Patent Publication Number: US-10330311-B2

Title: Burner to evenly distribute flame

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Application No. 10-2014-0182331, filed in Korea on Dec. 17, 2014, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     A burner is to evenly distribute flame is disclosed herein. 
     Background 
     Generally, a burner serves to directly heat food or a container filled with the food using a flame generated when burning a gas. 
     Efficiency or heating performance of the burner may be enhanced when the flame is uniformly generated from the burner. 
     Korean Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-0090773 (published on Jul. 18, 2014) discloses a burner cap and a burner. 
     In the above-described related document, a distribution protrusion is formed on a lower surface of the burner cap, and a connection guide protrudes from an edge of the distribution protrusion. A mixed gas runs into the distribution protrusion, and a flow speed thereof is primarily reduced, and then secondarily reduced by a distribution guide, and thus the mixed gas is spread in an area formed by the connection guide. 
     However, in the case of the related document, since the distribution protrusion is provided at only a position corresponding to a mixer tube, and the connection guide protrudes downward from the distribution protrusion, there is a problem in that the mixed gas flowing over the connection guide flows to only flame holes near the connection guide, and is not evenly distributed toward flame holes far from the connection guide. That is, since the connection guide does not serve to guide the mixed gas toward the flame holes far from the connection guide, an intensity of the flame of the flame holes near the connection guide is relatively large. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to a burner in which a mixed gas is evenly distributed, and thus a flame is uniformly generated. 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a burner including a burner head to receive a mixed gas; and a burner cap to cover the burner head, wherein the burner head includes an outer wall having a plurality of first flame holes through which a flame is discharged, an inner wall located at an inside of the outer wall and having a plurality of second flame holes through which the flame is discharged, and a mixed gas chamber between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein the burner cap comprises a distribution guide to guide a flow of the mixed gas so that the mixed gas flows in a circumferential direction of the mixed gas chamber, and wherein a first portion of the mixed gas flowing along the distribution guide is distributed to the plurality of first flame holes, and a second portion of the mixed gas flowing along the distribution guide flows toward the plurality of second flame holes. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a burner according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the burner of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a burner cap according to the a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the burner according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a mixed gas flowing along the distribution guide of a burner cap; 
       and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a burner cap according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     Also, in the description of embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) or the like may be used herein when describing components of the present invention. Each of these terminologies is not used to define an essence, order or sequence of a corresponding component but used merely to distinguish the corresponding component from other component(s). It should be noted that if it is described in the specification that one component is “connected,” “coupled” or “joined” to another component, the former may be directly “connected,” “coupled,” and “joined” to the latter or “connected”, “coupled”, and “joined” to the latter via another component. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a burner according to an embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the burner of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the burner  1  according to the embodiment may include a burner head  10  having a plurality of flame holes through which a flame is discharged, a burner body  20  which supports the burner head  10 , and a burner cap  30  which is seated on an upper side of the burner head  10 . 
     The burner  1  may further include an ignition part  230  which ignites a mixed gas of air and a gas supplied to the burner head  10 . 
     The burner body  20  may include a head support part  210  which supports the burner head  10 , and a gas supply part  220  which is connected with the head support part  210 . 
     The head support part  210  may include an opening  212  through which mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131  (referring to  FIG. 4 ) of the burner head  10  may pass. 
     The gas supply part  220  may receive the gas and may supply the gas to the burner head  10 . The gas supply part  220  may have a plurality of nozzles  222 . 
     Also, the gas supply part  220  may support the ignition part  230 . 
     The burner head  10  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include an outer wall  110  (which may be referred to as a “first wall”), and an inner wall  114  (which may be referred to as a “second wall”) which is spaced apart from the outer wall  110  toward an inside of the outer wall  110 . 
     The outer wall  110  may include a plurality of first flame holes  112  through which the flame is discharged. The plurality of first flame holes  112  may be disposed to be spaced in a circumferential direction of the outer wall  110 . 
     The inner wall  114  may include a plurality of second flame holes  116  through which the flame is discharged. The plurality of second flame holes  116  may be disposed to be spaced in a circumferential direction of the inner wall  114 . 
     The burner head  10  may further include a bottom wall  118  which forms a mixed gas chamber  120  together with the outer wall  110  and the inner wall  114 . 
