A gas cooktop may include a wok ring instead of a burner cover to concentrate heat on a bottom of a wok positioned on the wok ring. A wok has a curved concave shape that produces a small, hot area at the bottom allowing some of the food to be seared by intense heat while using relatively little fuel. The sloped sides of the wok make it easier to use a toss cooking technique, concentrate bite-sized or finely chopped stir-fry ingredients into the center of the wok, and provide a larger usable cooking surface versus western-styled pots and pans, which typically have more vertical edges.
In an example embodiment, a chimney assembly for a wok burner assembly for a gas cooktop is provided. The chimney assembly may include, but is not limited to, a cone assembly and a chimney. The cone assembly may include, but is not limited to, a wall, a support flange, and a bottom wall. The wall forms a truncated cone having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first circumferential edge, and a second circumferential edge. The truncated cone does not include a cone apex. The support flange extends from the outer surface of the wall. The bottom wall extends between the second circumferential edge of the wall. The bottom wall includes a burner aperture wall formed through the bottom wall. A length of the second circumferential edge is smaller than a length of the first circumferential edge. The chimney may include, but is not limited to, an inner wall, an outer wall, a bottom chimney wall, and a plurality of tabs. The inner wall forms a first cylinder and has a third circumferential edge and a fourth circumferential edge. The outer wall forms a second cylinder and has a fifth circumferential edge and a sixth circumferential edge. The outer wall circumscribes the inner wall. The inner wall and the outer wall are separated by an air gap. The bottom chimney wall extends between the third circumferential edge and the fifth circumferential edge. The plurality of tabs extend from the fourth circumferential edge toward a center of the first cylinder. The support flange rests on the plurality of tabs when the cone assembly is mounted within the inner wall of the chimney.
In another example embodiment, a wok burner assembly for a gas cooktop is provided. The wok burner assembly may include, but is not limited to, the chimney assembly, a wok burner mounted through the burner aperture wall, an outer support frame, a top plate, and a wok ring. The top plate may include, but is not limited to, a ring aperture wall formed through the top plate. The top plate is mounted on the outer support frame, which supports the top plate above the fourth circumferential edge of the inner wall. The wok ring is positioned adjacent the first circumferential edge of the wall within the ring aperture wall.
In yet another example embodiment, a gas cooktop is provided. The gas cooktop may include, but is not limited to, a housing comprising one or more walls, an input gas line, the chimney assembly, the wok burner, the outer support frame, the top plate, the wok ring, and a knob assembly. The knob assembly may include, but is not limited to, a valve configured to connect to the input gas line to receive gas, and a knob mounted to the valve to control a flow of the received gas from the valve to the wok burner when the knob is rotated.
Other principal features of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings, the detailed description, and the appended claims.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosed subject matter will hereafter be described referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.
Referring to
An “XYZ” coordinate reference frame is illustrated in
First cooktop 100 and second cooktop 100a may include a front section 102, a right wall 104, a left wall 106, a back wall 300 (shown referring to
First cooktop 100 and second cooktop 100a may include various numbers of gas burners in various arrangements relative to wok burner assembly 122. A knob of the plurality of control knobs 112 is connected to each gas burner including a wok burner 140, as understood by a person of skill in the art, to control a flame produced by the respective burner. For illustration, first cooktop 100 includes five burners: a first burner 116, a second burner 118, wok burner 140, a third burner 126, and a fourth burner 128. As a result, the plurality of control knobs 112 of first cooktop 100 includes five knobs.
First burner 116, second burner 118, third burner 126, and fourth burner 128 may be rated to provide the same or a different number of units of energy that may be expressed, for example, in British thermal units (BTU) or in joules (J). One BTU may equal 1055.06 J as understood by a person of skill in the art. For example, first burner 116 and third burner 126 may provide a higher BTU than second burner 118. Fourth burner 128 may be a small BTU wok burner. Wok burner 140 may be a high BTU burner that supports cooking of food in a large wok. For example, wok burner 140 of wok burner assembly 122 may be rated to provide greater than ˜22,000 BTU. In contrast, the small BTU wok burner of fourth burner 128 may be rated to provide between ˜15,000 and ˜22,000 BTU. Wok burner 140 may be a single valve with a single supply line and inner and outer burner ports on the burner ring.
