Patent Publication Number: US-2005142509-A1

Title: Burner assembly for gas burners of radiant heating type

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to gas burners of radiant heating type, and more particularly, to a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type, in which mixed gas flows to an entire part of a burner mat, uniformly.  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      The present invention relates to gas burners of radiant heating type, and more particularly, to a burner assembly therefore. In general, the gas burner of radiant heating type is a range in which a heating object is heated with a radiant wave emitted from a radiant body when the radiant body is heated by burning a mixed gas of a fuel and air, to cook food.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a related art gas burner of radiant heating type, schematically. That is, the related art gas burner of radiant heating type is provided with an oven part  10 , and a top burner part  20 .  
      The top burner part  20  is provided with a burner assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . The related art burner assembly will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  
      The related art burner assembly is provided with a burner housing  21 , a glass plate  22 , a mixing tube  23 , a burner chamber  24 , and a burner mat  25 . The burner housing  21  shapes an outside of the burner assembly, and forms a combustion space. The glass plate  22  is placed on top of the burner housing  21  to close an upper part of the burner assembly.  
      The mixing tube  23  is a tube in which fuel and air are introduced therein and mixed together, and is in communication with the burner chamber  24 . The burner chamber  24  has a closed circumference and an opened top, for receiving the mixed gas from the mixing tube  23 , and storing the mixed gas therein. The opened top of the burner chamber  24  is in communication with an inside space of the burner housing  21 .  
      The burner mat  25  is placed on the burner chamber  24 , for burning the mixed gas from the burner chamber  24 . The burner mat  25  makes surface combustion of the mixed gas, and serves as a radiant body for emitting a radiant wave.  
      The operation of the burner assembly will be described.  
      When a user ignites in a state a heating object is placed on the glass plate  22 , the fuel and air are introduced into the mixing tube  23 , and mixed therein during the fuel and air pass through the mixing tube  23 .  
      Then, the mixed gas is introduced into the burner chamber  24  in communication with the mixing tube  23 , passes through the burner mat  25 , and blows out into the inside of the combustion space of the burner housing  21 . At the same time with this, the mixed gas is ignited with an igniting spark generated by an igniting means (not shown).  
      The mixed gas burns on a surface of the burner mat  25 , and the burner mat  25  emits a radiant wave as the burner mat  25  is heated by the combustion. Then, the radiant wave transmits the glass plate  22 , and heats the heating object, to cook food.  
      However, the related art burner assembly has a problem in that, a major portion of the mixed gas supplied to an inside of the burner chamber  24  through the mixing tube  23  flows toward a central part of the burner mat  25 , uniform surface combustion throughout an entire part of the burner mat  25  has failed.  
      Particularly, in a case the burner assembly has a large size, for an example, if, not a small kettle, but a large cooking container with a large surface area is heated, heating of an outer part of the large cooking container has failed.  
      Moreover, in a case the gas supply is reduced for low temperature heating, to cause an extreme shortage of the mixed gas supplied to the burner chamber  24  compared to an area of the burner mat  25 , the combustion takes place only in a central part of the burner mat  25  the mixed gas supply thereto is smooth, but not in an outer part of the burner mat  25 .  
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION  
      An object of the present invention designed to solve the foregoing problems lies on providing a burner assembly which enables uniform distribution of mixed gas, which is passed through a mixing tube and supplied to an inside of the burner chamber, throughout an entire part of the burner mat.  
      The object of the present invention can be achieved by providing a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type including a burner chamber for receiving mixed gas, a burner mat on top of the burner chamber for making combustion, and a baffle part between a bottom of the burner mat and a side of the burner chamber the mixed gas is introduced into the burner chamber therethrough, for uniform distribution of the mixed gas to an entire part of the burner mat.  
      The baffle part includes a mesh form of a baffle plate in the burner chamber, and the baffle part further includes a supporting part for holding the baffle plate inside of the burner chamber.  
      In other aspect of the present invention, there is provided a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type including a burner chamber for receiving mixed gas, a burner mat on top of the burner chamber for making combustion, a baffle part of a substantially cylindrical form between a bottom of the burner mat and a side of the burner chamber the mixed gas is introduced into the burner chamber therethrough, having a bottom in communication with a side of an inside of the burner chamber the mixed gas is introduced to the burner chamber therethrough, and a circumference with a plurality of vanes for guiding the mixed gas toward the circumference of an inside of the burner chamber.  
