Tapered Burner Tube and Venturi for Stable Grill Flame Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional burner tubes in gas grills suffer from poor flame quality, uneven fuel pressure, and reduced lifespan due to burrs and obstructions from punched gas ports, leading to turbulence and corrosion, while existing venturis fail to ensure smooth gas/air flow and consistent ignition.
Innovation Solution
The design features a tapered burner tube with raised gas ports formed from the inside to the outside, eliminating burrs and obstructions, and a venturi member with specific arcuate portions to direct turbulence away from gas ports, ensuring laminar flow and consistent pressure, along with an air shutter for adjusting the fuel/air mixture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gas ports are punched into the burner tube from outside to inside, then manufacturing is simplified and cost is reduced, but burrs and obstructions are created that disrupt fuel/air flow and reduce flame quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional punching direction by forming gas ports from the inside of the burner tube outward, rather than from outside to inside. This reversal eliminates the creation of burrs and obstructions on the interior surface, ensuring smooth fuel/air flow while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through techniques like internal drilling or forming processes
2Temperature
If flames sit directly on the burner tube surface, then heat transfer to cooking surface is maximized, but burner tube temperature increases causing corrosion and port clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent raises the gas ports above the burner tube surface to create a vertical dimension offset. This elevation positions the flame base above the tube surface rather than directly on it, allowing heat transfer while preventing direct flame contact that causes excessive temperature, corrosion, and port clogging. The ports extend upward to maintain combustion efficiency without the harmful thermal effects
3Ease of manufacture
If a uniform cross-section burner tube is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but fuel pressure becomes uneven along the tube length affecting flame quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a tapered burner tube where the cross-sectional dimensions vary along the length, with the interior diameter being larger at the fuel inlet end and smaller at the outlet end. This non-uniform geometry compensates for pressure drop along the tube, maintaining consistent fuel pressure and flow velocity to all gas ports. The specific taper ratio is designed to balance manufacturing feasibility with optimal fuel distribution
4Speed
If a venturi region is formed by pinching the tube, then gas/air mixture velocity is increased, but turbulence forms at the upper portion adjacent to gas ports resulting in poor flame quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional pinched venturi with smoothly curved transition sections that guide the gas/air mixture flow. The curved geometry eliminates sharp angles and turbulence-generating features, providing gradual acceleration while maintaining laminar flow. The smooth contours direct flow away from the upper portion adjacent to gas ports, ensuring consistent velocity without turbulence-induced flame quality degradation
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 quality, reduces corrosion and clogging, extends the burner tube's lifespan, and provides stable and consistent gas/air delivery, improving ignition and flame stability.
Implementation Method 1
a venturi region to increase the velocity of the gas/air mixture in the tube
Implementation Method 2
turbulence can form at the upper portion of the burner tube adjacent to the gas outlet port
Implementation Method 3
provide a smooth and consistent flow of the gas/air mixture along the top of the burner tube adjacent to the gas ports
Data Source
AI summary
The present inventions provide, among other things, tapered burner tubes having raised gas ports and a smooth interior surface free from obstructions. Venturi members creating a smooth flow of the gas/air mixture along the top of the burner tube are also provided.