Description:MODULAR GAS STOVE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a modular gas stove. In particular, the present invention relates to a modular gas stove with a tiltable or detachable burner assembly units.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The conventionally known gas stoves include a frame and top that are placed on a kitchen top or a slab. The purpose of the frame is to house various pipes, gas regulators, gas inlet nozzles and knobs. In known gas stoves sometimes burners and mixing tubes are also formed in the frame. Further, in some cases the burners, their respective drip trays, and their respective pan support rest on the top of the gas stoves. In either scenario, the type and size of the burners used in the gas stove are fixed and user has to use the fixed burners, irrespective of the fact that they correspond to the cooking requirements or not. Further, the fixed burner occupies large area of the cooking surface irrespective of their usage. Accordingly, cleaning of the cooking area occupied by the burner becomes cumbersome as the entire gas stove needs to be relocated.
[0003] Further, in case of modular gas stoves where the burner units may be disengaged from the frame, the disengagement process involves risks of heat burns. The burner units can be safely disengaged only when it is not hot. The burner units will have residue heat that lasts even after turning off the flames. Accordingly, if the burner unit needs to be disengaged after its use, it can be safely done only after the heat is subsided from the burner unit. The known modular gas stoves do not provide any arrangement for quick and safe disengagement of burner units after cooking operation.
[0004] Thus, in view of the above, there is a need for a compact modular gas stove that provides flexibility of usage to a user without compromising on safety of operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An embodiment of the present invention discloses a modular gas stove having a base unit to house one or more gas inlet nozzles, gas inlet pipe and one or more knobs, the base unit is detachably connected to a main gas pipeline, one or more burner assembly units having respective elongated connecting arms to detachably engage with the base unit, one or more tilting assemblies configured to tilt one or more burner assembly units individually in different orientations and one or more locking assemblies configured to lock in position and engage and disengage the one or more burner assembly units with the base unit, wherein one or more components of the locking assembly are formed in the base unit.
[0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, provision for housing the one or more gas inlet nozzles is provided in either side of the base unit. Further, the one or more gas inlet nozzle is configured to detachably couple the base unit to the main gas pipeline and coupled to the gas inlet pipe.
[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, each burner assembly unit from the one or more burner assembly units includes one or more jets, one or more mixing tubes for respective burner assembly units, burner, drip tray, pan support, auto ignition arrangement and a flame failure device. Further, the flame failure device is split between the burner assembly unit and the base unit, such that a wire for initiation of the flame failure device has two portions coupled via connectors provided on the respective burner assembly unit and the base unit. An attachment of the two connectors forms a seamless wire connection path for flame detection and the detachment of the two connectors breaks the wire connection path for flame detection. The one or more burner assembly units include flame failure device.
[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the mixing tubes is provided in the respective elongated connecting arms of the burner assembly units and swivel along with the connecting arms during tilting of the burner assembly units. The mixing tubes is provided with a plurality of cutouts adjacent to each other corresponding to different orientation of the burner assembly unit.
[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, each tilting assembly includes a sliding lever with a lock pin to slide horizontally in the base unit, the lock pin is provided perpendicular to axis of the sliding lever inside a lock pin insert, the lock pin slides along with the sliding lever, the lock pin is configured to engage and disengage with the cutouts in the mixing tube and a spring provided between the lock pin insertand the lock pin to exert spring force on the lock pin.
[0010] Further, the spring decompresses and engage the lock pin with the cutout in the mixing tube, to tilt the burner assembly units, the tilting lever is pushed to compress the spring and disengage the lock pin from the cutout, releasing the burner assembly unit, the burner assembly unit is tilted upwards along the connecting arms and the lock pin engages with the next cutout in the mixing tube by the spring and locks in the position of the burner assembly units, this operation is repeated for tilting the burner assembly units in different orientations.
[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the cutout in the mixing tube corresponds to shape of the locking pin. Further, the number of orientations the one or more burner assembly units can be tilted corresponds to the number of cutouts provided in the mixing tube.
[0012] Further, a plurality of cutouts is provided in the drip tray and a plurality of stepped pin is provided in the pan support, the stepped pin in the pan support engages with the cutout in the drip tray and prevents pan support from falling out during tilting of the burner assembly units.
