Burner flame stability chamber

Abstract

A burner body is disclosed for use in a gas burner assembly. The burner body includes a sidewall and a main gas conduit, the main gas conduit having an inlet and an outlet; a plurality of primary burner ports disposed within the sidewall so as to be in communication with the outlet of the main gas conduit; a simmer flame port disposed within the sidewall in a spaced relation with the primary burner ports for providing a reignition source therefore; and a stability chamber disposed within the burner body, wherein the stability chamber comprises at least a first expansion region and a second expansion region, wherein the second expansion region has a greater volume than the first expansion region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A burner body for use in a gas burner assembly, said burner body comprising:
 a sidewall and a main gas conduit, said main gas conduit comprising an inlet and an outlet;   a plurality of primary burner ports disposed within said sidewall so as to be in communication with said outlet of said main gas conduit;   a simmer flame port disposed within said sidewall in a spaced relation with said primary burner ports for providing a reignition source therefore; and   a stability chamber disposed within said burner body, wherein a first interior region of said stability chamber has a primary expansion angle substantially between said tubular main gas conduit and said sidewall and wherein a second exterior region of said stability chamber has a secondary expansion angle substantially along said sidewall and wherein said secondary expansion angle is greater than said primary expansion angle.   
     
     
         2 . The burner body of  claim 1 , wherein said second exterior region comprises a radius at an exit of said stability chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The burner body of  claim 1 , wherein said stability chamber is defined on each side by a pair of radially extending baffles, on the bottom by an upper surface of said burner body, on the top by a cap, and by an end-wall at said outlet so as to extend from said outlet to said simmer flame port. 
     
     
         4 . The burner body of  claim 3 , wherein said upper surface is configured such that a depth of said stability chamber at an end of said stability chamber closest said outlet has a value less than a depth of said stability chamber at an end closest to said simmer flame port. 
     
     
         5 . The burner body of  claim 1 , wherein said stability chamber minimizes a lateral expansion of a gas at relatively high flow rate. 
     
     
         6 . A gas cooking appliance comprising a burner body, said burner body comprising:
 a sidewall and a main gas conduit, said main gas conduit comprising an inlet and an outlet;   a plurality of primary burner ports disposed within said sidewall so as to be in communication with said outlet of said main gas conduit;   a simmer flame port disposed within said sidewall in a spaced relation with said primary burner ports for providing a reignition source therefore; and   a stability chamber disposed within said burner body, wherein a first interior region of said stability chamber has a primary expansion angle substantially between said main gas conduit and said sidewall and wherein a second exterior region of said stability chamber has a secondary expansion angle substantially along said sidewall and wherein said secondary expansion angle is greater than said primary expansion angle.   
     
     
         7 . The gas cooking appliance of  claim 6 , wherein said second exterior region comprises a radius at an exit of said stability chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The gas cooking appliance of  claim 6 , wherein said stability chamber is defined on each side by a pair of radially extending baffles, on the bottom by an upper surface of said burner body, on the top by a cap, and by an end-wall at said outlet so as to extend from said outlet to said simmer flame port. 
     
     
         9 . The gas cooking appliance of  claim 8 , wherein said upper surface is configured such that a depth of said stability chamber at an end of said stability chamber closest said outlet has a value less than a depth of said stability chamber at an end closest to said simmer flame port. 
     
     
         10 . The gas cooking appliance of  claim 6 , wherein said stability chamber minimizes a lateral expansion of a gas at relatively high flow rate. 
     
     
         11 . A stability chamber for use within a burner body of a gas burner assembly, said stability chamber comprising:
 a first interior region comprising a primary expansion angle substantially between an interior tubular main gas conduit and an exterior sidewall of said burner body; and   a second exterior region comprising a secondary expansion angle substantially along said sidewall and wherein said secondary expansion angle is greater than said primary expansion angle.   
     
     
         12 . The stability chamber of  claim 11 , wherein said second exterior region comprises a radius at an exit of said stability chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The stability chamber of  claim 11 , wherein said stability chamber is defined on each side by a pair of radially extending baffles, on the bottom by an upper surface of said burner body, on the top by a cap, and by an end-wall at said outlet so as to extend from said outlet to said simmer flame port. 
     
     
         14 . The stability chamber of  claim 13 , wherein said upper surface is configured such that a depth of said stability chamber at an end of said stability chamber closest said outlet has a value less than a depth of said stability chamber at an end closest to said simmer flame port. 
     
     
         15 . The stability chamber of  claim 11 , wherein said stability chamber minimizes a lateral expansion of a gas at relatively high flow rate.