US2500610A - Portable hydrocarbon furnace - Google Patents

Description

March 14, 1950 T. KELLER 2,500,610

PORTABLE HYDROCARBON FURNACE Filed June 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0 $6 52, 61 Q 54 i4 2,; Z A f-LB'J. 55 66 m 24 r3 4?. i9 y v Thomas Kdlat PORTABLE HYDROCARBON FURNACE Filed June 11. 1945 2 Sheets-Shut 2' "I/ 7 64 I A Th nas Keller I T. KELLER I 5 95 0 Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES ersm QFFICE PORTABLE HYDROCARBON FURNACE Thomas Keiler, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Cedarberg Manufacturing Company Inc., Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application J un 11, 1945, Serial No. 598,746 12 Claims. (01. 158--32)I fuels and to burn the same over long periods of time, without becoming fouled by carbon deposits and without the burning-out of the furnace parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device, as above, in which the initial generation of gas, through the medium of a priming liquid, is effected quickly and with ease and in which the continued normal generation of gas is efficiently accomplished throughout the entire range of graduation of the burner flame.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevational view and Fig. 2 is a plan View illustrating a furnace in embodiment of my invention, portions of the structure portrayed in both of said views being 1 broken away to reveal otherwise hidden parts;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view in detail taken as on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4

is an enlarged sectional View in detail taken as on the line i- -i of Fig. 2 and illustrating the valved fitting in the liquid-fuel line between the pressure tank and the generating ring, and Fig. 5 is a View, similar to Fig. 4, taken as on the line 5+5 of 2 and. illustrating the valved fitting in the gas line taking off from the generating ring.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the several views, it will be seen that the illustrated embodiment of my invention includes a tank forming the base of the portable structure.

In the top of this tank It] is a filler-opening (not shown) normally closed by a filler-cap I I in -,which is embodied an air admission valve I 2.

Rising from the top of the tank and spaced 'apart about the axis thereof are a number of legs l3, each. consisting of an upright reach l4 having inturned flanges [6, I at its upper and lower, ends, respectively, the latter forming a foot and the former forming a mounting upon which a portion of the burner rests.

The burner indicated in its entirety by the reference character X, includes a generating ring A, a primary mixing member B and a secondary mixing member C. Forming a part of the secondary mixing member C is a tray I1 having lugs l8 extending radially outward therefrom. These lugs it rest on and are secured by bolts l9 to the mounting flanges l6 of the legs l3. Supported by said legs l3, the tray H, in turn, supports the remaining parts of the burner. This tray ii is centrally apertured, as at 29, and has an annularly upturned deflector-rim 2|.

The generating ring A is annularly tubular, as well as axially tubular, and is preferably made of thin sheet metal formed to provide a thin chamber 22 between inner and outer concentric walls 23, 24. As shown, said walls 23, 24 are turned upon themselves at the upper edge of the ring A, the gap between the two walls at the lower edge of the ring being closed by welding material 25. Disposed axially upright, the gen-- erating ring A rests with its lower edge bearing upon the lugs 18 of the tray ll, the inner wall 23 of said ring A being spaced outwardly of the deflector-rim 2| of said tray to provide an annular air-admission port 26 between said ring and. said tray.

A liquid-fuel supply line, leading from the interior of the tank [0 to the generating chamber 22 of the ring A, comprises an upright pipe 21 extending through the top of the tank, a valved fitting 28 (Fig. 4) at the upper end of said pipe 27! and a nipple 29 disposed laterally between said fitting and ring. The fitting 28 has a passageway therethrough consisting of a series of branches 30, 3! and 32, the branch 32 being formed to provide a seat for a needle-tip, 33 on a valve-stem 34 threaded into said fitting 28 and supplied with a knob 35 for turning the same. The nipple 29 takes-offirom the fitting 28 and extends through the outer wall 24 of the ring A to bring the nipple 29 into communication with the generating chamber 22 interiorly of said ring.

