U.S. patent application number 14/581251 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-23 for cook top assembly with dual power source.
The applicant listed for this patent is UNIQUE GAS PRODUCTS, LTD. Invention is credited to RYAN BROOKS, TIM DEAN, CHRIS DUKE, KYLE MAYNARD, PAUL PETERSEN, STEVEN PETERSEN, MICHAEL SCOTT, CARL SUCHOVSKY.
Application Number | 20160178213 14/581251 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56128977 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160178213 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PETERSEN; STEVEN ; et
al. |
June 23, 2016 |
COOK TOP ASSEMBLY WITH DUAL POWER SOURCE
Abstract
The invention relates to a gas cook top assembly that is capable
of operating in off-grid applications where no electricity is
available and that is also adaptable to operating in on-grid
applications. The cook top is provided with a first control loop
with a battery pack for powering the control valves for releasing
gas to the gas burners and a spark ignition module for generating a
spark to ignite the corresponding gas burner in an off-grid
application. The cook top is also provided with second control loop
for delivering power from an on-grid AC power source to the control
valves and spark ignition module. The second control loop may
operate independently of the first control loop or may be connected
in parallel with the first control loop, the second control loop
receiving AC power through an AC-to-DC converter.
Inventors: |
PETERSEN; STEVEN; (OAKVILLE,
CA) ; PETERSEN; PAUL; (GEORGETOWN, CA) ;
SCOTT; MICHAEL; (CHELTENHEM, CA) ; DEAN; TIM;
(MISSISSAUGA, CA) ; MAYNARD; KYLE; (GRIMSBY,
CA) ; BROOKS; RYAN; (GRIMSBY, CA) ; DUKE;
CHRIS; (WATERDOWN, CA) ; SUCHOVSKY; CARL;
(WALTON HILLS, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
UNIQUE GAS PRODUCTS, LTD |
OAKVILLE |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
56128977 |
Appl. No.: |
14/581251 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/39E |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 3/126 20130101;
F24C 3/103 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24C 3/10 20060101
F24C003/10; F24C 3/12 20060101 F24C003/12 |
Claims
1. A gas cook top assembly comprising: a cooking surface having a
plurality of gas burners for receiving a gas supply from a gas
source; a spark ignition module for igniting each of said gas
burners; individual control valves for selectively operating each
of the plurality of gas burners; a spark ignition control circuit
for receiving electrical power from one of a first power source and
a second power source and delivering the electrical power to said
individual control valves and said spark ignition module; a first
control loop electrically connected to said spark ignition circuit
for delivering electrical power from said first power source to
said spark ignition circuit; a second control loop electrically
connected to said spark ignition circuit for delivering electrical
power from said second power source; wherein said first power
source is a DC power source from a battery pack and said second
power source is an AC-to-DC power source; and wherein said first
control loop is isolated from said second control loop.
2. The gas cook top assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
battery pack is arranged within said first control loop.
3. The gas cook top assembly as claimed in claim 2, further
comprising a diode arranged in series with said battery pack; and
wherein said second control loop is arranged in parallel with said
first control loop, said diode providing a break in said first
control loop when said second control loop is operational.
4. The gas cook top assembly as claimed in claim 3, further
comprising: a first connector in connection with said second
control loop; and an AC-to-DC adapter plug having a second
connector for coupling with said first connector.
5. The gas cook top assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
gas supply is one of the following alternatives: propane gas or
natural gas.
6. A gas cook top assembly, comprising: a base plate having bottom
surface, a peripheral sidewall defining an open interior space and
an open top providing access to said interior space; a cover
mounted on said base plate enclosing said interior space; a
plurality of burner mountings formed in said cover; a plurality of
gas burners arranged within said interior space of said base plate
with one gas burner being associated with each of said burner
openings; individual control valves operably coupled to said gas
burners for selectively operating each of said gas burners; a spark
ignition module for delivering an ignition spark to each of said
gas burners; a spark ignition circuit operably connecting said
individual control valves, said spark ignition module and said gas
burners to a power source; a first control loop interconnecting
said spark ignition circuit and said power source; a second control
loop arranged in parallel to said first control loop and
interconnecting said spark ignition circuit and said power source,
said second control loop having a free end in the form of a first
connector; wherein said first control loop is isolated from said
second control loop and wherein said second control loop is
operational when said first connector is operably coupled to said
power source.
