US 11,988,384 B2
Device for controlling the supply of a combustible gas to a burner of a heating apparatus
Massimo Giacomelli, Venice (IT)
Assigned to SIT S.P.A., Padua (IT)
Appl. No. 17/296,681
Filed by SIT S.P.A., Padua (IT)
PCT Filed Nov. 25, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/082343
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 25, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/109196, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 102018000010571 (IT), filed on Nov. 26, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0026065 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. F23N 1/00 (2006.01); F23K 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC F23N 1/005 (2013.01) [F23K 5/007 (2013.01); F23K 2900/05002 (2013.01); F23N 2235/16 (2020.01); F23N 2235/20 (2020.01); F23N 2235/24 (2020.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for controlling the supply of a combustible gas to a burner of a heating apparatus, the device comprising:
a pipe (2) for supplying the gas which extends between an inlet section (3) and an outlet section (4),
at least one valve (6) including a respective valve seat (6a) which is associated with a corresponding closure member (6b) which is provided with a respective control rod (7) for opening the valve seat counter to a resilient return means (8),
a system for amplifying the movement of the control rod (7) of the closure member, the system comprising a snap-fit spring (26) which acts on the rod (7) and a pushing element (27) which in turn acts on the snap-fit spring (26) in order to activate a snap-fit movement of the spring,
the pushing element (27) being acted upon by a first end (28a) of a lever (28), which is hinged at a fulcrum location which is positioned at an opposing second end (28b) of the lever,
an actuator operationally associated with the lever in a position between the opposing ends (28a, 28b) for control of the lever during a pivoting movement about the fulcrum location for a resultant movement of the closure member (6b) away from and towards the valve seat (6a) by the amplification system, the actuator comprising a linear actuator element (30) with a converse piezoelectric effect, in which a linear movement of the actuator is proportionally correlated with a signal of an electric control voltage which is applied to the actuator; and
a sensor (35) configured to detect temperature and an electronic control unit (33) of the device, to which a signal detected by the sensor (35) is transmitted, the electronic control unit further comprising a comparator, which compares the temperature signal detected with a preselected and selectable temperature level in the control unit (33), and a control signal generator of the piezoelectric actuator (30) in order to open/close the at least one valve (6) in order to reach the selected temperature level.