US2257395A - Cooking top - Google Patents

Description

. Septv 30, 1941-v c. E. PARKER I 2,257,395

COOKING TOP mob Y 67a/ de A579071/ el 23m. SQ @Mofwy T To Q C E PARKER COOKING To? Flled March 16, 1940 smV 30,1941.

Patented Sept. 30, 1941 COOKING TOP Claude E. Parker, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gas Products Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation o! Illinois i Application March 1s, 1940, serial No. seizes (ci. 12s- 39) 9Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in cooking tops for gas ranges or cook stoves. The

present application discloses an apparatus constituting a species of the same generic invention,

which is disclosed as embodied in a specifically diiierent apparatus in my copending earlier iiled applicationserial No. 272,984 med May 11, 1939, which in turn was copending with my still earlier iiled applications Serial No. 84,880 illed June 12, i936 and Serial No.' 120,591 illed January i4, 1937 and Serial No. 235,961 iiled October 20, i938. These latter three applications also disclosed the broad aspects of the same invention here claimed, though illustrating it as embodied in speciiically different forms of apparatus.

In cabinet type sas ranges it is desirable from the standpoint oi appearance and cleanliness, to

, provide a substantially imperi'orate top plate or panel apertured only for the desired number of underlying burner heads. Maintenance of this top panel at a suitably low temperature to proteet its porcelain or enamel ilnish and to prevent burning oi' a person touching it has, however, presented a serious problem.

Generally stated, one object of the present invention is to provide in a cooking top having a top panel, a novel arrangement for preventing overheating of such panel.

A more speciiic object is to provide in such a cooking top a novel arrangement for inducing cooling air to wash over the top oi the panel and in eilect insulate it from hot gases issuing laterally from beneath a utensil supported above the burner.

Another object is to provide in a cooking top of the type indicated a novel arrangement for supporting in the burner hole or holes of the top panel suitable burner heads together with heat coniining and reflecting members coacting with the heads, the supporting arrangement being such as to insure automatically accurate centering of the parts in the burner holes and with respect to each other, the arrangement also being such, in accordance with a more speciilc object of the invention, as to minimize the direct conduction of heat from the parts noted to the top panel.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially along the line l-l in Fig. 2, of a cooking top structure embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the cooking top structure.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional viewv taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the cook- 60 ing top with the heat coniining and reflecting member removed.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

While the invention is susceptible of various modiiications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that` I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure but aim to cover all modifications and alternative arrangements ialling within the spirit and (iscope oi the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the exemplary construction Ill indicates a horizontal sheet metal top plate or panel for a gas cook stove. Desirably, this top plate has a glossy decorative finish of, for example, porcelain or enamel. In one aspect the present invention is concerned especially with a novel arrangement oi' parts for insuring maintenance of such a top plate at a suiiciently low temperature as to protect the iinish and to prevent a person being burned by contact with the plate.

In the top plate I0 is a round burner aperture Il bordered by a reenforcing flange I2 and centrally beneath which is located a gas burner head, designated generally by the numeral Il. The burner head may be of any suitable form for projecting iiames upwardly beneath a utensil and has, in the present instance, been shown as being of the so-called round type with upwardly and laterally directed fuel emission ports l5 from which llames f issue beneath a utensil indicated generally at I6 in Fig. 1.

Also in the burner hole il is located a closure structure, embodying in the present instance a heat confining and reflecting member or hearth denoted generally by the numeral Il, and which coacts with the head to substantially ll or close, from an appearance standpoint, the burner hole Il. 'I'he particular hearth I'I illustrated may be made of metal, for example, cast iron. It is of shallow dish or bowl shape and thus a top surface having a generally continuous annular portion of substantial lateral width encircling the apertured central portion of the hearth through which ilames from the burner head I4 issue to lap the utensil I8.

Four radially extending utensil supporting arms Il are disposed to seat the utensil IB in closely spaced relation above the top of the hearth I1. In this way hot gases from the burner head Il are conned between the opposed and fairly closely spaced faces of the hearth and utensil bottom and are directed laterally, finally escaping at the periphery of the utensil (see arrows in Fig. 1 indicating escape path of hot gases). The utensil I6 indicated is of large size such as an ordinary skillet and bevto the top plate.

ing of, say, ten or twelve inch diameter extends beyond the edge o1' the opening I i in the top panel so that the problem of preventing overheating of the top panel by the escaping hot gases is particularly aggravated.

To define an annular ilue for an updraft of cooling air, the periphery of the hearth I1 is disposed in spaced relation to the encircling edge of the top plate aperture II. Cooling air rises from the burner box beneath the hearth through the annular passage or flue I9 formed between the hearth and the ilange I2, the width of the passage being such as to permit the flow of a substantial volume of air, such ilow being at least in part induced by the entrainment effect of the hot gases issuing from beneath the utensil in the case of a large utensil like that shown.

