Electrode assembly for gas burner spark ignition

A spark electrode assembly for manual spark ignition of a gas burner and a method for manual spark ignition of a gas burner are provided. The spark electrode assembly includes an electrically conductive electrode contained within an electrically insulative support member. The electrically conductive electrode is positioned by the electrically insulative support member proximate to a predetermined portion of the gas burner. At least the predetermined portion of the gas burner is provided at ground potential. A high voltage potential is applied to the electrically conductive electrode responsive to a user's manual operation for spark ignition.

RELATED APPLICATION 
A related application having Ser. No. 08/153,228 and entitled "Gas Stove 
Top Burner Assembly" is being filed contemporaneously by the present 
inventor and has the same assignee as the present application. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to spark ignition for gas 
appliances, and more particularly to an electrode assembly for manual 
spark ignition of a gas burner such as for a gas stove and a gas grill. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Various arrangements are known in the art for spark ignition of gas burners 
such as gas stove oven burners, gas stove top burners or gas barbecue 
grill burners. Many known arrangements include a high voltage electrode 
positioned relative to a ground member so that a spark will jump between 
the high voltage electrode and the ground member to ignite the gas when 
high voltage is applied to the high voltage electrode. Typically the high 
voltage electrode is positioned by an insulative support member so that an 
end portion of the electrically conductive wire defining the electrode is 
located near a grounded burner cap or side-wall. Problems with these 
arrangements include potential damage to the exposed end of the high 
voltage electrode during use and that reliable and repeatable operations 
may not be achieved due to the electrode position. Also, a possibility of 
electrical shock to the user exists. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,810,188 and 4,846,671 assigned to the assignee of the 
present invention, disclose improved spark ignited gas burner assemblies. 
While these spark ignited gas burner assemblies provide advantages over 
various known spark ignited burner assemblies, it is desirable to provide 
a spark ignition arrangement that eliminates the possibility of electrical 
shock to the user while providing reliable and repeatable operations. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Among the principal objects of the present invention are to provide an 
electrode for manual spark ignition of a gas burner; to provide a new and 
improved spark ignition electrode that provides effective and reliable 
operation; and to provide a spark ignition electrode overcoming many of 
the disadvantages of known spark ignition electrode arrangements. 
In brief, the objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved 
by a spark electrode assembly for manual spark ignition of a gas burner 
and a method for manual spark ignition of a gas burner. The spark 
electrode assembly includes an electrically conductive electrode contained 
within an electrically insulative support member. The electrically 
conductive electrode is positioned by the electrically insulative support 
member proximate to a predetermined portion of the gas burner. At least 
the predetermined portion of the gas burner is provided at ground 
potential. A high voltage potential is applied to the electrode responsive 
to a user's manual operation for spark ignition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawing, in FIGS. 1-3 there is illustrated a gas stove 
top burner assembly 10 including a spark electrode assembly generally 
designated by the reference character 12 and arranged in accordance with 
principles of the present invention. Having reference initially to FIG. 1, 
the burner assembly 10 includes a burner cap 14 and a burner base 16. 
In accordance with the present invention, spark electrode assembly 12 
eliminates many disadvantages of conventional spark ignition arrangements 
by having an electrically conductive spark electrode 18 contained within 
and positioned by an electrically insulative support member 20. An easily 
cleaned range configuration is enabled, while the likelihood of electrical 
shock to the user is eliminated. 
A high voltage wire 18A connects the electrically conductive spark 
electrode 18 to a source of high voltage potential. Spark electrode 18 is 
an integral member formed of electrically conductive material, such as 
#310 stainless steel. The burner cap 14 and burner base 16 are provided at 
electrical ground potential. The burner cap 14 and burner base 16 are 
connected to an electrical ground potential with the gas stove top so that 
a separate ground connection and an insulative space member are not 
required. 
A thin section 22 of the electrically insulative support member 20 is 
located between the spark electrode 18 and a portion generally designated 
24 of the gas burner cap 14. Electrically insulative support member 20 is 
formed of a ceramic material, for example, such as cordierite, a self 
glaze material. Section 22 has a predetermined thickness that is selected 
to provide a cover for the electrode 18 while allowing a high voltage 
applied to the spark electrode to discharge through the ceramic material. 
Section 22 is disposed at the same level or flush with an upper surface 26 
of the burner base 16 to provide an easily cleanable burner assembly 10. 
The ceramic section 22 is easily washable and conceals the high voltage 
spark electrode 18 to eliminate the possibility of electrical shock to the 
user while providing reliable and repeatable operations. 
Electrically insulative support member 20 includes a lower body portion 28 
that is slideably received through an aperture 30 in the gas burner base 
16. An upper body portion 32 of support member 20 engages a stop 34 
defined by the gas burner base 16 to position the thin section 22 flush 
with the upper base surface 26. 
The advantages of the present invention are not limited to any particular 
burner cap 14 and burner base 16. Burner cap 14 and burner base 16 can be 
thick wall members or stamped and formed thin wall members, such as of a 
#3003 aluminum alloy. 
A user's manual operation for spark ignition provides a high voltage 
potential to the spark electrode 18 of the spark electrode assembly 12. 
The high voltage potential causes sparks to be produced at a spark gap 
generally designated at 36, or through the gasway, for providing reliable 
and repeatable spark ignition operations. 
While the invention has been described with reference to details of the 
illustrated embodiment, these details are not intended to limit the scope 
of the invention as defined in the appended claims.