BURNER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A burner assembly is provided. The burner assembly includes a round burner and an elongated burner. The round burner is positioned at a middle portion of the elongated burner. The elongated burner has a single fuel inlet such that all fuel flowing into the elongated burner passes through the single fuel inlet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to burner assemblies, such as burner assemblies for range appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Range appliances generally include a cooktop portion and an oven portion. The cooktop portion of certain range appliances includes a griddle burner for heating large cookware, such as griddles and fish poachers. Griddle burners provide flame ports along a length of the griddle burner in order to more uniformly or evenly heat large cookware on the cooktop portion. However, griddle burners have certain drawbacks. For example, heating smaller cookware, such as round pots, with griddle burners can be inconvenient and/or difficult. Thus, griddle burners may consume a large surface area of an associated range appliance despite having limited cooking utility.

Certain griddle burners include features for assisting heating of cookware smaller than griddles. Partitioned griddle burners permit independent operation of discrete sections of the griddle burner. Thus, a user may operate a single section of the griddle burner in order to heat a small pot or may operate all the sections to heat a griddle. However, partitioned griddle burners can be expensive to manufacture, difficult to operate and may not heat smaller cookware uniformity due to the asymmetrical distribution of flame ports within the griddle burner sections.

Accordingly, a burner assembly with features for assisting with heating a griddle and cookware smaller than a griddle would be useful. In particular, a burner assembly with features for assisting with heating a griddle and uniformly heating cookware smaller than a griddle would be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter provides a burner assembly. The burner assembly includes a round burner and an elongated burner. The round burner is positioned at a middle portion of the elongated burner. The elongated burner has a single fuel inlet such that all fuel flowing into the elongated burner passes through the single fuel inlet. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In a first exemplary embodiment, a burner assembly is provided. The burner assembly includes a round burner having a fuel inlet and an elongated burner having a fuel inlet and a middle portion. The round burner is positioned at the middle portion of the elongated burner. A control valve has an inlet and a pair of outlets. A first supply conduit extends from a first one of the pair of outlets of the control valve in order to direct fuel to the fuel inlet of the round burner, and a second supply conduit extends from a second one of the pair of outlets of the control valve in order to direct fuel to the fuel inlet of the elongated burner.

In a second exemplary embodiment, a burner assembly is provided. The burner assembly includes a round burner having a fuel inlet and an elongated burner having a fuel inlet with a single Venturi mixing tube. The elongated burner also has a middle portion. The round burner is positioned at the middle portion of the elongated burner. The elongated burner is configured such that all fuel flowing into the elongated burner passes through the single Venturi mixing tube.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 provides a front, perspective view of a range appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 provides a top, plan view of the exemplary range appliance of FIG. 1 and a burner assembly of the exemplary range appliance.

FIG. 3 provides a section view of a burner assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 4 provides an exploded, section view of the exemplary burner assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 provides an exploded, perspective view of the exemplary burner assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 provides a partial, section view of the exemplary burner assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 provides an exploded, perspective view of the exemplary burner assembly of FIG. 3 and a fuel delivery system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 provides a front, perspective view of a range appliance 100 as may be employed with the present subject matter. FIG. 2 provides a top, plan view of range appliance 100. Range appliance 100 includes an insulated cabinet 110. Cabinet 110 defines an upper cooking chamber 120 and a lower cooking chamber 122. Thus, range appliance 100 is generally referred to as a double oven range appliance. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, range appliance 100 is provided by way of example only, and the present subject matter may be used in any suitable range appliance, e.g., a single oven range appliance. Thus, the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is not intended to limit the present subject matter to any particular cooking chamber configuration or arrangement.

