Removable Flame Heat Transfer Regulating Apparatus Including an Inner Hollow Shell and Outer Wall Incorporated with a Burner Having Improved Burner Ports for a Gas Stove

Abstract

A removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus having an inner hollow shell surrounded by an outer wall is incorporated with a burner having improved burner ports for a gas stove to increase the flame heating efficiency in cooking. The shell is an ascending wall including air passages of openings therethrough its upper and lower parts, wherein openings are densely distributed to the lower part. The outer wall has air passages of openings therethrough, and extensions spaced apart projecting upwardly including one serving as a heat shield to prevent heating of a utensil handle. The apparatus is positioned to surround an upper section of the burner, wherein each improved burner port of opening includes a smaller section having a smaller inlet connected to a larger expanding section having an ascending interior top surface and a larger outlet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/811,521 filed on Jun. 11, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to cooking appliances, and more particularly to a removable apparatus in use of regulating heat transfer of the flame which is incorporated with a burner having improved burner ports to increase heating efficiency of the flame in cooking.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In general gas stoves are well known including the associated structural components. The following 13 United States patents and published patent applications are the closest prior art references which are related to the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,156,087 issued to Kupfer on Oct. 12, 1915 for “Flame Shield For Gas Stove” discloses a cylindrical metal tube which is used as a flame shield for a burner of the gas stove. The tube is comprised of a circular wall having an upper end and a lower end, wherein a plurality of vertical slots, preferably three, are circumferentially spaced on the wall. The slots are extending upward from the lower end of the wall to an upper position of the wall, wherein one of them is arranged to fit over the gas pipe. The flame shield is positioned between the stove grids on the cooktop and a platform placed under the cooktop, wherein the upper end of the shield reaches into the plane of the undersurface of the grids, the lower end of the shield rests upon the platform, and the body of the shield surrounds the burner.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,166,442 issued to Kahn on Jul. 18, 1939 for “Cooking Stove” discloses a mechanical structure which is connected to the top of a gas burner having a plurality of gas ports and the cooktop of a stove, wherein an annular curved shield surrounds the burner adjacent the gas ports and extends upwardly and outwardly to the inside edge of the recessed shoulder of the cooktop for directing the heat from the burner toward the grate opening.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,187,742 issued to Power on Jun. 8, 1965 for “Combination Gas Burner Grid And Flame Shield” discloses an improved gas burner grid comprising a substantially rigid and arcuate shield to eliminate any undesirable overheating of a pan handle. The shield is placed to the radial innermost ends of the two adjacent ribs, which are among a total of 8 ribs, wherein all the ribs are circumferentially spaced onto a rigid, cast-iron ring of the circular grid. The grid is further adapted to be seated removably in the upper open end of a stationary, generally cup shaped housing having a bottom through the center of which projects a conventional gas stove burner.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,419 issued to Reiner on Feb. 8, 2005 for “Portable Hiking Stove” discloses an improved portable hiking stove. The stove is comprised of a base member having a plurality of air passages therethrough with an opening dimensioned to receive a burner therein, three identical side members vertically dimensioned so as to be assembled together to support the horizontal base member therebetween, and a circularly cylindrical wall acted as a wind screen having a lower bottom end from which is supported by three protrusions of the respective three side members. Each identical side member is further comprised of a plurality of air passages placed on its lower part, wherein the positions of the air passages therethrough each side member are lower than the position where the base member is supported therebetween the side members. The wind screen is further placed, wherein its upper end is positioned to be higher than the upper ends of the side members, and its lower end is positioned to be higher that the horizontal base member which is placed.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2005/0115556 issued to Carson et al. on Jun. 2, 2005 for “Turkey Fryer/Outdoor Cooker Wind and Fire Guard” discloses a windscreen device for outdoor grill. The device can be assembled from a horizontal bottom plate and a series of vertical side plates to be a cuboid enclosure or wind screen. The enclosure is capable of hosting a variety of types and sizes of outdoor cooking units. The windscreen device includes at least one pair of air vent openings therethrough adjacent to a bottom edge of each side plate, and an additional opening in one of its side plates, which is designed to admit a gas hose therethrough.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2004/0045542 issued to Zhou et al. on Mar. 11, 2004 is for an “Outdoor Cook Stove”. The Publication discloses a portable outdoor stove including a burner and a wind guard having an opened bottom end of cylinder shape capable of tightly coupled with a cooking vessel and possessing window opening of less than 180 degree toward its top for exhaust outlet, wherein the burner is placed at the center of the opened bottom of the wind guard.

United States Patent Publication No.: 2005/0109330 issued to Pestrue et al. on May 26, 2005 for “Cooking Stove Including Invertible Support Rack. Support Rack With Dual Cooking Surfaces And Method Of Using Same” discloses a stove for outdoor use. The stove includes a hollow shell, supporting structure, and a burner assembly, operatively attached to the side of the shell, and a vessel support rack for placement on the shell.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,335 issued to Farnsworth et al. on Jul. 25, 1989 for “Vented Gas Range Top Burner” discloses a top burner for a gas cooking range, which includes a burner vent having a radially upwardly sloping wall to surround the burner head. An annular ring projects upwardly from an inner radial extremity of the wall to direct combustion products from the burner head into immediate scrubbing contact with the bottom of a cooking utensil. The wall terminates at an outer radial extremity adapted to be located in sufficiently close proximity with the bottom of the cooking utensil to restrict radially outward flow of combustion products. Capture ports adjacent the outer radial extremity of the wall transfer exhaust combustion products through a vent pipe to the atmosphere at a positive pressure.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,420 issued to Jennings (the Jennings patent) on Feb. 8, 2005 for “Burner With Piloting Ports” discloses an improved burner having ports that are aligned in a defined alignment with respect to an adjacent structure of the a burner body with a piloting zone so that adjacent structure guides the formation of a flame kernel at an outlet of the port. A structural portion of the burner body such as an extended lip protruding beyond the burner port stabilizes the flame kernels at the burner port outlet. Such structures provide a method for improving the turndown ratio of burners by preventing lifting or backlash of the flame kernels generated at the burner port outlets by aligning the ports in conjunction with an adjacent structure within a piloting zone.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,018 issued to Avshalumov on Jul. 25, 2000 for “Gas Burner” discloses an improved gas burner. The burner comprises in combination means for controlled feeding and subsequent admixing of a secondary air directly to the base of flame in a form of a cap coaxially surrounding a burner head of the gas burner having lateral apertures for issuing combustible air-gas mixture to form a flame. During the operation of the gas burner the exact measured amount of the secondary air is admixed directly to the base of the flame, thereby highly efficient and complete combustion process characterized by high-elevated temperature is achieved.

In addition, gas burners that incorporate two and three flame rings having the laterally oriented burner ports are known in the field of the art. Generally, a small flame ring that is located in the center of the gas burner is designated as a warming burner. The outer flame ring and middle flame ring, if any, are designated as the main burner. Regarding use of a multi-ring gas burner, U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,205 issued to Harneit (the Harneit patent) on Oct. 17, 2000 for “Multi-Ring Sealed Gas Burner” discloses a multi-ring burner assembly that utilizes at least two flame rings to gently and evenly warm food and a third outer flame ring in conjunction with the first two flame rings for cooking food.

The modern gas stoves for the household usage can be classified to a sealed burner mounting and an opened burner mounting (see commercial stoves elsewhere), regarding the mechanical structure to affix gas burners onto the cooktops of the stoves. The former one is also illustrated from U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,759 issued to Hammel et al. on Jun. 28, 1994 for “Sealed Burner Mounting Assembly” (the Hammel patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,621 issued to Gabelmann on Jan. 14, 2003 for “Sealed Gas Burner Assembly” (the Gabelmann patent) (see FIGS. 1 and 2, and illustration in the section of Description of this application).

From the above illustration of the existing technologies on structural components of the cooking stoves, it has been discovered that there is absence of an apparatus in use of regulating the flame heat transfer from a burner of the gas stove to a utensil in cooking. The apparatus is removably placed onto the stove cooktop to surround an upper section of the gas burner and support the utensil. Therefore, heat radiation and convection generated by flame of the gas burner can be well regulated, which are maximally directed to efficiently heat the utensil in cooking. For this purpose, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/811,521 (the '521 application) has disclosed an invented removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus, which is used to surround the upper section of a burner and support a utensil. The '521 application further experimentally demonstrates that with the aid of the invented apparatus, it can significantly increase the flame heating efficiency in cooking, when the apparatus is incorporated with an existing stove burner having the laterally oriented conventional burner ports.

However, it would be appreciated that, application of the invented apparatus is only a passive solution in terms of achieving object to increase the heating efficiency. This means, what the invented apparatus can contribute is only to regulate the heat transfer from the flame that is already controlled by structures of the existing burners having the laterally orientated conventional burner ports.

Referring to the Jennings and Harneit patents, the existing gas burners in the western market provide the laterally oriented burner ports that are generally in a shape of the circular opening (see FIG. 1 of the Harneit patent) or rectangular aperture (see FIGS. 2 and 2a of the Jennings patent). The orientations of the respective conventional burner ports are radially arranged in the respective transverse directions relative to the longitudinal orientation of the circular burner that is positioned. This results in a phenomenon that a mixture of the primary air and combustible gases under the supplied pressure is rushed to flow transversely out of the burner ports. In this situation, the flame kernels generated at the burner port outlets also burn in the respective transverse directions. Obviously, this phenomenon is most apparent in a situation when the mixed air-combustible gases at the maximum flow rate (or the maximum pressure) are provided to the burner ports, which is controlled by a user of the stove.

Referring further to FIGS. 2 and 2a of the Jennings patent, there is illustrated that the top flame burns in an ascending direction, wherein the top flame is in distance to the outlet of a burner port. In this situation, the transverse flow of the mixture of the air and combustible gases is sharply weakened due to a quick dissipation of its supplied pressure when the combustible mixture is out of the outlet of the burner port.

As compared with the naturally upward pattern when a flame burns, the flame pattern governed by the conventional burner ports is altered if there is an utensil positioned above the flame, which has been discussed in the '521 application. In that situation, the flame elongates in the respective transverse directions under the utensil bottom side. This is because the bottom side of the utensil blocks the upward pathway of the top flame, which forces the flame positioned under the utensil to transversely extend more before it ends.

In the situation when the maximum flow rate (or pressure) of the combustible mixture is supplied, such flame transverse elongation that also reaches the maximum extend will bring two major disadvantages even after applying the apparatus, which negatively affect the heating efficiency in cooking with the most popularly and probably usable utensils which have sizes ranging from 15 cm to 20 cm in diameters.

First, a part of the heat of the top flame, which is represented by the radiated heat and convected heat, will be escaped through the gap between the bottom of the utensil and top of the apparatus before the heat could reach the utensil. This results in losing the thermal energy. Such energy loss is absolutely happened since the apparatus having fixed diametrical sizes practically cannot accommodate every specific situations in cooking, including the maximum flow rate of the combustible mixture. In fact, the sizes of the apparatus including the diameter of the top circumference of an inner hollow shell are designed from considering overall effect in application of the apparatus, which includes convenience of usage, ability to fit the respective most popularly and probably usable utensils, and saving energies.

Second, majority of the top flame is moved outwardly to come into contact with areas of the bottom side of the utensil, wherein the contacted areas are more towards the outer circumference of the utensil bottom side. This causes a large area of a “cold spot” on the utensil bottom side. In addition, the flame elongation will further enhance a chilling effect of the flame, if the bottom side of the utensil is positioned higher than a position that the top flame can reach. The chilling effect is also negative to the object of achieving a high heating efficiency in cooking since the top flame that has the highest temperature cannot be directly in contact with the utensil bottom side.

Following the above disclosed first reason of losing the thermal energies, it would be appreciated that besides the factor of the burner ports aligning with the respective transverse orientations, an additional factor of extra large sizes of the (outer) flame rings can also cause loss of the thermal energies in cooking even the burner ports of the respective extra large flame rings are arranged in the upward orientation. In the above conclusion, the extra large sizes of the flame rings are identified as they are not proportional to the diametrical sizes of the respective heat transfer regulating apparatus and the most popularly and probably usable utensils. For example, most burners of the gas stoves in the Asian market including the Chinese market have a dual flame-ring configuration including a smaller central flame ring and a larger outer flame ring, wherein the outer flame rings include the laterally oriented burner ports in the round and rectangular shapes or upward burner ports of linear slots. However, the outer flame rings are usually very large, which the maximum diameters could be 12.5 cm. In that situation, losing the thermal energies absolutely happens in cooking.

Therefore, for further improving the heating efficiency in cooking, the present invention must address burner flame (outer) rings having improved burner ports and optimum diametrical sizes, which are incorporated with the heat transfer regulating apparatus to best fit sizes of the most popularly and probably usable utensils. The improved burner ports have structure for angularly directing the combustible gas flow and securing good stabilities of the flame kernels generated at outlets of the improved burner ports for prevent lifting or backlash of the kernels.