     The burner cap  30  may be seated on the outer wall  110  and the inner wall  114 . And the burner cap  30  may cover the mixed gas chamber  120 . At this time, the burner cap  30  may include an opening  31  so that the flame generated at the inner wall  114  passes through the burner cap  30 . For example, the opening  31  may be formed at a center portion of the burner cap  30 . 
     One or more mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131  (referring to  FIG. 4 ) through which the mixed gas is supplied may be connected to the bottom wall  118 . The mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131  (referring to  FIG. 4 ) may be integrally formed with the bottom wall  118 , or may be separately formed from the bottom wall  118  and then may be coupled to the bottom wall  118 . 
     The mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131  (referring to  FIG. 4 ) may pass through the opening  212  formed at the head support part  210  of the burner body  20 . While the burner head  10  is seated on the head support part  210  of the burner body  20 , the mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131  (referring to  FIG. 4 ) are spaced apart from the nozzles  222  provided at the gas supply part  220 . 
     Therefore, when the gas is sprayed from the nozzles  222 , air around the mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131  (referring to  FIG. 4 ) is introduced into the mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131  together with the gas. 
     The outer wall  110  and the inner wall  114  may be connected by a plurality of connection walls  121  and  122 . 
     Each of the outer wall  110  and the inner wall  114  may be formed to have an approximately “C” shape when seen from an upper side, and an end of the inner wall  114  and an end of the outer wall  110  may be connected by the plurality of connection walls  121  and  122 . 
     The plurality of connection walls  121  and  122  may include a first connection wall  121  and a second connection wall  122  which is spaced apart from the first connection wall  121 . 
     The first connection wall  121  may connect one end of the outer wall  110  with one end of the inner wall  114 . The second connection wall  122  may connect the other end of the outer wall  110  with the other end of the inner wall  114 . Therefore, the mixed gas chamber  120  may also have a “C” shape when seen from an upper side. 
     At least a part of the ignition part  230  may be located between the first connection wall  121  and the second connection wall  122 . 
     A space between the first connection wall  121  and the second connection wall  122  may serve as a flame spread passage through which the flame is spread between the outer wall  110  and the inner wall  114 . That is, the burner head  10  may include a flame spread passage  123  located between the first connection wall  121  and the second connection wall  122 . 
     The burner head  10  may further include a flame staying chamber  140  which provides a space configured to cause the flame to be stayed therein. 
     The flame staying chamber  140  may be formed by recessing a part  142  (hereinafter referred to as a “chamber forming wall”) of the outer wall  110  toward the inner wall  114 . One or more slits  143  may be formed at the chamber forming wall  142 . 
     According to the flame staying chamber  140 , the flame may be stayed in the flame staying chamber  140 , even though the flame of the outer wall  110  and the inner wall  114  is extinguished in the process of using the burner  1 , and thus the mixed gas may be reignited at the outer wall  110  and the inner wall  114  by the flame in the flame staying chamber  140 , thereby generating the flame. 
     In particular, when the burner  1  is used while being installed at a gas oven range, or the gas oven range is used in a built-in state, the flame of the inner wall  114  and the outer wall  110  of the burner  1  may be extinguished in the process of opening and closing an oven door of the gas oven range. Even in this case, the mixed gas may be reignited at the outer wall  110  and the inner wall  114  by the flame in the flame staying chamber  140 , and thus the flame may be generated. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the burner cap  30  according to the first embodiment, and  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the burner  1  according to the first embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 3 , a lower structure of the burner cap  30  is illustrated as an example. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the burner cap  30  according to the first embodiment may include a cap body  310  having an opening  31  formed at a center portion thereof. The flame generated in the second flame holes  116  of the inner wall  114  may pass through the opening  31 . 
     The burner cap  30  may further include a distribution guide  320  which protrudes downward from the cap body  310  so that the mixed gas introduced into the mixed gas chamber  120  within the burner head  10  is evenly distributed into the mixed gas chamber  120 . 
     The distribution guide  320  may be rounded, and both ends thereof may be spaced in the horizontal direction. For example, the distribution guide  320  may have a “C” shape when seen from an upper side. A circumferential length of the distribution guide  320  is longer than a horizontal distance between the spaced both ends. 
     While the burner cap  30  is seated on the burner head  10 , the distribution guide  320  may be accommodated in the mixed gas chamber  120 . 
