US2034041A - Burner structure - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1936. O J KugNHoLg 2,034,041

BURNER STRUCTURE Filed June 50, 1950 ATTORNE! INVENTOR I Patented Mar. 17, 1936 NITED STATES OF-Fl 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a burner structure and, partic ilarly, to an improvement in the arrangement of gas or vapor fuel burners for use in enclosed gas appliances.

The invention is particularly applicable to a burner of the type employing a multiplicity of yellow flame burner tips such as the ordinary slotted yellow flame burner tip or a Bray tip in which a flat flame is produced by impingement of two jets of flame, the burner tips being arranged either substantially in line or circular disposition and spaced apart so that the side edges of the flat flames which finally result approach each other but preferably do not make actual contact.

When such an alignment of burner tips is employed in the usual way, there are numerous disadvantages one of which results from the uprush of air from below the tips tending to elongate the flame and destroy its quietness as well as its shape. Another disadvantage results from the eddy currents of combustion products being set up above the burners which, under certain conditions, sweep downward between the burner tips and upward against the flames causing imperfect combustion by preventing air from reaching the flames as is evidenced by a floating flame or extinquishment of the flame over a part or all of the burner. Further, in the usual type of burners, the air supply must be excessive to get perfect combustion and aeration of the flames.

The above disadvantages are typical of yellow flame burner tips when employed in multiple and have heretofore held back the use of burners of this type, notwithstanding their advantages in other respects over the Bunsen type of burner usually employed in gas heating appliances, and previous to my invention no solution of this problem has been found.

Some of the objects of my invention are to provide a burner having a greater range of gas consumption with perfect combustion from minimum to maximum flames; to provide a burner of such nature as to give perfect combustion under adverse draft conditions or with a minimum air supply whereby more gas may be completely burned per unit of horizontal burner area and with less free oxygen in the combustion prodnets; to provide a burner wherein fuel may be burned without air premixture, an air mixer, or mixer adjustment so that the burner cannot backfire or clog with carbon or dust; to provide a burner that will burn the fuel under unusually low fuel pressure and one which will burn gas or vapor of widely diiferent composition and speciflc gravity; to provide a burner which will burn quietly and in which all burner tips will readily ignite one from the other even though the fuel supply is only partially turned on; to provide a burner which requires minimum cleaning or attention and will not readily extinguish; and to provide a burner which presents no difficulties of construction for application to varying conditions or for different usages.

Various other objects and advantageous features of my invention will be seen in the following description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. l is a side View, partly in section, showing a burner structure constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a topplan view, partly in section, of the structure shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown one embodiment of my invention as comprising a burner structure consisting of a casing I having a bottom portion 2 of foraminous material, such, for instance, as wire mesh. This casing provides a means for supporting a raw fuel supply pipe 3 which extends through an enlarged portion 4 thereof and is secured therein in any desired manner, said fuel supply 3 within said casing supporting a burner element 5 embodying a plurality of spaced oppositely disposed tips 6, such as the yellow flame tips or the Bray tips above mentioned. The casing I also provides a means for suitably supporting a pilot light tip 1 which, in this instance, is disposed above the burner tips 6 for reasons that will be hereinafter apparent.

In accordance with my invention, a sheet metal or cast metal air guide 9, that is so formed as to place each row of burner tips 6 in a channel I0 extending approximately from the top to the bottom of the flames normally issuing from the burner tips, is mounted upon the burner element 5 by means of bushings l l and screws l2 that extend downwardly through the bushings; and into the burner element.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, axially aligned, longitudinally spaced openings l3 are provided in the side walls of the air guides 9 on opposite sides of each burner tip 6, through which openings air is drawn by the flame issuing from each tip in such manner as toimpinge in equal amount and with equal force on each side of each flame. These air streams through said openings l3 are the sole air supply for the flames inasmuch as the air guide plate 9 substantially closes the entire horizontal area of the combustion chamber as regards updraft of air. The openings I3, as shown, are arranged at a slightly higher level of elevation than that of said burner tip 6, the centers of said openings being substantially in alignment with the flames normally issuing from said tips. An opening [4 in the air guide plate 9 permits the application of flame below the pilot light tip 1 to ignite the same, thereby making the use of a fire door unnecessary.

