INTEGRAL SPARK IGNITED GAS BURNER ASSEMBLY

Abstract: A gas burner assembly (110 or 210 or 310) includes a detachable burner cap assembly (114 or 214 or 314) having an electrically conductive burner cap body (122 or 222 or 322) with a plurality of burner ports (134 or 234 or 334) and an ignition port (136 or 236 or 336) formed in a sidewall (138 or 238 or 338) of the burner cap body. The burner cap body (122 or 222 or 322) is connected to an electrical ground potential. An electrically insulative support member (140 or 240 or 340) is mounted in the ignition port (136 or 236 or 336) and defines an electrode receiving aperture (142 or 242 or 342). The electrically insulative support member (140 or 240 or 340) cooperates with the ignition port (136 or 236 or 336) to define an ignition gas pathway (144 or 244 or 344). A spark electrode (124 or 224 or 324) extending through the support member aperture includes a portion extending though the ignition port and completely surrounded by the insulative support member. The spark electrode (124 or 224 or 324) is selectively connected to a high voltage potential for providing ignition sparks between the electrode and the burner body through the ignition gas pathway. A stationary base assembly (116 or 216 or 316) is adapted for detachable mating engagement with the burner cap assembly. The stationary base assembly includes a gas mixing member (160 or 260 or 360) defining an aperture (164B or 260A or 360A) for receiving primary air and an outlet (166 or 266 or 366) for supplying a primary air-gas mixture and for providing an electrical ground potential to the burner cap assembly, a high voltage receptacle (158 or 258 or 358) operatively associated with the spark electrode for providing an electrical high voltage potential to the spark electrode and support structure (162, 186, 188, or 262, 286, 288 or 410 or 418, 414, 416) for securing the base assembly (116 or 216 or 316) with the gas range and for accurately aligning and positioning the high voltage receptacle and the gas mixing member outlet with the burner cap assembly.

Description: The present invention relates to a spark ignited gas burner assembly in combination with a range top or cooking top in accordance with claim 1. Spark ignition is increasingly used because it avoids the energy consumption and heat caused by a standing igniter pilot flame that was often used in the past to ignite gas burners such as gas range top burners. Various gas burner assemblies including provisions for spark ignition have been proposed in which one or several electrodes were provided inside the burner or which included electrically isolated burner cap and body portions for drawing a spark therebetween. It has, however, been found that reliable and repeatable spark ignition under various gas flow conditions yet without running the risk of electrical shock can just be obtained by providing a separate electrode having an exposed end at a location outward of the burner ports that are normally provided in a sidewall of the burner cap. Such arrangements are disclosed in the reference GB-A-1,165,841. In this case the electrode extends through an insulative support member secured to a detachable burner cap and is supplied with a high voltage potential through a stationary high voltage receptacle including a contact pin held in an insulative bushing. This high voltage receptacle, in one embodiment, is secured to the range or cooking top, the contact pin loosely extending into a corresponding sleeve contact at the lower end of the electrode whereas, in another embodiment, the high voltage receptacle is located inside the respective air-gas mixing member, the electrode extending radially into the burner cap and physically contacting the contact pin. Though provisions are thus made against malfunction due to contamination as by spillage, in the first embodiment protection of the contact area is not yet completely satisfactory whereas in the second embodiment the risk exists that in the case of bad contact internal combustion is initiated by sparks developing in the contact zone. Accordingly the invention as claimed aims to provide further security against breakdown of the contact due to contamination from spillage of liquids during cooking, at the same time avoiding the risk of initiating internal combustion. According to the present invention this is achieved by providing precisely mating contact means outside the air-gas mixing member and burner cap and locating these contact means below the range/cooking top in the way as claimed. Detachable contact means including a high voltage receptacle to supply a spark electrode of a gas burner assembly with a high voltage potential where the high voltage receptpacle is arranged outside the air-gas mixing member completely below the range/cooking top is also disclosed in US-A-2,960,980. However, in this case, the burner assembly is of a type completely located below an infrared