US-12624777-B2 - Connecting assembly for a gas cooking appliance

US12624777B2US 12624777 B2US12624777 B2US 12624777B2US-12624777-B2

Abstract

Connecting assembly of a gas cooking appliance that includes a flexible tube and a connector fixed to a first end of said flexible tube, the connector being configured to be directly connected to an opening of a manifold of the gas cooking appliance.

Inventors

Xabier BIKUÑA ORMAZABAL

Assignees

COPRECI, S.COOP.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221116
Priority Date: 20211116

Claims (15)

1 . A gas cooking appliance comprising: a first manifold having a first connection opening and a second connection opening; a second manifold having a first connection opening; a first flexible tube having at a first end a first connector fixed directly to the first connection opening of the first manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the first flexible tube with an interior of the first manifold, the first connector at the first end of the first flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the first flexible tube being made of stainless steel, the first end of the first flexible tube being attached to the first connector by a first weld; and a second flexible tube having at a first end a first connector fixed directly to the second connection opening of the first manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the second flexible tube with the interior of the first manifold, the second flexible tube having at a second end a second connector directly fixed to the first connection opening of the second manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the second flexible tube with the interior of the second manifold, the first connector at the first end of the second flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the second connector at the second end of the second flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the second flexible tube being made of stainless steel, the first end of the second flexible tube being attached to the first connector by a second weld, the second end of the second flexible tube being attached to the second connector by a third weld.
2 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the first connector of the first flexible tube includes a first portion fixed to the first end of the first flexible tube and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion, the second portion including a transverse opening disposed in the interior of the first manifold.
3 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the first connector of the first flexible tube comprises a threaded longitudinal hole in which resides a screw that fixes the first connector of the first flexible tube to the first manifold, the screw extending through an opening in the first manifold, the opening facing the first connection opening of the first manifold.
4 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 3 , comprising a first sealing element that seals a joint between the screw and the first manifold, and a second sealing element that seals a joint between the first connector and the first manifold.
5 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the first connector of the second flexible tube includes a first portion fixed to the first end of the second flexible tube and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion, the second portion including a transverse opening disposed in the interior of the first manifold.
6 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 5 , wherein the second portion of the first connector of the second flexible tube comprises a threaded longitudinal hole in which resides a screw that fixes the first connector of the second flexible tube to the first manifold, the screw extending through an opening in the first manifold, the opening facing the second connection opening.
7 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 6 , further comprising a first sealing element that seals a joint between the screw and the first manifold, and a second sealing element that seals a joint between the second connector and the first manifold.
8 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the second connector of the second flexible tube includes a first portion fixed to the second end of the second flexible tube and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion, the second portion including a transverse opening disposed in the interior of the second manifold.
9 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 8 , wherein the second portion of the second connector of the second flexible tube comprises a threaded longitudinal hole in which resides a screw that fixes the second connector of the second flexible tube to the second manifold, the screw extending through an opening in the second manifold, the opening facing the first connection opening of the second manifold.
10 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 9 , further comprising a first sealing element that seals a joint between the screw and the second manifold, and a second sealing element that seals a joint between the second connector and the seconds manifold.
11 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the first connector of the first flexible tube includes a first portion fixed to the first end of the first flexible tube and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion, the second portion including a transverse opening disposed in the interior of the first manifold, the first connector of the second flexible tube includes a first portion fixed to the first end of the second flexible tube and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion of the first connector of the second flexible tube, the second portion of the first connector of the second flexible tube including a transverse opening disposed in the interior of the first manifold.
12 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 11 , wherein the second connector of the second flexible tube includes a first portion fixed to the second end of the second flexible tube and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion of the second connector, the second portion of the second connector including a transverse opening disposed in the interior of the second manifold.
13 . The gas cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the first flexible tube has a second end to which is attached a gas inlet connector.
14 . A gas cooking appliance comprising: a first manifold having a first connection opening and a second connection opening; a second manifold having a first connection opening; a first flexible tube having at a first end a first connector fixed directly to the first connection opening of the first manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the first flexible tube with an interior of the first manifold, the first connector at the first end of the first flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the first flexible tube being made of stainless steel, the first end of the first flexible tube being attached to the first connector by a first weld; a second flexible tube having at a first end a first connector fixed directly to the second connection opening of the first manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the second flexible tube with the interior of the first manifold, the second flexible tube having at a second end a second connector directly fixed to the first connection opening of the second manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the second flexible tube with the interior of the second manifold, the first connector at the first end of the second flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the second connector at the second end of the second flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the second flexible tube being made of stainless steel, the first end of the second flexible tube being attached to the first connector by a second weld, the second end of the second flexible tube being attached to the second connector by a third weld; and a third manifold having a first connection opening, and wherein the first flexible tube has second connector at a second end fixed directly to the first connection opening of the third manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the first flexible tube with an interior of the third manifold, the second connector at the second end of the first flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the first flexible tube being made of stainless steel, the second end of the first flexible tube being attached to the second connector by a fourth weld.
