Burner Electrode Chamber Assembly to Reduce Wire Routing Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional assembly process of home cooking appliances requires significant time and effort to connect the burner electrode to the igniter box, as it involves routing an igniter wire through multiple holes, leading to potential erosion and damage, and increased complexity due to the need for extra wire length.
Innovation Solution
An electrode chamber is integrated into the burner rail, allowing direct electrical connection between the burner electrode and the igniter box without routing the igniter wire through the rangetop, reducing assembly time and eliminating the need for extra wire length, thus enhancing durability and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the igniter wire is routed through multiple holes in the rangetop and burner components, then the burner electrode can be electrically connected to the igniter box, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the igniter wire routing from the complex path through multiple holes (burner rail, heat shield, maintop, burner pedestal) and eliminates it by providing direct electrical connection through the electrode chamber body, which serves as the electrical conduit
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode chamber body merges the electrical connection function with the structural support function, integrating the electrical connection path into the chamber body itself rather than using a separate wire routing system
2Reliability
If the igniter wire is routed through multiple holes, then electrical connection is achieved, but the wire insulation is exposed to erosion and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the igniter wire from the harmful environment by eliminating the wire routing through holes that expose insulation to erosion, replacing it with a protected electrical connection through the electrode chamber body
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode chamber body provides inherent protection against erosion and damage by serving as the electrical connection medium, eliminating the need for vulnerable wire insulation in the erosion-prone hole routing paths
3Adaptability or versatility
If extra length of igniter wire is provided to route through holes, then connection flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wire routing flexibility requirement and eliminates it by providing direct electrical connection through the electrode chamber body, removing the need for extra wire length and associated assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing extra wire length to achieve routing flexibility, the patent inverts the approach by making the structural component (electrode chamber body) itself the electrical connection path, eliminating the wire routing problem
Data Source
AI summary
A home cooking appliance having an electrode chamber for a burner assembly is provided. The home cooking appliance includes a burner rail, maintop surface, burner assembly including a burner electrode, igniter box below the burner rail and maintop surface, and an electrode chamber on the burner rail. The electrode chamber includes a body having a cavity and a first opening at a first end of the body, wherein a portion of the burner electrode is disposed in the cavity, an electrical contact surface in the cavity that engages and electrically connects the electrical contact surface to the portion of the burner electrode, and an electrical connector at a second end of the body, the electrical connector being electrically connected to the electrical contact surface and to the igniter box, thereby electrically connecting the igniter box to the portion of the burner electrode.