AU632217B2

AU632217B2 - A burner assembly

Info

Publication number: AU632217B2
Application number: AU71359/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Timothy F. O'brien
Original assignee: Brivis Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Brivis Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1990-02-23
Filing date: 1991-02-25
Publication date: 1992-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-25
Also published as: AU7135991A

Description

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AUSTRALIA 27 PATENTS ACT 1952 3 2 2 1 7 Form COMPLETE SP .FICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: 0090 o 9 9v 6 9 '4 o 00.

Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: 9 0 BRIVIS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 9000 *9 9 *,0 O 99 o .9 9 *99 99 0 Address of Applicant: 61 MALCOLM ROAD, BRAESIDE, VICTORIA 3195

AUSTRALIA

Actual Inventor: Address for Service: GRIFFITH HACK CO., 601 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: A BURNER ASSEMBLY The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:- Sj 1 t C t 2- A BURNER ASSEMBLY The present invention -elates to a burner assembly for a cooktop.

A known type of domestic cooker comprises a flat glass cooktop positioned to extend across an opening in a kitchen bench, an array of burner assemblies in the form of burner heads located in openings in the cooktop, and an array of control knobs located on the cooktop.

The control knobs are operatively connected to gas cocks located below the cooktop by shafts which extend through openings in the cooktop.

One disadvantage with this known cooker is that there is unsatisfactory aeration of the gas burners. In an attempt to improve aeration a gap is left deliberately between the perimeter of the cooktop and the upper surface of the kitchen bench and gaps are formed by making the openings for the control knob j 3 shafts oversized. These are not satisfactory solutions for a number of reasons. First, the gap between the cooktop and the kitchen bench can easily become clogged, and second, the requirement to construct the control knob assembly with air gaps limits the design options for the control knobs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved burner assembly for a cooktop which alleviates the disadvantages described in the preceding paragraph.

According to the present invention there is provided a burner assembly adapted for location in an opening in a cooktop comprising: a burner head for a gas burner; a skirt surrounding the burner head and a plurality of aeration channels4 to allow air to flow from above the cooktop to the gas burner.

It is preferred that the outer periphery of the skirt is adapted to extend over the surface of the cooktop adjacent the opening.

It is particularly preferred that the outer periphery of the skirt is adapted to be sealingly located on the cooktop so that liquids spilled onto the burner assembly and/or the cooktop cannot drain into the opening.

It is preferred that the aeration channels are .located in the outer periphery of the skirt.

In one particularly preferred arrangement each aeration channel extends between an inlet in the peripheral edge of the skirt and an outlet in the lower surface of the skirt.

With such an arrangement, it is particularly preferred that the outer periphery of the skirt comprises a lower annular ledge and a ring member adapted to be clipped or otherwise located on the ledge, and the aeration channels are defined by grooves formed in the lower surface of the ring member

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4 or the upper surface of the ledge and aligned bores extending through the ledge.

In an alternative particularly preferred arrangement the skirt comprises an annular section located inside the outer periphery which is at a level below that of the outer periphery, and the skirt further comprises a wall which connects together the annular section and the outer periphery, and the wall comprises a plurality of apertures therethrough.

With such an arrangement it is preferred that the burner assembly further comprises a spillage bowl adapted to overlie the annular part and the outer periphery of the skirt, the spillage bowl having a raised outer rim adapted to be spaced above the outer periphery of the skirt to form a gap, whereby the aeration channels are defined by the gap and the apertures in the wall of the skirt.

The present invention is described further with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a burner assembly formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a vertical section along the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a vertical section of a burner assembly formed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention and; Figure 4 is a vertical section of a burner assembly formed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention.

The preferred embodiments of the burner assembly shown in the figures are particularly adapted for use in connection with flat glass cooktops, although it is emphasized that the present invention is not limited to this application.

'i ill The burner assembly 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is located in an opening 7 in a flat glass cooktop 9 and comprises a burner head 3 of conventional configuration and an annular skirt 5 surrounding the burner head 3.

It is noted that in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 the burner head 3 and the skirt 5 are integrally cast, preferably from aluminium, although it is understood that the present invention is not limited to such an arrangement.

As can best be seen in Figure 2, the upper surface 11 of the skirt 5 is slightly frusto-conical so that any liquid spilled onto the burner assembly 1 naturally drains away from the burner head 3 down the upper surface 11 and onto the cooktop 9.

The burner assembly 1 houses a gas burner (not shown), and in order for the gas burner to operate properly it is necessary for there to be an adequate supply of air to the gas burner. In order to accomplish this, the burner assembly further comprises a plurality of aeration channels, generally identified by the numeral 13, in the periphery of the skirt 5 which are arranged to allow air to be drawn towards the gas burner from above the cooktop in the direction of the arrows A in Figure 2.

