Method of pan detection and cooktop adjustment for multiple heating sections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016348917-A1
Application number	US-201514724368-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 28, 2015
Priority date	May 28, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A burner assembly for a cooktop includes a housing that defines first and second concentric outlet sections, the first outlet section being inset relative to the second outlet section. The housing further defines a first aperture between the first outlet section and the second outlet section. A first switch assembly is mounted within the housing and includes a lever coupled with the housing and a first pin extending from the lever and upwardly through the aperture to an end positioned above the housing. The end of the pin is moveable in a first direction inward and outward with respect to the housing by rotation of the lever to control a flow of energy to the second outlet section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A burner assembly for a cooktop, comprising:
a housing defining first and second concentric outlet sections, the first outlet section being inset relative to the second outlet section, the housing further defining a first aperture between the first outlet section and the second outlet section; a first switch assembly mounted within the housing and including a lever coupled with the housing and a first pin extending from the lever and upwardly through the first aperture to an end positioned above the housing, the end of the first pin being moveable in a first direction inward and outward with respect to the housing by rotation of the lever and, thereby, controlling a flow of energy to the second outlet section.

2 . The burner assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first switch assembly further includes a button operably arranged with respect to the lever such that movement of the first pin between an upward position and a downward position moves the button between a first position and a second position.

3 . The burner assembly of claim 2 , further including a supply line in fluidic communication with the first and second concentric outlet sections for providing the flow of energy thereto in the form of fuel, the supply line including a valve between the supply line and the second outlet section for selectively closing and opening the fluidic communication therebetween; wherein the button is coupled with the valve such that the fluidic communication between the fuel supply line and the second outlet section is closed when the first pin is in the upward position and open when the first pin is in the downward position.

4 . The burner assembly of claim 2 , further including a supply line in communication with the first and second concentric outlet sections for providing the flow of energy thereto in the form of a flow of electricity, the supply line including an electromechanical switch between the supply line and the second outlet section for selectively connecting and disconnecting the communication therebetween; wherein
the button is coupled with the electromechanical switch such that the communication between the electrical supply line and the second outlet section is disconnected when the first pin is in the upward position and connected when the first pin is in the downward position.

5 . The burner assembly of claim 1 , further including a grate positioned above the housing; wherein
the first pin is moveable toward and away from the housing by rotation of the lever between an upward position and a downward position, the end of the first pin being positioned above the grate when the first pin is in the upward position and being generally level with the grate when the first pin is in the downward position.

6 . The burner assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a second aperture between the first outlet section and the second outlet section, the second aperture being radially spaced from the first aperture about the first outlet section, the burner assembly further including:
a second switch assembly mounted within the housing and including a second pin extending upwardly through the second aperture.

7 . The burner assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lever is spring-biased such that the first pin is biased outward with respect to the housing in the first direction.

8 . A cooktop comprising:
a burner unit, including:
a first annular burner section having a first radius;
a second annular burner section concentric with the first annular burner section and having a second radius greater than the first radius; and
a switch assembly including a pin extending upwardly from between the first burner section and the second annular burner section and moveable between an extended position and a depressed position;
a fuel supply line having a first portion fluidically coupled with the first burner section and a second portion fluidically coupled with the second burner section; a valve positioned within the first portion and moveable between a closed configuration when the pin is in the extended position and an open configuration when the pin is in the depressed position.

9 . The cooktop of claim 8 , wherein the switch assembly is mounted within the housing and further includes a lever coupled with the housing, the actuator pin extending upwardly therefrom through an aperture in the housing to an end positioned above the housing, the end of the pin being moveable in a first direction inward and outward with respect to the housing by rotation of the lever.

10 . The cooktop of claim 9 , further including a controller coupled with the valve and with the switch assembly and operable to cause the valve to move to the closed configuration when the pin is in the extended position and to move to the open configuration when the pin is in the depressed position, wherein:
the switch assembly further includes a button operably arranged with respect to the lever such that movement of the pin from the extended position into the depressed position manipulates the button to cause the controller to move the valve into the second position.

11 . The cooktop of claim 9 , wherein the lever is spring-biased such that the actuator pin is biased outward with respect to the housing in the first direction.

12 . The cooktop of claim 9 , wherein:
the housing defines the first and second burner sections; and the aperture is positioned radially between the first burner section and the second burner section.

13 . The cooktop of claim 8 , further including a grate positioned above the burner unit, wherein:
the actuator pin extends to an end that is positioned above the grate when the pin is in the extended position and is generally level with the grate when the pin is in the depressed position.

14 . The cooktop of claim 8 , further including a grate positioned above the burner unit, wherein:
the actuator pin is operably mounted with a support pan of the cooktop and supports a portion of the grate, the actuator pin being spring biased to remain in the extended position under a first weight applied to the grate and to move into the depressed position under a second weight greater than the first weight applied to the grate.

15 . A method for controlling burner assembly operation in a cooktop, comprising:
determining a condition of an actuator pin with respect to an extended position and a depressed position thereof; providing a flow of energy to a burner assembly associated with the actuator pin, wherein:
when the actuator pin is determined to be in the extended position, providing the flow of energy only to a first one of first and second burner sections, the first and second burner sections being concentrically arranged with the first burner section within the second burner section; and
when the actuator pin is determined to be in the depressed position, providing the flow of energy to both the first and second burner sections.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the burner assembly is a gas burner assembly and the flow of energy is a flow of fuel; providing the flow of fuel only to the first one of first and second burner sections results in the burner assembly outputting a first flame profile over a first area range; and providing the flow of fuel to both the first and second burner sections results in the burner assembly outputting a second flame over a second area range that is greater than the first area range.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:
determining the condition of the actuator pin results in a determination of a si

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Johncock James Charles
• Sells Joel Matthew

Classifications

• F23N2241/08

  Household apparatus · CPC title

• H05B2213/05

  Heating plates with pan detection means · CPC title

• F24C3/085 Primary

  on ranges · CPC title

• F23D14/00

  Burners for combustion of a gas, e.g. of a gas stored under pressure as a liquid · CPC title

• F23N1/005

  using electrical or electromechanical means (F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence) · CPC title