Abstract: A burner assembly is provided that includes a burner pan having a peripheral portion adapted to engage a range top at the periphery of a burner opening and a sealed burner in central portion of the burner pan. A resilient elastic seal straddles the peripheral portion of the burner pan so as to be disposed between the burner pan and the range top and between the burner pan and the burner grate. The elastic seal retains the burner grate in position slightly above the range top and provides a seal to close the burner opening.

Abstract: A novel dual mode, downdraft gas range provides a sealed top and sealed gas burners that can be operated effectively in a power burner mode with a downdraft exhaust and otherwise in an atmospheric mode. In the range, a separate and independently operating air/gas supply chamber for each sealed burner is supplied with a controllable flow of gas, and, in the power burner mode, with a controlled forced flow of primary combustion air from a combustion air blower and pressure-adjustable air plenum that supply all air/gas chambers, and each air/gas supply chamber is provided with a gated opening, which is operated to provide an unobstructed flow of primary combustion air from atmosphere in non-power burner operation. The mixture of air and primary combustion air flows from the air/gas supply chamber through a sealed conduit formed to be free of obstructions and abrupt changes in direction with a flow diffuser provided adjacent the gas burner.

Abstract: A thermally efficient gas range includes a top surface adapted to be sealed to a gas burner assembly, and a downdraft plenum adjacent the gas burner assembly adapted to draw cooking vapors, heat and the products of combustion and cooking from adjacent the surface of the range and the gas burner assembly, and a sealed, powered gas burner assembly comprising an open flame surface burner and a combined air and gas supply means adapted for connection with an air flow source and a gas flow source to provide a combustible gas/air mixture to a sealed conduit connected between the gas burner and the combined air and gas flow supply means.

Abstract: A dual mode downdraft gas range provides a number of substantial advantages, including operation in a powered burner mode and an atmospheric mode. In the powered burner mode, a plurality of powered open flame surface burners can provide even heat from each of the burners as a result of burner flames that provide substantially complete combustion close to the burner outlets in short, stable flames that are unaffected by an adjacent downdraft exhaust or other outside influences. In the atmospheric mode, the gas burners can operate without a downdraft exhaust. The gas range can meet agency requirements in both the powered mode and atmospheric mode of operation and can be inherently fail-safe in the event of a power failure in the downdraft exhaust system. The gas range can be economically and easily manufactured and assembled, with burner controls arranged for convenient operation at one side of the range box for the plurality of burners.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a heater with high heat output and a baffle carried outwardly of the heater on at least one side thereof to intercept substantially the heat radiated in the direction of the baffle and to increase the flexibility in the installation of the cooking apparatus. The heater and baffle can be combined in a removable unit that is particularly adapted for grilling foods in a proximity ventilated cooktop and the baffle can be located in the air flow generated in the operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A heater system is provided for use with a downdraft range. The heater is constructed and disposed within a burner pan associated with the range to produce a non-uniform heat output relative to the front-to-rear center line of the burner pan. The greater heat output is produced adjacent a side wall of the burner pan which is substantially opposite the air inlet of the proximity ventilation system.

Abstract: A gas downdraft range is provided with an airflow system for inducing and maintaining cooling airflow, combustion airflow and exhaust airflow. A housing defines an upwardly facing burner box and a cover overlies the housing with a downwardly formed burner pan disposed within the burner box. The bottom wall of the burner pan is spaced above the bottom wall of the burner box to form an air space therebetween. The burner box has cooling air inlets and cooling air outlets in communication with the air space to define a cooling airflow path. A burner is operably disposed in the burner pan and a grill grate overlies the burner pan providing combustion air inlet and outlet ports to and from the burner pan for defining a combustion airflow path. A plenum enclosure is connected to an exhaust air intake juxtaposed the grill grate and exhausts to atmosphere defining an exhaust airflow path. A blower concurrently induces and maintains each of the airflows.

Abstract: A gas burner construction is porvided which is completely free of any upwardly facing horizontal plane surfaces. This burner construction is especially adapted for cooking food with an open flame since there are no surfaces on which drippings may collect and cause flare-ups.

Abstract: A gas cooking appliance is provided which is operable with interchangeable burners. An appliance housing includes a burner box mounting an upwardly facing non-removable burner pan. A gas supply system includes gas valves arranged to provide gas to inlet fittings having orifice hoods mounted on the burner pan with the orifice hoods and burner pan being adapted to interchangeably receive first and second burners. A proximity ventilation system has an exhaust intake adjacent the burner pan and a motor driven blower for inducing airflow into the exhaust intake. A first switch is mounted on the burner pan and is operated by only one of the burners. A second switch is associated with the gas valves and is in circuit with the first switch. The switches are cooperable on operation of the gas valves to provide automatic blower operation with only one of the first and second burners.

Abstract: A gas distribution system is provided for a cooking appliance having housing structure defining a substantially confined control chamber. A gas manifold structure is utilized which includes first and second spaced apart surfaces joined by a peripheral wall member. The gas manifold structure provides for mounting a plurality of gas valves in a closely spaced cluster arrangement within the confined control chamber.