U.S. patent application number 15/226184 was filed with the patent office on 2017-02-09 for gas burner, in particular for a cooking top for household use.
The applicant listed for this patent is Indesit Company S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Carlo Alberti, Alberto Gasparini, Tiziano Lacche.
Application Number | 20170038076 15/226184 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54251915 |
Filed Date | 2017-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170038076 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Alberti; Carlo ; et
al. |
February 9, 2017 |
GAS BURNER, IN PARTICULAR FOR A COOKING TOP FOR HOUSEHOLD USE
Abstract
A gas burner is provided herein. The gas burner includes a base
having a Venturi element adapted to receive a gas from an injector
and a duct configured to supply an air-gas mixture to said burner.
A burner body is associated with the base and has a hole for
passage of the air-gas mixture from the duct. A flame divider is
associated with the burner body and includes a plurality of
apertures to allow the air-gas mixture to exit. The base is made
from a sheet that is shaped by deep drawing.
Inventors: |
Alberti; Carlo; (Fabriano,
IT) ; Gasparini; Alberto; (Fabriano, IT) ;
Lacche; Tiziano; (Fabriano, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Indesit Company S.p.A. |
Fabriano |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
54251915 |
Appl. No.: |
15/226184 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23D 2212/00 20130101;
F23D 14/04 20130101; F24C 3/08 20130101; F23D 14/065 20130101; F23D
2203/007 20130101; F23D 2213/00 20130101; F23D 14/085 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24C 3/08 20060101
F24C003/08; F23D 14/04 20060101 F23D014/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 3, 2015 |
EP |
15179560.6 |
Claims
1. A gas burner for a cooking top comprising: a base having a
Venturi element adapted to receive a gas from an injector and a
duct configured to supply an air-gas mixture to said burner; a
burner body associated with the base having a hole for passage of
the air-gas mixture from the duct; and a flame divider associated
with the burner body and including a plurality of apertures to
allow the air-gas mixture to exit, wherein the base is made from a
sheet that is shaped by deep drawing.
2. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the base is made from
aluminized sheet metal.
3. The burner according to claim 2, wherein the base comprises a
first half shell and a second half shell made from a sheet metal
and joined together.
4. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the sheet includes a
metallic material and is suitably shaped by deep drawing.
5. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the flame divider is
made from a sheet.
6. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the flame divider
includes a side wall that retains the apertures in a raised
position relative to the cooking top.
7. The burner according to claim 6, wherein a side wall height is
between 10 mm and 20 mm.
8. The burner according to claim 7, wherein the burner body
comprises a flank having a height which is essentially close to the
side wall height so that the coupling between the burner body and
the flame divider will ensure proper sealing and will prevent the
air-gas mixture from escaping sideways, wherein the flank of the
burner body and the side wall of the flame divider are arranged
substantially side by side in an operating condition of the
burner.
9. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the flame divider is
microperforated to generate a carpet flame, the apertures having a
diameter which is substantially equal to or less than the thickness
of the sheet.
10. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises at
least one air intake allowing entry of a primary air, wherein the
at least one air intake is disposed adjacent to the injector and
upstream of the Venturi element.
11. The burner according to claim 10, wherein the base comprises a
seat adapted to house the injector or a terminal portion of a tube
for supplying gas to the injector, wherein the seat is positioned
upstream of the at least one air intake.
12. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises at
least one bracket for associating at least one ignition spark plug
and at least one thermocouple with the burner.
13. The burner according to claim 12, wherein the burner body
comprises a pair of first openings and the flame divider comprises
a pair of second openings adapted to allow the passage of the at
least one ignition spark plug and the at least one
thermocouple.
14. The burner according to claim 1, wherein the Venturi element is
arranged substantially horizontally such that its axis is
substantially orthogonal to an axis of the burner.
