Pan support device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pan support device ( 10 ) for a gas burner assembly ( 16 ) of a gas cooking hob. The pan support device ( 10 ) comprises a support part ( 12 ) and a frame part ( 14 ). The support part ( 12 ) forms an upper part of the pan support device ( 10 ), while the frame part ( 14 ) forms a lower part of said pan support device ( 10 ). The support part ( 12 ) is provided for supporting a bottom of a cooking utensil. The frame part ( 14 ) is provided for being arranged around the gas burner assembly ( 16 ). The support part ( 12 ) and the frame part ( 14 ) form a single-piece part. The frame part ( 14 ) is made of a light metal alloy. The support part ( 12 ) is made of a cast metal alloy or a metal matrix composite system. Further, the present invention relates to a gas burner assembly ( 16 ) with a pan support device ( 10 ). Moreover, the present invention relates to a gas cooking hob.

1 . A pan support device for a gas burner assembly of a gas cooking hob, comprising a support part and a frame part, wherein:
 the support part forms an upper part of the pan support device, while the frame part forms a lower part of said pan support device,   the support part is provided for supporting a bottom of a cooking utensil,   the frame part is provided for being arranged around the gas burner assembly   the support part and the frame part form a single-piece part,   the frame part is made of a light metal alloy, and   the support part is made of a cast metal alloy or a metal matrix composite system.   
     
     
         2 . The pan support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the support part includes a grid. 
     
     
         3 . The pan support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame part includes a ring provided for enclosing the gas burner assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The pan support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame part is made of aluminium alloy. 
     
     
         5 . The pan support device according to  claim 4 , wherein the support part is made of cast iron. 
     
     
         6 . The pan support device according to  claim 4 , wherein the support part is made of a metal matrix composite system including a metal matrix and a reinforcing material. 
     
     
         7 . The pan support device according to  claim 6 , wherein the material of the metal matrix is aluminium, an aluminium alloy, magnesium or a magnesium alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The pan support device according to  claim 6 , wherein the reinforcing material is a ceramic material. 
     
     
         9 . The pan support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame part includes a circular ring and a plurality of vertical rods extending upward from said circular ring, wherein the support part is attached at the upper ends of said vertical rods. 
     
     
         10 . The pan support device according to  claim 9 , wherein the frame part includes four vertical rods and the support part is formed as a cross. 
     
     
         11 . The pan support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame part includes a polyangular ring extending in a three-dimensional domain and includes a number of lower portions and upper portions. 
     
     
         12 . The pan support device according to  claim 11 , wherein the support part is attached at least at a part of the upper portions of the frame part, while at least a part of the lower portions of the frame part is provided as pedestals of the pan support device. 
     
     
         13 . The pan support device according to  claim 12 , wherein the frame part includes three lower portions and three upper portions, wherein the support part is formed as a three-pointed star and extends within one plane, and wherein the outer ends of said three-pointed star are attached at the upper portions of the frame part. 
     
     
         14 . A gas burner assembly for a gas cooking hob, comprising the pan support device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A gas cooking hob comprising at least one gas burner assembly, wherein the gas cooking hob comprises at least one pan support device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The pan support device according to  claim 8 , said ceramic material being silicon carbide (SiC) or aluminium oxide (Al 2 O 3 ). 
     
     
         17 . The pan support device according to  claim 1 , said frame part and said support part having matched thermal expansion coefficients.