[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, each locking assembly comprises a door with protrusions, the door is provided above a mouth portion of one or more connectors in the base unit, a locking lever in the base unit for respective burner assembly units, a guide rail assembly to facilitate movement of the connector, the connector is mounted on a sliding rack of the guide rail assembly and a link mechanism interconnecting the locking lever with the guide rail assembly such that, the movement of the locking lever facilitates in sliding of the connector.
[0014] Further, the door is opened for accessing the mouth portion and the burner assembly unit is pushed towards the base unit for engagement, a sliding portion in the burner assembly unit slides through a sealant in the mouth portion of one or more connectors in the base unit.
[0015] Further, the one or more doors is provided with protrusions that engage with a groove in the one or more burner assembly units to fixedly hold the one or more burner assembly units upon engagement with the base unit. The sealant provides a leak proof seal between the sliding portion and the mouth portion during engagement of the one or more burner assembly units with the base unit. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sealant is made from one of: rubber, silicon and synthetic polymers.
[0016] Further, the one or more burner assembly units is disengaged from the base unit by lifting the respective door and disengage the protrusions from the groove in the burner assembly units and by one of: pulling the burner assembly units out of the mouth portion of the connector from the base unit and by operating the locking assembly.
[0017] Further, the locking assembly is operated to disengage the burner assembly units from the base unit by lifting the respective locking lever that facilitates in sliding out of the connector along the guide rail assembly by the link mechanism, the connector pushes the burner assembly unit away from the mouth portion disengaging the burner assembly units from the base unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] The following drawings are illustrative of preferred embodiments for enabling the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description.
[0019] Figures 1 (a), 1(b), and 1(c) illustrate a perspective view of a modular gas stove with three burner unit, two burner unit and one burner unit respectively in engaged state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] Figure 1 (d) illustrates a perspective view of the modular gas stove with two burner assembly unit in engaged state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 2 illustrates a bottom view of the modular gas stove in accordance with embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] Figure 3(a) illustrates a perspective view of the modular gas stove with the burner assembly unit in tilted orientation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] Figures 3(b) and 3(c) illustrate a side view of the modular gas stove with the burner assembly unit in different titled orientation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] Figure 4 (a) illustrates a perspective view of a sliding lever in a base unit of the modular gas stove in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] Figure 4 (b) illustrates a perspective view of a mixing tube in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] Figure 4(c) illustrates a sectional view of a tilting assembly in an engaged condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] Figure 4(d) illustrates a sectional view of the tilting assembly in a disengaged condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] Figure 5 (a) illustrates a top view of a drip tray in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] Figure 5 (b) illustrates a perspective view of a pan support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] Figure 5 (c) illustrates a front view of the pan support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] Figure 5 (d) illustrates a sectional view of the pan support engaged with the drip tray in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the modular gas stove with a locking assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] Figures 7 (a) and 7(b) illustrate a perspective view of a door in open and closed condition respectively in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] Figures 8 (a) and 8(b) illustrate a perspective view of the door in disengaged and engaged condition respectively in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] Figure 9 (a) illustrates a perspective view of a locking assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] Figure 9 (b) illustrates a perspective view of the locking assembly engaged with a burner assembly unit in accordance with embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] Figure 9 (c) illustrates a perspective view of the locking assembly disengaged with a burner assembly unit in accordance with embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] Figure 9 (d) illustrates a sectional side of the locking assembly disengaged from the burner assembly unit in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and
[0039] Figures 9(e) to 9(g) illustrate different stages of engagement of the burner assembly unit with the base unit by the locking assembly in accordance with embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0040] The following disclosure is provided in order to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. Exemplary embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes and various modifications will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, the terminology and phraseology used is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed. For the purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
[0041] Figures 1(a), 1(b), and 1(c) illustrate a perspective view of a modular gas stove 100 with three burner unit, two burner unit and one burner unit respectively in engaged state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 (d) illustrates a perspective view of the modular gas stove 100 with two burner assembly units 104 in engaged state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of brevity description of figures 1(a) to 1(d) have been provided together.