15. A cooking top having a gas burner, the gas burner comprising: a
base having a Venturi element adapted to receive a gas from an
injector and a duct configured to supply an air-gas mixture to said
burner; a burner body associated with the base having a hole for
passage of the air-gas mixture from the duct; and a flame divider
associated with the burner body and including a plurality of
apertures to allow the air-gas mixture to exit, wherein the
plurality of apertures have a diameter that is substantially equal
to or less than the thickness of the base.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to European Patent
Application No. 15179560.6, filed Aug. 3, 2015, and titled "GAS
BURNER, IN PARTICULAR FOR A COOKING TOP FOR HOUSEHOLD USE." The
aforementioned related application is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a gas burner for a cooking
top for household use. The present disclosure also relates to a
cooking top having the gas burner.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] At present, several typologies of cooking tops are available
on the market, the most widespread typology using one or more gas
burners, wherein the amount of heat necessary for cooking food is
generated through combustion of a gas appropriately mixed with
air.
[0004] Such gas burners usually comprise a cup associated with
supply means that supply gas to said burner.
[0005] Said supply means may comprise a Venturi effect chamber
adapted to receive gas coming from an injector associated with a
duct; in particular, said injector, duct and/or Venturi effect
chamber may be either vertical, i.e. with their axis parallel to an
axis of the burner cup, or horizontal, i.e. with their axis
orthogonal to the axis of the burner cup.
[0006] Gas burners currently installed in cooking tops for
household use typically comprise a cup and a flame divider (or cap)
arranged on the cooking top, and utilize, as primary air to be
mixed with gas, the air available above the cooking top. The cup is
usually made of die-cast aluminum, while the flame divider or cap
is usually made of enameled cast iron (or brass alloy or steel) and
acts as a cup closing element.
[0007] Known burners typically propagate a flame known as "crown
flame"; a "crown flame" is a flame with a substantially radial
direction of propagation, i.e. a flame that propagates outwards
from the gas burner in a substantially radial direction with
respect to the burner axis, and therefore in a direction which is
substantially tangential to a visible surface of the cooking top.
Said "crown flame," when emitted at an insufficient height above
the cooking top, may cause low-CO2 combustion, resulting in the
generation of a high level of unburnt products (CO and NOx).
[0008] Document No. EP1934532 by the present Applicant discloses a
gas burner that is adapted to generate a "carpet flame", i.e. a
flame that propagates out of the gas burner in a substantially
axial direction with respect to the axis of the burner, and
therefore in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to a
visible surface of the cooking top.
[0009] A carpet flame may be a total carpet flame or a perimetric
carpet flame, depending on whether it covers a geometric figure
(generally a circle) entirely or just the peripheral portion of
said geometric figure (generally a circular crown).
[0010] Also in the case of a perimetric carpet flame, it has been
thought of providing a plurality of concentric rows of apertures
adapted to generate a "carpet flame," in particular for the purpose
of optimally heating also the central portion of the base of a
cooking vessel positioned over the gas burner.
[0011] As a result, document EP1934532 ensures all the advantages
that distinguish a "carpet flame" from a "crown flame", including
optimal gas efficiency. However, such a solution also has a few
drawbacks, which are common to other solutions known in the
art.
[0012] In particular, in the solutions known in the art the burner
components are substantially made by die casting, being typically
made of die-cast aluminum alloys; it is clear that this solution is
an expensive one, and therefore a cooking top comprising such
burners will implement solutions that are not very effective in
economic terms.
[0013] Furthermore, in the solution described above and disclosed
in document EP1934532, the flame divider is so realized as to be
positioned flush with the visible surface of the cooking top. When
the burner is in use, it has been noticed that such a realization
may cause overheating of that area of the visible surface of the
cooking top which is closest to the burner; it is clear that this
overheating may also cause damage to the cooking top, particularly
when the latter is made from glassy materials or the like.
[0014] In this frame, it is the main object of the present
disclosure to provide a gas burner, in particular for a cooking top
for household use, and an associated cooking top which are adapted
to overcome the drawbacks of prior-art solutions.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0015] Consequently, it is one object of the present disclosure to
provide a gas burner and an associated cooking top which are so
realized as to prove particularly efficient and economical.
[0016] In particular, it is one object of the present disclosure to
provide a gas burner which is so realized as to ensure optimal gas
efficiency while at the same time lowering its production
costs.
[0017] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a
gas burner which is so realized as to prevent overheating of the
region of the cooking top proximal to the burner, and to avoid
possible damage to the cooking top, particularly when the latter is
made from glassy materials or the like.
