WO2013086598A1

WO2013086598A1 - Flame gas burner diffuser for cooking equipments

Info

Publication number: WO2013086598A1
Application number: PCT/BR2012/000521
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcos Raphael da SILVA
Original assignee: Whirlpool S.A.
Priority date: 2011-12-15
Filing date: 2012-12-14
Publication date: 2013-06-20
Also published as: BRPI1105163A2; MX2014007185A; WO2013086598A8; US20140345591A1; EP2791586A1

Abstract

The present invention generally refers to a flame gas burner diffuser to be used in stove-type cooking equipments, more preferably in household stoves, comprising technical and functional features capable of improving the efficiency of exchanging heat with the bottom of cooking utensils. More particularly, said diffuser, according to the present invention, comprises a cup (1 ) provided with a surface (4) comprising an opening (2) at which a cooking equipment is accommodated, wherein over said surface (4) there is a series of barriers (3) duly arranged and positioned so as to form passage pathways and/or extended channels for allowing the hot gas flow generated by the burner flame to pass.

Description

FLAME GAS BURNER DIFFUSER FOR COOKING EQUIPMENTS Field of the Invention

The present invention generally refers to a flame gas burner diffuser used in cooking equipments, more preferably in household stoves, comprising technical and functional features capable of improving the efficiency of burners. More particularly, said diffuser, according to the present invention, comprises a structure provided with passages or channels formed on the surface over which a cooking utensil bottom of the cooking equipment rests, thereby increasing heat transfer levels.

Background of the Invention

Stoves and cooking equipments known in the art usually comprise a series of burners upon which cooking utensils are disposed, wherein a configuration of said burners is intended to produce a flame capable of heating the utensil bottom and, preferably, such heating must be as uniform as possible.

Thus, in order to improve the state-of-the-art burners, one may note that cooking equipment manufacturers are trying to develop parts and fittings for such equipments which, in any way, are capable of positively influencing their functioning, either in relation to efficiency, practicality and economy or conditions of heating said cooking utensils.

Burners provided with grills comprising elements and configurations which try to help to conduct and distribute flame and hot gas flow under cooking utensils are known from the state of the art, such as, for example, the following documents: US Patent 5,701 ,881 that discloses grate for non-domestic burners containing some shields which, however, only aim at accommodating the material to be incinerated without, however, maximizing circulation of the heated gas; and US Patent Application 2003-232300, which refers to a microcombustion device used in the manufacture of semiconductors. Nevertheless, said device comprises upper and lower closed surfaces intended to render uniform the temperature on the heat emission surfaces instead of aiming at utilizing the heated flow beneath a cooking surface.

Hence, up to now, it can be verified that burners used in cooking equipments known in the art could be improved, especially relative to their efficiency in exchanging heat with a cooking utensil. More specifically, it can be observed that such cooking equipments lack burners capable of conducting a suitable - maximized - heat distribution under the utensil bottom, thereby resulting in low heat efficiency. This leads to a high consumption of fuels, mainly to a great heat loss to the atmosphere.

Objects of the Invention

Therefore, one object of the invention is to provide a flame gas diffuser to be applied in burners of cooling equipments in general, where said diffuser is capable of significantly enhancing the heat exchange efficiency, thus improving those state-of-the art burners.

More preferably, an object of the present invention is to provide a combustion gas diffuser comprising technical features, which allow for a uniform, prolonged and more suitable circulation of such gases under the bottom of cooking utensils before they are expelled to the atmosphere.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a diffuser comprising barriers spread out over an upper surface, wherein said barriers are disposed such that they form pathways or channels so as to retard the passage of a flow gas generated when fuel is being burned by the burners.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flame gas diffuser that is capable of extending the time period at which gases generated by burners are kept in contact with an utensil bottom, thereby making the heat transfer as high as possible.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the foregoing, in order to achieve these objects and technical effects, the present invention refers to a combustion gas diffuser, which enhances the functioning of burners disposed at cooking equipments, wherein said diffuser comprises at least a body provided with at least a surface comprising at least an opening for accommodating a burner, and further comprising a plurality of barriers disposed on the surface. In this sense, barriers are arranged such that they form passage multi-pathways for allowing the hot gas flow generated by the burner flame to pass, wherein at least one passage pathway starts at the proximities of the opening and terminates at the outer radial end of the surface.

According to the present invention, said barriers can comprise arched segments, linear segments, triangular segments or also spiral segments. Anyway, said barriers comprise means for reducing the gas flow rate from the burner output up to the outmost edge of the cooking utensil.

