ENERGY HARVESTING BURNER FOR COOKTOP

Abstract

A gas burner appliance for recycling wasted heat from a heating process and for distributing heat evenly to a vessel or product. A housing is provided and a plate for directly collecting wasted heat is supported by the housing. A burner arm is also supported by the housing and disposed above the plate for receiving and combusting premixed fuel for uniformly distributing heat to the plate. A motor is supported by the housing and a drive mechanism connects the motor to the burner arm. A thermal electric generator generates electricity directly from heat of the plate and provides at least some of the generated electricity to the motor.

Claims

1. A gas burner appliance for recycling wasted heat from a heating process and for distributing heat evenly to a vessel or product, comprising: a) a housing; b) a plate for directly collecting wasted heat, said plate supported by said housing; c) a burner arm supported by said housing and disposed above said plate for receiving and combusting premixed fuel for uniformly distributing heat to said plate; d) a motor supported by said housing; e) drive means operatively connecting said motor to said burner arm; and f) a thermal electric generator for generating electricity directly from heat of said plate and for providing at least some electricity to said motor for the operation thereof.

2. The gas burner appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a chain and sprocket.

3. The gas burner appliance in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an inlet for providing combustible gas to said gas burner appliance.

4. The gas burner appliance in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a gas/air mixing component operatively connected to said burner arm for premixing fuel prior to the combustion thereof.

5. The gas burner appliance in accordance with claim 3, wherein said gas burner appliance is disposed on a gas stove.

6. A gas burner appliance for recycling wasted heat from a heating process and for distributing heat evenly to a vessel or product, comprising: a) a rotatable burner arm for receiving and combusting premixed fuel; b) a plate disposed below said burner arm for directly collecting wasted heat; c) a motor for rotating said rotatable burner arm; and d) a thermal electric generator proximate said plate for generating electricity directly from heat of said plate and for providing at least some electricity to said motor for the operation thereof.

7. The gas burner appliance in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a chain and sprocket linkage between said electric motor and said rotatable burner arm.

8. The gas burner appliance in accordance with claim 6, further comprising an inlet for providing combustible gas to said gas burner appliance.

9. The gas burner appliance in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a gas/air mixing component operatively connected to said burner arm for premixing fuel prior to the combustion thereof.

10. The gas burner appliance in accordance with claim 8, wherein said gas burner appliance is disposed on a gas stove.

11. The gas burner appliance in accordance with claim 6, wherein said motor comprises an electric motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the burner with housing and mechanical and electrical parts in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] Although the following detailed description contains specific details for the purposes of illustration, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.

[0029] In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a burner support is attached to a stovetop base by means well known in the art. The burner support houses an electric motor that, via a linkage, rotates a T shaped burner arm. A thermal energy generator is used to harvest wasted heat to produce electricity, which is used to power the motor.

[0030] In accordance with another aspect of this invention a thermal energy generator (TEG) is used to harvest the heat that is not readily absorbed by the cook vessel or item. This burner is not limited to this specific form of electrical generation and may include metals/alloys or other mechanics of converting forms of energy into electricity.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic block diagram of the burner appliance, generally shown as reference numeral 10, of the present invention. A burner housing 12 attaches to a cooktop 14 by a variety of possible means well known to those skilled in the art. Housing 12 contains and supports the components of the burner 10, described in greater detail hereinbelow.

[0032] Disposed below rotating burner arm 16 is a plate 18. Plate 18 is constructed of ceramic material in the preferred embodiment, although any suitable heat-conveying material can be used. A burner arm 16 can rotate while it combusts a gas and air mixture. The rotation of burner arm 16 applies substantially uniform heat directly to plate 18.

[0033] Plate 18 aids in transferring wasted heat to a thermal energy generator (TEG) 20 that produces electricity from wasted heat energy. TEG 20 utilizes heat traveling from one side of the device to a cold side in accordance with the Seebeck thermoelectric effect to create electricity. TEG 20 is shown in FIG. 1 beneath burner arm 16, but TEG 20 may be placed at any appropriate, functionally equivalent location and still be within the scope of the invention. A suitable TEG device sold under the trademark EverGen is available from II-IV Marlow Company in Dallas, Tex.

[0034] A motor 22 is also located in housing 12. In the preferred embodiment, motor 22 is preferably a 3-6-volt DC high torque motor manufactured by Tinkering Supplies Company as Model No. H04469-01J, but motor 22 need not be electric and still be within the scope of the present invention.

[0035] Connecting electric motor 22 to burner arm 16 is a linkage 24, preferably a chain and sprocket manufactured by McMaster-Carr Company as Model Nos. 6789K47 and 7142k1. Alternatively, a direct drive motor 22 and burner arm 16 can be provided to accomplish the same task: rotating burner arm 16 above plate 18 to provide uniform heat thereto. Other linkages can be used, as are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0036] Disposed beneath housing 12, as part of a stove or cooktop (not shown), is a gas/air mixing component 26 for mixing fuel and supplying the fuel to burner arm 16, which combusts the fuel for proper operation of burner 10.

[0037] Supplying gas to gas/air mixing component 26 is a gas inlet 28. Gas/air mixing component 26 is preferably manufactured by CTM-Corp. for this invention.

[0038] In operation, gas is introduced into the burner gas inlet 28. As the gas rises to gas/air mixing component 26, it is allowed to mix with room air. The premixed gas/air mixture enters housing 12. When gas/air mixture leaves the orifices of burner arm 16, it is combusted and used for heating applications.

[0039] Due to the inefficiencies of the heating process TEG 20 is utilized. Plate 18, secured above TEG 20, becomes hot, collecting wasted heat. Electricity generated by TEG 20 is applied to motor 22, which turns linkage 24 connected to rotating burner arm 16.

[0040] It can be appreciated that the inventive technology reduces the amount of gas used by the user, making the burner an energy saver for both home and commercial applications. Since the intent is to reduce the amount of heat delivered to the pan bottom, this rotary burner uses less gas than conventional simmer burners, resulting in cost savings and reduced use of natural resources. In addition, due to the rotating heating body, the burner provides improved evenness of cooking, saving food loss.

[0041] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

[0042] While only a few exemplary embodiments have been described, those knowledgeable in this science will easily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel and unique advantages of this disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications and alternative are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. Those skilled in this science should recognize that such modifications and equivalent constructions or methods do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0043] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.