EP3948087A1

EP3948087A1 - Gas hob

Info

Publication number: EP3948087A1
Application number: EP20713858.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luis Acosta Herrero; Melca Gutierrez Humara; Alberto Lopez Ortiz; Luis Antonio Palacios Valdueza; Emilio Placer Maruri
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2019-03-25
Filing date: 2020-03-18
Publication date: 2022-02-09
Also published as: WO2020193302A1; ES2784615A1

Abstract

A gas hob (1) comprising a panel (2) having resting portions (9) and an injector (11), a gas burner (3, 4) having a venturi portion (12), the injector (11) being configured to inject fuel gas into the venturi portion (12) to provide the gas burner (3, 4) with a fuel-gas-air-mixture, and a pan support (5) connected to the gas burner (3, 4) so as to form a unit (20, 20', 20'') which rests on the resting portions (9) of the panel (2) and is configured to be lifted off the resting portions (9) as one, wherein the venturi portion (12) is, when seen in a top view, arranged in the center (A) of the gas burner (3, 4).

Description

GAS HOB

The present invention relates to a gas hob.

US 2017/0205075 discloses a cooktop appliance including a gas burner assembly positioned on a panel and a grate that suspends the gas burner in air above the panel. Mixing tubes are arranged on frame members of an outer frame of the grate and point downwards towards fuel orifices at a bottom surface of the panel.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved gas hob.

Accordingly, a gas hob is provided comprising a panel having resting portions and an injector, a gas burner having a venturi portion, the injector being configured to inject fuel gas into the venturi portion to provide the gas burner with a fuel-gas-air-mixture, and a pan support connected to the gas burner so as to form a unit which rests on the resting portions of the panel and is configured to be lifted off the resting portions as one, wherein the venturi portion is, when seen in a top view, arranged in the center of the gas burner.

By having the venturi portion arranged, when seen in a top view, in the center of the gas burner, channels required to distribute the fuel-gas-air-mixture to gas outlets of the gas burner where the gas is burnt can be reduced to a minimum. Also, a more even distribution of the fuel gas, primary air and/or fuel-gas-air-mixture may be obtained thereby. Further, embodiments with a single venturi portion per gas burner are feasible, making design even more simple.

A venturi portion is defined herein to be a portion, for example a tube, configured to make use of the Venturi effect to mix fuel gas, such as propane, with primary air. The center of the gas burner is defined by a point or axis about which the gas burner or at least parts thereof are symmetric. For example, the lid or gas outlets may be symmetric with respect to said center point when seen in a top view. In addition or alternatively, there is a (in the horizontal position of the pan support) vertical axis about which the gas burner is (substantially) symmetric, in particular rotationally symmetric. The center is, in this case, defined by the axis when seen in a top view. "Pan" is to understood to comprise any kind of cooking vessel, for example a pan, pot, wok etc.

According to an embodiment, the panel and the pan support are connected by a hinge which allows upwards rotation of the unit to lift the same off the resting portions.

This provides a defined movement of the unit. In its first position, i.e. when the unit rests on the resting portions, the pan support (including the gas burner), i.e. the unit, is orientated horizontally (including deviations of up to 10°, preferably up to 20° from exactly horizontal). The upwards rotation may come to an end in a second position where the pan support (including the gas burner), i.e. the unit, is orientated vertically (including deviations of up to 10°, preferably up to 20° from exactly vertical).

According to a further embodiment, the unit is configured to be completely removed from the panel.

For example, it may be desirable to completely remove the unit for cleaning purposes. Complete removability may be provided instead or in addition to the hinge. For example, the unit may be removable from the panel after being brought into the second position via the hinge.

According to an embodiment, the pan support and the gas burner are releasably connected to each other.

For example, the pan support in the gas burner may be connected to each other using a form fit, also called positive fit. A form fit includes engaging elements such as threads, screws, recesses, receptibles, protrusions, hooks etc. to provide the connection. In other embodiments, the connection between the pan support and the gas burner may be configured non-releasably, for example by welding. The pan support and the gas burner may even be formed integrally, i.e. in one piece, for example by casting the pan support and the gas burner from cast-iron as one. According to a further embodiment, the releasable connection comprises a recess and an engaging element engaging the recess.

For example, the recess may be provided with an undercut, the engaging element engaging the undercut.

According to a further embodiment, the pan support comprises a frame and fingers reaching inwardly towards the gas burner.

According to a further embodiment, at least one finger comprises one of the recess and the engaging element and a lid of the gas burner comprises the other one of the recess and the engaging element.

Preferably, at least two fingers (per gas burner) are connected to the lid by corresponding recesses and engaging elements.

According to a further embodiment, the gas hob comprises a plurality of gas burners, wherein the pan support is connected to the gas burners so as to form a unit which rests on the resting portions of the panel and is configured to be lifted off the resting portions as one.

Advantageously, one pan support is associated with multiple gas burners.

According to a further embodiment, the gas hob comprises a plurality of gas burners and pan supports, wherein each pan support is connected to each gas burner so as to form a plurality of units which rest on the resting portions of the panel and are each configured to be lifted off the resting portions as one.

