Thermostat

A thermostat (10) for cooking appliances powered by gas, said thermostat (10) comprising:

• a body (20), within which there are formed,
• an inlet duct (23) and an outlet duct (24)) respectively configured to receive a gas flow from a supply source and to supply said gas flow to a gas burner,
• a chamber (25) with a substantially cylindrical shape disposed in fluid communication with said inlet duct (23), wherein said chamber (25) is also disposed in fluid communication with said outlet duct (24) either directly through a main opening (70) formed at one end thereof, or indirectly, through a secondary duct (71) formed in the body (20) of the thermostat (10) and flowing into the outlet duct (24) bypassing said main opening (70), said main opening (70) and secondary duct (71) being respectively dimensioned for a maximum and a minimum flow rate of gas;
• and
• a valve (80) having a cylindrical shape and configured to regulate the flow rate of the gas,
• wherein said valve (80) is a one-piece valve fitted in the chamber (25) coaxially thereto and movable between a first position, wherein the main opening (70) is completely clear, thereby allowing passage of the gas flow toward the outlet duct (24), and a second position, wherein the main opening (70) is completely closed by the valve (80) and the gas flow reaches the outlet duct (24) through the secondary duct (71) only,
• wherein said valve (80) comprises a pair of flanges (81,82) formed at free ends of said valve, a first flange (81) facing the main opening (70) of the chamber (25) and having a diameter dimensioned to close the main opening in said second position, and a second flange (82) closing the chamber (25) at an opposite end thereof, said second flange (82) being provided with a circumferential groove configured to receive a sealing element (83) of the valve (80) to prevent an escape of the gas from the chamber (25), diameters of the first and the second flanges (81,82) substantially corresponding to a diameter of the chamber (25), and
• wherein said inlet duct (23) and said secondary duct (71) are in fluidic communication through said substantially cylindrical chamber (25) at any axial position of said valve (80).