Gas Patents (Class 126/39R)
  • Patent number: 6155160
    Abstract: An electronic control for a grill, providing enhanced functionality and safety features. A hydrocarbon detector system provides an intermittently operated electro-optic device emitting photons at a wavelength which selective interacts with hydrocarbon as compared to air, associated with a detector for detecting the selective interaction and an alarm monitor for detecting an alarm state. A food temperature sensor is employed to proportionately control combustible fuel flow rate, to thereby control a food temperature profile. A communications network interface is provided to allow remote control and monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Kenneth Hochbrueckner
  • Patent number: 6148811
    Abstract: A combined burner and grate structure for use in connection with a gas range includes one or more burner elements. Each burner element has one or more fuel inlets, one or more fuel outlets disposed on one or more side surfaces, and a top surface. A horizontal planar support for a cooking vessel is made up of the top surface of each burner element. A gas rangetop can include one or more of these combined burner and grate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Lloyd Miller
  • Patent number: 6132205
    Abstract: This invention incorporates a multi-ring burner assembly utilizing at least two flame rings to gently and evenly warm food and a third flame ring in conjunction with the first two flame rings for cooking food.This design has the further advantages of easy replacement of both the igniters and the gas jets from the top of the appliance without having to remove the unit from the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Uwe Harneit
  • Patent number: 6131561
    Abstract: A gas range has a plurality of burners each of which extend through a respective burner opening in a range top of the gas range. A gap is formed between each burner assembly and its respective opening. Each burner assembly includes a burner head which includes an annular air stability ring which extends into the gap between the burner assembly and the range top. The air stability ring deflects flue products escaping through this gap away from the burner ports. By deflecting the flue products away from the burner ports, the flame eminating from the burner ports is stabilized permitting more efficient combustion of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignees: Lincoln Brass Works, Inc., Frigidaire Home Products
    Inventors: Douglas Myron Maxwell, James Lewis Ayres, Joseph A. Donoho, Bobby R. Goodman, Wiley William Miller
  • Patent number: 6133554
    Abstract: A method for substantially maintaining an average heating temperature over a period of time without the aid of a temperature sensor. The method provides an apparatus which has an ignition device that is adapted to ignite a fuel. The apparatus may be a cooking appliance or practically any other device that is adapted to heat something. The fuel may be natural gas, propane gas, or practically any other fuel that may be ignited to provide heat. Conveyance means are provided for receiving the fuel from a source of the fuel and conveying the fuel to the ignition device. A valve is interposed on the conveyance means between the ignition device and the source of fuel. In order to substantially maintain the average heating temperature over the period of time, the valve is opened and closed in a predetermined pattern such that at least a portion of the fuel conveyed to the ignition device is ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Todd W. Clifford
  • Patent number: 6125838
    Abstract: A gas grill is provided which is designed for use in a high wind environment such as that which is typical on watercraft, and which incorporates a series of wind resistant baffles which deflect the flow path of combustion air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Grills and Gadgets, Inc.