     In order to be accommodated the distribution guide  320  in the mixed gas chamber  120 , the inner diameter of the distribution guide  320  is greater than the diameter of the opening  31  and the outer diameter of the inner wall  114 , the outer diameter of the distribution guide  320  may be smaller than the outer diameter of the outer wall  110 . 
     The both ends of the distribution guide  320  are spaced apart from each other for preventing interference with the first connection walls  121  and the second connection wall  122  while the burner cap  30  is seated on the burner head  10 . That is, the both ends of the distribution guide  320  are spaced and the flame spread passage  123  may be located between the both ends of the distribution guide  320 . 
     The distribution guide  320  may be spaced from the outer wall  110  and the inner wall  114 . The distribution guide  320  may include a guide lower surface  321  which has a predetermined width, and a first guide surface  322  and a second surface  323  which connect the guide lower surface  321  with the lower surface of the cap body  310 . 
     The first guide surface  322  is an inner circumferential surface of the distribution guide  320  and is disposed closer to the inner wall  114  than the outer wall  110 . That is, the first guide surface  322  is a surface facing the inner wall  114 . 
     The second guide surface  323  is an outer circumferential surface of the distribution guide  320  and is disposed closer to the outer wall  110  than the inner wall  114 . That is, the second guide surface  323  is a surface facing the outer wall  110 . 
     The distribution guide  320  has a “C” shape when seen from an upper side. Therefore, the guide lower surface  321 , each of the first guide surface  322  and the second guide surface  323  may also have a “C” shape when seen from an upper side. 
     That is, while the first guide surface  322  is spaced apart from the inner wall  114 , may be roundly disposed along the circumference of the inner wall  114 , and while the second guide surface  323  is spaced apart from the outer wall  110 , may be roundly disposed along the circumference of the outer wall  110 . 
     Each of the guide surfaces  322  and  323  serves to guide the mixed gas introduced into the mixed gas chamber  120  to flow along each of the guide surfaces  322  and  323  and then to be evenly distributed in the mixed gas chamber  120 . 
     Each of the first guide surface  322  and the second guide surface  323  may be disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical line. 
     At this time, an inclination angle of the first guide surface  322  may be the same or different from an inclination angle of the second guide surface  323 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , for example, an inclination angle of the second guide surface  323  is illustrated to be larger than an inclination angle of the first guide surface  322  with respect to the vertical line. 
     Each of the guide surfaces  322  and  323  is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical line to smoothly flow the mixed gas toward the first guide surface  322  and the second guide surface  323  while the mixed gas introduced into the mixed gas chamber  120  contacts with the guide lower surface  321 . 
     The guide lower surface  321  may be disposed to be longitudinally overlapped with a plurality of mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131 . 
     At this time, a width D 2  of the guide lower surface  321  may be smaller than an inner diameter D 1  of the mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131 . A width D 2  of the guide lower surface  321  may be greater than a radius of the mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131 . 
     Also, at least a part of the first guide surface  322  may be disposed to be longitudinally overlapped with the plurality of mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131 . At least a part of the second guide surface  323  may be disposed to be longitudinally overlapped with the plurality of mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131 . 
     That is, based on a vertical section of the burner  1 , the entire area of a right and left direction of the guide lower surface  321  may be longitudinally overlapped with the mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131 . 
     Therefore, a portion of the mixed gas introduced into the mixed gas chamber  120  through the mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131  contacts with the guide lower surface  321  of the distribution guide  320 , and then is changed a direction, another portion of the mixed gas introduced into the mixed gas chamber  120  may be in direct contact with the first guide surface  322  and the second guide surface  323 . 
     While the burner cap  30  is seated on the burner head  10 , the distribution guide  320  may include a groove  326  for preventing interference with the chamber forming wall  142  forming the flame staying space. 
     Hereinafter, a distributing process of the mixed gas by the distribution guide  320  will be described. 
       FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a mixed gas flowing along the distribution guide  320  of the burner cap  30 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 5 , a portion of the mixed gas MX introduced into the mixed gas chamber  120  through the plurality of mixed gas supply pipes  130  and  131  is collided with the guide lower surface  321  of the distribution guide  320 . The mixed gas MX collided with the guide lower surface  321  of the distribution guide  320  is changed a direction, and then rises along the first guide surface  322  and the second guide surface  323 . 