Obviously changing structure of the burner ports including their orientations and defining the optimum diametrical sizes of the flame rings are active solutions in terms of increasing the heating efficiency as compared with the passive solution from applying the heat transfer regulating apparatus, which the '521 application has already disclosed. Therefore, the present invention will bring a total solution for increasing the heating efficiency of the flame in cooking.

Further, the present invention will additionally address alternative materials having the respective large heat capacities, which can be used to manufacture the apparatus for bringing an additional positive factor to increase the heating efficiency in cooking.

Gas stoves are popularly used in human society. Usage of the gas stoves consumes tremendous amount of the combustible gases, and also generates significant amount of carbon dioxide gases which are of total greenhouse gases generated by the human society. Therefore, there is a significant need of the present invention, which can provide a removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus incorporated with a burner of a gas stove having improved burner ports and an (outer) flame ring with an appropriate diameter to significantly increase the heating efficiency according to various used gas flow rates in cooking, wherein the invention results in reduction of the combustible gas consumption for the cost reduction and reduction of the greenhouse gas production for the environmental protection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus including an inner hollow shell and outer wall incorporated with a burner having a plurality of improved burner ports for a gas stove to increase heating efficiency of the flame in cooking.

The inner hollow shell is an ascending wall having a larger top opening with a larger top circumference or edge and a smaller bottom opening with a smaller circumference or edge. A plurality of air passages of openings are therethrough lower and upper parts of the shell, wherein the air passages are more densely distributed to the lower part of the shell, as compared with the air passages which are less densely distributed to the upper part of the shell. In a preferred embodiment, the shell is in the concave including parabolic shape.

The outer wall has multiple extensions projecting upwardly that are spaced apart onto a top edge of the wall. A plurality of air passages of openings are evenly distributed therethrough the outer wall. In addition, a plurality of attachment means are placed on the outer wall, which are served to position the removable optional utensil supports for supporting small utensils in cooking.

The inner hollow shell and outer wall, which are in the round or symmetrical shape, can be made of durable metals or metal alloys. They can also be made of ceramics specifically for its high heat capacity and low thermal conductivity.

Both the inner hollow shell and outer wall are positioned onto the cooktop of a gas stove, wherein the inner hollow shell is further positioned to surround an upper section of a gas burner. The outer wall is positioned to surround the inner hollow shell and additionally support a kitchen utensil that is positioned on the upward extensions. In this configuration, one of the extensions of the outer wall is further served as a flame heat shield to prevent undesirable heating of a handle of the utensil in cooking.

Application of the flame heat regulating apparatus enables flame to increase the heating efficiency in cooking. The inner circularly arcuate hollow shell contributes to the increased heating efficiency through regulating the heat radiation and heat convection of the flame.

In regulating the flame heat radiation, the inner hollow shell reflects the radiated heat of the flame which is initially radiated outwardly and downwardly away from the flame thus the utensil back to heat the utensil bottom side. In regulating the flame heat convection including air convection, the inner hollow shell directs a secondary air having a lower temperature from surrounding areas of the flame to flow to the flame for involving in the flame combustion, wherein the secondary air mainly flows through the air passages more densely distributed to through the lower part of the inner hollow shell. The inner hollow shell additionally directs the air and exhaust gases in combustion having a higher temperature to flow upwardly to heat the utensil bottom side, wherein the air and exhaust gases that are both surrounded by the inner hollow shell are forced to flow upwardly.

The outer wall that contributes to the increased heating efficiency is served as a thermal wall to block the radiated heat that is radiated outwardly from the inner hollow shell. The outer wall further provides a gap which is determined by the extensions for the flame exhaust gases and air having the higher temperature to flow outwardly and upwardly to heat the utensil outer side.

The upper section of the gas burner is comprised of a removable top round cap from the present invention and an upward hollow neck that is affixed to the cooktop. The hollow neck is comprised of a circular upward wall having a top ring and a central upward opening for passing a mixture of the combustible gases and primary air. The cap is comprised of a transverse top, which is connected to a downward circular wall to thereby form an inner recess. The circular wall has an outer circular side, an inner circular side and a bottom transverse ring, wherein the bottom ring of the cap matches the top ring of the upward neck.

A plurality of identical downward slots from the present invention are circumferentially and radially spaced apart to cut a part of the circular wall including the bottom ring. Each identical slot is comprised of a larger expanding section having an interior ascending top surface and a larger outward opening, which is connected to a smaller section having a smaller inward opening. The larger outward opening is positioned on the outer circular side of the cap circular wall. The smaller inward opening is positioned on the inner circular side of the cap circular wall for connecting to the inner recess.

When the top cap is positioned to mate with the burner neck, it turns the multiple identical downward slots on the cap to the respective improved burner ports of the burner from the present invention, wherein the larger outward openings of the respective slots are outlets of the respective burner ports, and the smaller inward openings are the respective burner port inlets. Each improved burner port of the opening is comprised of a larger expanding section connected to a smaller section. The smaller section of the opening is served as a nozzle oriented in a transverse direction for passing the combustible mixture at a higher speed. The larger expanding section of the opening directs the mixture to flow at a lower speed along the ascending orientation of the top surface to thereby form a stable flame kernel, when the mixture having the lower speed is ignited at the outlet of the burner port.

The stable flame kernel burns aligning with an angle of the ascending top surface of the expanding section to thereby form a flame aligning with the same ascending angle. The flame burning is further supported by the secondary air flowing from the surrounding areas of the flame after its passing through the air passages of the apparatus. Therefore, a top of the flame, which has the highest temperature, directly comes into contact with a bottom side of the utensil to significantly increase heating efficiency of the flame in cooking.

The top cap from the present invention is further comprised of a sideward circumferential protrusion having an ascending circular bottom side or a bottom ring, which is positioned onto the cap outer side to align with the top of the cap, wherein the bottom ring of the protrusion is aligned with the ascending top surfaces of the respective burner ports. In addition, a downward circular slot is positioned at a joint where the protrusion is connected to the circular wall of the cap. The protrusion is designed to prevent distinction of the flame when there is liquid dropping in cooking. The circular slot is served to stabilize flame kernels, which are ignited in the presence of the combustible mixture at the minimally supplied flow rate that is selected by a user of the stove.

In another embodiment, the nozzles of the respective improved burner ports from the present invention are positioned to have an angle ranging from a zero-degree to a 90-degree relative to the respective transverse directions.

The present invention also practically defines optimum 19 cm diameter of the top edge of the inner hollow shell and maximum 8 cm diameter of a circle that is aligned with outlets of the respective burner ports of an (outer) flame ring, wherein the optimum and maximum diameters are correlated to an optimum distance ranging from 2.5 cm to 3 cm between a top position of the outlet and the bottom side of a utensil having an optimum diametrical size ranging from 15 cm to 20 cm.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a total solution for a gas stove to increase heating efficiency of the flame in cooking, wherein the solution is application of a removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus including an inner hollow shell and outer wall that is incorporated with a burner having a plurality of improved burner ports.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide the inner hollow shell that is a circularly ascending wall, which extends upwardly and outwardly from a bottom circumference of opening having a smaller size to a top circumference of opening having a larger size, wherein a plurality of air passages of openings are therethrough lower and upper parts of the shell. The air passages are more densely distributed to the lower part of the inner hollow shell, as compared with the air passages which are less densely distributed to the upper part of the inner hollow shell. In a preferred embodiment, the inner hollow shell is in the concave including parabolic shape. The inner hollow shell is positioned onto the cooktop of a stove to surround an upper section of a burner. Therefore, the inner hollow shell contributes to the increased heating efficiency through regulating the flame heat radiation and convection.

It is an another object of the present invention to provide an outer wall having multiple extensions projecting upwardly that are spaced apart on a top of the wall, a plurality of air passages of openings that are evenly distributed therethrough the wall and a plurality of attachment means that are positioned on the outer wall to affix optional utensil supports for supporting small utensils in cooking. The outer wall contributes to the increased heating efficiency from being a thermal wall to block the radiated heat that is radiated outwardly from the inner hollow shell. The outer wall further provides a gap for the flame exhaust gases and air having a higher temperature to flow outwardly and upwardly to thereby heat outer sides of the utensils.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the apparatus including the inner hollow shell and outer wall having a round or symmetrical shape, wherein the apparatus can be made of durable metals and metal alloys in addition to ceramics specifically for its high heat capacity and low thermal conductivity.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a burner having multiple improved burner ports of openings that are circumferentially spaced apart on an upper section of the burner. Each of the identical burner ports is comprised of a larger expanding section of the opening having a larger outlet and an interior ascending top surface, which is connected to a smaller section of the opening having a smaller inlet. The smaller section is served as a nozzle oriented in a transverse direction for passing a combustible gaseous mixture at a higher speed. The larger expanding section directs the mixture flowing at a lower speed along the ascending orientation of the top surface to thereby form a stable flame kernel, when the mixture having the lower speed is ignited at the outlet of the larger expanding section of the improved burner port of the present invention.

It is a further additional object of the present invention to provide a burner having multiple identical improved burner ports of openings, wherein each of the identical improved burner ports is comprised of a larger expanding section of the opening having an interior ascending top surface, which is connected to a smaller constant section of the opening that is served as a nozzle for passing the combustible mixture at a higher speed. The nozzle is oriented to align with an angle ranging from a zero-degree to a 90-degree relative to a transverse direction, which correlates to change of the burner port locations from the circular wall to the top of the upper section of the burner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sideward circumferential protrusion having an ascending circular bottom side (or bottom ring), which is positioned onto the outer side of the upper section of the burner to align with the top end of the upper section, wherein the protrusion bottom ring is aligned with the ascending top surfaces of the respective burner ports. In addition, a downward circular slot is positioned at a joint where the protrusion is connected to the upper section of the burner. The protrusion is designed to prevent distinction of the flame when there is liquid dropping in cooking. The circular slot is served to stabilize flame kernels, which are ignited in the presence of the combustible gaseous mixture at a minimum flow rate.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide optimum 19 cm diameter of the top edge of the inner hollow shell and maximum 8 cm diameter of a circle that is aligned with outlets of the respective burner ports of an (outer) flame ring, wherein the optimum and maximum diameters are correlated to an optimum distance ranging from 2.5 cm to 3 cm between a top position of the outlet and the bottom side of an utensil having an optimum diametrical size ranging from 15 cm to 20 cm.

Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a prior art cooktop including individual grates from a gas stove having a sealed burner mounting assembly, where the figure illustrates absence of a flame heat transfer regulating apparatus that could be placed on the cooktop to surround the upper section of a burner and support an utensil;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of another prior art cooktop including an extended grate from a gas stove having a sealed gas burner assembly, where the figure illustrates absence of a flame heat transfer regulating apparatus that could be placed on the cooktop to surround the upper section of a burner and support an utensil;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus having an inner circularly arcuate hollow shell, an outer square wall and optional utensil supports according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view to illustrate the inner hollow shell, outer square wall and optional cookware supports according to the first embodiment of the present invention removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus;

FIG. 4A is a top plan view of another preferred optional utensil supports of the outer square wall for the first embodiment of the present invention removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus;

FIG. 4B is a top plan view of additional preferred optional utensil supports of the outer square wall for the first embodiment of the present invention removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a burner region of a stove cooktop including a cross-section view of the right half of the first embodiment of the apparatus to illustrate application of the apparatus, which surrounds an upper section of the burner. For a better presentation, FIG. 5 only shows a right side of the flame, the air flow and exhaust gas flow, which are represented by evenly spaced dotted lines. In addition. FIG. 5 does not show the whole structure of the burner to including a part of the structure that is served to mix the primary air and supplied combustible gases;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view to illustrate a structural variation of an upward plate of the outer square wall, wherein at least one post projecting downwardly is positioned on the bottom edge of the upward plate;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a gas burner having improved burner ports from the present invention. For simplification, the figure only illustrates an upper section of the burner, which is positioned on the cooktop of a gas stove;

FIG. 8A is an enlarged partial sectional view according to FIG. 8 for illustrating the identical improved burner ports of the present invention, which are circumferentially and radially spaced apart to cut a bottom ring of a top cap that is a part of the burner upper section;

FIG. 8B is an enlarged partial sectional view of the top cap for illustrating the structural variation of the identical improved burner ports from the present invention;

FIG. 8C is an enlarged partial sectional view of the top cap for illustrating another structural variation of the identical improved burner ports of the present invention, wherein the upward ports are circumferentially and radially spaced apart through a top of the cap; and

FIG. 8D is an enlarged partial sectional view to illustrate the structural variation of the cap, wherein a circular sideward protrusion is circumferentially positioned on the cap circular wall from the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims.

Disclosure of the present invention includes two sections. The first section is related to an invented apparatus for regulating the heat transfer of the flame generated by a gas burner having the laterally oriented conventional burner ports. The first section is consistent with the disclosure of the '521 application. The second section is related to a burner having improved burner ports and an (outer) flame ring with an appropriate diametrical size, which is incorporated with the apparatus. Therefore, the present invention provides a total solution for a gas stove to increase heating efficiency of the flame in cooking.

