Radiant Panel Burner

Abstract

A radiant panel burner is provided having a primary heat emitter and a secondary heat emitter. The radiant panel includes a plenum chamber that houses a baffle connected to a mixer that supplies combustible gas. In a preferred embodiment, the primary heat emitter is a perforated ceramic grid positioned over the plenum chamber and having a plurality of ports through which the combustible gas can travel. The secondary heat emitter is a non-planar radiant panel positioned over the primary heat emitter that generates convective and radiant heat. The non-planar shape of the secondary heat emitter provides more uniform heating and reduces accumulation of cooking by-products. The radiant panel protects the primary heat emitter from contaminants and provides enclosure for the combustion area for more rapid and efficient heating. Together, the primary and secondary heat emitters are configured to provide fast, clean, efficient, and uniform heating within a grilling apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A radiant panel burner, comprising:
 a plenum chamber;   a baffle housed within the plenum chamber;   a mixer connected with the plenum chamber and configured to channel a combustible gas into the baffle and the plenum chamber, wherein the mixer further comprises an adapter for connection to a gas source;   a primary heat emitter positioned over the plenum chamber, the primary heat emitter having a plurality of ports through which the combustible gas can travel; and   a secondary heat emitter positioned over the primary heat emitter, the secondary heat emitter having a non-planar shape, wherein a cross-section across the width of the secondary heat emitter shows a symmetric surface in that slopes downward from a centerline to a perimeter edge that terminates in downward projections;   wherein the primary heat emitter and secondary heat emitter are separated by an air gap in which ignition and combustion of the gas occur;   wherein the downward projections enclose a portion of the air gap; and   wherein convective heat is generated from beneath the secondary heat emitter and radiant heat is emitted from the secondary heat emitted.   
     
     
         2 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the primary heat emitter comprises a perforated ceramic grid. 
     
     
         3 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the secondary heat emitter comprises a radiant panel having a curved convex surface. 
     
     
         4 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the secondary heat emitter comprises a radiant panel having a linear convex surface. 
     
     
         5 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the combustible gas is ignited on a top surface of the primary heat emitter. 
     
     
         6 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the secondary heat emitter further comprises two supporting projections that rest on the plenum chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the secondary heat emitter returns radiant heat to the primary heat emitter to provide more efficient and rapid heating. 
     
     
         8 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the primary heat emitter and secondary heat emitter are configured such that the secondary heat emitter protects the primary heat emitter from any cooking by-products or contaminants falling from a grilling surface above. 
     
     
         9 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the secondary heat emitter has a slope in the range of 3 to 6 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . A radiant panel burner, comprising:
 a plenum chamber;   a baffle housed within the plenum chamber;   a mixer connected with the plenum chamber and configured to channel a combustible gas into the baffle and the plenum chamber, wherein the mixer further comprises an adapter connection to a gas source;   a perforated ceramic grid positioned over the plenum chamber, the perforated ceramic grid having a plurality of ports through which the combustible gas can travel;   a radiant panel positioned over the perforated ceramic grid, the radiant panel having a non-planar shape wherein a cross-section across the width of the radiant panel shows a symmetric surface that slopes downward from a centerline to a perimeter edge that terminates in downward projections;   wherein the perforated ceramic grid and radiant panel are separated by an air gap in which ignition and combustion of the gas occur;   wherein the downward projections enclose a portion of the air gap; and   wherein convective heat is emitted from beneath the radiant panel and radiant heat is emitted from the radiant panel.   
     
     
         11 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 8  wherein the secondary heat emitter comprises a radiant panel having a curved convex surface. 
     
     
         12 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 8  wherein the secondary heat emitter comprises a radiant panel having a linear convex surface. 
     
     
         13 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 8  wherein the combustible gas is ignited on a top surface of the perforated ceramic grid. 
     
     
         14 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 8  wherein the radiant panel further comprises two supporting projections that rest on the plenum chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the secondary heat emitter returns radiant heat to the primary heat emitter to provide more efficient and rapid heating. 
     
     
         16 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the perforated ceramic grid and radiant panel are configured such that the perforated ceramic grid protects the radiant panel from any cooking by-products or contaminants falling from a grilling surface above. 
     
     
         17 . The radiant panel burner of  claim 1  wherein the radiant panel has a slope in the range of 3 to 6 degrees.