Gas burner and hob comprising a gas burner

Generally, the present invention relates to the field of gas burners. More specifically, the present invention relates to a gas burner with multiple flame rings comprising different sizes for providing different heating power levels within a single gas burner .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gas burners are well-known in prior art. Specifically, cooking hob gas burners are known which comprise an injection holder and a burner crown assembly. Within said burner crown assembly, a combustion gas chamber is arranged which provides a mixture of gas and primary air to a flame ring comprising a plurality of flame ports .

Gas hobs are known which comprise multiple separated gas burners of different sizes, specifically, different diameters in order to provide burners with different heating power levels.

Disadvantageously, current gas hobs are not capable of providing heat at multiple high-power, large-sized burners. So, in case that the gas hob comprises four burners and four pieces of cookware should be heated at high-power burners, gas burners have to be used which do not have the desired power level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the embodiments of the present invention to provide a gas burner with improved flexibility in view of the heating power range provided by the gas burner and high effec- tivity. The objective is solved by the features of the independ ^¬ ent claims . Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims. If not explicitly indicated otherwise, embodiments of the invention and single features of said embodiments can be freely combined with each other.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a gas burner comprising :

- an injection holder with at least three gas injectors; and

— a burner crown assembly, the burner crown assembly compris ^¬ ing at least three flame rings with different sizes, the burner crown assembly further comprising at least three chambers and at least three pipes, each pipe being fluidly coupled with a single chamber.

Each gas injector is associated with one of said pipes for providing gas into said pipe, said pipe being adapted to receive primary air in the area of the injection holder and to provide a combustion mixture of gas and primary air to one of said flame rings of the burner crown assembly. In addition, adjacent flame rings are separated from each other based on an air gap provided between said adjacent flame rings. Said gas burner is advantageous because due to said at least three different-sized flame rings said gas burner can provide a small heating power by only powering the smallest flame ring or a higher heating power by powering two or more of said flame rings. Based on said air gaps, secondary aeration is provided which increases the effectivity of the combustion process.

According to embodiments, said air gap comprises an annular shape and is concentrically arranged with respect to said flame rings. So, in other words, an annular flame ring is radially surrounded by said air gap. The radial width of the air gap may be in the range of 4mm to 10 mm, particularly 6mm to 8mm.

Thereby, the combustion process of the adjacent flame ring is significantly improved.

According to embodiments, said burner crown assembly enables an air flow below an outer chamber in order to provide air to said air gaps. So, in other words, air is sucked below the bottom wall portion of the burner crown assembly and preferably above the workplate and flows subseguently upwardly through said air gap .

According to embodiments, said burner crown assembly comprises a burner crown base portion on which at least one flame spreader building said flame rings is based on. Said burner crown base portion may comprise multiple subdivisions for forming lower boundaries for said chambers. The burner crown base portion may be integrally formed, i.e. said burner crown may be a single- piece element. The subdivisions forming said chambers may be linked by bars / webs, said bars / webs bridging the air gaps between said chambers. The burner crown base portion may also comprise said pipes . According to embodiments, said burner crown base portion comprises wall portions for separating said chambers from said air gaps. Said wall portions may be side wall portions in order to laterally confine the chambers . Said wall portions may protrude upwardly from a bottom wall portion of said burner crown base portion.

According to embodiments, said wall portions are concentrically arranged in order to from concentric annular chambers . An inner chamber may be surrounded by an air gap, followed by a further chamber which surrounds said air gap. Similarly, said further chamber may be surrounded by a further air gap, said further air gap itself being surrounded by an outer chamber. Thereby a burner structure is obtained which ensures high efficiency of the gas burner .

According to embodiments, said pipes protrude downwardly from said burner crown base portion. Thereby, gas provided by a gas injector and ambient air can be received at a level below the bottom wall portion of the burner crown base portion.

According to embodiments, said flame rings are formed by one or more flame spreaders, wherein a flame spreader or a flame spreader portion comprises a protrusion protruding into the chamber in order to reduce the height of the chamber based on said protrusion. Said protrusion may be an arc-shaped protrusion. Based on said protrusion, the gas mixture distribution within the chamber can be balanced. According to embodiments, said protrusion is located at a position within the chamber at which said pipe providing said combustion mixture of gas and primary air into said chamber is arranged. Thereby, the combustion mixture of gas and primary air is deflected at said protrusion and splitted in two gas flow portions propagating in opposite directions .

According to embodiments, the chambers are separated from each other with respect to the provision of a combustion mixture of gas and primary air into the respective chamber. So, the combus- tion gas mixture provided to a certain chamber is not able to flow into another chamber provided radial inwardly or outwardly. Thereby, said combustion gas mixture can be provided to each flame ring separately. According to embodiments, each gas injector is coupled with a separate gas inlet. The gas inlet may be, for example, provided at the injection holder. Thereby it is possible to control the provision of gas separately to each chamber, respectively to each flame ring.