[0018] Said objects are achieved by the present disclosure through
a gas burner, in particular for a cooking top for household use,
and an associated cooking top incorporating the features set out in
the appended claims.
[0019] These and other features, advantages, and objects of the
present device will be further understood and appreciated by those
skilled in the art upon studying the following specification,
claims, and appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] In the drawings:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking top and a gas
burner making up one possible embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the gas burner
according to one aspect of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a gas
burner according to one aspect of the present disclosure; and
[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of a component of the
gas burner according to one aspect of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates as a
whole a cooking top according to the present disclosure, in
particular intended for household use and of the built-in type.
[0026] The cooking top 1 is so shaped as to comprise a
substantially flat visible surface 2, on which a plurality of
housings 3 are formed or obtained for accommodating at least one
gas burner 10, such as the one shown in the sectional view of FIG.
2 and in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 3.
[0027] The cooking top 1 may also comprise supporting means (not
shown) for cooking vessels containing foods to be cooked, which are
adapted to ensure an adequate separation distance between the
visible surface 2 of the cooking top 1 and said cooking
vessels.
[0028] In addition, the cooking top 1 may comprise interfacing
means (not shown) adapted to, among other things, allow adjusting
and/or displaying the operating parameters of each burner 10. For
example, the interfacing means may comprise a "touch control"
interface, or a mechanical interface, for controlling on-off
taps.
[0029] As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the burner 10 adapted for
installation in a cooking top 1 according to one embodiment
includes a base (designated as a whole by reference numeral 20 in
the annexed drawings) equipped with a Venturi element 21 adapted to
receive a gas coming from an injector 4, and with a duct 22 for
supplying an air-gas mixture to said burner 10. FIG. 2 also shows a
tube 5 for supplying gas to said injector 4.
[0030] In particular, the Venturi element 21 is arranged
substantially horizontally, i.e. with its axis substantially
orthogonal to an axis A-A (shown in FIG. 2) of the burner 10; also,
the injector 4 may be substantially horizontal. In this embodiment,
the assembly consisting of the Venturi element 21 and the duct 22
is shaped substantially like a pipe, in particular of the type
known as "straight pipe." It is however clear that at least one of
said elements may be positioned differently, e.g. vertically, i.e.
with its axis parallel to said axis A-A of the burner 10.
[0031] It must be pointed out that, for the purposes of the present
disclosure, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," etc. are used with
reference to a burner 10 installed on a cooking top 1.
[0032] As is known, said Venturi element 21 allows creating, within
the duct 22 and within the entire burner 10, a pressure drop for
conveying gas and primary air (i.e. the air-gas mixture) towards
the mixing and/or combustion zone of the burner 10.
[0033] It is also worth specifying the meaning of the terms
"primary air" and "secondary air" as used in the present
description. "Primary air" is air mixed with fuel gas inside the
gas burner 10, whereas "secondary air" is air added to the already
formed air-gas mixture in the area outside the cooking top 1
surrounding the gas burner 10, which air is called "secondary air"
because it is necessary for providing the additional Oxygen
required for a proper combustion.
[0034] In this regard, the base 20 includes at least one air intake
23 to allow entry of primary air, in particular said at least one
air intake 23 being associated with that part of said base 20 which
is adjacent to the injector 4 and upstream of the Venturi element
21, with reference to the gas path. In order to ensure a
stoichiometrically correct mixture of gas and primary air as a
function of the combustion process to which the air-gas mixture
will then have to be subjected, said at least one air intake 23 is
sufficiently large to ensure an adequate flow of primary air
through it. In the event that natural circulation should not
guarantee a sufficient primary air flow rate to properly supply air
to the burner 10, a primary air forced circulation system may be
associated with said burner 10.
[0035] The gas burner 10 according to the present disclosure is of
the type that takes primary air from below the cooking top 1.
[0036] The base 20 further includes a seat 24 for housing the
injector 4 and/or a terminal portion of said tube 5 for supplying
gas to the injector 4, in particular said seat 24 being positioned
upstream of said at least one air intake 23 (with reference to the
path of the gas and of the primary air/gas mixture).
