Oven Appliances with Improved Gas Burner Assembly

The present subject matter relates generally to oven appliances, and more specifically to gas burner systems therein.

Various oven appliance may include more than one cooking chamber. For example, such multi-cavity oven appliances may include double oven range appliances having upper and lower cooking chambers. A user of the double oven range appliances may conveniently utilize either or both of the upper and lower cooking chambers to cook food items. In certain double oven range appliances, the upper cooking chamber is smaller than the lower cooking chamber. Thus, the user may utilize the upper cooking chamber to cook smaller food items and the lower cooking chamber to cook larger food items.

Typical residential oven appliances include gas burners for broiling located adjacent to a top surface of the oven appliance and eject flames horizontally along a flame plate/spreader. The ejection of flames along the flame plate may not readily allow air to mix with the flames which may restrict combustion from occurring. Higher excess air, e.g., air within the oven appliance that is not mixing with the flames, may lead to reduced overall oven efficiency.

Accordingly, an oven appliance with features for improving oven efficiency, such as gas burner systems for reducing excess air in the oven appliance would be useful.

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In one example embodiment, an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The oven appliance incudes a cabinet extending between a first side portion and a second side portion along the lateral direction. The cabinet also extends between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction. The cabinet defines an upper cooking chamber positioned adjacent the top portion of the cabinet and a lower cooking chamber positioned adjacent the lower portion of the cabinet. A broil gas burner assembly is positioned at a back wall of the upper cooking chamber and is in direct thermal communication with the upper cooking chamber. The broil gas burner assembly includes a burner tube extending in the lateral direction. The burner tube defines a series of outlets dispersed along the lateral direction. The series of outlets are positioned on a top of the burner tube in the vertical direction. An air deflector extends away from the burner tube in one or more of the vertical direction and the transverse direction.

In another example embodiment, an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The oven appliance incudes a cabinet extending between a first side portion and a second side portion along the lateral direction. The cabinet also extends between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction. The cabinet defines a cooking chamber. A broil gas burner assembly is positioned at a back wall of the cooking chamber and is in direct thermal communication with the cooking chamber. The broil gas burner assembly includes a burner tube extending in the lateral direction. The burner tube defines a series of outlets dispersed along the lateral direction. The series of outlets are positioned on a top of the burner tube in the vertical direction. An air deflector extends away from the burner tube in one or more of the vertical direction and the transverse direction.

In another example embodiment, a broil gas burner assembly for an oven appliance is provided. The broil gas burner assembly defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The broil gas burner assembly includes a burner tube extending in the lateral direction. The burner tube defines a series of outlets dispersed along the lateral direction. The series of outlets are positioned on a top of the burner tube in the vertical direction. An air deflector extends away from the burner tube in one or more of the vertical direction and the transverse direction.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

provides a perspective view of a multi-cavity oven range applianceaccording to an example embodiment of the present subject matter. In the example illustrated inthe oven range appliance is a double oven appliance including two cavities. It is to be understood that such is by way of example only, additional embodiments of the present disclosure may include three or more cavities. In the illustrated example, the multi-cavity oven applianceincludes a separate door for each cavity, e.g., an upper doorand a lower doorcorresponding to the upper and lower cavities, respectively. In additional embodiments, a single door May be provided for simultaneous access to all of the multiple cavities within the oven appliance. Other combinations and variations are also possible, for example a triple cavity oven appliance with two doors, etc.

As may be seen inoven appliancedefines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L and a transverse direction T. The vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular and form an orthogonal direction system.