7. The cook top assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said power
source is a battery arranged within said first control loop.
8. The cook top assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising
an AC-to-DC adapter plug having a second connector for coupling
with said first connector; and a diode arranged in series with said
battery pack in said first control loop for preventing power from
said second control loop from running through said battery
pack.
9. The cook top assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cover
is separate to and removably mounted to said base plate.
10. The cook top assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said cover
is separate to said base plate and movable between a closed
position sealing and/or enclosing said open interior space and a
raised position providing access to said open interior space.
11. The cook top assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein a
battery-pack housing is fixed to said bottom surface of said base
plate for receiving said battery pack, said battery pack housing
extending into said open interior space.
12. The cook top assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising
a gas manifold for delivering a gas supply to each of said gas
burners when said gas burners are selectively operated, said gas
supply being one of the following alternatives: propane gas or
natural gas.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cook top assembly having
a dual power source. More specifically, this disclosure relates to
a gas cook top assembly that is capable of operating in off-grid
applications where no electricity is available and that is also
adaptable to operating in on-grid applications.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Propane gas appliances are known and commonly used in
off-grid applications where electricity is not available. Propane
gas appliances are well-suited for off-grid living in more rural
and/or remote locations since they offer some of the conveniences
of "on-grid living" by providing the common or typical appliances
found in an "on-grid" home such as a refrigerator, a range and/or
cook-top, freezer etc. in locations where electricity is not
readily available. As urban sprawl continues in major urban
centers, areas that are currently off-grid may one day become part
of the grid as infrastructure associated with on-grid living
expands farther away from city centers. Traditionally, off-grid
appliances are only suited for use in off-grid applications.
Therefore, even if on-grid electricity becomes available in a
certain location or area that was once too remote or considered to
be "off-grid", any off-grid appliances that were already in place
within the home or building would have to be replaced with new
appliances which is not only costly, but is also
non-environmentally friendly since perfectly functioning appliances
are rendered obsolete and must be replaced.
[0003] Therefore, there is a need for appliances that are adaptable
to the continually changing needs of communities as populations and
urban sprawl continue to change the landscapes surrounding urban
centers, and that are also adaptable to ever-changing consumer
needs.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0004] According to a first example embodiment of the present
disclosure there is provided a gas cook top assembly comprising a
cooking surface having a plurality of gas burners for receiving a
gas supply from a gas source; a spark ignition module for igniting
each of said gas burners;
[0005] individual control valves for selectively operating each of
the plurality of gas burners; a spark ignition control circuit for
receiving electrical power from one of a first power source and a
second power source and delivering the electrical power to said
individual control valves and said spark ignition module; a first
control loop electrically connected to said spark ignition circuit
for delivering electrical power from said first power source to
said spark ignition circuit; a second control loop electrically
connected to said spark ignition circuit for delivering electrical
power from said second power source; wherein said first power
source is a DC power source from a battery pack and said second
power source is an AC-to-DC power source; and wherein said first
control loop is isolated from said second control loop.