    Inventor: D. Ben Hedgpeth
  • Patent number: 6095133
    Abstract: A gas-air flexible tubing assembly for use for interconnecting a supply of gas, such as bottled gas, to the burner of a cooking grill, the flexible tubing formed of helical coiled wire, and coated with a flexible and expandable polymer, interconnects with, at one end, and air-gas intake tube, by means of a threaded connection, and connects, at its opposite end, by means of a threaded connection with the downward extension of an adapter, for securement of the assembly to the underface of the burner element of a gas grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: American General Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon Scott Walters
  • Patent number: 6095131
    Abstract: A compact gas range has a gas storage slot formed between an upper circular cover and a lower circular seat. The gas storage slot is divided by two partitions into three chambers. The two partitions are provided with a valve piece having a valve hole and a filtration core disposed in the valve hole. When the ignition switch is turned on, the liquid form gas is allowed to enter the first chamber. The liquid form gas is then filtered and transformed into a gas form gas which enters the second chamber via the valve hole of the second partition. The gas form gas is completely vaporized in the third chamber so as to bring about a complete combustion. The lower circular seat is provided with a gas replenishing hole and a tube which is provided therein with a ring and a guide having a hole. The ring is capable of urging the joint of a gas can to avert the gas leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Fan-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 6089219
    Abstract: This application is an invention relating to an improvement in a gas burner for a stove for leading a mixed gas to flame holes, and burning the gas therein, through a gas passage (18) from a mixing tube (5) which produces the mixed gas by mixing a gas introduced in a jet from a nozzle and primary air drawn in with introduction of the gas. A sub-chamber (Ca) is provided separately from the gas passage for storing the mixed gas in a state of flux. The sub-chamber (Ca) communicates with the gas passage (18) through an inlet (3), and discharges the mixed gas stored therein through outlets (2) disposed adjacent the flame holes. With this construction, even when a continued combustion in the flame holes becomes difficult due to air-rich air resulting from an operation of an adjusting lever of the gas burner for a stove to adjusts the quantity of gas rapidly from large to small, the mixed gas stored in the sub-chamber (Ca) is discharged from the outlets (2) to continue the combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Harman Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kodera, Yuzuru Uchida, Takashi Ohta, Hiroshi Kamitani
  • Patent number: 6079402
    Abstract: A venturi tube mounting system having a removable support which supports a venturi tube from a cooktop, prior to assembling of the cooktop, without the need for a burner box and support brackets. The mounting system includes a support device with a first portion engageable to a part of the gas stove cooktop and a second portion engageable to the venturi tube. The support device may have a C-shaped extension at one end for engaging the cooktop and a support element at a second end for supporting the venturi tube. The support can be provided in various forms including a wire-form structure, a clip-type structure, a stamp-formed structure, or similar structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas L. Gort, Carlos R. Tejada Medina, Timothy A. Bulcher
  • Patent number: 6076517
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for adjusting a pressure-fluctuation free supply of gas and for controlling an operating pressure of an air/gas mixture to a radiation-gas burner of a gas cooking apparatus. The radiation-gas burner has a burner chamber and is mounted in a housing below a cover plate. The arrangement includes a gas supply conduit connectable to a gas source for receiving the gas and a pressure controller is mounted in the gas supply conduit for controlling the pressure of the gas to a constant operating pressure of at least 2.5 mbar above atmospheric pressure. A control unit is connected to the pressure controller for receiving the pressure-controlled gas and for metering the gas to the radiation-gas burner. The control unit includes a valve block having at least one exchangeable nozzle adapted to the type of gas from the gas source and a feed conduit has a clear cross-sectional area and communicates with the burner chamber. The feed conduit has an inlet opening adjacent the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Michael Kahlke, Christof Koster, Rainer Hasse
  • Patent number: 6074201
    Abstract: A gas burner configuration for cooking areas includes a gas fitting for supplying gas to a gas burner and a first setting member for the gas fitting. An adjusting pipe is disposed in the vicinity of a gas injector nozzle configuration. The adjusting pipe can be displaced longitudinally toward the gas burner along an opening for a feed pipe supplying a gas/air mixture and can be varied through the use of a second setting member disposed in the vicinity of the first setting member, for optimizing a gas/air mixture by varying an air induction effect in an injector region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Muhle
  • Patent number: 6067978
    Abstract: A barbecue grill comprising a grilling housing, and a gas burner mounted adjacent the grilling housing. The gas burner includes a burner base having a base chamber, a burner head having at least one air and fuel mixture exit port, and a venturi having opposed relatively open ends, the venturi providing a passage between the burner base and the burner head. The base chamber surrounds one of the opposed relatively open ends of the venturi and the base chamber has an inner wall which reduces from a wider portion to a narrower portion with a fuel inlet providing access for fuel into the base chamber and a combustion air inlet being disposed about at least a portion of a periphery of the wider portion of the base chamber. The burner further including a means for securing the burner head to the burner base such that the burner head may be lifted off the burner base for inspection and cleaning of the burner base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventors: Erich J. Schlosser, Mohammed Shoeb, Horst Uwe Harneit
  • Patent number: 6058927
    Abstract: A method for achieving movement of a gas burner of a cooking hob relative to a cavity in which said burner rests when not in use and from which it partially emerges for its activation, by which following a command for activating the burner a magnetic force is generated on the heating element which causes it to move and partially emerge from the cavity, said force ceasing when a burner deactivation command is given, with its consequent return to its rest position within the corresponding cavity. The method is implemented by a device comprising fixed conductor means arranged to cooperate magnetically with magnetically sensitive means associated with the movable burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Whirlpool Europe B.V.