Oven applianceincludes an insulated cabinet. Cabinetextends between a top portionand a bottom portion, e.g., along the vertical direction V. Thus, top, and bottom portions,of cabinetare spaced apart from each other, e.g., along the vertical direction V. Cabinetalso extends between a first side portionand a second side portion, e.g., along the lateral direction L. Thus, first and second side portions,of cabinetare spaced apart from each other, e.g., along the lateral direction L. For example, from the perspective of a user standing in front of the oven appliance, e.g., to reach into one of the cavities and/or to access the controls, the first side portionmay be a right side portion and the second side portionmay be a left side portion. Cabinetfurther extends between a front portionand a back portion, e.g., along the transverse direction T. Thus, front, and back portions,of cabinetare spaced apart from each other, e.g., along the transverse direction T.

In the illustrated example, oven applianceincludes a cooktoppositioned at or adjacent top portionof cabinet. Cooktopincludes various heating elements, such as gas burners, electric resistance elements, induction elements, etc., that are configured for heating cookware positioned thereon. In additional embodiments, the oven appliancemay be a built-in oven or a wall oven, e.g., without a cooktopthereon.

As indicated in, cabinetalso defines an upper cooking chamberand a lower cooking chamber. Thus, oven applianceis generally referred to as a double oven range appliance. In the present example embodiment, oven applianceis provided as a double oven range appliance, and while details of the present disclosure will be described with respect to oven appliance, a person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that aspects of the present subject matter may be incorporated or used with any other suitable oven appliance with any suitable number of coking chambers, such as a single oven wall appliance, double oven wall appliance, a single oven range appliance.

Upper cooking chamberis positioned at or adjacent top portionof cabinet. For example, upper cooking chambermay include a ceilingadjacent top portion, e.g., separated by insulation, and a back walladjacent back portion, e.g., separated by insulation, extending downwards in the vertical direction V from the ceiling. Conversely, lower cooking chamberis positioned at or adjacent bottom portionof cabinet. Thus, upper, and lower cooking chambers,are spaced apart from each other along the vertical direction V. Upper and lower cooking chambers,can have any suitable size relative to each other. For example, as shown in, upper cooking chambermay be smaller than lower cooking chamber.

Upper and lower cooking chambers,are configured for receipt of one or more food items to be cooked. The upper doorand the lower doorare movably attached or coupled to cabinet, e.g., rotatably coupled with hinges, in order to permit selective access to upper cooking chamberand lower cooking chamber, respectively. Handles,are mounted to upper and lower doors,to assist a user with opening and closing doors,in order to access cooking chambers,. As an example, a user can pull on handlemounted to upper doorto open or close upper doorand access upper cooking chamber. Glass window panes,provide for viewing the contents of upper and lower cooking chambers,when doors,are closed and also assist with insulating upper and lower cooking chambers,.

A control panelof oven applianceis positioned at top portionand back portionof cabinet. Control panelincludes user inputs. Control panelprovides selections for user manipulation of the operation of oven appliance. For example, a user can touch control panelto trigger one of user inputs. In response to user manipulation of user inputs, various components of the oven appliance, such as various heating elements, can be operated.

In general, oven appliancemay further include or be in operative communication with a processing device or a controller (not shown) that may be generally configured to facilitate appliance operation. In this regard, control panel, and user inputsmay be in communication with the controller such that the controller may receive control inputs from user inputsand may otherwise regulate operation of oven appliance. For example, signals generated by the controller may operate oven appliance, including any or all system components, subsystems, or interconnected devices, in response to the position of user inputsand other control commands. Control paneland other components of oven appliancemay be in communication with the controller via, for example, one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. In this manner, Input/Output (“I/O”) signals may be routed between the controller and various operational components of oven appliance.

As used herein, the terms “processing device,” “computing device,” “controller,” or the like may generally refer to any suitable processing device, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a logic device, one or more central processing units (CPUs), a graphics processing units (GPUs), processing units performing other specialized calculations, semiconductor devices, etc. In addition, these “controllers” are not necessarily restricted to a single element but may include any suitable number, type, and configuration of processing devices integrated in any suitable manner to facilitate appliance operation. Alternatively, the controller may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND/OR gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.