(I) The Removable Flame Heat Transfer Regulating Apparatus

Reference to the present FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates well known cooktops of the modern gas stoves as the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated main cooktop 14 of a gas stove having a sealed burner mounting assembly and two individual grates 44 which are positioned to cover the respective two of four burners 38 on the cooktop 14. The present FIG. 1 is a copy of FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,759 to Hammel et al. for “Sealed Burner Mounting Assembly”, from which all of the reference numbers are copied.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a top plan view of a cooktop having an extended grate. The present FIG. 2 is a copy of FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,621 to Gabelmann for “Sealed Gas Burner Assembly” including all the copied reference numbers in FIG. 2 of the Gabelmann patent. Reference to FIG. 2 illustrates that an extended removable grate 40 is provided on the cooktop 32 to extend from the front to the back with a plurality of fingers 42 for supporting cook pans or the like utensils above a front gas burner 36 and a back gas burner 36.

From illustration in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the prior art cooktops of the gas stoves, it has been discovered that there is absence of a removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus. The apparatus can be removably positioned onto the stove cooktop to surround an upper section of a gas burner for increasing the heating efficiency of the flame of a gas burner, supporting a kitchen utensil, and preventing undesirable heating of a handle of the utensil in cooking. It would be appreciated that heat transfer from the flame of the burner to the utensil relies on the flame heat radiation and heat convection of the flame. Therefore with the aid of the removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus of the present invention, the heat radiation and convection of the flame can be well regulated so that the utensil can be efficiently heated. Therefore the present invention can reach the object to significantly increase the heating efficiency of the flame in cooking.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, there is illustrated removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus from a first preferred embodiment 100 of the present invention. The apparatus 100 is comprised of an inner circularly arcuate hollow shell 102 and an outer square wall 130, which are both placed onto a stove cooktop 166. The inner hollow shell 102 is positioned to surround an upper section 178 of a gas burner. The outer square wall 130 is positioned to surround the inner hollow shell 102 and support a utensil 168 having a bottom side 174, wherein the utensil 168 is placed above the burner.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the inner hollow shell 102 is a circularly ascending arcuate wall comprising an outer surface 106, an inner surface 108, a top opening with the top circumference or edge 110 and a bottom opening with the bottom circumference or edge 112. The inner hollow shell 102 from its bottom circumference 112 extends upwardly and outwardly to end the top circumference 110. Therefore, the top circumference 110 is larger than the bottom circumference 112, wherein both circumferences are relative to a rotational axis 114 of the inner hollow shell 102. As additionally illustrated, the inner circularly arcuate hollow shell 102 is configured to be concave when viewed it along a direction from the rotational axis 114 to the inner surface 108. In a preferred embodiment the inner hollow shell 102 is parabolic in shape.

It would be appreciated that, the concave including the parabolic shape of the inner hollow shell 102 is designed from the spirit and scope of the present invention for regulating the flame heat radiation, and the flame heat convection including the air convection.

The concave including the parabolic shaped inner hollow shell 102 can reflect the outwardly and downwardly radiated heat, which is initially radiated by the flame away from the flame thus the utensil, back to heat the utensil bottom side 174. In above illustration, the outward and downward directions of the radiated heat from the flame are defined relative to the horizontal orientation of the bottom side 174 of the utensil 168 which is positioned above the burner.

It would be appreciated that the heat radiation from the flame is towards every angular directions in the three-dimensional space. Therefore, the flame which is positioned under the bottom of the utensil has a part of the radiated heat, which is outward and downward away from the flame thus the utensil. This means that the part of the radiated heat is not used to heat the utensil. In the presence of the present invention inner hollow shell 102, the heat radiated outwardly and downwardly from the flame can be regulated to be reflected back for heating the utensil 168. This is one of reasons to achieve a higher heating efficiency in cooking from the present invention, as compared with a lower heating efficiency of the prior art cooktops of the gas stoves without having the inner hollow shells.

The inner hollow shell 102 is further illustrated in FIG. 4 to comprise a plurality of air passages 116 of openings therethrough, wherein the air passages 116 are divided into first and second groups. The air passages 116 in the first group are circumferentially spaced apart to align with an upper circumference 118 of the shell 102 which is adjacent the top circumference 110. The air passages 116 in the second group are also circumferentially spaced apart to align with a lower circumference 120 of the shell 102 adjacent the bottom circumference 112. However, the air passages 116 are not evenly distributed in the two groups.

Such uneven distribution of the air passages is illustrated in FIG. 4 from a distance “A” between two adjacent air passages 116 aligning with the lower circumference 120 and a distance “B” between two adjacent air passages 116 aligning with the upper circumference 118, wherein the distance “A” is shorter than the distance “B”. Therefore, the air passages 116 are greater in quantity and are more densely distributed to a lower part of the inner hollow shell 102 having the bottom circumference 112, as compared with the air passages 116 which are fewer in quantity and are less densely distributed to an upper part of the inner hollow shell 102 having the top circumference 108.

It would be appreciated that from the above illustrated preferred embodiment that serves as an example, the present invention discloses a general structural characteristics of the uneven air passage distribution of the inner hollow shell 102. Such characteristics is particularly designed to regulate the heat convection of the flame in cooking, wherein the heat convection is based on the air convection which is taken place in space including surrounding areas of the flame and the areas occupied by the flame.

The air with a lower temperature has a heavier density, which occupies a lower part of the space adjacent the flame. In contrast, the air with a higher temperature has a lighter density, which occupies an upper part of the space including the areas where the flame is located. Such density difference causes a natural air convection pattern of the flame. A colder air having the lower temperature, which is positioned in the surrounding areas of the flame, flows to the flame for involving in the flame combustion through a path which occupies a lower part of the space. A hotter air having the higher temperature which is positioned in the upper part of the space flows upwardly away from the flame. Therefore, the densely distributed air passages 116 on the lower part of the inner hollow shell 102 will provide a less flow resistance for the air with the lower temperature to flow towards the upper section 178 of the burner, wherein the air having oxygen served as a secondary air is necessary for combustion of the mixture of the combustible gases and primary air to form the flame.

Referring again to FIG. 4, there is illustrated outer square wall 130 comprising four identical upward plates 132. Each plate has a height “H2” of a top edge 138, an exterior side 134 and an interior side 136. The upward plates 132 are connected to one another to form the outer square wall 130 having a top square transverse edge 138, a bottom square transverse edge 140, and a central symmetric axis 142. As further illustrated, a plurality of air passages 144 of openings are evenly distributed through each plate 132 of the outer square wall 130. It would be appreciated that from the spirit and scope of the present invention that include to regulate the air convection, a number of the air passages 144 therethrough the outer square wall 130 are more than a number of the air passages 116 of the inner hollow shell 102. This results in a combined area of the openings on the outer square wall, which is larger than a combined area of the openings on the inner hollow shell.

Referring additionally to FIG. 4, each upward plate 132 at the middle position of the top transverse edge 138 is comprised of an extension 146 projecting upwardly. The upward extension 146 is comprised of a transverse top end 152, and first and second upward sides 148 and 150 having the identical heights “H3”. As illustrated, the height “H3” of each of the upward sides 148 and 150 is shorter than the height “H2” of each of the upward plates 132. In addition, the length of the top end 152 is generally longer than the length of the upward side 148 or 150, so that the extension 146 can be served as a heat shield. In another embodiment, instead of all the upward extensions having the long top ends, only one extension 146 has the long top end 152, which is served as the heat shield.

It would be appreciated that the upward extension 146 served as the heat shield can block an outward heat flow from a flame which is towards the extension 146. The outward heat flow could turn to an upward heat flow if there is absence of the extension 146, so that the upward heat flow can heat an object, which is positioned above the flame and further vertically aligned with the upward heat flow. Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 5, the upward extension 146 can prevent undesirable heating of a handle 170 of the utensil 168 in cooking, where the utensil is positioned on the top ends 152 of the extensions 146 of the outer square wall 130, and the handle 170 is positioned to vertically align with the center of the extension top end 152. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the extensions 146 from the present invention is designed to further support the utensil 168 having the flat bottom side 174 such as a pan, or having a convex shaped bottom side such as a wok.

Referring further to FIG. 4, there is illustration that a first group of an upper hook 162 and a lower hook 164 or attachment means are positioned on the interior side 136 of each identical plate 132 of the outer square wall 130, wherein two hooks 162 and 164 are aligned with the first upward edge 148 of the identical extension 146. In addition, the upper hook 162 is positioned adjacent the top transverse edge 138 and the lower hook 164 is positioned adjacent the bottom transverse edge 140 of the outer square wall 130. Similarly, a second group of an upper hook 163 and a lower hook 165 or attachment means are positioned on the interior side 136 of each identical plate 132, which are aligned with the second upward side 150 of the extension 146. Further, the upper hook 163 is positioned adjacent the top edge 138 and the lower hook 16 is positioned adjacent the bottom edge 140 of the outer square wall 130.

It would be appreciated that the hooks are designed to affix first and second identical optional utensil supports 154 and 156 onto the outer square wall 130, so that a small utensil can be placed on the optional supports 154 and 156. The first optional utensil support 154 is illustrated in FIG. 4 to be in a generally inverted “U” shape, comprising a top transverse section 154a, and identical first and second downward sections 154b and 154c. The optional utensil supports can be made with flat metal strips or round metal rods.

When in use of the support 154, the first downward section 154b is inserted into the first group of the upper and lower hooks 162 and 164 of the first identical plate 132, and the second downward section 154c is inserted into the second group of the upper and lower hooks 163 and 165 of the second identical plate 132. As illustrated, the second identical plate 132 is adjacent the first identical plate 132 in the clockwise direction relative to the symmetric axis 142, and the first and second identical plates 132 are connected at a 90-degree angle. In this setting, the top transverse section 154a of the first optional utensil support 154 and projections of the respective top edges 138 of the first and second identical plates 132 adjacent each other form an isosceles right angled triangle, wherein the top transverse section 154a is the hypotenuse side.

Similarly, the second optional utensil support 156 can be affixed. This results in that the top transverse section 154a of the first optional support 154 and the top transverse section 156a of the second optional utensil support 156 are in parallel and have a short distance in between. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the distance is shorter, as compared with a longer distance between two oppositely positioned upward plates 132 of the outer square wall 130. Therefore, a small pan can be conveniently placed onto the two transverse top sections 154a and 156a of the respective first and second optional utensil supports 154 and 156.

It would be appreciated that with the presence of the first group of the upper and lower hooks 162 and 164 or attachment means, and second group of the upper and lower hooks 163 and 165 or attachment means on each upward plate 132, various variations of the optional supports can be formed, which are illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

Referring to FIG. 4A, there is illustrated another preferred configuration of the optional utensil supports of the outer square wall 130, comprising four identical, generally inverted “U” shaped optional supports 157, 158, 159 and 160. Each identical optional support 157 is comprised of a top transverse section 157a, and the identical first and second downward sections (both not shown). When in use of the first optional support 157, the first downward section is inserted into the second group of the upper hook 163 and lower hook (not shown) of the first identical plate 132, and the second downward section is inserted into the first group of the upper hook 162 and lower hook (not shown) of the second identical plate 132. In this setting, the top transverse section 157a of the first optional support 157 and the top edges 138 of the respective first and second identical plates 132 adjacent each other foitn an isosceles right angled triangle at the north-west corner of the outer square wall 130, wherein the top section 157a is the hypotenuse side of the isosceles right angled triangle.

Following the similar procedure, the top transverse section 158a of the second optional support 158 is the hypotenuse side of the isosceles right angled triangle at the north-east corner of the outer square wall 130. Similarly, the top transverse section 159a of the third optional support 159 is at the south-east corner, and the top transverse section 160a of the fourth optional support 160 is at the south-west corner. Therefore the top sections 157a, 158a, 159a and 160a form a square structure to support the small utensils.

Referring to FIG. 4B, there is illustrated additional preferred configuration of the optional utensil supports of the outer square wall 130, comprising four identical, generally inverted “U” shaped optional supports 157′, 158′, 159′ and 160′. The configuration of the optional utensil supports illustrated in FIG. 4B is identical to the configuration in FIG. 4A, except for the top transverse section 157′a of the identical optional support 157′ that is a 90-degree bent structure, as compared with a straight transverse section 157a of the identical optional support 157. Therefore, the top sections 157′a, 158′a, 159′a and 160′a form a generally hollow cross shaped structure to support the small utensils.

