HK1191391B - Gas valve unit comprising an actuation mechanism for a solenoid valve - Google Patents

Description

Gas valve unit with an actuating mechanism for a magnetic valve

Technical Field

The invention relates to a gas valve unit for regulating a gas volume flow of a gas burner for supplying gas appliances, in particular gas cooking appliances, wherein the gas valve unit has a valve housing and an actuating shaft for regulating an opening cross section of the gas valve unit and an additional shut-off valve, and wherein a movement of the actuating shaft can be transmitted to the shut-off valve by means of a linearly displaceable connecting element.

Background

Gas valve units of the mentioned type with shut-off valves are often also referred to as safety gas valves. A knob is usually inserted onto an operating section (Bedienabschnitt) of the gas valve unit, which knob can be grasped by the operator of the gas cooking appliance by hand. The adjustment of the opening cross section of the gas valve unit is usually effected by rotating the actuating shaft. The operator can open the shut-off valve by pushing it onto the rotary knob as a result of the axial displacement of the actuating shaft.

The axial movement of the steering shaft is transmitted to the linearly displaceable connecting element. The transmission of the movement of the actuating shaft to the connecting element can be effected directly or indirectly (for example via a device for reversing the direction of movement). The connecting element is in direct or indirect contact with the shut-off element of the shut-off valve. The axial movement of the connecting element in the direction of the shut-off element can lift the shut-off element from the valve seat and thus open the shut-off valve.

Normally, shut-off valves have a further magnetic unit, with which the shut-off element can be held in the open position after it has been brought into the open position by manually pushing the valve spindle. However, in order to start the movement of the shut-off element from its closed position into the open position, the magnetic force that can be generated with the magnetic unit is not sufficiently large. The magnetic unit usually contains a wound coil, which is connected to a thermal element arranged in the region of the gas burner. As long as a gas flame is burning at the gas burner, the voltage generated by the thermal element induces a current through the coil of the magnetic unit and thereby generates a magnetic force that keeps the shutoff valve open. When the gas flame is extinguished, the shut-off valve is automatically closed and can only be opened again by manually pushing the operating shaft.

In the case of the gas valve units of the prior art, the problem is that the shut-off element can be moved in the opening direction by pressing in the actuating shaft to such an extent that it abuts the magnet unit. If the actuation shaft is pressed in with a high force, this can lead to a deformation of the shut-off element which can impair the function of the shut-off valve, it being possible in particular that the deformed shut-off element can no longer be held in the open position by the magnetic unit, since a too large air gap exists between the shut-off element and the magnetic unit as a result of the deformation.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a gas valve unit in which a permanent and reliable function of the shut-off valve is ensured.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the connecting element has at least one spring. When a particularly large force is applied to the connecting element, the spring yields and thus prevents damage to the components of the shut-off valve. At the same time, the spring is designed in such a way that the usual actuating forces are transmitted by the spring. The spring ensures that the shut-off valve opens to such an extent when the actuating shaft is pushed by the operator that the shut-off element can then be kept open automatically, for example by means of a magnetic unit supplied with current by a thermal element. In the present context, each element that can change shape and/or length depending on the force is referred to as a "spring", irrespective of the material and/or the shaping of the element. Examples of possibilities are wound metal springs or injection-molded plastic springs.

This is suitable if the connecting element is adapted to transmit pressure. The term "pressure" is understood here to mean a force acting linearly.

The spring of the connecting element is expediently embodied as a compression spring. The compression spring changes its length under a linear force action.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the spring of the connecting element is embodied as a helical spring.

Preferably, the helical spring has a constant or varying coil radius. In the case of a constant coil radius, the helical spring has a cylindrical shape. The diameter of the coil spring is constant over the length of the spring. For a helical spring with a varying coil radius, the coil radius varies over the length of the helical spring in such a way that the helical spring has a smaller diameter at one point than at another point spaced apart from the first point in the axial direction.

Expediently, the connecting element is guided in the valve housing in the region of the largest coil radius of the helical spring. For a coil spring with a constant coil radius, the overall length of the coil spring is the area with the largest coil radius. Generally, the area with the largest coil radius is the widest part of the connecting element.