According to embodiments, the burner crown assembly is arranged above the injection holder. So, gas provided by the gas injectors arranged at the injection holder can flow upwardly into the respective chamber in order to be guided by said chamber towards the flame ports of the flame ring which are circumferentially arranged at the respective burner crown.

According to embodiments, the pipes are arranged at a lateral distance to each other. Thereby it is possible to arrange separate gas injectors below the free end of the pipes in order to provide selectively gas into said pipes.

According to embodiments, the ipes are arranged next to each other in ;a straight line. Sai' arrangement is advantageous be- cause the provision of gas to aid pipes is simplified. The ar- rangement of the gas injector may be chosen similarly in order to enable a technically simpl provision of gas to said pipes. According to embodiments, the pipe of the inner burner crown is arranged in the centre of the burner crown assembly. Said configuration is advantageous because the inner burner crown comprises the smallest cross-sectional area and due to the centred arrangement of the pipe, the construction of the burner crown assembly is simplified and a homogenous flame formation at the first flame ring is obtained.

According to embodiments, the longitudinal axes of the pipes are vertically arranged. Thereby, the gas guided within the pipe can flow upwardly through the pipe thereby being mixed with the primary air sucked at the bottom of the pipe.

According to embodiments, the inner chamber is covered by a cup- shaped flame spreader. Said inner chamber may be a circular chamber and the cup-shaped flame spreader may close said circular chamber at the upper side. The further flame spreaders may be ring-shaped flame spreaders . According to embodiments, each pipe comprises at its bottom an open free end. Said open free end provides an air inlet at which primary air is sucked in in order to be mixed with the gas provided by the gas injector. Said air inlet may be provided below a workplate of the gas burner.

According to embodiments, a spark plug and/or a thermocouple is provided in an air gap between the inner flame ring and a further flame ring adjacent to said inner flame ring. Thereby the ignition behaviour and operational safety is significantly im- proved.

According to a further aspect, the invention refers to a gas hob with a gas burner configured according to anyone of the preceding embodiments .

The terms "essentially", "substantially" or "approximately" as used in the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and/or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which :

Fig. 1 shows an example exploded perspective view of the gas burner according to an embodiment;

Fig. 2 shows an example top view of the gas burner according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a lateral sectional side view of a gas burner according to Fig. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 illustrates a secondary aeration effect caused by air gaps provided between adjacent flame rings;

Fig. 5 shows a lower perspective view of a flame spreader assembly with protrusions at the bottom side;

Fig. 6 shows a section of a ring-shaped flame spreader with an arc-shaped protrusion;

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of a pipe and a flame spreader comprising a protrusion at a bottom side, said protrusion projecting into a chamber confined between the burner crown base portion and the flame spreader.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Throughout the following description similar reference numerals have been used to denote similar elements, parts, items or features, when applicable .

Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a gas burner 1 according to an exploded view. The gas burner 1 comprises an injector holder

2. Said injector holder 2 may be adapted to be arranged below a work plate W of a gas hob. In other words, the injector holder 2 may be at least partially integrated in the cooktop. The injector holder 2 comprises gas inlets 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 which are flu- idly coupled with gas injectors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3. According to an embodiment, the injector holder 2 may comprise multiple end faces. For example, the injector holder 2 may comprise a bar or T-like shape and the gas inlets 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 are provided at the free ends or side portions of said injector holder 2. The gas injectors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 may be arranged at an upper side of the injector holder 2 in order to provide an upwardly directed gas flow. For example, the gas injectors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 may be arranged next to each other along a straight line . In addition, the gas burner 1 comprises a burner crown assembly 3. The burner crown assembly 3 may be adapted to be arranged above the injector holder 2. The burner crown assembly 3 may comprise multiple parts, namely a burner crown base portion 3.1, and one or more flame spreaders 3.2, 3.2', 3.2''. Said flame spreaders 3.2, 3.2', 3.2'' may be adapted to form flame rings FR1, FR2, FR3. The flame spreaders 3.2, 3.2', 3.2'' may be formed by separate pieces or a single flame spreader may be provided which comprises multiple flame spreader portions, each flame spreader/flame spreader portion forming a flame ring FRl, FR2, FR3. Said one or more flame spreaders 3.2, 3.2', 3.2'' are adapted to be arranged on top of the burner crown base portion 3.1.