[0042] The modular gas stove 100 disclosed in the present invention is a standalone cooking appliance which is compact, sleek, lightweight and portable. Further, as a result of compact, sleek, lightweight and portable structure the modular gas stove 100 does not require sophisticated support structure for mounting or resting on, as required by generally known gas stoves. The modular gas stove 100 of the present invention may be used in any location with main gas pipeline. Accordingly, without any limitation, the modular gas stove 100 may be used in kitchen, cooking area, cookhouse and a bakery.
[0043] The modular gas stove 100 may operate on a cooking gas. In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooking gas may, without any limitation, be LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) or PNG (Piped Natural Gas) or any other known cooking gas.
[0044] The modular gas stove 100 may include a base unit 102, one or more burner assembly units 104, one or more tilting assemblies and one or more locking assemblies. The modular gas stove 100 may at any given instance support a single or plurality of burner assembly units 104 correspondingly a single or plurality of tilting assemblies and a single or plurality of locking assemblies. In the present description for sake of clarity it has been assumed that two burner assembly units 104 are engageable and disengageable with the base unit 102 in the gas stove 100. The example of two burner assembly units 104 is merely illustrative and it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, a single burner assembly unit has been referred as either burner assembly unit 105 or burner assembly unit 107. Also, a combination of the two burner assembly units has been referred as burner assembly units 104 or one or more burner assembly units 104.
[0045] Further, in the present description for sake of clarity it has been assumed that two tilting assemblies and two locking assemblies corresponding to the burner assembly units 104 is provided in the gas stove 100. The example of two tilting assemblies and two locking assemblies is merely illustrative and it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, one or more tilting assemblies has been referred as tilting assembly and one or more locking assemblies has been referred as locking assembly.
[0046] Further, each burner assembly unit 105, 107 from the burner assembly units 104 may have respective elongated connecting arm 110, one or more jets, a mixing tube 404, a burner 112, a drip tray 114, a pan support 116, an auto ignition arrangement and a flame failure device 118. In an embodiment of the present invention, the drip tray 114, the pan support 116 and the nozzle cover may be detachable components of the burner assembly units 104. In another embodiment of the present invention, the drip tray 114, the pan support 116 and the nozzle cover may be integrated components of the burner assembly units 104. Further, the mixing tube 404 and the burner 112 may be integral part of the burner assembly units 104 may be fixedly attached to the burner assembly units 104. The base unit 102 may be configured to house one or more gas inlet nozzles 106, elongated gas pipes 204, one or more knobs 108, jets and one or more components of the locking assembly.
[0047] Figure 2 illustrates a bottom view of the modular gas stove 100 in accordance with embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, figure 2 illustrates the base unit 102 without bottom cover, amounting to exposure of the gas inlet pipe 202 and elongated gas pipes 204. The one or more gas inlet nozzles 106 may be configured to detachably couple the base unit 102 to a main gas pipeline. Accordingly, the gas inlet nozzle 106 may be ingress point for cooking gas into the modular gas stove 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the provision for housing the one or more gas inlet nozzles 106 is provided in either side of the base unit 102 or on the back side of the base unit 102. Further, the gas inlet nozzle 106 may be coupled to a gas inlet pipe 202 in the base unit 102. The gas inlet pipe 202 may be configured to carry the cooking gas from one side of the base unit 102 to the opposite side. The gas inlet nozzle 106 may be coupled at either ends of the gas inlet pipe 202 in the base unit 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, if the gas inlet nozzle 106 is coupled at one end of the gas inlet pipe 202, the opposite end is closed by a cap.
[0048] Further, the gas inlet pipe 202 is connected to elongated gas pipes 204 such that the gas flowing from the gas inlet nozzle 106 flows into the elongated gas pipes 204. The elongated gas pipes 204 may be configured to carry the cooking gas from the gas inlet pipe 202 to the engagement point of the one or more jets of the burner assembly units 104. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the elongated gas pipes 204 may include valves (not shown), such that actuation of the valves under influence of the attachment assembly may open and close flow of cooking gas to the burner assembly units 104. In an embodiment of the present invention, the gas inlet nozzle 106 may be partially inside the base unit 102 and partially outside. Further, the gas inlet pipe 202 and the elongated gas pipe 204 may be fully encased in the base unit 102.
