Annular Gas Burner Assembly With Shielded Center Temperature Probe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inward firing gas burners with centrally located spring loaded temperature sensors face challenges in preventing excessive heating and cleaning due to flame impingement and spill passage through perforations in the top panel.
Innovation Solution
A gas burner assembly with an annular burner body and a spring-loaded temperature probe positioned away from the top surface, limiting flame impingement and allowing spills to pass through the central combustion zone, facilitating easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a spring loaded temperature sensor is positioned at the center of an inward firing gas burner, then temperature monitoring is improved, but the sensor is excessively heated by flame impingement
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is extracted from the central combustion zone and repositioned to contact the cooking utensil from above the burner body, removing it from direct flame impingement while maintaining its temperature monitoring function
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking utensil acts as an intermediary between the flame and the temperature sensor, allowing the sensor to measure the temperature of the utensil indirectly without being directly exposed to the flame
2Ease of manufacture
If the top panel is perforated to allow burner components to pass through, then burner assembly is simplified, but spills can pass through and are difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The open center design that initially causes spills to pass through is converted into a benefit by allowing the temperature sensor to contact the cooking utensil from above, while the burner body itself acts as a barrier to prevent spills from reaching the panel below
3Use of energy by moving object
If an inward firing gas burner with open center is used, then burning efficiency is improved, but spill cleanup becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The burner assembly is segmented into an annular burner body and a centrally positioned temperature sensor, allowing the burner to maintain its efficient inward firing design while the sensor is positioned to prevent spill accumulation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents excessive heating of the temperature probe and simplifies spill cleanup by positioning the temperature probe outside the flame zone and allowing spills to pass through the burner assembly, improving both safety and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
A temperature probe is spring loaded away from a top surface of a top panel such that a distal end of the temperature probe is normally positioned above the annular burner body
Data Source
AI summary
A cooktop appliance includes a gas burner assembly with an annular burner body that defines a central combustion zone. Gaseous fuel is flowable from a fuel chamber within the annular burner body into the central combustion zone through a plurality of flame ports. A temperature probe is spring loaded away from a top surface of a top panel such that a distal end of the temperature probe is normally positioned above the annular burner body. The cooktop appliance also includes features for limiting or preventing flame impingement against the temperature probe.