Gas Burner Assembly with Optional Pilot Flame to Prevent Overheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas burners with pilot flames often result in overheating due to focused heat distribution, leading to separate designs and tooling requirements for burners with and without pilot flames, which are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A burner assembly design that includes a ring base and cap defining multiple flame ports, with a pilot insert and igniter configured to generate a spark, allowing for operation with or without a pilot flame, and an adjustable electrode position for ignition, enabling flexible heat output and reduced overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a pilot flame is added to a gas burner, then a discrete low heat output is achieved, but the heat distribution becomes focused causing overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The burner is segmented into multiple functional zones: a central pilot flame port for low heat output and discrete cooking zones, and an outer burner ring for high heat output. This segmentation allows independent control of heat distribution patterns, enabling the pilot flame to provide gentle localized heat without overwhelming the entire cooking surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the burner are designed with different functional qualities: the central pilot port provides focused low-intensity heat for delicate tasks, while the surrounding burner ring provides high-intensity heat for rapid cooking. The cap structure with its specific geometry creates localized heat diffusion zones that prevent any single area from overheating.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a pilot flame is added to a gas burner, then low temperature cooking is enabled, but separate designs and tooling are required
Solution Approach 1:
The burner assembly is designed as a universal multi-functional unit that can operate in multiple modes: pilot flame only for low temperature cooking, outer ring only for high heat cooking, or both simultaneously for varied cooking requirements. This eliminates the need for separate burner designs by integrating multiple functions into a single unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot flame system and the main burner ring are merged into a single integrated assembly sharing common components including the base body, cap, fuel supply connections, and control mechanisms. This consolidation allows one burner design to replace what would traditionally require separate pilot and main burner units.
3Ease of operation
If the pilot flame port is positioned outside the burner ring, then the pilot flame is accessible, but the heat is remote from the center of the cookware
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot flame port is positioned in the vertical dimension at the center of the burner assembly, extending upward through the cap structure. This central vertical positioning places the pilot flame directly beneath the center of cookware, optimizing heat delivery to the cookware center while maintaining accessibility through the cap opening.
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 allows for efficient heat diffusion, preventing overheating and enabling seamless transition between pilot and non-pilot flame configurations without additional parts, expanding the heat output range and reducing the need for separate tooling.
Implementation Method 1
An igniter is configured to generate an ignition spark
Implementation Method 2
A cap is positioned on the ring base such that the ring base and the cap collectively define a plurality of flame ports
Data Source
AI summary
A burner assembly includes a base body. A cap is positioned on the base body such that the base body and the cap collectively define a plurality of flame ports. A pilot insert is mounted to the base body. The pilot insert and the base body collectively defining a pilot port. An igniter is configured to generate an ignition spark. An upper spark target is positioned proximate the plurality of flame ports, and a lower spark target is positioned proximate the pilot port. An electrode of the igniter is positionable proximate either the upper spark target or the lower spark target.