For illustration, second cooktop 100a includes three burners: wok burner 140, third burner 126, and fourth burner 128. As a result, the plurality of control knobs 112 of second cooktop 100a includes three knobs. Third burner 126 and fourth burner 128 of first cooktop 100 have been moved to a left side of wok burner assembly 122 in the burner arrangement of second cooktop 100a. In alternative embodiments, wok burner assembly 122 may be integrated into a cooktop with any number and arrangement of burners rated to provide various BTU levels.
For illustration, first cooktop 100 further includes a first grate 114, a first drip pan 120, a second grate 124, and a second drip pan 130. For illustration, second cooktop 100a further includes second grate 124 and second drip pan 130. First grate 114 mounts between front section 102, left wall 106, back wall 300, and wok burner assembly 122 and extends over first burner 116 and second burner 118 to support various cooking receptacles as understood by a person of skill in the art. First drip pan 120 mounts between front section 102, left wall 106, back wall 300, and wok burner assembly 122 and below first burner 116 and second burner 118 to catch various items that fall between prongs of first grate 114 as understood by a person of skill in the art. First burner 116 and second burner 118 are mounted through openings in first drip pan 120.
Second grate 124 mounts between front section 102, right wall 104, back wall 300, and wok burner assembly 122 and extends over third burner 126 and fourth burner 128 to support various cooking receptacles. Second drip pan 130 mounts between front section 102, right wall 104, back wall 300, and wok burner assembly 122 and below third burner 126 and fourth burner 128 to catch various items that fall between prongs of second grate 124 as understood by a person of skill in the art. Third burner 126 and fourth burner 128 are mounted through openings in second drip pan 130. First grate 114 and second grate 124 may have various prong designs.
First burner 116, second burner 118, wok burner 140, third burner 126, and fourth burner 128 provide a flame to heat the various cooking receptacles placed on first grate 114, on second grate 124, and/or on a wok ring 132. The burners may be single or multiple level burners, such as a dual stack burner. Merely for illustration, each burner may be implemented similar to the stacked dual gas burner described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,354, which issued Nov. 27, 2001, to Wolf Appliance Inc., the assignee of the present application. Other gas burner designs may be used. The burners may be arranged in manners other than that shown in the illustrative embodiments of
First cooktop 100 and second cooktop 100a may include a greater or a fewer number of components. The one or more components of first cooktop 100 and second cooktop 100a may be formed of one or more materials, such as various metals (i.e., stainless steel, cast iron, etc.) glass, and/or plastics having a sufficient strength and rigidity as well as thermal and permeability properties sufficient to support the described application.
As used herein, the term “mount” includes join, unite, connect, couple, associate, insert, hang, hold, affix, attach, fasten, bind, paste, secure, hinge, bolt, screw, rivet, solder, weld, glue, form over, form in, layer, mold, rest on, rest against, abut, and other like terms. The phrases “mounted on”, “mounted to”, and equivalent phrases indicate any interior or exterior portion of the element referenced. These phrases also encompass direct mounting (in which the referenced elements are in direct contact) and indirect mounting (in which the referenced elements are not in direct contact, but are connected through an intermediate element) unless specified otherwise. Elements referenced as mounted to each other herein may further be integrally formed together, for example, using a molding or thermoforming process as understood by a person of skill in the art. As a result, elements described herein as being mounted to each other need not be discrete structural elements unless specified otherwise. The elements may be mounted permanently, removably, or releasably unless specified otherwise.
Use of directional terms, such as top, bottom, right, left, front, back, upper, lower, horizontal, vertical, behind, etc. are merely intended to facilitate reference to the various surfaces of the described structures relative to the orientations introduced in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting in any manner unless otherwise indicated.
Wok burner assembly 122 may include wok ring 132, a top plate 134, an outer support frame 136, a chimney assembly 138, wok burner 140, a front brace 304 (shown referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In the illustrative embodiment, top plate 134 may include a top wall 400, a front wall 402, a left side wall 404, a right side wall 406, a back wall 408, and a top plate ring aperture wall 602 (shown referring to
In the illustrative embodiments, top wall 400 is generally rectangular though top wall 400 may have other shapes in other embodiments. For example, top wall 400 may form other polygons, a circle, an ellipse, etc. Top plate ring aperture wall 602 is formed through top wall 400 and is sized and shaped to accommodate at least a portion of wok ring 132 therethrough. Top plate ring aperture wall 602 is generally circular though top plate ring aperture wall 602 may have other shapes in other embodiments. For example, top plate ring aperture wall 602 may form a polygon, an ellipse, etc. For illustration, top plate 134 may be formed of stainless steel or cast iron with various finishes.