Upper and lower cooking chambers 120 and 122 are configured for the receipt of one or more food items to be cooked. Range appliance 100 includes an upper door 124 and a lower door 126 rotatably attached to cabinet 110 in order to permit selective access to upper cooking chamber 120 and lower cooking chamber 122, respectively. Handles 128 are mounted to upper and lower doors 124 and 126 to assist a user with opening and closing doors 124 and 126 in order to access cooking chambers 120 and 122. As an example, a user can pull on handle 128 mounted to upper door 124 to open or close upper door 124 and access upper cooking chamber 120. Glass window panes 130 provide for viewing the contents of upper and lower cooking chambers 120 and 122 when doors 124 and 126 are closed and also assist with insulating upper and lower cooking chambers 120 and 122. Heating elements (not shown), such as electric resistance heating elements, gas burners, microwave heating elements, halogen heating elements, or suitable combinations thereof, are positioned within upper cooking chamber 120 and lower cooking chamber 122 for heating upper cooking chamber 120 and lower cooking chamber 122.

Range appliance 100 also includes a cooktop 140. Cooktop 140 is positioned at or adjacent a top portion of cabinet 110. Thus, cooktop 140 is positioned above upper and lower cooking chambers 120 and 122. Cooktop 140 includes a top panel 142. By way of example, top panel 142 may be constructed of glass, ceramics, enameled steel, and combinations thereof.

For range appliance 100, a utensil holding food and/or cooking liquids (e.g., oil, water, etc.) may be placed onto grates 152 at a location of any of burner assemblies 144, 146, 148, 150. Burner assemblies 144, 146, 148, 150 provide thermal energy to cooking utensils on grates 152. As shown in FIG. 1, burners assemblies 144, 146, 148, 150 can be configured in various sizes so as to provide e.g., for the receipt of cooking utensils (i.e., pots, pans, etc.) of various sizes and configurations and to provide different heat inputs for such cooking utensils. Grates 152 are supported on a top surface 158 of top panel 142. Range appliance 100 also includes a griddle burner 160 positioned at a middle portion of top panel 142, as may be seen in FIG. 2. A griddle may be positioned on grates 152 and heated with griddle burner 160.

A user interface panel 154 is located within convenient reach of a user of the range appliance 100. For this exemplary embodiment, user interface panel 154 includes knobs 156 that are each associated with one of burner assemblies 144, 146, 148, 150 and griddle burner 160. Knobs 156 allow the user to activate each burner assembly and determine the amount of heat input provided by each burner assembly 144, 146, 148, 150 and griddle burner 160 to a cooking utensil located thereon. User interface panel 154 may also be provided with one or more graphical display devices that deliver certain information to the user such as e.g., whether a particular burner assembly is activated and/or the level at which the burner assembly is set.

Although shown with knobs 156, it should be understood that knobs 156 and the configuration of range appliance 100 shown in FIG. 1 is provided by way of example only. More specifically, user interface panel 154 may include various input components, such as one or more of a variety of touch-type controls, electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary dials, push buttons, and touch pads. The user interface panel 154 may include other display components, such as a digital or analog display device designed to provide operational feedback to a user.

FIG. 3 provides a section view of a burner assembly 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. FIG. 4 provides an exploded, section view of burner assembly 200. FIG. 5 provides an exploded, perspective view of burner assembly 200. FIG. 6 provides a partial, section view of burner assembly 200. Burner assembly 200 may be used in any suitable appliance. For example, burner assembly 200 may be used in range appliance 100 (FIG. 2) as griddle burner 160. Burner assembly 200 includes features for assisting with heating large cookware, such as griddles or fish poachers, as well as smaller cookware, such as round pots. Burner assembly 200 is discussed in greater detail below.

As may be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, burner assembly 200 includes a round burner 210 and an elongated burner 220. During operation of burner assembly 200, a user may utilize only round burner 210 or both round burner 210 and elongated burner 220. As an example, the user may heat a round pot with just round burner 210 in a first heating mode. As another example, the user may heat a griddle or fish poacher with both round burner 210 and elongated burner 220 in a second heating mode. Such selective operation of round burner 210 and elongated burner 220 assist the user with heating variously sized articles uniformly and/or evenly.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, round burner 210 includes a fuel inlet 212 and a plurality of flame ports 214. Flame ports 214 may be distributed or dispersed in a circular pattern or shape, e.g., in plane that is perpendicular to a vertical direction. Gaseous fuel, such as natural gas or propane, may flow into round burner 210 via or through fuel inlet 212 of round burner 210. The gaseous fuel may flow out of round burner 210 and be combusted at flame ports 214 of round burner 210. Round burner 210 also includes a cover plate 216 positioned over flame ports 214 of round burner 210. Fuel inlet 212 of round burner 210 includes a Venturi mixing tube 218 that assists with mixing gaseous fuel flowing into round burner 210, e.g., with air, in order to assist combustion of the gaseous fuel at flame ports 214 of round burner 210. Round burner 210 may be positioned or disposed at any suitable location on burner assembly 200. For example, round burner 210 may be positioned at a middle portion 224 of elongated burner 210.