[0037] The base 20 includes at least one bracket 25, 26 for
associating at least one ignition spark plug 6 and at least one
thermocouple 7 with the burner 10; in particular, said base 20
includes a first bracket 25 for associating said at least one
ignition spark plug 6 with the burner 10, and a second bracket 26
for associating said at least one thermocouple 7 with the burner
10.
[0038] The burner 10 further includes a burner body 30 associated
with the base 20 and including a hole 31 for the passage of the
air-gas mixture coming from the duct 22 of the base 20.
[0039] In addition, the burner 10 includes a flame divider 40
associated with said burner body 30 and including a plurality of
apertures 41 to allow the air-gas mixture to exit, in particular
said apertures 41 being so realized as to generate a "carpet
flame," i.e. a flame (not shown in the drawings) that propagates
outwards from the burner 10 in a substantially axial direction with
respect to the axis A-A of the burner 10.
[0040] The burner body 30 includes a pair of first openings 30F,
and the flame divider 40 comprises a pair of second openings 40F
adapted to allow the passage of said at least one ignition spark
plug 6 and at least one thermocouple 7. It is in fact clear that,
in an operating condition (in particular a condition in which the
burner body 30 and the flame divider 40 of the burner 10 are
assembled together), said first openings 30F and second openings
40F are aligned to each other.
[0041] In accordance with the present disclosure, said base 20 is
made from sheet, in particular metal or metal-alloy sheet, which is
shaped by deep drawing. According to one embodiment, said base 20
is made from aluminized sheet metal.
[0042] According to one embodiment (also shown in FIG. 4), said
base 20 includes a first half shell 20A and a second half shell 20B
made from sheet metal and joined together. For example, the first
half shell 20A and the second half shell 20B may be joined
together, in particular, by welding; it is however clear that such
components may also be joined together otherwise, e.g. by
gluing.
[0043] According to one embodiment, also the burner body 30 is made
from sheet, in particular metal or metal-alloy sheet, which is
shaped by deep drawing.
[0044] In particular, the burner body 30 is made from enameled
sheet metal.
[0045] In accordance with the present disclosure, also the flame
divider 40 is made from sheet, in particular metal or metal-alloy
sheet.
[0046] The flame divider 40 is arranged on the burner body 30, in
particular said flame divider 40 resting on the burner body 30.
[0047] The flame divider 40 includes a side wall 42 that allows the
apertures 41 to be kept in a raised position relative to the
cooking top 1.
[0048] Said side wall 42 has a height H (see FIG. 2) in the range
of 10 mm to 20 mm, in particular said height H being approximately
15 mm.
[0049] Thanks to this provision, the flames propagating from said
apertures 41 will not cause overheating of the visible surface 2 of
the cooking top 1 near the burner 10.
[0050] In one embodiment, the burner body 30 includes a flank 32,
the height of which is essentially close to the height H of said
side wall 42, so that the coupling between the burner body 30 and
the flame divider 40 will ensure proper sealing and will prevent
the air-gas mixture from escaping sideways; in an operating
condition of the burner 10 (i.e. a condition in which the burner
body 30 and the flame divider 40 of the burner 10 are assembled
together), the flank 32 of the burner body 30 and the side wall 42
of the flame divider 40 are arranged substantially side by side and
cooperate to keeping the apertures 41 of the flame divider 40
raised relative to the cooking top 1, in particular at a distance
substantially corresponding to or slightly greater than said height
H.
[0051] It clearly emerges from the above description that the
burner 10 according to the present disclosure is realized in such a
way to be particularly efficient and economical.
[0052] In particular, the burner 10 can ensure optimal gas
efficiency thanks to the apertures 41, which provide a "carpet
flame." Furthermore, the fact that the base 20 is made from sheet
metal (just like the burner body 30 and the flame divider 40)
allows reducing the costs incurred for manufacturing the burner 10
and the whole cooking top 1.