It would be appreciated that, although the above illustration including FIGS. 4, 4A and 4B discloses various variations of the optional utensil supports including the attachment means on each upward plate 132, the optional utensil supports including the attachment means are not limited in accordance with the spirit and scope of the present invention. In fact, any types of the optional utensil supports are appropriate if they are detachable, and are able to be affixed onto the outer square wall 130 by the attachment means for supporting utensils. In addition, the attachment means are able to be placed on both the interior and exterior sides of the outer square wall. Furthermore, at least one attachment means is appropriate for each identical upward plate 132 according to the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Reference to FIG. 5 illustrates application of the first preferred embodiment 100 of the present invention removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus. The inner circularly arcuate hollow shell 102 is first positioned onto the cooktop 166 of the stove to surround the upper section 178 of the gas burner. The outer square wall 130 is second positioned onto the cooktop 166 to surround the inner hollow shell 102, wherein the rotational axis 114 of the inner shell 102 is aligned with the symmetric axis 142 of the outer square wall 130. They are further aligned with a center of a top cap 180 of the burner upper section 178, wherein a plurality of the laterally oriented burner ports 182 are circumferentially spaced apart on a side wall of the cap 180. The bottom side 174 of the utensil 168, which has a cylindrical outer side 176, is positioned onto the top end 152 of each extension 146 of the outer square wall 130. In this setting, the top circumference 110 of the inner hollow shell 102 is positioned higher than the cap 180 of the burner upper section 178. The top square edge 138 of the outer square wall 130 is positioned at least with the same height as the top circumference 110 of the inner hollow shell 102.

In addition, a gap 172 is sufficiently wide between the top square edge 138 of the outer square wall 130 and the bottom side 174 of the utensil 168, which is provided by the extensions 146. The gap 172 permits that the hot exhaust gases from the flame and hot air flow freely, outwardly and upwardly along the utensil cylindrical outer side 176, which results in further heating the utensil. It would be appreciated that in the presence of the wide gap 172 it will not generate a back pressure for the hot gases. The back pressure could force the flame to burn out of the gap 172, so that the flame positioned outside of the outer square wall 130 cannot effectively heat the utensil 168. Therefore, the outer square wall 130 having sufficient heights of the upward extensions 146 is significant for increase of the heating efficiency in cooking.

It would be appreciated that from a theory of the flame, the top part of a flame has the highest temperature. The bottom part of the flame has the lowest temperature, where a kernel of the flame is positioned. Within the kernel of the flame, the combustion of the combustible mixture starts to take place in the presence of oxygen from the air. It would be further appreciated that according to the mechanical structure of the burner which is illustrated elsewhere, the flame kernel is connected to the outlet of a burner port of the burner, where the pressured combustible mixture flows out. It would be additionally appreciated that from the air convection theory which is illustrated previously, the surrounding air having the lower temperature with the heavier density, which serves as the secondary air, flows through the path which occupies the lower part of the space to the bottom of the flame for involving in the combustion.

The first embodiment 100 of the present invention removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus is designed to exactly follow such well known flame theory to achieve a high heating efficiency in cooking through regulating the flame heat convection, in addition to regulate the heat radiation.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated air convection pattern which is regulated by the inner hollow shell 102. The air 190 having the lowest temperature as the secondary air flows from the surrounding areas 198 of the gas burner to a bottom part 188 of the flame 184 for involving in the gas combustion. The air 190 first passes through the air passages 144 of the outer square wall 130, and second mainly flows through the densely distributed air passages 116 adjacent the bottom circumference 112 of the inner hollow shell 102.

A part of the air 190, which is involved in combustion with the combustible gaseous mixture 183 from the burner ports 182, becomes the flame 184, wherein the combustion which generates exhaust gases 189 continuously takes place to a top 186 of the flame 184. As illustrated, the top 186 of the flame 184 is under the bottom side 174 of the utensil 168. Another part of the air 190 which is not involved in the combustion is then heated, and continuously flows up to be an air 196 having the same highest temperature as that of the top flame 186. In this situation, the hottest air 196 and the top flame 186 heat the bottom side 174 of the utensil 168. In addition, the hottest air 196 and the exhaust gases 189 from the top flame 186 flow outwardly throughout the gap 172 and continuously flow upwardly along the cylindrical outer side 176 of the utensil 168 away from the flame 184, which further heat the utensil 168 through heating its cylindrical outer side 176. Therefore, a high heating efficiency in cooking can be achieved with such regulated heat convection, wherein the hottest air and exhaust gases flow mostly around the outer side 176 and the bottom side 174 of the utensil 168.

It would be appreciated that in above illustrated flame heat convection, the inner circularly arcuate hollow shell 102 contributes significantly to regulate the heat convection including the air convection. First, the densely distributed air passages on the lower part of the inner hollow shell 102 will provide a less flow resistance for the secondary air to the burner upper section 178, wherein the secondary air is necessary for combustion of the combustible gas-primary air mixture to form the flame. Second, the hot air and exhaust gases are surrounded by the inner hollow shell 102, so that they are forced to flow upwardly to heat the bottom side 174 of the utensil 168. Then they continuously flow outwardly through the gap 172 to heat the outer side 176 of the utensil.

Such regulation of the heat convection is extremely important for achieving the high heating efficiency in cooking from using the gas stove where there is a very limited height in space between the top cap 180 and the bottom side 174 of the utensil 168. In such setting, the pressured combustible gas-primary air mixture 183, which flows out of the burner ports 182, has a high speed and burns immediately with the oxygen in air, which generates the flame exhaust gases 189 having a high upward speed. However, the bottom side 174 of the utensil 168 blocks the upward pathway for the hot gases including the exhaust gases 189 and air 196. In that situation, the natural heat convection pattern of the flame, which is illustrated previously, is disturbed so that a majority of the hot gases flow transversely and outwardly, in addition to a part of the hot gases possibly downwardly flowing towards the cooktop 166 of the stove if there is absence of the inner hollow shell 102. This will result in a lower efficiency of heating the utensil 168, as contrasted with a higher heating efficiency of the present invention.

It would be further appreciated that besides the above illustrated heat convection which is regulated by the inner hollow shell 102, the sufficiently wide gap 172, which is provided by the outer square wall 130, also contributes significantly since the sufficiently wide gap 172 provides the pathway, which promotes to achieve the regulated flame heat and air convection.

In addition to regulate the heat conviction, the first embodiment 100 of the present invention is further able to regulate the heat radiation from the flame 184, which is illustrated previously. Therefore the regulated heat radiation also contributes a high heating efficiency in cooking.

It would be appreciated that, the heat radiation happens from an object having a higher temperature to its surrounding areas having a lower temperature. Therefore, the outer surface 106 of the heated inner hollow shell 102 also radiates heat outwardly. However, with the presence of the outer square wall 130, which is positioned to surround the inner hollow shell 102, the radiated heat from the outer surface 106 of the inner hollow shell 102 is blocked by the outer square wall 130. Therefore the outer square wall 130 is served as a thermal wall to preserve a high temperature in the region around the upper section 178 of the burner, wherein the region is under the utensil 168. Therefore, the outer square wall 103 additionally contributes to the high heating efficiency in cooking.

The above mechanistic illustration for the high heating efficiency in cooking can be proved by test results, which are illustrated in a section of EXAMPLE I of this Application.

It would be appreciated that, as compared with the structural features of the first embodiment 100 which have been disclosed above, various variations of the structural features are readily available. For example, a rolled bead or a rim can be added to the respective top and bottom circumferences 110 and 112 of the inner hollow shell 102 to thereby enhance its mechanical strength. In addition, the inner hollow shell 102 is not limited to be in round shape. In fact, any symmetrical shape is appropriate. For example, the inner hollow shell 102 can be in a shape having multiple sides, such as a tetragonal, pentagonal and hexagonal shape. For the same reason, the outer square wall 130 also can be in any symmetrical shape, as compared with the square shape disclosed above.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is illustrated upward plate 132′ having structural variations, as compared with the structure of the upward plate 132 from the first preferred embodiment 100 of the present invention. At least one post 139 projecting downwardly is placed on the bottom edge 140′ of each upward plate 132′. The post 139 is used to support the upward plate 132′. Therefore, an outer square wall is also supported, which is assembled with four identical upward plates 132′. In addition, a high-temperature rubber member 141 can be placed on the bottom of each post 139 so that the smooth top surface of the cooktop 166 can be protected.

The removable heat transfer regulating apparatus 100 including the inner hollow shell 102 and outer square wall 130 is preferably made of durable metals and metal alloys including iron and steel. In addition, appropriate surface treatments including coatings can be applied to the inner and outer surfaces 108 and 106 of the inner hollow shell 102, which enhance regulation of the heat convection and heat radiation, and the durability of the apparatus 100. The coatings are included those from chemical and electrochemical treatments and the ceramic coating as well, which have a preferred white or black color. Similarly, the surface treatments also can be applied to the exterior and interior surfaces 134 and 136 of the outer square wall 130.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated second preferred embodiment 200 of the present invention removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus for the burner of the gas stove, comprising an inner circularly arcuate hollow shell 202 and an outer circular wall 230.

It would be appreciated that the inner circularly arcuate hollow shell 202 is identical to the inner circularly arcuate hollow shell 102 of the first embodiment 100. Therefore, a disclosure of the structural features of the inner hollow shell 202 will not repeated. These structural features are designated with three-digit numerals, wherein the part numbers are the same with the addition of a “200” to the part numbers to differentiate those same features in the embodiment 100.

As illustrated, the outer circular wall 230 includes a height “H12”, an exterior side 234, an interior side 236, a top circumference or edge 238, a bottom circumference or edge 240, and a rotational axis 242 which is aligned with a rotational axis 214 of the inner hollow shell 202. As further illustrated, a plurality of air passages 244 of openings are evenly distributed therethrough the outer circular wall 230. It would be appreciated that from the spirit and scope of the present invention, a number of the air passages 244 of the outer circular wall 230 are more than the number of the air passages 216 of the inner hollow shell 202.

The outer circular wall 230 is further comprised of at least three identical upward extensions 246 projecting upwardly from the top circumference 238, wherein they are circumferentially spaced apart. The extension 246 is comprised of a transverse top end 252, first and second upward sides 248 and 250 having an identical height “H13”. However, the height “H13” of each of the upward sides 248 and 250 is designed to be shorter than the height “H12” of the top edge of the outer circular wall 230, and the length of the top end 252 is generally longer than the length of each of the upward sides 248 and 250.

It would be appreciated that the identical extensions 246 of the present invention are designed to have a triple-function. The first one is to support a utensil having a flat bottom side such as the pan, or having a convex shaped bottom side such as the wok. The second one is to provide a gap which is the pathway for the outward and upward heat flow of the flame exhaust gases and air. The third one is to shield an undesirable heat flow for preventing it from heating a handle of the utensil. It would be appreciated that at least three extensions 246 are appropriate for supporting a utensil.

Referring further to FIG. 6, there is illustration that a first group of an upper hook 262 and a lower hook (not shown) or attachment means are positioned on the interior side 236 of the outer circular wall 230. The hooks are positioned in parallel and rightward adjacent a vertical linear position 247, wherein the vertical linear position is aligned with a middle position of the extension 246. In addition, the upper hook 262 is adjacent the top edge 238 and the lower hook is adjacent the bottom edge 240 of the outer circular wall 230. Similarly, a second group of an upper hook 263 and a lower hook (not shown) or attachment means are placed on the interior side 236 of the outer circular wall 230 in parallel and leftward adjacent the position 247. The upper hook 263 is adjacent the top edge 238 and the lower hook is adjacent the bottom edge 240.

The attachment means including hooks are designed on the outer circular wall 230 to affix three identical optional utensil supports 256, 258 and 260, so that a small utensil can be placed on the optional cookware supports for cooking. The first identical optional utensil support 256 is illustrated in FIG. 6 to be in a generally inverted “U” shape, comprising a top transverse section 256a, an identical first downward section 256b and a second downward section (not shown).

When in use of the first optional supports 256, the first downward section 256b is inserted into the second group of the upper and lower hooks which are leftward adjacent the vertical linear position 247 of the first identical extension 246. The second downward section of the support 256 is inserted into the first group of the upper and lower hooks which are rightward adjacent the position 247 of the second identical extension 246. The second identical extension is clockwise adjacent the first identical extension. Similarly, the second and third optional supports 258 and 260 can be affixed. Therefore, the top transverse sections 256a, 258a and 260a of the respective first, second and third identical utensil supports 256, 258 and 260 form an equilateral triangle, so that a small pan can be conveniently placed onto the top of the triangle for cooking.

It would be appreciated that, from placing the attachment means adjacent the vertical linear position 247 of the outer circular wall 230, the smallest equilateral triangle can be achieved, so that an even smaller utensil can be supported by the top of the smallest equilateral triangular supports. In addition from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the attachment means can be placed to any positions on the outer circular wall 230, so long as the optional utensil supports can be supported by the attachment means. It would be further appreciated that with the presence of the first and second groups of the upper and lower attachment means, various variations of the optional utensil supports can be formed. One of them is similar to the configuration of the optional utensil supports illustrated in FIG. 4B, which will not be repeated again. It would be additionally appreciated that each group of the attachments is comprised of at least one attachment.

Example I

The following are examples of the present invention flame heat transfer regulating apparatus for the burner upper structure of the gas stove, which are offered by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation and restriction.

(1) Construction of the Removable Flame Heat Transfer Regulating Apparatus:

A removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus was constructed following the illustration which is disclosed for the embodiment 100 of the present invention, comprising an inner circularly arcuate hollow shell 102 and an outer square wall 130. The inner hollow shell 102 was comprised of a top circumference 110 having a diameter of approximately 19.2 cm, a bottom circumference 112 having a diameter of approximately 7.3 cm, and a height of 3 cm between the top and bottom circumferences.