The shut-off element is pretensioned in the closed position by means of a blocking spring. This ensures that the shut-off valve is always closed in the rest position (Ruhestellung). The shut-off valve can be opened against the force of the blocking spring by manually pushing on the operating shaft. In the closed position, the shut-off element rests on the valve seat of the shut-off valve and thus prevents gas from flowing through the gas valve unit.

Advantageously, the spring constant of the spring of the connecting element is greater than the spring constant of the locking spring. Thus, the pushing of the actuating shaft now first causes the blocking spring to be pressed together and thus the shut-off valve to open. When the shut-off valve is opened to a maximum and the shut-off element is in contact with the end stop, the force acting on the connecting element is increased until then, as a result of which the spring of the connecting element is pressed in a reinforced manner. The maximum force acting on the shut-off element is therefore limited by the spring of the connecting element.

A suitable embodiment according to the invention provides a reversing device which transmits the axial movement of the actuating shaft into an axial movement of the connecting element which is substantially at right angles to the axial movement of the actuating shaft. Such a reversing device is particularly necessary if the structural dimensions of the gas valve unit are limited in the longitudinal direction of the actuating shaft.

The reversing device has a first sliding element which is arranged on the actuating shaft in the region of the end of the actuating shaft opposite the actuating section. The actuating section of the actuating shaft is a section to which a rotary knob can be inserted, for example. The end of the actuating shaft opposite the actuating section is located in the interior of the housing of the gas valve unit.

The first sliding element is preferably designed as a first conical element in such a way that the tip of the first conical element points away from the actuating section of the actuating shaft. The embodiment of the sliding element as a conical element has the advantage that the spatial expansion of the sliding element is independent of the rotational position of the actuating shaft.

The reversing device has a second sliding element which is in contact with the first sliding element at least during the pushing of the actuating shaft.

The second sliding element is designed as a second conical element, the central axis of which is arranged substantially perpendicular to the actuating shaft and the tip of which points in the direction of the first sliding element. Upon axial displacement of the first slide element, the two slide elements slide away from each other and the second slide element is displaced in the axial direction of the second slide element.

The second sliding element is preferably arranged at the end of the connecting element facing the actuating shaft. The axial movement of the second sliding element thus automatically causes an axial movement of the connecting element.

The connecting element preferably has at least one section in which the spring wire is oriented parallel to the direction of movement of the connecting element. In this section, the spring wire is loaded in the longitudinal direction (L ä ngrichtung) and therefore has no spring effect in the loading direction (Federwirkung). There are sections of the same spring wire from which the coil spring is also constructed.

It is particularly advantageous to fix the second sliding element at the spring wire, preferably at a section of the spring wire parallel to the direction of movement of the connecting element.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the gas valve unit has at least two switching valves (Auf-Zu-Ventile) and at least two throttle points each having at least one throttle opening (which can be flowed through with gas depending on the switching position of the switching valve) for adjusting the opening cross section. The adjustment of the opening cross section is thus achieved by the targeted opening and closing of the switching valve. This is achieved by rotating the steering shaft. For example, a permanent magnet that moves past the switching valve can be provided for opening and closing the switching valve. Accordingly, the switching valve directly in the region of the permanent magnet is opened by magnetic force. Whereas the shut-off valve is opened by means of mechanical force by pushing on the operating shaft. The shut-off valve can then be held open by means of electromagnetic forces (for example due to a voltage generated by a thermal element for flame monitoring).

Drawings

Further advantages and details of the invention are further elucidated by means of the embodiments shown in the schematic drawings. Wherein:

figure 1 shows a schematic switching assembly (Schaltanordnung) of the switching valve and the throttle point with the first switching valve open,

figure 2 shows a schematic switching assembly with two switching valves open,

figure 3 shows a schematic switching assembly in the situation where the last switching valve is open,

figure 4 shows a schematic structure of the gas valve assembly in a case where the on-off valve is closed,

figure 5 shows a schematic structure of a gas valve unit according to the present invention in a closed state,

figure 6 shows the gas valve unit with the shutoff valve open,

figure 7 shows the gas valve unit with the shut-off valve open and the on-off valve open,

figure 8 shows the open gas valve unit in the situation where the operating shaft is not pushed,

figure 9 shows the shut-off valve in the closed state,

figure 10 shows the shut-off valve open,

figure 11 shows the open shut-off valve in the case of a further pushed operating shaft,

fig. 12 shows a gas valve unit in a sectional view.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 3 show the switching assemblies of the switching valve 3(3.1 to 3.5) and the throttle point 4(4.1 to 4.5) of the gas valve unit. The shut-off valve and the connecting element according to the invention are however not shown here.

