Fuel supply system for a gas burner assembly

Abstract

A fuel supply system for a gas burner assembly includes an eductor for providing an aerated flow of fuel into a fuel chamber of the gas burner assembly. The eductor includes a suction chamber defining a suction inlet, a motive nozzle positioned within the suction chamber, and an eductor outlet positioned proximate an inlet to the fuel chamber. A fuel supply is fluidly coupled to the suction inlet through a fuel supply conduit for providing a flow of fuel into the suction chamber and a forced air supply is fluidly coupled to the motive nozzle through an air supply conduit for providing a flow of air into the suction chamber such that the flow of air mixes with the flow of fuel to make the flow of aerated fuel that is directed out of the eductor outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooktop appliance, comprising:
 a top panel;   a gas burner assembly positioned at the top panel, the gas burner assembly comprising a burner body defining a fuel chamber and a plurality of flame ports, the fuel chamber being in fluid communication with the plurality of flame ports; and   a fuel supply system positioned proximate an inlet of the fuel chamber, the fuel supply system comprising:
 an eductor comprising a suction chamber defining a suction inlet, a motive nozzle positioned within the suction chamber, and an eductor outlet; 
 a fuel supply conduit fluidly coupled to the suction inlet for providing a flow of fuel into the suction chamber; and 
 an air supply conduit fluidly coupled to the motive nozzle for providing a flow of air into the suction chamber such that the flow of air mixes with the flow of fuel to make a flow of aerated fuel that is directed out of the eductor outlet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a forced air supply, the air supply conduit providing fluid communication between the forced air supply and the motive inlet.   
     
     
         3 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the forced air supply is an air pump. 
     
     
         4 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the flow of air has a pressure that is greater than five times atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fuel supply, wherein the fuel supply conduit provides fluid communication between the fuel supply and the suction inlet.   
     
     
         6 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 5 , comprising:
 a control valve comprising a valve inlet in fluid communication with the fuel supply and a valve outlet in fluid communication with the fuel supply conduit, the control valve being configured for regulating the flow of fuel through the fuel supply conduit.   
     
     
         7 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the eductor outlet is positioned just below the inlet of the fuel chamber along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         8 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a source of entrainment air is positioned between the eductor outlet and the inlet of the fuel chamber such that the aerated flow of fuel entrains additional air before entering the inlet of the fuel chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the motive nozzle defines a nozzle outlet that is positioned and oriented for directing the flow of air through the suction chamber and directly toward the eductor outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel chamber is a first fuel chamber and the plurality of flame ports is a first plurality of flame ports, the burner body of the gas burner assembly further defining:
 a second fuel chamber in fluid communication with the fuel supply; and   a second plurality of flame ports, the second fuel chamber being in fluid communication with the second plurality of flame ports.   
     
     
         11 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of flame ports is positioned concentric with and below the second plurality of flame ports. 
     
     
         12 . A fuel supply system for a gas burner assembly, the gas burner assembly comprising a burner body defining a fuel chamber having an inlet, the fuel supply system comprising:
 an eductor comprising a suction chamber defining a suction inlet, a motive nozzle positioned within the suction chamber, and an eductor outlet;   a fuel supply for providing a flow of fuel;   a fuel supply conduit providing fluid communication between the fuel supply and the suction inlet for providing the flow of fuel into the suction chamber;   a forced air supply for providing a flow of air; and   an air supply conduit providing fluid communication between the forced air supply and the motive nozzle for providing a flow of air into the suction chamber such that the flow of air mixes with the flow of fuel to make a flow of aerated fuel that is directed out of the eductor outlet.   
     
     
         13 . The fuel supply assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the forced air supply is an air pump. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel supply assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flow of air has a pressure that is greater than five times atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel supply assembly of  claim 12 , comprising:
 a control valve comprising a valve inlet in fluid communication with the fuel supply and a valve outlet in fluid communication with the fuel supply conduit, the control valve being configured for regulating the flow of fuel through the fuel supply conduit.   
     
     
         16 . The fuel supply assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the eductor outlet is positioned just below the inlet of the fuel chamber along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel supply assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a source of entrainment air is positioned between the eductor outlet and the inlet of the fuel chamber such that the aerated flow of fuel entrains additional air before entering the inlet of the fuel chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The fuel supply assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the motive nozzle defines a nozzle outlet that is positioned and oriented for directing the flow of air through the suction chamber and directly toward the eductor outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The fuel supply assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel chamber is a first fuel chamber and the plurality of flame ports is a first plurality of flame ports, the burner body of the gas burner assembly further defining:
 a second fuel chamber in fluid communication with the fuel supply; and   a second plurality of flame ports, the second fuel chamber being in fluid communication with the second plurality of flame ports.   
     
     
         20 . The fuel supply assembly of  19 , wherein the first plurality of flame ports is positioned concentric with and below the second plurality of flame ports.