[0049] Figure 3(a) illustrates a perspective view of the modular gas stove 100 with the burner assembly units 104 in tilted orientation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 3(b) and 3(c) illustrate a side view of the modular gas stove 100 with the burner assembly units 104 in different titled orientation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of brevity description of figures 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) have been provided together. In an embodiment of the present invention, the burner assembly units 104 may be tilted or pivoted above the base unit 102 by the tilting assembly. It may be understood that tilting or pivoting of the burner assembly unit 105 and burner assembly unit 107 is independent to each other. Thus, a single burner assembly unit 107 may be tilted at a given instance of time, while the other burner assembly unit 105 remain engaged with the base unit 102. Further, the tilting of the burner assembly units 104 do not disengage from the base unit 102. The working of the tilting assembly is described in detail in the subsequent paragraphs.
[0050] Figure 4 (a) illustrates a perspective view of a sliding lever 402 in a base unit 102 of the modular gas stove 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 (b) illustrates a perspective view of a mixing tube 404 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4(c) illustrates a sectional view of the tilting assembly 400 in an engaged condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4(d) illustrates a sectional view of the tilting assembly in a disengaged condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of brevity description of figures 4(a), 4(b), 4(c) and 4(d) have been provided together.
[0051] Further, the tilting assembly 400 includes a sliding lever 402, a spring 410 and a lock pin 408. The lock pin 408 is provided perpendicular to an axis of the sliding lever 402 and slides horizontally inside a lock pin insert 412 along with the sliding lever 402 in the base unit 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sliding lever 402 is provided adjacent to a mouth portion 704 of connector in the base unit 102. Further the lock pin 408 is configured to engage and disengage with a cutout 406 formed in the mixing tube 404. In an embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the cutout 406 in the mixing tube 404 corresponds to the shape of the lock pin 408. Furthermore, the spring 410 is provided between the lock pin insert 412 and the lock pin 408 constantly exerting a spring force over the lock pin 408. This spring force decompresses the spring 410 and push the lock pin 408 against the mixing tube 404 and keeps the lock pin 408 engaged with the cutout 406 in the mixing tube 404. In an embodiment of the present invention, the burner assembly is coupled to the base via a hinge (not shown) and is tiltable about the said hinge.
[0052] To tilt or pivot the burner assembly units 104, the sliding lever 402 needs to be pulled away from the mouth portion 704 to disengage the lock pin 408 from the cutout 406 of the mixing assembly. When pulled, the burner assembly units 104 is released from the position and may be tilted upwards along the connecting arm 110. When tilting the burner assembly units 104, the mixing tube compresses the spring provided inside the lock pin, thereby tilting the burner assembly at various position. While tilting, when the next cutout 406 of the mixing tube assembly reaches to the lock pin 408, the lock pin 408 engages with the next cutout 406 in the mixing tube 404 by the spring 410. The spring 410 elongates and pushes the lock pin 408 towards the cutout 406 of the mixing tube 404 to engage the lock pin 408 with the cutout 406. This engagement locks the position of the burner assembly unit (105, 107) in the titled orientation. This operation may be repeated for tilting the burner assembly units 104 in different orientations. In an embodiment of the present invention, the number of orientations the one or more burner assembly units 104 tilted corresponds to the number of cutouts 406 provided in the mixing tube 404. In an embodiment of the present invention, different cutout 406 enable the burner assembly units 104 to tilt in different orientations. Further, the burner assembly units 104 is independent from each other in terms of operation and orientation, such that while one burner assembly unit is in tilted orientation, the other burner assembly unit is one of: in tilted and not tilted orientation.
[0053] The operation of the modular gas stove 100 may be understood as a state in which cooking gas flows from the base unit 102 to the burner assembly units 104 and the burner assembly units 104 are ready to be ignited for cooking. The non-operation of the modular gas stove 100 may be understood as a state in which cooking gas does not flow from the base unit 102 to the burner assembly units 104. Accordingly, in the non-operational state the burner assembly units 104 cannot be ignited for cooking.