    Inventors: Marco Maritan, Cesare Antonio Bocchiola
  • Patent number: 6056542
    Abstract: A burner is disclosed, comprising: a burner body and a burner lid coupled to the burner body so as to form a plurality of gas ports in a substantially circular and substantially planar arrangement, said gas ports being interposed between the burner body and the burner lid and adapted to have a corresponding array of flames extending from the gas ports during combustion of a fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Bradford White Corporation
    Inventors: Eric M. Lannes, Timothy D. Scott
  • Patent number: 6050176
    Abstract: Arrangement of an electrical heating element as a cooking zone, having as a carrier a ceramic of very high thermal conductivity, in a cutout of a surface consisting of glass-ceramic, glass, ceramic, metal or plastic. The ceramic carrier of the heating element can rest with overlap on regions of the surface which deviate from the main plane of the plate-like surface so as form elevations running linearly, such as cone frustums, spherical segments and/or cones, and which define the edge of the cutout. This elevated rest of the heating element serving as a bearing, and the underside of the surface serving as an abutment for a cover arranged below the main plane of the surface and closing off the cutout downwards, and the heating element being fixed positively and non-positively in the cutout of the surface by way of fastening elements connected firmly to the heating element and firmly and releasably to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Bernd Schultheis, Martin Taplan
  • Patent number: 6041768
    Abstract: An improved oven of a type having an on/off pilot and gas valve for receiving gas, with the on/off pilot and gas valve being purely mechanical and having inner workings and a manually operated push button knob, a pilot in communication with the on/off pilot and gas valve and the oven for igniting the oven, a manually operated shut-off valve in fluid communication with the on/off pilot and gas valve for shutting off the gas, and a thermostat in fluid communication with the pilot and in fluid and mechanical communication with the oven for controlling the temperature of the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventors: John Giammona, Frank Lopa
  • Patent number: 6035846
    Abstract: A burner for gas cookers (1) comprises: a central flame crown (22) concentric with two circumferential crowns (25, 26) themselves concentric; radial ducts (23) for feeding the primary gas-air mixture I to the circumferential crown and a substantially horizontal Venturi effect chamber (18) defined by facing surfaces (15, 16) and equidistant from the body (14) of the burner and from the cover of the of central flame crown respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: SABAF S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Saleri
  • Patent number: 6032662
    Abstract: The invention is directed to cooktop apparatus wherein a cooktop panel is seated in a frame and is made of glass ceramic, glass or ceramic. The cooktop panel has a cutout for accommodating an atmospheric gas burner in the cooktop panel. A component assembly holds the gas burner in the cooktop panel and the component assembly includes a collar annularly overlapping a portion of the panel in the region of the cutout. The collar has an inner region defining an edge which, in turn, defines a first abutment for engaging the gas burner. A resilient metal element is attached to the gas burner and extends outwardly from the gas burner to engage the panel on the lower side thereof. The lower side of the panel defines a second abutment against which the resilient metal element applies a force F to hold the gas burner on the panel via the collar and the resilient metal element. A seal is sandwiched and clamped between the collar and the panel thereby preventing any spillage from reaching the frame through the cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Martin Taplan, Christoph Koster, Marx Boris, Eva Haase
  • Patent number: 6030207
    Abstract: A burner for gas cookers that includes a body provided with at least one aperture that defines at least one concentric flame crown and a base fitted to a cooking hob. The burner has an interchangeable circumferential ring that is fitted to the body by a mechanical fixture, which increases diameter of the body in proximity of the base. The ring curves toward the cooking hob like an annular skirt to define a passage for use with burners which draw primary air from above the cooking hob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Sabaf S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Saleri
  • Patent number: 6021774
