Operating Control Device and Operating Method

• US 20120042745A1
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Inventors: Hamm, Wolfgang Alfred, Baier, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,928,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/553
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/126 on ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/005 Electromechanical pulse generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/03 Means for limiting the angle of rotation of the operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/20 Driving mechanisms allowing angular displacement of the operating part to be effective in either direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2003 Electrical actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2014 Manually operated selector [e.g., remotely controlled device, lever, push button, rotary dial, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2084 Knob or dial

Abstract

An operating control device for adjusting the power of a heating device has a rotary knob that has an off position in which said rotary knob is deactivated, and a working position into which said knob can be brought to adjust the power. The working position is predetermined by a lock-in position, and the rotary knob can be rotated over a working angle of a rotation range in at least one direction of rotation from the working position counter to a counterforce that rises as the angle of rotation increases. The operating control device can detect the angle of rotation and uses a control system of the operating control device for adjusting the power. The control system is configured in such a manner that the power is adjusted more rapidly as the angle of rotation increases.

Claims

1. An operating control device for functional adjustment of a heating device comprising a rotary knob,

wherein said operating control device is configured such that said rotary knob has an OFF position that deactivates said operating control device, and said rotary knob has a working position for the functional adjustment,

wherein said working position is predetermined by a lock-in position, and said rotary knob is rotatable over a working angle of rotation range in at least one direction of rotation from said working position counter to a counterforce that increase as an angle of rotation increases, and

wherein said operating control device has an angle detecting means for detecting said angle of rotation, said angle detecting means connected to a control system of said operating control device for said functional adjustment.

2. The operating control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is configured such that as said angle of rotation becomes larger, said functional adjustment changes more rapidly.

3. The operating control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a repeated rotational movement with a small angle of rotation in the same direction carries out the functional adjustment comprising increasing or reducing a power setting.

4. The operating control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein increasing or reducing the power setting originates from an unstable intermediate position of said operating control device.

5. The operating control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotary knob is rotatable from said working position in both directions of rotation counter to the counterforce in each case.

6. The operating control device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the counterforce is the same in both said directions of rotation.

7. The operating control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said working angle of rotation range from said working position is less than 45°

.

8. The operating control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a counterforce device is provided for providing the counterforce and comprises a protruding cam part that runs in a radial direction and, at least within said working angle of rotation range, bears against a slotted sliding link for said cam part, said slotted sliding link extending from said working position towards a latching part and laterally away therefrom, said cam part configured to be pressed in said radial direction counter to a cam spring.

9. The operating control device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said cam part is rotationally fixed and movable only in said radial direction towards a slotted sliding link on said rotary knob.

10. The operating control device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said slotted sliding link is formed symmetrically with respect to a line along said radial direction of said cam part towards said axis of rotation.

11. The operating control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a counterforce device for generating said counterforce has a spring that, as said angle of rotation from said working position increases, is subjected to increasing force in order to apply said rising counterforce.

12. The operating control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said counterforce is in the range of 0.1 Ncm to 1 Ncm.

13. The operating control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a magnet and two magnetic field sensors are provided for detection of a rotation of said rotary knob.

14. The operating control device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said magnet is configured to be rotatable and said two magnetic field sensors are fixed in position.

15. The operating control device as claimed in claim 1 configured for a push-and-rotate actuation, and said rotary knob can be pushed-in in said OFF position and is rotatable in order to reach said working position only after being pushed in.

16. An operating method for an operating control device comprising a rotary knob wherein said operating control device is configured such that said rotary knob has an OFF position deactivating the operating control, and that said rotary knob can be brought into a working position for functional adjustment,

wherein said working position is predetermined by a lock-in position, and said rotary knob is rotatable over a working angle of rotation range in at least one direction of rotation from said working position counter to a counterforce that increase as an angle of rotation increases, and

wherein said operating control device has an angle detecting means for detecting said angle of rotation, said angle detecting means connected to a control system of said operating control device for the functional adjustment,

said operating method comprising:

rotating the operating control device from an OFF position to a working position, wherein the operating control device can be rotatable from said working position in an opposite direction of rotation to counter a counterforce;

detecting said angle of rotation; and

adjusting a power setting of an activated heating device associated with said rotary knob.

17. The operating method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said operating control device is initially pressed-in from said OFF position and is then brought or rotated into said working position.

18. The operating method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said control system is configured such that as said angle of rotation becomes larger, said functional adjustment changes more rapidly.

19. The operating method as claimed in claim 16, wherein a repeated rotational movement with a very small angle of rotation in the same direction carries out said functional adjustment comprising increasing or reducing the power setting.

20. The operating method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said functional adjustment is carried out from an unstable intermediate position of said operating control device.

21. The operating method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said small angle of rotation is 3°

to 15°

.