The gas line, leading from the generating ring A, consists of a horizontally disposed nipple 36 and a valved fitting 31 (Fig. 5) depending therefrom. Said nipple 36 is axially aligned with the nipple 29 diametrically of the generating ring A,

re inner end of nipple 36 extending through the outer wall 24; of said ring to bring said nipple into communication with the generating chamber 22 within said ring. A passageway extending through the fitting 37 consists of a series of 55 and primer-pan 51.

branches 38, 39 and 40, the latter of which constitutes a horizontally directed outlet orifice theupper portion of the body 44 of said mixing member B are a number of lugs 47 which are fastened by screws 48 to the tray H. 44 is thus positioned relative to the tray to bring the open-top of the mixing chamber 45 into registry with the aperture 20 in said tray l'l. A

gasket, as at 49, is interposed between said body and tray and the mixing tube 46 is axially aligned with-the discharge orifice 40 of the gas supply fitting 31, the open end of said tube 46 being 10- catedadjacent to the said fitting 31 so that the influx of gas thereinto jetting from said, orifice '45 will induce an accompanying influx of air into said tube. Within the tube 46' is a deflectorvane 55'which serves to create turbulence in the inflowing generated gas and air, thereby enhancing the mixture thereof. Rising from the outer extremity of the mixing tube 45 is a fork which receives the nipple 36 between its branches 52. These branches'secure the nipple 35'1aterally'relative to said fork 5| and a keeperscrew 53, threaded through one of the branches .52, prevents any unpremediated lifting of said nipple relative to said fork.

In addition to the tray H, the secondary mixing member C includes a circular cap 54 spaced above said tray, and further includes an annular plate 55 located fiatwise between and vertically spaced from said cap and tray, the cap 54 and annular plate 55 being axially aligned with the. tray l1 and with the body 44 of the primary mixing member B. An upright stay-bolt 56, headed at its upper end, extends downwardly through the center of the cap 54 and through the bottom 'of the body 44 of the primary mixing member B.

The lower threaded end ofthis stay-bolt 56 extends through a main primer-pan 5'! beneath said body 44 and is screwed into a nut 58 welded to said pan at the lower side thereof. Thus, said stay-bolt 55 functions to center the cap 54 and to hold it in place along with the annular plate Posts 59, disposed in holes in the annular plate 55 at circumferentially spaced localities, are upset at their upper portions and thus firmly wedged in place rela-- tive to said annular plate. The lower portion of eachpost 59 extends beneath the plate 55 and forms a foot 54 which rests upon the tray i! and spaces. said plate 55 thereabove. The upper portion of each post is formed with a shoulder 9i for supporting the cap 54 in vertically spaced relation above the annular plate 55. The upper extremity of each post 59 is reduced in diameter to form a pintle 62 which is received in a companion hole 63 formed in the cap 54. Thus, said posts I t 59 serve to space the annular plate 55 from the tray H and the cap 54 from said annular plate, and serve further to center said annular plate 55 relative to the cap 54. The annular plate 55 is struck from relatively thin stock and, thus Said body 7 4 gin thereof and, paired with said upstruck beads 64, are downstruck beads 55 formed in the outer margin of said plate 55. The beads 54, 65 of each pair are aligned radially of the annular plate 55 on a radial line intersecting the axis of one of the posts 59. Thus, located relative to the posts 59, said beads 54, 55 add virtuallyno impedance thereover to the radially outward passage of the fuel mixture in a lower stratum between the tray H and annular plate 55 and in an upper stratum between said annular plate 55 and the cap 54.

The cap 54 has an annular flange 55 at the perimeter thereof extending upwardly to the level of the upper edge of the generating ring A. This flange 55 is inwardly spaced at its extreme lower portion from the upper portion of the upturned deflector-rim 2i of the tray 11 and, throughout its major portion, said flange 56 is inwardly spaced from the inner wall 23 ofsaid generating ring A. Between the generating ring A at the outside and the cap-flange 66 at the inside, a flue-like burner mouth Bl is formed, the same opening at the top thereof at the level of the upper edges of said generating ring and cap-flange. The tray l'l opens upwardly about the cap 54 into the lower portion of the burner mouth 61 and likewise opening into said portion of said mouth 51 is the annular port 25 through which secondary air is admitted.