Like round burner 210, elongated burner 220 also has a fuel inlet 222. In particular, burner assembly 200 may include a burner base 240 and a bottom plate 242. Bottom plate 242 is mounted to burner plate 240 and defines fuel inlet 222 of elongated burner 220. Bottom plate 242 may be mounted to burner base 240 in any suitable manner. For example, bottom plate 242 may be screwed, staked or riveted to burner base 240, e.g., about a perimeter of bottom plate 242.

Burner base 240 and bottom plate 242 also define a fuel chamber 244 therebetween. Gaseous fuel, such as natural gas or propane, may flow into elongated burner 220 via or through fuel inlet 222 of elongated burner 220. Fuel chamber 244 is positioned and disposed for receiving the gaseous fuel from fuel inlet 222 of elongated burner 220. As may be see in FIGS. 4 and 5, fuel inlet 222 of elongated burner 220 may be only a single passage or conduit.

As may be seen in FIG. 5, burner base 240 extends, e.g., linearly, between a first end portion 226 and a second end portion 228. Thus, first and second end portions 226, 228 of burner base 240 are spaced apart from each other. Round burner 210 (and middle portion 224 of elongated burner 220) may be positioned between first and second end portions 226, 228 of burner base 240. Burner base 240 also defines a first burner or plurality of flame ports 230 and a second burner or plurality of flame ports 232. First plurality of flame ports 230 is positioned at or adjacent first end portion 226 of burner base 240. Conversely, second plurality of flame ports 232 is positioned at or adjacent second end portion 228 of burner base 240. First and second pluralities of flame ports 230, 232 may be distributed or dispersed in a U pattern or shape, e.g., in plane that is perpendicular to a vertical direction, at first and second end portions 226, 228 of burner base 240, respectively.

Gaseous fuel from fuel inlet 222 of elongated burner 220 may flow through fuel chamber 244 to first and second pluralities of flame ports 230, 232. Thus, first and second pluralities of flame ports 230, 232 are in fluid communication with fuel inlet 222 of elongated burner 220 via fuel chamber 244, e.g., due to fuel chamber 244 extending between first and second pluralities of flame ports 230, 232 within burner base 240. At first and second pluralities of flame ports 230, 232, the gaseous fuel may be combusted in order to heat cookware and food items therein. Turning to FIG. 4, elongated burner 220 further includes a pair of cover plates 250. A first one of cover plates 250 is positioned at first end portion 226 of burner base 240 over first plurality of flame ports 230, and a second one of cover plates 250 is positioned at second end portion 228 of burner base 240 over second plurality of flame ports 232.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, fuel inlet 222 of elongated burner 220 includes a Venturi mixing tube 234. Venturi mixing tube 234 assists with mixing gaseous fuel flowing into elongated burner 220, e.g., with air, in order to assist combustion of the gaseous fuel at first and second pluralities of flame ports 230, 232 of elongated burner 220. Venturi mixing tube 234 of elongated burner 220 may be mounted to bottom plate 242 such that Venturi mixing tube 234 of elongated burner 220 extends from bottom plate 242 away from burner base 240, e.g., along a vertical direction.

