This invention relates generally to gas cooking appliances, and, more specifically, to apparatus and methods for gas fired cooktops.
Gas fired cooktops typically include a top surface having one or more openings with a gas burner set in each opening. In addition, a number of raised cooking grates rest on the cooktop, generally above and surrounding the burners to provide a cooking surface spaced from the burner. At least some known cooktops include four burners arranged on the top surface in a compact pattern. Cooking implements such as pots and pans are placed on the stove grates above the burners.
Some gas fired cooktops also include a griddle component that is configured to either replace a set of burners or be positioned between existing burners. Accordingly, it may not be possible to use all of the existing burners for cooking with utensils while using a griddle. Alternatively, the addition of a griddle burner on some known cooktops will narrow the space between burners such that not enough secondary air is allowed to enter the burner for adequate combustion, and flame from an adjacent burner may impinge upon the griddle and result in excessive griddle heating.
In one aspect, a gas burner assembly for a gas fired cooktop is provided. The gas burner assembly includes first, second, third, and fourth gas burners arranged such that the first and second burners are spaced with respect to each other at a first distance and the third and fourth burners are spaced with respect to each other at a second distance longer than the first distance. Each of the first and second burners have a power output greater than that of each of the third and fourth burners. A fifth gas burner is positioned between the first and second burners and between the third and fourth burners.
In another aspect, a gas fired cooktop includes a body and first, second, third, and fourth gas burners arranged on the body such that each of the first and second burners have a power output greater than that of each of the third and fourth burners. The first and second burners are spaced with respect to each other at a first distance and the third and fourth burners are spaced with respect to each other at a second distance longer than the first distance. A fifth gas burner positioned between the first and second burners and between the third and fourth burners. A grate frame is positioned over at least one of the burners.
In still another aspect, a method for providing a cooktop is provided. The method includes providing a body and positioning first, second, third, and fourth gas burners on the body. Each of the first and second burners have a power output greater than that of each of the third and fourth burners. The first and second burners spaced with respect to each other at a first distance and the third and fourth burners spaced with respect to each other at a second distance longer than the first distance. A fifth gas burner is positioned between the first and second burners and between the third and fourth burners. A grate frame is positioned over at least one of the burners.
In the exemplary embodiment, burners 24, 26, 28, and 30 are substantially circular in shape, and are positioned on recessed area 38. Specifically, burners 24, 26, 28, and 30 are positioned in spaced apart pairs 24, 28 and 26, 30 positioned adjacent side walls 44, 46 of cooktop 14, respectively. Each burner 24, 26, 28, and 30 has a respective power output, and each burner 24, 26 has a power output greater than that of each burner 28, 30. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of burners 24, 26 has a power output more than 11,000 British thermal units per hour. As such, burners 24, 26 having higher power outputs are positioned adjacent front wall 40, and burners 28, 30 having lower power outputs are positioned adjacent back wall 42. In addition, burners 24, 26 having the higher power outputs are spaced with respect to each other at a first distance and burners 28, 30 having the lower power outputs are spaced with respect to each other at a second distance longer than the first distance. As such, burner 28 is positioned closer to side wall 44 than burner 24.
In the exemplary embodiment, burner 32 is an elongated burner dedicated to griddle use, and is substantially centrally positioned on recessed area 38 and between burner pairs 24, 28, and 26, 30. Specifically, burner 32 includes a first burner end 52 adjacent front wall 40 and positioned between burners 24, 26, and a second burner end 54 adjacent back wall 42 and positioned between burners 28, 30.
The construction and operation of the range heating elements, including gas burners 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 are believed to be within the purview of those in the art and therefore will not be discussed further.
In the exemplary embodiment, grate frame 34 substantially spans cooktop 14, and includes a left grate section 60, a right grate section 62, and a separately provided middle grate section 64 positioned between and adjacent grate sections 60, 62. In use, grate section 60 overlies burner pair 24, 28, grate section 62 overlies burner pair 26, 30, and grate section 64 extends between grate sections 60, 62 and overlies burner 32.
In the exemplary embodiment, grate sections 60, 62 are similarly constructed and each section 60, 62, and 64 includes a plurality of exterior frame elements 66, and at least one interior frame element 68 extending between exterior frame elements 66. As used herein, “interior” and “exterior” refer to relative positions in the overall grate frame 34 with exterior referring to outer edges of the overall grate frame 34 and interior referring to elements extending from and/or between the outer edges of grate frame 34. In an exemplary embodiment, each section 60, 62 includes an interior cross frame element 70 extending between and elevated from frame members 66, 68 and dividing corresponding sections 60, 62 into halves, and each half is dimensioned to surround one of burners 24, 26, 28, and 30. Section 64 also includes two interior cross frame elements 70 extending between and elevated from interior frame elements 68.
In the exemplary embodiment, each section 60, 62, and 64 further includes a plurality of utensil supporting fingers 72 extending inwardly from frame elements 66, 68, 70 and toward the corresponding burners 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32, respectively. Specifically, fingers 72 of each section 60, 62 extend substantially toward a center of the corresponding halves, respectively. Each finger 72 includes a substantially flat top surface 74 to support cooking utensils and implements (e.g., pots and pans) thereon, and top surfaces 74 of fingers 72 on the same grate section are substantially coplanar with respect to each other. In an exemplary embodiment, at least some of interior cross frame element 70 also include a flat top surface 76 substantially coplanar with top surfaces 74 of fingers 72 on the same grate section, and provide additional support surfaces between the neighboring burners for placement of the cooking utensils. It is recognized, however, that the configuration and arrangement pattern of the fingers and interior frame elements could be varied in alternative embodiments of the invention.
In the exemplary embodiment, and as illustrated in
Supporting fingers 72 and cross frame element 70 of each grate section 60, 62, and 64 are elevated from exterior and interior frame elements 66, 68. Thus, when exterior frame elements 66 of sections 60, 62, and 64 are placed on cooktop 14, fingers 72 and interior frame elements 68, 70 extend above cooktop 14 and above burners 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32. In addition, support fingers 72 and interior cross frame elements 70 of sections 60, 62, and 64 include generally coplanar top surfaces. As such, grate frame 34 provides a utensil supporting surface 78 over cooktop 14 and defined by top surfaces 74, 76 of fingers 72 and interior cross frame elements 70. The cooking utensils may be placed on utensil supporting surface 78, and further be slid across utensil supporting surface 78 to any desired position on utensil supporting surface 78 without lifting the utensils.
In the exemplary embodiment, supporting fingers 72 of each section 60, 62 provides a utensil supporting surface 78 over burner pairs 24, 28, and 26, 30, respective. Griddle plate 90 of middle section 82 is positioned below utensil supporting surface 78 of each section 60, 62. As such, interference between griddle plate 90 and a burner flame is considerably reduced, if not avoided as the burner flame is extended radially outwardly by a cooking utensil. A clearance or air gap is then provided between a bottom surface of a cooking utensil positioned above the adjacent burner and a top surface of griddle plate 90, such that heat and flame generated from the adjacent burners may pass therethrough and pass above griddle plate 90. Heat contribution from the adjacent burners to griddle plate 90 is then considerably reduced, and a normal cooking temperature of griddle plate 90 is well maintained below the maximum temperature for the griddle surface. Additionally, by positioning griddle plate 90 below utensil supporting surface 78, utensils positioned on the adjacent burners may extend above and overlap at least a portion of griddle plate 90 without disturbing the normal operation of griddle plate 90. This positioning reduces any interference of utensils being simultaneously used on cooktop 14.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.