transparent cover, so that spillage reaching the electric connection does not form a problem. With the exception of support means supporting the base assembly in fixed position relative to the range or cooking top the gas burner assembly of the present invention is already disclosed in EP-A3-0 331 815 (Article 54(3)EPC). In the following preferred embodiments of the claimed invention are described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings. In these Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a range top in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a partly schematic illustration of the same burner assembly with a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a spark electrode assembly of the burner assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the burner cap assembly removed from a stationary base assembly of the burner assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating an alternative spark electrode assembly; FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a side elevational view partially broken away to show interior details of an alternative burner assembly constructed in accordance with the invention with a gas range top and a cooking grate; FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 9; FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 9; FIG. 13 is a side elevational view partially broken away to show interior details of the first alternative burner assembly of FIG. 9 as modified with a suspension mounting arrangement; FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 13; FIG. 16 is a side elevational view partially broken away to show interior details of a second alternative burner assembly constructed in accordance with the invention with portions of a gas range top and a cooking grate; FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 17-17 of FIG. 16; FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line 18-18 of FIG. 16; FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line 19-19 of FIG. 18; FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line 17-17 of FIG. 19; FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along the line 21-21 of FIG. 19; and FlG. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line 22-22 of FIG. 19; FIG. 23 is a side elevational view partially broken away to show interior details of a third alternative burner assembly constructed in accordance with the invention with portions of a gas range top and a cooking grate; FIG. 24 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 24-24 of FIG. 23; FIG. 25 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating an alternative mounting arrangement of the burner assembly of FIG. 23; and FIG. 26 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 26-26 of FIG. 23; FIGS. 27, 28 and 29 are fragmentary sectional views similar to FIG. 26 showing further alternative connection arrangements of the burner assembly of FIG. 23; and FIG. 30 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a stationary base assembly of the third alternative burner assembly of FIG. 23. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, there is shown a gas burner assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated as a whole by the reference numeral 10. A portion of a range top or cooking top 12 is shown with the burner assembly 10. The burner assembly 10 includes a detachable burner cap assembly designated as 14 and a stationary base assembly designated as 16. A spark electrode assembly designated as 18 is included with the burner cap assembly 14 for spark ignition. An ignition circuit 20 provides an electrical ground potential to a burner cap 22 and selectively provides a high voltage potential to a spark electrode 24 of the cap assembly 14 causing ignition sparks to be produced. The ignition circuit 20 is under the control of a valve switch associated with a burner valve (not shown) that controls the fuel rates to the burner assembly 10 from an off condition to a wide range of gas flow rates. The electrode 24 functions as a flame sensing probe during normal burner operation of the burner assembly 10. The ignition circuit 20 may be generally of the character disclosed in the before mention U. S. Patent No. 4,626,196, hereby incorporated by reference. It should be understood that other types of ignition circuits may be used to provide spark ignition at the burner assembly 10. As its component parts, the burner cap assembly 14 includes the burner cap 22, a bottom plate 26 and the spark electrode assembly 18. The burner cap 22 and the bottom plate 26 are formed of electrically conductive material, such as stamped sheet metal of a #3003 aluminum alloy. The burner cap 22 and the bottom plate 26 are electrically connected with the range top 12 to electrical ground so that a separate ground connection and an insulative spacer member are not required. In general, the detachable burner cap assembly 14 can