15 . A gas cooking appliance comprising: a first manifold having a first connection opening and a second connection opening; a second manifold having a first connection opening and a second connection opening; a third manifold having a first connection opening; a first flexible tube having at a first end a first connector fixed directly to the first connection opening of the first manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the first flexible tube with an interior of the first manifold, the first connector at the first end of the first flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the first flexible tube being made of stainless steel, the first end of the first flexible tube being attached to the first connector by a first weld; a second flexible tube having at a first end a first connector fixed directly to the second connection opening of the first manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the second flexible tube with the interior of the first manifold, the second flexible tube having at a second end a second connector directly fixed to the first connection opening of the second manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the second flexible tube with the interior of the second manifold, the first connector at the first end of the second flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the second connector at the second end of the second flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the second flexible tube being made of stainless steel, the first end of the second flexible tube being attached to the first connector by a second weld, the second end of the second flexible tube being attached to the second connector by a third weld; a third flexible tube having at a first end a first connector fixed directly to the second connection opening of the second manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the third flexible tube with the interior of the second manifold, the third flexible tube having at a second end a second connector directly fixed to the first connection opening of the third manifold and configured to fluidly communicate the third flexible tube with the interior of the third manifold, the first connector at the first end of the third flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the second connector at the second end of the third flexible tube comprising a deformed stainless steel tube, the third flexible tube being made of stainless steel, the first end of the third flexible tube being attached to the first connector by a fourth weld, the second end of the third flexible tube being attached to the second connector by a fifth weld.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application relates to and claims the benefit and priority to European Application No. EP21383039.1, filed Nov. 16, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD The present invention relates to connecting assemblies for a gas cooking appliance, to gas distribution assemblies which incorporate said connecting assembly, and to gas cooking appliances which incorporate said gas distribution assembly. BACKGROUND Connecting assemblies configured for connecting a gas manifold to a gas inlet are known. In solutions of this type, the connecting assembly usually comprises a tube which is usually rigid and a connector configured for being coupled to a connector arranged in the manifold. Moreover, gas appliances which, due to their characteristics, require a gas distribution assembly with a manifold having a complex shape, for example, a manifold having curved segments to enable circumventing part of the electronics of the appliance gas, are known. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Provided is a connecting assembly for a gas cooking appliance, a gas distribution assembly which incorporates said connecting assembly, and a gas cooking appliance which incorporates said gas distribution assembly. A first aspect of the invention relates to a connecting assembly for a gas cooking appliance. The connecting assembly of the invention comprises a flexible tube and a connector fixed to a first end of said flexible tube. The connector is configured for being directly connected to an opening of a manifold of the gas cooking appliance. The connecting assembly can be used, on one hand, to connect the manifold of the cooking appliance to a gas inlet. The connecting assembly can also be used to connect two manifolds in series. In both cases, the flexibility offered by the flexible tube provides a connecting assembly which easily adapts to different morphologies of cooking gas appliances. Furthermore, the fact that the connector is configured for being directly connected to an opening of a manifold without having to arrange a compatible connector in the manifold offers a simple and cost-effective solution. A second aspect relates to a gas distribution assembly for a gas cooking appliance. The gas distribution assembly of the invention comprises a first manifold comprising an opening, and a connecting assembly comprising a flexible tube and a connector fixed to a first end of said flexible tube. The connector is directly connected to the opening of the first manifold. The fact that the connector is directly connected to the opening of the first manifold greatly simplifies the manufacturing of the gas distribution assembly, since it is sufficient to simply make an opening in the manifold, and therefore the need to arrange a connector in the manifold is avoided. Therefore, in addition to being a solution that is easier to manufacture, the present invention is also less expensive. Furthermore, the gas distribution assembly of the invention is particularly advantageous for use in cooking appliances the morphology of which requires having a manifold with a complex shape, for example with curved portions. Manifolds with complex shapes of this type are usually difficult to manufacture. The gas distribution assembly of the invention adapts to morphologies of this type by joining in series at least two manifolds that are easy to manufacture, preferably straight manifolds, by means of a corresponding connecting assembly, greatly facilitating the manufacturing of the gas distribution assembly. A third aspect of the invention relates to a gas cooking appliance. The gas cooking appliance of the invention comprises a gas distribution assembly like the one described in the second aspect of the invention. These and other advantages and features will become apparent in view of the figures and the detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a connecting assembly according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the connecting assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a connecting assembly according to s second embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the connecting assembly of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows a front view of the first connector of the connecting assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the first connector of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 shows a view of the screw associated with the first connector of the connecting assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a gas distribution assembly according to one embodiment. FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the gas distribution assembly of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 shows a view of the first manifold of the gas distribution assembly of FIG. 8. FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of the gas distribution assembly of FIG. 8. FIG. 12 shows a plan view of the gas distribution assembly having three manifolds. FIG. 13 shows a plan view of the gas distribution assembly having three manifolds. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A first aspect of