US2029548A - Orchard heater - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 4, 1936.

' H. F. SUMMERHAYS ORCHARD HEATER Filed July 18, 1932 J ATTORNEY W a J F W 1 2 Patented Feb. 4, 19326 ORCHARD EEATER Harold F. Summerhays, Riverside, Calif., assigncr to Riverside Sheet Metal Works, 1110., Riverside, Gaiif, a corporatien of Caiifornia Application July 18, 1932, Serial No. 623,131

relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawing, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of the heater, certain parts being in section, and showing one form of stack, and

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a slightly modified form of stack,

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown in Figure 1 a pot or fuel receptacle I adapted The present heater has for an object the proto hold some form of fuel, such as crude oil, invisicn of a novel form of stack which may act dicated at 2. It is customary to provide a cover as a replacement unit for existing heaters, to 3 for the pot, which cover may have various end that any heater may be readily converted means for allowing access within the pot. In the from the old smudge forming type of heater to present instance; a Shutter 4 permits reguone that is practically free from production of lated amount of air to enter within the pot and smudge. a swing cover 5 associated with the cover is As pointed out in an object, the general form of draft stack requires a further stack in order that sufficient draft be afforded to cause proper combustion. With the present invention, the draft openings are so arranged in the stack that air enters with sufficient momentum through each opening to carry toward the center axis of the stack and results in the flame in certain parts of the stack burning substantially centrally the stack and, in certain instances, spaced slightly from the inner wall of the stack, with the result that the flame does not actually contact the stack at its hottest portion. This construction, of course, adds to the longevity of the stack.

One of the defects of the Scheu orchard heater above referred to and upon which this invention is an improvement was a constant popping during a burning of the heater. This was due to various causes, such as excess air. The heater did not burn evenly. With the present invention, no popping occurs. The flame is steady and concentrated. A long stack is not always desirable because it places the flame too high above the ground. With the present heater, the stack may be relatively short, to the end that the heat is kept close to the ground and beneath the trees. This acts as a more effective means for combatting frost.

Other objects include an orchard heater and its stack which is simple of construction, long lived, low in cost of manufacture, forms a replacement unit, and generally superior.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful pro vision, formation, construction, association, and

2 Claims.

This invention relates to orchard heaters, and contemplates an improvement upon the orchard heater of United States letters Patent No. 1,148,803, issued August 3, 1915, to W. C. Scheu.

The present type of heater is adapted to work without additional stacks or parts thereof, being a complete single unit for the proper combustion of gases from a receptacle on which it is mounted.

Another object is the provision of a heater that compiies with existing ordinances in California relative to the maximum production of smudge.

within the pot through the opening, whereby the pot may be filled with oil or other combustible fluid. The cover is provided with a central annular flange 6 and a stack 1 is adapted to have one end thereof telescopically receive the flange 6. For convenience of future description, the part 8 will be termed the base portion of the stack and 9 the top thereof. The stack may be formed of sheet metal or any suitable material, and it is abstantially an annulus.

Taking the form of the stack shown in Figure l, I have provided the stack with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings l0 adjacent the top and bottom thereof. The stack, in the present instance, has more openings adjacent the base of the stack than adjacent the top and the said openings have one group II encircling the stack in the same horizontal plane. The second group I2 likewise spacedly encircles the stack in a plane parallel with the plane of the group shown at l I, but in substantially staggered relation to the group II. The next group I3 is staggered with relation to the group shown at !2, but has the openings substantially in the same any number of groups of openings, although for the stack 1, I have shown three horizontally parallel groups adjacent the base.