Advantageously, one gas hob is associated with one gas burner.

According to a further embodiment, a plurality of injectors fluidly connected to venturi portions of the gas burners is provided and/or exactly one injector per gas burner is provided. Preferably, each gas burner has its own (preferably single) venturi portion associated with a (single) injector each.

According to a further embodiment, the hinge connects the frame at one edge thereof to the panel at one edge thereof.

Thereby, good access to the panel is granted when the unit has been brought into its second position. The edge of the frame may be formed by a frame member (bar). The edge of the panel may be formed by a horizontal flange.

According to a further embodiment, the panel comprises a bottom sheet on which the injector or the plurality of injectors is arranged.

There may be a space formed between the bottom sheet and the fingers in which the gas burner or plurality of gas burners is arranged. The or each gas burner is, with its (respective) venturi portion, arranged on top of the injector or a respective injector.

According to a further embodiment, the pan support and the panel comprise a recess and an engaging element for engaging each other in the vertical direction.

For example, the recess is a pocket formed in the resting portion and engaging element is a pin attached to one of the frame members of the frame of the pan support. The recess and pin are disengaged from each other when the unit is rotated from its first position into its second position or when removed completely from the panel.

"An" or "one" is not to be understood as limiting to exactly one element but multiple elements may be provided unless otherwise specified.

Further possible implementations or alternative solutions of the invention also encompass combinations - that are not explicitly mentioned herein - of features described above or below with regard to the embodiments. The person skilled in the art may also add individual or isolated aspects and features to the most basic form of the invention. Further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and dependent claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 to 3 show perspective views of a gas hob according to a first embodiment; and

Fig. 4 and 5 show perspective views of a gas hob according to a second embodiment.

In the Figures, like reference numerals designate like or functionally equivalent elements, unless otherwise indicated.

Fig. 1 to 3 show a gas hob 1 according to a first embodiment. As shown in the perspective top view of Fig. 1 , the gas hob 1 comprises a panel 2, two gas burners 3, 4 and a pan support 5. Fig. 2 illustrates the gas hob 1 in cross-section. As shown in Fig. 2, the panel 2 comprises a bottom sheet 6 bent at its perimeter to form a vertical flange 7 followed by a horizontal flange 8. The horizontal flange 8 forms resting portions 9 which are best seen in Fig. 3 and explained in more detail later. The panel 2 can be made of sheet metal.

The panel 2 can, however, also have any other suitable shape or may be made of any other suitable material. For example, the panel 2 can be made of glass and have a substantially flat shape.

Returning to Fig. 2, the bottom sheet 6 comprises two injector holders 10 each holding an injector 11 for injecting fuel gas into the gas burners 3, 4. To this end, each of the gas burners 3, 4 comprises a venturi portion 12 arranged on a center axis A of a respective gas burner 3, 4. The center axis A is an axis around which a respective gas burner 3, 4 is symmetric, in particular rotationally symmetric, as seen in the side view of Fig. 2, for example. When seen in a top view, the center axis A is defined to be at right angles (including deviations of up to 10°, preferably up to 20°) to a lid 14 of a respective gas burner 3, 4 and to run through a center point of said lid 14. With the pan support 5 arranged in the horizontal position as illustrated in Fig. 2, the venturi portions 12 of the gas burners 3, 4 are arranged across from the respective injector 11 which also lies on the center axis A. Respective gaps 15 allow primary air to be drawn in and mixed with the fuel gas as the fuel gas is injected by the injectors 11 into the venturi portions 12. From the venturi portions 12, the fuel-gas-air-mixture flows towards a spreader 13 covered by the lid 14 and is burnt at gas outlets 14a.

The pan support 5 comprises a frame 16 having fingers 17 pointing radially inward towards each gas burner 3, 4 when seen in a top view. As seen in Fig. 2, two or more fingers 17, per gas burner 3, 4, each comprise a recess 18 releasably engaged with a respective engaging element 19 formed on the lid 14 of each gas burner 3, 4. The recesses 18 and engaging elements 19 may be T-shaped. Thereby, the pan support 5 and the gas burners 3, 4 form a single unit 20 which can be handled as one. For example, the unit 20 can be lifted off from the panel 2 and placed aside. At the same time, the panel

2, not being covered by the unit 20, can be easily cleaned.

Also, by turning the gas burners 3, 4 around the axis A with respect to the pan support 5 the engaging elements 19 may be disengaged from the recesses 18, and thus the gas burners 3, 4 disconnected from the pan support 5. The pan support 5 may thus be placed in the dishwasher for cleaning, for example.

The fingers 17 may be configured as cantilever beams, thus supporting the gas burners 3, 4 freely at their respective ends. Therein, the gas burners 3, 4 do not provide any support in the upwards direction; rather, the gas burners 3, 4 hang from the ends of the fingers 17.