A gas inlet 1 can be identified, with which a gas valve unit is coupled, for example, to a gas manifold of a gas cooking appliance. At the gas inlet 1, gas provided for combustion with a constant pressure of, for example, 20 mbar or 50 mbar is waiting (ansehen). A gas line leading, for example, to a gas burner of a gas cooking appliance is coupled to the gas outlet 2 of the gas valve unit. The gas inlet 1 is connected to the inlet side of the 5 on-off valves 3(3.1 to 3.5) in the present embodiment via a gas inlet chamber (Gaseingangsraum)9 of the gas valve unit. By opening the switching valve 3, the gas inlet 1 is connected to a specific section of the throttle section 5, into which gas flows via the opened switching valve 3. The throttle section 5 comprises an inlet section 7 into which the first switching valve 3.1 opens. The other switching valves 3.2 to 3.5 each open into a connecting section 6(6.1 to 6.4) of the throttle section 5. The transition between the entry section 7 and the first connecting section 6.1 and the transition between two adjacent connecting sections 6.1 to 6.4 are formed by the throttle points 4(4.1 to 4.5), respectively. The last throttle point 4.5 connects the last connecting section 6.4 to the gas outlet 2. The throttle points 4.1 to 4.5 have a continuously increasing opening cross section. The flow cross section of the last throttle point 4.5 can be selected so large that the last throttle point 4.5 has practically no throttle function.

The actuation of the switching valve 3 is effected by means of a permanent magnet 8 which can be displaced along the arrangement of the switching valve 3. The force for opening the respective on-off valve 3 is formed here directly by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 8. The magnetic force overcomes the spring force to open the corresponding on-off valve 3.

In the switching position according to fig. 1, only the first switching valve 3.1 is open. Through the switching valve 3.1, the gas flows from the gas inlet chamber 9 into the inlet section 7 and from there on the way to the gas outlet 2 through all throttle points 4 and all connecting sections 6. The amount of gas flowing through the valve unit predetermines a minimum power of the gas burner coupled thereto.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic switching assembly in which the permanent magnet 8 is displaced to the right in the illustration in such a way that both the first switching valve 3.1 and the second switching valve 3.2 are open.

From the gas inlet chamber 9, the gas flows through the open second switching valve 3.2 directly into the first connecting section 6.1 and from there via the throttle points 4.2 to 4.5 to the gas outlet 2. The gas flowing to the gas outlet 2 bypasses the first throttle point 4.1 due to the open switching valve 3.2. The gas volume flow in the switching position according to fig. 2 is therefore greater than the gas volume flow in the switching position according to fig. 1. The gas inflow to the first connection section 6.1 is actually effected only via the second switching valve 3.2. Due to the open/close valves 3.1 and 3.2 being open, the same pressure level is present in the inlet section 7 as in the first connecting section 6.1. As a result, almost no fuel gas flows from the intake section 7 over the first throttle point 4.1 to the first connecting section 6.1 (narhstr) on the ribbon. Thus, when the permanent magnet 8 is moved further to the right in the figure and the first switching valve 3.1 is thus closed with the second switching valve 3.2 open, the entire gas volume flow through the gas valve unit is virtually unchanged.

The switching valves 3.3 to 3.5 are opened gradually by moving the permanent magnet 8 to the right in the illustration and thus the gas volume flow through the gas valve unit is increased gradually.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic switching assembly of the gas valve unit in a maximally open position. The permanent magnet 8 is here on the right in the illustration in its end position (endtellung). The last switching valve 3.5 is open in this position of the permanent magnet 8. The gas flows here directly from the gas inlet chamber 9 into the last connecting section 6.4 and on its way to the gas outlet 2 only through the last throttle point 4.5. The last throttle point 4.5 can have such a large flow cross section that virtually no throttling of the gas flow occurs and the gas can flow virtually unthrottled through the gas valve unit.

Fig. 4 schematically shows the construction of a gas valve unit with a switching assembly according to fig. 1 to 3. Here too, the shut-off valve according to the invention is not shown.

