Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates generally to a baffle assembly, and more specifically, to a baffle assembly to modify the effects on fluid flow while transitioning between different cavities, which can be utilized in a variety of industries including gas burners.

A variety of tools, systems, and assemblies require the supply of fluid or gaseous mixtures. For example, gas burners are utilized to generate a flame to heat a product using a gaseous fuel such as acetylene, natural gas, and/or propane, among other fuel sources, e.g., air-gas mixtures may be utilized as fuel for gas powered burners. In gas burners and other applications, the fluid may transition between different cavities, e.g., between conduits or pipes of different sizes, between a storage tank or area and a conduit or pipe, through a restriction or inlet, etc. Per fluid dynamic principles, it is generally known that transitioning between different cavities, e.g., differently sized cavities, can affect the pressure, velocity, and other characteristics of the fluid flow, which are herein referred to as entrance effects or transitional effects. Additionally, the flow may experience entrance effects along an "entrance length" proximate to the transition, with the flow stabilizing at some distance distal from the transition. Referring back to gas burners (particularly ribbon burners that are arranged to produce a flame along a length of the burner), the entrance effects introduced by the transition from the fuel inlet into the burner cavity can create an issue in which the properties of the produced flame proximate to the fuel inlet differ from the properties of the flame at distances further away from the fuel inlet.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an assembly for modifying the entrance and/or transitional effects of fluid flows in a reduced distance, such as for improving the operation of gas burners and other systems.

<CIT> discloses a modulating gas burner which is designed for operation with premixing of a combustible air and gas mixture. The disclosure falls in particular within the specific technical field of modulating gas burners in which the burner power can be modulated within a predetermined modulation range in dependence on specific operating requirements. <CIT> also discloses a flow guide device which is produced integrally with a shutter element in the region of an aperture. The flow guide device comprises a plurality of radial deflector fins which are integral with the shutter and spaced apart angularly at regular intervals with a spoke-like arrangement. The fins may be inclined to the axial direction of the flow through the head so as to impart a rotational component to the flow.

The present invention is directed to a baffle assembly for modifying the entrance and/or transitional effects of fluid flows, such as for improving the operation of gas burners and other systems.

An advantage of an embodiment of the baffle assembly described herein is that it is compact in length and is easily replaceable. Another advantage is that it is easily assembled. A further advantage is that it improves flame uniformity when used with a burner, such as a ribbon burner.

The invention provides a baffle assembly as defined in claim <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the legs are secured to the inner circumferential surface of the collar, the impingement plates are not secured to the inner circumferential surface of the collar, to thereby provide a free end of the impingement plate.

In one embodiment, the second angle is defined as the first angle subtracted from a third angle measured between the leg and the impingement plate. In one embodiment, the first angle is between <NUM>° and <NUM>°. In one embodiment, the second angle is between <NUM>° and <NUM>°. In one embodiment, the impingement plates have a width and a length sufficient to block at least <NUM>% of a flow area through the collar.

In one embodiment, a length of the leg is approximately equal to a diameter of the collar. In one embodiment, a first length of each impingement plate is equal to between about <NUM>% to <NUM>% of a second length of the leg. In one embodiment, the baffle assembly includes four of the vanes equally spaced about the inner surface of the collar. In one embodiment, the collar has a circular cross-sectional shape.

The invention also provides a burner assembly including an inlet and the baffle assembly of claim <NUM> installed in, at, or proximate to the inlet. In one embodiment, the burner assembly is a ribbon burner. In one embodiment, the inlet includes a first inlet and a second inlet positioned at opposite sides of a burner body.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the embodiments described below.

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure.

A perspective view of a baffle assembly is shown in <FIG>, in accordance with an embodiment. <FIG> are respective front and side views of the assembly of the baffle assembly of <FIG>. The following should be viewed based on <FIG>.

The baffle assembly <NUM> generally includes a hub or collar <NUM> having a plurality of vanes <NUM> secured thereto. As discussed in more detail below, the vanes <NUM> of the baffle assembly <NUM> are arranged to reduce entrance effects and/or transitional effects on the fluid flow as the flow of a fluid transitions between different sized, shaped, structured, and/or oriented flow cavities. For example, the baffle assembly <NUM> may be positioned at, in, or near the transition of a pipe or cavity having a relatively larger cross-sectional flow area into a pipe or cavity having a relatively smaller cross-sectional flow area. Namely, the baffle assembly <NUM> can be used to create a more even cross-sectional distribution of fluid flow. Additionally, the baffle assembly <NUM> can be useful to decrease the velocity of the fluid flow, thereby corresponding to a relative increase in fluid pressure, which can be advantageous in a number of applications. In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize transitions between other fluid flow cavities that may result in undesirable entrance and/or transitional effects that can be alleviated by the baffle assembly <NUM>.