      In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type including a burner chamber for receiving mixed gas, a burner mat on top of the burner chamber for making combustion, an impeller at an opening the mixed gas is introduced into the burner chamber therethrough, for guiding the mixed gas toward a circumference of an inside of the burner chamber. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.  
      In the drawings;  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an outside appearance of a related art gas burner of radiant heating type;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a section showing key parts of a related art burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type, schematically;  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a section of a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically;  
      FIGS.  4  to  7  illustrate sections each showing an example of variation of the burner assembly in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a section of a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically;  
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate plan views each showing a flow guide in a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically;  
       FIG. 10  illustrates a section of an example of a variation of a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  illustrates a section of a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically;  
       FIG. 12  illustrates a section of a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically; and  
       FIG. 13  illustrates a section of an example of a variation of a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
      The burner assembly in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a burner chamber  140 , a burner mat  150 , and a baffle part. The burner chamber  140  is mounted on an underside of the burner housing  110  for receiving a mixed gas mixed at the mixing tube  130 . The burner chamber  140  has an opened top. The burner chamber  140  may have a shape the same with the related art as shown in the drawing, or modified similar thereto. The burner mat  150  is placed on top of the burner chamber  140 , for making surface combustion of the mixed gas supplied into the burner chamber  140 .  
      The baffle part distributes the mixed gas to all part of the burner mat  150  uniformly. The baffle part includes a mesh form of baffle plate  161  in the burner chamber  140 . That is, the mesh form of the baffle plate  161  distributes the mixed gas, flowing from the mixing tube  130  toward the burner mat  150 , to an entire part of the burner mat  150 , uniformly.  
      The baffle plate  161  divides the burner chamber  140  into an upper space and a lower space. That is, the baffle plate  161  divides the burner chamber  140  into the lower space in communication with the mixing tube  130  and the upper space having the burner mat  150  therein.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , an edge of the baffle plate  161  may be placed on a step formed in an inside wall of the burner chamber  140 , which is liable to fall down by an external impact or ceaseless flow of the mixed gas.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , to cope with this, the embodiment of the present invention preferably provides separate supporting part  162  for supporting the baffle plate  161 . In this instance, the supporting part  162  has a bottom part fixed to a bottom of an inside of the burner chamber  140 , and a top part to support a lower surface of the baffle plate  161 .  
      Especially, in this case, it is preferable that the baffle plate  161  is space from an inside wall of the burner chamber  140 . This is because a case combustion is made smoother at an outer part of the burner mat  150  than a central part has a better uniform heating efficiency than a case combustion is made smoother at a central part of the burner mat  150  than an outer part.  
      That is, transmission of radiant heat from the outer part to a central part of the burner mat  150  has a better combustion efficiency than transmission of radiant heat from central part of the burner mat  150  to the outer side. Moreover, the more combustion at the outer part of the burner mat  150 , the more favorable for heating a large cooking container with relatively large surface area.  
      Of course, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a flow cutoff part  161   a  may be further provided in a central part of the baffle plate  161  for cutting off an upward flow of the mixed gas, so that, as described before, more mixed gas flows toward the outer part of the burner mat  150 . Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the mesh form of baffle plate  161  may be formed to have openings formed the greater as it goes further to an outer side from the central part.  
      As illustrated with different examples, though the first embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a case the mixing tube  130  is in communication with a bottom of the burner chamber  140 , the first embodiment of the present invention is also applicable to a case the mixing tube  130  is in communication with a circumferential surface of the burner chamber  140 .  
      A burning process of the mixed gas in the burner assembly having the first embodiment of the present invention applied thereto will be described.  
      When the user ignites, gas and air are introduced into the mixing tube  130 , and mixed during the gas and air pass through the mixing tube  130 . Then, the mixed gas is introduced into the burner chamber  140  in communication with the mixing tube  130 , and blows out into a combusting space in the burner housing  110  through the burner mat  150 . At this time, the mixed gas is ignited with an igniting spark generated by igniting means (not shown).  