[0054] Figure 5 (a) illustrates a top view of a drip tray 114 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 (b) illustrates a perspective view of a pan support 116 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 (c) illustrates a front view of the pan support 116 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 (d) illustrates a sectional view of the pan support 116 engaged with the drip tray 114 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of brevity, description of figures 5(a), 5(b), 5(c) and 5(d) have been provided together.
[0055] Further a locking mechanism is provided in the drip dray and the pan support 116 to lock the pan support 116 from falling out during tilting of the burner assembly units 104. The locking mechanism includes a plurality of cutouts 502 is provided in the drip tray 114 and a plurality of stepped pin 504 is provided in the pan support 116. Further, a plurality of cutouts 502 is provided in the drip tray 114 and a plurality of stepped pin 504 is provided in the pan support 116. The stepped pin 504 in the pan support 116 engages with the cutout 502 in the drip tray 114 such that the stepped pin 504 locks with the cutout 502 and prevents the pan support 116 from falling out during tilting of the burner assembly units 104.
[0056] Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the modular gas stove 100 with a locking assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 7 (a) and 7(b) illustrate a perspective view of a door 602 in open and closed condition respectively in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 8 (a) and 8(b) illustrate a perspective view of the door 602 in disengaged and engaged condition respectively in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9(a) illustrates a perspective view of a locking assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9(b) illustrates a perspective view of the locking assembly engaged with the burner assembly units 104 in accordance with embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9(c) illustrates a perspective view of the locking assembly disengaged with the burner assembly units 104 in accordance with embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9(d) illustrate a sectional side of the locking assembly disengaged from the burner assembly units 104 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Figures 9(e) to 9(g) illustrate different stages of engagement of the burner assembly units 104 with the base unit 102 by the locking assembly in accordance with embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of brevity, description of figures 6, 7(a), 7(b), 8(a), 8(b), and 9(a) - 9(g) have been provided together.
[0057] Further each of the locking assembly may include a door 602 with protrusions 702, a locking lever 604 for respective burner assembly units 104, a guide rail assembly 902 with a sliding rack 904 and a link mechanism operationally coupled with the locking lever 604 and the guide rail assembly 902. The working of the locking assembly is described in detail in the subsequent paragraphs.
[0058] Further, the door 602 is provided above the mouth portion 704 of the connector in the base unit 102. The mouth portion 704 of the connector corresponds to a sliding portion 908 in the burner assembly units 104. In an embodiment of the present invention, the door 602 is hinged above the mouth portion 704 in the base unit 102 and provided with a handle 706 to operate the door 602. Furthermore, the door 602 needs to be opened for accessing the mouth portion 704 to engage the burner assembly units 104 with the base unit 102. The burner assembly units 104 may be pushed towards the base unit 102 for engagement such that the sliding portion 908 in the burner assembly unit slides through a sealant 906 in the mouth portion 704 of the connector in the base unit 102. The door 602 is provided with protrusions 702 that engage with a groove in the connecting arm 110 of the burner assembly units 104 to fixedly hold the burner assembly units 104 upon engagement with the base unit 102. Furthermore, the sealant 906 provides a leak proof seal between the sliding portion 908 and the mouth portion 704 during engagement of the one or more burner assembly units 104 with the base unit 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sealant 906 is made from one of: rubber, silicon and synthetic polymers.
[0059] Further, for disengaging the burner assembly units 104 from the base unit 102, firstly the respective door 602 needs to be lifted to disengage the protrusions 702 from the groove in the connecting arm 110 of the burner assembly units 104. Then, the burner assembly units 104 may be disengaged by one of: pulling the burner assembly units 104 out of the mouth portion 704 of the connector from the base unit 102 and by operating the locking assembly. The burner assembly units 104 may be disengaged by pulling from the base unit 102 when the burner assembly units 104 is in the non-operational state and safe to pull without risk of heat burns. The locking assembly may be operated to disengage when the burner assembly units 104 is hot with residual heat dissipation after the operational state.
[0060] Further, to disengage the burner assembly units 104 from the base unit 102 by operating the locking assembly, firstly the respective locking lever 604 is to be lifted. The locking lever 604 is interconnected to the sliding rack 904 via a link mechanism. The link mechanism push the sliding rack 904 that facilitates in sliding out of the connector along the guide rail assembly 902. Furthermore, the connector push the burner assembly units 104 away from the mouth portion 704 disengaging the burner assembly units 104 from the base unit 102.