The collar <NUM> may be or comprise a short pipe nipple, e.g., having threads <NUM> (shown schematically only with broken lines to indicate approximate thread dimensions) for threaded engagement in, with, or between one or more pipes, conduits, bushings, cavities, etc. In this way, as discussed herein, the baffle assembly <NUM> can be positioned at or near the interface or transition between two different fluid flow cavities. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the threads <NUM> may be in accordance with any desired specification or standard, such as the National Pipe Thread Taper (NPT) standards.

In the illustrated embodiment, the collar <NUM> is shown having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, although it is to be appreciated that other shapes can be utilized depending on the particular system in which the baffle assembly <NUM> is installed. For example, if a press fit, adhesives, fasteners, or some other fastening means or mechanism is utilized instead of the threads <NUM>, then other shapes such as rectangular, triangular, polygonal, etc. may be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, each vane <NUM> includes an impingement plate <NUM> and a leg <NUM>. As illustrated, the baffle assembly <NUM> includes four of the vanes <NUM> equally spaced about and secured at an area <NUM> to an inner surface <NUM> of the collar <NUM>, although other numbers of vanes may be utilized. The connection between the vanes <NUM> and the collar <NUM> at the area <NUM> may include or be defined by welds, e.g., tack welds, or any other manner. For example, a groove just smaller than a thickness t of the legs <NUM> can be cut into the inner surface <NUM> and the legs <NUM> press fit into the grooves. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate other means of securement, e.g., adhesives, clips, fasteners, etc..

The legs <NUM> extend from the collar <NUM> at an angle α with respect to a central axis A, while the impingement plate <NUM> is bent at an angle β with respect to the leg <NUM>. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the impingement plates <NUM> are arranged with respect to the central axis A at an angle equal to (β - α). By use of multiple circumferentially spaced vanes <NUM>, each having one of the legs <NUM> at the angle α, the legs <NUM> can induce or promote a spiraling, rotation, or spinning of the fluid flow as it passes through the baffle assembly <NUM>. That is, fluid flow reaching the baffle assembly <NUM> (e.g., generally flowing parallel to the axis A through a pipe or other cavity) will first pass through the collar <NUM> and then encounter the legs <NUM>. Due to the angled orientation of the legs <NUM>, the fluid flow is urged out of alignment with the central axis A. That is, each respective portion of the fluid flowing through the baffle assembly <NUM> is directed at the angle α away from the central axis A.

It is noted that each of the legs <NUM> is arranged to urge the fluid flow in a different direction relative to the central axis A (although each direction is at least partially radially outwardly directed). This promotes the aforementioned spiraling or rotation of the fluid flow. In one embodiment, the angle α is between about <NUM>° and <NUM>° or more particularly between about <NUM>° and <NUM>°. Advantageously, these ranges of angles promote rotational or spiraling in the flow while remaining substantially axially aligned with central axis A.

As the fluid flow continues, it next encounters the impingement plates <NUM>, which are substantially perpendicular and/or transverse to the central axis A. For example, the angle β may be approximately equal to <NUM>°, and/or the value of β - α (i.e., the angle of the impingement plates <NUM> with respect to the central axis A) may be approximately equal to <NUM>°, e.g., between about <NUM>° and <NUM>°. In this way, fluid flow encountering the impingement plates <NUM> is much more sharply urged in a substantially radial direction (i.e., perpendicular to the central axis A). Additionally, since the impingement plates <NUM> are substantially perpendicular and/or transverse to the central axis A, the velocity of the flow encountering the impingement plates <NUM> is significantly reduced, as the flow is redirected from the axial direction to the radial direction.

Advantageously in many applications, a reduction in velocity is accompanied by an increase in pressure and a shorter entrance length (along which entrance length the flow is subjected to entrance or transitional effects before stabilizing). Together with the spiraling or rotation imparted by the legs <NUM> discussed above, uniformity in the distribution of the flow (e.g., mixing of the flow) is maintained while the velocity is decreased, the pressure is increased, and/or the entrance length is decreased.

The vanes <NUM> can be made of any suitable material, for example, mild steel or resilient plastic. The dimensions of the vanes <NUM> may be set to facilitate the above-described or other functionalities. For example, the legs <NUM> may have a length L1 that is suitable for imparting a sufficient amount of spiraling to the flow of fluid. The length L1 may be influenced by the size of the collar <NUM>, the change in dimensions or structure of the flow cavities on opposite sides of the baffle assembly <NUM>, the viscosity, velocity, pressure, or other properties of the flow of fluid, etc. In one embodiment, the length L1 of the legs <NUM> is approximately equal to the diameter of the collar <NUM>, e.g., <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM>") in one embodiment.

The impingement plates <NUM> likewise have a length L2, which can be set to facilitate the redirection of the flow from a substantially axial direction (i.e., parallel to the axis A) to a substantially perpendicular direction (i.e., perpendicular to the axis A). In one embodiment, the length L2 is approximately <NUM>-<NUM>% of the length L1 and/or of the diameter of the collar <NUM>. For example, in one embodiment, the length L2 may be <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM> inch) and the length L1 and/or the diameter of the collar <NUM> may be <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM>").

Additionally, the impingement plates <NUM> may have a width W to assist in the aforementioned functionality. The width W can be set so that it assists in suitably blocking or impeding the flow of fluid to a desired level. For example, smaller values of the width W could be used to impede the flow of fluid to a lesser degree, thereby decreasing the velocity and/or increasing the pressure to a lesser degree than if a larger value were used for the width W. In one embodiment, the length L2 and the width W are set to block at least the majority of the flow area through the collar <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the impingement plates <NUM> block substantially all of the flow area through the collar <NUM> with the exception of a small portion near the central axis A and the small portions between each adjacent set of the impingement plates <NUM>. In one embodiment, the impingement plates <NUM> are dimensioned to block at least about <NUM>% of the flow area of the collar <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates one use for the baffle assembly <NUM>. More particularly, <FIG> shows a ribbon burner <NUM> having the baffle assembly <NUM>. The ribbon burner <NUM> may take the form of an ERB QuadCool Ribbon Burner commercially available from Selas Heat Technology Company. The ribbon burner <NUM> includes a burner body <NUM>, e.g., which defines a cavity for receiving fluid flow (e.g., gas/air mixture or other gaseous fuel) at one or more inlets <NUM>, e.g., which may be positioned at one or both opposite axial ends of the burner body <NUM>. A ribbon pack <NUM> may be included to produce a flame substantially along its entire length (e.g., a "sheet flame") by use of the fuel mixture that is injected into the burner body <NUM> via the inlet(s) <NUM>.

The baffle assembly <NUM> can be secured in or along a fuel supply conduit, e.g., a pipe, between the gas/air mixture source and the inlet <NUM> and/or the inside of the burner body <NUM>. For example, a bushing <NUM> of a fuel supply line is illustrated in <FIG>, into which the baffle assembly <NUM> can be inserted. For example, the bushing <NUM> may include threading (e.g., female threading) corresponding to the threads <NUM> and/or be otherwise arranged to receive the collar <NUM> of the baffle assembly <NUM> therein.

As discussed above, the flow cavities on opposite sides of the inlet <NUM> (e.g., the inside of the burner body <NUM> with respect to the fuel supply line) may be dissimilar such that the fluid flow is subjected to entrance and/or transitional effects as it transitions through the inlet <NUM>. For example, the inlet <NUM> may be or include a relatively restricted flow area with respect to the flow area through the supply line, e.g., the bushing <NUM>. In this way, absent the baffle assembly <NUM>, the velocity of the fluid would tend to increase and the pressure decrease as the fluid enters the burner body <NUM>. As a result of the decreased pressure and/or other entrance effects, the flame produced by the ribbon burner <NUM> proximate to the inlet <NUM> may be less developed than the flame produced by the burner <NUM> at locations distal to the inlet, e.g., toward the center of the burner <NUM>. Advantageously, as discussed above, positioning the baffle assembly <NUM> at, near, or in the inlet <NUM> can reduce the entrance length of the entrance and/or transitional effects, decrease the velocity, and/or increase the pressure of the fluid as it enters the burner body, thereby producing a more even and uniform flame from the burner <NUM> across its entire length. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the ribbon burner <NUM> is just one example and that the baffle assembly <NUM> can be used in other embodiments.

Claim 1:
A baffle assembly (<NUM>), comprising:
a collar (<NUM>) having a central axis and an inner circumferential surface (<NUM>); and,
a plurality of vanes (<NUM>) secured to the inner circumferential surface of the collar, each vane comprising:
a leg (<NUM>) extending from the collar at a first angle with respect to the central axis, the first angle of the leg configured to impart rotation to a flow of fluid through the baffle assembly; and
an impingement plate (<NUM>) extending from the leg at a second angle with respect to the central axis, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle;
wherein the baffle assembly (<NUM>) is configured such that the flow of fluid through the baffle assembly (<NUM>) first passes through the collar (<NUM>) and encounters the leg (<NUM>) of each of the plurality of vanes (<NUM>) and thereafter encounters the impingement plate (<NUM>) of the respective vanes (<NUM>), such that fluid flow encountering each of the impingement plates (<NUM>) is urged in a substantially radial direction.