An auxiliary primer-pan 68 secured to the main primer-pan 5i underlies the fitting 31 and said pans 5?, 63 are provided with wicks 69 to absorb primer fluid introduced thereto.

Various implement-supporting superstructures (not shown) to meet various special require- 'ments in the useof the present device may be anchored to the tray-lugs I8 by the bolts l9 and a handle attached in suitable manner to any such superstructure may be employed in Carrying the device from place to place.

In operation, priming fluid, such as alcohol, saturating the wicks 69 in the primer-pans 51, 68, is lighted and the'needle-tip 33 on valvestem 34 is turned back from its seat to permit liquid fuel, such as kerosene, to pass from the pressure tank it into the chamber 22 in the generating ring A.- Heat from the burning priming fluid heats the burner hearts, the liquid fuel in the then amply heated generating ring being converted into a gas which, flows to and out of the discharge orifice upon theunseating of'the needle-tip 4i on valve stem 42. Said gas,

jetting from said orifice 45, enters the heated generating tube and with it induces the influx of air into said tube 46. Turbulence of the'gen- 'erated gas and air within the tube 46 and chamber 45 of the primary mixing member B produces a relatively raw fuel mixture which passes into the tray ll of the secondary mixing member 0. Reaching the tray ll, said mixture moves radially outward therein along both top and bottom of the annular plate in a lower stratum next above the tray H and in an upper stratum next beneath the cap 54'. The fuel mixture, Stratified by the annular plate 55 of the secondary mixing member C, is further mixed and heated in said secondary mixing member 0 and, upon reaching 1 the perimeter of the tray l l, is deflected upwardly formed, is susceptible of becoming warped to the detriment of uniformity in the spacing of the same relative to the tray l1 and cap 54. To

prevent such warping of said annular plate 55,

upstruelc beads 64 are formed in the inner marinto the burner mouth 67 by the upturned rim 2! of said tray. Meeting and commingling with the gas thus entering the burner mouth 61 is secondary air which also enters said mouth 61 through the annular port 26 between said rim 2! andthe generating ring A. The admixture radiation from the tray 2| and flang 5 of gas and secondary air, ascending in the fluelike mouth 61, is lighted to produce thesjsbu'rfner flame. The heat from this flame keeps;:the

burner parts hot after the priming liquid isc'onsinned, thus enabling the mixing members B, C and the generating ring A to continuejifunctioning in their respective capacities. Theburner flame is graduated between high andrlow" extremes by adjustment of the needle-tip relative to its seat in the fitting 31. The generating ring A is sufficiently heated by thisiiflaiiie to convert kerosene into a gas even though theflame is low, the heating of said generating ring. n such case, being accomplished, in substantial part, by

of the secondary mixing member Ci tion of a. high flame in the burner: is attended with a relatively strong upflow ofsedondary air through the port 26, the outer boundary of which is formed by the generating ring A.--' 'T ;hi s-volumi nous upflow of air along the inner: ace of the generating ring A protects said ring gainst excessive heating that would tend tolbiirn it out and keeps said generating ring from? being so highly heated as to cause surging infthe process of conversion therein of the liquid fuel into a gas.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that my improved, compact furnace, though offsimple and relatively inexpensive constructionfiscapable of long and efficient operation even though the fuel used is of low grade. The uses to which the furas herein described, may be made withinthe scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a furnace of the character described, a tank and a burner, the tank being adapted to contain liquid fuel together withair under pressure for expelling such fuel from the tank, legs extending upwardly from said tank, said burner consisting of 'a generating ring-[and a primary and secondary mixing members;' said secondary member including a circular tray, an annular plate and a circular cap, all "vertically axially aligned, said tray being supported on said legs and formed with a central aperture therein, said annular plate being supported'lon and spaced 'saidprimary mixing member including a'body depending from said tray andzhaving a mixing chamber therein opening upwardly into said trayjthrough its central aperture, said primary member further including a mixing tube branch 'ing from said body and leading to the chamber therein, said generating ring being a flat-walled structure of annularly tubular, formation disposed in axially upright position encircling said tray and cap, conduit means for conducting liquid fuel from the tank to the interior of the generating ring, other conduit means for conducting gas from the generating ring and discharging it into said mixing tube in a manner to induce the influx of air thereinto along with said gas, said tray having an upturned rim at the perimeter thereof to deflect upwardly the gases issuing from said passageways above and beneath said an'nular plate, said upturned rim being spaced inwardly from the generating ring to provide an air ingress port between tray and ring, said cap and tray forming the inner confine and said generating ring forming the outer confine of an annular flue-like burner-mouth which is fed from beneath by the gas upwardly deflected from said rim and by secondary air entering said port.