A feature of primary importance which diierentiates the present structure from, for example, that shown in my prior application Serial No. 272,984 referred to above, is the disposition oi the peripheral rim I1n of the hearth I1 in spaced relation above the plane of the top panel II) (see Fig. l) By virtue of this arrangement it is possible to achievev a substantial stratification of the air above the top panel. The cooling air rising through the flue I9 washes over the surface of the top panel in a lower stratum and the 1aterally ilowing hot gases escaping from beneath the utensil are in a higher stratum. In this way a blanket of cooling air is interposed between the escaping hot gases and the adjacent surfacev of the top panel. In view lof the fact that air is a relatively poor thermal conductor there is but little transfer of heat from the hot gases through the blanket of cooling air Consequently, the top plate is maintained at a suitably low temperature so that its finish is efectually protected and there is no danger of a persons being burned upon touching it.

The hearth I1 serves, in effect, as a barrier or baille for splitting into two generally'segregated streams the cool air rising from the burner box or space beneath the cooking top. At its outer edge the hearth coacts with the top panel to form the flue I8, as previously noted, for one of these streams of cooling air, the latter washing over the top panel as described. At its inner edge the hearth I1 is disposed in spaced relation to, and encircles, the burner head I4, thus dening a second annular flue 20 and through which rises a second stream or updraft of secondary air for the llames issuing from the burner head. Not only does the hearth I1 thus segregate and direct these two streams of air but it also thermally separates the cooling air stream through the flue I8 from the hot gases beneath the utensil.

To insure maintenance of the escaping hot gas well above the plane of the top panel it is requisite that the elevation of the utensil bottom and opposed barrier, in this case the hearth rim I1, be retained in preselected fixed relation with respect to the top panel. Such maintenance of fixed relation of these parts is desirably accomplished by mounting the hearth I1 and utensil seats I8 from the top panel itself. Furthermore it is desirable that the burner head I4 also be supported from the top panel and interlocked with the hearth so as to insure accurate centering of the head and hearth with respect to each other and to the burner hole II, with the end in view of maintaining the annular flue spaces I9 and 20 with precision. On the other hand the connection of the hearth and burner head to the top panel must not result in an undue heat transfer to the latter or the work of the air wash will be undone. To resolve the diiiiculty presented by these antithetical requirements a novel supporting arrangement for the hearth and head has been provided, such as to use the rising cooling air to cool the connections and minimize the transfer of heat to the top panel.

In the instant construction (see Fig. 4) the burner head I4 has a three point support. At its forward end a Venturi supply tube 2|, which is rigid with the head, is removably connected to a control valve 22 in the usual manner, to form one point of support. The other two points of support are formed by two laterally extending integral arms 23 on the burner head. Flattened feet on the outer ends of these arms rest on lugs 24, which are integral with the top panel ilange I2 and-project into the hole II. The outer ends of integral longitudinal reenforcing ribs 23a, on the lower sides of the'arms 23, are received in notches 24a in the lugs 24, thus locating the head and restraining it against rotation or lateral displacement.

The hearth I1 is also supported on the lugs 24 as well as on an additional pair of lugs 25 (see Fig. 4), the latter, like the lugs 24, being integral with the lower edge of the top plate flange I2. The lugs 24, 25 are located at four equidistant spaced points about the burner hole II. On the lowerside of the hearth I1 is a pair of integral depending bosses 26 (Fig. 3) resting on the lugs 24 and a second pair 21 resting on the lugs 25. 'I'he bosses 26 are bifurcated at their lower ends to straddle the underlying ends of the arms 23 (Fig. 5). The bosses 21 are not so bifurcated but have projections 21a on them received in complementa] locating notches 25e (see Figs. 3 and 4) in the lugs 25.

When the burner head I4 and member I1 are seated in the hole II on the proper lugs, as set forth, these parts I4, I1 are thus automatically centered in the hole so that their spacing relative to each other and to the ange I2 to define the ues I9, 20 is accurately determined. Moreover, since the utensil seating members I8 are fixed to the member I1, their height above the top panel I0 is accurately dimensioned as is the barrier edge I1a between the top panel surface and the utensil seats. It should be particularly observed that the lugs 24, 25 and bosses 26, 21 are of comparatively small cross-sectional area, thereby minimizing the conduction of heat through them from the hearth I1 to the top panel. Also these connecting elements are located well below the zone of hot gases, which are confined above the hearth I1, and moreover. the connecting lugs and bosses are washed by cooling air rising through the flue I9 so that the direct conduction of heat from the hearth to the top panel is minimized.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a gas range cooking top. the combination with a generally flat sheet metal top plate having a burner opening in it, and a burner head located generally centrally beneath said opening, of a closure structure in said opening having a marginal portion spaced from the surrounding edge of the top plate opening and coacting with it to define a flue for an updraft of cooling air at the periphery of said opening, said structure also constituting a heat barrier preventing downward reflection of heat from the burner and being characterized particularly by the provision of an annular peripheral portion spaced above the upper surface of said top plate so that hot gases escaping laterally from between a utensil overlying the unit and the top of said structure are directed over the top plate at a corresponding distance above it with a stratum of cooling air interposed between the top plate and such hot gases.

