SILICON NITRIDE MELT

Abstract

A burner assembly is disclosed including a burner head for generating heat via an electrical heating element and an annular burner head surrounding the burner head for generating heat via the burning of a gas/air mixture. The burner head may be used for simmering with the electrical heating element including a silicon nitride element for generating the low heat required for simmering. The annular burner head may be used for generating more heat than the burner head.

Claims

1. A burner assembly, comprising: a burner head having a central opening and a cap arranged above of the central opening and configured for receiving and radiating heat; an electrical heating element arranged within the central opening and proximate to the cap, the electrical heating element configured to generate the heat in response to a flow of current; and wherein the electrical heating element comprises a silicon nitride element.

2. The burner assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an annular burner head surrounding the burner head, the annular burner head configured to generate more heat than the burner head.

3. The burner assembly according to claim 2, wherein the electrical heating element is configured to heat the cap up to 500 BTUs.

4. The burner assembly according to claim 2, wherein the electrical heating element is configured to heat the cap within a range of 500 BTUs to 1500 BTUs.

5. The burner assembly according to claim 2, wherein the electrical heating element is configured to heat the cap to a temperature of between 85° Celsius and 95° Celsius.

6. The burner assembly according to claim 2, wherein the electrical heating element is configured to heat the cap to a temperature of between 70° Celsius and 95° Celsius.

7. The burner assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrical heating element is configured to operate at a 0.5 amperes.

8. The burner assembly according to claim 2, wherein the annular burner head is configured to receiving a gas/air mixture and the electrical heating element is configured to receive the current, whereby a flow of at least one of the gas/air mixture and the current is controllable from a single activation point.

9. A method for providing a burner assembly, comprising the steps of: arranging a cap above a central opening of a burner head, the cap configured for receiving and radiating heat; arranging an electrical heating element within the central opening proximate to the cap, the electrical heating element configured to generate the heat in response to a flow of current; and wherein the electrical heating element comprises a silicon nitride element.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of arranging an annular burner head surrounding the burner head, the annular burner head configured to generate more heat than the burner head.

11. The burner according to claim 10, wherein the electrical heating element is configured to heat the cap up to 500 BTUs.

12. The burner according to claim 10, wherein the electrical heating element is configured to heat the cap within a range of 500 BTUs to 1500 BTUs.

13. The burner according to claim 10, wherein the electrical heating element is configured to heat the cap to a temperature of between 85° Celsius and 95° Celsius.

14. The burner according to claim 10, wherein the electrical heating element is configured to heat the cap to a temperature of between 70° Celsius and 95° Celsius.

15. The burner according to claim 9, wherein the electrical heating element is configured to operate at a 0.5 amperes.

16. The burner according to claim 10, wherein the annular burner head is configured to receiving a gas/air mixture and the electrical heating element is configured to receive the current, whereby a flow of at least one of the gas/air mixture and the current is controllable from a single activation point.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further advantages features and details of the various embodiments of this disclosure will become apparent from the ensuing description of a preferred exemplary embodiment or embodiments and further with the aid of the drawings. The features and combinations of features recited below in the description, as well as the features and feature combination shown after that in the drawing description or in the drawings alone, may be used not only in the particular combination recited but also in other combinations on their own without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0018] In the following, advantageous examples of the invention are set out with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019] FIG. 1 depicts an example multi-ring burner with covers;

[0020] FIG. 2 depicts the example multi-ring burner without covers;

[0021] FIG. 3 depicts a silicon nitride element accommodated within a burner according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0022] FIG. 4 depicts a stand-alone silicon nitride element which may be employed according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] As used throughout the present disclosure, unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “or” encompasses all possible combinations, except where infeasible. For example, the expression “A or B” shall mean A alone, B alone, or A and B together. If it is stated that a component includes “A, B, or C”, then, unless specifically stated otherwise or infeasible, the component may include A, or B, or C, or A and B, or A and C, or B and C, or A and B and C. Expressions such as “at least one of” do not necessarily modify an entirety of the following list and do not necessarily modify each member of the list, such that “at least one of “A, B, and C” should be understood as including only one of A, only one of B, only one of C, or any combination of A, B, and C. In the figures, the same or functionally identical elements have been provided with the same reference signs.