    Abstract: Unit with at least one plate made of a material, which material is permeable to thermal radiation, such as glass ceramic, glass, ceramic or a similar material, as a surface for cooking, frying and/or keeping warm. The unit with at least one plate is on a frame construction with different types of adjustable heat sources distributed underneath and on the plate. Some of the heat sources are distributed under the plate in the form of radiant burners and act indirectly by radiation through the plate. Other heat sources are located above the level of the plate in the form of open atmospheric or atmospheric pressure gas burners and transmit heat directly by producing open flames. The respective heat sources correspond to the cooking, frying and/or warming positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Martin Taplan, Herwig Scheidler, Christof Koster
  • Patent number: 6017211
    Abstract: A surface cooking appliance having a unique rotatable burner. The surface cooking appliance includes a top surface having a first opening and wherein a gas supply tube is provided having a terminal end adjacent the first opening. An igniter is mounted to the top surface adjacent the first opening. A burner is supported on the top surface above the first opening. The burner includes an inlet port, off-set from the center point of the burner, for receiving gas from the gas supply tube. The burner further includes at least two igniter openings for receiving the igniter such that the burner may be rotated about the terminal end of the gas supply tube and positioned in a plurality of positions wherein the igniter is disposed in one of the at least two openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas L. Gort, Carlos R. Tejada Medina, Guillermo Jose Aguirre, Jorge Luis Perez, Marcos Leyva
  • Patent number: 6000390
    Abstract: The gas safety valve includes a valve that is solenoid actuated in a fashion to interrupt the flow of gas from the gas line to the stove. A remotely located switch including a key locking mechanism can be mounted at any convenient but safe location. A key activates the switch which in turn energizes the solenoid to permit gas flow to the stove. Mounting of the key locking mechanism remote from the stove is added security. An indicator light reveals whether the gas valve is open, closed or perhaps not connected to a source of electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventors: Michael F. Evers, Mark J. Raffel
  • Patent number: 5988155
    Abstract: A cooking machine control system for controlling the consumption of fuel by cooking machines, including cooking machines of the type used in restaurant kitchens, such as gas/barbecue broilers, and home cooking machines such as grills, and gas flow valves usable in such cooking machine control systems. The cooking machine control system controls the flow of gas to the burners of the cooking machine to maintain the cooking surface of the cooking machine at an appropriate standby temperature when no food is being cooked, to bring the cooking surface to an appropriate cooking temperature for a predetermined period of time when food is being cooked, and then to return the cooking surface to the standby temperature. In one embodiment, a valve in the gas pipe controls the flow of the gas to provide the desired cooking levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventors: William J. Garceau, Thomas F. Speakman
  • Patent number: 5988116
    Abstract: A gas burner adapted to discharge said fuel at its the periphery for combustion, includes upper and lower concave plates secured together to define a chamber and an outer periphery having a plurality of burner ports. The upper plate preferably has a periphery extending radially at least as far as the lower plate. The periphery of the upper plate is downwardly angled, preferably more steeply than the periphery of the lower plate. The peripheral edge of at least one or the other of the top or bottom burner plates extends radially outwardly from the central axis a distance beyond the location of the burner ports and into the path of burning gases issuing from the ports whereby the temperature of said burning gases is reduced. Preferably, the periphery of the upper plate extends downwardly to an elevation below the upper edges of the burner ports, so that gases emerging from the ports are caused to impinge against the periphery, thus cooling the gases and thereby reducing the NO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: State Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Otto Z. Vago, Hector J. Donastorg, Clifford Carlton, William M. Pryor
  • Patent number: 5983884
    Abstract: The invention provides a modular gas cooktop system comprising a gas cooktop including compartments and standardized connections for a plurality of modular gas cooking units and an adapter. The standardized connections provide the maximum gas flow rates expected for use with the modular gas cooking units and the adapter provides gas flow rates compatible with the individual gas cooking units. The adaptor automatically reduces the gas flow rate provided to a modular cooking cartridge to match the gas flow requirement of the particular cartridge. The adapter can be added to the cartridge during the manufacturing process, thereby eliminating the requirement of removing an existing orifice from the gas appliance and replacing it with a second orifice when installing the cartridge in the gas appliance. The invention further includes a method for adapting the gas flow rate available to a modular cooking cartridge in a gas appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Duane A. Lee