be removed from the stationary base assembly 16, for example, for cleaning in an automatic dishwasher or in a self-cleaning oven. As described below, the burner cap assembly 14 is arranged as a modular unit to prevent disassembly of its component parts by the user so that problems resulting from possible misassembly or parts being displaced are avoided. As shown in FIG. 2, the detachable burner cap assembly 14 includes the bottom plate 26 press fit or otherwise securely attached within a lower portion 28 of the a generally cylindrical burner cap body 22 defining a burner fuel chamber 30. The bottom plate 26 includes a gas inlet 32 (FIG. 6) for supplying primary air-gas fuel mixture to the burner fuel chamber 30 from the stationary base assembly 16. Fuel flows from the chamber 30 through a plurality of main burner ports 34 and an ignition port 36 formed in a recessed portion 38 below a top wall 39 of the burner body 22. Secondary air for combustion at the ignition port 36 and the burner ports 34 flows from above the range top 12 rather than from an internal burner box location. An electrically insulative support member designated as 40 of the spark electrode assembly 18 positions the spark electrode 24 for reliable and repeatable ignition throughout the entire range of gas flow rates for the burner assembly 10. As best seen in FIG. 5, the insulative support member 40 has a centering tapered nose portion 40A, an intermediate body portion 40B slideably received within the ignition port 36 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a rear body portion 40C positioning the nose portion 40A by providing a stop against the inside burner wall portion 38. The insulative support member 40 has a generally centrally disposed aperture 42 extending from the nose portion 40A to the rear body portion 40C for receiving the spark ignition electrode 24. The spark ignition electrode 24 is offset or L-shaped extending from the chamber 30 through the support member aperture 42 outside the burner body 22 and downwardly to the base assembly 16. Aperture 42 is similarly L-shaped to accommodate the spark ignition electrode 24. An ignition gas region 44 is defined by the support member 40 in cooperation with the ignition port 36. Ignition port 36 is circular and has a diameter generally coinciding with the intermediate body portion 40B of the support member 40. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair of generally U-shaped undercut grooves 46 are formed longitudinally along the outer periphery of the support member 40. When fuel is supplied to the burner assembly 10, ignition gas flows from chamber 30 through the grooves 46 to the ignition region 44 spaced between the spark electrode 24 and the burner top wall 39 and the burner body 28. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, a second electrically insulative support member 48 of the spark electrode assembly 18 receives and isolates the electrode 24 from the burner body 22 and the bottom plate 26. The insulative support member 48 has a centering tapered nose portion 48A, an intermediate body portion 48B and an upper body portion 48C. The intermediate body portion 48B of the insulative support member 48 is press fit or otherwise securely attached within a generally circular sleeve 50 of the base plate 26 with the upper body portion 40C providing a stop against the base plate 26. Insulative support members 40 and 48 are formed of an electrically insulating material, such as alumina or a composition ceramic material with a hard finish for cleanability. Spark ignition electrode 24 is an integral member formed of electrically conductive material, such as #310 stainless steel, having sufficient strength and stiffness needed to facilitate assembly of the burner cap 22 with the spark electrode assembly 18. Assembly of the burner cap assembly 14 is simply provided by placing the first support member 40 with the spark electrode 24 positioned within its aperture 42 in the ignition port 36 and then attaching the base plate 26 with the second support member 48 secured within its sleeve 50 aligned for receiving the spark electrode 24. Then a terminal blade 52 is attached to the spark electrode 24 that in assembled relation extends within the stationary base assembly 16. Electrical connection to the spark electrode 24 and the burner body 22 is made in any conventional fashion. In FIG. 2, a pair of conductors 54 and 56 are schematically shown from the ignition circuit 20 to provide the high voltage connection to the spark electrode 24 via the terminal blade 52 and the ground connection to the burner cap 22 through the range top 12. As its major components, the stationary base assembly 16 includes a high voltage receptacle 58 and a venturi designated as 60. Venturi 60 is positioned around a gas inlet fitting 62 that is connected to an air shutter assembly 64 for supplying the mixture of gas and primary air to the burner cap assembly 14 