[0006] According to another example embodiment of the present
disclosure there is provided a gas cook top assembly, comprising a
base plate having bottom surface, a peripheral sidewall defining an
open interior space and an open top providing access to said
interior space; a cover mounted on said base plate enclosing said
interior space; a plurality of burner mountings formed in said
cover; a plurality of gas burners arranged within said interior
space of said base plate with one gas burner being associated with
each of said burner openings; individual control valves operably
coupled to said gas burners for selectively operating each of said
gas burners; a spark ignition module for delivering an ignition
spark to each of said gas burners; a spark ignition circuit
operably connecting said individual control valves, said spark
ignition module and said gas burners to a power source; a first
control loop interconnecting said spark ignition circuit and said
power source; a second control loop arranged in parallel to said
first control loop and interconnecting said spark ignition circuit
and said power source, said second control loop having a free end
in the form of a first connector; wherein said first control loop
is isolated from said second control loop and wherein said second
control loop is operational when said first connector is operably
coupled to said power source.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the
accompanying drawings which show example embodiments of the present
application, and in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a cook top assembly in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosed;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cook top assembly of FIG.
1;
[0010] FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating the
operation of the dual-power source of the cook top assembly of FIG.
1; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of
the burners associated with the cook top assembly.
[0012] Similar reference numerals may have been used in different
figures to denote similar components.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a cook top
assembly 10 according to an example embodiment of the present
disclosure. The cook top assembly 10 comprises a generally
rectangular base plate 12 in the form of a shallow box having an
open top 14. Accordingly, the base plate 12 has a bottom surface 13
and a peripheral side wall 15 extending upwardly from the bottom
surface around the entire periphery of the bottom surface 13
defining an open interior space 17. A separate cover panel 18 is
provided typically having a plurality of generally circular burner
openings or burner mountings 21 with burner covers or burner caps
19 placed over top of each of the openings. In the subject
exemplary embodiment five separate burner openings or mountings 21
are provided however it will be understood that the cook top
assembly maybe provided with more or less individual burners
depending upon the particular model and/or overall size of the cook
top assembly 10. A cast-iron grate 20 is arranged over top of and
is supported on the cover panel 18, the cast-iron grate 20 further
defining the burner areas for placement of the cooking pots and/or
pans, etc., the cover 18 and cast-iron grate 20 together defining
the cook top or cooking surface on which the pots and pans, etc.
are used. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the cast-iron grate 20 is formed from three separate grate portions
20(1)-20(3), however it will be understood that the grate 20 may be
formed as a unitary structure. A control panel 24 extends across
the front of the cook top having individual control knobs 26
arranged at spaced intervals along the control panel 24 for
controlling/operating each of the cooking burners 19. The cook top
assembly 10 is generally intended to be set or mounted within the
counter-top of a kitchen work surface or may form the upper cooking
surface of a free-standing range.
[0014] Referring now to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, there is shown a
schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the dual-power
source of the cook top assembly 10. In accordance with principles
known in the art, a series of gas valves 30 are arranged within the
base 12 of the cook top assembly 10, each of which is operably
coupled to one of the control knobs 26. A gas manifold 32 supplies
the cook top assembly 10 with a gas supply, whether it be a propane
gas supply when used for an off-grid application or in an on-grid
application where natural gas is not available, or a natural gas
supply when used in an on-grid application where natural gas is
available.
[0015] Gas valves 30 each have an inlet 33 in fluid communication
with the gas manifold 32 and are connected to corresponding gas
burners 35 associated with each of the burners 19 on the cooking
surface via corresponding gas lines 37. Each gas valve 30 is also
operably coupled to a corresponding one of the control knobs 26,
the control knobs 26 opening the corresponding gas valve 30
associated with a particular burner 19 releasing gas to the gas
burner 35 associated with the burner 19 through the corresponding
gas line 37 and beginning the ignition sequence.