Referring to
Vent frame 308 may include a bottom wall 800, a chimney aperture wall 802, a left upturned edge 804, a right upturned edge 806, a back wall 808, a back flange 810, a front left wall 812, a front right wall 813, a front flange 814, a left side wall 816, a left side flange 818, a right side wall 820, a right side flange 822, and a front downturned edge 900 (shown referring to
Chimney aperture wall 802 is formed through bottom wall 800 and is sized to accommodate chimney assembly 138. A portion of chimney aperture wall 802 extends along a right side of front left wall 812 and along a left side of front right wall 813 and in a portion of front flange 814. Chimney aperture wall 802 is generally rectangular with chamfered corners adjacent the corner between each pair of walls. Chimney aperture wall 802 is generally rectangular though chimney aperture wall 802 may have other shapes in other embodiments. For example, chimney aperture wall 802 may form other polygons, a circle, an ellipse, etc.
Left upturned edge 804 and right upturned edge 806 extend up from a portion of chimney aperture wall 802 of bottom wall 800. Left upturned edge 804 extends generally parallel to left side wall 816. Right upturned edge 804 extends generally parallel to right side wall 820. Front downturned edge 900 extends down from a second portion of chimney aperture wall 802 of bottom wall 800. Front downturned edge 900 extends generally parallel to front left wall 812 and front right wall 813. The opening between front left wall 812 and front right wall 813 provides an area for gas piping for wok burner 140, wiring for an igniter and for flame sensing, etc.
Back wall 808, front left wall 812, front right wall 813, left side wall 816, and right side wall 820 extend vertically up from bottom wall 800 and may each include one or more apertures through which heat can escape from wok assembly 122. For example, back wall 808 includes a plurality of apertures 824. Each wall of vent frame 308 may include a fewer or a greater number of apertures of various sizes and shapes.
Back flange 810 extends horizontally from back wall 808 generally parallel to bottom wall 800 though in a direction opposite to bottom wall 800. Front flange 814 extends horizontally from front left wall 812 and from front right wall 813 and generally parallel to bottom wall 800 though in a direction opposite to bottom wall 800. Left side flange 818 extends horizontally from left side wall 816 generally parallel to bottom wall 800 though in a direction opposite to bottom wall 800. Right side flange 822 extends horizontally from right side wall 820 generally parallel to bottom wall 800 though in a direction opposite to bottom wall 800. Back flange 810, front flange 814, left side flange 818, and right side flange 822 form a support for support platform 600.
Referring to
Support platform 600 may include a top support wall 1000, a flue aperture wall 1002, a back support wall 1006, a back support flange 1008, a left support wall 1010, a right support wall 1100, a front support wall 1102, a left mounting tab 1012, and a right mounting tab 1014. Back support wall 1006, left support wall 1010, right support wall 1100, and front support wall 1102 extend vertically down from top support wall 1000. Top support wall 1000 may be formed of various materials such as metal. In the illustrative embodiments, top support wall 1000 is generally rectangular though top support wall 1000 may have other shapes in other embodiments. For example, top support wall 1000 may form other polygons, a circle, an ellipse, etc.
Flue aperture wall 1002 is formed through top support wall 1000 and is sized to accommodate cone assembly 1016 and a chimney opening width 2200 (shown referring to
The plurality of tabs 1004 may support cone assembly 1016. A number and a positioning of the plurality of tabs 1004 may be selected to support cone assembly 1016 above bottom wall 302. For illustration, the number of the plurality of tabs may range from two tabs to twelve tabs. The plurality of tabs 1004 may be distributed equally around flue aperture wall 1002.
