Burner

Claim 2

A burner comprising a pair of opposed walls defining a combustion chamber, each of the opposed walls including an equal number of wall segments with corresponding wall segments of the two walls being of equal size and located directly across the combustion chamber from one another, each of the wall segments having face portions and connecting means located at the sides of the face portions, the connecting means of adjacent wall segments being secured to one another such that the face portions of the connected wall segments form a generally continuous surface which is presented toward the combustion chamber, the wall segments being provided with slots for admitting air to the combustion chamber, the slots extending across the face portions of their respective wall segments and the slots in adjacent wall segments being staggered relative to one another so that a slot is not continued beyond a wall segment in which it is located; and a manifold at one end of the opposed walls and located adjacent to one of the wall segments for each of the walls, the manifold having longitudinally spaced orifices which open into the combustion chamber for introducing a combustible gas into the combustion chamber; the slots of the two wall segments located adjacent to the manifold being staggered relative to each other and relative to the orifices of the manifold so that air entering the combustion chamber through those slots creates vortices about the combustible gas as that gas is introduced into the combustion chamber through the orifices.

Claim 3

A burner comprising a mAnifold connected to a source of combustible gas and having a plurality of orifices through which the combustible gas is discharged from the manifold, the orifices being spaced generally one after another; and a pair of opposed walls extending away from the manifold and partially defining a combustion chamber into which the orifices open so that the combustible gas is introduced into the combustion chamber, each wall comprising a plurality of wall segments arranged side-by-side and each wall segment including a face portion presented toward the combustion chamber and a connecting portion connected to the face portion along at least each side thereof which is adjacent to another wall segment, each connecting portion being presented at an angle with respect to the face portion to which it is connected and projecting away from the face portion, the connecting portions of adjacent wall segments being joined together so that the opposed walls are unitary, the wall segments having apertures in the face portions thereof for admitting air to the combustion chamber, each aperture extending from one side of the wall segment in which it is located to the other side of that wall segment and terminating at a connecting portion, whereby the face portions of the wall segments are not subjected to extreme stresses when a temperature differential exists in the walls.

Claim 4

A burner comprising a mAnifold connected to a source of combustible gas and having a plurality of orifices through which the combustible gas is discharged from the manifold, the orifices being spaced generally one after another; and a pair of opposed walls extending away from the manifold and partially defining a combustion chamber into which the orifices open so that the combustible gas is introduced into the combustion chamber, each wall comprising a plurality of wall segments arranged side-by-side and each wall segment including a face portion presented toward the combustion chamber and a connecting portion connected to the face portion along at least each side thereof which is adjacent to another wall segment, each connecting portion being presented at an angle with respect to the face portion to which it is connected and projecting away from the face portion, the connecting portions of adjacent wall segments being joined together so that the opposed walls are unitary, the wall segments having apertures in the face portions thereof for admitting air to the combustion chamber, each aperture extending from one side of the wall segment in which it is located to the other side of that wall segment and terminating at a connecting portion, whereby the face portions of the wall segments are not subjected to extreme stresses when a temperature differential exists in the walls.

Claim 5

A burner according to claim 2 wherein the connecting portions are formed integral with the face portions and project outwardly away from the combustion chamber.

Claim 6

A burner according to claim 3 wherein the face portions for adjacent wall segments are flush.

Claim 7

A burner according to claim 3 wherein the wall segments extend in the same general direction as the manifold so that the wall segments for each wall are arranged one after another away from the manifold.

Claim 8

A burner according to claim 5 wherein the apertures are slots.

Claim 9

A burner according to claim 6 wherein the slots in the face portions of the two wall segments located closest to the manifold are staggered with respect to each other and also with respect to the orifices of the manifold, whereby the air admitted into the combustion chamber through those slots creates vortices about the combustible gas as that gas is introduced into the combustion chamber through the orifices.

Claim 10

A burner according to claim 2 wherein each of the wall segments is provided with a flange formed integral with its face portion along the sides thereof and turned outwardly away from the combustion chamber; wherein the flanges along the juxtaposed sides of adjacent wall segments are joined and constitute the connecting portions; and wherein the apertures are slots which terminate in the flanges.

Claim 11

A burner according to claim 6 wherein the connecting portions on the wall segments are outwardly turned flanges extending along the sides of the face portions; and wherein the slots extend at least to the flanges.

Claim 12

A burner according to claim 7 wherein the slots in adjacent wall segments are staggered relative to one another so that a slot is not continued beyond the wall segment in which it is located.

Claim 13

A burner according to claim 1 wherein the opposing walls diverge away from the manifold and are connected at their sides by sidewalls.

Claim 14

A burner according to claim 8 wherein the slots terminate at enlarged cutouts formed in the side flanges of the wall segments.

Claim 15

A burner according to claim 2 wherein the burner is disposed within an airstream with its combustion chamber opening downstream; wherein a closure encloses the outwardly presented faces of the opposed sidewalls and form combustion air supply plenums therewith; and wherein the air supply plenum are supplied with air from the airstream through at least one air-metering means which opens upstream in the airstream.

