Hot Top With Dual Burners

Abstract

A modular hot top cooking unit houses two burners generally located symmetrically within a firebox of the cooking unit. Dual separate controllers independently operate each burner. A cover plate defining a cooking surface covers the firebox and overlies the two burners. The dual controls allow both burners to be operated independently to achieve even heat across the cover plate, allow only one burner to be utilized to achieve gradual heat, or allow both burners to be used at different temperatures to achieve variable heat along the cover plate.

1 . A modular cooking unit comprising:
 a housing having a front, a first side, a second side, a rear, and a substantially open top;   a first burner and a second burner in the housing spaced apart from each other;   a first controller that controls a temperature setting of the first burner and a second controller that controls a temperature setting of the second burner; and,   a cover plate defining a cooking surface disposed over the open top of the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The modular cooking unit of  claim 1  wherein the first burner and the second burner are disposed equal distances from the first side and the second side and are centered with respect to each other from the front and the rear. 
   
   
       3 . The modular cooking unit of  claim 1  wherein the cooking unit is a first hot top. 
   
   
       4 . The modular cooking unit of  claim 3  further including a gas supply connection. 
   
   
       5 . The modular cooking unit of  claim 4  wherein the gas supply connection is disposed at the rear of the housing. 
   
   
       6 . The modular cooking unit of  claim 4  further including a first common manifold extending between the first side and the second side of the first hot top. 
   
   
       7 . The modular cooking unit of  claim 6  wherein a second hot top is placed adjacent the first hot top, wherein the second hot top has a second common manifold, and wherein the gas supply connection supplies gas to the first common manifold and wherein the first common manifold supplies gas to the second common manifold. 
   
   
       8 . The modular cooking unit of  claim 7  wherein the gas connection feed is covered by either a punch out section or a cap. 
   
   
       9 . The modular cooking unit of  claim 1  wherein the first controller includes at least one opening that allows viewing of either the first burner or the second burner through the front. 
   
   
       10 . The modular cooking unit of  claim 1  wherein the housing includes a front ledge, a first side ledge, a second side ledge, and a rear ledge, and wherein the cover plate contacts at least two of the front ledge, first side ledge, second side ledge, and rear ledge. 
   
   
       11 . A method of operating a cooking unit, the method comprising:
 providing a cooking unit comprising a housing having a front, a first side, a second side, a rear, and a substantially open top;   providing a first burner and a second burner in the housing spaced apart from each other, and providing a first controller that controls a temperature setting of the first burner and a second controller that controls a temperature setting of the second burner;   operating the first controller to a first temperature setting;   operating the second controller to a second temperature setting;   wherein the first temperature setting and the second temperature setting are different.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first burner and the second burner are disposed equal distances from the first side and the second side and are centered with respect to each other from the front and the rear. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the cooking unit is a first hot top. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further including a gas supply connection. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the gas supply connection is disposed at the rear of the housing. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  further including a first common manifold extending between the first side and the second side of the first hot top. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein a second hot top is placed adjacent the first hot top, wherein the second hot top has a second common manifold, and wherein the method further comprises:
 supplying gas from the gas supply connection to the first common manifold and wherein the first common manifold supplies gas to the second common manifold.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the gas connection feed is covered by either a punch out section or a cap. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first controller includes at least one opening that allows viewing of either the first burner or the second burner through the front. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the housing includes a front ledge, a first side ledge, a second side ledge, and a rear ledge, and wherein the cover plate contacts at least two of the front ledge, first side ledge, second side ledge, and rear ledge.