  • Patent number: 5979431
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a portable stove. The portable stove comprises a body member which contains burners. The portable stove includes shelves which lock into place onto the body member during use and storage. A griddle having a heat dispersement plate is removably mounted to the body member above the burner. Legs are hingedly and slidingly attached to the body member. The legs may be folded to either a standing position or a carrying position. Accordingly, the shelves, griddle and legs may be secured to the stove during storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Hamilton, Lawrence Matthew Stone
  • Patent number: 5979429
    Abstract: Disclosed is a modularly constructed and variably configurable cook top arrangement of ready-made single modules each containing in a frame construction all parts necessary for operation as a burner module, exhaust component, blower unit, control module, signal and display unit, or other components, having a glass ceramic cook top in which the individual modules have shaped metal parts to which materials for thermal insulation are joined, and which have fastening means by which the modules can be arranged with one another and with the frame and can be fastened releasably to form a single functional unit, and on which openings, bores and recesses are provided as an assembling means for fastening the parts necessary for operation and for leading in and fixing the wiring and/or the ignition, control, and safety and indicating systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Schott Glaswerke
    Inventors: Bernd Schultheis, Michael Kahlke
  • Patent number: 5975072
    Abstract: A cooking machine control system for controlling the consumption of fuel by gas cooking machines, and gas flow valves usable in such cooking machine control systems. The cooking machine control system maintains the cooking surface of the cooking machine at an appropriate standby temperature when no food is being cooked, brings the cooking surface to an appropriate temperature to cook the food, and then returns the cooking surface to the standby gas flow rate. The system can be returned to the standby gas flow rate either after the cooking gas flow rate has been provided for sufficient time for the food to have cooked or after the temperature of the food has reached the desired level. With the cooking machine control system in the standby mode, when food is to be cooked a switch is actuated, applying a start signal to cause a valve to open the cooking flow rate path to cook the food, following which the valve returns the system to the standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventors: William J. Garceau, Thomas S. Speakman
  • Patent number: 5964213
    Abstract: A burner unit for a gas cooking unit includes an upwardly concave, disk-shaped member. There is a manifold below the disk-shaped member which has a top with a circular opening. The manifold is connected to the disk-shaped member within the opening. There is a circular gap extending about the disk-shaped member between the member and the manifold. The manifold has a gas connection located radially outwards from the disk-shaped member. There is an opening for air adjacent the connection. Air mixes with gas entering the manifold through the connection and an air/gas mixture passes through the gap between the manifold and the disk-shaped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: Viet Hung Tran
  • Patent number: 5961311
    Abstract: A gas burner system including a burner body having a flange providing an annular surface. A removable cap is disposed above the burner body and contacts the annular surface for forming an annular interface with the burner body for closing the burner body. A plurality of ports are provided along the annular interface between the burner body and the cap. A first ignitor is disposed adjacent the annular interface between the burner body and cap. A second ignitor is also disposed adjacent the annular interface between the burned body and cap. Electronic means energize the first and second ignitors for generating sparks to ignite the gas burner. The energizing means include means for sensing the presence of flame at both the first and second ignitors such that during burner operation, if no flame is sensed at both the first and second ignitors, the ignitors are energized for generating sparks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Roger R. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5957683
