Superheated Air Cooktop Assembly

Abstract

A cooktop assembly utilizing one or more air flow heaters and one or more associated blowers to superheat air and channel it out a burner (also referred to as a distributor) on the cooktop is described.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A cooktop assembly comprising:
 a generally horizontal cooktop surface;
 one or more burners positioned on the cooktop surface, a first burner of the one or more burners having a first burner air inlet and a first burner air outlet; 
 one or more flow heaters, a first flow heater of the one or more flow heaters having a first heater air inlet and a first heater air outlet with the first heater air outlet being operatively coupled with the first burner air inlet; 
 one or more blowers, a first blower of the one or more blowers having a first blower air outlet and a first blower air inlet with the first blower outlet being operatively coupled with the first heater inlet; 
 a controller, the controller being operatively coupled to each of the one or more flow heaters and the one or more blowers to control the operation thereof; and 
 at least one user interface, the at least one user interface being operatively coupled with the controller. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors operatively coupled with the controller wherein a first temperature sensor of the one or more temperature sensors is positioned proximate the first burner. 
     
     
         3 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more pressure sensors operatively coupled with the controller, a first pressure sensor of the one or more pressure sensors being located in an airflow extending from a first blower air inlet to the first burner air outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more flow rate sensors operatively coupled with the controller, a first flow sensor of the one or more flow sensors being located in an airflow extending from a first blower air inlet to the first burner air outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1  further comprising one or more temperature sensors and either one or more flow rate sensors or one or more pressure sensors wherein the one or more temperature sensors, one or more flow rate sensors and one or more pressure sensors as applicable are operatively coupled with the controller wherein a first temperature sensor of the one or more temperature sensors are both positioned proximate the first burner, and one or both of a first flow rate sensor of the one or more flow rates sensors and a first pressure sensor of the one or more pressure sensors are positioned in an airflow extending from a first blower air inlet to the first burner air outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises one or more power regulators, a first power regulator of the one or more power regulators being operatively coupled with the controller and configured to set a heat output level for the first burner. 
     
     
         7 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 6 , wherein one or more rheostats, rectifiers, or potentiometers include knobs and are rotatable. 
     
     
         8 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a touchscreen, the touchscreen being operatively coupled with the controller and configured to set a heat output level for the first burner. 
     
     
         9 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1  further including a wireless interface operatively coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         10 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow heater is electrically powered. 
     
     
         11 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more grates, the one or more grates positioned on the cooktop surface overlying the one or more burners. 
     
     
         12 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1 , further including one or more heat output indicators coupled to the controller, a first heat output indicator configured to visually provide a visual representation of the heat output of the first burner. 
     
     
         13 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1  including one or more heat output indicators. 
     
     
         14 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a first heat output indicator comprises a piece of metal positioned proximate the first burner and the airflow emanating therefrom during operation, the piece of metal being configured to glow when subjected to superheated air. 
     
     
         15 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1 , further including one or more flow control valves, a first flow control valve of the one or more flow control valves being operatively positioned between the first flow heater air outlet and the first blower air inlet. 
     
     
         16 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first flow control valve is configured to regulate the flow of air therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first blower air outlet is operatively coupled to the first flow heater air input by a first cold air duct, and the first flow heater air output is operatively coupled to the first burner air inlet by a first hot air duct. 
     
     
         18 . A cooktop assembly comprising:
 a generally horizontal cooktop surface;
 one or more burners positioned on the cooktop surface, a first burner of the one or more burners having a first burner air inlet and a first burner air outlet; 
 one or more electric flow heaters, a first flow heater of the one or more electric flow heaters having a first heater air inlet and a first heater air outlet with the first heater air outlet being operatively coupled with the first burner air inlet; 
 one or more blowers, a first blower of the one or more blowers having a first blower air outlet and a first blower air inlet with the first blower outlet being operatively coupled with the first heater inlet; 
 a controller, the controller being operatively coupled to each of the one or more flow heaters and the one or more blowers to control the operation thereof; 
 one or more temperature sensors operatively coupled to the controller, a first temperature sensor of the one or more temperature sensors is positioned proximate the first burner; 
 one or more heat output indicators operatively coupled to the controller, a first heat output indicator of the one or more heat output indicators configured to give a user a visual indication of the heat output level of the first burner; and 
 at least one user interface, the at least one user interface being operatively coupled with the controller and being configured to vary the heat output of the burners. 
   
     
     
         19 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising one or more flow control valves, a first flow control valve of the one or more flow control valves being operatively positioned between the first blower air inlet and the first burner air inlet. 
     
     
         20 . The cooktop assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising one or more flow rate sensors operatively coupled with the controller wherein a first flow rate sensor of the one or more flow rate sensors is positioned proximate the first burner.