Energy harvesting burner for cooktop

Abstract

A gas burner appliance for recycling wasted heat from a heating process and for distributing heat evenly to a vessel or product. A housing is provided and a plate for collecting wasted heat is supported by the housing. A burner arm is also supported by the housing and disposed below the plate for receiving and combusting premixed fuel for uniformly distributing heat to the plate. An electric motor is supported by the housing and a drive mechanism connects the electric motor to the burner arm. A thermal electric generator generates electricity from heat of the plate and provides at least some of the generated electricity to the electric motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas burner appliance for recycling wasted heat from a heating process and for distributing heat evenly to a vessel or product, comprising:
 a) a housing;   b) a plate for collecting wasted heat, said plate supported by said housing;   c) a burner arm supported by said housing and disposed below said plate for receiving and combusting premixed fuel for uniformly distributing heat to said plate;   d) an electric motor supported by said housing;   e) drive means operatively connecting said electric motor to said burner arm; and   f) a thermal electric generator proximate said plate for generating electricity from heat of said plate and for providing at least some of said electricity to said electric motor for the operation thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The gas burner appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said drive means comprises a chain and sprocket. 
     
     
         3 . The gas burner appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet for providing combustible gas to said gas burner appliance. 
     
     
         4 . The gas burner appliance in accordance with  claim 3 , further comprising a gas/air mixing component operatively connected to said burner arm for premixing fuel prior to the combustion thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The gas burner appliance in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said gas burner appliance is disposed on a gas stove. 
     
     
         6 . A gas burner appliance for recycling wasted heat from a heating process and for distributing heat evenly to a vessel or product, comprising:
 a) a rotatable burner arm for receiving and combusting premixed fuel;   b) a plate disposed above said burner arm for collecting wasted heat;   c) an electric motor for rotating said rotatable burner arm; and   d) a thermal electric generator proximate said plate for generating electricity from heat of said plate and for providing at least some of said electricity to said electric motor for the operation thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The gas burner appliance in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising a chain and sprocket linkage between said electric motor and said rotatable burner arm. 
     
     
         8 . The gas burner appliance in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising an inlet for providing combustible gas to said gas burner appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The gas burner appliance in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising a gas/air mixing component operatively connected to said burner arm for premixing fuel prior to the combustion thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The gas burner appliance in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said gas burner appliance is disposed on a gas stove.