Adjacent the top, I have shown two horizontally arranged encircling groups of openings at id and Ma. These openings do not constitute mere punched holes, although in certain embodiments, this might be possible were it not for the fact that the air that enters the stack during burning of the fuel oil must so enter as to cause adapted to close an opening or to permit access vertical plane as the group II. I may provide the fuel to perfectly combust or burn within the stack, to the end that no soot or smudge is emitted from the stack. The stack by its own construction does not require a further stack or, at best, renders use of a further stack unnecessary. Therefore, the openings formed in the stack must direct the flow path of air entering the stack in such a manner and at such portions thereof as to accomplish a complete and thorough mixture of air with gases rising in the stack, and this flow path must be directly inwardly and upwardly toward the central axis of the stack, to the end that when fuel is burning, the flame to a certain extent is kept away from the inner surface of the stack and yet substantially forms a burning core and without any popping during said burning.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the openings 19 are substantially rectangular in form, with the metal above said openings at 2B depressed or deformed outwardly to form a louver and the metal below the opening at 21 depressed inwardly. The air flows in the path indicated by the arrows i8. The openings, however, for the stack of Figure 2 are arranged diiferently from the stack of Figure 1, in that the stack shown in Figure l is provided with openings adjacent the top and the bottom but without openings therebetween, whereas the stack shown in Figure 2 has openings throughout the length of the stack. These openings are differently arranged and spaced a substantial distance apart, to the end that air may enter the stack at definite zones of the stack to provide for proper combustion of the burnable fluid. In this respect, the openings are arranged in different circumferentia-l Zones so far as the horizontal planes are concerned and spirally or staggered with respect to the vertical planes.

Each opening is comparatively small but the top louver does not overhang this opening so as to normally cover it. In other words, the open ing through the stack is apparent to the eye when viewing the stack in elevation.

Again referring to Figure 1, I may, under certain conditions, provide the second row of openings spaced below the row indicated at M for the top of the stack, as shown at Ma, and the row shown at Ma may have a lesser number of openings than the row at is. Both stack forms have been found to operate efficiently.

The operation, uses, and advantages of the invention are as follows:

If we assume the stack in position on the cover and the pot filled with oil, the oil may be ignited through the medium of a wick and as the oil commences to burn, the flame will be received within the stack. The draft opening at 3 may be regulated and air will be drawn from exterior the stack inwardly thereof, and the louver openings will direct the path of the air flow. This flow path will be substantially in accordance with the direction of the arrows 18 for the stack shown in Figure 2. The arrangement is such that the fuel will be completely burned without formation of, soot. By arranging the louver openings in the manner shown for either stack, I have provided a stack that does not require an additional stack placed thereabove, although if a further stack is desired, greater draft may be afforded, although it is intended that this stack should operate in and of itself without any additional equipment. The present stacks may replace stacks now in use.

The patented invention referred to in the preamble of the specification does not completely combust the fuel and smudge results. Furthermore, as previously pointed out, constant popping in the flame results upon burning fuel in a heater of the patented type. It will be noted that a heater of the patented type does not provide any means for directing the path of air flow within the stack, the result being that the fiame directly contacts the inner wall surface of the stack and results in a burn out of the stack after a comparatively short burning duration. Experiment has shown that the present stack is capable of use throughout one or more seasons without replacement.

The formation, shape, and design of the holes shown in the stack is such that the air entering the stack from the outside through said holes moves with a momentum that is sufficient to keep and maintain the orifices clear and clean of all matter such as commonly obstructs holes in different types of stacks known to the inventor, at all times and even during the period of most intensive burning in the stack.

The aforementioned momentum of air results in a flame within the stack maintained by a correct mixture of air with the gases within the stack, of a character that burns in a direction away from the holes so as to not result in stopping, clogging, or obstructing the holes even during periods of highest burning rate of the stack.

I claim:

1. In an orchard heater, a stack provided with draft openings of rectangular form and of substantial width, and louvers formed in the wall of the stack below and above said openings respectively, the louvers below said openings being inclined inwardly in an upward direction. and the louvers above said openings being inclined outwardly in a downward direction.

2. In an orchard heater, a stack provided with draft openings of substantial width and height extending radially through the wall of the stack, and oppositely inclined louvers formed in the wall of the stack above and below said openings with their free edges defining the top and bottom edges of the draft openings and spaced thereby.

HAROLD F. SUMMERHAYS.

Images