Method of operating a dual circuit gas burner, control unit, dual circuit gas burner and gas stove

Abstract

A method of operating a dual circuit gas burner including an inner burner ring and an outer burner ring surrounding the inner burner ring; the method including:opening a gas flow to the outer burner ring while maintaining a gas flow to the inner burner ring closed during a predetermined period of time.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a dual circuit gas burner, the method comprising opening a gas flow to an outer burner ring of the dual circuit gas burner while maintaining a gas flow to an inner burner ring of the dual circuit gas burner closed during a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising opening a gas flow to the inner burner ring at an inner burner opening time which is the predetermined period of time later than an outer burner opening time at which the gas flow to the outer burner ring is opened. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein at the inner burner opening time, the outer burner ring is at a maximum opening state or at a predetermined intermediate opening state. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising varying the gas flow to the outer burner ring during the predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the gas flow to the outer burner ring during the predetermined period of time is varied by:
 increasing the gas flow to the outer burner ring during a first portion of the predetermined period of time; and   decreasing the gas flow to the outer burner ring during a second portion of the predetermined period of time which is subsequent to the first portion.   
     
     
         18 . A control unit for adjusting a gas flow to a dual circuit gas burner, the control unit comprising a gas valve unit, said gas valve unit comprising:
 an adjustable outer burner outlet designed to adjustably provide an outer burner ring of the dual circuit gas burner with gas; and   an adjustable inner burner outlet designed to adjustably provide an inner burner ring of the dual circuit gas burner with gas;   wherein the gas valve unit is designed to open the adjustable outer burner outlet to provide the outer burner ring with a gas flow while maintaining the adjustable inner burner outlet closed during a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         19 . The control unit according to  claim 18 , designed to operate according to a method as set forth in  claim 13 . 
     
     
         20 . The control unit according to  claim 18 , further comprising a control knob which is rotatable by a user, wherein the adjustable outer burner outlet and the adjustable inner burner outlet are designed to adjust their gas outlets to the outer and inner burner rings as a function of a position of the control knob. 
     
     
         21 . The control unit according to  claim 20 , wherein the gas valve unit is configured to vary a total gas flow to the inner burner ring and the outer burner ring smoothly upon rotation of the control knob. 
     
     
         22 . The control unit according to  claim 20 , wherein the predetermined period of time is defined by a duration at which the control knob is maintained in a position corresponding to opening the adjustable outer burner outlet while maintaining the adjustable inner burner outlet closed. 
     
     
         23 . A dual circuit gas burner for a gas stove, the dual circuit gas burner comprising:
 a control unit comprising a gas valve unit, said gas valve unit comprising an adjustable outer burner outlet and an adjustable inner burner outlet;   an inner burner ring connected to the adjustable inner burner outlet of the gas valve unit and designed to receive gas in accordance with an opening state of the adjustable inner burner outlet; and   an outer burner ring connected to the adjustable outer burner outlet and designed to receive gas in accordance with an opening state of the adjustable inner burner outlet,   wherein the gas valve unit is designed to open the adjustable outer burner outlet to provide the outer burner ring with a gas flow while maintaining the adjustable inner burner outlet closed during a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         24 . The dual circuit gas burner according to  claim 23 , wherein the control unit comprises a control knob which is rotatable by a user, wherein the adjustable outer burner outlet and the adjustable inner burner outlet are designed to adjust their gas outlets to the outer and inner burner rings as a function of a position of the control knob. 
     
     
         25 . The dual circuit gas burner according to  claim 24 , wherein the gas valve unit is configured to vary a total gas flow to the inner burner ring and the outer burner ring smoothly upon rotation of the control knob. 
     
     
         26 . The dual circuit gas burner according to  claim 24 , wherein the predetermined period of time is defined by a duration at which the control knob is maintained in a position corresponding to opening the adjustable outer burner outlet while maintaining the adjustable inner burner outlet closed. 
     
     
         27 . A gas stove, comprising:
 a dual circuit gas burner comprising a control unit, said control unit comprising a gas valve unit which comprises an adjustable outer burner outlet and an adjustable inner burner outlet, an inner burner ring connected to the adjustable inner burner outlet of the gas valve unit and designed to receive gas in accordance with an opening state of the adjustable inner burner outlet, and an outer burner ring connected to the adjustable outer burner outlet and designed to receive gas in accordance with an opening state of the adjustable inner burner outlet, wherein the gas valve unit is designed to open the adjustable outer burner outlet to provide the outer burner ring with a gas flow while maintaining the adjustable inner burner outlet closed during a predetermined period of time; and   a plate having an upper surface on which the dual circuit gas burner is mounted.   
     
     
         28 . The gas stove according to  claim 27 , wherein the control unit comprises a control knob which is rotatable by a user, wherein the adjustable outer burner outlet and the adjustable inner burner outlet are designed to adjust their gas outlets to the outer and inner burner rings as a function of a position of the control knob. 
     
     
         29 . The gas stove according to  claim 28 , wherein the gas valve unit is configured to vary a total gas flow to the inner burner ring and the outer burner ring smoothly upon rotation of the control knob. 
     
     
         30 . The gas stove according to  claim 28 , wherein the predetermined period of time is defined by a duration at which the control knob is maintained in a position corresponding to opening the adjustable outer burner outlet while maintaining the adjustable inner burner outlet closed.