2. A portable furnace of the character described comprising a tank and a burner, the tank being adapted to contain liquid fuel together with air under pressure for expelling such fuel from the tank, said burner consisting of a generating ring and primary and secondary mixing members, said secondary member including a circular tray, an annular plate and a circular cap, all vertically axially aligned, said tray being supported on the tank and formed with a central aperture therein, said annular plate being supported on and spaced above said annular plate to form an upper passageway, both of said passageways opening radially outward toward the perimeter of said tray, said primary mixing member including a body depending from said tray and having a mixing chamber therein opening upwardly into said tray through its central aperture, said generating ring being a flat-walled structure of annularly tubular formation disposed in axially upright position encircling said tray and cap, conduit means for conducting liquid fuel from the tank to the interior of the generating ring, other conduit means for conducting gas from the generating ring and delivering it into said mixing chamber in a manner to induce the influx of air thereinto along with said gas, the rim of said tray being spaced inwardly from the generating ring to provide an air ingress port between tray and ring, said cap and tray forming the inner confine and said generating ring forming the outer confine of an annular flue-like burner-mouth which is fed from beneath by the gas issuing from said passageways above and beneath said annular plate and by secondary air entering said port.

3. In a furnace of the character described, a burner consisting of a generating ring and primary and secondary mixing members, said secondary member including a circular tray, an annular plate and a circular cap, all vertically axially aligned, said tray being formed with a central aperture therein, said annular plate being spaced flatwise above said tray to form a, lower passageway and spaced beneath said cap to form an upper passageway, both passageways opening radially outward toward the perimeter of said tray, said primary mixing member including a body beneath said tray having a, mixing chamber "gas from the generating ring and delivering it into said mixing chamber in a manner to induce the influx of air thereinto alon with said gas,

"by the gas upwardly deflected from said rim and by secondary air entering said port.

4, In a furnace of the character described, a burner consisting of a generating ring and primary and secondary mixing members, said'secondary member including a circular tray and a circular cap vertically axially aligned therewith, said tray being formed with a central aperture therein and said cap being spaced-above said tray to' 'form a passageway opening radially outward toward the perimeter of the tray, said primary mixing member including a body beneath said tray having a mixing chamber therein opening upwardly thereinto through its central aperture,

said primary member further including a mixing tube branching from saidbody and leading to the chamber therein, said generating ring being a fiat-Walled structure of annularly tubularformation disposed in axially upright position encircling said tray and cap, conduit means for conducting liquid fuel from the tank to the interior of the generating ring, other conduit means for conducting gas from thergenerating ring. and discharging it into said mixingtube in a manner to induce the influx of air thereintcalong with said gas, a deflector-vane within said tube for inducing turbulence in the gas and air entering said tube, the rim of said tray being spaced inwardly from the generating ring to provide an air ingress port between tray and ring, said cap and tray at the inside and said generating ring at the outside forming an annular burner-mouth which is fed from beneath by the gas issuing from said passageway and by secondary air entering said port.