Two groups of holes served as the air passages 116 were drilled to penetrate through the inner hollow shell 102 with a diameter of approximately 6 mm for each air passage 116. The air passages 116 in the first group were circumferentially spaced apart along an upper circumference 118 having a diameter of approximately 18.2 cm that was adjacent the top circumference 110, wherein two adjacent passages 116 were separated with approximately 3 cm. The upper circumference 118 was approximately 1 cm lower than the top circumference 110. The air passages 116 in the second group were circumferentially spaced apart along a lower circumference 120 having a diameter of approximately 15 cm, wherein the lower circumference 120 was positioned approximately 0.7 cm higher than the bottom circumference 112 which is positioned. In the second group, two adjacent air passages were separated with approximately 1.5 cm.

The outer square wall 130 was constructed as illustrated in FIG. 4, comprising four identical upward plates 132 which were connected to one another. Each upward plate 132 had a length of 21 cm and a height “H2” of 4.2 cm. An extension 146 had a top end 152 of 4 cm and the identical first and second upward sides 148 and 150 with a height “H3” of 1.8 cm. The extension 146 was positioned upwardly at the center of a top transverse edge 138 of each upward plate 132. Therefore, the maximum height of the upward plate 132 was 6 cm.

A plurality of air passages 144 of openings having a diameter approximately 5 mm are evenly distributed therethrough each identical plate 132. The air passages 144 were constructed, which formed a matrix pattern having twelve columns and three rows on each identical upward plate 132. In addition, attachments 162,164,163 and 165 were constructed according to the illustration of FIG. 4. Two identical optional utensil supports 154 and 156 were affixed to the outer square wall 130, which were made with round iron rods for supporting a small cooking utensil.

(2) Installation of the Removable Flame Heat Transfer Regulating Apparatus onto the Gas Stove Cooktop:

A gas stove cooktop having a recessed surface was used for the experiments, which was similar to the cooktop illustrated in FIG. 2. The cooktop contained upper sections 178 of the respective four round gas burners with the sealed gas burner assemblies and two extended removable grates. Each burner upper section had only a flame ring. A plurality of the laterally oriented rectangularly shaped burner ports 182 were circumferentially spaced on the side wall of the top cap 180 that is a part of the ring. For positioning each upper section of the gas burner, there is a round protrusion as a part of the recessed surface of the cooktop, wherein a neck of the burner upper section was positioned at the center of the round protrusion which has an approximately diameter of 12 cm and a height of 1 cm. The two extended grates were extended from the front to the back of the cooktop. Each of which was placed over a front gas burner and a rear gas burner to support two utensils. The height was 6 cm from the top of the grate to the recessed surface of the cooktop, which was equal to the maximum height of each identical upward plate 132 of the square wall 130.

After removing the right side extended gate, the inner hollow shell 102 at its bottom circumference 112 was positioned onto the round protrusion to surround the upper section 178 of a right front gas burner. The outer square wall 130 was then positioned onto the recessed surface of the cooktop 166 to surround the inner hollow shell 102, wherein the installation was exactly followed by the illustration in FIG. 5. The height of the burner cap 180 was 1 cm above the round protrusion, which was lower than the 3 cm height of the top circumference 110 of the inner hollow shell 102 relative to the round protrusion. In addition, the top circumference 110 of the inner hollow shell 102 had the height of 4 cm relative to the recessed surface of the cooktop 166, and was positioned lower than the top square transverse edge 138 of the outer square wall 130, which had the height of 4.2 cm.

(3) Experimental Conditions:

a. References and Tested samples: times needed to boil an amount of water were served as References from using the commercial cooktop as illustrated in above section (2). The water was retained inside of a utensil which was placed on the top of the extended grate of the commercial cooktop. Times needed to boil the same amount of water from the setting as illustrated in FIG. 5 of the present invention were served as the Tested samples, wherein the water was retained inside of the same utensil. The Tested samples were compared with the References from which to judge if the present invention achieved the scope of an increased heating efficiency in cooking.

b. Combustible gas flow rates: The right-front burner on the cooktop was chosen for the experiments. A minimum gas flow rate was used to produce a weak flame according to a mark “LO” of the commercial cooktop. The mark “LO” is an indication of the maximum turning angle of a gas control knob of the commercial gas stove. The weak flame was kept to burn when the experiments were idle. Using this procedure, the gas burner including the surrounding area of the cooktop was kept to be the same temperature before testing the References and Tested samples. In testing, a medium turning angle of the gas flow rate control knob was used according to a mark “5”. An additional sign of an arrow was drawn on the knob for precisely aligning with the mark “5” on the cooktop. Therefore, a consistent turning angle was used in the experiments, which resulted in the same gas flow rate for generating the flame to obtain the References and Tested samples. In addition, the experiments were taken place after 10 p.m. of the night in the same day so that variation on the supplied pressure of the city combustible gases was considered to be minimal.

c. Testing medium: the tap water was used as the testing medium. The water which was collected into first, second and third large containers was stored in a storage room at least 24 hours before the experiment. The purpose of the water storage is for equalizing the temperature of the water in three containers, when the water was initially collected from the running tap water. The temperature of the water in the three containers was measured multiple times during the entire experiments before the water was used.

The tap water was collected into the three big containers for the following purposes. The water in the first big container was for first equalizing the temperature of an empty utensil which was used as the water container in the experiments. In a process to equalize the temperature of the utensil, the empty utensil was first rinsed by the running tap water, and second was submerged into the water of the first container for a while. After that, the water inside of the utensil was completely poured back to the first container for a reuse purpose in the entire experiments. The water in the second big container was for second equalizing the temperature of the empty utensil. After twice of equalizing the temperature, the utensil was used for collecting the water which was retained in the third extra large container. The water inside of the utensil was going to be heated in the experiment.

d. Utensil: two utensils were used in the tests. The first one was a standard stainless steel round tea kettle having a flat bottom side with a diameter of approximately 19.3 cm. The kettle had a steam whistle at the top of a mouth connected to a body of the kettle. The kettle was chosen to represent as a smaller utensil. In testing, the kettle was placed on the top of the optional utensil supports as illustrated in FIG. 3. When measuring an amount of the collected water, the kettle filled up with the water was first positioned on a horizontal place, and then the amount of the water inside of the kettle was adjusted from adding in or pulling out according to a top water level which reached the mark of a joint line where the mouth was affixed to the body of the kettle. The second utensil was a big aluminum pot with a glass top cover, which was used to represent a larger utensil. The pot had a cylindrical body with a diameter of approximately 23.5 cm. When in use of the pot, the equal amount of water was first measured from using the small round kettle. Then the inside water was completely poured into the big pot.

e. Order of the testing: First test: the amount of the water in the small round kettle was heated where the round kettle was placed on the flame heat regulating apparatus having the optional cookware supports from the present invention. Second test: the same amount of the water in the same kettle was heated wherein the kettle was placed on the expended grate of the commercial gas stove cooktop as illustrated in section (2). Third test, the same amount of the water which was placed in the big pot was heated while using the commercial cooktop setting. Fourth test: the same amount of the water in the same big pot was heated when the big pot was placed on the flame heat regulating apparatus from the present invention.

f. Times determined for boiling the water: when using the small round kettle, the times for boiling the water were determined according to an early moment that the steam whistle sounded loudly. When in use of the big pot, the times were determined that a loud sound of the boiling water was recognized.

(4) Testing results:

The following Table 1 lists the testing results of each category which is illustrated above. The results demonstrate that at least more than 14.6% of the increased heating efficiency in cooking are achieved with applying both the smaller and larger utensils, as compared with the times needed for the commercial cooktop to boil the same amount of the water. The results of the increased heating efficiency demonstrate importance of regulating the flame heat radiation and flame conviction including the air convection for saving energies in cooking. Therefore, the teaching from the test results is consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, the testing results also demonstrate that application of the present invention removal flame heat transfer regulating apparatus significantly reduces the combustible gas consumption and greenhouse gas production in cooking.

TABLE 1
Testing results for the Tested Samples
(Sample) and References (Ref.)
				Difference
	Test		Times	to Ref.	% to	Efficiency
Test	Subject	Utensil	(min.)	(min.)	Ref.	% (+)
1	Sample	Kettle	19.75	−4.50	81.44%	18.56%
2	Ref.	Kettle	24.25
3	Ref.	Big Pot	24.67
4	Sample	Big Pot	21.08	−3.59	85.44%	14.56%

In the above disclosures of the present invention, the first and second embodiments 100 and 200 of the removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus are illustrated for the gas stove cooktop having the sealed burner mounting assembly. However, it would be appreciated that the present invention is also appropriate for the gas stove cooktop having the opened burner mounting assembly. In addition, from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the outer wall 130 or 230 can be an extended one, which extends to surround two side-by-side gas burners of the stove cooktop.

It would be further appreciated that, from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the inner hollow shell 102 or 202 and the respective outer wall 130 or 230 can be an integrated one.

In the configuration for the integrated inner shell 102 and outer square wall 130, the top circumference 110 of the inner hollow shell 102 is simultaneously affixed to each of four upward plate 132 of the outer square wall 130. One embodiment of the affixation takes place at a position 137 on the interior surface 136 of each upward plate 132, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The position 137 is aligned with the middle of the upward plate 132 and a position which is slightly lower than the top edge 138 of the upward plate. Therefore, the rotational axis 114 of the inner hollow shell 102 and the symmetric axis 142 of the outer square wall 130 are in alignment. It would be appreciated that after affixation, in one embodiment, both the inner hollow shell 102 and the outer square wall 130 in the integrated form can be stood on the cooktop.

Obviously, other embodiments for integration are also available. For example, the top circumference 110 of the inner hollow shell 102 can be affixed to four positions of the top square edge 138 of the outer square wall 130. In addition, the top circumference 110 of the inner hollow shell 102 can be affixed on the top of the top square edge 138 of the outer square wall 130 if there is a rim on the top circumference 110 of the inner hollow shell.

For integration of the inner hollow shell 202 and the outer circular wall 230 from one embodiment of affixation, the top circumference 210 of the inner hollow shell 202 is affixed to an upper circumference of the outer circular wall 230. The upper circumference is positioned on the interior surface 236 in parallel but slightly lower than the top circumference 238 of the outer circular wall 230. Therefore, the rotational axis 214 of the inner hollow shell 202 and the symmetric axis 242 of the outer circular wall 230 aligned together.

It would be appreciated that other embodiments are also appropriate for integration of the inner hollow shell 202 and outer circular wall 230, which are the same as the disclosed embodiments for integrating the inner hollow shell 102 and outer square wall 130.

Based on the integrated models which are illustrated above, a further structural variation can be conducted. One embodiment will be that the outer wall 130 or 230 is reduced to be a plurality of identical members, which each member has functions to support a utensil, prevent undesirable heating of a utensil handle, and provide a pathway for hot gases to flow outwardly and upwardly. Under this principle, for example, the outer square wall 130 or the outer circular wall 230 can be reduced to comprise at least three identical upward strips, which are evenly spaced apart to affix to the inner circularly arcuate hollow shell. Each strip has a width which is the same as the length of the top end 152 of the extension 146. In addition, each strip has a height which is the same height as the maximum height of the upward plate 132. Therefore, a bottom end of each of at least three strips stands on the cooktop of the gas stove, and a top end supports the utensil and blocks the undesirable heat that could heat a handle of a utensil.

Furthermore, it would be appreciated that, the present invention removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus is only comprised of the circularly arcuate hollow shell. Under this structural configuration, the hollow shell is positioned on the cooktop to surround the upper section of a gas burner, and the commercial grate is used to support the utensil.

In terms of structural variation on materials used for manufacturing the apparatus, it will be appreciated that ceramics is also an appropriate choice, such as alumina, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, titanium carbide, magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide, or any their combinations. This is because ceramics has the excellent thermal properties including high melting point, large heat capacity, low thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion, mechanical properties including hardness and compressive strength, and durability including resistance to corrosion. In addition, the fracture toughness can be largely improved by implementing the fiber enhanced manufacturing process, which forms the fiber enhanced ceramics. These properties of the ceramics fit the material requirements for manufacturing the apparatus.

Therefore, it would be positive for maintaining high temperature in the space under a utensil if the apparatus including the inner hollow shell and outer wall is made of the ceramics particularly due to its large heat capacity and low thermal conductivity. This is also advantageous to the object of achieving high heating efficiency in cooking from the present invention.

(11) The Gas Burner Having Improved Burner Ports and Appropriate Sizable (Outer) Flame Ring

It would be appreciated that, the apparatus disclosed above is incorporated with the existing gas burner having the laterally oriented conventional burner ports of openings. The structural characteristics of the burner ports is disclosed in the above section of “Description of the Prior Art”. In addition, two major disadvantages, which are negative to achieve high heating efficiency in cooking, are also disclosed for the conventional burner ports because of their association with the flame transverse elongation particularly under the maximum flow rate of the combustible gaseous mixture.