through the venturi 60. Frictional interengagement of the burner cap assembly 14 is provided with the base assembly 16. Venturi 60 supplies primary air-gas mixture to the detachable burner cap assembly 14 through a centering projection 66 carrying a snap ring 68 clinched by the inlet 32 of the base plate 26 in assembled relation. As seen in FIG. 6, an upstanding flange or wall portion 70 includes a pair of apertures 70A. The flanged portion 70 is secured to the range top 12 by a pair of fasteners 71 received through the apertures 70A with one shown in FIG. 2. The fasteners 71 provide an effective electrical ground connection between the range top 12 and the venturi 60 and through the bottom plate 26 to the burner cap body 22. A gasket 72 is sandwiched between the flanged portion 70 and range top 12 to provide an effective liquid seal. In general outline, the flanged portion 70 is annular and has an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the burner cap 22. The insulative support member 48 is received through an opening 74 separated from the venturi gas supply 66 in the flanged portion 70. As shown in FIG. 1, the burner assembly 10 makes possible a simple and easily cleaned range top or cooking top configuration. The stationary base assembly 16 is received in an opening 12A of the range top 12 bounded by the flanged portion 70 around which the burner cap 22 rests. The range top 12 is otherwise imperforate and includes no openings or spaces around the burner assembly 10 where contamination such as spillover from a cooking vessel can enter the region below the range top 12. Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, an alternative arrangement of a spark electrode assembly 78 is shown. In the alternative assembly 78, an insulative support member 80 is formed without channels such as the undercut grooves 46 in the insulative support member 40. Instead a pair of scallops 82 is configured in the periphery of the ignition port 84 to define the ignition gas pathway. While the scallops 82 are shown extending generally horizontally, vertically arranged cutouts may be preferable to define the ignition gas pathway between the electrode 24 and the walls 39 and 28 of the burner cap body 22. It should be understood that various other configured ignition ports and/or insulative support members could be employed to define the ignition gas pathway. Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12, there is shown a first alternative gas burner assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated as a whole by the reference numeral 110. The burner assembly 110 includes a detachable burner cap assembly 114 including a spark electrode assembly 118 and a stationary base assembly designated as 116. The burner assembly 110 is shown mounted on a recessed planar portion 111 of a range top or cooking top 112 with an associated cooking grate 113. Optimum heat transfer and combustion operations are facilitated by providing a vent space V between the range top surface 112 and the top of grate 113 in a range between 25.4 and 34.3 mm (1 and 1.35 inches) and a grate space G between the burner cap top surface and the top of grate in a range between 15.2 and 17.8 mm (0.6 and 0.7 inches). A depth of the recessed portion 111 is determined by the height H of the burner cap. For example, with a burner cap height H of 25.4 mm (1.0 inch), the recessed portion has a depth of 6.3 mm (0.25 inches) to provide a vent space V of 34.3 mm (1.35 inches) and a grate space of 15.2 mm (0.6 inches). In the bas burner assembly 110, the detachable burner cap assembly 114 and the spark electrode assembly 118 are substantially similar to the burner cap assembly 14 and the spark electrode assembly 18. The recessed range top 111 is a planar surface eliminating the pedestal portion of the range top 12 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. As its major components, the stationary base assembly 116 includes a high voltage receptacle 158 operatively associated with a spark electrode 124 of the spark electrode assembly 118, a mixing or venturi tube 160 for supplying a primary air-gas fuel mixture to the burner cap assembly 114, a gas inlet support member designated as 162 for connection with a gas supply line and for supporting the base assembly 116 in a fixed position within the gas range and an air shutter assembly designated as 164 for entraining primary air in the venturi tube 160. The stationary base assembly 116 is adapted for accurately aligning and positioning the high voltage receptacle 158 and the gas mixing member 160 with the burner cap assembly 114. An upstanding flange or wall portion 170 of the venturi 160 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 is fixedly secured to the gas range top surface 111 by a pair of fasteners 171 received through a pair of recessed apertures 170A in the flange 170 and a corresponding pair of holes 111A in the top surface 111. An opening 