[0024] By way of a first embodiment, the present invention will be described with respect to an application to a multi-ring burner without limitation to application to other types and/or configurations of burners.

[0025] FIG. 1 depicts an example multi-ring burner with covers, the central cover of which may be heated. As shown an inner burner head 10, covered by a central cap or cover 12 is arranged at a center of the multi-ring burner 1. Peripheral wall 14 of the inner burner head 10 includes ports or openings 16 along its' circumference configured to allow for passing of a gas/air mixture provided from within a central opening 18 (FIG. 2) located within the peripheral wall 14 below cap 12. An electric ignition member 19 is positioned to provide ignition to the gas/air mixture passing through openings 16. An outer burner head 20 is arranged in place around or surrounding the inner burner head 10 via the aid of fingers 22. An annular cover 24 is arranged over the outer burner head 20. As depicted, the annular outer burner head 20 includes two gas rings (FIG. 2), one on the inside as defined by second ports or openings 26 and one on the outside as defined by third ports or openings 28. The two gas rings include an appropriately configured and arranged thermopile 30 to ignite the gas/air mixture passing through the second and third openings. An annular skirt 32 is also provided surrounding the multi-ring burner under which a primary air source for mixing with gas to be burned by the multi-ring burner may enter into the multi-ring burner body.

[0026] FIG. 2 depicts the inner multi-ring burner 1 of FIG. 1 without the covers 12 and 24. As shown, the inner burner head 10 includes the central opening 18 within its peripheral walls 14. The gas/air mixture may be provided through the central opening 18 into the inner burner head 10 below cap 12 so as to pass outside via the ports or passages 16 for ignition by the electric ignition member 19. Such provides a first heat source for cooking which, given its relative size and position, would typically be reserved for the delivery of low heat. A wall 34 separates the inner and out burner heads. The outer burner head 20 includes a passage 36 defined by concentric walls 38 and 40. Gas/air mixture is introduced through opening 42 in passage 36, the mixture then escaping the passage 36, by virtue also of annular cover 24, via the second and third ports or passages 26 and 28, for ignition by thermopile 30.

[0027] Use of a silicon nitride heating element, such as a silicon nitride element for the generation of low heat below the central cap is depicted in FIG. 3 which shows a multi-ring burner with covers removed. Application of the silicon nitride element is not reserved to the example multi-ring burner depicted in FIG. 3 and may likewise be applied to other burner configurations as envisioned by the skilled person. As shown, the silicon nitride element 50 is introduced and arranged in a central opening 52 of inner burner head 10. Use of the silicon nitride element for heating purposes obviates the need for using gas, thereby dispensing with the need for a central opening configured to introduce the gas/air mixture therein along with ports along the inner burner head's circumferential wall for the burning thereof. Accordingly, as depicted the circumferential wall 54 of inner burner head 10 lacks ports while a central opening 18 is also absent. The silicon nitride element 50 may be arranged within the central opening 52 and provided with current by means known to the skilled person. Control of the current to the silicon nitride may be affected by an appropriately located and configured single activation point comprising a switch or knob (not shown) for selectively activating at least one of the burner head and the outer burning head heat generation.

[0028] A silicon nitride element suitable for use with embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted in FIG. 4. Other arrangements for silicon nitride elements providing the output disclosed herein may also be used. As depicted, a standard electrical plug 56 is attached to first conductor end 58, the plug being appropriately configured to mate with a suitably configured socket (not shown) during assembly. Second conductor end 60 is electrically coupled to the silicon nitride material arranged in rectangular form 62 via holder 64. Appropriate mounting means 66 may be positioned proximate to and between the second conductor ends and holder 64. In operation, the flow of current to the silicon nitride 62 is selectively controlled to be in proportion to the amount of heat generated by the silicon nitride element. The low heat generated by the silicon nitride element may fall within the range of 85-95 degrees Celsius at up to 500 BTUs. Other temperature ranges may start at 70 degrees Celsius with BTU output ranging upwards from 500 BTUs to 1500 BTUs. Still other ranges and values may be selectively obtained through appropriate control of the current flowing to the silicon nitride element.

[0029] Having described some aspects of the present disclosure in detail, it will be apparent that further modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure. All matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.