The controller may include, or be associated with, one or more memory elements or non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory devices, magnetic disks, or other suitable memory devices (including combinations thereof). These memory devices may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. In addition, these memory devices can store information and/or data accessible by one or more processors, including instructions that can be executed by the one or more processors. It should be appreciated that the instructions can be software written in any suitable programming language or can be implemented in hardware. Additionally, or alternatively, the instructions can be executed logically and/or virtually using separate threads on one or more processors.

As may be seen in, upper cooking chamberand lower cooking chambermay be thermally isolated from one another. For example, insulationmay be positioned between the upper cooking chamberand the lower cooking chamber, e.g., in the transverse and lateral directions T, L, respectively. The oven appliancemay generally include one, single gas heating element configured to provide heat, e.g., convection heat via heated air, to one or both of cooking chambers,. Thus, in the illustrated example embodiment of, oven appliancegenerally includes a gas heating element, such as a gas broil burner assemblyin the upper cooking chambergenerally configured to provide heat, e.g., convection heat via heated air, to upper and lower cooking chambersand, respectively. In some embodiments, more than one type of heating element may be provided, e.g., one or more electrical heating elementsmay be provided in either, or both, of the upper and lower cooking chambersand.

Turning now to, provided may be example embodiments of broil gas burner assembly. In general, broil gas burner assemblymay include a burner tube() extending in the lateral direction L and an air deflector, such as air deflector () or air deflector(), extending away from burner tubein one or more of the vertical direction V and the transverse direction T. In general, broil gas burner assemblymay be positioned proximate back wallof the upper cooking chamber, such that broil gas burner assemblymay be in direct thermal communication with the upper cooking chamber.

Referring now to, burner tubeof broil gas burner assemblymay generally extend along a length, such as between first side portionand second side portionof cabinet, in the lateral direction L. In general, burner tubemay generally define a series of outletsdispersed along the lateral direction L. Particularly, the series of outletsmay be positioned on a top of the burner tube in the vertical direction V, e.g., the top of burner tubemay be an upward-most point of burner tubein the vertical direction V. For example, burner tubemay define a vertical mid plane (VMP), e.g., a plane defined by the vertical direction V and lateral direction L positioned at the middle of burner tubewith respect to the transverse direction T. In one example embodiment, the series of outletsmay be positioned on burner tubeat the upward-most point of intersection of burner tubeand the VMP. In some example embodiments, the series of outletsmay include a plurality of alternating slots and holes, such as holeand slotof burner tube. In general, the vertical positioning of the series of outletsmay generally provide increased flow velocity of flames therefrom due to the buoyancy of gas. As such, flames may be generally ejected from burner tubetoward ceilingof upper cooking chamber.

Turning now to, provided is a schematic illustration of broil gas burner assemblyoperating within an oven appliance, such as oven appliance. As stated above, broil gas burner assemblymay include an air deflector, such as air deflectorin the present example embodiment. In general, air deflectormay be configured to couple to one of burner tubeof broil gas burner assemblyor back wallof upper cooking chamber, such as by hooks, fasteners, or any other suitable system for positioning and mounting air deflector. Air deflectormay generally include a flame guideextending from a lip endto a distal end, e.g., flame guidemay extend forwards in the transverse direction T and upwards in the vertical direction V from lip endto distal end. In particular, flame guidemay be curved or step-angled between lip endand distal end.

The positioning of air deflectormay include lip endof flame guidegenerally defining a gapbetween flame guideand burner tube. Gapwill be further described herein below. In general, flames, such as flames, exiting the series of outletsof burner tubemay exhibit the Coandǎ effect when exiting in the direction of flame guide. In the present example embodiment, in order to direct the flamesalong flame guide, the series of outletsmay be shifted forwards, e.g., away from back wall, in the transverse direction T, from the VMP. Accordingly, the positioning and shape of the flame guideof air deflectorpermits directional control of the flameswithin oven appliance. In the present example embodiment, flame guidemay be configured to direct the flames, and heat therefrom, toward front portionof cabinetto broil food items being cooked, such as either by radiating heat downwards in the vertical direction and/or by using the convective hot gases to heat the food items.