Elongated burner 220 is configured for directing gaseous fuel therethrough such that all gaseous fuel flowing into elongated burner 220 to first and second pluralities of flame ports 230, 232 passes through Venturi mixing tube 234 of elongated burner 220. Thus, elongated burner 220 is fed gaseous fuel via the single Venturi mixing tube 234 of elongated burner 220. In particular, elongated burner 220 is fed gaseous fuel only via Venturi mixing tube 234 of elongated burner 220 and round burner 210 may be fed gaseous fuel only via Venturi mixing tube 218 of round burner 210 such that burner assembly 200 only includes two Venturi mixing tubes 218, 234 to supply round burner 210 and both sections of elongated burner 220, respectively. Thus, burner assembly 200 does not require a mechanism, such as a t-joint, multiple control valves or a control valve with three outlets, to direct gaseous fuel to separate Venturi mixing tubes for first and second pluralities of flame ports 230, 232, in certain exemplary embodiments.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, burner base 240 may define both round burner 210 and elongated burner 220. Thus, round burner 210 and elongated burner 220 may be formed from a single integral or continuous piece of material, such as aluminum alloy. It should be understood that, in alternative exemplary embodiments, round burner 210 and elongated burner 220 may be formed from separate or discrete piece of material that are mounted or secured to each other.

FIG. 7 provides an exploded, perspective view of burner assembly 200. As may be seen in FIG. 7, burner assembly 200 includes a fuel supply assembly 260 (shown schematically in FIG. 7). Fuel supply assembly 260 is configured for directing fuel, such as propane or natural gas, to fuel inlet 212 of round burner 210 and fuel inlet 222 of elongated burner 210. Thus, fuel supply assembly 260 is configured to selectively supply fuel to round burner 210 and elongated burner 220, as discussed in greater detail below.

Fuel supply system 260 includes a control valve 262, a first supply conduit 268 and a second supply conduit 270. Control valve 262 has an inlet 264 and a pair of outlets 266. Control valve 262 receives gaseous fuel at inlet 264 and selectively directs fuel to either outlet of outlets 266 or both outlets 266, as discussed in greater detail below. Control valve 262 may be any suitable type of valve, such a dual outlet solenoid control valve.

First supply conduit 268 extends from a first one of outlets 266 of control valve 262 to a tube support or jet holder 272. Jet holder 272 includes an orifice for directing fuel from first supply conduit 268 to or towards fuel inlet 212 of round burner 210. Similarly, second supply conduit 270 extends from a second one of outlets 266 of control valve 262 to jet holder 272. Jet holder 272 includes another orifice for directing fuel from second supply conduit 270 to or towards fuel inlet 222 of elongated burner 220. First and second supply conduits 268, 270 may be any suitable type of conduit. For example, first and second supply conduits 268, 270 may be copper tubes or copper alloy tubing. First and second supply conduits 268, 270 may be mounted to burner assembly 200 with at jet holder 272.

Gaseous fuel from control valve 262 may flow through first and second supply conduits 268, 270 to round burner 210 and elongated burner 220, respectively. For example, a user of range appliance 100 may desire to heat a small round pot on cooktop 140. The user may place the pot on grates 152 over burner assembly 200. In particular, the user may place the pot over round burner 210 of burner assembly 200. The user may then utilize knobs 156 to actuate or signal control valve 262 such that control valve 262 opens to a first configuration in which control valve 262 directs gaseous fuel to first supply conduit 268 in order to supply the gaseous fuel to only round burner 210 and heat the pot. As another example, the user of range appliance 100 may desire to heat a griddle on cooktop 140. The user may place the griddle on grates 152 over burner assembly 200. In particular, the user may place the griddle over round burner 210 and elongated burner 220 of burner assembly 200. The user may then utilize knobs 156 to actuate or signal control valve 262 such that control valve 262 opens to a second configuration in which control valve 262 directs gaseous fuel to both first and second supply conduits 268, 270 in order to supply the gaseous fuel to both round and elongated burners 210, 220 and heat the griddle. In such a manner, control valve 262 is selectively adjustable in order permit fuel flow to only round burner 210 or both round burner 210 and elongated burner 220. In alternative exemplary embodiments, control valve 262 may be configured for permitting fuel flow to only round burner 210, only elongated burner 220 or both round burner 210 and elongated burner 220.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. A burner assembly, comprising:

a round burner having a fuel inlet; and

an elongated burner having a fuel inlet and a middle portion, the round burner positioned at the middle portion of the elongated burner;

a control valve having an inlet and a pair of outlets;

a first supply conduit extending from a first one of the pair of outlets of the control valve in order to direct fuel to the fuel inlet of the round burner; and

a second supply conduit extending from a second one of the pair of outlets of the control valve in order to direct fuel to the fuel inlet of the elongated burner.