Back support flange 1008 extends horizontally from back support wall 1006 generally parallel to top support wall 1000 though in a direction opposite to top support wall 1000. Left mounting tab 1012 extends horizontally from left support wall 1010 generally parallel to top support wall 1000 though in a direction opposite to top support wall 1000. Right mounting tab 1014 extends horizontally from right support wall 1100 generally parallel to top support wall 1000 though in a direction opposite to top support wall 1000. Back support flange 1008, left mounting tab 1012, and right mounting tab 1014 may include apertures to accommodate various types of fasteners that may be used to mount support platform 600 to vent frame 308, to front brace 304 and back brace 306, and/or to bottom wall 302. Support platform 600 may further mount to chimney assembly 138 using various fasteners.
Referring to
Ring top wall 1202 extends generally horizontally from ring aperture wall 1200 away from a center of ring aperture wall 1200. A chamfered edge may be formed as a transition between ring aperture wall 1200 and ring top wall 1202. Ring top outer wall 1204 extends generally vertically down from ring top wall 1202. A second chamfered edge may be formed as a transition between top outer wall 1204 and ring top wall 1202. Ring top outer wall 1204 further may slope outward from ring top wall 1202 to ring flange 1300.
First notch 1208 and second notch 1210 are formed as notches in ring top wall 1202. First notch 1208 and second notch 1210 may be sized and shaped to facilitate a flow of hot air from wok burner 140. Wok ring 132 may include a fewer or a greater number of notches.
Ring flange 1300 extends generally horizontally from top outer wall 1204 toward a center of ring aperture wall 1200. Ring flange 1300 forms a flat surface for supporting wok ring 132 on top wall 400 of top plate 134 within top plate ring aperture wall 602. Ring bottom outer wall 1206 extends generally vertically down from ring flange 1300. Ring bottom outer wall 1206 is sized and shaped to fit within and to generally abut top plate ring aperture wall 602. Bottom wall 1302 extends generally horizontally from ring bottom outer wall 1206 toward a center of ring aperture wall 1200. Bottom wall 1302 extends between ring bottom outer wall 1206 and ring aperture wall 1200. A third chamfered edge may be formed as a transition between bottom wall 1302 and ring aperture wall 1200.
Referring to
Top plate 134 is mounted on outer support frame 136 to cover the opening between front wall 1402, left wall 1404, right wall 1406, and back wall 1408. Outer support frame 136 may be sized and shaped to align vertically with top plate 134 when top plate 134 is mounted on outer support frame 136. Outer support frame 136 may be formed of various materials such as metal. In the illustrative embodiments, outer support frame 136 is generally rectangular though outer support frame 136 may have other shapes in other embodiments. For example, outer support frame 136 may form other polygons, a circle, an ellipse, etc. For illustration, various types of fasteners may be used to mount front wall 1402, left wall 1404, right wall 1406, and back wall 1408 to each other to form outer support frame 136. Outer support frame 136 and top plate 134 may be integrally formed together. Outer support frame 136 may rest on top plate 134.
Referring to
Inner cone 1500 may include a cone wall 1503 that forms a truncated cone that does not include a cone apex. Cone wall 1503 may include an inner surface 1504, an outer surface 1506, a top circumferential edge 1507, and a bottom circumferential edge 1600. In the illustrative embodiment, the truncated cone is a truncated right circular cone. A length of bottom circumferential edge 1600 is smaller than a length of top circumferential edge 1507 so that the truncated cone opens upward. In the illustrative embodiment of
Inner cone 1500 may further include a support flange 1508 and a rim wall 1509. Support flange 1508 extends from outer surface 1506 of cone wall 1503. Support flange 1508 is positioned near top circumferential edge 1507. Rim wall 1509 extends downward from an edge of support flange 1508 opposite outer surface 1506.
Crumb catch 1502 may include a bottom wall 1700, a side wall 1510, a burner aperture wall 1702, a circumferential edge 1704, and a plurality of support arms 1706. Bottom wall 1700 extends between bottom circumferential edge 1600 to close inner cone 1500. In the illustrative embodiments, bottom wall 1700 is generally circular though bottom wall 1700 may have other shapes in other embodiments. For example, bottom wall 1700 may form a polygon, an ellipse, etc.
Burner aperture wall 1702 is formed through bottom wall 1700. In the illustrative embodiment, burner aperture wall 1702 is generally circular though burner aperture wall 1702 may form other shapes in other embodiments. For example, burner aperture wall 1702 may form a polygon, an ellipse, etc. Burner aperture wall 1702 is sized and shaped to accommodate at least a portion of wok burner 140. Wok burner 140 is mounted to extend vertically up through burner aperture wall 1702.