111B is punched or formed in the range top surface 111 configured for receiving and positioning the venturi tube 160 and an insulative support member 148 surrounding the spark electrode 124. A lower body portion 128 of a burner cap body 122 overlies the flange 170 and a gasket 172 is sandwiched between the flange 170 and range top 111 configured for avoiding spillover from a cooking vessel entering the region below the range top. The insulative support member 148 is received through an opening 174 in the flange 170 separated from a venturi gas supply outlet 166. As best seen in FIGS. 9 and 11, the gas inlet support member 162 is fixedly secured to a burner box bottom wall 186 that includes an elongated slot 186A for receiving a downwardly extending ledge portion 187 of member 162 and an aperture 186B for receiving a fastener 188 extending through an aligned aperture 189 in the support member 162. Slot 186A and hole 186B are punched or otherwise formed in the burner box bottom wall 186 accurately located relative to the openings 111A and 111B in the range top surface 111 for securing the base assembly 116 in fixed position with the gas range and the burner cap assembly 114 including the spark electrode assembly 118. The gas inlet support member 162 includes a gas passageway 190 having a tapered inlet threaded to receive a fitting 192 which receives a gas supply conduit or tube (not shown) and terminates in an outlet orifice 194 of an orifice fitting 196 for supplying gas to the venturi tube 160. Referring to FIG. 12, a central opening 164A is defined by a pair of shutter members 198 and 200 of the shutter assembly 164 for centering the outlet orifice 194 within the venturi tube 160. Shutter members 198 and 200 cooperate to define a plurality of air-receiving openings 164B around the inside circumference of the venturi tube 160. Shutter member 198 is fixedly secured to the venturi tube 160, such as by staking. Shutter member 200 is adjustably carried by the stationary shutter member 198 for controlling the openings 164B including a pair of opposed tab members 202 bent over the shutter member 198. Referring again to FIGS. 9 and 11, the gas inlet support member 162 includes a channel 204 having a pair of opposed recessed slots 205 configured for receiving a radially extending rectangular flanged portion or ledge 206 formed at the lower end of an insulative body housing 207 of the high voltage receptacle 158. The high voltage receptacle 158 includes a conventional spring terminal (not shown) accurately positioned for mating engagement with a terminal blade 152 attached to the spark electrode 124. A high voltage/temperature conductor 208 coupled to the spark electrode 124 extends through the channel 204 for connection with the ignition circuit. Referring now to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, an alternative suspension mounting arrangement is shown for the gas burner assembly 110 eliminating the support engagement with the burner box bottom 186. A generally U-shaped strap support member 185 supports the stationary base assembly 116 in fixed position within the gas range for detachable mating engagement with the burner cap assembly 114. Support member 185 is a unitary member of metal, such as aluminum, stamped and formed to define the U-shape. As best seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, the upstanding flange 170 of the venturi 160 and the range top surface 111 are modified to include an additional aperture 170C and 111C for receiving a third fastener 171 and a pair of alternative apertures 170D and 111D replacing apertures 170A and 111A for receiving fasteners 171 that are aligned with a pair of apertures 185A defined in upper arm portions of the support member 185 extending adjacent and below the range top surface 111. An aperture 185B is defined in a lower bottom wall of the U-shaped support member 185 aligned with aperture 189 of the gas inlet support member 162 for receiving the fastener 188 inserted upwardly through the aligned apertures. Referring now to FIGS. 16-22, there is shown a second alternative gas burner assembly in accordance with the present invention designated as 210 and mounted on a recessed planar portion 211 of a range top or cooking top 212 with an associated cooking grate 213. The burner assembly 210 includes a detachable burner cap assembly designated as 214 including a spark electrode assembly designated as 218 and a preferred stationary base assembly designated as 216. In the gas burner assembly 210, a bottom plate member 226 is configured to provide a reduced height for the detachable burner cap assembly 214. A separate venturi member such as venturi 60 of FIGS. 1-8 or venturi 160 of FIGS. 9-15 has been eliminated in the preferred stationary base assembly 216 by an integrally formed upper venturi or gas mixing portion 260 of a gas inlet support member 262. Accurate positioning of a high voltage receptacle 258 is provided