[0016] A spark ignition module 40 is arranged within the open
interior space 17 of the base plate 12 and is mounted on the bottom
surface 13 thereof, the spark ignition module being operably
coupled to each of the gas burners 35 via a spark ignition circuit
39. The spark ignition module 40 requires electrical power in order
to drive the spark ignition sequence required to ignite the gas
burners 35. Accordingly, the spark ignition module 40 has a
terminal end 41 for receiving electrical power from a power source
and a series of spark ignition terminals 43 that are individually
connected to each of the gas burners 35 for the respective burners
19 for the cooking surface. In off-grid applications where
electrical AC power is not readily available, a battery pack 44 is
provided for supplying the cook top assembly 10 with a source of DC
power. The battery pack 44 is mounted within a battery pack housing
or compartment 46 formed within or mounted within an opening 47 in
the base plate 12 of the cook top assembly 10. Wiring from the
battery pack 44 extends through the battery pack housing or
compartment 46 into the inside area of the shallow box-like base
plate 12 and is coupled to the terminal end 43 of the spark
ignition module 40 and to the individual gas valves 30 and control
knobs 26 forming a first control loop or battery control loop 48
interconnecting the battery pack 44 to the gas valves 30 and to the
spark ignition circuit 39 of the spark ignition module 40.
Accordingly, the battery pack 44 supplies DC power to the
components of the cook top assembly 10 so that when the cook top
assembly 10 is put into use, a user activates the control knob 26
associated with the desired burner 19 opening the corresponding gas
valve 30 thereby releasing gas to the gas burner 35 with the spark
ignition module 40 generating a spark to ignite the corresponding
gas burner 35. When use of the burner 19 is no longer required, the
control knob 26 is deactivated shutting off the gas supply through
the valve 30 snuffing-out the gas burner 35.
[0017] A second control loop 50 branches off from the first control
loop or battery control loop 48, the second control loop 50 having
a first connector 52 adapted for receiving and forming an
electrical connection with a corresponding or second connector 54
extending from an AC-to-DC adapter plug 56 that is supplied with
the cook top assembly 10. Therefore, if the cook top assembly 10 is
installed in a location having access to on-grid electricity, the
AC-to-DC adapter plug 56 is coupled to the second control loop 50
by interconnecting the first and second connectors 52, 54 with the
AC-to-DC adapter plug 56 being inserted into a conventional wall
mounted plug socket or terminal. On-grid 110V AC power is delivered
to the AC-to-DC adapter plug 56 through the plug socket or terminal
and is stepped-down through the adapter plug 56 and converted into
low voltage DC power, for instance 3V DC power. The DC power
converted through the adapter 56 is transmitted through the second
control loop 50 delivering electrical power to the spark ignition
circuit 39 interconnecting and operably coupling the gas valves 30
and the spark ignition module 40.
[0018] In order to ensure that the DC power from the second control
loop 50 does not flow through the battery pack 44 potentially
damaging the battery pack 40 if the voltages of the battery pack 44
and the DC power from the AC-to-DC adapter plug 56, a diode 60 (or
any other suitable component or device) is arranged in series with
the battery pack 44 intermediate the positive terminal of the
battery pack 44 and the connection to the series of gas valve 30.
As electrical current through diodes 60 (or any other suitable
component) is uni-directional, current from the second control loop
50 is prevented from flowing through the battery pack 44 since the
resistance provided by the diode 60 forces the current through
spark ignition circuit 39.
[0019] Accordingly, the cook top assembly 10 can be easily and
conveniently adapted from operating completely off-grid using a
propane gas supply and battery power provided through the battery
pack 44 to being usable in an on-grid application by connecting the
AC-to-DC adapter plug 56 to the spark ignition circuit 39 through
the second control loop 50 thereby using electricity from the grid
with either an independent propane gas supply or an "on-grid"
natural gas supply. Similarly, in instances where the cook top
assembly 10 is being used in an on-grid application and there is a
power outage or an interruption in service from the grid, the cook
top assembly 10 can be easily and conveniently converted to running
off the battery power provided by the battery pack 44 by
disconnecting the adapter plug 56 from the second control loop 50
allowing the first control loop 48 to power the spark ignition
circuit 39 rendering the "on-grid" cook top assembly usable even in
situations of service disruptions. Accordingly, the cook top
assembly 10 is adaptable to various applications.
[0020] While a specific embodiment of the cook top assembly 10 has
been described, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art
that certain adaptations and modifications of the described
embodiments can be made. Therefore, the above discussed embodiments
are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *