US2512301A - Bowl type oil burner with spark ignition means - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1950 R. P. BREESE BOWL TYPE OIL BURNER WITH SPARK IGNITION MEANS Filed June 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Rosem- R Bases: Y @am flmfwm ATTO NEYS June 20, 1950 R. P. BREESE BOWL TYPE OIL BURNER WITH SPARK IGNITION MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1946 INVENTOR. Roan-r P. Baeasz June 20, 1950 R. P. BREESE 2,512,301 I BOWL TYPE OIL BURNER WITH SPARK IGNITION MEANS Filed June 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Rosem- P. Bases:

BY m; MW?

ATTO NE'YS Patented June 20, 1950 mesne assignments, to

General ration, Garden City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 19, 1946', Serial No. 677,878 Claims. (c1. 158-28) This invention relates to oil burners and D ticularly to the ignition oi oil in a vaporizing burner.

In the use of vaporizing type burners the oil, which is initially injected into the vaporizer, is

commonly ignited by means of a flame applied to the oil in the vaporizer by mean of a burning taper or the like. With this method of inducing combustion of the oil it is obvious that the oil must be raised to its flash point and that the heat created by the igniting flame must not be dissipated so quickly by the vaporizer-and by the oil itself that the flame will not raise the temperature of the oil to its flash point. Thus the structure of the vaporizer must be given careful attention so that it will not objectionably dissipate the heat generated by the igniting flame. Moreover, the amount of heat necessary to apply, to produce combustion of the oil in the vaporizer, increases as the rate of oil flow to the vaporizer and consequently the necessary time 0! application 01' the igniting flame increases.

When the combustion of the oil in the vaporizer has been initiated and the igniting flame withdrawn, the heat 01' combustion will raise the temperature of the vaporizer and of course the combustion chamber so that in normal successful operation of this type of burner the oil that is subsequently injected into the vaporizer will immediately flash into combustible vapor so that during perfect operation there will be no accumulation of liquid fuel in the reservoir of the vaporizer. However, if for any reason combustion ceases, and the oil continues to flow into the vaporizer, the problem of initiating vaporization such as has been above discussed, is repeated. Likewise, if the feed of the oil into the vaporizer is more rapid than that required for complete combustion of oil in the vaporizer, the oil will build up in the vaporizer and of course cool the vaporizer, with the result that the dissipation of the heat by the vaporizer and by the reservoir 01' oil is apt to terminate combustion, with the result that it must again be initiated in the manner that has heretofore been described.

The present invention is directed to an igniter for a vaporizing type burner that will overcome the disadvantages resident in the previous types and will possess, in addition, many ad vantages.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of an igniter that will quickly initiate combustion of the oil in the vaporizer, irrespective of the oil level.

z provision of an igniter which will present oil to an ignition spark in such physical state and position that the oil within the vaporizer will be almost instantly ignited by the spark above the oil level, irrespective oi the amount of oil within the vaporizer.

Another object of the invention resides in the" provision of an igniter that will initially create an ignition spark adjacent the suriace oi the oil, and which is so constructed that the spark will progress away from the oil level, forming, in eiiect, an arc-like flame, and at the same time presenting to the spark at its initiation, and during its progress away from the oil level, oil in such a physical state that it will almost instantaneously be ignited by the spark over a considerable area.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an igniter which is so constructed that it is adapted for use in present standard vaporizing type burners.

With these and other objects in view, such as will appear as the description progresses, the in-- vention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification and recited in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional view showing the igniter in position in a vaporizing type burner, sufflcient of the burner being shown to illustrate the cooperation and showing also diagrammatically the electric circuit in which the igniter is connected;

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 oi Figure 1, looking in the direction oi. the arrows;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modifled form of igniter in association with a vaporiz- Figure 5 is a vertical section showing another modified form of igniter in association with a vaporizing type burner: and

Figure 6 is a horizontal section on line 6-0 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the outer and inner shells of the combustion chamber of an oil burner are indicated by the reference numerals I and 2, the chamber being provided with the usual opening and gasket at 3. The complete chamber is shown in Figure 3.

A further object of the invention resides in the A vaporizing type burner 4 is located within 3 the combustion chamber and supported in the usual manner.

The igniter includes an electrode 5 which is carried by an insulator 6. the insulator being of such form that it is adapted tov fit within the commonly used gasket 3 of presently standard 011 burners. This electrode is connected to a source of high potential electric energy in any suitable manner and may be so connected as is later described in the specification. A pair of grounded electrodes 1 and 8 are removably mounted in the oil vaporizer I. Each of these electrodes includes a metallic wick carrier 8 which is, in the form illustrated in the drawing, of U-shaped cross section, and may be removably secured to the vaporizer, as for instance to the upper edge of the vaporizer by a hook-shaped member It. The side and back walls of each carrier 9 are provided with series of openings H. A wick H is mounted within and carried by each of these carriers 9 and is of sufiicient length to project beyond the lower end I! of the carrier and to contact with and rest upon the bottom of the vaporizer, as indicated at l3. These electrodes I and 8 are arranged at their lower ends relatively close together and diverge upwardly away from the electrode 5, thus increasing the spark gap from the lower ends of the electrodes toward the upper ends thereof. The wicks H are so constructed and are of such material that they will conduct oil upwardly from the level of any oil that is within the vaporizer and with which they are in contact, and will so distribute the oil with which they are saturated that it will be in a thin film. Moreover, these wicks are preferably of a low specific heat so that their temperature may easily be raised to bring the oil with which they are saturated to a temperature of combustion; Thus the wicks should be of a porous material so that the oil may rise therein by capillarity and so that the oil with which they become saturated will be distributed on the peaks of the rough surface of the wicks in a thin film and thus presented to the spark that passes between the electrodes, in such condi'ion that, upon the creation of the spark, the oil carasiaaoi I a spark jumps between the electrodes, irrespective of the oil level or, otherwise stated, irrespective of the, degree of submergence of the electrodes s, 1 and a. I

When any considerable amount of oil is present in the vaporizer for any reason and a high potential is impressed on the electrode 5, a spark will initially jump between that electrode and one of the electrodes 1 or 8, above the oil level, since the oil will act as an insulator to prevent the jumping of the spark below the oil level. Of course when the spark jumps adjacent the oil level it will ionize and heat the air and the heated and ionized air, rising, will create such conditions that the spark will jump between the electrode 5 and one of the electrodes 1 or 8 progressively upwardly from the level of the oil until the spark gap becomes such that the resistance is greater than that at the oil level, at which time the spark will again jump at the oil level and again progress upwardly. During this upward progress oi the spark, which is very rapid, what might be termed an ignition flame will be created and thus it will ignite the oil throughout a substantial extent, if not the entire extent, of the portions of the wicks that are saturated with oil.

The temperature of the vaporizer and whatever oil may be within it are quickly raised to the temperature of combustion of the oil. The result of this is that the oil in the vaporizer of this type burner will quickly be ignited and it 0 makes little difference whether the vaporizer is ried by the wicks will be fiashed into combustion throughout a substantial portion of the wicks as the spark travels from adjacent the oil upwardly therefrom and along the wicks, as later described.

While not so limited, the invention includes the use of a wick that is a porous, pitted or rough surfaced refractory, such as a ceramic or fire clay which will of course have the ability to raise the oil from the oil within the vaporizer above the oil level by capillarity, and which is also of a low specific heat.

To install the igniter in a currently standard pot type oil burner it is only necessary to place the electrodes 1 and 8 in position in the vaporizer so that the hook-shaped members in will engage over the edge of the vaporizer and the lower ends of the wicks will rest upon the bottom of the vaporizer and to then insert the electrode 5 and its insulator Ii through the opening in the combustion chamber of the oil burner and emplace it within the gasket I.

If there is but an oil film upon the bottom of the vaporizer, when a high potential is impressed on the electrode .5 and the spark jumps from the lower end of said electrode 5 to the bottom of the vaporizer, it may be that the oil film will be ignited provided that the conditions existing on the bottom of the vaporizer are favorable to ignition as, for instance, if there is a already partly filled with oil before an attempt at combustion is made, or whether the oil is injected into the vaporizer only after the creation of the spark has been initiated.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the distance between the electrode 5 and the electrodes l and 8 is less than the distance between the electrode 5 and the nearest point of the vaporizer 4. Thus, when the wicks ll carry oil and there is no oil reservoir in the vaporizer, the spark will jump between the electrodes 5 and 1 or 8 rather than between the former electrode and the vaporizer with the result that the oil in the wicks will be raised to the flash point.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings the igniter differs from that of Figures 1 and 2 in that two electrodes are provided, the electrode l4 being connected to the source of suitable electric energy and the electrode 15 being grounded, through an electric conductor-ring N that is in electric contact with the grounded outer shell I of the combustion chamber. These electrodes are arranged in spaced relation to each other and are substantially U-shaped in cross section, having a base it and side walls H, as illustrated in Figure 4.

Each of the side walls I! is serrated forming spark points It, the spark points of one electrode being aligned with the cooperating points of the other.

The complemental spark points l8 on the two electrodes H and i5 may either be a constant distance apart throughout their extent, or they may, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings,

8 be an increasing distance apart from the ends of the electrodes.

Each of the electrodes carries a fuel conductor It which is at least coextensive with the serrated edges of the walls I! of the electrodes.

7 The two fuel conductors, which may be of any suitable material such as that hereinbefore referred to, extend beyond the serrations of the electrodes but terminate in spaced relation to each other. This form of igniter is mounted in the burner casing and extends into the vaporizing pot substantially in a manner similar to that described in connection with the form illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, and when the igniter is thrown into operation a spark will jump between the spark points I! that are immediately above the level of the oil in the pot, regardless of what that level may be, and jumpin will ignite. the films of oil on the fuel conductors is,

with the result that the oil within the pot will be ignited.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the head 20, which is of suitable electric insulating material, is removably mounted in an insulating ring 2|, which is carried by the burner casing. An electrode 22, which is connected to a suitable source of electric energy such as a transformer, is mounted within the head and extends therefrom into the vaporizing pot. This electrode is provided with spaced circular teeth 23. A second and grounded electrode 24, which is substantially U- shaped in cross section, is supported by the vaporizing pot at and is provided with a serrated edge which forms spark points 26 that are aligned with and are complemental to the circular teeth or spark points 23 of the electrode 22. This electrode 24 also carries a fuel conductor 21 of the character hereinbefore described.

The spark points 28 and the spark points or teeth 23 of the two electrodes may either be a constant distance apart throughout the extent of the electrodes, or they may diverge upwardly forming gradually increasing spark gaps.

In Figure 5 of the drawings the spark points are illustrated as increasing in distance apart upwardly from the oil.

when the igniter is thrown into circuit the spark will jump between the spark points above the level of the oil and will, as in the case of the other forms of the invention, ignite the film of oil on the conductor and, as a result, will ignite .the oil in the vaporizing pot.

It will of course be realized that in the forms of invention shown in Figures 3 and 5 this jumping of the spark above the oil level will occur irrespective of that oil level so that at all times the film of oil above the oil level will be ignited by the jumping spark.

In the various forms of the invention where the spark points increase in distance apart upwardly from the oil level, the spark will of course first jump between the spark points proximate the oil level. This will result in an ionization of the gas above the oil level and in a heating of the gas.