Fig. 4 shows a valve body 20 in which the gas inlet 1 of the gas valve unit is embodied. In the interior of the valve body 20 there is a gas inlet chamber 9 connected to the gas inlet 1. The shutoff body (absterk nanopper) 10 of the switching valve 3 is guided in the valve body 20 in such a way that it can move up and down in the illustration. Each shut-off body 10 is prestressed downward in the illustration by means of a spring 11. Each shut-off body 10 can be moved upwards in the illustration against the force of a spring 11 by means of the force of the permanent magnet 8. The spring 11 pushes the shut-off body against the valve sealing plate 12, so that the shut-off body 10 closes the opening 12a present in the valve sealing plate 12 in a gas-tight manner. Below the sealing plate 12 is arranged a pressure plate 13 with an opening 13a, which corresponds to the opening 12a in the valve sealing plate 12. In the opening 14a, an opening 13a in the pressure plate 13 opens into the first gas distribution plate 14. Below the first gas distribution plate 14 there is a throttle plate 15 with a plurality of throttle openings 18 in the illustration. Each of the throttle points 4.1 to 4.4 is formed by two throttle openings 18. The two throttle openings 18 belonging to the throttle points 4.1 to 4.4 are each connected to one another by means of an opening 16a in the second gas distributor plate 16. The openings 14a in the first gas distribution plate in turn connect the adjacent throttle openings 18 of the two adjacent throttle points 4.1 to 4.5. The last throttle point 4.5 comprises only one throttle opening 18, which opens into the gas outlet 2 of the gas valve unit via a corresponding opening 16a in the second gas distributor plate 16.

In the switching position according to fig. 4, the permanent magnet 8 is in the end position in which all the switching valves 3 are closed. The gas valve units are thus fully closed. The gas volume flow is equal to zero. From this switching position, the permanent magnet 8 moves to the right in the drawing, whereby the switching valves 3 arranged below the permanent magnet 8 are opened, respectively.

Fig. 5 to 8 show a schematic structure of the gas valve assembly according to the present invention. The connecting element 45 can be identified, however without a spring belonging to the connecting element 45. A substantially rotationally symmetrical valve housing 20 and a centrally arranged actuating shaft 31 can be recognized. For example, five on-off valves 3 are arranged along an arc around the manipulation shaft 31. At the upper end of the actuating shaft 31 there is an actuating section 29 of the actuating shaft, to which a rotary knob can be inserted. At the lower end of the actuating shaft 31, an actuating device 25 is arranged, at the outer end of which a permanent magnet 8 is arranged. The permanent magnet 8 moves through the on-off valve 3 along an arc when the steering shaft 31 is rotated. The switching valves 3 directly above the permanent magnets 8 are each opened precisely by the magnetic force of the permanent magnets 8. A knob which can be directly grasped by an operator can be inserted onto the steering shaft 31, for example.

At the upper side of the valve body, a cover 30 is formed, in which the valve sealing plate 12, the pressure plate 13, the first gas distribution plate 14, the throttle plate 15 and the second gas distribution plate 16 are arranged from below upwards. The panels 12 to 16 are accessible by removing the cover portion 30. The access to the plates 12 to 16 is effected from above (i.e. from the same side, from the side of the steering shaft 31 projecting from the valve housing 20).

In order to adapt the gas valve unit to other gas types, the throttle disk 15 can be replaced in particular. In the throttle disk 15, there is a throttle opening 18 which determines the size of the gas volume flow. After the cover is removed upwards, all the plates 12 to 16 are in the cover 30.

Furthermore, components for actuating the shut-off valve 40, which are not shown in this illustration, can be identified. The assembly comprises a first sliding element 41, which is fixed at the steering shaft 31. The first sliding element 41 is in contact with the second sliding element 42 (which is joined to the valve body of the shut-off valve via the connecting element 45). The two sliding elements 41, 42 are formed by conical bodies. The third cone 43 serves as a component of the coupling device 26, by means of which the swiveling movement of the actuating shaft 31 is transmitted to the actuating device 25. The coupling device 26 essentially comprises a catch 27 which engages into a notch-like recess 28.