The main criteria for the aeration channels 13 is that they are located and constructed to adequately aerate the gas burner and to minlmise the possibility that liquid spilled on the burner assembly or the cooktop 9 will drain through the aeration channels 13.

It is noted that locating the aeration channels 13 in the periphery of the skirt 5 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 (and in Figure 3) is but one of a number of locations of aeration channels 13 which satisfy the foregoing criteria.

The periphery of the skirt 5 comprises a lower annular ledge 17 and a ring member 19 adapted to be -6 clipped or otherwise located on the ledge 17. The outer edges of the ring member 19 and the ledge 17 together define a peripheral edge 25 of the skirt The aeration channels 13 extend between an inlet 23 in the peripheral edge 25 and an outlet 27 in the lower surface 28 of the skirt 5. With reference to the right hand side of Figure 2, each aeration channel is defined by a radial groove 29 in the lower surface of the ring member 19 and an aligned bore 31 in the ledge 17. In an alternative arrangement (not shown), each aeration channel 13 is defined by a radial groove in the upper surface of the ledge 17 (rather than a radial groove 29 in the lower surface of the ring member 19) and an aligned bore 31 in the ledge 17.

It can readily be appreciated that the principal reason for constructing the skirt 5 to include the ring member 19 is to simplify the manufacture of the aeration channels 13. In this regard, it is a far more difficult proposition to form aeration channels 13 extending between an inlet in the peripheral edge of the skirt and an outlet in the lower surface of the skirt if the skirt is in one part than if the skirt is in two parts which define sections of the aeration channels 13. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, it is noted that the ring member 19 may be formed to have a decorative appeal, and this may represent an advantage in itself.

The preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the extent that it comprises a burner head, an annular skirt and a plurality of aeration channels in the periphery of the skirt. However, there are differences in detail which will be apparent from the following discussion.

With reference to Figure 3, the burner assembly 51 is located in an opening 57 in a flat glass cooktop 59 and comprises a burner head 53 of conventional 1I r-7configuration and an annular skirt 55 (shown in dark shading) surrounding the burner head 53, The skirt 55 has a central part 56 which supports the burner head 53 and an annular part 58 which surrounds the burner head 53. The outer periphery 62 of the skirt 55 rests on the upper surface of the cooktop 59 immediately adjacent the opening 57. A seal 60 in the form of extruded or moulded rubber is located intermediate the skirt 55 and the cooktop 59. The skirt further comprises a wall 67 which interconnects the outer periphery 62 and the annular part 58, and the wall 67 has a plurality of apertures 69 (one of which is I ~shown on the left hand side of Figure 3) to allow air to flow into the space below the skirt The burner assembly 51 further comprises an annular spillage bowl 73 for retaining liquid spilled during use of the burner assembly 51. The spillage bowl is removably positioned on dimples 74 on the annular part 58 of the skirt 55 so that there is a gap G 1 between the spillage bowl 73 and the annular part 58 of the skirt 55. The outer periphery of the spillage bowl 73 comprises a raised rim 75 which terminates in a downwardly inclined flange 77. The arrangement is such that there is an air gap G 2 between the rim 75 and the outer periphery 62 of the skirt It can be appreciated from the foregoing that the aeration channels of the burner assembly 51 comprise a plurality of paths defined by: the gap G 2 between the rim 75 of the spillage bowl 73 and the outer periphery 62 of the skirt and the apertures 69 in the wall 67 of the skirt It is noted that the gap G 1 between the spillage bowl 73 and the annular part 58 of the skirt 55 forms an air space which acts as an insulator to reduce the transfer of radiant heat from the flame of the gas i 8 burner to the glass of the cooktop 59 and thereby reduces the risk of thermal failure of the glass. The transfer of radiant heat is also reduced since the spillage bowl 73 acts as a reflector of radiant heat.

It is also noted that the spillage bowl 73 does not contact the cooktop 59 and thus there i< no direct transfer of heat from the spillage bcwl 73, which by virtue of its position becomes one of the hottest of the components of the burner assembly 51, to the glass of the cooktop 59. It is further noted that the air flow through the aeration channels cools the glass of the 'o cooktop 59. Finally, it is further noted that the Goo 0 inclusion of the skirt 55 (and the skirt 5 in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2) in the burner 9 0 assembly 51 also minimises the exposure of the glass of ,B the cooktop 59 to radiant heat.

The preferred embodiment shown in Figure 4 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the extent that it comprises a burner head, an annular skirt and a plurality of aeration channels in the periphery of the skirt. However, there are differences in detail which .o 0 will be apparent from the following discussion.