2. The burner assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated burner comprises a burner base and a bottom plate, the burner base extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, the burner base defining a first plurality of flame ports at the first end portion of the burner base and a second plurality of flame ports at the second end portion of the burner base, the bottom plate mounted to the burner plate and defining the fuel inlet of the elongated burner, the burner base and the bottom plate defining a fuel chamber therebetween, fuel from the fuel inlet of the elongated burner flowing through the fuel chamber to the first and second pluralities of flame ports.

3. The burner assembly of claim 2, wherein the elongated burner further comprises a pair of cover plates, a first one of the pair of cover plates positioned at the first end portion of the burner base over the first plurality of flame ports, a second one of the pair of cover plates positioned at the second end portion of the burner base over the second plurality of flame ports.

4. The burner assembly of claim 2, wherein the fuel inlet of the elongated burner comprises a Venturi mixing tube extending from the bottom plate away from the burner base.

5. The burner assembly of claim 2, wherein the bottom plate is screwed, staked or riveted to the burner plate.

6. The burner assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated burner is only supplied with fuel via the fuel inlet of the elongated burner and the round burner is only supplied with fuel via the fuel inlet of the round burner.

7. The burner assembly of claim 1, wherein the fuel inlet of the elongated burner is a single passage.

8. The burner assembly of claim 1, wherein the fuel inlet of the elongated burner and the fuel inlet of the round burner each comprise a respective Venturi mixing tube.

9. The burner assembly of claim 1, wherein the control valve is selectively adjustable in order permit fuel flow to the round burner, the elongated burner, or both the round burner and the elongated burner.

10. The burner assembly of claim 1, wherein the control valve has only two outlets.

11. A burner assembly, comprising:

a round burner having a fuel inlet; and

an elongated burner having a fuel inlet with a single Venturi mixing tube, the elongated burner also having a middle portion, the round burner positioned at the middle portion of the elongated burner, the elongated burner configured such that all fuel flowing into the elongated burner passes through the single Venturi mixing tube.

12. The burner assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

a control valve having an inlet and a pair of outlets;

a first supply conduit extending from a first one of the pair of outlets of the control valve in order to direct fuel to the fuel inlet of the round burner; and

a second supply conduit extending from a second one of the pair of outlets of the control valve in order to direct fuel to the fuel inlet of the elongated burner.

13. The burner assembly of claim 12, wherein the control valve selectively adjustable in order permit fuel flow to the round burner, the elongated burner, or both the round burner and the elongated burner.

14. The burner assembly of claim 11, wherein the elongated burner comprises a burner base and a bottom plate, the burner base extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, the burner base defining a first plurality of flame ports at the first end portion of the burner base and a second plurality of flame ports at the second end portion of the burner base, the bottom plate mounted to the burner plate and defining the fuel inlet of the elongated burner, the burner base and the bottom plate defining a fuel chamber therebetween, fuel from the fuel inlet of the elongated burner flowing through the fuel chamber to the first and second pluralities of flame ports.

15. The burner assembly of claim 14, wherein the elongated burner further comprises a pair of cover plates, a first one of the pair of cover plates positioned at the first end portion of the burner base over the first plurality of flame ports, a second one of the pair of cover plates positioned at the second end portion of the burner base over the second plurality of flame ports.

16. The burner assembly of claim 14, wherein the single Venturi mixing tube of the elongated burner extends from the bottom plate away from the burner base

17. The burner assembly of claim 14, the bottom plate is screwed, staked or riveted to the burner plate.

18. The burner assembly of claim 11, wherein the elongated burner is only supplied with fuel via the fuel inlet of the elongated burner and the round burner is only supplied with fuel via the fuel inlet of the round burner.

19. The burner assembly of claim 11, wherein the fuel inlet of the elongated burner is a single passage.

20. The burner assembly of claim 11, wherein the second supply conduit does not include a t-joint.