Gas Range Grate

Abstract

A gas cooking range having a main cooktop with a plurality of top burner units therein and grates mounted over each of the respective burner units for supporting utensils thereon, and means comprising a baffle provided in a side of each grate for deflecting upwardly combustion products which are formed at the burner units to thereby prevent such combustion products from unduly heating adjacent walls in a flush-to-wall installation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Normally, gas ranges are certified for "flush-to-wall" installation which means that the rear of the range may be flush with a rear wall and the sides may either or both be flush with adjacent countertop cabinets. When a side wall extends above a countertop or range height, the range normally must be spaced a specified distance from the side wall, usually two to four inches depending on the range configuration.

The reason for such spacing between the range and sidewall is because a conventional range usually has two burners on each end of a divided maintop, and this causes at least two of the burners to be located in relatively close proximity to the sidewall extending above the cooking top of the range.

It has been found that combustion products generated by such burners will rise and will be deflected by a cooking utensil in a sideways direction onto the adjacent sidewall, resulting in objectionably high temperatures on the wall surface.

It will be apparent that such high temperatures can be reduced by moving the range away from the sidewall or by overlying the wall surface with material which will not be damaged by heat. Such overlying is unsightly and may be expensive. Also, when a space is produced between the range and sidewall, this can be inconvenient and undesirable unless some form of filler or cap is provided. This also may be unsightly and expensive. Furthermore, in small apartments or kitchens space in often at a premium and cannot be wasted in this way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above and other objections to conventional gas range installations of this character are overcome by the present invention which permits a range to be located flush to a sidewall which extends to a height above the range. This improvement is achieved by the provision of grates which support the cooking utensil in the known manner but which are provided at their sides with deflectors or baffles for the purpose of deflecting upwardly a substantial portion of the hot combustion products rising from the burner.

In one embodiment of the invention the top edge of the baffle is notched to a predetermined depth and width in order to provide efficient metering of the flow of the combustion products. The baffle is a deflector or web which may be flat or curved, and may be provided on one side only of a grate or on two diametrically opposed sides, as desired. Thus, when combustion products are directed upwardly, instead of being permitted to flow directly toward the sidewall, the temperature of the sidewall is maintained at a considerably lower and safer level. Accordingly, a range embodying the invention may be installed flush with the sidewall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a gas cooking range installed in flush relation with a sidewall;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view partly in section of a burner and grate portion of the range in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the grate and adjacent portion of the range top shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the grate shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, a gas cooking range 10 which embodies the invention is shown in FIG. 1. Although a free-standing range 10 is shown, it is to be understood that the invention may be applied to other types of ranges if desired. Range 10 embodies a conventional oven portion 12, and a cooking top 14 which includes one or more burner units in the known manner. Range 10 is shown in flush relation with a sidewall 16 and is closely spaced to the wall only because the invention is embodied in the range; otherwise a space of two to four inches would be required between the range and the wall.

The cooking top is provided with one or more burner apertures 18, one only of which is shown in FIG. 3, within which are located respective burner units 20. Marginal portions 22 of the top 14 around the burner apertures are recessed as shown in FIG. 2 and are formed with a peripheral ledge or shelf portion 24 upon which a respective grate 26 is located.

In many conventional gas ranges there are provided two burner units which are disposed relatively close to the adjoining sidewall.

In the normal operation of a burner unit as shown in FIG. 2, upon manual manipulation of a selected knob 28, gas is supplied from a suitable source through conduit or pipe 30 into the burner head 32 from which it exits through ports 34. Upon ignition, the gas-air mixture burns on the surface of the head as a conventional and well-known blue flame. During this process hot combustion products are formed which flow upwardly from the burner but will be deflected by a pot or utensil 34 on the grate 26 toward the sidewall 16 as shown by the dashed line A in FIG. 2, thus undesirably heating the wall.

The grate 26 is normally a network of rigid metal such as cast iron, steel or the like which includes a circumferential rodlike member 38 which rests upon shelf 24. Rigidly secured as by welding to member 38 are a number of radially extending legs 40 upon which the pot 36 is actually supported. The burner unit 20 is located within the recessed portion 22 of the cooking top and thus is enabled to direct its flames onto the underside of the pot 36.

In accordance with the present invention, the gate 26 is provided on at least its side nearest the wall 16 with a baffle or deflector 42 which extends between two adjacent spaced legs 40 of the grate. The deflection 42 is of rigid metal and is mounted upon the legs 40 as by welding and is positioned to present a flat side surface parallel to the wall to intercept the flow of combustion products from the burner. Such interception of the flow causes the combustion products to be deflected upwardly in this area of the device as shown by dotted line B in FIG. 2. Thus the wall 16 will not become unduly heated by such flow of combustion products, enabling the range to be located flush with the sidewall without causing damage to the wall by heat.

The grates 26 preferably have two such deflectors 42, one on each side, so that grates may be interchanged on opposite sides of the range. The grates 26 may, of course, be round or irregularly shaped, and the deflectors 42 may be flat or slightly curved to produce the same desired effect.

In some cases it will be necessary to provide a notch 44 of predetermined width and depth for metering the flow of combustion products in a desired manner.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the objectives of this invention have been achieved by the structure shown and described. It is to be understood, however, that various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, all matter shown and described is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

I claim:

1. A gas cooking range having a maintop, at least one burner opening in said maintop adjacent one edge thereof, a burner located within said opening and, having flame ports therein at which flames are normally produced which flames normally create combustion products directed generally laterally in the direction of said edge and onto adjacent structure located adjacent said edge, a grate mounted in said opening over the burner, and comprising a pair of radially extending members, and means carried by said grate at a level above said ports for deflecting said combustion products in a generally upward direction to avoid overheating of said adjacent structure, said means comprising a deflector connected between said members adjacent the outer ends thereof.

2. A range as set forth in claim 1 wherein said grate is shaped to fit within said opening with the deflector positioned substantially parallel to said edge of the maintop.

3. A range as set forth in claim 1 wherein said deflector is a baffle provided on its upper side with means for metering flow of combustion products.

4. A range as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for metering flow of combustion products comprises a notch of predetermined size in the upper side of said baffle.

5. A gas range grate comprising an open network of heat-resistant rigid members adapted to be positioned above a burner element of the range, said network including a number of radially extending members, support means fixed to and interconnecting said radially extending members, and a deflector connected between two adjacent radially extending members adjacent the outer ends thereof and at a level above the support means for deflecting combustion products from said burner element in a generally upward direction.

6. A grate as set forth in claim 5 wherein said support means includes a longitudinally extending marginal portion, and said deflector extends substantially parallel to said marginal portion.

7. A grate as set forth in claim 5 wherein said deflector is a baffle provided on its upper side with means for metering flow of combustion products.

8. A grate as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for metering flow of combustion products comprises a notch of predetermined size in the upper side of said baffle.