More in detail, the burner crown base portion 3.1 comprises a cup-like shape with a bottom portion and an outer wall portion protruding upwardly for radially confining the gas burner 1. In addition, said burner crown base portion 3.1 comprises multiple wall portions WP . Said wall portions WP are arranged at a radial inner position with respect to the outer wall portion. In addition, said wall portions WP may be arranged concentrically with respect to the outer wall portion. Based on said outer wall portion and said wall portions WP multiple chambers CHl, CH2, CH3 are radially confined within the gas burner 1. Each one of the one or more flame spreaders 3.2, 3.2', 3.2'' or flame spreader portions may be associated with a certain chamber CHl, CH2, CH3. More in detail, said flame spreaders 3.2, 3.2', 3.2'' or flame spreader portions may be arranged on top of said burner crown base portion 3.1 in order to confine the chambers CHl, CH2, CH3 in an upward direction. Said chambers CHl, CH2, CH3 may be, for example, radial Venturi effect chambers. Said chambers CHl, CH2, CH2 may be arranged radially next to each other. The first, inner chamber CHl may be covered by a circular, cup- shaped flame spreader 3.2. The outer diameter of said first chamber CHl may be in the range of 45mm to 55mm, specifically 50mm, 51mm or 52mm. The following chambers CH2, CH3 may comprise ring-shaped flame spreaders 3.2', 3.2''. The outer diameter of the second chamber CH2 may be in the range of 85mm to 100mm, specifically between 90mm and 95mm, particularly 92mm, 93mm or 94mm. The outer diameter of the third chamber CH3 may be in the range of 130mm to 145mm, specifically between 135mm and 140mm, particularly 136mm, 137mm or 138mm. The height of the chambers may be in the range of 10mm to 15mm, specifically 12mm, 13mm or 14mm, particularly 13.5mm.

In order to provide a combustion gas mixture, each flame spreader 3.2, 3.2', 3.2'' forms a flame ring FRl, FR2, FR3. Said flame ring FRl, FR2, FR3 is provided circumferentially at the respective flame spreader 3.2, 3.2', 3.2''. As shown in Fig. 2, the flame rings FRl, FR2, FR3 may be arranged in a concentric manner with respect to a vertical middle axis of the gas burner 1, respectively its burner crown assembly 3. The flame rings FRl, FR2, FR3 may be constituted by multiple openings or grooves provided at a circumferential slanted side wall of the flame spreaders 3.2, 3.2', 3.2''. Said openings or grooves form flame ports of the burner.

In order to be able to selectively provide a combustion gas mixture in a certain chamber CHI, CH2, CH3, the chambers CHI, CH2, CH3 are separated from each other based on upper-mentioned wall portions and said combustion gas mixture is provided separately to each chamber CHI, CH2, CH3. More in detail, the burner crown assembly 3, specifically the burner crown base portion 3.1 comprises multiple pipes 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 adapted to provide a combustion gas mixture to said chamber CHI, CH2, CH3. Each pipe 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 may be associated with a certain chamber CHI, CH2, CH3. For example, a first pipe 3.1.1 may be adapted to provide said combustion gas mixture to the first chamber CHI, a second pipe 3.1.2 may be adapted to provide said combustion gas mixture to the second chamber CH2 and the third pipe 3.1.3 may be adapted to provide said combustion gas mixture to the third chamber CH3. Said pipes 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 may be Venturi effect pipes .

Said pipes 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 may be vertically arranged within the burner crown assembly 3, i.e. the longitudinal axis of the respective pipe 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 is vertically or essentially vertically arranged. Said pipes 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 may be, for example, an integral part of said burner crown base portion 3.1. The pipes 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 may protrude at the lower side of the burner crown base portion 3.1. Specifically, said burner crown base portion 3.1 may comprise a bottom wall portion at which said pipes 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 protrude downwardly. Each pipe 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 may comprise a first free end arranged within the respective chamber CHI, CH2, CH3 and a further free end arranged below the respective chamber CHI, CH2, CH3. Said further free end may be arranged closely above a gas injector

2.1, 2.2, 2.3. Thereby, the each gas injector 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 may be able to provide an upwardly directed steam of gas into said pipe 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 and said pipe 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 guides the gas into the chamber CHI, CH2, CH3 in which its upper free end is located.

The lower free ends of the pipe 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 may be at least partially open in order to be able to suck primary air. Said primary air is mixed within the respective pipe 3.1.1,

3.1.2, 3.1.3 and the chambers CHI, CH2, CH3 in order to provide a combustion gas mixture at the flame rings FRl, FR2, FR3.

