Top-Ported Burner Layout for Even Grill Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas barbeque grills experience uneven heating due to the rear placement of carry over tubes, which exacerbates high temperatures and promotes oxidation and corrosion of burner materials, leading to reduced burner life and inefficient cooking.

Innovation Solution

A tubular burner design with top burner ports, carry over ports, and transition ports, along with a perpendicularly oriented carry over tube, is implemented to distribute heat more evenly by altering the pressure dynamics and flame transfer, using studs to enhance pressure at carry over ports and maintain fuel supply to top burner ports.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If carry over tubes are placed at the rear of the burners to take advantage of higher stagnant pressure, then flame transfer between burners is improved, but burner temperatures increase and promote oxidation and corrosion of burner materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame transferVSAvoidoxidation and corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional rear-mounted carry over tube design by placing the carry over tube at the front of the burner, opposite to the traditional configuration. This inversion allows the burner to take advantage of higher stagnant pressure at the front for effective flame transfer while avoiding the high-temperature zone at the rear, thereby reducing oxidation and corrosion of burner materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by positioning the carry over tube at a specific location (front of the burner) where the pressure conditions are favorable for flame transfer but the temperature conditions are less severe. This localized optimization allows the system to exploit favorable conditions at one location while avoiding unfavorable conditions at another location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If burners are configured with side mounted ports, then flame can wrap closely around the burner, but temperatures reach 1000°F to 1200°F causing micro-fissures and material degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking efficiencyVSAvoidburner life

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters by altering the burner configuration to include top-mounted ports and a front-positioned carry over tube. This configuration change modifies the flame pattern and temperature distribution, reducing peak temperatures from 1000°F-1200°F to lower levels, thereby extending burner life while maintaining cooking efficiency through improved fuel distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the burner into distinct functional zones with top-mounted ports for primary combustion and a separate front-positioned carry over tube for flame transfer. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each zone, enabling efficient cooking in the combustion zone while protecting the burner material in the carry over zone from excessive temperatures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the firebox is constructed with rear exhaust and the carry over tube is placed at the rear, then flame transfer is facilitated, but uneven heating is exacerbated with higher temperatures at the rear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame transferVSAvoidtemperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional rear-mounted carry over tube design by placing it at the front of the burner. This inversion counteracts the rearward heat accumulation caused by the rear exhaust configuration, distributing heat more evenly throughout the firebox while maintaining effective flame transfer through the carry over tube.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 design reduces burner temperatures by 200-300°F, improves burner life, and allows for a higher turn-down ratio of fuel input, enabling more efficient and even cooking with optional low-temperature settings.

Implementation Method 1

distribute heat more evenly by altering the pressure dynamics and flame transfer, using studs to enhance pressure at carry over ports and maintain fuel supply to top burner ports

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure dynamics: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

Gas may be injected into the burners using this hole. Combusting gas escapes from the burners via side mounted burner ports.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS9933157B2Top ported burner

Publication Date: 2018.04.03 W C BRADLEY CO

AI summary

A burner with a tubular body has a proximal end, a distal end, and a medial portion therebetween and further defining an upper side and a lower side. The burner has a gas orifice on the proximal. A plurality of burner ports open on the top side and span between the medial portion to the distal end. At least one carry over port opens between the top side and bottom side of the body proximal to the plurality of burner ports. At least one transition ports opens on the medial portion of the body between the at least one carry over port and the plurality of burner ports.