Claim 16

In a duct through which a moving stream of air flows; an improved burner for heating the air flowing in the duct; said burner comprising a manifold connected to a source of combustiBle gas and having orifices through which the combustible gas is discharged from the manifold; opposed combustion chamber walls extending away from the manifold and defining a combustion chamber having one end located downstream from the other end relative to the stream of air flowing in the duct, the opposed combustion chamber walls at the upstream end of the combustion chamber being presented adjacent to the manifold on opposite sides of the manifold orifices so that the orifices open into the combustion chamber, the downstream end of the combustion chamber opening into the duct and facing downstream therein, the combustion chamber walls having apertures therein; outer walls presented outwardly from the combustion chamber walls and forming a closure therewith which defines a supply plenum, the supply plenum communicating with the combustion chamber through the apertures in the combustion chamber walls; and inlet means associated with the outer walls and defining an opening which faces upstream in the duct and is exposed directly to the airstream therein so that the air flowing in the duct will enter the opening, the opening communicating with the air supply plenum, whereby the air which enters the opening passes into the plenum from which it is discharged into the combustion chamber through the apertures on the combustion chamber walls, the aperture being elongated slots extending in the same general direction that the combustible gas is introduced into the combustion chamber, and at least some of the slots in one wall being staggered with respect to slots in the opposite wall; the orifices being arranged in longitudinally spaced relation along the manifold; the slots which are located in those portions of the opposed combustion chamber walls which are adjacent to the orifices being staggered with respect to the orifices so that elongated vortices are induced about the axes of the orifices.

Claim 17

In a duct through which a moving stream of air flows; an improved burner for heating the air flowing in the duct; said burner comprising a manifold connected to a source of combustiBle gas and having orifices through which the combustible gas is discharged from the manifold; opposed combustion chamber walls extending away from the manifold and defining a combustion chamber having one end located downstream from the other end relative to the stream of air flowing in the duct, the opposed combustion chamber walls at the upstream end of the combustion chamber being presented adjacent to the manifold on opposite sides of the manifold orifices so that the orifices open into the combustion chamber, the downstream end of the combustion chamber opening into the duct and facing downstream therein, the combustion chamber walls having apertures therein; outer walls presented outwardly from the combustion chamber walls and forming a closure therewith which defines a supply plenum, the supply plenum communicating with the combustion chamber through the apertures in the combustion chamber walls; and inlet means associated with the outer walls and defining an opening which faces upstream in the duct and is exposed directly to the airstream therein so that the air flowing in the duct will enter the opening, the opening communicating with the air supply plenum, whereby the air which enters the opening passes into the plenum from which it is discharged into the combustion chamber through the apertures on the combustion chamber walls, the aperture being elongated slots extending in the same general direction that the combustible gas is introduced into the combustion chamber, and at least some of the slots in one wall being staggered with respect to slots in the opposite wall; the orifices being arranged in longitudinally spaced relation along the manifold; the slots which are located in those portions of the opposed combustion chamber walls which are adjacent to the orifices being staggered with respect to the orifices so that elongated vortices are induced about the axes of the orifices.

Claim 18

In a duct through which a moving stream of air flows; an improved burner for heating the air flowing in the duct; said burner comprising a manifold connected to a source of combustible gas and having orifices through which the combustible gas is discharged from the manifold; opposed combustion chamber walls extending away from the manifold and defining a combustion chamber having one end located downstream from the other end relative to the stream of air flowing in the duct, the opposed combustion chamber walls at the upstream end of the combustion chamber being presented adjacent to the manifold on opposite sides of the manifold orifices so that the orifices open into the combustion chamber, the downstream end of the combustion chamber opening into the duct and facing downstream therein, the combustion chamber walls having apertures therein; outer walls presented outwardly from the combustion chamber walls and forming a closure therewith which defines a supply plenum, the supply plenum communicating with the combustion chamber through the apertures in the combustion chamber walls; and inlet means associated with the outer walls and defining an opening which faces upstream in the duct and is exposed directly to the airstream therein so that the air flowing in the duct will enter the opening, the opening communicating with the air supply plenum, whereby the air which enters the opening passes into the plenum from which it is discharged into the combustion chamber through the apertures on the combustion chamber walls, wherein the inlet means comprises at least one member which is shiftable relative to the outer walls so that the size of the inlet opening can be varied.

Claim 19

In a duct through which a moving stream of air flows; an improved burner for heating the air flowing in the duct; said burner comprising a manifold connected to a source of combustible gas and having orifices through which the combustible gas is discharged from the manifold; opposed combustion chamber walls extending away from the manifold and defining a combustion chamber having one end located downstream from the other end relative to the stream of air flowing in the duct, the opposed combustion chamber walls at the upstream end of the combustion chamber being presented adjacent to the manifold on opposite sides of the manifold orifices so that the orifices open into the combustion chamber, the downstream end of the combustion chamber opening into the duct and facing downstream therein, the combustion chamber walls having apertures therein; outer walls presented outwardly from the combustion chamber walls and forming a closure therewith which defines a supply plenum, the supply plenum communicating with the combustion chamber through the apertures in the combustion chamber walls; and inlet means associated with the outer walls and defining an opening which faces upstream in the duct and is exposed directly to the airstream therein so that the air flowing in the duct will enter the opening, the opening communicating with the air supply plenum, whereby the air which enters the opening passes into the plenum from which it is discharged into the combustion chamber through the apertures on the combustion chamber walls, wherein the inlet means comprises at least one member which is shiftable relative to the outer walls so that the size of the inlet opening can be varied.