OFFSET IGNITER ASSEMBLY
A gas burner assembly for connection to a source of gas is provided. The gas burner assembly includes a burner body defining an opening therethrough and a generally circular outer periphery. The outer periphery includes a recess therein. The gas burner additionally includes a bracketing unit secured to the burner body and including a igniter holder and at least one igniter being concentric about a vertical axis and positioned within at least one of the recess and the igniter holder. The igniter includes an ignition element that is adjustably positioned to provide an optimal radial distance from the burner body, and wherein the gas burner assembly is configured to operatively accommodate a variety of igniter styles.
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The following disclosure relates generally to gas burners, and more particularly to ignition elements for igniting the fuel gas on the gas burners. The present disclosure finds particular application in accommodating a variety of ignition elements within a single family of burners.
Traditionally gas burner cook tops include ignition devices that generate a spark to ignite a burner when applicable fuel valves are opened, delivering fuel to the burner. Increasingly, however, the spark ignition devices are being replaced by ceramic hot surface ignition devices to ignite burners more reliably. Rather than relying on a spark, the ceramic hot surface igniter includes an element that generates a sufficient amount of heat to ignite the gas supplied to the burner. The ceramic hot surface igniter is essentially a hot filament and, as opposed to a spark, makes no noise and can be left on constantly such that a user can re-light the flame should it extinguish.
The different types of ignition devices used for gas burners depend primarily on customer preference, price point, and compatibility with existing burners. Each type of ignition device has a particular position in relation to a burner for optimal performance. Therefore, the optimal location of a hot surface ignition device may not be the same as that needed for a spark electrode, depending on the burner design and other design limitations. A traditional solution would be to use different brackets and supports for both a spark and hot surface igniter to secure each at their respective optimal positions. However, having to replace burner parts when changing ignition styles increases the number of parts to manage throughout the production and manufacturing chain, thereby increasing cost and complexity.
Accordingly, there is a need for an ignition positioning system that can allow a burner assembly to accommodate each type of ignition device without the need for unique burner system parts.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREA gas burner assembly for connection to a source of gas is provided. The gas burner assembly includes a burner body defining an opening therethrough and a generally circular outer periphery. The gas burner additionally includes a bracketing unit secured to the burner body and including an igniter holder and at least one igniter being concentric about a vertical axis and positioned within the igniter holder. The igniter comprises an ignition element that is adjustably positioned to provide an optimal radial distance from the burner body, and wherein the gas burner assembly is configured to operatively accommodate a variety of igniter styles.
An ignition device for use with a gas burner assembly is provided. The igniter includes a generally cylindrical body substantially concentric about a vertical axis and an ignition element having an adjustable radial position in relation to the vertical axis. The radial position is dependent on an optimal gap distance from an associated gas burner. The ignition element preferably includes at least one of a spark wire and a silicon nitride hot surface.
A method for constructing a gas burner assembly is provided. The method includes coupling a burner body to an injet bracket, the burner body defining an opening therethrough and a generally circular outer periphery. The method further includes detachably mounting an igniter to the burner body, the igniter being generally concentric about a vertical axis, and adjustably locating an ignition element in relation to the vertical axis to provide an optimal gap between the ignition element and the burner body, wherein the burner assembly is configured to accommodate at least two different ignition element styles.
While methods and apparatuses are herein described in the context of a gas-fired cooktop, as set forth more fully below, it is contemplated that the herein described methods and apparatuses may find utility in other applications, including, but not limited to, gas heater devices, gas ovens, gas kilns, gas-fired meat smoker devices, and gas barbecues. In addition, the principles and teachings set forth herein may find equal applicability to combustion burners for a variety of combustible fuels. The description hereinbelow is therefore set forth only by way of illustration rather than limitation.
Cooktop 14 includes, for example, four gas fueled burner assemblies 22 which are positioned in spaced apart pairs positioned adjacent each side of cooktop 14. Each pair of burner assemblies 22 is preferably surrounded by a recessed area 24 of cooktop 14. Recessed areas 24 are positioned below an upper surface 24 of cooktop 14 and serve to catch any spills from cooking utensils (not shown in
The construction and operation of the range heating elements, including cooktop gas burner assemblies 22, are believed to be within the purview of those in the art without further discussion, and as details of the range heating elements are generally beyond the scope of the herein described methods and apparatuses, further description is therefore omitted. Further it is contemplated that the herein described methods and apparatuses may find utility in combination with other heat elements besides range gas burners 22.
While cooktop 14 includes two pairs of grates 28 positioned over two pairs of burner assemblies 22, it is contemplated that greater or fewer number of grates could be employed with a greater or fewer number of burners without departing from the scope of the herein described methods and apparatuses.
