein the control device stops energizing the relay coil.