Apparatus and method for improved ignition of a gaseous fuel burner in an appliance

Abstract

A method and apparatus for improved ignition of a gaseous fuel in an appliance is provided. More particularly, the shielding of an igniter and the use of thermal convection to direct a flow of gaseous fuel and air across a hot surface of the igniter in order to create proper conditions for the ignition of the gaseous fuel is described.

1 . A shield for the igniter of a gaseous fuel burner, comprising:
 a housing positioned around the igniter, said housing defining an entrance opening for the flow of the gaseous fuel into said housing, the entrance opening positioned lower than the igniter, said housing also defining an exit opening for the flow of air and gaseous fuel across the igniter and out of said housing, the exit opening positioned higher than the igniter; and   a gaseous fuel receptacle configured with the housing at a position lower than the igniter, said gaseous fuel receptacle positioned for gaseous communication with the entrance opening of said housing wherein gaseous fuel drawn into said gaseous fuel receptacle may travel through the entrance opening of said housing.   
     
     
         2 . A shield for the igniter of a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 1 , wherein said gaseous fuel receptacle is positioned directly below said gaseous fuel burner. 
     
     
         3 . A shield for the igniter of a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 1 , wherein said gaseous fuel receptacle is configured as a tray. 
     
     
         4 . A shield for the igniter of a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 3 , wherein said tray is positioned at least partly below said gaseous fuel burner. 
     
     
         5 . A shield for the igniter of a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 1 , wherein said housing and said gaseous fuel receptacle are integrally constructed. 
     
     
         6 . A shield for the igniter of a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 1 , further comprising a protective grill connected with said housing and positioned over said igniter. 
     
     
         7 . A shield for the igniter of a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 1 , wherein said gaseous fuel receptacle is positioned for the receipt of gaseous fuel flowing from said gaseous fuel burner. 
     
     
         8 . A shield for the igniter of a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 1 , wherein said housing and said gaseous fuel receptacle are positioned to create a flow of air and gaseous fuel across said igniter from thermal convection caused by heating said igniter. 
     
     
         9 . A shield for the igniter of a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 1 , wherein said housing and said gaseous fuel receptacle are positioned to create an ignitable flow of air and gaseous fuel across the igniter within four seconds of supplying gaseous fuel to the gaseous fuel burner. 
     
     
         10 . A method for igniting a gaseous fuel burner, comprising the steps of:
 providing a shield about the gaseous fuel burner;   supplying a gaseous fuel to the gaseous fuel burner;   raising the temperature of a surface of an igniter to a temperature sufficient to ignite a mixture comprising the gaseous fuel and air;   heating with the igniter so as to create a flow by thermal convection of the mixture;   using the shield to channel the flow upward and across the surface of the igniter; and   igniting the mixture of air and gaseous fuel flowing across the igniter.   
     
     
         11 . A method for igniting a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 10 , wherein said using step comprises moving gas from the gaseous fuel burner downward to a position lower than the igniter and then upward and across the surface of the igniter. 
     
     
         12 . A method for igniting a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 10 , wherein said using step further comprises:
 providing a gaseous fuel receptacle at a position lower than the gaseous fuel burner; and   receiving gaseous fuel into the gaseous fuel receptacle after said step of heating with the igniter.   
     
     
         13 . A method for igniting a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of positioning the gaseous fuel receptacle at a position lower than the igniter. 
     
     
         14 . A method for igniting a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 10 , wherein said igniting step occurs within about four seconds of said supplying step. 
     
     
         15 . A method for igniting a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a control valve upstream of the gaseous fuel burner, and wherein said supplying step comprises opening the control valve. 
     
     
         16 . A method for igniting a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 15 , wherein said igniting step occurs within about four second of opening the control valve. 
     
     
         17 . A method for igniting a gaseous fuel burner as in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of minimizing the accumulation of un-ignited, gaseous fuel near the gaseous fuel burner after said step of supplying.