2. In a gas range cooking top, the combination of a horizontal top plate apertured for an underlying burner head, utensil seating means for supporting a utensil above the burner aperture and with the utensil bottom above the top plate, a hearth structure having an annular portion coacting with the edge of said aperture to dene a ue for an updraft of cooling air at the margin of said aperture, said hearth structure also forming a barrier for directing hot gases issuing from beneath a utensil seated on said supporting means laterally above the top panel, and means including supporting lugs carried by the top plate and projecting into the aperture through said flue in` position to be cooled by the cooling air in the latter for supporting `said utensil seating means and said hearth in predetermined spaced relation with respect to the top plate.

3. In a gas range cooking top, the combination of a sheet metaltop panel having an opening in it, lugs on said panel projecting into the opening, a burner head located generally centrally of the opening and having arms thereon with their ends` seated on said lugs, and an independently removable closure structure in the opening also supported by said lugs and engaging with said arms so as to be held thereby in centered relation to the head.

tk4. In a gas range cooking top, the combination of a sheet metal top panel having an opening in it bordered by a downturned reenforcing flange, said flange having lugs thereon projecting into the opening at spaced points, a. burner head located generally centrally of the opening. a heat confining structure presenting an upwardly facing heat reflecting surface and having a peripheral edge spaced from the edge of the opening and coacting with said flange to dene a iiue for an updraft of cooling air, said burner head having supporting arms thereon resting on said lugs, and said heat confining structure having projections beneath it also resting on said lugs for removably supporting said structure, said lugs and projections being disposed in the path of cooling air rising through said nue to minimizethe conduction of heat to the top plate.

5. A gas cook stove comprising, in combination,

. a sheet metal top panel having an opening thereingwith a depending flange defining the edge of said opening, a burner head positioned centrally of said opening, a utensil supporting structure including an annular member having a plurality of utensil supports thereon, and means on the lower edge of said angefor supporting said member in inwardly spaced relation to the flange and with the upper edge of the membenprotruding above the plane of the top panel and forming a continuous protecting barrier p rei venting impingement upon the panel oi' hot gases discharged outwardly beneath the bottom of a utensil resting on said utensil supports and overlying the edge o! said opening in the top panel, said utensil supports having seating surfaces disposed in a plane above said top panel.

6. A gas cook stove comprising, in combination, a sheet metal top panel having an opening therein with a vertical depending flange of substantial depth at the edge of the opening and a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs at the lower edge of said flange, a4 burner head disposed centrally of said opening, and an annular `heat reflecting member mounted upon said depending flange of the top panel with the burner head positioned centrally of said opening and said annular member extending laterally outward from the burner head to the edge of the opening, the lugs on said top panel ange projecting horizontally inward beneath said'annular member and said member having depending portions at the periphery thereof removably seated upon said lugs.

7. A top structure for gaseous fuel cook stoves comprising, in combination, a top plate having an opening therein, a burner head positioned below and centrally of said opening and having fuel discharge means in its upper portion, a heat confining and utensil supporting structure, and means removably supporting said structure in said opening in the top plate comprising an annular member carried by the top plate, said structure including a heat barrier with one edge portion spaced horizontally outward from said fuel discharge means of the burner head and another edge Portion spaced from said member to define an annular air passage opening at its lower side exteriorly of said barrier and at its upper side substantially in the plane of the top plate.

8.- A top structure for gaseous fuel cook stoves comprising, in combination, a top plate having an opening therein, a burner head positioned below and centrally of said opening and having fuel discharge means in its upper portion, a heat confining and utensil supporting structure, and means removably supporting said structure in said opening in the top plate, said structure including a heat barrier having an upwardly facing inner edge portion encircling the burner so as `to underlie the flames issuing from said fuel discharge means, and an outer edge portion over which the hot gases discharge so as to be heated thereby, said outer edge portion being spaced inwardly from the edge of said opening in the top plate to define an annular air passage opening at its lower side exteriorly of said barrier.

9. A top structure for gaseous fuel cook stoves comprising, in combination, a sheet metal top plate having an opening therein, a burner head positioned below and centrally of said opening and having fuel discharge means in its upper portion, a heat confining and utensil supporting structure, and means removably supporting said structure in said opening in the top plate comprising an annular depending flange bordering said opening, said structure including a heat barrier with one edge portion spaced horizontally outward from the fuel discharge means of the burner-head and having another edge portion spaced from said flange to define an annular air passage opening at its lower side exteriorly of

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