Therefore, for the objective of achieving high efficiency in heating of the most popularly and probably usable utensils especially in the presence of the flame generated by the maximally pressured mixture of the combustible gases and primary air, an appropriate strategy from the present invention is to direct the flame burning to align with an angle relative to the transverse orientation. In this configuration, the flame burning is angularly positioned from the respective burner ports to the bottom side of a utensil, wherein the top flame can directly come into contact with the bottom side of the utensil. This will eliminate both problems of the large area of the clod spot and flame transverse elongation including the chilling effect. Following this strategy, the present invention changes structure of the commercial burner ports including their orientations.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is an illustrated upper section 300 of a gas burner including a plurality of the identical improved burner ports 314 that are the respective openings from the present invention. The upper section 300, which is positioned onto the cooktop 166, is comprised of a top removable round cap 302 and an upward hollow neck 340 that is affixed onto the cooktop 166, wherein the top cap 302 is positioned downwardly to mate with the hollow neck 340.

The cap 302 is comprised of a transverse top 304, which is connected to a downward circular wall 306 to thereby form an inner recess 330. The wall has an outer side 308, an inner side 310 and a bottom ring 312. In addition, a plurality of the identical downward narrow slots 314 are circumferentially and radially spaced apart to cut a part of the circular wall including the bottom ring 312. The upward hollow neck 340 is comprised of an upward circular wall 342 having a top ring 346 that matches the downward circular wall 306 of the cap 302, and a central upward opening 344 for passing a pressured mixture 360 of the combustible gases and primary air.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 8A, the improved burner port is originally from a downward slot 314 having a narrow width. The narrow slot is comprised of a larger expanding section 314a having a larger outward opening 326, which is connected to a smaller section 314b having a smaller rectangular inward opening 322 and a symmetric axis 332 that is in a transverse orientation. The outward opening 326 and inward opening 322 are positioned on the respective outer and inner sides 308 and 310 of the circular wall. The expanding_section 314a is comprised of a rectangular interior ascending top surface 316, a transverse downward bottom opening 318, and two identical downward sides. The ascending top surface 316 has an angle “D” relative to the symmetrical axis 332 of the small section 314b. In a preferred embodiment, the angle “D” has 45-degrees. In addition, two downward sides have a shape of the right angled trapezium, which are identical to the cross sectional view of the section 314a in FIG. 8A. The smaller section 314b is comprised of an interior top 324 that is a rectangular surface, and two downward sides 328, which forms the downward opening 320.

Referring further to FIGS. 8 and 8a, the first end 316a of the ascending top surface 316 is connected to the outer side 308 of the circular wall 306. The opposite second end 316b of the ascending top surface 316 is connected to the top rectangular surface 324 of the smaller section 314b. In this setting, the length of the rectangular surface 324 represents the width of the narrow slot 314. In addition, the transverse downward bottom opening 318 of the larger expanding section 314a is connected to a transverse downward bottom opening 320 of the smaller section 314b. The connection forms the downward bottom opening of the slot 314, which is aligned with the bottom ring 312 of the cap 302.

It would be appreciated that, after the top cap 302 is positioned to mate with the hollow neck 340, the identical narrow slots turn to the respective identical improved burner ports 314 of the present invention, wherein the outward openings are outlets 326, and the inward openings are inlets 322 of the respective burner ports.

Referring to FIG. 8, after the pressured combustible gaseous mixture 360 entering into an inner chamber constructed mainly by the inner recess 330 of the cap 302, the pressured mixture 360 first passes through the smaller section 314b of the opening that is served as a nozzle of the burner port and then enters into the larger expanding section 314a of the opening, wherein the orientation of the nozzle 314b is aligned with the sideward symmetrical axis 332.

It would be appreciated that the combustible gaseous mixture flows at a higher speed in the nozzle 314b, as compared with a lower speed in the expanding section 314a, when the combustible gaseous mixture 360 that enters the upward opening 344 of the burner neck 340 has a pressure (or flow rate) selected by a user. This is because of the larger expanding cross sectional areas of the larger expanding section 314a that are in parallel with a surface of the outlet 326. The larger areas are compared with the smaller constant rectangular cross sectional areas of the smaller section 314b. In this configuration, it results in a stable flow of the combustible gaseous mixture inside of the larger expanding section 314a, which further leads to a stable flame kernel at the outlet 326 of the burner port 314, when the mixture is ignited by an electric lighter (not shown). In addition, the stable flame kernel is further supported by the secondary air that flows through the apparatus from the surrounding areas of the flame. Therefore, the present invention can form stable flame kernels, particularly in the situation of the supplied combustible gaseous mixture 360 having the highest pressure.

In addition, it would be appreciated that the flame kernel will be aligned with the preferred angle of 45 degrees of the ascending top surface 316 of the burner port 314, which further results in a flame to burn aligning with the same angle. The angled flame can directly come into contact with the bottom side of the utensil to thereby efficiently heat the utensil in cooking. This rationalization can be proved by the experiment results, which are listed in the following Table 2.

Example II

The following are examples of the present invention removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus incorporated with a burner having the improved burner ports from the present invention, which are offered by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation and restriction.

A cap 302 was constructed according to the above illustrated structural characteristics including 32 improved burner ports 314. The cap included the downward circular wall 306 having a height of 1.1 cm, an outer circular side 308 having a diameter of 6.4 cm, and an inner circular side 310 having a diameter of 5.1 cm, wherein the height and the inner circular side were the same as those of an existing commercial cap having 24 laterally oriented conventional rectangular ports. The improved burner port 314 had a width 324 of approximately 0.3 cm, wherein the height of the outward opening 326 was approximately 0.5 cm, and the length of the transverse bottom opening 318 of the larger expanding section 314a was also approximately 0.5 cm. In addition, the downward surface 328 of the smaller section 314b had a length of approximately 0.15 cm, which was the height of the smaller section 314b. The upper side 324 as well as the lower opening 320 had a length of approximately 0.30 cm, which was also the width of the smaller section 314b.

In this setting, a combined area of 32 inlets 322 was approximately 144 mm² for the constructed cap 302 from the present invention. The area of 144 mm² was similar to a combined area of 150 mm² for 24 square inlets from the commercial cap, since each square inlet had a dimension of approximately 0.25 cm×0.25 cm. Therefore, the combustible gaseous mixture 360 under a pressure had the same flow speed when it flew into 32 inlets 322 of the constructed cap 302, as compared with a flow speed when the same pressured mixture 360 flew into 24 inlets of the commercial cap.

The experimental procedures of the EXAMPLE II were basically the same as those of the EXAMPLE I, except for the experiments in the EXAMPLE II that were conducted in the early of the afternoon. In that time period when the experiments were completed, the pressure deviations of the city supplied combustible gases were assumed to be minimal.

In addition, several experimental conditions were as below:

• • (1) Only the circularly hollow shall 102 as illustrated in EXAMPLE I was used in the experiments of the EXAMPLE II. In addition, the extended commercial grate was used to support the kettle that was the only utensil used in the experiments. The distance between the top side 316a of the burner port outlet 326 to the bottom side of the kettle was approximately 3 cm;
  • (2) The maximum pressure (or flow rate) of the supplied combustible gasses was used, according to the gas flow control knob that was positioned to align with the mark “HI” on the cooktop. In the experiments, the rate was assured by locking the gas flow control knob into a clicked position that was originally manufactured; and
  • (3) The test order was a twice-measurement for the reference, where the commercial burner cap (abbreviation: C-Cap) was used, and one test for the sample, where the constructed burner cap of the present invention was used (abbreviation: I-Cap).

During the experiments, it was observed that the stable and strong flame burning at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the transverse orientations, wherein the flame top directly came into contact with the kettle bottom side. The top of the flame from 32 improved burner ports 314 formed a circle having a diameter of approximately 13 cm, which was significantly less than the 19.3 cm diameter of the kettle bottom side. The top flame from the improved burner ports first touched the kettle bottom side and then turned radially and transversely to form a transverse ring of the flame, wherein the flame ring also touched the kettle bottom side before it ended. As a contrast, the flame having the transverse elongation was observed in the experiments for the conventional burner ports of the commercial cap, wherein the flame was almost in parallel with the respective transverse directions and the top of the flame did not directly come into contact with the bottom side of the kettle.

The experimental results in Table 2 prove that an increase of heating efficiency 10.92% is achieved from applying the present invention burner cap having the improved burner ports. The increase of the heating efficiency is positively assured, particularly from very small percentage (0.6%) of differences when the reference C-Cap was twice tested.

TABLE 2
Testing results for the Tested Samples
(I-Cap) and References (C-Cap)
				Difference
	Test		Times	to C-Cap	% to ave.	Efficiency
Test	Subject	Utensil	(min.)	(min.)	C-Cap	% (+)
1	C-Cap	Kettle	10.38
2	C-Cap	Kettle	10.50
3	I-Cap	Kettle	9.30	−1.14	89.08%	10.92%

It would be appreciated that, the expanding section 314a of the opening having the ascending top surface 316 actually changes orientation of the flow of the combustible gaseous mixture 360, from a zero-degree to a 45-degree relative to the transverse direction, when the mixture passes through the nozzle 314b into the expanding section 314a. Similarly, change of the orientation of the nozzle 314b is also available from the present invention. Therefore, various variations on the structures of the improved burner port are rationalized, as compared with the illustrated embodiment 314, for achieving the angular flow of the combustible mixture.

Referring to FIG. 8B, there is illustrated another embodiment 314′ of the identical improved burner ports of the openings from the present invention as the structural variations of the burner ports 314 in FIG. 8A. In that configuration, an orientation of a smaller section of the opening served as a nozzle 314′b, which is aligned with the symmetric axis 332′, has an angle “G” relative to the horizontal direction. Accordingly, each of the identical burner ports 314′ is an opening that penetrates through the cap circular wall 306. Therefore, a bottom side 318′ of a large expanding section 314′a of the opening can be positioned to align with an angle “E” relative to the cap transverse bottom ring 312′. An ascending top surface 316′ is at an angle “F”, wherein the angle “F” is larger than the angle “E”. In this setting, it would be appreciated that, according to the spirit and scope of the present invention, no matter how to alter the angle of the orientation of the nozzle 314′b, an outlet 326′ of the larger expanding section must be larger than an inlet 322′ of the smaller section 314′b, wherein the angle “F” is always larger than the angle “E”, so that the stable flame kernels can be obtained.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 8C, there is illustrated additional embodiment 314″ of the identical improved burner ports of the openings that are upwardly and radially spaced apart on the top 304 of the cap 302. Each of the identical ports 314″ has an upward symmetric axis 332″, and is comprised of a smaller section 314″b of the opening connected to a larger expanding section 314″a of the opening. The smaller section served as a nozzle is aligned with the upward axis 332″ having a 90-degree relative to the transverse direction, wherein an inlet 322″ of the nozzle is connected to an inner recess 330″. The larger expanding section 314″a is also upward positioned, comprising an outlet 326″ that is aligned with the top transverse side of the top 304 and two interior ascending surfaces 316″.

In the structural configuration illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8C, it would be appreciated that, the burner ports can be in the round shape. Specifically, the burner port 314″ is comprised of the expanding section 314″a of the opening that is in a shape of a symmetric frustum of a cone, which is concentrically connected to the nozzle 314″b that is in a shape of a cylindrical opening. The burner port 314 can be a half of the port 314″ to comprise a downward opening. Regarding the burner port 314′, the larger expanding section 314′a can be an asymmetric frustum of an opening, which is connected to the smaller section 314′b that is a cylindrical opening.

From illustration of FIGS. 8A-8C, the present invention discloses a structural characteristics of changing the orientation of the nozzles of the identical improved burner ports from a zero degree to a 90-degree relative to the transverse direction, which correlates to change of the burner port locations from the circular wall to the top of the cap.

In a preferred embodiment for positioning these burner ports, it can be classified as: (1) the improved burner ports can be positioned onto the circular wall 306 if the angle “G” of the nozzle is ranging from equal to a zero degree to less than a 45-degree; (2) the improved burner ports can be positioned at the joint where the cap top 304 is connected to the circular wall 306 of the cap 302 if the angle “G” is equal to a 45-degree; and (3) the ports can be positioned onto the top 304 if the angle “G” is ranging from larger than a 45-degree to equal to a 90-degree. However, as illustrated above, no matter how to alter the angle of the orientation of the nozzle, the outlet of the larger expanding section that has an interior ascending top surface must be larger than the inlet of the smaller section of each identical improved burner port according to the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In addition, other structural variations of the improved burner ports are available. Referring to FIG. 8A, instead of having the larger expanding section 314a connected to the smaller section 314b, the improved burner port can only have the expanding section of an opening, wherein the second end 316b of the ascending top surface 316 is connected to the inner circular side 310 of the circular wall 306.