    Abstract: There is provided a burner structure used for a portable gas cooking stove, including a mixing tube with an open end from which a mixture gas of a combustible gas and air is discharged, a burner head with a predetermined volume, an open bottom surface, and a top surface with at least one opening, an inner cup having a size that enables the inner cup to be housed in the burner head, and an open bottom surface, and a bottom plate with a through-hole through which the mixing tube can be inserted, covering the open bottom surface of the burner head, wherein the inner cup is installed inside the burner head in such a manner that an inner surface of the inner cup faces the mixing tube, and the mixing tube is installed on the bottom plate so that the open end is positioned higher than a bottom surface of the inner cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Snow Peak, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yokoyama, Toshikazu Ikarashi
  • Patent number: 5954492
    Abstract: The gas burner of the present invention includes a mated burner body and a burner lid. A plurality of gas ports in a substantially circular and planar arrangement are interposed between the mated body and lid and are directed radially from the body and lid. An air shield member is coformed to and extends radially from the burner body or burner lid. Extending radially from the air shield member in substantial radial alignment with the gas ports is a plurality of flame partitions equal in number to the gas ports. Each flame partition has two attached tabs which are substantially perpendicular to each other when the flame partition is observed in cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Bradford White Corporation
    Inventors: Eric M. Lannes, Timothy D. Scott
  • Patent number: 5937847
    Abstract: A cooking machine control system for controlling the consumption of fuel by cooking machines, including cooking machines of the type used in restaurant kitchens, such as gas/barbecue broilers, and home cooking machines such as grills, and gas flow valves usable in such cooking machine control systems. The cooking machine control system controls the flow of gas to the burners of the cooking machine to maintain the cooking surface of the cooking machine at an appropriate standby temperature when no food is being cooked, to bring the cooking surface to an appropriate cooking temperature for a predetermined period of time when food is being cooked, and then to return the cooking surface to the standby temperature. The cooking machine control system includes a first gas pipe which provides gas to each burner of the cooking machine at the standby level and a second gas pipe which in the standby mode is closed by a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventors: William J. Garceau, Thomas F. Speakman
  • Patent number: 5931152
    Abstract: The invention relates to a glass-ceramic cooking plate for gas cooking apparatuses, characterized by the fact that it has at least one opening 2 intended to receive a gas burner 3 and several humps 5 of the same height distributed around this opening which are intended to support a cooking utensil which is to be heated by said burner, said humps being an integral part of the plate itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Eurokera
    Inventors: Gerald P. Fafet, Allan M. Fredholm
  • Patent number: 5913675
    Abstract: A gas burner adapted to discharge said fuel at its the periphery for combustion, includes upper and lower concave plates secured together to define a chamber and an outer periphery having a plurality of burner ports. The upper plate preferably has a periphery extending radially at least as far as the lower plate. The periphery of the upper plate is downwardly angled, preferably more steeply than the periphery of the lower plate. The peripheral edge of at least one or the other of the top or bottom burner plates extends radially outwardly from the central axis a distance beyond the location of the burner ports and into the path of burning gases issuing from the ports whereby the temperature of said burning gases is reduced. Preferably, the periphery of the upper plate extends downwardly to an elevation below the upper edges of the burner ports, so that gases emerging from the ports are caused to impinge against the periphery, thus cooling the gases and thereby reducing the NO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: State Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Otto Z. Vago, Hector J. Donastorg, Clifford Carlton, William M. Pryor
  • Patent number: 5901695
    Abstract: A gas burner for a cooking device. The gas burner includes a burner head connected to a mixing pipe. An impeller disk is disposed above the burner head and below a cover. The impeller disk is operable to swirl a gas stream and defines a generally circular inner opening. The impeller disk includes a body and a plurality of paddle-shaped flame guidance members formed by a plurality of evenly-spaced and radially-directed cuts in the body. The flame guidance members are bent such that edges of the flame guidance members form oblique angles with the body. The edges each have an end disposed above the body and another end disposed below the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Cramer GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Deptolla
  • Patent number: 5890887
