Gas burner assemblies, methods for assembling, and gas fired appliances employing same

• US 20050136368A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jotul North America Incorporated (Ratos AB)
• Original Assignee: Jotul North America Incorporated (Ratos AB)
• Inventors: Purinton, Roger W., Malloy, Shawn T., Labelle, Anthony R., Spencer, Shane L., Johnson, Dana M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,004,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 431/354
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 5/02 Structural details of mounting
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 14/085 with injector axis inclined to the burner head axis
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 2212/20 metallic
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/006 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49922 by bending over projecting prongs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53709 Overedge assembling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/606 Leaf spring

Abstract

A gas burner assembly includes in one embodiment a top plate having at least one port for discharging fuel and a downwardly-depending, peripheral edge having a plurality of spaced-apart slots, and a bottom base having a peripheral edge disposed within the downwardly-depending peripheral edge of the top plate. A gasket is disposed between the base and the plate. A venturi tube is attached to the base with a tube holder. The plate is attachable to the base by displacing and/or expanding a portion of the downwardly-depending, peripheral edge adjacent the slots to form a plurality of spaced-apart, inwardly-extending tabs disposed under the peripheral edge of the base. Methods for assembling and gas fired appliances employing gas burner assemblies are also disclosed. Further, attachment means and methods for attaching a first member to a second member using such displaceable and/or expandable tabs are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A gas burner assembly comprising:

a top plate having at least one port for discharging fuel and a downwardly-depending, peripheral edge having a plurality of spaced-apart slots;

a bottom base having a peripheral edge disposed within said downwardly-depending, peripheral edge of said top plate; and

wherein said top plate is attached to said bottom base by displacing a portion of said downwardly-depending, peripheral edge adjacent to said slots to form a plurality of spaced-apart, inwardly-extending tabs disposed under said peripheral edge of said bottom base.

2. The gas burner assembly of claim 1 wherein said top plate and said bottom base comprise different materials having different rates of thermal expansion.

3. The gas burner assembly of claim 2 wherein said top plate comprises stainless steel, and said bottom base comprises cast iron.

4. The gas burner assembly of claim 1 wherein said top plate is attached to said bottom base by expanding a portion of said downwardly-depending, peripheral edge under said slots to form a plurality of spaced-apart, inwardly-extending tabs disposed under said peripheral edge of said bottom base.

5. The gas burner assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of inwardly-extending tabs comprises a plurality of spaced-apart, generally inwardly extending V-shaped tabs.

6. The gas burner assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced-apart slots comprises a plurality of horizontally-extending spaced-apart slots.

7. The gas burner assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced-apart slots comprises a plurality of pairs of vertically-extending spaced-apart slots.

8. The gas burner assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced-apart tabs is operable to maintain a gas tight seal between said top plate and said bottom base.

9. The gas burner assembly of claim 1 further comprising a gasket disposed between said bottom base and said top plate.

10. The gas burner assembly of claim 1 wherein a distance between adjacent slots is greater than a length of said slots.

11. The gas burner assembly of claim 1 further comprising a venturi tube assembly attached to said bottom base with a tube holder.

12. A gas fired appliance comprising

a housing, and

a gas burner assembly of claim 1 disposed in said housing.

13. The gas fired appliance of claim 12 further comprising at least one ceramic log disposed above said gas burner assembly.

14. A gas burner assembly comprising:

a top plate having at least one port for discharging fuel and a downwardly-depending, peripheral edge having a plurality of spaced-apart slots;

a bottom base having a peripheral edge disposed within said downwardly-depending, peripheral edge of said top plate;

a gasket disposed between said bottom base and said top plate;

a venturi tube assembly;

a tube holder for attaching said venture tube assembly to said bottom base; and

wherein a distance between adjacent slots is greater than a length of said slots;

said top plate is attached to said bottom base by expanding a portion of said downwardly-depending, peripheral edge under said slots to form a plurality of spaced-apart, inwardly-extending tabs disposed under said peripheral edge of said bottom base; and

said gasket and said bottom base are sandwiched between a bottom surface of said top plate and said tabs and operable to maintain a gas tight seal between said top plate, said bottom base, and said gasket.

15. The gas burner assembly of claim 14 wherein said top plate and said bottom base comprise different materials having different rates of thermal expansion.

16. The gas burner assembly of claim 14 wherein said top plate comprises stainless steel, said bottom base comprises cast iron, and said gasket comprises fiberglass.