Optionally, said diffuser of the present invention can be applied to a conventional or cooktop stove-type cooking equipment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The formerly disclosed features, advantages and technical effects of the present invention will be better understood by a person skilled in the art based on the exemplary and non-limited detailed description given below concerning preferred embodiments, and making reference to appended schematic figures, wherein:

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a perspective view of exemplary embodiments of the flame gas diffuser; and

Figs. 3 and 6 illustrate a plain view the flame gas diffuser.

Detailed Description of the Invention

According to the above-mentioned schematic figures, the flame gas diffuser, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a cup 1 provided with a central opening 2 at which the cooking equipment burner is disposed, wherein on the surface 4 of said cup 1 barriers 3 are disposed, wherein said barriers are duly arranged and positioned in order to promote an extended passage pathways and channels for allowing the hot gas flow generated by the burner to pass.

As can be seen from the attached figures, it is possible to carry out a number of variations in the configurations concerning disposition and arrangement of said barriers 3. More particularly, Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate mere examples of configurations, in which said barriers 3 are in a form capable of retaining or interrupting, at least partially, the continuous gas flow generated by the burner flame. In other words, said barriers 3 are intended to disturb or whirl the gas flow beneath the cooking utensil bottom, causing reduction in the speed of this flow and, as a result, the time period that such gases are kept in contact with said cooking utensil is increased as well as the levels and efficiency of exchanging heat therewith.

In this regard, it is noted that barriers 3 form passage pathways and/or extended channels for allowing the hot gas flow generated by the burner flame to pass. In reality, such pathways are integrally defined by the composition between barriers 3, surface 4 and (not shown) lower face of the (not shown) cooking utensil. Optionally, said lower face of the cooking utensil can be substituted by a plate disposed between said barriers 3.

As previously mentioned, the attached figures depict exemplary embodiments of the diffuser of the present invention. In this sense, Fig. 1 shows an embodiment in which said barriers 3 have an arched shape or spherically arched shape, which are disposed such that the flame gas flow is partially or substantially retained or interrupted in such way that it is constrained to pass through areas or spaces between said barriers 3 prior to being expelled to the outside. Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment in which said barriers 3 comprise prevalently triangular shape, which are also disposed so as to maximize the hot air circulation and permanence under the cooking utensil. Fig. 3 refers to an embodiment comprising barriers 3 formed by substantially straight segments and spaced therebetween.

Fig. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment, in which barriers 3 are formed by substantially elliptical segments which are disposed so as to block the direct passage of heated air of segments proximal to the burner.

In an alternative embodiment of the diffuser in accordance with the present invention, a central opening 2 disposed at body 1 can be the own burner of a cooking utensil. According to said embodiment, a burner structure itself comprises a diffuser formed by a body 1 whose upper surface is provided with a series of barriers 3, which are duly arranged and positioned in order to form passage pathways and channels for allowing the hot gas flow generated by the burner flame to pass.

In another alternative embodiment, a surface 4 of the body 1 can be constituted by a texture forming a non-smooth surface, that is, it has some grooves or protuberances which can help to retain water or reduce speed of gases.

Clearly, despite the fact that the attached figures illustrate embodiments whose cup 1 is circular, this shape is not essential, since it will exclusively depend on the design and aesthetical basic decoration required by a cooking equipment.

Further it is possible to provide a flame gas diffuser whose barriers 3 comprise combining and mixing shapes, for example, barriers in arched form combined with triangular form, or a segmented form combined with sinuous form, etc.

Claims

1. Flame gas diffuser for cooking equipments, comprising at least a cup (1 ) containing a surface (4) provided with at least an opening (2) for accommodating a burner, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises:

a plurality of barriers (3) disposed over said surface (4);

said barriers (3) being positioned so as to form passage multi-pathways (5) for allowing the hot gas flow generated by the burner flame to pass; and

at least a passage pathway (5), which starts in the proximities of said opening (2) and terminates at the outer radial edge of said surface (4).

2. Diffuser, in accordance with claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED in that said barriers (3) comprise means for reducing the gas flow speed from the burner output up to the outmost edge of the cooking utensil.

3. Diffuser, in accordance with claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED in that said barriers (3) comprise arched segments.

4. Diffuser, in accordance with claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED in that said barriers (3) comprise linear segments.

5. Diffuser, in accordance with claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED in that said barriers (3) comprise triangular segments.

6. Diffuser, in accordance with claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED in that said barriers (3) comprise spiral segments.

7. Diffuser, in accordance with any of claims 1 to 6, CHARACTERIZED in that said surface (4) of body (1 ) comprises a substantially wrinkled texture.

8. Diffuser, in accordance with claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED in that it is applied in a conventional or cooktop stove-type cooking equipment.