Burner tube for gas grill

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11246451-B2
Application number	US-201514880654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2015
Priority date	Oct 12, 2015
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

The present inventions provide, among other things, tapered burner tubes having raised gas ports and a smooth interior surface free from obstructions. Venturi members and air shutters may also be included.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A burner for combustion of a gas and air mixture under atmospheric pressure for use in a gas grill, the burner comprising:
a tapered burner tube having an open end, a closed end, and a substantially hollow and smooth interior which is free of burrs, interior crimps or other obstructions, the tapered burner tube including an upper surface having a plurality of gas ports;
an air shutter that cooperates with the open end of the burner tube to permit adjustment of an air flow into the burner tube to be mixed with fuel; and
a venturi member inserted at least partially into the open end of the burner tube to restrict the interior of the open end of the burner tube to increase a velocity of the gas and air mixture injected into the burner tube upstream from a constriction of the venturi member, the venturi member including:
a front face with an opening positioned at the open end of the burner tube and at least one side tab attached to the front face and projecting rearwardly therefrom;
an upper flange coupled to the front face at a first end of the upper flange, the upper flange having a generally V-shape profile;
a lower flange coupled to the front face at a first end of the lower flange, the lower flange opposing the upper flange, the lower flange having a generally inverted V-shape profile; and
a stabilizer bar coupled to respective second ends of the upper and lower flanges opposite the first ends that are coupled to the front face.

2. The burner of claim 1 , wherein the gas ports each project a port height from the upper surface of the burner, and wherein each of the gas ports has an opening defining a port diameter, wherein the port height of each gas port is between approximately 0.020 and 0.062 inches and the port diameter of each opening of the gas ports is between approximately 0.075 and 0.110 inches.

3. The burner of claim 2 , wherein the gas port height is approximately 0.060 inches and the port diameter is approximately 0.093 inches.

4. The burner of claim wherein a ratio of gas port height to port diameter is between approximately 0.640 and 0.650.

5. The burner of claim 4 , wherein the gas port height to port diameter ratio is greater than 0.5.

6. The burner of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of gas port height to port diameter is between approximately 0.625 and 0.670.

7. A burner assembly for a gas grill, the gas grill having a fuel source, a gas distribution manifold, a gas nozzle and control valves, the burner assembly comprising:
a burner tube having an open end, a closed end, and a substantially hollow interior that defines a fluid flow path between the open end and the closed end, the burner tube gradually tapering from the open end to the closed end;
a plurality of gas ports projecting a height above an upper surface of the burner tube;
a venturi member inserted into the open end of the burner tube to restrict an area inside an entrance of the burner tube and increase a velocity of a fuel and air mixture, the fuel and air mixture to flow along a length of the burner tube the venturi member including:
a front face plate having an opening to receive a neck of a gas valve and at least one side tab attached to the front face and projecting rearwardly therefrom, the front face plate positioned proximate the open end of the burner tube;
a first flange coupled to the front face plate, the first flange including a first planar portion extending from the front face plate, a first declined portion extending away from the first planar portion, and a first inclined portion extending away from the first declined portion;
a second flange coupled to the front face plate, the second flange including a second planar portion extending from the front face plate, a second inclined portion extending away from the second planar portion, and a second declined portion extending away from the first declined portion, wherein the first inclined portion and the second declined portion form a diverging portion of the fluid flow path, and the second inclined portion and the second declined portion form a converging portion of the fluid flow path; and
a stabilizer brace coupled to respective ends of the first inclined portion and the second declined portion to support the first flange and the second flange.

8. The burner assembly of claim 7 , wherein the height of each gas port is between 0.020 and 0.062 inches and an area of the opening is between 0.006 and 0.008 square inches.

9. The burner assembly of claim 8 , wherein the height of each gas port is approximately 0.060 inches and the area of the opening is approximately 0.007 square inches.

10. The burner assembly of claim 7 , wherein an opening of each gas port is generally circular, having a diameter.

11. The burner assembly of claim 10 , wherein the height of each gas port is between 0.020 and 0.062 inches and the diameter of the opening of each gas port is between 0.075 and 0.110 inches.

12. The burner assembly of claim 11 , wherein the height of each gas port is approximately 0.060 inches and the diameter of the opening of each gas port is approximately 0.093 inches.

13. The burner of claim 1 , wherein the venturi member is attached to at least one side of the burner tube near the open end using the at least one side tab of the venturi member.

14. The burner assembly of claim 7 , wherein the venturi member is attached to at least one side of the burner tube near the open end using the at least one side tab of the venturi member.

15. The burner of claim 1 , wherein the generally V-shaped flanges converge to restrict the interior of the open end of the burner tube.

16. The burner of claim 1 , wherein the gas ports are formed solely from portions of the upper surface of the burner tube.

17. The burner of claim 1 , wherein the venturi member is separate from the gas nozzle.

18. The burner of claim 1 , wherein the venturi member does not create any obstructions or recesses to interfere with the gas flow upon the gas flow exiting the constricted area of the venturi member.

19. The burner assembly of claim 7 , wherein the burner tube includes a window on a side surface of the burner tube between the open end and the closed end and proximate the open end, and the burner assembly further including an air shutter that cooperates with the open end of the burner tube to permit adjustment of an air flow into the flow path of the burner tube to be mixed with fuel, the air shutter slidably coupled to the open end of the burner tube and moveable along a portion of the burner tube to adjust an area defined by the window of the burner tube, the air shutter having an upper surface that includes a slot to enable adjustment of the air shutter relative to the window of the burner tube.

Assignees

• Weber Stephen Products Llc

Inventors

• Alden J Michael
• Shoeb Mohammed
• Schmeski Kevin James

Classifications

• F23D14/26

  with provision for a retention flame (pilot flame igniters F23Q9/00) · CPC title

• F23D14/58

  characterised by the shape or arrangement of the outlet or outlets from the nozzle, e.g. of annular configuration · CPC title

• A47J37/0713 Primary

  with gas burners · CPC title

• F23D14/60

  Devices for simultaneous control of gas and combustion air · CPC title

• F23D14/46

  Details · CPC title