Orifice Holder with Nested Cups for Stable Burner Flame Distribution

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas burner assemblies face challenges in maintaining consistent flame distribution and stability due to improper alignment or detachment of the burner cap, leading to inefficient air and fuel mixture and reduced flame quality.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an orifice holder with a body defining inner wall portions and outwardly extending cups that receive a stem from the spreader, creating a fluid communication pathway for airflow and fuel, ensuring proper alignment and directing the air and fuel mixture for consistent flame formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the burner cap is not properly aligned or detached, then flame distribution consistency deteriorates, but the structural simplicity is maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame distribution consistencyVSAvoidorifice holder structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The orifice holder is received within the burner cap assembly, creating a nested configuration where the orifice holder fits into the burner cap. This nesting ensures proper alignment through the receiving relationship between the two components, while the cups extend outward to engage with the stem, providing mechanical coupling that prevents detachment and maintains flame distribution consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The orifice holder acts as an intermediary component between the stem and the burner cap. It receives the stem within its body and provides a structured interface through its cups that engage with the stem's peripheral features. This intermediary structure ensures proper alignment and prevents improper detachment, thereby maintaining reliable flame distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the stem diameter is increased to improve alignment, then the airflow path restriction increases, but alignment precision is improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidairflow quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The stem is segmented with multiple peripheral features including protrusions and grooves at different locations. These segmented features engage with corresponding features in the orifice holder's cups, providing multiple alignment points that ensure precise positioning without requiring an overall increase in stem diameter, thus maintaining airflow quantity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stem features localized geometric variations at specific peripheral locations rather than a uniform diameter increase. The protrusions and grooves are positioned at specific locations to provide alignment functionality, while the overall stem diameter remains optimized for airflow. This local quality approach achieves alignment precision without restricting the general airflow path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the cups are extended outward to improve air intake, then the device complexity increases, but the air and fuel mixture quality is improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair fuel mixture qualityVSAvoidorifice holder geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cups serve multiple functions: they engage with the stem's peripheral features to ensure proper alignment, they provide structural coupling between the orifice holder and stem, and they facilitate air intake through their open configuration. This multi-functionality improves air-fuel mixture quality without requiring separate alignment mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment features and air intake functions are merged into the cup structure. The cups' geometric configuration simultaneously provides mechanical engagement with the stem and creates pathways for air flow. This merging of functions improves mixture quality while avoiding the need for additional separate components that would increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This configuration enhances flame stability and quality by ensuring even air and fuel distribution, maintaining consistent flame levels and improving the overall performance of the gas burner assembly.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the first cup and the second cup has a peripheral rim extending around an upper perimeter thereof and open at respective adjacent ends of the inner wall portions to define a fluid path past the peripheral rims, through the respective first and second cups, between the inner wall portions, and into the stem

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid communication:

Data Source

PatentUS11566791B2Orifice holder

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

An orifice holder includes a body defining inner wall portions facing each other and spaced apart at a first distance for receiving a portion of a stem of a spreader therebetween. The body further defines a first cup and a second cup, each extending outwardly from opposing sides of the inner wall portions. Each of the first cup and the second cup has a peripheral rim extending around an upper perimeter thereof and open at respective adjacent ends of the inner wall portions to define a fluid path past the peripheral rims, through the respective first and second cups, between the inner wall portions, and into the stem.