     A flow of the mixed gas MX rising along each of the guide surfaces  322  and  323  may have two flow patterns. 
     In a first flow pattern, the mixed gas MX contacts with the guide lower surface  321  of the distribution guide  320 , and then is changed a direction and flows toward the inner wall  114  or the outer wall  110  in a radial direction along the guide lower surface  321  of the distribution guide  320 . 
     In a second flow pattern, the mixed gas MX flows along the first guide surface  322  and the second guide surface  323  in the circumferential direction of the distribution guide  320 . 
     Among the two flow patterns, a flow resistance of the mixed gas MX in the second flow pattern is smaller than a flow resistance of the mixed gas MX in the first flow pattern. 
     Therefore, while the mixed gas MX divided by the distribution guide  320 , as described in the second flow pattern, the mixed gas MX colliding with the guide lower surface  321  flows along the first guide surface  322  and the second guide surface  323  in the circumferential direction of the distribution guide  320 . 
     That is, each of the guide surfaces  322  and  323  guides a flow of the mixed gas MX to flow in the circumferential direction of the mixed gas chamber  120 . And a portion of a mixed gas flowing in the circumferential direction, that is, a mixed gas flowing along the first guide surface  322  is distributed to the plurality of second flame holes  116 . 
     Another portion of the mixed gas flowing in the circumferential direction, that is, a mixed gas flowing along the second guide surface  323  is distributed to the plurality of first flame holes  112 . 
     Therefore, as the mixed gas introduced into the mixed gas chamber  120  flows along each of the guide surfaces  322  and  323  of the distribution guide  320 , the mixed gas may be evenly distributed into the mixed gas chamber  120 , and thus a flame generated at the plurality of first flame holes  112  of the outer wall  110  may be generally uniform, and also a flame generated at the plurality of second flame holes  116  of the inner wall  114  may be generally uniform. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the burner cap  30  according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The embodiment has a difference in a shape of a distribution guide, but is the same as the first embodiment in other element. Therefore, hereinafter, only a specific element of the embodiment will be described below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the burner cap  30  according to the second embodiment may include a plurality of distribution guides  340  and  341 . 
     The plurality of distribution guides  340  and  341  may include a first distribution guide  340  and a second distribution guide  341 . 
     Each of the first distribution guide  340  and the second distribution guide  341  includes a guide lower surface described at the first embodiment, and a first guide surface and a second guide surface. And, a lower surface of the first distribution guide  340  may be longitudinally overlapped with one of a plurality of mixed gas supply pipes, a lower surface of the second distribution guide  341  may be longitudinally overlapped with another of a plurality of mixed gas supply pipes 
     The first distribution guide  340  and the second distribution guide  341  may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance. 
     In order to enhance distribution performance of a mixed gas by each of the distribution guides  340  and  341 , a circumferential length of each of the first distribution guide  340  and the second distribution guide  341  is longer than a horizontal distance between the ends of the first distribution guide  340  and the ends of the second distribution guide  341 . 
     The chamber forming wall  142  and the connection walls  121  and  122  described in  FIG. 2  may be located in a distance between the first distribution guide  340  and the second distribution guide  341 . 
     Based on an imaginary line bisecting the burner cap  30  and passing the distance between the first distribution guide  340  and the second distribution guide  341 , each of the distribution guides  340  and  341  may be formed to be convexly rounded in the direction away from the imaginary line L. 
     According to the embodiment, the mixed gas introduced into the mixed gas chamber  120  may be evenly distributed into the mixed gas chamber  120  by the plurality of distribution guides. 
     Even though all the elements of the embodiments are coupled into one or operated in the combined state, the present disclosure is not limited to such an embodiment. That is, all the elements may be selectively combined with each other without departing the scope of the invention. Furthermore, when it is described that one comprises (or comprises or has) some elements, it should be understood that it may comprise (or include or have) only those elements, or it may comprise (or include or have) other elements as well as those elements if there is no specific limitation. Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms comprising technical or scientific terms are to be given meanings understood by those skilled in the art. Like terms defined in dictionaries, generally used terms needs to be construed as meaning used in technical contexts and are not construed as ideal or excessively formal meanings unless otherwise clearly defined herein. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the preferred embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, and also the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments. Furthermore, is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being comprised in the present disclosure. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.