Fig. 3 illustrates the view of Fig. 2. However, the pan support 5 along with the gas burners

3, 4, i.e. the unit 20, has been rotated from its horizontal position (first position) in Fig. 2 into an inclined position. In the fully inclined position (not shown), the unit 20 is arranged at right angles (second position) with respect to the panel 2. In order to allow said rotation, a hinge 21 is provided connecting one of the flanges 8 of the panel 2 to one of the frame members 22 of the frame 16. Preferably, the hinge 21 is designed such that it also allows removing the unit 20 from the panel 2 at any angle of relative rotation, i.e. when the pan support 5 is arranged horizontally or vertically, in particular. When it is in the horizontal position (Fig. 2), the unit 20 is additionally secured by means 23, 24 preventing the unit 20 from moving sideways in the horizontal direction, for example when placing a pan or pot on the pan support 5. For example, the means may comprise a receptacle 23 formed in a flange 8 opposite to the flange 8 having the hinge 21. Further, the means may comprise an engaging element 24 on a frame member 22 opposite to the frame member 22 having the hinge 21.

Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate a gas hob 1 according to a second embodiment. In this embodiment, two units 20', 20" are provided. Each unit 20', 20" is configured to be handled, in particular lifted off the panel 2 and placed back on the panel 2, independent of the respective other unit 20', 20". To this end, there is no connection provided between the units 20', 20".

Each unit 20', 20" comprises a pan support 5 and a gas burner 3. Each of the pan supports 5 has a frame 16 with opposite frame members 22. One of the frame members 22 has engaging elements 24 engaging in corresponding receptacles (pockets) 23 in the flange 8 of the panel 2 in the vertical direction. The opposite frame member 22 has a bar 25 for resting on the flange 8.

No hinge, as in the example of Fig. 1 to 3, is provided. The units 20', 20" can be removed completely (which may also be the case when a hinge is used, though depending on the design of the hinge) from the panel 2 which may simplify cleaning. Also, only one of the two units 20', 20" may be removed at any one time while the other unit 20’, 20” stays on the panel 2.

Although the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred embodiments, it is obvious for the person skilled in the art that modifications are possible in all embodiments.

REFERENCE NUMERALS:

1 gas hob

2 panel

3 gas burner

4 gas burner

5 pan support

6 bottom sheet

7 vertical flange

8 horizontal flange

9 resting portion

10 injector holder

11 injector

12 venturi portion

13 spreader

14 lid

14a gas outlets

15 gap

16 frame

17 finger

18 recess

19 engaging element

20 unit

20' unit

20" unit

21 hinge

22 frame member

23 means

24 means

25 bar

A axis

Claims

1. A gas hob (1) comprising a panel (2) having resting portions (9) and an injector (11), a gas burner (3, 4) having a venturi portion (12), the injector (11) being configured to inject fuel gas into the venturi portion (12) to provide the gas burner (3, 4) with a fuel- gas-air-mixture, and a pan support (5) connected to the gas burner (3, 4) so as to form a unit (20, 20', 20") which rests on the resting portions (9) of the panel (2) and is configured to be lifted off the resting portions (9) as one, wherein the venturi portion (12) is, when seen in a top view, arranged in the center (A) of the gas burner (3, 4).

2. The gas hob of claim 1 , wherein the panel (2) and the pan support (5) are connected by a hinge (21) which allows upwards rotation of the unit (20) to lift the same off the resting portions (9).

3. The gas hob of claim 1 or 2, wherein the unit (20', 20") is configured to be completely removed from the panel (2).

4. The gas hob of one of claims 1 - 3, wherein the pan support (5) and the gas burner (3, 4) are releasably connected to each other.

5. The gas hob of claim 4, wherein the releasable connection comprises a recess (18) and an engaging element (19) engaging the recess (18).

6. The gas hob of one of claims 1 - 5, wherein the pan support (5) comprises a frame (16) and fingers (17) reaching inwardly towards the gas burner (3, 4).

7. The gas hob of claim 6, wherein at least one finger (17) comprises one of the recess (18) and the engaging element (19) and a lid (14) of the gas burner (3, 4) comprises the other one of the recess (18) and the engaging element (19).

8. The gas hob of one of claims 1 - 7, comprising a plurality of gas burners (3, 4), wherein the pan support (5) is connected to the gas burners (3, 4) so as to form a unit (20) which rests on the resting portions (9) of the panel (2) and is configured to be lifted off the resting portions (9) as one.

9. The gas hob of one of claims 1 - 7, comprising a plurality of gas burners (3) and pan supports (5), wherein each pan support (5) is connected to each gas burner (3) so as to form a plurality of units (20', 20") which rest on the resting portions (9) of the panel (2) and are each configured to be lifted off the resting portions (9) as one.

10. The gas hob of claim 8 or 9, wherein a plurality of injectors (11) fluidly connected to venturi portions (12) of the gas burners (3, 4) is provided and/or exactly one injector

(11) per gas burner (3, 4) is provided.

11. The gas hob of claims 6 - 10, wherein the hinge (21) connects the frame (16) at one edge (22) thereof to the panel (2) at one edge (8) thereof.

12. The gas hob of one of claims 1 - 11 , wherein the panel (2) comprises a bottom sheet (6) on which the injector (11) or the plurality of injectors (11) is arranged.

13. The gas hob of one of claims 1 - 12, wherein the pan support (5) and the panel (2) comprise a recess (23) and an engaging element (24) for engaging each other in the vertical direction.