Patent ID: 7631640

Claim:
A radiant burner assembly comprising: a generally spherical shaped burner element; a fuel/air delivery tube having an end opening to allow for a fuel/air mixture to be delivered within said spherical burner element; said burner element has a first opening that surrounds said end opening of said fuel/air delivery tube; said burner element is formed with inner and outer spherical surfaces and an array of apertures of a predetermined size and spacing over substantially the entire inner and outer spherical surfaces of said burner element and formed of a material that remains undeformed at all temperatures within the range of use; a generally spherical shaped diffuser element of a smaller diameter than said burner element, having a second opening that surrounds said end opening of said fuel/air delivery tube; said diffuser element is formed of sheet material with inner and outer spherical surfaces with an array of apertures of a predetermined size and spacing over substantially the entire inner and outer spherical surfaces of said diffuser element; said diffuser element being mounted concentrically within said burner element to provide a generally equally spaced distance between said inner surface of said burner element and said outer surface of said diffuser element and remaining undeformed at all temperatures within the range of use; and a distributor element mounted between said fuel/air delivery tube end opening and said diffuser element to direct said fuel/air mixture generally uniformly towards the inner surface of said diffuser element.