17. The gas burner assembly of claim 14 wherein said plurality of inwardly-extending tabs comprises a plurality of spaced-apart, generally inwardly extending V-shaped tabs.

18. The gas burner assembly of claim 14 wherein said plurality of spaced-apart slots comprises a plurality of horizontally-extending spaced-apart slots.

19. The gas burner assembly of claim 14 wherein said plurality of spaced-apart slots comprises a plurality of pairs of vertically-extending spaced-apart slots.

20. A gas fired appliance comprising

a housing, and

a gas burner assembly of claim 14 disposed in said housing.

21. The gas fired appliance of claim 20 further comprising at least one ceramic log disposed above said gas burner assembly.

22. A method for assembling a gas burner assembly, the method comprising:

positioning a bottom base having a peripheral edge within a top plate having at least one port and having a downwardly-depending, peripheral edge with spaced-apart slots adjacent to the periphery of the top plate; and

displacing portions of the downwardly-depending, peripheral edge of the top plate adjacent to the slots to form a plurality of spaced-apart tabs under the peripheral edge of the bottom base to attach the top plate to the bottom base.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the top plate and the bottom base comprise different materials having different rates of thermal expansion.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the top plate comprises stainless steel, and the bottom base comprises cast iron.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the displacing comprises expanding a portion of the downwardly-depending, peripheral edge under the slots to form a plurality of spaced-apart, inwardly-extending tabs disposed under the peripheral edge of the bottom base.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the expanding comprises forming a plurality of spaced-apart, generally inwardly extending V-shaped tabs.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the expanding comprises using a hydraulically operated tool for applying a force to expandable portions of the downwardly-depending, peripheral edge.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising forming a gas tight seal between the top plate and the bottom base.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising positioning a gasket between the top plate and the bottom base.

30. An attachment means comprising:

a first member having a downwardly-depending, peripheral edge having a plurality of spaced-apart slots;

a second member having a peripheral edge disposed within said downwardly-depending, peripheral edge of said first member;

wherein said first member is attached to said second member by displacing a portion of said downwardly-depending, peripheral edge adjacent to the slots to form a plurality of spaced-apart, inwardly-extending tabs disposed under said peripheral edge of said second member; and

said first member and said second member comprise different materials having different rates of thermal expansion.

31. The attachment means of claim 30 wherein said first member comprises stainless steel, and said second member comprises cast iron.

32. The attachment means of claim 30 wherein said first member is attached to said second member by expanding a portion of said downwardly-depending, peripheral edge under said slots to form a plurality of spaced-apart, inwardly-extending tabs disposed under said peripheral edge of said second member.

33. The attachment means of claim 30 wherein said plurality of inwardly-extending tabs comprises a plurality of spaced-apart, generally inwardly extending V-shaped tabs.

34. The attachment means of claim 30 wherein said plurality of spaced-apart slots comprises a plurality of horizontally-extending spaced-apart slots.

35. The attachment means of claim 30 wherein said plurality of spaced-apart slots comprises a plurality of pairs of vertically-extending spaced-apart slots.

36. The attachment means of claim 30 wherein said plurality of spaced-apart tabs is operable to maintain a gas tight seal between said first member and said second member.

37. The attachment means of claim 30 further comprising a gasket disposed between said first member and said second member.

38. The attachment means of claim 30 wherein a distance between adjacent slots is greater than a length of said slots.

39. A method for attaching a first member to a second member, the method comprising:

positioning the second member having a peripheral edge within the first member having a downwardly-depending, peripheral edge with spaced-apart slots adjacent to the periphery of the first member; and

expanding portions of the downwardly-depending, peripheral edge of the first member adjacent to the slots to form a plurality of spaced-apart tabs under the peripheral edge of the second member to attach the first member to the second member.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the first member and the second member comprise different materials having different rates of thermal expansion.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein the first member comprises stainless steel, and the second member comprises cast iron.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein the expanding comprises expanding a portion of the downwardly-depending, peripheral edge under the slots to form a plurality of spaced-apart, inwardly-extending tabs disposed under the peripheral edge of the second member.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein the expanding comprises forming a plurality of spaced-apart, generally inwardly extending V-shaped tabs.

44. The method of claim 39 wherein the expanding comprises using a hydraulically operated tool for applying a force to the expandable portions of the downwardly-depending, peripheral edge.

45. The method of claim 39 further comprising forming a gas tight seal between the first member and the second member.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising positioning a gasket between the first member and the second member.