5. In a furnace of the character describeda burner consisting of a generating ring and a mixing member including a circular tray and'a circular cap verticallyaxially aligned therewith, said tray being formed with a centralaperture therein and said cap being spaced above said tray to form a passageway opening radially outward toward the perimeter of the tray, said generating ring being a fiat-waned structure of annul'arly tubular formation disposed in axially upright position encircling said tray and cap, conduit means for conducting liquid fuel to the interior of the generating ring, other conduit'means for conducting gas from the-generatingring and delive'ring'it, together with accompanying air, into said tray thrcugh'the central aperture therein, the rim of said tray-being spaced inwardly from the generating ring to provide an air ingress port between tray and ring, said cap and tray at the inside and said generating ring at the outside forming an annular burner-mouth which is fed from beneath by the gas issuing from said-passageway and by secondary air entering said port. 6. Ina furnace of the character described, a burner consisting of a generating ring and primary and secondary mixing members, said secondary'meinber including a circular tray, an annular plate and a circular cap, all vertically axially aligned, said tray being formed with a central aperture therein, said annular plate being spaced fiatwise above said tray to form a lower passageway and spaced beneath said cap to form 8 an' upper passageway, both passageways opening radially outward toward the perimeter of said tray, said primary mixing. member including a body beneath said' tray having a mixing chamber therein opening upwardlyiinto the tray through its central aperture, said-generating ring being a flat-walled structurev of annularly tubular formation disposed in axially upright position encircling said tray and cap, conduit means for conducting liquid to the interior of the generating ring, (other conduit means for conducting gas from" the generating ring and delivering it into said; mixing chamberv in a manner to induce the influx of airthereinto along with said gas, the

rimg'of said :tray being spaced inwardly from the generating-ring to provide anair ingress port between. tray and ring, said cap and. tray at the inside and said generating ring at the outside forming an annular burner-mouth which is fed from beneath by the gas issuing from said passageways above and beneath said annular plate andby secondary air entering said port.

.7. Inc. furnace-of the character described, a burner consisting of a generating ring and a mixing member including a circular tray, an annular plate and .a circular cap, all vertically axially aligned, said tray being iormedwith a central aperture therein, the annular plate having feet at one side thereof and shoulders at its opposite side, said feet resting on said tray and spacing said -plate flatwisethereabove to form a lower passageway, .said' cap being supported on said shoulders andspaced above said annular plate to form-an upper passageway, both of said passageways opening radially outward toward the perimeter or said tray, said generating ring being a flat-walled structure. of annularly tubular formation encircling said tray and cap, conduit means for conducting liquid fuel to the interiorof the generating-ring, other conduit means for conducting gas from the generating ring and deliveringit, together with accompanying air, intosaid tray through the central aperture therein, the rim of said tray beingspaced inwardly from the generating ring to provide an air ingress port between tray and ring, said cap and tray at the inside and said generating ring at the outside forming an annular burner-mouth which is fed from beneath by the gas issuing from said passageways and by secondary air entering said port.

8. In a furnace ofthe character described, a burner consisting of a generating ring andprimaryand secondary mixing members, said secondary member including a circular tray formed with a central aperture. therein, an annular plate and .a circular cap, all vertically axially aligned, said tray having a mounting therefor, said an,- nular plate having feet at one side thereof circumferentially spaced about the same and havingshoulders at its opposite side also circumierentially spaced about said annular plate, said feet restingon said tray and spacing said plate fiatwise thereabove' to form a lower passageway, said cap-being supported on said shoulders and spaced above said annular plate to form an upper passageway, both of said passageways opening radially outward toward the perimeter of said tray, said primary mixing member including a body beneath said tray and vhaving a mixing chamber therein opening at the top thereof into "said traythrou'gh its central aperture, a staybolt extending through the cap, plate, tray and body and holding said cap and plate in place relative to said tray, said generating ring being a fiat-walled structure of, .annularly tubular formation disposed in axially upright position encircling said tray and cap, conduit means for conducting liquid fuel to the interior of the generating ring, other conduit means for conducting gas from the generating ring and discharging it into said mixing chamber in a manner to induce the influx of air thereinto along with said gas, the rim of said tray being spaced inwardly from the generating ring to provide an air ingress port between tray and ring, said cap and tray at the inside and said generating ring at the outside forming an annular burner-mouth which is fed from beneath by the gas issuing from said passageways and by secondary air entering said port.