Burner assembly 30 is mounted on a support surface 44, such as cooktop 14, of a gas cooking appliance such as a range or cooktop. A cap 46 is disposed over the top of the burner body 32, defining therebetween an annular main fuel chamber 48 and annular diffuser region (not shown). A torodial-shaped upper portion 50 of burner body 32, immediately bordering burner throat 42, in combination with cap 46 defines the annular diffuser region therebetween. Cap 46 can be fixedly attached to the sidewall 36 or other designated attachment point or can simply rest on sidewall 36 for easy removal. Burner assembly 30 also includes at least one ignition element 52 (not shown in
The gas burner assemblies 22, as shown in
With reference to
Particularly referring to
The exemplary burner assemblies, shown in
To properly locate and orient an ignition device 52 in relation to a burner body and ensure that an ignition element maintains its optimal gap, the ignition device may include a geometric key portion that ensures proper placement and eliminates potential rotation. Such a geometric key portion is achieved by several methods, such as by adding a flat surface amongst the cylindrical body 68, adding a groove to the body 68, or pressing the igniter on the bracket. The flat surface 66 provided on the body of the hot surface igniter 54 in
The disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the disclosure be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.
Claims
1. A gas burner assembly for connection to a source of gas, said gas burner assembly comprising:
- a burner body defining an opening therethrough and a generally circular outer periphery;
- a bracketing unit secured to said burner body and including an igniter holder; and
- at least one igniter being concentric about a vertical axis and positioned within said igniter holder, said igniter comprising an ignition element, wherein said ignition element is adjustably positioned to provide an optimal radial distance from said burner body, and wherein said gas burner assembly is configured to operatively accommodate a variety of igniter styles.
2. The gas burner assembly of claim 1, wherein said igniter comprises a ceramic body.
3. The gas burner assembly of claim 1, wherein said outer periphery of said burner body comprises recess therein, said recess configured to accept said at least one igniter.
4. The gas burner assembly of claim 1, wherein said ignition element comprises a spark wire that is either offset from or aligned with said vertical axis.
5. The gas burner assembly of claim 4, wherein the radial distance of said ignition element comprises a distance of y.
6. The gas burner assembly of claim 1, wherein said ignition element comprises a silicon nitride hot surface positioned one of offset from and aligned with said vertical axis.
7. The gas burner assembly of claim 6, wherein said radial distance comprises a distance of x.
8. The gas burner assembly of claim 1, wherein said igniter comprises a keyed body for rotational orientation to said burner body.
9. The gas burner assembly of claim 8, wherein said keyed body comprises one or more of a groove and a flat surface among the cylindrical body.
10. An ignition device for use with a gas burner assembly, said igniter comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body concentric about a vertical axis; and
- an ignition element having an adjustable radial position in relation to said vertical axis, said radial position being dependant on an optimal gap distance from an associated gas burner, wherein said ignition element comprises at least one of a spark wire and a silicon nitride hot surface.
11. The ignition device of claim 10, wherein said body comprises a ceramic material.
12. The ignition device of claim 10, wherein the radial position of said the spark wire is different than the radial position of said hot surface.
13. The ignition device of claim 10, wherein said cylindrical body comprises a keyed portion configured to be particularly oriented with an associated burner assembly.
14. The ignition device of claim 13, wherein said keyed geometry includes one or more of a groove and a flat surface amongst said cylindrical body.
15. The ignition device of claim 10, wherein said ignition element comprises a silicon nitride hot surface positioned one of offset from and aligned with said vertical axis.
16. The ignition device of claim 10, wherein said ignition element comprises a spark wire positioned one of offset from and aligned with said vertical axis.
17. A method for constructing a gas burner assembly, said method comprising:
- coupling a burner body and to an injet bracket, said burner body defining an opening therethrough and a generally circular outer periphery;
- detachably mounting an igniter to at least said burner body, said igniter being generally concentric about a vertical axis; and
- adjustably locating an ignition element in relation to said vertical axis to provide an optimal gap between said ignition element and said burner body, wherein said burner assembly is configured to accommodate at least two different ignition element styles.
18. The method for assembling a single burner unit of claim 17, further including providing said body with a keyed portion for particularly positioning said igniter within said holder.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein said igniter styles comprise one or more of a spark igniter and a hot surface igniter.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein accommodating a spark igniter comprises adjusting the radial position of said ignition element to align with said vertical axis.
21. The method according to claim 19, wherein accommodating a hot surface igniter comprises adjusting the radial position of said ignition element to be a particular distance offset from said vertical axis.
Type: Application
Filed: May 5, 2011
Publication Date: Nov 8, 2012
Applicant:
Inventor: Paul Bryan Cadima (Louisville, KY)
Application Number: 13/101,761
International Classification: F23Q 7/06 (20060101); B21D 53/00 (20060101);