In the position shown in fig. 5, the gas valve unit is in a fully closed position. The rotational position of the actuating shaft 31 is selected such that the permanent magnet 8 is not located below the switching valves 3 and therefore all the switching valves 3 are closed. In addition, the control shaft 31 is not pressed in the axial direction. The second sliding element 42 is in the left-hand arresting position (Anschlagposition). Since the first sliding element 41 is shaped as a cone, the mere rotational movement of the actuating shaft 31 and thus of the first sliding element 41 has no influence on the position of the second sliding element 42. For the same reason, the lower end of the steering shaft 31 is also formed by a (third) conical body 43.

In the switching position according to fig. 5, no gas is present in the valve housing 20 of the gas valve unit as a result of the closing of the shut-off valve 40.

If the actuating shaft 31 is now pressed in downward in the axial direction, the shut-off valve 40 opens and the valve housing 20 is filled with gas.

This state of the gas valve unit is shown in fig. 6. Here, the first slide member 41 presses the second slide member 42 and the connecting member 45 to the right in the drawing. The connecting element 45 acts directly on the shut-off element 44 of the shut-off valve 40 (see fig. 10) so that it opens. The lower region of the gas valve unit in the illustration is therefore filled with gas (see dotted plane). While the switching valve 3 continues to close, so that the throughflow cross-section of the gas valve unit continues to be equal to zero.

Fig. 6 also shows the design of the coupling device 26 with a flat driver 27, which is inserted into the notch-like recess 28 of the third cone 43. The axial movement of the actuating shaft 31 can be compensated by the combination of the catch 27 and the recess 28, so that such movement is not transmitted to the actuating device 25 of the switching valve 3.

Fig. 7 shows a further operating position of the gas valve unit, in which the shut-off valve 40 is opened by pressing in the actuating shaft 31 and, furthermore, one of the switching valves 3 is opened by means of the permanent magnet 8. The gas now flows through the open switching valve 3 and also in the region above the switching valve in the direction of the gas outlet 2. The shut-off valve 40 is held in the open position mechanically via the first sliding element 41, the second sliding element 42 and the connecting element 45.

In contrast, fig. 8 shows an operating position of the gas valve unit in which the shut-off element 44 of the shut-off valve 40 is held in the open position by means of the force of an electromagnet, which is not shown in the present illustration. The actuating shaft 32 is in the non-pressed-in position, so that the first sliding element 41 exerts no force on the second sliding element 42. During continuous operation, the gas valve unit is in this position when a flame is burning at a gas burner connected to the gas valve unit.

The device according to the invention for actuating the shut-off valve 40 is described further below with reference to fig. 9, 10 and 11. The first slide element 41, the second slide element 42, the connecting element 45 formed by a spring, the shut-off element 44 and the magnetic unit 50 can be identified here, respectively. The closed rest position of the shut-off valve 40 is ensured by a blocking spring 51 acting on the shut-off body 10. The second sliding element 42 is connected to the right in the drawing with a connecting element 45.

The connecting element 45 is bent without interruption by a spring wire. The connecting element has a section 45a oriented parallel to the direction of movement of the connecting element 45. In this section 45a, the connecting element 45 has no elastic action. The spring wire has the function of a spring 45b in the helically wound section. The spring 45b has a coil radius that varies in the longitudinal direction of the spring 45 b. This enables compression (Einfedern) of the spring 45b without adjacent coils of the spring 45b supporting, rubbing against or jamming against each other. The region 45c with the largest coil radius of the spring 45b is supported in the radial direction on the housing of the shut-off valve 40. The region 45c of the spring 45b defines, together with the second sliding element 42 (which is likewise supported in the radial direction at the housing of the shut-off valve 40), a possible direction of movement of the connecting element 40.

In the illustration according to fig. 9, the actuating shaft 31 is not pressed in. The shut-off valve 40 is closed by the force of a latching spring 51. The connecting element 45 has a spacing to the shut-off body 10.

In the switching position according to fig. 10, the actuating shaft 31 is pressed in, so that the second sliding element 42 is displaced to the left in the illustration together with the connecting element 45 and the shut-off element 44 is lifted off its seat against the force of the blocking spring 51. Thus, the shut-off valve 40 can be flowed through by the gas.

In the illustration according to fig. 11, the actuating shaft 31 is likewise pressed in, however, farther than in the position according to fig. 10. Therefore, the second slide element 42 is also displaced farther to the left in the drawing than in fig. 10. This further movement of the second sliding element 42 is therefore not transmitted to the shut-off element 44 of the shut-off valve 40, i.e. the connecting element 45 is embodied as a spring. The spring 45b forming the connecting element 45 is however embodied to be significantly stiffer than the blocking spring 51 of the shut-off valve 40. The connecting element 45 is designed as a spring 45b in particular to avoid damage to the shut-off valve 40 when it is pushed with excessive force onto the actuating shaft 31.