9. In a furnace of the character described, a burner consisting of a generating ring and a mixing member including a circular tray, a thin annular plate and a circular cap, all vertically axially aligned, said tray being formed with a central aperture therein, the annular plate having feet at one side thereof circumferentially spaced about the same and having shoulders at its opposite side in axial opposition thereto, the feet resting on said tray and spacing said plate flatwise thereabove to form a lower passageway, said cap being supported on said shoulders and spaced above said annular plate to form an upper passageway, both of said passageways opening radially outward toward the perimeter of said tray, said annular plate being formed with radially disposed reinforcing beads marginally thereof at positions aligned with the paired feet and shoulders thereon, said generating ring being a flat-walled structure of annularly tubular formation encircling said tray and cap, conduit means for conducting liquid fuel to the interior of the generating ring, other conduit means for conducting gas from the generating ring and delivering it, together with accompanying air, into said tray through the central aperture therein, the rim of said tray being spaced inwardly from the generating ring to provide an air ingress port between tray and ring, said cap and tray at the inside and said generating ring at the outside forming an annular burner-mouth which is fed from beneath by the gas issuing from said passageways and by secondary air entering said port.

10. In a furnace of the character described, a burner consisting of a generating ring and a mixing member including a circular tray, an annular plate and a circular cap, all vertically axially aligned, said tray being formed with a central aperture therein, the annular plate having feet at one side thereof and shoulders at its opposite side, said feet resting on said tray and spacing said plate flatwise thereabove to form a lower passageway, said cap being supported on said shoulders and spaced above said annular plate to form an upper passageway, both of said passageways opening radially outward toward the perimeter of said tray, means for centering the cap relative to the tray, means associated with said shoulders and cooperating with the cap to center the annular plate relative to said cap, said generating ring being a fiat-Walled structure of annularly tubular formation encircling said tray and cap, conduit means for conducting liquid fuel to the interior of the generating ring, other conduit means for conducting gas from the generating ring and delivering it, together with accompanying air, into said tray through the central aperture therein, the rim of said tray being spaced inwardly from the generating ring to provide an air ingress port between tray and ring, said cap and tray at the inside and said generating ring at the outside forming an annular burner-mouth which is fed from beneath bythe gas issuing from said passageways and by secondary air entering said port.

11. A liquid fuel burner including a generating ring of annularly tubular formation, a mixing member having a terminal portion disposed within and spaced from said generating ring and forming in conjunction therewith an axially elongated annular burner-mouth having an annular discharge opening at one end thereof and an ingress opening for secondary air at the other end thereof, said mixing member having a passage way therein opening radially outward into the burner-mouth between said air ingress and discharge openings, conduit means for conducting liquid fuel to the interior of the generating ring, other conduit means for conducting gas from the generating ring and feeding it, together with accompanying primary air, into the passageway in said mixing member for delivery into said burner-mouth and for admixture therein with secondary air entering said air ingress opening.

12. A liquid fuel burner including a generating ring of annularly tubular formation having lengthwise fiat inner and outer walls defining between them a uniformly thin axially elongated annular generating chamber, a mixing member having a terminal portion disposed within and spaced from the inner wall of said generating ring and forming in conjunction therewith an axially elongated annular burner-mouth axially coextensive with said generating chamber, said mixing member having a passageway therein annularly opening radially outward for the full discharge of fuel mixture therefrom into the burnermouth intermediately of the same and of said axially elongated chamber in said generating ring, conduit meansfor conducting liquid fuel to said chamber in said generating ring, other con duit means for conducting gas from said chamber in said generating ring and feeding it, together with air admixed therewith, into said passageway in said mixing member.

THOMAS KELLER.

CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 231,674 Kells Aug. 31, 1880 886,534 Goverts Jul 24, 1888 403,405 Young et a1 May 14, 1889 459,057 Twitchell Sept. 8, 1891 496,450 Shedlock May 2, 1893 633,650 Bumgarner Apr. 25, 1899 775,428 Meldrum Nov. 22, 1904 1,261,277 Olson Apr. 2, 1918 1,393,706 Shannon Oct. 11, 1921 1,400,384 Stephens Dec. 13, 1921 1,421,031 Schmitt June 27, 1922

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