Pilot Flame unit

Abstract

A pilot flame unit includes an igniter, a nozzle and a connector for connecting the igniter to the nozzle. The igniter includes an electrode at an end and a terminal at another end. The terminal is connected to a wire leading from a power supply. The nozzle is connected to a flange extending from a gas range. The connector is provided around the igniter on one hand and connected to the nozzle on the other hand.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a gas range and, more particularly, to a burner used in a gas range and, more particularly, to a pilot flame unit used in a burner used in a gas range.

2. RELATED PRIOR ART

A gas range includes at least one burner. The burner includes a pilot flame unit and a primary flame unit. The pilot flame unit includes a nozzle and an igniter. The igniter generates sparks between itself and the nozzle to ignite gas coming from the nozzle. Flame provided from the plot flame unit can be used to induce flames at the primary flame unit.

Conventionally, the position of the igniter relative to the nozzle is at the discretion of a worker. The distance between them might be too far to produce stable sparks. This problem could be worse in a humid environment.

To overcome the foregoing problem, a pilot flame unit is disclosed in Chinese Utility Model Publication No. 201209882. In the Chinese Utility Model, the igniter and the nozzle are connected to a same flange of the gas range. The distance between the igniter and the nozzle is rendered proper and constant. Hence, the production of the sparks is steady. The distance is however too short and makes it difficult to attach both of the igniter and the nozzle to the flange.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a gas range with a reliable, easy-to-make pilot flame unit.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the pilot flame unit includes an igniter, a nozzle and a connector for connecting the igniter to the nozzle. The igniter includes an electrode at an end and a terminal at another end. The terminal is connected to a wire leading to a power supply. The nozzle is connected to a flange extending from a gas range. The connector is provided around the igniter on one hand and connected to the nozzle on the other hand.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pilot flame unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pilot flame of FIG. 1 connected to a gas range;

FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the pilot flame unit shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the pilot flame unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pilot flame unit 10 includes an igniter 20, a nozzle 30 and a connector 70 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The pilot flame unit 10 is used in a burner 12 of a gas range 11.

The igniter 20 includes an electrode 22 at an end and a terminal 24 at another end. The igniter 20 is shaped like an “L.” The igniter 20 includes a neck 26 with a reduced size. The neck 26 includes two opposite plain faces 28.

The nozzle 30 includes an inlet 31 and an outlet 33. The nozzle 30 is preferably made of two plates joined together in an air-tight manner. The inlet 31 and the outlet 33 are defined between the plates. Moreover, the nozzle 30 includes two apertures 32 defined therein.

The connector 70 includes a ferrule 72 extending between two lugs 71. An aperture is defined in each of the lugs 71. The ferrule 72 includes an arched section extending between two flat portions 73.

In assembly, the nozzle 30 is substantially located on a side of a flange 60 extending from the gas range 11. A pipe 40 is substantially located on an opposite side of the flange 60. The pipe 40 is connected to the nozzle 30. The pipe 40 is connected to a flexible tube 50 with two joints 41 and 42.

The ferrule 72 of the connector 70 is provided around the neck 26 of the igniter 20. The flat sections 73 of the ferrule 72 are in contact with the plain faces 28 of the neck 26. The lugs 71 are located against each other. A fastener 74 is driven in a selected one of the apertures 32 through the apertures of the lugs 71. Thus, the igniter 20 is attached to the nozzle 30. The neck 26 is made to ensure that the igniter 20 is in a right position relative to the connector 70. The apertures 32 are made to ensure that the connector 70 is in a desired one of several positions relative to the nozzle 30. Therefore, the igniter 20 is precisely in the desired one of the positions relative to the nozzle 30.

The terminal 24 of the igniter 20 is connected to a wire leading from a power supply such as a battery. Energized by the power supply, the igniter 20 produces sparks between the electrode 22 and a portion of the nozzle 30 near the outlet 33. Steady sparks can be produced because the proper distance between the electrode 22 and the portion of the nozzle 30 near the outlet 33. Hence, gas coming from the outlet 33 can effectively be ignited by the steady sparks.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a connector 70 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except that one of the lugs 71 integrally extends from one of the plates of the nozzle 30. That is, the connector 70 and the nozzle 30 are made one.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A pilot flame unit comprising:

an igniter including an electrode at an end and a terminal at another end, wherein the terminal is connected to a wire leading to a power supply;

a nozzle connected to a flange of a gas range; and

a connector provided around the igniter on one hand and connected to the nozzle on the other hand.

2. The pilot flame unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector includes a ferrule provided around the igniter and two lugs connected to the nozzle.

3. The pilot flame unit according to claim 2, including a fastener, wherein the nozzle includes an aperture defined therein, wherein the fastener is inserted in the aperture.

4. The pilot flame unit according to claim 3, wherein the fastener is a rivet.

5. The pilot flame unit according to claim 2, wherein one of the lugs integrally extends from the nozzle.

6. The pilot flame unit according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle includes a reduced neck held by the ferrule.

7. The pilot flame unit according to claim 2, wherein the neck includes two plain faces, wherein the ferrule includes two flat sections in contact with the plain faces.