Compact high capacity burner for hot air balloons

Claim 1

A heater for hot air balloon comprising: a heater manifold; a fuel input line; a fuel preheat coil, wound in a substantially conical configuration, positioned adjacent said manifold and having one end connected to said manifold for supplying fuel thereto; means, including a swivel fuel inlet fitting connected to said fuel input line, for supplying fuel to the other end of said preheat coil; said swivel fuel inlet fitting having an annular internal chamber; means for directing a flow of fuel radially from said manifold; means, responsive to the fuel pressure within said annular chamber, for igniting said fuel; a breakable pressure diaphragm positioned in said swivel fitting between the annular chamber and the input to the preheat coil, whereby the fuel is supplied to the manifold after the Igniters are operated; means, including a substantially conical shaped heat deflector, supported in close substantially parallel spaced relation to the preheat coil, for directing the hot gas from the burning fuel through the preheat coil whereby the fuel is preheated and vaporized and a plurality of support rods pivotably connected to the upper edge of the flame deflector, adapted to be connected to support lines of a hot air balloon.