As shown in Fig 1, said pipes 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 are arranged at a distance to each other. The pipe 3.1.1 (fluidly connected with the first, inner chamber CHI) may be arranged essentially in the center of the burner crown assembly 3 and the pipes 3.1.2, 3.1.3 may be arranged at opposite sides of said pipe 3.1.1. The gas injectors 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 may be arranged at the injection holder 2 such that - in the assembled state of the gas burner 1 - the lower free ends of the pipes 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 are arranged directly above the respective gas injector 2.1,

2.2, 2.3. Due to the different size of the flame rings FRl, FR2, FR3, respectively the flame spreaders 3.2, 3.2', 3.2'', the gas burner 1 provides multiple gas burner stages with different heating power. For example, small-sized flame ring FRl may provide lower heating power than flame ring FR2 and flame ring FR2 may provide lower heating power than flame ring FR3.

The gas burner 1 may be adapted to be driven according to a three-stage power concept, namely a lower power stage in which only the first flame ring FRl is active, a medium power stage in which the first and the second flame ring FRl, FR2 is active, and a maximum power level in which all flame rings FRl, FR2, FR3 are active. So, in other words, the flame ring FRl, FR2, FR3 are gradually switched on starting with the inner flame ring when increasing the heating power. The heating power may be varied in the range of 0.3KW to 5KW, specifically between (0.5KW to 4KW) .

As shown in Fig. 2 to 4, air gaps AG are provided between adjacent flame rings FRl, FR2, FR3, respectively, flame spreaders 3.2, 3.2', 3.2''. More in detail, a first air gap AG may be provided between an inner and a middle flame ring FRl, FR2 and a second air gap AG may be provided between a middle and an outer flame ring FR2, FR3. Said air gap AG may be provided by a space between adjacent chambers CHI, CH2, CH3. Said air gap AG may comprise an annular or essentially annular shape. As shown based on the arrows in Fig. 4, the burner crown base portion 3.1 may be arranged at a distance to a bottom hob portion in order to allow an air flow below the bottom wall portion of said burner crown base portion 3.1. Said air gaps AG enable a vertically up- ward-directed air flow between adjacent flame rings FRl, FR2, FR3. Thereby, a further aeration between said flame rings FRl, FR2, FR3 is obtained which improves the combustion. Specifically, said secondary aeration improves combustion. The spark plug 5 and the thermocouple 6 may be arranged in the air gap AG between the inner flame ring FRl and the subseguent flame ring FR2. Thereby the spark plug 5 is able to activate the inner flame ring FRl and control its state based on the thermocouple 6.

Fig. 5 to 7 show flame spreaders 3.2, 3.2', 3.2'' in closer detail. Said middle and outer flame spreaders 3.2', 3.2'' may comprise a protrusion 4, protruding downwardly from said flame spreaders 3.2', 3.2''. Based on said protrusion 4, the cross section of the chambers CH2, CH3 are reduced because said protrusion 4 extends from said flame spreaders 3.2', 3.2'' downwardly into the respective chamber CH2, CH3. So in other words, said protrusion 4 reduces the height h of the chamber CH2, CH3.

The position of the protrusion 4 may be chosen such that the protrusion 4 is arranged above the free end of the pipe 3.1.2, 3.1.3, through which the combustion gas mixture is provided into said chamber CH2, CH3 (cf . Fig. 7) . Based on said protrusion 4, the combustion gas mixture is deflected in a circumferential direction and preferably splitted in two combustion gas portions propagating in opposite directions. Thereby, the flame distribution around the respective flame ring FR2, FR3 is balanced. The protrusions 4 of the respective flame spreaders 3.2', 3.2'' may be provided at opposite sides of the center of the burner crown assembly 3, similar to the chosen position of the pipes 3.1.2, 3.1.3.

The height h of the protrusion 4 may be chosen such that the height of the chamber CH2, CH3 in the area of the protrusion 4 is in the range between 2mm and 4mm. The height of the protrusions 4 may decrease towards its outer ends. The length 1 of the protrusion 4 may be in the range between 10mm and 40mm, specifically between 13mm and 32mm.

In the disclosure before, an embodiment with three flame rings, respectively, flame spreaders have been described. It is worth mentioning that the gas burner may comprise even more than three flame rings, respectively, flame spreaders, e.g. four or five flame rings/ flame spreaders.

It should be noted that the description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of the proposed gas burner. Those skilled in the art will be able to implement various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention.

List of reference numerals

1 gas burner

2 injection holder

2a injection holder portion 2b injection holder portion

2.1, 2.2, 2.3 gas injector

2.4, 2.5, 2.6 gas inlet

3 burner crown assembly

3.1 burner crown base portion

3.1.1 pipe

3.1.2 pipe

3.1.3 pipe

3.2 flame spreader

3.2' flame spreader

3.2" flame spreader

4 protrusion

5 spark plug

6 thermocouple

AG air gap

CHI first chamber

CH2 second chamber

CH3 third chamber

FR1 first flame ring

FR2 second flame ring

FR3 third flame ring

1 length

h height

W workplate

WP wall portion