Furthermore, instead of positioning the improved identical burner ports 314 onto the cap 302, the identical burner ports can be positioned onto the circular wall 342 of the hollow neck 340 of the burner for achieving the same effect. The burner ports 314 can be additionally positioned to cut both the cap bottom ring 312 and the neck top ring 346. It would be appreciated that the structural details of the burner ports in these options are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, such details will not be repeated again.

Regarding a structural variation of the cap, FIG. 8D illustrates that a circumferential sideward protrusion 344 is positioned on the outer side 308 of the circular wall 306 to align with the cap top 304, which the protrusion bottom side 348 that is a circular ring is aligned with the ascending top surfaces 316 of the respective identical burner ports 314. Therefore, when it burns the flame along an ascending angle of the respective top surfaces will not be affected by the presence of the sideward protrusion 344. Besides, a downward circular slot 346 is positioned at a joint where the protrusion 344 is connected to the circular wall 306 of the cap. The protrusion 344 is designed to prevent extinction of the flame kernels if there is liquid dropping to the cap in cooking. The downward slot 346 is for stabilizing the flame kernels, when they are formed from igniting the combustible gaseous mixture at the minimum flow rate (or pressure) that is selected by a user of the stove.

It would be appreciated that, the cap structural variation shown in FIG. 8D and burner port variation shown in FIG. 8B can be simultaneously applied to manufacture a cap according to the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Still following the rationalization of the first reason that causes loss of the thermal energies in the section of “Description of the Prior Art”, it would be appreciated that a burner (outer) flame ring having an extra large diametrical size also can cause loss of the thermal energies even the burner ports of the flame ring are arranged in the upward orientation. This rationalization is driven by a practical fact that the most popularly and probably usable utensils have diameters in a narrow range, for example, from 15 cm to 20 cm. Such practical fact also determines an optimum diametrical size of the top circumference of the inner hollow shell 102 or 202 for the apparatus. Thus, the apparatus having the determined size cannot resist heat loss if an extra large flame ring is used.

Therefore, it is critical that diameters of the respective (outer) flame ring, the top circumference of the inner hollow shell and the utensil must be appropriately matched for achieving the best heating efficiency in cooking.

Hereafter are experimental results, which demonstrate the above rationalization regarding incorporation with the diameters of the respective flame ring, utensil and inner hollow shell.

Example III

The following are examples of the present invention removable heat transfer regulating apparatus incorporated with a burner having the improved burner ports from the present invention, which are offered by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation and restriction.

A commercial burner of a gas stove having the opened burner mounting manufactured in China was used in the experiments. The burner was consisted of a smaller central flame ring and a larger outer flame ring. The outer flame ring had a top cap having an outer diameter of 10.5 cm, an inner diameter of 6.5 cm, and a ring width of 2 cm. The cap had 20 identical linear slots, which cut the top of the cap to serve as the upward burner ports. The slots were radially and circumferentially positioned on the top of the cap. Each identical linear slot had a width of approximately 0.1 cm and a length of 2 cm. Therefore, a total of the opened areas were 4 cm² for 20 linear slots. In this setting, the outermost diameter of a circumference was 10.5 cm, wherein the circumference was aligned with the outermost positions of the respective linear slots. Therefore, the diameter of 10.5 cm was also the outermost diameter of the outer flame ring after the combustible gaseous mixture that flew out of the slots was ignited.

As a comparison, an experimental cap was constructed, which was identical to the commercial one except for the linear burner ports. Instead of having 20 linear slots, the experimental cap had 30 identical upward burner ports 314″ of openings. The burner ports were circumferentially spaced apart to align with a middle circle having a diameter of 8 cm on the cap.

Each identical upward port 314″ of the opening had the structure similar to that disclosed in FIG. 8C. The upward burner port 314″ was consisted of an upper expanding section 314″a of the opening in the shape of a frustum of a right angled cone concentrically connected to a lower cylindrical section 314″b of the opening. The lower cylindrical section 314″b that had a diameter of 0.4 cm and a height of approximately 0.3 cm was served as a nozzle, whose bottom side 322″ was the inlet for entering the combustible gaseous mixture. The upper section 314″a had a height of approximately 0.2 cm and a top circumference of an opening with a diameter of 0.75 cm, wherein the opening was the outlet 326″ of the burner port. The top frustum shaped section 314″a was served to reduce a speed of the combustible gaseous mixture flowing inside of the section. This resulted in a stable flame kernel when the mixture having the reduced speed was ignited at the round outlet 326″.

In this setting, a total of areas of the inlets 322″ were approximately 4 cm² for 30 identical burner ports, which were the same as those of the 20 linear slots. Therefore, the combustible gaseous mixture had the same speed when it flew through 20 linear slots of the commercial cap, as compared with a speed when it flew into 30 round inlets of the experimental cap according to a criterion that the combustible gaseous mixture 360 had the same supplied flow rate (or pressure), when it flew into the central opening 344 of the upward neck 340.

The experiment procedures of the EXAMPLE III were generally the same as those of the EXAMPLES I and II, except for: (1) the experiments were conducted after midnight in Shanghai China, since pressure deviations of the city supplied combustible gases were considered to be insignificant during the time period when the experiments were completed; (2) a mercury thermometer was used to measure a water temperature of 80 degree C. as the ending point of the tests.

In addition, other experimental conditions were as follows:

(1) Utensil: A cylindrical stainless steel pot was used as the water container, which had a height of 15.5 cm and diameter of 19.7 cm. The pot was covered with a glass cover having a central opening. The thermometer was inserted into the central opening, where the meter head was submerged at the middle of the water inside of the pot. The thermometer was supported by a rubber stopper that was positioned on the glass cover. In the experiments, a bottle was used for measuring an amount of water that was used in each test. The amount of water was calibrated according to obtain a full bottle of the water.

(2) Construction of a Removable Flame Heat Transfer Regulating Apparatus 200:

The removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus was constructed following the illustration of the embodiment 200 of the present invention, comprising an inner circularly arcuate hollow shell 202 and an outer circular wall 230, which were integrated together. The inner hollow shell 202 was comprised of a top circumference 210 having a diameter of approximately 18.8 cm, a bottom circumference 212 having a diameter of approximately 12.8 cm, and a height of 3.4 cm between the top circumference and bottom circumference.

Three groups of holes served as the air passages 216 were drilled to penetrate through the shell 202 with a diameter of 6 mm for each air passage 216. The air passages 216 in the first group were circumferentially spaced apart along an upper circumference 218 having a diameter of approximately 18 cm that was adjacent the top circumference 210, wherein two adjacent passages 216 were separated with approximately 4 cm. The upper circumference 218 was approximately 0.7 cm lower than the top circumference 210. The air passages 216 in the second group were circumferentially spaced apart along a middle circumference having a diameter of approximately 16 cm, wherein the middle circumference was positioned approximately 1.3 cm higher than the bottom circumference 212 which is positioned. In second group, two adjacent air passages were separated with approximately 2.5 cm. The air passages 216 in the third group were circumferentially spaced apart along a lower circumference 220 having a diameter of approximately 14 cm that was positioned approximately 0.4 cm higher than the bottom circumference 212. In the third group, two adjacent air passages were separated with approximately 2 cm.

The outer circular wall 230 included a height “H12” of 4 cm, a top circumference 238 having a diameter of 18.8 cm that was identical to the diameter of a bottom circumference 240. A plurality of air passages 244 of openings having the diameter of 5 mm were evenly distributed to penetrate through the outer circular wall 230. As previously disclosed, a number of the air passages 244 therethrough the outer circular wall 230 are more than the number of the air passages 216 of the inner circular shell 202. Three identical upward extensions 246 having a height of 1.2 cm were circumferentially spaced apart on the top circumference 238 for supporting the utensil. The inner hollow shell 202 and outer circular wall 230 were integrated where their top circumferences were affixed together.

After installation of the apparatus 200 onto the cooktop of the gas stove, a distance of approximately 2.3 cm was measured between the pot bottom side and outlet 326″ when the pot was positioned onto the upward extensions of the apparatus. The distance of 2.3 cm is similar to a distance of approximately 2.5 cm, which was measured in the commercial setting (see below).

(3) References, Tested Samples and Test Order:

Times needed to heat the full bottle of water were served as References (Ref) from using the commercial setting, which included the commercial utensil supports that were upward posts, the central smaller flame ring, and the outer larger flame ring having the cap with 20 linear slots. The Sample 1 (S1) was for the times to heat the same full bottle of water when the above disclosed apparatus 200 was used to surround the central and outer flame rings, and support the stainless steel pot. The Sample 2 (S2) was for the times to heat the same amount of the water when the above disclosed apparatus 200 was used to support the pot and surround the central and outer rings. However, the outer flame ring had the experimental cap, which was constructed by the present invention. The Sample 3 (S3) was for the times to heat the same amount of the water when in use of the commercial utensil supports to support the pot, the central flame ring and the outer flame ring having the experimental cap of the present invention. The test order in the experiments was References, S1, S2 and S3.

(4) The Flow Rate of the City Supplied Combustible Gases:

A flow rate was selected using the setting of References according to the outermost top flame that reached the outer circumference of the pot bottom side from turning the gas control knob that had a line mark. Then the direction of the knob was marked on the cooktop. Therefore, a consistent flow rate was obtained through the entire experiment, when the line mark on the knob was aligned with the mark on the cooktop. In addition, the flame generated at the selected flow rate was observed to close a flame that was generated at the maximum flow rate of the combustible gases.

During the entire experiments, the flame was only turned off one time for replacing the commercial cap with the constructed cap of the outer flame ring, when was happened after completing measurement of the Sample 1. Otherwise, the flame was kept to burn at the selected flow rate of the combustible gases for minimizing variations of the flow rate in use. In addition, the central smaller flame ring was also kept to burn during the experiments

The experimental cap was observed to generate a flame of a circularly upward wall having a diameter of approximately 9.5 cm, when the flame burned at the improved burner ports. The flame top first touched the utensil bottom side and then turned radially and transversely to be a transverse ring, which also touched the utensil bottom side before it ended.

Further, in an additional test for examining if there will be a cold spot on the pot bottom side, it was observed that the water was initially boiled around a circle having the diameter of approximately 9.5 cm. The water was then very quickly turned to boil along the whole bottom side of the pot. This indicated that a temperature gradient of the pot bottom side in cooking was insignificant in the radical directions.

(5) Test Results:

The experimental results listed in Table 3 indicate that the burner in the commercial setting (Ref.) generates a significant energy loss (−18.6%), as compared with the burner which the outer flame ring is covered by the experimental cap (S3). Comparing with the structural characteristics of the commercial cap, the energy loss from the commercial setting is rationalized as follows: (1) The large outer flame ring, which the outermost circumference of the flame kernels has the diameter of 10.5 cm, and (2) the burner ports of the linear slots.

TABLE 3
Testing results for the Tested Samples (S) and References (Ref.)
				Difference		Efficiency
Test	Test	Type of	Times	to Ref.		% (+) to
Order	Subject	the Utensil	(min.)	(min.)	% to Ref.	Ref.
1	Ref.	Pot	6.17
2	S1	Pot	5.93	−0.24	96.1	3.9
3	S2	Pot	4.77	−1.40	77.3	22.7
4	S3	Pot	5.02	−1.15	81.4	18.6

Alternatively speaking, the comparison tests of Reference and S3 indicate that the appropriate diametrical size of the outer flame ring and improved burner ports are significant to increase the heating efficiency of the flame in cooking, wherein the improved burner port is comprised of a smaller nozzle having a smaller inlet connected to a larger expanding section having a larger outlet. Therefore, the flame generated at the outlets by the combustible gaseous mixture having a lower speed is possibly burned more completely in the presence of the secondary air, as compared with the flame from the commercial cap where the combustible gaseous mixture has a higher speed when it is out of the slots. This results in a higher elevated temperature of the flame in the settings of S2 and S3 using the experimental cap, which further results in significant energy saving for heating the water.

The result from testing the setting of S2 indicates additional+4.1% energy saving that is obtained as compared with the result in settling of S3. This is due to the contribution of the apparatus, which regulates transfer of the radiated and convected heat. Interestingly, almost the same energy saving +3.9% is achieved in testing of S1 as compared with testing of Reference, wherein both settings of S1 and Reference are involved in the upward flame pattern. The energy saving +3.9% is also contributed by application of the apparatus.

Further comparing a larger energy saving of more than +14.6% in EXAMPLE I with a smaller energy saving of +4% in EXAMPLE III in application of the present invention apparatus, it is clear that, the laterally oriented burner ports contribute to the significant energy loss, as compared with the upward oriented burner ports.

Therefore the experimental results are consistent with the rationalization according to the spirit and scope of the present invention, which the improved burner ports significantly increase the heating efficiency of the flame in cooking since they control the flame pattern to prevent a large amount of the energy loss. In addition, the apparatus still contributes a part of the energy saving. Therefore, the experimental results prove that, the present invention removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus incorporated with the burner having the improved burner ports is a total solution for achieving the best heating efficiency of the flame in cooking.

