Gas burner assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas cooktop appliances with spring-loaded temperature sensors face issues such as debris accumulation and liquid pooling beneath the burner, which complicates cleaning and can attract pests and produce odors.
Innovation Solution
A gas burner assembly design featuring a temperature probe with a movable distal end, a biasing mechanism, and a jacket with a bottom flange that positions debris-preventing components to direct debris away from the burner area, including a seal to hinder debris accumulation and spills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a spring loaded temperature sensor is used to contact cooking utensils, then temperature measurement functionality is achieved, but debris accumulates beneath the burner and liquids pool in inaccessible areas
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is extracted from a fixed position and made movable through a spring-loaded mechanism, allowing it to be repositioned to contact cooking utensils while preventing debris and liquids from accumulating beneath the burner assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor transitions from a static component to a dynamic one, moving between retracted and extended positions via spring mechanism, enabling it to adapt to different cooking utensil heights while maintaining debris prevention
2Reliability
If the temperature sensor is positioned to contact cooking utensils, then temperature monitoring is enabled, but access to areas beneath the burner becomes limited making cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The burner assembly is segmented into distinct components including the burner body, debris prevention component, and temperature sensor assembly, allowing the temperature sensor to be positioned for monitoring while the debris prevention component maintains cleaning accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
A debris prevention component acts as an intermediary element between the temperature sensor and the area beneath the burner, enabling temperature monitoring functionality while preventing debris accumulation that would hinder cleaning
3Quantity of substance
If food particles accumulate beneath the burner, then debris collection occurs, but pests are attracted and unpleasant odors are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The debris prevention component takes preliminary action to prevent food particles from accumulating beneath the burner assembly, stopping the harmful process before it can lead to pest attraction and odor generation
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the potential harm of debris accumulation into a benefit by using the temperature sensor's movement and the debris prevention component to channel debris away from accumulation zones, transforming a harmful situation into a clean, maintainable system
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 debris accumulation beneath the burner, enhancing cleaning accessibility and preventing pest attraction and odor issues, while maintaining temperature measurement functionality.
Implementation Method 1
A biasing mechanism is coupled to the temperature probe. The biasing mechanism urges the distal end of the temperature probe towards the extended position.
Data Source
AI summary
A gas burner assembly includes a burner body that defines a plurality of flame ports. A temperature probe extends from the burner body such that a distal end of the temperature probe is positioned above the burner body along the vertical direction. A jacket is positioned over the distal end of the temperature probe. A bottom flange of the jacket is positioned adjacent a bottom portion of the burner body.