Fig. 12 shows a gas valve unit according to the invention in cross section. A gas inlet 1 is shown, which opens directly into a shut-off valve 40. In particular, the shut-off body 10, the locking spring 51 and the magnet unit 50 of the shut-off valve 40 can be identified.

The connecting element 45, which is designed as a spring 45b, is suitable for transmitting the pressure force of the second sliding element 42 to the shut-off body 10. The second sliding element 42 slides away from the first sliding element 41 (which is formed from the actuating shaft 31).

Below the first sliding element 41 there is a third cone 43 and a coupling device 26, which transmits the rotary motion of the actuating shaft 31 to the permanent magnet 8. The permanent magnet 8 opens the switching valve 3 directly above it accordingly by means of its magnetic force.

List of reference numerals

1 gas inlet

2 gas outlet

3(3.1 to 3.5) switching valve

4(4.1 to 4.5) throttle point

5 throttle section

6(6.1 to 6.4) connecting segment

7 entry section

8 permanent magnet

9 gas inlet chamber

10 shut-off body

11 spring

12 valve sealing plate

12a opening

13 pressing plate

13a opening

14 first gas distribution plate

14a opening

15 throttle plate

16 second gas distribution plate

16a opening

17 cover plate

18 throttle opening

20 valve bonnet shell

25 operating device

26 connecting device

27 driving piece

28 recess

29 operating section

30 cover part

31 operating shaft

32 cover plate

33 groove type housing

34 working plate

40 shutoff valve

41 first sliding element

42 second slide element

43 third taper

44 shut-off element

45 connecting element

45a parallel section

45b spring

45c area with maximum coil radius

50 magnetic unit

51 lock the spring.

Claims (14)

1. Gas valve unit for regulating a gas volume flow supplied to a gas burner of a gas appliance, wherein the gas valve unit has a valve housing (20) and an actuating shaft (31) for regulating an opening cross section of the gas valve unit and an additional shut-off valve (40), and wherein a movement of the actuating shaft (31) can be transmitted to the shut-off valve (40) by means of a linearly displaceable connecting element (45), characterized in that the connecting element (45) has at least one spring (45b), the at least one spring (45b) being a helical spring.

2. Gas valve unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element (45) is adapted to transmit pressure.

3. Gas valve unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring (45b) of the connecting element (45) is embodied as a pressure spring.

4. A gas valve unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the helical spring has a constant or varying coil radius.

5. Gas valve unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting element (45) is guided in the valve housing (20) in a region (45c) with the largest coil radius of the helical spring.

6. Gas valve unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shut-off element (44) of the shut-off valve (40) is pretensioned in the closed position by means of a blocking spring (51).

7. Gas valve unit according to claim 6, wherein the spring constant of the spring (45b) of the connecting element (45) is greater than the spring constant of the latching spring (51).

8. Gas valve unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a reversing device is provided which transfers the axial movement of the operating shaft (31) into an axial movement of the connecting element (45) which is substantially at right angles to the axial movement of the operating shaft (31).

9. Gas valve unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the reversing device has a first sliding element (41) which is arranged at the actuating shaft (31) in the region of the end of the actuating shaft (31) opposite the operating section (29).

10. Gas valve unit according to claim 9, in which the reversing device has a second sliding element (41) which is in contact with the first sliding element (41) at least during the pushing of the actuating shaft (31).

11. Gas valve unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the second sliding element (42) is arranged at the end of the connecting element (45) facing the operating shaft (31).

12. Gas valve unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting element (45) has at least one section (45a) in which the spring wire is oriented parallel to the direction of movement of the connecting element (45).

13. Gas valve unit according to claim 10, in which the second sliding element is fixed at a section of the spring wire parallel to the direction of movement of the connecting element (45).

14. Gas valve unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gas valve unit has at least two switching valves (3) and at least two throttle points (4) with at least one throttle opening (18) each for adjusting the opening cross-section, which throttle opening can be flowed through with gas depending on the switching position of the switching valves (3).