The heated gas will rise and the spark will, during that rise, jump between the successive spark points progressively upwardly because of the fact that the ionized gas is of lesser resistance than the un-ionized gas. Successive sparks will be produced to ignite the film of oil on the fuel conductor throughout the length of the conductor, with the result that an extensive and hot details of construction except in so far as 8 oil in the vaporizer, irrespective of the oil level in the same.

Of course it is to'be realized that in the forms of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, if for any reason the igniter fails to operate electrically it may be removed from the burner, the film of oil on the conductor ignited and reinserted into the vaporizing pot to ignite the oil therein.

While particular embodiments of the inventiorP- have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood and will be realized that certain changes in details of construction may be varied and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the they are recited in the claims.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a thermovaporizing oil burner of the type that includes an open top bowl having liquid fuel and combustion air supplies, of an electrode having a sparking surface extending into said bowl from the open end thereof to adjacent the bottom thereof, a second electrode having a sparking surface extending in an upwardl divergent relation to said first mentioned sparking surface throughout a substantial portion of its length, and means for elevating oil in said bowl to substantially the full extent of said second electrode and adjacent the sparking surface thereof.

2. The combination with a thermovaporizing oil burner of the type that includes an open top bowl having liquid fuel and combustiomair suppiia, of an electrode having a sparking surface extending into said bowl from the open end thereof to adjacent the bottom thereof, a. second electrode having a sparking surface extending in an upwardly divergent relation to said-first mentioned sparking surface throughout a substantial portion of its length, and means for elevating oil in said bowl to substantially the full extent of said second electrode and adjacent the sparking surface thereof, said oil elevating means comprising a wick of porous, rough surface, low specific heat material.

3. The combination with a thermovaporizing oil burner of the type that includes an open top bowl having liquid fuel and combustion air supplies, of an electrode having a sparking surface extending into said bowl from the open end thereof to adjacent the bottom thereof, a second electrode having a sparking surface extending in an upwardly divergent relation to said t mentioned sparking surface throughout a substantial portion of its length, and means for elevating oil in said bowl to substantially the full extent of said second electrode and adjacent the sparking surface thereof, said second electrode comprising a metallic member having a back wall and side walls having openings therein and said oil elevating means comprising a wick arranged within said metallic member between said back and side walls and exposed through said openings.

4. The combination with a thermovaporizing oil burner of the type that includes an open top bowl having liquid fuel and combustion air suppiles, of an electrode having a sparking surface extending into said bowl from the open end thereof to adjacent the. bottom thereof, a second electrode having a sparking surface extending in an upwardly divergent relation to said first mentioned sparking surface throughout a substantial portion of its length, and means for elevating oil in said bowl to substantially th full extent of said second electrode and adjacent the sparking flame will be created to effectively ignite the fuel 15 surface thereof, said second electrode comprising 7 a metallic memberhaving a side wall and said oil elevating means including a wick arranged eontiguous with one face of said side wall.

a 5. The combination with a thermovaporizing oil burner of the type that includes an open top bowl having liquid fuel and combustion air supplies, of an electrode having a sparking surface extending into said bowl from the open end thereof to adjacent the bottom thereof, a second electrode having a. sparking surface extending in an upwardly divergent relation to said first mentloned sparking surface throughout a substantial portion of its length, and means for elevating oil in said bowl to substantially the full extent of said second electrode and adjacent the sparking surface thereof, said second electrode comprising a metallic member having a side wall and said oil elevating means including a wick arranged contiguous with one face of said side wall, and having a face exposed to said first mentioned Number electrode substantially throughout the length of the sparking surface of said second electrode.

ROBERT P. BREE-SE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in,-th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,673,110 Fogarty June 12, 1928 1,681,065 Steward Aug. 14, 1928 1,888,692 Powers Nov. 22, 1932 1,888,695 Powers Nov. 22, 1932 2,076,691 Young Apr. 13, 193'! 2,129,472 Lysholm Sept. 8, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 444,255 France of 1918

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