by a clip bracket 286 secured to the gas inlet support member 262. Referring first to FIG. 17, an alternative, preferred spark electrode assembly 218 including a generally D-shaped ignition port 236 and a first support member 240 surrounding a spark electrode 224. A flat wall portion 237 of the ignition port 236 is located proximate to a burner body 228. An ignition gas region 244 is defined by support member 240 in cooperation with the ignition port 236 spaced between the spark electrode 224 and a burner top wall 239 and a burner body sidewall 228. A lower ignition gas pathway portion 244A is smaller than an upper ignition gas pathway portion 244B and provides improved flame sensing operation with the centrally disposed spark electrode 224. As best seen in FIGS. 18 and 19, a bottom plate 226 of the burner cap assembly 214 includes a centrally disposed gas inlet 232 for receiving a primary air-gas supply. A second insulative support member 248 carrying a snap ring 249 is clinched within an opening 250 in the bottom plate 226 spaced apart from the gas inlet 232. A central passageway 248A in the second insulative support member 248 receives the spark electrode 224. The second insulative support member 248 includes a main body portion 248B and an enlarged upper body portion 248C seated within a tapered entrance 251 of the bottom plate opening 250. As illustrated best seen in FIG. 21, the insulative support member 248 is accurately positioned within aperture 250 and then is fixedly secured to the bottom plate 226, such as by staking at a plurality of locations 226A on the lower surface of the bottom plate 226. A terminal blade 252 attached to the spark electrode 224 is thereby maintained accurately positioned below the range top 211 in the burner assembly 210. An air receiving opening 260A is defined laterally in the venturi portion 260 for receiving primary air. An air shutter member 264 is axially slidably disposed around the venturi portion 260 for adjusting the opening 260A. The air shutter member 264 is a unitary member stamped and formed of metal, such as aluminum, configured generally corresponding to the shape of the venturi portion 260. A pair of spring portions 264A near the opposite ends of the shutter member 264 frictionally secure the shutter member 264 with the venturi portion 260. Primary air-gas is supplied to the burner cap assembly 214 through an upper, circular projection 266 of the integrally formed venturi portion 260 extending above an upstanding flanged portion 270 of the gas inlet support member 262. Centering projection 266 carries a snap ring 268 clinced by the inlet 232 providing mechanical and electrical ground connection with the burner cap assembly 214. The upstanding flanged portion 270 includes a pair of recessed apertures 270A for receiving a pair of fasteners 271 and an aperture 274 aligned with base plate aperture 250 for receiving the second insulative support member 248. Referring to FIG. 18, the recessed range top portion 211 includes a pair of apertures 211A aligned with the flange apertures 270A and an elongated aperture 211B shaped for receiving the upper, generally rectangular venturi portion 260 and the generally circular main body portion 248B of the insulative support member 248. Referring to FIGS. 18, 19, 20 and 22, the clip bracket 286 is secured to the gas inlet support member 262 by a fastener 288 received upwardly through an aperture 286A in the clip bracket 286 and an aligned aperture 289 in the support member 262. A downwardly depending protuberance 287 of the support member 262 is received in a corresponding notch 286B within the bracket 286 for accurately aligning the high voltage receptacle 258. The clip bracket 286 includes a pair of legs 290 spaced apart to define a passageway 304 for receiving an insulative body housing 307 of the high voltage receptacle 258. The spaced apart legs 290 are formed to define a channel 305 configured for receiving a radially extending rectangular ledge portion 306 formed at the lower end of the housing 307 and accurately positioning a conventional spring terminal (not shown) contained in the housing 307 for mating engagement with the terminal blade 252. A high voltage/temperature conductor 308 extends between the lower portion of legs 290 for connection with the ignition circuit. The gas inlet support member 262 includes a gas passageway 291 having a tapered inlet threaded to receive a gas supply fitting 292 and terminates in an outlet orifice 294 of an orifice fitting 296 for supplying gas to the venturi mixing portion 260. Both the air shutter member 264 and the clip bracket 286 can be stamped and formed of metal, such as aluminum. The gas inlet support member 262 preferably is formed by metal casting, such as of #380 aluminum. Referring now to FIG. 23, there is shown a third alternative gas burner assembly in accordance with the present invention designated as 310 mounted on a recessed pedestal