US3285316A

US3285316A - Oil burning combustion head

Info

Publication number: US3285316A
Application number: US340419A
Authority: US
Inventors: William E Gustafson; Frank L Foster
Original assignee: Delavan Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Delavan Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1964-01-27
Filing date: 1964-01-27
Publication date: 1966-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-15

Description

1966 w. E. GUSTAFSON ETAL 3,285,315

OIL BURNING COMBUSTION HEAD Filed Jan. 27, 1964 United States Patent a corporation of Iowa Filed Jan. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 340,419 4 Claims. (Cl. 158-76) This invention relates to an improved oil burner combustion head which is adapted to provide a generally improved performance for the oil burner.

In constructing an oil burner, a number of important factors are to be taken into consideration, and although there are various types of oil burners on the market, most such devices have one or more drawbacks. For example, one problem encountered with most types of oil burners is flame pulsation, which results in an inefficient use of fuel. Efliciency of combustion may also be improved by providing an intimate mixing of air and atomized oil. The oil burner flame should also be stable and quiet, and the oil burner construction should also provide smooth and efiicient ignition or starting of the burner for each cycle. Although some prior art devices may overcome many of such design problems associated with oil burner construction, none are known to overcome such problems to the desired extent by simple and economical construction.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an improved oil burner by providing a combustion head therefor wherein disadvantages of prior art devices are substantially avoided.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an im proved oil burner combustion head wherein an improved mixing of air and atomized oil is provided.

It is a t'urther object of this invention to provide an improved oil burner combustion head wherein a stable, quiet flame results.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved combustion head for a domestic oil burner wherein smooth ignition or starting of the flame is provided for each cycle.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved combustion head for a domestic oil burner wherein pulsation of the flame is substantially avoided.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved combustion head for an oil burner wherein the combustion head includes a central disc having an opening which is aligned with the air spray nozzle and vanes or openings are provided in the annular portion of the disc in order to create air currents which are adapted to maintain the burner flame in close proximity to the disc.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide an improved oil burner combustion head wherein the combustion head has a coned end which preheats some of the combustion air, whereby the preheated air assists in providing a high-1y efficient and clean burning flame.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

A particular embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through my improved oil burner combustion head, shown in conjunction with an air supply tube and an oil spray nozzle;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

3,285,316 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings, my improved combustion head 10 is shown in secure attachment to the outer end 12 of an air supply tube 14. As shown in FIGURE 2, both the air supply tube 14 and the combustion head 10 are substantially circular in cross-section, the combustion head 10 being adapted to telescope Within the air tube 14 so that the outer cylindrical surface of the combustion head housing 16 and the inner cylindrical surface of the air tube 14 are in intimate or sealing contact. The head 10 is fastened to the air tube 14 by any suitable means, as by a sheet metal screw 18. Centrally, positioned within the air tube 14 is an oil spray nozzle 20, which is adapted to provide a fine spray of oil, suitable for eflicient combustion. Ignition of the atomized oil emitting from the nozzle 20 is provided by an electric spark passing between a pair of electrical ignition points or leads 22 adjacent the nozzle 20.

The housing 16 of the combustion head 10 includes a cylindrical portion 24, which is maintained in intimate or sealing contact with the air tube 14, and is also provided with an inwardly coned end portion 26, which projects outwardly from the end 12 of the air supply tube 14. The cone 26 terminates as a rim 28 which surrounds a central aperture 30, through which the burner flame F passes.

A generally circular metallic plate or disc 32 is mounted along the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall of the combustion head housing 16. The disc 32 is mounted transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the axis of the combustion head 10 and the air tube 14 and is located intermediate the air nozzle 20 and the coned end 26 of the housing 16. The disc '32 has its outer edge or periphery '34 in substantially continuous contact with the inner periphery of the combustion head housing 16, thereby allowing little if any passage of air between the housing 16 and the outer edge 34 of the disc 32.

The circular plate 32 also includes a central opening 36 which is in substantial alignment with the oil spray nozzle 20 and with the central aperture 30 formed by the rim 28 of the cone 26. The central opening 36 is of a smaller diameter than the aperture 30 at the coned end 26. An annular portion 38 of the disc 32 is defined between the outer periphery 34 of the disc 32 and the central opening 36. The anular portion 38 includes a first or inner set of vanes or louvers 40, which define openings 41, and a second or outer set of vanes 44, which define openings 45. The first set of vanes 40 are spaced inwardly a short distance from the central opening 36, a rim 42 being located therehetween. The air-directing vanes 40 are spaced at substantially equal distances from each other and are also spaced inwardly from the central opening 36 at substantially equal distances. The outer set of openings of air-directing vanes 44 are also spaced a substantialy equal distances from each other and from the central opening 36 of the disc 32. An outer rim 46 is provided on the disc 32 between the vanes 44 and the outer periphery 34 of the disc 32. Dimensionally, the second or outer set of vanes 44 are larger than the inner set of vanes 40, but the number of vanes in each set are equal to each other, as they are staggered with respect to each other, as shown in FIGURE 2.

