Abstract:
A burner head and cap combination provides gas burner for use with gas appliances. At least one magnet is utilized to assist in retaining the burner cap to the burner head. Mobile appliances can particularly benefit from such a construction, such as in recreational vehicles and even stationary uses may find such a construction advantageous.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/658,146 filed Jun. 11, 2012 which is incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to burners for use with gas appliances, in particular, gas ranges and their construction. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Burners for gas ranges are often constructed with a gas supply system to get gas to the burner, a burner head (which is sometimes called a flame spreader), and a burner cap. The gas supply system may be a tubular venture or a system including a tube, such as an aluminum tube, potentially along with other mechanical parts which communicate gas to the burner head. 
     A burner head is often brass or aluminum which is typically either machined and/or cast. Atop the burner head, a burner cap is normally provided. The burner cap is typically steel with a porcelain enamel coating. The burner cap is not normally mechanically fastened to the burner head. In many cases, the burner head rests on the top of the burner head. There can be mating geometry in the burner head and cap, and gravity alone is normally what holds a burner cap at a desired orientation relative to a burner head. 
     However, under some circumstances, a burner cap can become dislodged from its proper position, such as if an oven door is closed in an aggressive manner. Furthermore, these style burners are often used in recreational vehicles. As a recreational vehicle travels on the road, the burner cap can become displaced or dislodged from its desired position due to the motion of the recreational vehicle as it travels along a road. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of many embodiments of the present invention to more securely connect a burner cap to a burner head than has been done for many known prior art constructions. 
     It is another object of many embodiments of the present invention to provide a connection of a burner cap to a burner head without requiring bores to penetrate through a burner cap. 
     Accordingly, in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a burner supply system provides gas to a burner head below a burner cap. The burner cap is preferably formed, at least partially of a ferromagnetic material, such as steel, and then coated with a porcelain enamel. Other caps could be constructed differently while still having a magnet, or a ferromagnetic material connected to or attractable by a magnet from, or through, a bottom surface of the burner cap. 
     The burner head is preferably provided with at least one, if not two or more spaced apart magnets which are provided between at least a portion of the burner head and the burner cap. These magnets can provide an magnetic attraction force to assist, along with the weight of the burner cap, to retain the burner cap in a desired position relative to the burner head, which is not normally a ferromagnetic material, but is instead, more commonly brass or aluminum. The one, or more, magnets can be attached to the burner head with screws, a swaging operation, molding them in place while casting, or other connection methods. Cutouts are envisioned as being provided in an upper surface of the burner head to receive respective magnets. Magnets may, or may not, contact the burner cap when installed in its proper installed configuration, depending upon the requirements and/or particular embodiment selected. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a proposed burner construction of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are cross sectional views taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 1  showing two different preferred construction alternatives. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a burner  10  for use with a gas appliance (not shown), such as a gas oven, range, etc. Burner  10  has a burner supply system  12  which communicates a gas source  14 , such as, but not limited to natural gas as provided to a building, propane from a tank, or other source. Piping  16 , illustrated as an aluminum tube, is shown directing from source  14  to a inlet  18 , which may be formed as a portion of housing  20 . Housing  20  may also allow for mixing with combustion air such as at gap  22 . Other components as are known in the art could be positioned between the gas source  14  and inlet  18 . Other burners  10  may have different gas supply systems  12  of various constructions which direct at least some gaseous fuel into the burner  10 . 
     The gas supply system  12  directs fuel to the burner head  24 . The burner head  24  is typically aluminum or brass. Other materials could be used with other embodiments. The burner head  24  is sometimes referred to as a flame spreader. It is normally cast and/or machined and provides flame slots  26  through which a lit burner  10  is normally identified. Other orifices, slots or other features may be provided along a perimeter of a burner head  24  as are known in the art which can provide for a variety of features. 
     On top of the burner head  24 , a burner cap  28  is normally provided. The burner cap  28  is normally set on top of the burner head  24  and retained in position by gravity and, possibly a mating geometry. Burner caps  28  are normally made of steel, or other ferromagnetic material, and often coated with a porcelain enamel. 
     The burner cap  28  can be relatively easily removed for cleaning, but unfortunately, it can also become dislodged from its desired position under certain circumstances. For instance, if an oven door is closed in an aggressive manner, the cap  28  could become dislodged. Recreational vehicles also often have burners  10 . Motion of the recreational vehicle as it travels, can dislodge the cap  10  from the burner head  24 . However, the applicant has the configuration as shown and described herein which can more securely retain the burner cap  28  to the burner head  24 . 
     Specifically, at least one, if not a plurality, such as two, or more, magnets  30 , 32  are positioned between at least a portion of each of the burner cap  28  and burner head  24 . Magnets  30 , 32  may be retained to the burner head  24  in a variety of manners as known in the art. A number of examples are shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
       FIG. 2A  shows a screw  33  passing through a bore  34  in the magnet  30 . A cutout  36  provides a location for the screw head  38  to be recessed relative to an upper surface  40  of the magnet  30 . Screw threads  42  are shown engaging internally to a portion of the burner head  24  to securely connect the magnet  30  to the burner head  24 , which is normally aluminum or brass (i.e., non-ferromagnetic). A depression  44  may be molded into, or otherwise provided to recess at least a portion of the magnet  30  into the burner head  24  for at least some embodiments. 
       FIG. 2B  shows magnet  32  swaged into the burner head  24 . Swaging can occur when a cross section  46  of the magnet  42  is larger enough to friction fit within a cross section  48  of the depression  44 , at least at some point. Alternatively, the magnet  32  could be cast in place during the casting process, adhered to the burner head  24 , or otherwise connected to the burner head  24 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows a first embodiment with the upper surface  40  of the magnet  30  contacting a lower surface  52  of the burner cap  28 . This provides additional holding forces over and above gravity, or weight of the burner cap  28  and possibly mating geometries, like the lip and shoulder construction illustrated at cap edge  54 . 
     However, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the magnet  32  with its upper surface  52  need not contact lower surface  56  of burner cap  28  in all embodiments. A gap  58  could separate the burner cap  28  from the magnet  32 , while still being close enough to communicate magnetic attraction forces to assist in retaining the magnetic cap  28  to the burner head  24 . 
     Furthermore, although the preferred constructions include providing the magnet(s)  30 , 32  connected to the burner head  24 , other embodiments could connect magnet(s)  30  and/or  32  to the burner cap  28  and providing a ferromagnetic material and/or cooperating magnet connected to the burner head  24 . 
     As shown in the figures, magnet(s)  30  or  32  can preferably be located internal to a flame perimeter  60  of the burner head  24 , although in some embodiments, the magnet(s) could be located radially external to the flame perimeter  60 . In fact, they can be located along and/or into a flame spreader  62  as illustrated in the figures, for at least some embodiments. Other embodiments may locate one or more of the magnet(s)  30 , 32  differently. Furthermore, when using more than one magnet  30 , 32 , they may be symmetrically disposed, as illustrated, for at least some embodiments. 
     Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.