Ceramic Gas Collector With Electrode

Abstract

Various embodiments of a gas burner igniter assembly are shown, described, and claimed herein. One embodiment of an igniter comprises an electrode at least partially encapsulated in an insulating body. The body of the igniter includes a sleeve portion and a hood portion, whereby the hood portion is disposed in close proximity to an outlet port of a gas burner. The body of the igniter, including the hood portion, is made from a non-conductive and heat and corrosion resistant material to withstand the harsh conditions to which it is subjected. The hood portion is configured to at least partially surround and cover a tip of the electrode, thereby facilitating an accumulation of a combustible gas/air mixture near the electrode. The sleeve portion is an elongated tubular member which is connected to a lead wire at a first end and the hood portion at the second end. The gas burner igniter assembly includes a bracket for holding the igniter in close proximity to the gas burner.

1 . A gas burner assembly comprising:
 a gas burner for providing a combustible gas through at least one port;   an igniter comprising a body and an electrode, the body having a gas collector portion, the gas collector portion being configured to capture at least some of the combustible gas;   an ignition device for generating a spark between the electrode and a ground;   a bracket for positioning the gas collector portion of the igniter in close proximity to the at least one port; and,   the body of the igniter being comprised of a non-conductive and heat and corrosion resistant material.   
     
     
         2 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises a sleeve portion being integral with the collector portion and wherein the bracket holds the body at the sleeve portion. 
     
     
         3 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 2  wherein the bracket has at least one wing with an aperture and the sleeve portion has a stop, whereby the sleeve portion is adapted to mate with the aperture and the stop is adapted to engage with a periphery of the aperture to position the collector portion in close proximity to the at least one port of the burner. 
     
     
         4 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gas collector portion has at least one wall which partially encloses a volume in which at least some of the combustible gas is captured. 
     
     
         5 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the body is comprised of aluminum oxide ceramic that has a purity of approximately 92-94% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the bracket includes a connection, the connection being configured to allow the igniter to be attached to and removed from the gas burner by hand, without the use of tools. 
     
     
         7 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 6  wherein the connection allows the bracket to snap onto the gas burner. 
     
     
         8 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the bracket is connected to the gas burner by a welded connection. 
     
     
         9 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gas burner is the ground. 
     
     
         10 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 9  wherein the bracket is attached to the gas burner and a grounded lead wire, whereby the bracket passes the ground to the burner. 
     
     
         11 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 1  wherein the ignition system is installed in barbecue grill and the gas burner is a burner tube having a plurality of ports along the length of the burner. 
     
     
         12 . A gas burner assembly comprising:
 a gas burner for providing a combustible gas through at least one port;   an igniter comprising a body and an electrode, the body having an insulating sleeve portion and a hood portion, the insulating portion being configured to prevent sparks at undesired locations, the hood portion being configured to capture at least some of the combustible gas, the insulating portion and the gas collector portion being integral, the sleeve portion having a first end and a second end, the hood portion depending from the second end of the sleeve portion, the electrode extending through the sleeve portion from the first end to the second end where the electrode extends outside of the sleeve portion into a partially enclosed volume defined by the hood portion;   an ignition device for generating a spark between the electrode and a ground;   a bracket for positioning the gas collector portion of the igniter in close proximity to the at least one port; and,   the body of the igniter being comprised of a non-conductive and heat and corrosion resistant material.   
     
     
         13 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 12  wherein the collector portion of the body is comprised of a ceramic material. 
     
     
         14 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 12  wherein the bracket has a first portion for engaging with the igniter and a second portion for engaging with the gas burner. 
     
     
         15 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 12  wherein the gas burner and the bracket are mounted to a firebowl of a barbecue grill using a single fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 12  wherein the bracket comprises a first portion welded for holding the igniter and a second portion that is connected to the gas burner by a welded connection, whereby the first portion is configured to mate with the second portion. 
     
     
         17 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 12  wherein the gas burner is the ground. 
     
     
         18 . The gas burner assembly of  claim 12  wherein the bracket has at least one aperture for receiving the sleeve portion and the sleeve portion has a stop, whereby the stop is adapted to engage with a periphery of the aperture to position the hood portion in close proximity to the at least one port of the burner. 
     
     
         19 . A gas burner assembly comprising:
 a gas burner for providing a combustible gas through at least one port;   an electrode being disposed in close proximity to the port of the gas burner and a ground being in close proximity to the electrode;   a hood portion being disposed at least partially above the electrode, the hood portion having at least one wall, the wall at least partially enclosing a volume for capturing at least some of the combustible gas;   an ignition device for generating a spark between the electrode and the ground; and,   the hood portion being comprised of a ceramic material.   
     
     
         20 . A gas burner assembly for a barbecue grill comprising:
 a gas burner tube having a plurality of spaced apart ports for providing a combustible gas;   an igniter comprising a body and an electrode, the body being comprised of a ceramic material and having an insulating sleeve portion and a hood portion, the insulating sleeve portion being configured to prevent sparks at undesired locations, the hood portion having at least one wall which at least partially encloses a volume, the insulating sleeve portion and the gas collector portion being integral, the insulating sleeve portion having a first end and a second end, the hood portion depending from the second end of the sleeve portion, the electrode extending through the insulating sleeve portion from the first end to the second end where the electrode extends outside of the sleeve portion at least partially into the volume;   an ignition device for generating a spark between the electrode and a ground;   a bracket for positioning the gas collector portion of the igniter in close proximity to the burner tube, the bracket having a first portion for engaging with the igniter and a second portion for supporting the bracket; and,   a grounded lead wire being interconnected with the burner tube, whereby the burner tube is the ground.