Each set of

vanes

40 and 44 may be simultaneously formed in the annular portion 38 of the disc 32 by any suitable means, as by stamping. The air passages or

openings

41 and 45 defined by the

vanes

40 and 44 are in a plane transverse to the plane of the disc 32 or, in

other words, are in substantial alignment with the axis of the combustion head 10. Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, cross-sectional views of the outer set of vanes 44 and the inner set of vanes 40 are shown. Both sets of

openings

41 and 45 are defined by the forward edge of one vane and the trailing edge of the adjacent vane. The

air openings

41 and 45 cooperate with the vanes 40 and 44 t direct air in a direction substantially transverse to the axis of the combustion head to thus initially provide a swirling movement of air in the chamber defined by the disc 32 and the walls of the housing 16. The movement of air, as viewed from FIGURE 2, is in a counterclockwise direction for both sets of

vanes

40 and 44, although the movement of air may be clockwise without affecting the operation of the combustion head 10. A sufficient number of

vanes

40 and 44, having the general configuration of convolute protuberances, are required in order to provide uniform distribution of air and proper turbulence, in order to provide the desired results; it has been found that about 10-14 vanes are satisfactory for both sets.

Since the combustion head housing 16 and cooperating disc 32 are in direct contact with or in close proximity to the flame F, both the disc 32 and combustion head 10 are to be made of heat resistant metal. Preferably a high temperature stainless steel is used; AISI type 30a stainless steel is particularly satisfactory.

In operation, when oil is sprayed in a fine mist or atomized by the nozzle 22, it is ignited by a spark S passing between the ignition points 22. Simultaneously, air is directed by a blower (not shown) through the air supply tube 14 in a direction from the nozzle outwardly through the central aperture 30 at the coned end 26 of the housing 16. The air passing through the inner set and outer set of

vanes

40 and 44 create air currents or turbulence across the rim 42 adjacent the central opening 36 of the disc 32. Similarly air or eddy currents are set up at the outer edges of the

vanes

40 and 44; the air currents at the inner set of openings 41 draw some of the fine oil spray from the nozzle 22 to the zone of low velocity opposite the rim 42. This enables the flame F to be maintained at the rim 42 and at the edges of the vanes 40, thus preventing the flame F from drifting away from the burner, as commonly encountered with conventional burners. Most of the air required for combustion is then admitted to the flame F through the larger openings 44 and through the central opening 36 in the disc 32. 1 The air from the openings 4'4, flowing tangentially into the chamber formed between the come 26 and disc 32 creates the air turbulence necessary to produce a substantially brush shaped flame.

Preferably, the coned portion 26 of the combustion head housing 16 extends into the combustion chamber (not shown). Due to the proximity of the flame F to the coned portion 26, the cone becomes extremely hot; the cone 26 then causes preheating of the air passing through the second set of openings 44, prior to introduction thereof to the flame F. This results in a flame which is of high efficiency and is clean burning; furthermore, the inwardly directed cone 26 causes the air to be directed towards the flame F.

While in the foregoing there has been provided a detailed description of a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that all equivalents obvious to those having skill in the art are to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An oil burner combustion head wherein said combustion head is mounted on an air supply tube and an oil spray nozzle is centrally located within said air tube and having ignition means adjacent the spray nozzle, said combustion head comprising a substantially cylindrical housing, an outer end portion on said hoising, a disc mounted interior of said housing intermediate said outer end portion and said nozzle and transverse to the axis of said housing, said outer end and said disc defining a chamber within said housing, said d c h g a centra opening defining an inner rim and an annular portion, a first set of openings in said annular portion defined by convolute protuberances, said first set of openings being spaced inwardly from said central opening for creating (air currents flowing generally tangentially into said chamber for drawing some of the fine oil spray from said nozzle to a zone of low velocity opposite said rim whereby the burner flame is maintained in close proximity to said rim and to said first set of openings, and a second set of openings in said annular portion intermediate said first set of openings and the inner surface of said housing, said second set of openings being defined by convolute protuberances for tangentially directing air into said-chamber for creating aif turbulence to provide a substantially brush-shaped flame and also assisting said first set of openings in creating air currents for maintaining said flame in close proximity to said disc.

2. Oil burner means comprising an air supply tube, an oil spray nozzle mounted within said air supply tube, a combustion housing secured to the outer end of said air supply tube, an inwardly coned outer end on said housing, a disc mounted interior of said housing intermediate said coned end and said nozzle, said disc being transverse to the axis of said housing and having a central opening defining an inner rim and an annular portion, said disc and said coned end defining a chamber therebetween and within said housing, a first set of openings in said annular portion defined by convolute protuberances spaced inwardly of said central portion for creating air currents flowing generally tangentially into said chamber for drawing some of the fine oil spray from said nozzle to a zone of low velocity opposite said rim whereby the burner flame is maintained in close proximity to said rim and said first set of openings, and a second set of openings in said annular portion defined by convolute protuberances positioned outwardly of said first set of openings and tangentially directing air from said air supply tube into said chamber for creating air turbulence to provide a substantially brush-shape flame and also directing air to said coned end so as to heat air prior to introduction thereof into the burner flame and further assisting in maintaining the burner flame in close proximity to said disc.

3. The oil burner means of claim 2 wherein said first set of openings is smaller in size than said secondset, and all of said openings direct air in the same swirling direction and substantially tranverse to the axis of said housing.

4. Oil burner means comprising an air supply tube, an oil supply nozzle centrally mounted within said air supply tube, ignition means adjacent the nozzle, a substantially cylindrical housing secured to the end of said air supply'tube, an inwardly coned outer end portion on said housing, an annular plate mounted along the inner surface of said housing and being transverse to the axis of said housing, said plate being located forward of said spray nozzle, rearward of said coned end, and having a central opening defining an inner rim and an annular portion, said central opening being in substantial alignment with said nozzle and permitting oil spray from said nozzle to pass therethrough, said plate and said coned end defining a chamber therebetween and within said housing, a first set of vanes defined by convolute protuberances spaced from each other in said annular portion and being located inwardly of said central opening, said first set of vanes directing air substantially tangentially into said chamber for drawing some of the fine oil spray from said nozzle to a zone of low velocity opposite said rim whereby the burner flame is maintained in close proximity to said rim and to said first set of vanes, and a second set of vanes of larger dimension than said first set of vanes, said second set of vanes defined by convolute protuberances, said second set of 5 6 vanes tangentially directing air into said chamber from References Cited by the Examiner said air supply tube and creating air turbulence to pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS vide a substantially brush-shaped flame and also directing air to said coned end portion to preheat the air pass- 1,003,873 9/1911 Q 158*76 ing through said second set of vanes prior to introduc- 5 1,102,510 7/1914 Insh 158 1'5 tion thereof to the flame, said second set of vanes 2,347,594 4/1944 De Lm 158 76 2,976,919 3/1961 Sanborn 158-76 further assisting in creating air currents for maintaining said burner flame in close proximity to said plate, both 4 of said sets of vanes directing the air in a swirling direc- FREDERICK MATTESON P'lmary Examlner' tion Within said chamber. 10 E. G. FAVORS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN OIL BURNER COMBUSTION HEAD WHEREIN SAID COMBUSTION HEAD IS MOUNTED ON SAID AIR SUPPLY TUBE AND AN OIL SPRAY NOZZLE IS CENTRALLY LOCATED WITHIN SAID AIR TUBE AND HAVING IGNITION MEANS ADJACENT TEH SPRAY NOZZLE, SAID COMBUSTION HEAD COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL HOUSING, AN OUTER END PORTION ON SAID HOUSING, A DISC MOUNTED INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING INTERMEDIATE SAID OUTER END PORTION AND SAID NOZZLE AND TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS OF SAID HOUSING, SAID OUTER END AND SAID DISC DEFINING A CHAMBER WITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID DISC HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING DEFINING AN INNER RIM AND AN ANNULAR PORTION, A FIRST SET OF OPENINGS IN SAID ANNULAR PORTION DEFINED BY CONVOLUTE PROTUBERANCES, SAID FIRST SET OF OPENINGS BEING SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID CENTRAL OPENING FOR CREATING AIR CURRENTS FLOWING GENERALLY TANGENTIALLY INTO SAID CHAMBER FOR DRAWING SOME OF THE FINE OIL SPRAY FROM SAID NOZZLE TO A ZONE OF LOW VELOCITY OPPOSITE SAID RIM WHEREBY THE BURNER FLAME IS MAINTAINED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF SAID RIM AND TO SAID FIRST SET OF OPENINGS, AND A SECOND SET OF OPENINGS IN SAID ANNULAR PORTION INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST SET OF OPENINGS AND THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID HOUSING, SAID SECOND SET OF OPENINGS BEING DEFINED BY CONVOLUTE PROTUBERANCES FOR TANGENTIALLY DIRECTING AIR INTO SAID CHAMBER FOR CREATING AIR TURBULENCE TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY BRUSH-SHAPED FLAME AND ALSO ASSISTING SAID FIRST SET OF OPENINGS IN CREATING AIR CURRENTS FOR MAINTAINING SAID FLAME IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID DISC.