portion 311 of a range top or cooking top 312 with an associated cooking grate 313. The burner assembly 310 includes a detachable burner cap assembly designated as 314 including a spark electrode assembly designated as 318 and a stationary base assembly designated as 316. In the burner assembly 310, the burner cap assembly 314 and the base assembly 316 are modified to facillitate removal of the cooking top 312 to provide access to the base assembly 316 for repair or adjustment. Referring also to FIG. 24, a gas inlet support member 362 of the stationary base assembly 316 is similar to the support member 262 of of FIGS. 16-22 modified to include a pair of opposed ears 410, each defining an aperture 412 for receiving a fastener 414, such as a shoulder screw for securing the support member 362 to a gas burner box bottom 416. Shoulder screws 414 facillate use of a standard sized support member 362 for various spaced dimensions of the burner box bottom 416 below the pedestal portion 311. Referring to FIG. 25, an alternative mounting arrangement for the stationary base assembly 316 is shown to accommodate for larger spaced dimensions between the burner box bottom 412 and the pedestal portion 311 further including a mounting bracket 418 secured to the support member 362 and a pair of fasteners 420 for securing the bracket 418 with the burner box bottom 416. Burner cap assembly 314 is illustrated in more detail with a gas outlet 366 of the stationary base assembly 316 in FIG. 26. A base plate 326 includes an outside wall or peripheral plate edge having an indexed or stepped shoulder 327 for frictional engagement with a corresponding deformed portion 329 of the burner cap body 328 adapted for maintaining firm frictional engagement of the base plate 326 and the burner cap body 328 substantially unaffected by thermal cycling of the burner assembly 310. A tapered lower portion 331 of the generally cylindrical burner cap body 328 overlies an upper part of the pedestal range top surface portion 311. An upstanding flanged portion 370 of a venturi tube portion 360 is positioned inside the pedestal range top surface portion 311 with a gasket 372 sandwiched between the flange 370 and the bottom surface of pedestal portion 311. A pair of tapered apertures 311A defined in the pedestal range top surface portion 311 are aligned with a pair of apertures 370A in the flange 370 for receiving a pair of fasteners 371. A centrally located primary air-gas receiving inlet 332 of the base plate 326 includes an eyelet or ring member 333 for receiving a venturi outlet projection 366 carrying a snap ring 368. Ring member 333 and the snap ring 368 are clinced between the venturi outlet projection 366 and the base plate inlet 332. Ring member 333 is formed of metal, such as stainless steel or a nickel brass alloy to avoid corrosive interaction between the projection 366 and the base plate inlet 332. The venturi outlet projection 366 carrying the snap ring 368 is received through a centrally located range top aperture 311B. As shown in FIG. 30, an insulative support member 348 surrounding a spark electrode 324 of the spark ignition assembly 318 is received through a range top aperture 311C spaced from the range top aperture 311B and an aligned aperture 374 in the base plate 326. FIGS. 27, 28 and 29 are fragmentary sectional views similar to FIG. 26 illustrating alternative connection arrangements between the burner cap assembly 314 and the stationary base assembly 316 of the burner assembly 310. Referring first to FIG. 27, the venturi outlet projection 366 carrying a snap ring 368 is modified for carrying a second snap ring 422 axially spaced below the snap ring 368. The inlet 332 of base plate 326 includes a sidewall 424 having a upper wall portion or shoulder 426 and a lower wall portion or shoulder 428 carrying a correspondingly shaped eyelet 430. Frictional interengagement between the burner cap assembly 314 and the stationary base assembly 316 is provided with the shoulders 426 and 428 positioned relative to the snap rings 368 and 422, as shown. Referring to FIGS. 28, 29 and 30, a venturi outlet projection 366 includes a recessed portion 432 for carrying a ring member 434. Ring member 434 is formed of metal, such as stainless steel or a nickel brass alloy to avoid corrosive interaction between the projection 366 and the base plate inlet 332. Ring member 434 is formed with a toroidal surface designated as 436 for frictional engagement with the inlet 332 of base plate 326. In FIG. 28, the base plate inlet 332 includes a flat sidewall 438 defined between a upper toroidal surface 440 and a lower toroidal surface 442 carrying a correspondingly shaped eyelet 444. The toroidal surface 436 of ring member 434 engages the flat sidewall 438. In FIG. 29, the base plate inlet 332 is defined by a toroidal surface 446 carrying a correspondingly shaped eyelet 448 urged downwardly by the toroidal surface 436 of ring member 434.