    Abstract: A butane stove or heater includes a pressure vessel adapted to receive a conventional aerosol-type fuel container. The pressure vessel has a fuel conduit, connected to a pressure regulator and thence to the appliance burner unit, which is adapted for connection with a fuel container disposed therein, and a vent conduit which is adapted to vent any fuel escaping from the fuel container to a location remote from the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Kenyon Marine, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Michael Adler
  • Patent number: 5890482
    Abstract: A plurality of natural or LP gas-fired burners each having a port construction which produces a substantially even distribution of heat over the cooking surface of a griddle top is disclosed. Each burner includes a longitudinally extending portion having a first and a second series of ports, each series being positioned in a substantially linear orientation and each positioned substantially parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinally extending portion of the burner. Each series of ports include a first grouping of ports having an orientation with respect to normal so as to produce flames directed toward the front of the griddle top and a second grouping of ports having an orientation with respect to normal so as to produce flames directed toward the rear of the griddle top. A pilot flame or gas ignition device is positioned at the transition point between the first plurality of ports and the second plurality of ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Keating of Chicago, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Farnsworth, Jeff J. Verlinden
  • Patent number: 5865164
    Abstract: A cooking machine control system for controlling the consumption of fuel by cooking machines, including cooking machines of the type used in restaurant kitchens, such as gas/barbecue broilers, and home cooking machines such as grills, and gas flow valves usable in such cooking machine control systems. The cooking machine control system controls the flow of gas to the burners of the cooking machine to maintain the cooking surface of the cooking machine at an appropriate standby temperature when no food is being cooked, to bring the cooking surface to an appropriate cooking temperature for a predetermined period of time when food is being cooked, and then to return the cooking surface to the standby temperature. In one embodiment, a valve in the gas pipe controls the flow of the gas to provide the desired cooking levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventors: William J. Garceau, Thomas F. Speakman
  • Patent number: 5865615
    Abstract: A gas burner assembly has a sheet metal base section having a generally constant wall thickness and a sheet metal burner cap also having a generally constant wall thickness. The burner cap includes a plurality of burner ports and the burner cap is removably secured to the base section to define a gas chamber. The removability of the burner cap allows easy cleaning of the burner ports as well as the rest of the burner assembly. The base section is secured to the cook top by a twist lock arrangement which simplifies removal of the complete burner assembly without the need for tools when cleaning or maintenance is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Lincoln Brass Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Simpson, Gregory Zambeck, Garry Wayne Woods
  • Patent number: 5862798
    Abstract: A safety device for a portable stove having a bottom portion, a mounting apparatus for removably securing the portable stove to a substrate of a vehicle, wherein the portable stove having a generally rectangular bottom portion, and a box-shaped frame with a rear side and sidewalls, and at least one burner mounted in the box-shaped frame; a safety/fastening means operably connected between the portable stove and substrate for removably fastening the portable stove and the substrate together and preventing the portable stove from sliding off the substrate; and the safety/fastening means being selected from the group consisting of suction cups, tangs, magnets and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: Doyce Humphrey
  • Patent number: 5860409
    Abstract: A gas cookstove having in its top face an opening forming a recess for accommodating a removable container below which is mounted at least one gas burner supported by a tray retained on the edge of the recess like opening and interposed between a casing and the bottom of the removable container, the cookstove being applicable to the cooking of any foodstuff in a container removably fitted into the top of the cookstove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Gaz De France
    Inventors: Gilles Grandveau, Alain Meslif
  • Patent number: 5846071
    Abstract: A burner construction, a cooking apparatus utilizing the burner construction and methods of making the same are provided, the burner construction comprising a burner body having an open end and a removable cap closing the open end of the burner body, the burner body having an annular surface interrupted by a plurality of radially disposed and spaced apart grooves that are closed by the cap to define ports through which fuel can issue to burn externally to the burner construction, the annular surface of the burner body comprising an annular flange that extends radially outwardly from the one end of the burner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Kent K. Sigler
