Annular Gas Burner Assembly to Reduce Spills and Ignition Pop

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inward firing gas burners face issues with spills passing through the top panel, making cleaning difficult, and gaseous fuel pooling leading to ignition 'pop' noise due to delayed ignition scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A cooktop appliance design featuring an annular burner body with flame ports and a fuel manifold that directs gaseous fuel into a central combustion zone, while the top panel is exposed at the central combustion zone to facilitate spill passage and reduce pooling, using a Venturi mixing tube for efficient fuel flow and secondary combustion air induction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the top panel is perforated to allow components to pass through, then component installation is enabled, but spills can pass through and are difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent installationVSAvoidcleaning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the perforated top panel design and extracts the problematic open center configuration. Instead, it uses a solid top panel with a burner assembly that has a closed center structure, eliminating the pathway for spills to pass through while maintaining component installation capability through alternative means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional design approach by making the center of the burner assembly closed rather than open. This inversion prevents spills from passing through the center while still allowing proper fuel distribution and combustion air flow through the burner body structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If the center of the inward firing gas burner is open, then fuel distribution is improved, but spills collect on components and are difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel distribution efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different structural characteristics in different regions of the burner assembly. The center is closed to prevent spill collection, while the peripheral regions maintain openings for proper fuel distribution and combustion air flow, achieving both goals through localized structural differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the annular wall collects gaseous fuel, then inward firing efficiency is improved, but fuel pooling occurs causing ignition pop noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveburning efficiencyVSAvoidignition pop noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating fuel distribution channels and air flow pathways that pre-distribute fuel and combustion air before they reach the combustion zone. This prevents fuel pooling from occurring in the first place, eliminating the condition that causes ignition pop noise while maintaining efficient combustion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary structures such as fuel distribution channels and air flow pathways that mediate between the fuel source and the combustion zone. These intermediaries ensure uniform fuel-air mixing and prevent direct pooling of fuel, thereby eliminating the harmful pop noise while maintaining burning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design effectively limits spills on the cooktop surface for easier cleaning and reduces the ignition 'pop' noise by preventing gaseous fuel pooling, enhancing the operational efficiency and cleanliness of the gas burner assembly.

Implementation Method 1

The gas burner assembly further includes a fuel manifold having a plurality of outlet passages and a horizontal Venturi mixing tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10605461B2Cooktop appliance with a gas burner assembly

Publication Date: 2020.03.31 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A cooktop appliance includes a top panel. A gas burner assembly includes an annular burner body positioned on the top panel at a top surface of the top panel. The annular burner body defines a central combustion zone. The annular burner body also defines a plurality of flame ports at the central combustion zone. Gaseous fuel is flowable from a fuel chamber within the annular burner body into the central combustion zone through the plurality of flame ports. The gas burner assembly further includes features for direction the gaseous fuel into the fuel chamber of the annular burner body. The annular burner body is open at the central combustion zone such that the top panel is exposed through the annular burner body at the central combustion zone.