With reference to Figure 4, the burner assembly 101 is located in an opening 107 in a flat glass cooktop 109 and comprises a burner head 103 of conventional configuration and an annular skirt 105 (shown in dark °U shading).

0".S The skirt 105 has a central part 129 which supports the burner head 103 and an annular part 131 which surrounds the burner head 103. The outer Speriphery 133 of the skirt 105 rests on the upper surface of the cooktop 109 immediately adjacent the opening 107. A seal 112 in the form of extruded or moulded rubber is located intermediate the skirt 105 and the cooktop 109. The outer periphery 133 of the skirt 105 also has a plurality of slots 119 (one of which is shown on the left hand side of Figure 4) to allow air to flow into the space below the skirt 105.

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9 annular reflector 113 removably positioned over the annular part of the skirt 105. The principal purpose of the reflector 113 is to reflect radiant heat from the flame of the gas burner to reduce the transfer of heat to the glass of the cooktop 109 and thereby to reduce the risk of thermal failure of the glass. The outer section of the reflector 113 terminates in a down-turned lip 115 which is spaced outwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the skirt 105. The inner section of reflector 113 is supported on a shoulder 125 formed on the burner head 103 and the outer section of the reflector 113 is supported on a plurality of dimples 127 (one of which is shown on the right hand side of Figure 4) formed at spaced intervals around the outer periphery of the skirt 105. The arrangement is such that there is a gap G 4 between the reflector 113 and the skirt 105.

It can be appreciated from the foregoing that the aeration channels of the burner assembly 51 comprise the tortuous paths defined by: the gap G 4 between the reflector 113 and the skirt 105; and the slots 119 in the skirt 105.

As with the embodiment described in relation to Figure 3, it is noted that the gap between the reflector 113 and the skirt 105 forms an air space which acts as an insulator to reduce the transfer of radiant heat from the flame of the gas burner to the glass of the cooktop 109 and thereby reduces the risk of thermal failure of the glass. In addition, the air flow through the aeration channels cools the glass of the cooktop 109 and thus further reduces the risk of thermal failure.

Finally, as with both embodiments, shown in Figure 1 to 3, the inclusion of the skirt 105 also minimises the exposure of the glass of the cooktop 109 to radiant heat.

10 Many modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments described in relation to Figures 1 and 3 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims

1. A burner assembly adapted for location in an opening in a cooktop comprising: a burner head for a gas burner; a skirt surrounding the burner head, and In s' 5klr&7f a plurality of aeration channels4 to allow air to flow from above the cooktop to the gas burner.

2. The burner assembly defined in claim 1, wherein 9" the aeration channels are located and formed to prevent a e, liquids spilled on the burner assembly or the cooktop draining through the aeration channels.

3. The burner assembly defined in claim 1 or claim 2, -rein the skirt has an outer periphery adapted to extend over the surface of the cooktop adjacent the opening.

4. The burner assembly defined in claim 3, wherein the outer periphery of the skirt is adapted to be sealingly located on the cooktop to prevent liquids spilled on the burner assembly and/or the cooktop draining into the opening. I E

5. The burner assembly defined in claim 3 or claim c, 4, wherein the aeration channels are located in the region of the outer periphery of the skirt.

6. The burner assembly defined in claim 5, wherein each aeration channel extends between an inlet in the peripheral edge of the skirt and an outlet in the lower surface of the skirt.

7. The burner assembly defined in claim 6, wherein o- ra 12 SIt 81 i' I a of S* a, II aJ I I* the outer periphery of the skirt comprises a lower annular ledge and a ring member adapted to be clipped or otherwise located on the ledge, and the aeration channels are defined by grooves formed in the lower surface of the ring member or the upper surface of the ledge and aligned bores extending through the ledge.

8. The burner assembly defined in claim 5, wherein the skirt comprises an annular section located inside the outer periphery which is at a level below that of the outer periphery, and the skirt further comprises a wall which connects together the annular section and the outer periphery, and the wall comprises a plurality of apertures therethrough.

9. .The burner assembly defined in claim 8, further QmpclC a spillage bowl adapted to overlie the annular part and the outer periphery of the skirt, the spillage bowl having a raised outer rim adapted to be spaced above the outer periphery of the skirt to form a gap, whereby the aeration channels are defined by the gap and the apertures in the wall of the skirt.

10. The burner assembly defined in claim 9, wherein the spillage bowl is adapted to be spaced above the annular section of the skirt so that there is a gap therebetween.

11. A burner assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with ieference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 25TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 1991 BRIVIS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia