Patent Publication Number: US-5297955-A

Title: Jet burner construction, heating apparatus utilizing the jet burner construction, and methods of making the same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional patent application of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No. 880.725, filed May 8, 1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,526, which, in turn, is a divisional patent application of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No. 710,658, filed Jun. 5, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,839. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a new jet burner construction and to a new heating apparatus utilizing such jet burner construction as well as to new methods of making such a jet burner construction and such a heating apparatus. 
     2. Prior Art Statement 
     It is known to provide a jet burner construction comprising a burner body means having a chamber means therein and having an inlet means leading to the chamber means for directing fuel from a fuel source therein and an outlet means leading from the chamber means and defining an outlet opening means through which the fuel is adapted to issue from the chamber means to burn externally to the burner body means, the burner body means having wing-like extensions respectively disposed on opposite sides thereof for respectively interconnecting with adjacent wing-like extensions of adjacent burner constructions, the wing-like extensions each having a side edge means and an elongated outlet slot means extending along the side edge means thereof and interconnecting with the outlet opening means and through which fuel is adapted to issue so as to burn external to the wing-like extensions, each slot means having a certain height throughout the elongated length thereof, each wing-like extension having a chamber therein that interconnects with the chamber means of the body means and is adapted to feed fuel from the chamber means to the respective slot means thereof along a major portion of the elongated length thereof. For example, see applicant&#39;s allowed copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 456,722, filed Dec. 26, 1989. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the features of this invention to provide a new jet burner construction which has means to insure that a sufficient fuel flow is provided to insure flame propagation from one burner construction to an adjacent burner construction even at a one-third turn down rate of pressure on natural gas or synthetic gas, such as propane. 
     In particular, it was found according to the teachings of this invention that if the height of the chamber in each wing-like extension of the jet burner construction set forth in the aforementioned copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 456,722, filed Dec. 26, 1989, is increased throughout the length thereof while the height of the slot means through which the fuel subsequently issues remains the same, flame propagation was found to be provided with carryover widths of three inches and three and one-half inches on one-third rate operation. 
     For example, one embodiment of this invention comprises a jet burner construction comprising a burner body means having a chamber means therein and having an inlet means leading to the chamber means for directing fuel from a fuel source therein and an outlet means leading from the chamber means and defining an outlet opening means through which the fuel is adapted to issue from the chamber means to burn externally to the burner body means, the burner body means having wing-like extensions respectively disposed on opposite sides thereof for respectively interconnecting with adjacent wing-like extensions of adjacent burner constructions, the wing-like extensions each having a side edge means and an elongated outlet slot means extending along the side edge means thereof and interconnecting with the outlet opening means and through which fuel is adapted to issue so as to burn external to the wing-like extensions, each slot means having a certain height throughout the elongated length thereof, each wing-like extension having a chamber therein that interconnects with the chamber means of the body means and is adapted to feed fuel from the chamber means to the respective slot means thereof along a major portion of the elongated length thereof, each chamber having a height throughout the length thereof that is greater than the certain height of its respective slot means. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new jet burner construction having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a new method of making such a jet burner construction, the method of this invention having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a new heating apparatus utilizing such a jet burner construction, the heating apparatus of this invention having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a new method of making such a heating apparatus, the method of this invention having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described. 
    
    
     Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein: 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the new jet burner construction of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top view of a plurality of the jet burner constructions of FIG. 1 arranged in a heating apparatus of this invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end view taken in the direction of the arrows 4--4 of FIG. 2 and illustrates the outlet ends of two of the jet burner constructions of this invention without having the fuel burning at the outlet ends thereof as illustrated in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and illustrates the prior known burner construction of the aforementioned U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 456,722, filed Dec. 26, 1989. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates the prior known burner construction of the aforementioned U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 456,722, filed Dec. 26, 1989. 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the various parts for forming the jet burner construction of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustrated and described as being particularly adapted to provide a burner construction for a jet burner construction application thereof, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in various combinations thereof to provide a burner construction for other apparatus as desired. 
     Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, 2 and 3, the new jet burner construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a burner body means 11 having a chamber means 12 therein and having an inlet means 13 leading to the chamber means 12 for directing fuel, such as natural or synthetic gas, from a fuel source 14 therein and an outlet means 15 leading from the chamber means 12 and defining an outlet opening means 16 through which the fuel is adapted to issue from the chamber means 12 to burn externally to the burner body means 11 as illustrated by the flames 17 in FIG. 2. 
     The jet burner construction 10 of this invention is adapted to be arranged in side-by-side aligned relation with a plurality of other jet burner constructions 10 of this invention in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 to be utilized in a heating apparatus that is generally indicated by the reference numeral 18 in FIG. 2 wherein each jet burner construction 10 is adapted to direct its flame 17 into an inlet end 19 of a heat tube arrangement 20 which extracts heat from that flame 17 in an efficient manner that is well known in the art. For example, see the Bryant Formula 1000 heating apparatus of the Carrier Corporation of Syracuse, N.Y. Therefore, further details of the structure and of the operation of the heating apparatus 18 need not be set forth. 
     Also, the burner construction 10 and apparatus 18 of this invention are generally the same as the burner construction and apparatus of the aforementioned copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 456,722, filed Dec. 26, 1989 and since such copending patent application is now allowed, such copending patent application is being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto. 
     The jet burner construction 10 of this invention has the body means 11 thereof formed from two substantially similar sheet metal plates 21 and 22, FIG. 10, suitably stamped and shaped in the configurations illustrated in the drawings so that when the plates 21 and 22 are disposed together in face-to-face relation, flange means 23 and 24 of the plate means 22 are folded over against the plate means 21 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 to seal the plates 23 and 24 together whereby the two plate means 21 and 22 readily form the body means 11 of the burner construction 10. 
     In one working embodiment of the jet burner construction 10 of this invention, the plate means 21 and 22 are each formed from an aluminized steel strip RMS-421 that is approximately 0.035 of an inch thick, the resulting burner body means 11 being approximately 5.000 inches in length. 
     The inlet means 13 of the burner body means 11 defines a substantially cylindrical wall means 25 that has a plurality of primary air intake openings 26 formed therethrough downstream from a substantially circular end opening 27 in which an orifice member 28 is disposed, the orifice member 28 having a threaded portion 29 threadedly disposed in openings 30 formed through integral tab means 31 of the plates 21 and 22 which are bent at right angles so as to have the openings 30 thereof disposed in overlapping aligned relation as illustrated in the drawings. In this manner, fuel from the fuel source 14 is adapted to be directed to the orifice member 28 by conduit 14&#39;, FIG. 2, to issue out of an orifice 32 thereof into the chamber means 12 to mix with the primary air being drawn into the chamber means 12 through the primary air slots 26 in a manner well known in the art so that the air fuel mixture will pass through a venturi portion 33 of the chamber means 12 before the same reaches the outlet means 15 of the chamber means 12 to issue out of the outlet opening 16 in a unique manner that will be hereinafter set forth. 
     The plates 21 and 22 that form the burner body means 11 each has a pair of wing-like extensions 34 and 35 extending outwardly therefrom in a coplanar manner so that when the formed plates 21 and 22 are secured together by the folded over flange means 23 and 24 to form the burner body means 11, the cooperating extensions 34 and 35 define wing-like extensions that are generally indicated by the reference numerals 34&#39; and 35&#39;, and that extend from opposed sides of the burner body means 11 adjacent the outlet end means 15 thereof. 
     The wing-like extensions 34 and 35 of the plate 21 are respectively stepped upwardly as illustrated and have a plurality of dimples 36 formed therein to respectively engage against the surfaces 37 of the wing-like extensions 34 and 35 of the other plate 22 so as to space the facing surfaces 37 of the cooperating pairs of wing-like structures 34 and 35 from each other to define a fuel issuing slot means 38 therebetween that respectively interconnects to the chamber means 12 and the outlet opening 16 so that fuel can issue from the slot means 38 of the wing-like extensions 34&#39; and 35&#39; to define front end carry-over ignition flame means 39 as illustrated in FIG. 2 for multiple burner ignition propagation purposes in the apparatus 18 in a manner well known in the art so that only ignition structure need be provided for one of the jet burner constructions 10 in the apparatus 18 and the other burner constructions 10 will be ignited therefrom in a series manner as is well known in the art. 
     However, in order to prevent delayed ignition due to poor alignment of the burner constructions 10, the wing-like extension 35 of the plate 21 and the wing-like extension 35 of the plate 22 of each burner body means 11 is provided with tabs 40 and 41 which are disposed or stepped out of the plane of the respective wing-like extensions 35 so as to provide the overlapping linked arrangement with the nonstepped tabs 40&#39; and 41&#39; illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the adjacent burner constructions 10 when the jet burner constructions 10 are arranged in aligned relation as illustrated. Similar tab alignment means are set forth in the U.S. patent to Riehl, No. 4,179,261, whereby this patent is being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto. 
     The slots 38 in the wing-like extensions 34&#39; and 35&#39; extend respectively along the entire respective leading edge means 100 and 101 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 2 and through which the carryover flame 102 and 103 can issue as the same are being fed fuel from the chamber means 12 at a point downstream from the venturi section 33 and then out between the spaced edge means 104 and 105 of the respective wing-like sections 34&#39; and 35&#39; as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8. 
     It was found according to the teachings of this invention that even though the extensions 34 and 35 of the upper plate 21 have the leading edges 100 and 101 thereof spaced above the leading edges 100 and 101 of the wing-like extensions 34 and 35 of the lower plate 22 by the dimples 36 so as to define the height of the outlet slot 38 to be approximately 0.042 of an inch throughout the lengths of the edges 100 and 101, the triangular portions 106 of the extensions 34 and 35 of the plate 21 that are bounded by the converging lines 107 and 108 from the respective edge means 104 should be uniformly stepped upwardly beyond the upper stepping of the part 108&#39; of the extensions 34 and 35 of the plate 21 between the parallel lines 108 and 100 and 108 and 101 so as to provide sufficient fuel to issue out of the outlet slots 38 even at one-third turn down rate of pressure on natural gas or propane gas. 
     In particular, the triangular sections 106 are stepped upwardly so as to provide a height thereof above the cooperating surfaces 37 on the extensions 34 and 35 of the plate 22 to be approximately 0.093 of an inch throughout the entire surface area of the sections 106 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 whereas in contrast it can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 9 that the corresponding structure of the aforementioned copending patent application, Ser. No. 456,722, filed Dec. 26, 1989, merely had the same height for such triangular areas as being the same as the height for the outlet slots and did not provide for the increased flow area before reaching the outlet slots as required by the upwardly stepped sections 106 of this invention. 
     In the one working embodiment of this invention, wherein each slot 38 has the height of 0.042 of an inch, the resulting chamber 109 between the respective triangular section 106 and the surface 37 of the lower plate 22 has a height of approximately 0.093 of an inch, the distance between the lines 108 and 100 or 108 and 101 is approximately 0.325 of an inch, the distance between each line 107 and the respective cooperating parallel trailing edge 110 of the respective section 34 or 35 is approximately 0.178 of an inch, the length from a juncture point 111 of the lines 107 and 108 to the center line or central longitudinal axis of the body means 11 of the respective burner construction 10 is approximately 1.641 inches long, the length from the edge 16 to a point 112 where the lines 107 join with the chamber 12 of the body means 11 is approximately 1.298 inches long, (with the remainder of the dimensions of the burner construction 10 of this invention being as hereinafter set forth). Such chambers 109 insure sufficient fuel flow to issue from the outlet slots 38 of the wing-like extensions 34&#39; and 35&#39; for flame propagation at a one-third turn down rate (0.4 of an inch) pressure on natural gas and (1.1 inches) pressure using propane fuel. This increased fuel entrainment for carry-over purposes intercepts the main fuel flow chamber means 12 and permits fuel flow through the 0.093 of an inch sections or chambers 109 to be expelled through the 0.042 of an inch carry-over flame port slots 38 whereby the geometry of the fuel flow pressure enhancement results in successful flame propagation with carry-over widths of 3 inches and 31/2 inches on one-third rate operation of the burner construction 10. 
     Thus, it can be seen that the stepped sections 106 of the plate 21 for the burner constructions 10 of this invention uniquely supply fuel to the outlet slots 38 for flame propagation purposes during the use of the burner construction 10 as previously set forth and hereinafter described. 
     The outlet end means 15 of the burner body means 11 has its wall means 42 defining a substantially cylindrical portion 43 at one end thereof and a plurality of fluted portions 44 at the outlet end 16 thereof, each flute 44 comprising a substantially U-shaped portion 45 that has an outlet opening portion 46 defined thereby and radiating outwardly from a central part 47 of the outlet means 16 and being interconnected thereto. The radiating portions 46 in one working embodiment of the burner body 11 of this invention being four in number and being disposed substantially 90° apart from the adjacent portions 46 and having outer closed ends 48 thereof defining a circular configuration that is substantially concentric to the central part 47 of the opening means 16 that also defines a substantially circular configuration. 
     The two portions 46 on opposite sides of the outlet opening 15 interconnect with the slot means 38 of the wing-like extensions 34&#39; and 35&#39; of the resulting jet burner constructions 10 so as to supply fuel thereto from the chamber means 12. 
     In this manner, it was found that the flows of fuel issuing out of the outlet opening means 16 at the portions 46 and central part 47 thereof merge together in a turbulent manner externally to the outlet opening means 16 to provide for improved fuel combustion while maintaining the port velocity of the fuel being injected therefrom without requiring internal turbulent enhancers as in the prior known jet burner constructions. It was also found that the resulting flame means 17 of the burner construction 10 has a distinct outer and inner mantle of the flame characteristics which results from the improved fuel combustion. 
     In the one working embodiment of the jet burner construction 10 of this invention, each radiating portion 46 has the outer part 48 thereof defining a circle that is approximately 1.000 inch in diameter with the spacing between the legs of the portion 46 being approximately 0.186 of an inch, the throat of the venturi portion 33 being spaced from the inlet end opening 27 approximately 2.662 inches and the cylindrical wall means 25 at the inlet end means 13 being approximately 1.250 of an inch in diameter. The flutes 45 begin at approximately 3.682 of an inch from the inlet opening 27 and each has the closed end 48 thereof defined by a radius that is approximately 0.093 of an inch. 
     The jet burner construction 10 of this invention further comprises flame retainer means that is generally indicated by the reference numeral 50 and as illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises two parts 51 and 52 each having a body part 53 that is arcuate and defines opposed side edge means 54 and opposed end edge means 55 and 56. The flame retaining members 51 are so constructed and arranged that the same are respectively adapted to be disposed over the fluted portions 45 and have the ends 55 thereof correspond to or mate with the cylindrical portion 53 of the wall means 42 so as to be spot welded thereto or otherwise be secured to the burner body means 11 with the end edge means 56 thereof extending beyond the outlet opening 16 for flame retention purposes as will be hereinafter set forth, the cooperating side edge means 54 of the members 51 and 52 permit the wing-like extensions 34&#39; and 35&#39; to extend therebetween in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. 
     The end edge means 56 of the member 51 and 52 are beveled at 57 where the same join with the side edges 54 as illustrated. 
     The lower member 52 has a tab 58 extending at a right angle to the end edge means 55 thereof and is provided with a U-shaped slot 59 therein for mounting the resulting burner construction 10 to suitable support structure (not shown) in the apparatus 18 in a conventional manner. 
     In the one working embodiment of the jet burner construction 10 that has been previously set forth, the members 51 and 52 of the flame retaining means 50 are each formed of an aluminized steel strip RMS-421 that is approximately 0.035 of an inch thick and each has the arcuate body portion 53 thereof defined by a radius of approximately 0.505 of an inch and each is approximately 1.578 of an inch long. The members 51 and 52 are so arranged on the burner body means 11 that the end edge means 56 thereof extend beyond the outlet opening 16 of the burner body means 11 approximately 0.187 of an inch. 
     It was found that with such a flame retention means 50, the flame retention means 50 restrict the flow of induced air along the areas 60 of the minor diameter formations of the fluted arrangement and thereby tends to prevent flame blow off that would cause unburned fuel to enter into the heat exchanger tubes 20 of the heating apparatus 18 whereby combustion results of the fuel issuing from the outlet opening 16 is greatly enhanced by the flame retention or retainer means 50. 
     Therefore, it can be seen that it is a relatively simple method of this invention to form the jet burner construction 10 of this invention that is adapted to operate in a manner now to be described. 
     As previously stated, once the jet burner construction 10 has been properly mounted in a suitable apparatus, such as the heating apparatus 18 illustrated in FIG. 2, fuel is adapted to be directed into the chamber means 12 of that burner construction 10 through suitable conduit means 14&#39; leading from the fuel source 14 so that the same will draw primary air through the openings 26 into the chamber means 12 and pass through the venturi means 33 to issue out of the outlet end means 15 at the outlet opening means 16 thereof into the four flow paths provided by the radiating portions 46 of the opening 16 to combine with the fuel issuing out of the central part 47 of the opening 16 in a turbulent manner that can be ignited by any suitable ignition means so that the resulting flame means 17 will be directed into the inlet 19 of the heat exchanger tube 20 to have heat extracted therefrom in a manner well known in the art, the lit burner construction 10 creating the propagating side flame means 102 and 103 along the wing-like portions 34&#39; and 35&#39; thereof for igniting the issuing fuel from adjacent burner constructions 10 in the manner previously set forth. 
     As previously stated, the enlarged chambers 109 in the wing-like extensions 34&#39; and 35&#39; insure sufficient fuel to flow to the outlet slots 38 to produce the carry-over flames 102 and 103 even on a reduced rate of fuel flow into the main chamber means 12. 
     Also as previously stated, the flame retention or retainer means 50 prevents secondary air from blowing the flame 17 off of the outlet opening 16 as the retention means 50 completely cover the spaces 60 between the flutes 45 so that air cannot be induced along the outside of the spaces 60 between the flutes 45 for the reasons previously set forth. 
     Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides a new jet burner construction and a new method of making the same, but also this invention provides a new heating apparatus utilizing such a jet burner construction and a new method of making the same. 
     While the forms and methods of this invention now preferred have been illustrated and described as required by the Patent Statute, it is to be understood that other forms and method steps can be utilized and still fall within the scope of the appended claims wherein each claim sets forth what is believed to be known in each claim prior to this invention in the portion of each claim that is disposed before the terms &#34;the improvement&#34; and sets forth what is believed to be new in each claim according to this invention in the portion of each claim that is disposed after the terms &#34;the improvement&#34; whereby it is believed that each claim sets forth a novel, useful and unobvious invention within the purview of the Patent Statute.