      In this instance, the mixed gas introduced into the burner chamber  140  from the mixing tube  130  is distributed to entire part of the burner mat  150  by the baffle plate  161  in the burner chamber  140 . This is because the mesh form of the baffle plate  161  prevent the mixed gas from concentrating a part of the burner mat  150  during the mixed gas passes through the baffle plate  161 .  
      According to this, smooth surface combustion is made at the burner mat  150 , and a radiant wave from the combustion transmits the glass plate  120 , and heats a heating object, to heat entire part, particularly, the outer part of the cooking container uniformly, even if the cooling container is comparatively large.  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a section of a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically.  
      The burner assembly in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a baffle part for distributing mixed gas to entire part of the burner mat uniformly, having a baffle cylinder  163  in communication with the mixing tube  130 . Of course, the baffle cylinder  163  may not be cylindrical, but polygonal. The baffle cylinder  163  is provided between a bottom of the burner mat  150  and a side of the burner chamber  140  the mixed gas is introduced thereto, with an opened circumference.  
      The baffle cylinder  163  has a diameter larger than an opening the mixed gas is introduced therethrough, and a bottom surface fixed to a bottom surface of the burner chamber  140  around the opening the mixed gas is introduced therethrough. The circumference of the baffle part  163  may not be opened fully, but of a mesh form for uniform discharge of the mixed gas.  
      However, the embodiment of the present invention suggests a plurality of vanes  164  in the opened circumference of the baffle cylinder  163  for smooth flow of the mixed gas to the outer part of an inside of the burner chamber  140 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 9A , for providing a circulating force to a mixed gas flow passing through the circumference of the baffle cylinder  163 , the vanes  164  are slanted in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction when a section thereof is seen from above.  
      Of course, referring to  FIG. 9B , for providing a circulating force to a mixed gas flow passing through the circumference of the baffle cylinder  163 , the vanes  164  may be curved substantially in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction when a section thereof is seen from above.  
      The baffle cylinder  163  may have a top part fully closed, or of a mesh form.  
      A burning process of the mixed gas in the burner assembly having the second embodiment of the present invention applied thereto is the same with the first embodiment, wherein the concentration of the mixed gas to the central part of the burner mat  150  is prevented by the baffle cylinder  163 .  
      Moreover, the burner assembly in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is also applicable to a structure in which the mixing tube  130  is in communication with a circumference of the burner chamber  140 . For an example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the baffle cylinder  163  is formed to surround a part of an inside of the burner chamber  140  where the communication with the mixing tube  130  is made. In this instance, the baffle cylinder  163  may be of a mesh form, or a perforated, on the whole.  
       FIG. 11  illustrates a section of a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
      The burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a baffle part for uniform distribution of mixed gas to entire part of a burner mat  150 , having a cutoff plate  165  for cutting of flow of the mixed gas.  
      The cutoff plate is positioned in an inside space of the burner chamber  140  close to the opening of the mixing tube  130  the mixed gas is introduced therethrough, for cutting off upward flow of the mixed gas.  
      The burner assembly further includes a supporting part  166  for supporting the cutoff plate  165 . The supporting part  166  is formed such that the cutoff plate is held in position in the inside space of the burner chamber  140 .  
      The burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention has a function substantially same with the burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and provides a similar combustion performance.  
       FIG. 12  illustrates a section of a burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
      The burner assembly for a gas burner of radiant heating type in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a baffle part for uniform distribution of mixed gas to entire part of a burner mat  150 , having an impeller  167  at an opening the mixed gas is introduced into the burner chamber  140  therethrough.  
      The impeller  167  may be helical substantially, or slanted in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction, for providing a circulating force to a mixed gas flow passing through the impeller  167 . Particularly, as shown in  FIG. 13 , though the impeller  167  may be on a bottom surface of an inside of the burner chamber  140  alike the foregoing embodiment, the impeller  167  may be in the mixing tube  130 .  
      It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.  
      Industrial Applicability  
      The burner assembly of the present invention permits uniform combustion at the burner mat by making the mixed gas supply to the entire part of the burner mat, uniform.  
      The burner assembly of the present invention permits combustion at an outer side of the burner mat that enables uniform heating of entire part of a cooking container, even if the cooking container is large.