[0061] In an embodiment of the present invention, the flame failure device 118 is provide in each of the burner assembly units (105, 107). The flame failure device 118 is configured to detect the flame from the burner 112 and if no flame is detected for a predetermined time, the failure device terminates flow of gas into the burner 112. Further, the flame failure device 118 may be connected detachably with the burner assembly units 104. The connection of the flame failure device 118 is split between the burner assembly units 104 and the base unit 102. A wire for initiation of the flame failure device 118 may have two portions coupled via connectors provided on the respective burner assembly units 104 and the base unit 102. Further, an attachment of the two connectors forms a seamless wire connection path for flame failure detection and the detachment of the two connectors breaks the wire connection path for flame failure detection. Accordingly, when the burner assembly units 104 is disengaged from the base unit 102, the connectors in the burner assembly units 104 and the base unit 102 may be detached, amounting to deactivation of the flame failure detection feature in the modular gas stove 100.
[0062] The modular gas stove 100 disclosed by the present invention is compact and occupies very less space compared to the known gas stove 100s. Further, the modular gas stove 100 has the flexibility if tilting the one more burner assembly units (105, 107) individually enhancing user convenience. This is achieved by proving individual tilting assemblies 400 to each burner assembly units 104. This allows the burner assembly units 104 to be tilted independent to each other. Furthermore, the tilting assembly is integrated into the base unit 102 thereby maintaining the compact structure of the gas stove 100. This tilting operation enables user to easy cleaning of the kitchen tops without the need to disengage or relocate the entire gas stove 100.
[0063] Additionally, the individual locking assemblies are provided with each of the burner assembly units 104. This locking assemblies ensure proper engagement of the burner assembly units 104 with the base unit 102. Further, the door 602 in the locking assembly may be closed if any of the burner assembly units 104 is not in use. This ensures that connecting point is safely secured when any of the burner assembly units 104 is not in use. Additionally, the locking assembly provides a safe disengagement option. After the cooking process, the burner assembly unit remains hot as it dissipates residual heat. The user needs to wait for the burner assembly units 104 to cool for safe disengagement. But, the locking assembly provides a safe disengagement option without the need to hold the burner assembly units 104. The disengaging operation may be carried out by the lever provided in the base unit 102. The burner assembly units 104 may be safely disengaged immediately after the cooking process by the locking assembly without the need to wait for the heat to be dissipated. Thus, the locking assembly facilitates in safe engagement and disengagement of the burner assembly units 104. Furthermore, the modular gas stove meets all the standards provided by BIS and also meets the minimum working efficiency and even provides more working efficiency than the prescribed efficiency i.e. more than 68 percent.
[0064] While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. , Claims:I/ We claim:
1. A modular gas stove (100) comprising:
a base unit (102) to house one or more gas inlet nozzles (106), a gas inlet pipe (202), elongated gas pipes (204) and one or more knobs (108), the base unit (102) is detachably connected to a main gas pipeline;
one or more burner assembly units (105, 107) having respective elongated connecting arms (110) to detachably engage with the base unit (102);
one or more tilting assemblies (400) configured to tilt one or more burner assembly units (104) individually in different orientations;
one or more locking assemblies configured to lock in position and engage and disengage the one or more burner assembly units (104) with the base unit (102), wherein one or more components of the locking assembly are formed in the base unit (102).
2. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein provision for housing the one or more gas inlet nozzles (106) is provided in either side of the base unit (102).
3. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more gas inlet nozzles (106) is configured to detachably couple the base unit (102) to the main gas pipeline and coupled to the gas inlet pipe (202).
4. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each burner assembly unit from the one or more burner assembly units (104) includes one or more jets, a mixing tube (404) for respective burner assembly units (104), burner (112), a drip tray (114), a pan support (116), an auto ignition arrangement and a flame failure device (118).
5. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flame failure device (118) is split between the burner assembly unit (105, 107) and the base unit (102), such that a wire for initiation of the flame failure device (118) has two portions coupled via connectors provided on the respective burner assembly unit (105, 107) and the base unit (102).
6. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein an attachment of the two connectors forms a seamless wire connection path for flame detection and the detachment of the two connectors breaks the wire connection path for flame detection.
7. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the one or more burner assembly units (104) include flame failure device (118).
8. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 4, wherein the mixing tube (404) is provided in the respective elongated connecting arms (110) of the burner assembly units (104) and swivel along with the connecting arms (110) during tilting of the burner assembly units (104).
9. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 4, wherein the mixing tube (404) is provided with a plurality of cutouts (406) adjacent to each other corresponding to different orientation of the burner assembly units (104).
10. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tilting assembly (400) comprising:
a sliding lever (402) with a lock pin (408) to slide horizontally in the base unit (102), the lock pin (408) is provided perpendicular to an axis of the sliding lever (402);
the lock pin (408) slides along with the sliding lever (402) inside a lock pin insert (412), the lock pin (408) is configured to engage and disengage with the cutouts (406) in the mixing tube (404);
a spring (410) provided between the lock pin insert (412) and the lock pin (408) to exert spring force on the lock pin (408),
wherein the spring (410) decompresses and engage the lock pin (408) with the cutout (406) in the mixing tube (404), to tilt the burner assembly units (104), the sliding lever (402) is pulled to disengage the lock pin (408) from the cutout (406), releasing the burner assembly unit (104), the burner assembly unit (104) is tilted upwards along the connecting arms (110) and the lock pin (408) engages with the next cutout (406) in the mixing tube (404) by the spring (410) and locks in the position of the burner assembly unit (104), this operation is repeated for tilting the burner assembly units (104) in different orientations.
11. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein shape of the cutout (406) in the mixing tube (404) corresponds to shape of the lock pin (408).
12. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, wherein number of orientations the one or more burner assembly units (104) can be tilted corresponds to the number of cutouts (406) provided in the mixing tube (404).
13. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burner assembly units (104) is independent from each other in terms of operation and orientation, such that while one burner assembly unit is in tilted orientation, the other burner assembly unit is one of: in tilted and not tilted orientation.
14. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein a plurality of cutouts (502) is provided in the drip tray (114) and a plurality of stepped pin (504) is provided in the pan support (116), the stepped pin (504) in the pan support (116) engages with the cutout in the drip tray (114) and prevents pan support (116) from falling out during tilting of the burner assembly units (104).
15. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each locking assembly comprises:
a door (602) with protrusions (702), the door (602) is provided above a mouth portion (704) of one or more connectors in the base unit (102);
locking levers in the base unit (102) for respective burner assembly units (104);
a guide rail assembly (902) to facilitate movement of the connector, the connector is mounted on a sliding rack (904) of the guide rail assembly (902);
a link mechanism interconnecting the locking lever with the guide rail assembly (902) such that, the movement of the locking lever facilitates in sliding of the connector.
wherein the door (602) is opened for accessing the mouth portion (704) and the burner assembly unit (104) is pushed towards the base unit (102) for engagement, a sliding portion (908) in the burner assembly unit (104) slides through a sealant (906) in the mouth portion (704) of one or more connectors in the base unit (102).
16. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the protrusions (702) in the door (602) engage with a groove in the burner assembly units (104) to fixedly hold the burner assembly units (104) upon engagement with the base unit (102).
17. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sealant (906) provides a leak proof seal between the sliding portion (908) and the mouth portion (704) during engagement of the one or more burner assembly units (104) with the base unit (102).
18. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sealant (906) is made from one of: rubber, silicon and synthetic polymers.
19. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the one or more burner assembly units (104) is disengaged from the base unit (102) by lifting the respective door (602) and disengage the protrusions (702) from the groove in the burner assembly units (104) and by one of: pulling the burner assembly units (104) out of the mouth portion (704) of the connector from the base unit (102) and by operating the locking assembly.
20. The modular gas stove (100) as claimed in one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the locking assembly is operated to disengage the burner assembly units (104) from the base unit (102) by lifting the respective locking lever that facilitates in sliding out of the connector along the guide rail assembly (902) by the link mechanism, the connector pushes the burner assembly unit away from the mouth portion (704) disengaging the burner assembly units (104) from the base unit (102).