  • Patent number: 5842849
    Abstract: A gas burner includes a base member to which a plurality of nozzles is disposed and a disk is mounted to the base member with a plurality of gas supplying tubes connected between the disk and the base member. A central head member and a plurality of chambers are respectively mounted to the disk and communicate with the gas supplying tubes respectively. Each of the chambers and the central head member has a plurality of openings defined therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventor: Hsu-Sheng Huang
  • Patent number: 5839426
    Abstract: A gas distribution box for the top burners of a stove includes a sealed gas distribution conduit in the form of a channel formed between a base plate and a cover plate. Inside the palates are elements which control the flow of gas to each burner. Only the operating shafts and a common gas inlet and individual outlets connectors protrude from the plates. The regulators for gas flow to each burner are a valve with an operating shaft and a bypass screw. The valves include two superposed flat discs, one fixed and the other rotary, fitted between the base and the cover. A pusher cooperates with the operating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Fagor, S. Coop
    Inventor: Inaki Ayastuy Aretxaga
  • Patent number: 5836296
    Abstract: A gas range includes a gas distribution system which utilizes a gas manifold that includes a single gas inlet chamber. Communication between the gas inlet chamber and each of the burners is controlled by a respective valve assembly mounted in the gas inlet chamber. One of the valve assemblies is thermostatically controlled in response to a sensed temperature. The length of the gas manifold can be dictated by the spacing of the individual valve assemblies or it can be dictated by the spacing of the burners. The gas distribution system provides additional flexibility to the range designer while reducing costs by eliminating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Lincoln Brass Works, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Hillis, Garry Wayne Woods, Gary E. Berry, William J. Ferlin
  • Patent number: 5833449
    Abstract: A multiple inshot-type gas burner structure is formed from a pair of facing, intersecured stamper sheet metal plates. A spaced plurality of parallel, rectangularly cross-sectioned burner bodies are defined by facing triangular indentation pairs in the plates and have, at front outlet end portions thereof, side indentations which serve to mix air and gaseous fuel received at rear end portions of the burner bodies, and to divert a portion of the fuel/air mixture into crossover channels intercommunicating front interior portions of the burner bodies. The crossover channels have central arcuate closed portions that cooperate with progressively sized standoff dimples extending between opposite wall portions of the channels to provide an even crossover flame pattern along the outlet slot section of each channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John T. Knight, Scott A. Willbanks, Joey W. Huffaker, Kenneth F. Thereau, Richard J. Bazzo, Jacob J. Verderber, Jr., deceased
  • Patent number: 5829425
    Abstract: A gas range includes a gas distribution system which incorporates a multi-chambered gas manifold. The gas manifold includes a single gas inlet chamber and a plurality of gas outlet chambers. Communication between the gas inlet chamber and each gas outlet chamber is controlled by a respective rotating disc element which controls the flow of gas between the two chambers. The length of the gas manifold can be dictated by the spacing of the individual disc elements or it can be dictated by the spacing of the burners. The gas distribution system provides additional flexibility to the range designer while reducing costs by eliminating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Lincoln Brass Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry Wayne Woods, William L. Hillis, William J. Ferlin, Anthony W. Simpson
  • Patent number: 5813395
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for clasp the rims of openings in shaped bodies made of glass ceramic, glass or ceramic, especially openings for the passage of atmospheric gas burners on cooking hobs or stovetops, from mechanical damage and for preventing soiling and damage to arrangements situated underneath the shaped body owing to the ingress of liquids through the openings in the shaped body. The clasp reaches over the rim of the respective opening and extends onto both the top and bottom sides of the shaped body. A sealing and/or heat-insulating material is advantageously inserted between the shaped body and the clasp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Schott Glaswerke
    Inventors: Martin Taplan, Stefan Hubert, Boris Marx, Thomas Heisner