Furthermore, it would be appreciated that from the experimental results disclosed above, the present invention can define a set of parameters, which are critical for an optimum structure of the apparatus incorporated with a burner having the improved burner ports to practically achieve the best heating efficiency in cooking according to application of a utensil that is the most popularly and probably usable regarding its diametrical size. The critical parameters include optimum 19 cm diameter of the top edge of the inner hollow shell and maximum 8 cm diameter of a circle that is aligned with outlets of the respective burner ports of an (outer) flame ring, wherein the optimum and maximum diameters are correlated to an optimum distance ranging from 2.5 cm to 3 cm between a top position of the outlet and the bottom side of the most popularly and probably usable utensil having an optimum diametrical size ranging from 15 cm to 20 cm.

The maximum 8 cm diameter of the circle is defined according to the results of EXAMPLE III, wherein the circle is aligned with the centers 332″ of the outlets 326″ of the respective burner ports on the outer flame ring that generates the upward flame. It would be appreciated that the 8 cm diameter is also appropriate for a burner (outer) flame ring having the sideward outlets 326 that are positioned on the outer side of the burner upper section illustrated in FIG. 8A, wherein the outlets control the flame kernels having the optimum angle of 45 degree relative to the respective transverse directions. This is because, a circular flame top having the diameter 14 cm is estimated according to the above defined optimum distance ranging from 2.5 cm and 3 cm and a combustible gaseous mixture having a high pressure (or flow rate). The diameter of 14 cm is smaller than the diameter between 15 cm and 20 cm for the most popularly and probably usable utensils, so that the utensils can be still efficiently heated.

Furthermore, it would be appreciated that, in the presence of a medium or a slightly high pressure of the combustible gaseous mixture that is the most popularly and probably usable conditions in cooking, the diameter of the circular top flame will be smaller than the above estimated 14 cm. In those situations, satisfactory saving of the combustible gases are expected from rationalization that the inner hollow shell additionally prevents the energy loss according to the experimental results of the EXAMPLE I. In addition, saving of the combustible gases is also expected when they are under small to medium pressure, since the apparatus significantly prevents the flame heat loss.

It would be further appreciated that, a satisfactory energy saving is also expected for utilizing a wok in the setting having the above defined parameters. This is because the wok generally has a larger area of the outer surface having a smooth convex curve, as compared with the pot having a smaller area of a bottom in addition to a connection of 90-degree when the bottom side is connected to the cylindrical outer side. Therefore, when applying the present invention apparatus incorporated with the burner having the improved burner ports, the exhaust gases and air at a high temperature in addition to the top of the flame will be more likely to flow along the convex curve of the wok according to the theory of fluid dynamics after the flame directly comes into contact with the wok. This results in the efficiently heating of the wok.

It would be additionally appreciated that, under the above defined basic parameters, there is still a room for tuning other structural parameters including a size of the identical outlet as compared with a size of the inlet, and an orientation of the expanding section of the burner ports if the section is not aligned with the orientation of the nozzle of the smaller section, so that a best result of saving energies can be achieved.

Defined in detail, the present invention is A removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus incorporated with a burner having improved burner ports of openings for a gas stove, comprising: a) an inner hollow shell being an ascending wall having a top opening with a larger sized top circumference and a bottom opening with a smaller sized circumference, a plurality of air passages of openings being through said shell, wherein said air passages are more densely distributed onto a lower part of said shell, as compared with said air passages which are less densely distributed onto an upper part of said shell; b) an outer wall, comprising an exterior side, an interior side, a top side and a bottom side, wherein a plurality of air passages of openings are distributed through said outer wall, multiple extensions projecting upwardly are spaced at said top side, wherein each said extension includes a top end; c) both said inner hollow shell and outer wall are positioned onto a cooktop of said gas stove, said inner hollow shell surrounds an upper section of said burner, wherein said improved burner ports are positioned, each said improved burner port includes an expanded larger section having a larger sized outlet connected to a smaller section having a smaller sized inlet, said outer wall surrounds said inner hollow shell and is additionally for supporting an utensil; and d) said apparatus incorporated with said burner having said improved burner ports enables to increase heating efficiency of flame in cooking, said inner hollow shell regulating transfer of flame heat radiation and convection, said outer wall provides a gap for flame exhaust gases to flow outwardly and upwardly, one of said upward extensions is served as a heat shield for preventing undesirable heating of a handle of said utensil in cooking.

Defined broadly, the present invention is a removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus incorporated with a burner having improved burner ports of openings for a gas stove, comprising: a) a member comprising a plurality of air passages being therethrough, wherein said air passages are more densely distributed onto a lower part of said member, as compared with said air passages which are less densely distributed onto an upper part of said member; b) said member is positioned onto a cooktop of said gas stove to surround an upper section of said burner, wherein said improved burner ports are positioned, each said improved burner port includes an expanded larger section having an ascending interior surface and a larger sized outlet, which is connected to a smaller section having a smaller sized inlet; c) means for supporting an utensil; d) means for regulating heat radiation and heat convection of flame; e) means for increasing heating efficiency of said flame in cooking, and f) means for preventing undesirable heating of a handler of said utensil.

Defined alternatively, the present invention is a removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus incorporated with a burner having improved burner ports of openings for a gas stove that supports an utensil, comprising: a) a hollow shell being an ascending wall having a top opening with a larger sized top circumference and a bottom opening with a smaller sized circumference, a plurality of air passages of openings being through said shell, wherein said air passages are more densely distributed onto a lower part of said shell, as compared with said air passages which are less densely distributed onto an upper part of said shell; b) said hollow shell is positioned onto a cooktop of said gas stove to surround an upper section of said burner, wherein said improved burner ports are positioned, each said improved burner port includes an expanded larger section having a larger sized outlet connected to a smaller section having a smaller sized inlet; and c) said apparatus incorporated with said burner having said improved burner ports enables to increase heating efficiency of flame in cooking, said hollow shell regulating transfer of flame heat radiation and convection.

Defined another alternatively, the present invention is a removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus incorporated with a burner having improved burner ports of openings for a gas stove, wherein each said improved burner ports comprising an expanded larger section having a larger sized outlet connected to a smaller section having a smaller sized inlet.

Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.

Claims

1. A gas stove having a burner and a cooktop to heat a kitchen utensil having a bottom side, comprising:

a. said burner having a top section which is positioned onto said cooktop;

b. said top section includes a removable round cap and an upward round hollow neck that is affixed onto said cooktop, wherein said cap is removably positioned downwardly to mate with said hollow neck, said cap including a transverse top connected to a downward circular wall having an outer side, an inner side and a bottom ring to thereby form an inner recess of said cap, said hollow neck being an upward circular wall to surround a central upward opening wherein said upward circular wall having a top ring that matches said bottom ring of said cap;

c. a plurality of identical downward slots are circumferentially and radially spaced apart to cut a part of said downward circular wall including said bottom ring, each of said downward slots being an expanding section having a larger opening positioned on said outer side of said downward circular wall, a smaller opening positioned on said inner side of said downward circular wall, and a bottom opening that cuts off said bottom ring of said cap; and

d. said identical downward slots turn to the respective identical burner ports of openings when said cap is mated with said hollow neck, wherein each of said identical burner ports being an expanding opening having a larger outlet, a smaller inlet, and an ascending interior top surface relative to said top of said cap.

2. The gas stove in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a circumferential sideward extrusion is affixed to said outer side of said downward circular wall to align with said top of said cap, wherein said circumferential sideward extrusion has a bottom ring that is aligned with said ascending interior top surfaces of the respective identical burner ports.

3. The gas stove in accordance with claim 2, further comprising: a circular downward slot is positioned at a joint where said circumferential sideward extrusion is affixed to said downward circular wall of said cap.

4. The gas stove in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a diameter of 8 cm of a circle that is aligned with said outlets of the respective burner ports, wherein said diameter is correlated to a distance ranging from 2.5 cm to 3 cm between said outlets and said bottom side of said kitchen utensil having a diametrical size ranging from 15 cm to 20 cm.

5. The gas stove in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: said each of said identical burner ports being a smaller opening having a smaller inlet connected to a larger expanding opening having a larger outlet and an ascending interior top surface relative to said top of said cap.

6. The gas stove in accordance with claim 6, further comprising: said each of said identical burner ports is circumferentially and radically spaced apart to penetrate through said top of said cap.

7. A gas stove having a burner and a cooktop to heat a kitchen utensil having a bottom side, comprising:

a. said burner having a top section which is positioned onto said cooktop; and

b. a plurality of identical burner ports of openings are positioned onto said top section of said burner, wherein each of said identical burner ports is an expanding opening including an ascending interior top surface, a larger outlet and a smaller inlet.

8. The gas stove in accordance with claim 7, further comprising:

a. said top section includes a removable round cap and an upward round hollow neck that is affixed onto said cooktop, wherein said cap is removably positioned downwardly to mate with said hollow neck, said cap including a transverse top connected to a downward circular wall having an outer side, an inner side and a bottom ring to thereby form an inner recess of said cap, said hollow neck being an upward circular wall to surround a central upward opening wherein said upward circular wall having a top ring that matches said bottom ring of said cap;

b. a plurality of identical downward slots are circumferentially and radially spaced apart to cut a part of said downward circular wall including said bottom ring, each of said downward slots being an expanding section having a larger opening positioned on said outer side of said downward circular wall, a smaller opening positioned on said inner side of said downward circular wall, and a bottom opening that cuts off said bottom ring of said cap; and

c. said identical downward slots turn to the respective identical burner ports of openings when said cap is mated with said hollow neck, wherein each of said identical burner ports being an expanding opening having a larger outlet, a smaller inlet, and an ascending interior top surface relative to said top of said cap.

9. The gas stove in accordance with claim 8, further comprising: a circumferential sideward extrusion is affixed to said outer side of said downward circular wall to align with said top of said cap, wherein said circumferential sideward extrusion has a bottom ring that is aligned with said ascending interior top surfaces of the respective identical burner ports.

10. The gas stove in accordance with claim 9, further comprising: a circular downward slot is positioned at a joint where said circumferential sideward extrusion is affixed to said downward circular wall of said cap.

11. The gas stove in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a diameter of 8 cm of a circle that is aligned with said outlets of the respective burner ports, wherein said diameter is correlated to a distance ranging from 2.5 cm to 3 cm between said outlets and said bottom side of said kitchen utensil having a diametrical size ranging from 15 cm to 20 cm.

12. The gas stove in accordance with claim 7, further comprising: said each of said identical burner ports being a smaller opening having a smaller inlet connected to a larger expanding opening having a larger outlet and an ascending interior top surface relative to said top of said cap.

13. The gas stove in accordance with claim 8, further comprising: said each of said identical burner ports is circumferentially and radically spaced apart to penetrate through said top of said cap.

14. A gas stove having a burner and a cooktop to heat a kitchen utensil having a bottom side, comprising:

a. said burner having a top section which is positioned onto said cooktop; and

b. a plurality of identical burner ports of openings are positioned onto said top section of said burner, wherein each of said identical burner ports is a smaller opening having a smaller inlet connected to a larger expanding opening having a larger outlet and an ascending interior top surface.

15. The gas stove in accordance with claim 7, further comprising:

a. said top section includes a removable round cap and an upward round hollow neck that is affixed onto said cooktop, wherein said cap is removably positioned downwardly to mate with said hollow neck, said cap including a transverse top connected to a downward circular wall having an outer side, an inner side and a bottom ring to thereby form an inner recess of said cap, said hollow neck being an upward circular wall to surround a central upward opening wherein said upward circular wall having a top ring that matches said bottom ring of said cap;

b. a plurality of identical downward slots are circumferentially and radially spaced apart to cut a part of said downward circular wall including said bottom ring, each of said identical downward slots being a smaller section connected to a larger expanding section having an ascending interior top surface and a larger opening positioned on said outer side of said downward circular wall, said smaller section having a smaller opening positioned on said inner side of said downward circular wall; and

c. said identical downward slots turn to the respective identical burner ports of openings when said cap is mated with said hollow neck, wherein each of said identical burner ports being a smaller opening having a smaller inlet connected to a larger expanding opening having a larger outlet and an ascending interior top surface relative to said top of said cap.

16. The gas stove in accordance with claim 15, further comprising: a circumferential sideward extrusion is affixed to said outer side of said downward circular wall to align with said top of said cap, wherein said circumferential sideward extrusion has a bottom ring that is aligned with said ascending interior top surfaces of the respective identical burner ports.

17. The gas stove in accordance with claim 16, further comprising: a circular downward slot is positioned at a joint where said circumferential sideward extrusion is affixed to said downward circular wall of said cap.

18. The gas stove in accordance with claim 15, further comprising: said each of said identical burner ports is circumferentially and radically spaced apart to penetrate through said top of said cap.

19. The gas stove in accordance with claim 14, further comprising a diameter of 8 cm of a circle that is aligned with said outlets of the respective burner ports, wherein said diameter is correlated to a distance ranging from 2.5 cm to 3 cm between said outlets and said bottom side of said kitchen utensil having a diametrical size ranging from 15 cm to 20 cm.