Sliding Orifice Holder Assembly for Burner Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of burners in gas-powered cooking appliances is inefficient due to the lack of a secure and directional mechanism for the orifice holder, leading to potential misalignment and increased assembly time and resource requirements.
Innovation Solution
A sliding orifice holder with opposing flanges that engage with slots in a burner box, featuring a locating feature and surface for single directional orientation, and a method for assembling the burner that includes aligning and securing the orifice holder within the slots using a linear direction and fasteners, ensuring a hands-free assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional orifice holder installation method is used, then the assembly process requires manual handling and alignment, but this leads to increased assembly time and reduced installation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The slots in the burner box are pre-configured with specific geometries (narrow portions and enlarged portions) to guide the orifice holder flanges during insertion. The flanges are designed with corresponding features that align with these pre-prepared slot structures, enabling automatic alignment and securing the orifice holder in the correct position without requiring manual adjustment during assembly.
2Ease of operation
If manual alignment and securing of the orifice holder is performed, then flexibility in positioning is maintained, but this increases the complexity of the assembly process and resource requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The slots are designed with asymmetric geometries where each slot has a narrow portion and an enlarged portion at specific locations. The opposing flanges of the orifice holder have corresponding asymmetric features that only fit into the slots in one specific orientation. This asymmetric design automatically guides the assembler to the correct positioning, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the orifice holder uses a non-directional engagement mechanism, then installation is more flexible, but this results in potential misalignment and reduced installation precision
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism is segmented into distinct functional portions: the slots are divided into narrow portions (for precise positioning and alignment) and enlarged portions (for inserting the flanges). The flanges themselves are segmented with specific features that interact with each portion of the slot. This segmentation allows the mechanism to provide both precise alignment and secure engagement without requiring a complex overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A heating appliance includes a cooktop having a plurality of burners. A burner box defines a burner position for each burner, each burner position having a plurality of slots. An orifice holder is slidably engaged with the plurality of slots in a linear direction. Opposing flanges extend from a bottom portion of the orifice holder that extend through the plurality of slots to be at least partially secured therein, wherein the opposing flanges are adapted to engage the plurality of slots in only one directional orientation.