Decorative gas burner

Abstract

A burner assembly having a burner plate provided with a plurality of spaced apart nozzles thereon. A plurality of pilot burners are disposed at different locations proximate the burner plate. The pilot burners can be partially shielded within canopies with the burner plate being unshielded.

1 . A burner assembly comprising:
 a body containing a burner system;   a plate shaped burner member positioned at an upper portion of the body, and having an exposed top surface;   a plurality of nozzles disposed at spaced apart locations on the exposed top surface of the burner member; and   a plurality of pilot burners, each being disposed proximate a different location on the exposed top surface of the burner member.   
   
   
       2 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pilot burners is at least partially shielded within a canopy adjacent the burner member. 
   
   
       3 . The burner assembly of  claim 2 , wherein there are a plurality of canopies positioned adjacent the burner member at diametrically opposed positions, with at least one of the pilot burners being at least partially shielded within each of the canopies. 
   
   
       4 . The burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein there is a perimeter member that surrounds the burner member, and wherein the perimeter member has a plurality of raised portions formed along an edge of the perimeter member. 
   
   
       5 . The burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of nozzles is located near an outer portion of the exposed top surface of the plate shaped burner member. 
   
   
       6 . The burner assembly of  claim 5  wherein a population density of nozzles near the outer portion of the exposed top surface is greater than a population density of nozzles near an inner portion of the exposed top surface. 
   
   
       7 . The burner assembly of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of nozzles are positioned to align substantially in a concentric circular pattern. 
   
   
       8 . A burner assembly comprising:
 a body;   a table section attachable to the body;   a burner having a plate shaped top surface and an internal chamber located beneath the top surface, with a plurality of nozzles positioned above the internal chamber, each nozzle having a corresponding discharge opening on the top surface of the burner plate, and wherein gas from the internal chamber can be discharged through the plurality of nozzles; and   a plurality of pilot burners positioned proximate the burner at different positions with respect to the top surface of the burner.   
   
   
       9 . The burner assembly of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of pilot burners are each disposed within canopies. 
   
   
       10 . The burner assembly of  claim 9  wherein each of the canopies is formed on a plate adjacent the burner. 
   
   
       11 . The burner assembly of  claim 8  wherein each of the pilot burners is disposed proximate a perimeter of the top surface of the burner and wherein each of the pilot burners is positioned in substantially evenly spaced apart fashion along the perimeter of the top surface of the burner. 
   
   
       12 . The burner assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a perimeter plate configured to surround the burner and to be positioned at a level proximate the level of the top surface of the burner, the perimeter plate and burner each having a reflective surface. 
   
   
       13 . The burner assembly of  claim 8  wherein the body contains a burner system below the burner and with a perimeter plate and the burner being disposed above the burner system. 
   
   
       14 . The burner assembly of  claim 13  wherein the table section has an open interior portion to expose the burner. 
   
   
       15 . The burner assembly of  claim 14  further comprising a cover configured to cover the burner and to be positioned within the open interior portion. 
   
   
       16 . A method of operating a decorative burner assembly comprising:
 allowing a pressurized fuel to enter an interior chamber of a burner member, and to be discharged through a nozzle having an opening proximate a plate-like surface, the plate-like surface and nozzle opening being fully exposed to avoid obscuring a decorative or reflective surface feature on the plate-like surface; and   igniting the fuel using a plurality of pilot burners positioned near different positions on the plate-like surface.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising providing a canopy for each of the plurality of pilot burners. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein there are a plurality of nozzles and the density of nozzle openings on the plate-like surface is greater on an outer portion of the plate-like surface than an inner portion of the plate-like surface. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of pilot burners are positioned nearer to the outer portion of the plate-like surface than the inner portion. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the nozzles are aligned in a circular pattern.