A friction igniter which consists of a fly wheel I 5 that is keyed to the shaft l6 which is rotatable in a bearing l1 and a piece of pyrophoric metal I8 is held against the fly wheel by suitable ad- Justable mechanism l9 which may be provided as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing for igniting the fuel issuing from the pilot light tip I. When such a device is employed, the same opening M which permits the application of a flame to the pilot tip may be utilized as a means for permitting sparks from the friction igm'ter to reach the fuel issuing from the pilot light tip and ignite the same.

In my construction, I have provided a burner mechanism embodying numerous novel and highly advantageous features. For instance, by the use of the air guide plate 9 which permits only lateral air streams to impinge upon each flame from each side thereof, I have provided a burner mechanism in which the flames issuing from the fuel tips will be flattened or spread out laterally and thoroughly aerated and, since no air stream plays upwardly against the bottom of the flame, the flame will not be elongated upwardly but will be reduced in height and the normal vertical position of the flame held. Further, by the use of this air guide plate, downward eddy currents of combustion products cannot reach the flames and interfere with perfect combustion or aeration.

Another advantageous feature resides in the fact that irrespective of the amount of fuel issuing from the fuel tips, the flames will still retain their flattened condition due to the counterimpinging air streams flowing inwardly toward the flames from the opposite sides thereof.

A further advantageous feature of this construction resides in the fact that when gas or fuel is first turned on and issues from the fuel tips and a flame is applied to any one of the flame channels, the ignition of fuel from all tips in said chamber is practically immediate even though the amount of fuel issuing from the fuel tips is very small. The reason for this is that the counter-impinging air currents meet the gas and mix with it whereby a combustible product is sprayed out to fill the entire channel. This is particularly true when a constantly burning pilot flame has set up an initial draft. A still further advantageous feature resides in the fact that the air guide plate is so disposed as to keep the space below the burner element relatively cool, thus guarding valves, safety mechanisms and the like, from excess heat yet permitting such device to be located relatively close to the burner element.

While I have shown the fuel tips arranged in parallel lines, it is obvious that such tips may be in non-parallel disposition, at right angles or arranged arcuately, and the air guide plate may be in the form of an integral bent plate or casting, or may be in several parts, as desired. Further, the air openings in the guide plate may assume such forms as varied applications or further developments may necessitate or may be of any number desired. For instance, they may be raised or lowered with relation to the flame, all as will be readily understood.

What I claim is:

1. A burner structure, comprising a raw fuel burner tip, and an air guide for producing a flat vertical impingement zone directly above the fuel tip, said guide including a member of substantially U-shape in vertical cross section and provided with axially aligned air admitting openings in two opposite side walls thereof, said openings being spaced laterally from and being disposed at a higher level than said fuel tip.

2. A burner structure, comprising a raw fuel tip, and an air guide for producing a flat vertical impingement zone directly above said fuel tip, said guide including a member of substantially U-shape in vertical cross section and provided with axially aligned air admitting openings in two opposite side walls thereof, said openings being spaced laterally from and being disposed at a higher level than said fuel tip and having their centers substantially in alignment with the center of a normal flame issuing from said tip.

3. A burner structure, comprising a raw fuel tip, and an air guide for producing a fiat vertical impingement zone directly above said fuel tip, said guide including a member of substantially U-shape in vertical cross section and provided with axially aligned air admitting openings in two opposite side walls thereof, said openings being spaced. laterally from and being disposed at a higher level than said fuel tip and having their centers substantially in alignment With the center of a normal flame issuing from said tip, the area of each of said openings being less than that of said normal flame.

OTTO JOHN KUENHOLD.

Images