Claims: A spark ignited gas burner assembly (10, 110, 210, 310) in combination with a range top or cooking top (12, 112, 212, 312) and including a base assembly (16, 116, 216, 316) and a burner cap assembly (14, 114, 214, 314) detachable from said base assembly, said burner cap assembly (14, 114, 214, 314) including an electrically conductive burner cap body (e.g. 22, 122) having a plurality of burner ports (e.g. 34) formed in a sidewall thereof and said base assembly (16, 116, 216, 316) including an air-gas mixing member (60, 160, 260, 360) having an outlet (66, 166, 266, 366) for supplying both, a primary air-gas fuel mixture and an electrical ground potential, to said burner cap assembly (14, 114, 214, 314); a spark electrode (24, 124, 224, 324) extending through an insulative support member (48, 148, 248, 348) outwardly to the vicinity of at least one of said burner ports, a high voltage receptacle (58, 158, 258, 358) being operatively associated with said spark electrode (24, 124, 224, 324) in a detachable manner for supplying an electrical high voltage potential to the latter and forming part of or being structurally connected to said base assembly (16, 116, 216, 316) and arranged outside said air-gas mixing member (60, 160, 260, 360) completely below said range/cooking top (12, 112, 212, 312) and said insulative support member (48, 148, 248, 348) extending downwardly through a portion of said range/cooking top which is covered by said burner cap assembly (14, 114, 214, 314) into vicinity of said high voltage receptacle and aligning an inward end contact (e.g. 52, 152, 252) of said spark electrode (24, 124, 224, 324) with a mating contact of said high voltage receptacle; and support means (162, 186, 188, or 185, or 262, 286, 288, or 410, 414, 416) supporting said base assembly (16, 116, 216, 316) in fixed position relative to said range/cooking top (12, 112, 212, 312). The assembly of claim 1, wherein said base assembly (16, 116, 216, 316) is formed with a flange (70, 170, 270, 370) including an aperture (74, 174, 274, 374) to receive said insulative support member (48, 148, 248, 348), and a gasket (72, 172, 272, 372) is sealingly enclosed between said flange and said range/cooking top (12, 112, 212, 312). The assembly of claim 2, wherein said flange (70, 170, 270, 370) is a portion of said air-gas mixing member (60, 160, 260, 360), said gasket (72, 172, 272, 372) thus forming a seal also for said air-gas mixing member. The assembly of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said range/cooking top (12, 112, 212, 312) is formed with separate apertures (e.g. 311A, 311B, 311C) for receiving said insulative support member (48, 148, 248, 348) and said air-gas mixing member (60, 160, 260, 360) and, as the case may be, fasteners to secure said base assembly (16, 116, 216, 316) to said range/cooking top. The assembly of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said range/cooking top (12, 312) is formed with an elevation in the area of said gas burner assembly (10, 310). The assembly of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said burner cap assembly (e.g. 22, 122) includes a bottom plate (e.g. 26, 226, 326) matingly engaging both, a centering projection (e.g. 66, 266, 366) of said air-gas mixing member (60, 160, 260, 360) and said insulative support member (48, 148, 248, 348). The assembly of claim 6, wherein spring means (e.g. 68, 268, 368, 422, 434) are provided between said centering projection (e.g. 66, 266, 366) and the respective opening (e.g. 32, 232, 332) of said bottom plate (e.g. 26, 226, 326). The assembly of claim 7, wherein, to further improve electric contact, an electrically conductive ring or sleeve member (333, 430, 436, 448) is provided in said opening (e.g. 32, 232, 332) surrounding said centering projection (e.g. 66, 266, 366). The assembly of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said inward end contact (e.g. 52, 152, 252) of said spark electrode (24, 124, 224, 324) is formed by a terminal plate.

Inventors: KWIATEK, DAVID J.
Applicants: HARPER-WYMAN COMPANY
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F24C3
IPC codes: F24C3