Side wall 1510 extends upward from an edge of bottom wall 1700. A fourth chamfered edge may be formed as a transition between bottom wall 1700 and side wall 1510. Circumferential edge 1704 is an edge of side wall 1510 opposite bottom wall 1700. Bottom circumferential edge 1600 has a smaller circumference than bottom wall 1700 and circumferential edge 1704 so that at least a portion of cone wall 1503 fits within side wall 1510. In the illustrative embodiments, circumferential edge 1704 is generally circular though circumferential edge 1704 may form other shapes in other embodiments. For example, circumferential edge 1704 may form a polygon, an ellipse, etc. Side wall 1510 and cone wall 1503 may have the same or different slopes.
Burner aperture wall 1702 is sized and shaped to accommodate at least a portion of wok burner 140. Wok burner 140 is mounted to extend vertically up through burner aperture wall 1702.
The plurality of support arms 1706 extend upward from circumferential edge 1704 of side wall 1510. Outer surface 1506 of cone wall 1503 abuts the plurality of support arms 1706 when cone wall 1503 is positioned at least partially within side wall 1510.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Inner wall 1802 forms a first cylinder that has a first circumferential edge 2000 and a second circumferential edge 1902. First circumferential edge 2000 generally aligns with flue aperture wall 1002. Outer wall 1804 forms a second cylinder that has a third circumferential edge 2002 and a fourth circumferential edge 1904. Outer wall 1804 circumscribes inner wall 1802. Inner wall 1802 and outer wall 1804 are separated by an air gap having a chimney walls separation width 2004. For illustration, chimney walls separation width 2004 may be from ˜2 to ˜100 mm. The space between inner wall 1802 and outer wall 1804 may contain insulation or may be an air gap. Chimney 1018 acts as an insulator for cone assembly 1016.
Bottom chimney wall 1900 extends between second circumferential edge 1902 and fourth circumferential edge 1904. For illustration, various types of fasteners may be used to mount inner wall 1802 and outer wall 1804 to bottom chimney wall 1900. In the illustrative embodiment, inner wall 1802, outer wall 1804, and bottom chimney wall 1900 form a circle though inner wall 1802, outer wall 1804, and bottom chimney wall 1900 may form other shapes in other embodiments. For example, inner wall 1802, outer wall 1804, and bottom chimney wall 1900 may form a polygon, an ellipse, etc.
The plurality of tabs 1004 extend from first circumferential edge 2000 toward a center of the first cylinder formed by inner wall 1802. In the illustrative embodiment, the plurality of tabs 1004 mount directly to an outer surface 2006 of inner wall 1802. In alternative embodiments, the plurality of tabs 1004 may mount to outer wall 1804, to an inner surface 2008 of inner wall 1802, or may be integrally formed with inner wall 1802 or with outer wall 1804.
Each tab of the plurality of tabs 1004 may include a catch 1800 that extends upward from an edge of a respective tab of the plurality of tabs 1004. The edge of the respective tab is opposite inner wall 1802. Rim wall 1509 is positioned to abut catch 1800 of each tab of the plurality of tabs 1004 when cone assembly 1016 is mounted within inner wall 1802 of chimney 1018. Support flange 1508 rests on the plurality of tabs 1004 when cone assembly 1016 is mounted within inner wall 1802 of chimney 1018. Inner cone 1500 may be removed from crumb catch 1502 to facilitate cleaning of inner cone 1500 and of crumb catch 1502.
Referring to
Referring to
A vent opening height 2300 separates top support wall 1000 of support platform 600 from top wall 400 of top plate 134. Vent opening height 2300 provided by the walls of outer support frame 136 aligns a top surface of top wall 400 with first grate 114 and/or second grate 124.
The word “illustrative” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Further, for the purposes of this disclosure and unless otherwise specified, “a” or “an” means “one or more”. Still further, using “and” or “or” in the detailed description is intended to include “and/or” unless specifically indicated otherwise.
The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments of the disclosed subject matter has been presented for purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed subject matter to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed subject matter. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosed subject matter and as practical applications of the disclosed subject matter to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the disclosed subject matter in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular use contemplated.