[0053] In addition, the particular realization of the flank 32 of
the burner body 30 and of the side wall 42 of the flame divider 40
allows the apertures 41 to be positioned at a certain distance
(substantially corresponding to the height H) from the visible
surface 2 of the cooking top 1, thus preventing overheating of the
area of the cooking top 1 around the burner 10; it is clear that
this prevents said cooking top 1 from suffering possible damage,
particularly when it is made from glassy materials or the like.
[0054] The annexed drawings show that the burner body 30 and the
flame divider 40 advantageously have a substantially axially
symmetrical shape, since the axis of the burner body 30 and/or of
the flame divider 40 may substantially coincide with the axis A-A
of the burner 10.
[0055] It should be noted that the flame divider 40 also performs
the functions of delimiting at the top the inner environment of the
burner 10 and allowing the flame originated by the combustion of
the air-gas mixture to come out of the burner 10 through the
plurality of apertures 41.
[0056] Furthermore, said flame divider 40 may be microperforated,
i.e. it includes a plurality of apertures 41, the diameter of which
is substantially the same as the thickness of the metal sheet or
smaller. In particular, the thickness of the microperforated sheet
is about approximately 1 mm, and the diameter of the apertures 41
of the microperforated sheet is conveniently comprised between 100
.mu.m and 1 mm.
[0057] The features and advantages of the gas burner, in particular
for a cooking top for household use, and of the associated cooking
top according to the present disclosure are apparent in the light
of the above description.
[0058] In particular, the burner 10 according to the present
disclosure is so realized as to turn out to be particularly
effective, since it ensures optimal gas efficiency thanks to the
apertures 41, which produce a "carpet flame"; in addition, the
burner 10 according to the present disclosure has an economical
realization, in that the fact that the base 20 is made from sheet
metal (just like the burner body 30 and the flame divider 40) makes
for lower costs incurred for manufacturing the burner 10 and the
whole cooking top 1.
[0059] The flank 32 of the burner body 30 and of the side wall 42
of the flame divider 40 prevents overheating of the area of the
cooking top 1 around the burner 10, while also preventing said
cooking top 1 from suffering damage, particularly when the latter
is made from glassy materials or the like.
[0060] It is however clear that many changes may be made to the gas
burner, in particular for a cooking top for household use, and to
the associated cooking top according to the present disclosure, and
that in its practical implementation the various components may
have different shapes and arrangements or be replaced with other
technically equivalent elements without departing from the novelty
spirit of the inventive idea.
[0061] In particular, the present disclosure has disclosed in
detail a gas burner and a cooking top particularly suited for use
in a household environment. Nevertheless, the present disclosure
may also be conveniently implemented in gas burners and cooking
tops intended for different applications, e.g. in the hotel
industry.
[0062] It can therefore be easily understood that the present
disclosure is not limited to the above-described gas burner and
associated cooking top, but may be subject to many modifications,
improvements, or replacements of equivalent parts and elements
without departing from the inventive idea, as clearly specified in
the following claims.
[0063] It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the
art that construction of the described invention and other
components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary
embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a
wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
[0064] For purposes of this disclosure, the term "coupled" (in all
of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the
joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or
indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature
or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two
components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional
intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary
body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may
be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature
unless otherwise stated.
[0065] Furthermore, any arrangement of components to achieve the
same functionality is effectively "associated" such that the
desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein
combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as
"associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is
achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components.
Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as
being "operably connected" or "operably coupled" to each other to
achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable
of being so associated can also be viewed as being "operably
couplable" to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Some
examples of operably couplable include, but are not limited, to
physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or
wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components
and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable
components.
[0066] It is also important to note that the construction and
arrangement of the elements of the invention as shown in the
exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few
embodiments of the present innovations have been described in
detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this
disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are
possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes
and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters,
mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations,
etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and
advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements
shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or
elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the
operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied,
the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector
or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number
of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be
varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of
the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of
materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of
a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly,
all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope
of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications,
changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating
conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary
embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present
innovations.
[0067] It will be understood that any described processes or steps
within described processes may be combined with other disclosed
processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the
present invention. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed
herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as
limiting.
[0068] It is also to be understood that variations and
modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and
methods without departing from the concepts of the present
invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts
are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these
claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
* * * * *