As may be seen in, burner tubeof broil gas burner assemblymay be positioned a specified distance D in the transverse direction T from back wallof upper cooking chamber. For example, the specified distance D between burner tubeand back portionmay be between one half centimeter (0.5 cm) and ten centimeters (10 cm), such as between one centimeter (1 cm) and eight centimeters (8 cm), such as between two centimeters (2 cm) and six centimeters (6 cm). As such, burner tubemay generally include gapon one side of burner tubeand another gap determined by the specified distance D between burner tubeand back portion. In general, gapmay be between one half centimeter (0.5 cm) and four centimeters (4 cm), such as between one centimeter (1 cm) and eight centimeters (3 cm), such as about two centimeters (2 cm). Accordingly, as flamesexit the series of outlets, excess air, or otherwise referred to as secondary air, may be pulled around each side of the burner tubeand mix with the flames, e.g., secondary airmay mix on both sides of the flames.

In addition to the secondary airmixing with flames, the increased flow velocity of flamesdue to the positioning of the series of outletsmay advantageously improve the combustion by broil gas burner assembly, thereby increasing the heating efficiency of oven appliance, particularly in oven appliances with limited airflow through the cooking chamber of the oven appliance. Furthermore, the secondary airflowing through gapmay reduce the heating of flame guideby forming a boundary layer between flamesand flame guide. Reducing the heat of flame guidemay advantageously reduce undesired radiation heat to the food items from flameand/or flame guide, thereby providing improved cooking performance of the oven appliance.

Turning now to, illustrated is another schematic illustration of broil gas burner assemblyoperating within an oven appliance, such as oven appliance. As stated above, broil gas burner assemblymay include an air deflector, such as air deflectorin the present example embodiment. Air deflectormay generally be positioned above, in the vertical direction V, burner tube. For example, air deflectormay include a funneldefined between a pair of deflector wallsextending in the vertical direction from an intake endto an exhaust endof the funnel. In particular, the pair of deflector wallsmay be spaced apart in the transverse direction T such that intake enddefines a first openingbetween the pair of deflector wallsand exhaust enddefines a second openingbetween the pair of deflector walls.

As may be seen in, first openingbetween the pair of deflector wallsmay be larger than second openingbetween the pair of deflector walls. Accordingly, air flowing into funnelmay be compressed, advantageously increasing flow velocity through air deflector. As such, flamesexiting burner tubemay pull secondary airinto funnelof air deflectorand thereby increase mixing of flamesand secondary air. Furthermore, the secondary airflowing through funnelmay reduce the heating of the pair of deflector wallsby forming a boundary layer between flamesand the pair of deflector walls. Thus, the secondary airmixing with flamesand the increased flow velocity of flamesdue to the positioning of the series of outletsmay advantageously improve the combustion by broil gas burner assembly, thereby increasing the heating efficiency of oven appliance, particularly in oven appliances with limited airflow through the cooking chamber of the oven appliance.

As may be seen from the above, a tubular burner with upward ports may be mounted at a rear wall of an oven cavity. The upward ports, in conjunction with a flame guide, allow for control of the hot gases for broiling and increases mixing of secondary air with the flames for improved combustions. In some examples, the ports may be directed slightly forward such that the gas/air flow attaches to the flame guide due to the Coandǎ effect. Thus, the flame guide allows for directional control of the hot gases via controlling the shape of the flame guide. Other example embodiments include upward ports with a secondary air deflector over the top of the ports, thus mixing the secondary air with the flame. The vertical ports may induce more secondary air into the flames and provide the opportunity to mix secondary air with the flame from both sides of the burner tube. As such the burner may include improved secondary air/gas mixing and therefore improved combustion.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.