Burner assemblies for a cooktop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11808448-B2
Application number	US-202017102816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2020
Priority date	Nov 24, 2020
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A burner assembly for a cooktop comprises a spreader comprising (i) a central portion through which an axis extends, the central portion with a bottom surface, (ii) a plurality of apertures through the spreader, the plurality of apertures disposed further away from the axis than the central portion, and (iii) a ridge projecting from the bottom surface, the ridge disposed further from the axis than the central portion but closer to the axis than the plurality of apertures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A burner assembly for a cooktop comprising:
a spreader comprising (i) a central portion through which an axis extends, the central portion having a bottom surface, (ii) a plurality of apertures through the spreader, the plurality of apertures disposed further away from the axis than the central portion, (iii) a ridge projecting from the bottom surface, the ridge disposed further from the axis than the central portion but closer to the axis than the plurality of apertures, and (iv) an outer portion that includes a lateral edge that defines an outermost perimeter of the spreader relative to the axis; and
a burner cap disposed over the spreader, the burner cap comprising an outer portion comprising a flange that surrounds the lateral edge of the spreader.

2. The burner assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the ridge forms a contiguous perimeter around the bottom surface of the central portion.

3. The burner assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the ridge comprises an inner surface closest to the axis that forms an angle relative to the bottom surface of the central portion that is greater than 90 degrees and less than 120 degrees.

4. The burner assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the outer portion of the spreader is disposed further away from the axis than the plurality of apertures and the ridge; and
the spreader further comprises (i) a plurality of spaced fingers, each separated by one of the plurality of apertures, bridging the central portion to the outer portion.

5. The burner assembly of claim 1 wherein,
the burner cap further comprises (i) a central portion disposed over the central portion of the spreader, with the axis of the spreader extending through the central portion of the burner cap, (ii) a middle portion disposed further away from the axis than the central portion of the burner cap but closer to the axis than the outer portion of the burner cap, the middle portion disposed above the plurality of apertures of the spreader, and (iii) a plurality of apertures through the middle portion,
wherein, the outer portion of the burner cap is disposed over the outer portion of the spreader, and
wherein, the outer portion of the spreader is disposed further away from the axis than the plurality of apertures of the spreader and the ridge of the spreader.

6. The burner assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a venturi comprising (i) an internal surface defining a passageway for a mixture of air and gaseous fuel, (i) an inlet into the passageway in communication with a source of air and a source of gaseous fuel and (ii) an outlet out of the passageway in fluid communication with the plurality of apertures of the spreader,
wherein, the axis extending through the central portion of the spreader also extends into the outlet of the venturi.

7. The burner assembly of claim 6 , wherein
the ridge of the spreader comprises an inner surface that (i) forms an approximately right angle relative to the bottom surface of the central portion and (ii) is at least approximately parallel to the axis, the inner surface disposed at a radius from the axis;
the internal surface defining the passageway at the outlet has a radius from the axis; and
the radius of the internal surface defining the outlet of the passageway is less than the radius of the inner surface of the ridge of the spreader.

8. The burner assembly of claim 6 further comprising:
a mixture of air and gaseous fuel flowing (i) through the passageway of the venturi toward the outlet of the venturi, (ii) out the outlet of the venturi, (iii) and through the plurality of apertures of the spreader,
wherein, the ridge of the spreader reduces a velocity of the mixture of air and gaseous fuel before the mixture of air and gaseous fuel flows through the plurality of apertures of the spreader.

9. The burner assembly of claim 4 further comprising:
a venturi comprising (i) an internal surface defining a passageway for a mixture of air and gaseous fuel, (i) an inlet into the passageway in communication with a source of air and a source of gaseous fuel and (ii) an outlet out of the passageway in fluid communication with the plurality of apertures of the spreader, and
a base disposed between the spreader and the venturi, the base comprising (i) a central aperture through which the axis that extends through the central portion of the spreader also extends, the central aperture in fluid communication with the passageway of the venturi, and (ii) an annular ridge at the top around and defining the central aperture, the annular ridge of the base disposed closer to the axis than the ridge projecting from the bottom surface of the spreader.

10. The burner assembly of claim 9 further comprising:
a mixture of air and gaseous fuel flowing (i) through the passageway of the venturi toward the outlet of the venturi, (ii) out the outlet of the venturi, (iii) through the central aperture of the base, (iv) between the annular ridge of the top of the base and the ridge projecting from the bottom surface of the spreader, and (v) through the plurality of apertures of the spreader,
wherein, the ridge projecting from the bottom surface of the spreader reduces a velocity of the mixture of air and gaseous fuel before the mixture of air and gaseous fuel flows through the plurality of apertures of the spreader.

11. The burner assembly of claim 9 , wherein
the base further comprises an inner surface that defines the central aperture, the inner surface being parallel to the axis and having a radius from the axis;
the internal surface defining the passageway at the outlet has a radius from the axis; and
the radius of the internal surface defining the passageway at the outlet is equal to the radius of the inner surface defining the central aperture of the base.

12. The burner assembly of claim 9 , wherein
the base further comprises a second annular ridge at the top of the base that surrounds the annular ridge and, with the annular ridge, defines an annular recess that is planar and perpendicular to the axis; and
the spreader further comprises a second ridge at a bottom of the spreader that is further away from the axis than the ridge of the spreader, the second ridge disposed over the top of the base and facing the second annular ridge of the base, with the second ridge of the spreader being closer to the axis than the second annular ridge of the base.

13. The burner assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the spreader comprises a top surface, and the top surface at the central portion is elevated higher than the top surface at the outer portion.

14. A burner assembly for a cooktop comprising:
a base comprising (i) a tubular wall defining a passageway through which an axis extends, the tubular wall having a first end defining an inlet into the passageway and a second end defining an outlet of the passageway, (ii) a lateral wall extending laterally outward from the tubular wall, and (iii) an outer wall extending upward from the lateral wall and forming a perimeter around the lateral wall, the outer wall is more elevated from the lateral wall than the second end of the tubular wall;
a spreader disposed above the tubular wall and the lateral wall of the base, the spreader comprising (i) a central portion through which the axis extends, the central portion disposed above the outlet of the passageway of the base, (ii) an outer portion surrounding the central portion, the outer portion terminating in an edge that defines a lateral perimeter of the spreader away from the axis, with the outer wall of the base surrounding the edge of the outer portion of the spreader, and (iii) a plurality of apertures through the sp

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Caloca Victor Gerardo
• Manrique Victor H
• Deshpande Alok C
• Lacchè Tiziano
• Pal Eshita

Classifications

• F23D14/06 Primary

  with radial outlets at the burner head · CPC title

• F24C3/082

  on stoves · CPC title

• F23D2203/101

  characterised by surface shape · CPC title

• F23D2900/14062

  for cooking ranges having multiple flame rings · CPC title

• F23D14/085 Primary

  with injector axis inclined to the burner head axis · CPC title