US4013395A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aerodynamic fuel combustor
Assignee: Victor Equipment Co
•
Filing: 1973-08-23
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Granted: 1977-03-22
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Expires: 1993-08-23
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to an aerodynamic fuel combustor for generating hot gases, including means forming a mixing chamber and a combustion chamber, and a flameholder therebetween. Means are provided for admitting desired proportions of fuel gas and air to the mixing chamber to form a combustible gas under a controlled pressure; in one form, these means comprise a jet ejector. The flameholder is a vortex generator having one or more flow channels shaped to supply swirling gases to the combustion chamber. The flow channels form a substantial exit angle with respect to the axis of the combustion chamber, but not exceeding 60°, and are formed by airfoils terminating in bluff trailing edges of substantial area to cause eddying flow. The cooler gas molecules are centrifuged to the outside of the burning gas in the combustion chamber, thus cooling the chamber walls.
Inventors
- 👤 Alex F. Wormser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:05
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23Q; F23Q2/00; F23Q2/16; F23Q2/162; F23Q2/163; F23D; F23D14/00; F23D14/34; F23D14/38; F23D14/46; F23D14/62; F23D14/72; F23D14/74
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A fuel burner which comprises: a mixing chamber, said mixing chamber including means for introduction thereinto of combustible material and combustion-supporting gas material and for mixture of the same therein to produce a combustible mixture, and including a downstream mixing chamber outlet, a combustion chamber, said combustion chamber including a combustion chamber inlet and a combustion chamber outlet, and a flameholder, said flameholder being positioned between said mixing chamber outlet and said combustion chamber inlet and including a hub, a plurality of vanes extending outwardly from said hub, and enclosure means for cooperation with said vanes in defining a corresponding plurality of separated passages through said flameholder, said vanes including mixture guidance surfaces at an angle to the direction of net fluid flow through said flameholder from said mixing chamber to said combustion chamber, to produce a whirling motion in said mixture, said vanes including also downstream end bluff body means for producing eddying of said mixture thereat, said eddying being of amount effective, in conjunction with said whirling motion, to hold separate flames at respective separate said vanes, thus producing a visible blue whirling flame pattern, said combustion chamber having an inner surface for confining and guiding burning mixture and efficient delivery, for then doing work, of hot gas through said combustion chamber outlet, and said combustion chamber outlet being open.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A fuel burner which comprises: a mixing chamber, said mixing chamber including means for introduction thereinto of combustible material and combustion-supporting gas material and for mixture of the same therein to produce a combustible mixture, and including a downstream mixing chamber outlet, a combustion chamber, said combustion chamber including a combustion chamber inlet and a combustion chamber outlet, and a flameholder, said flameholder being positioned between said mixing chamber outlet and said combustion chamber inlet and including a hub, a plurality of vanes extending outwardly from said hub, and enclosure means for cooperation with said vanes in defining a corresponding plurality of separated passages through said flameholder, said vanes including mixture guidance surfaces at an angle to the direction of net fluid flow through said flameholder from said mixing chamber to said combustion chamber, to produce a whirling motion in said mixture, said vanes including also downstream end bluff body means for producing eddying of said mixture thereat, said eddying being of amount effective, in conjunction with said whirling motion, to hold separate flames at respective separate said vanes, thus producing a visible blue whirling flame pattern, said combustion chamber having an inner surface for confining and guiding burning mixture and efficient delivery, for then doing work, of hot gas through said combustion chamber outlet, and said combustion chamber outlet being open.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The burner of claim 1 in which said inner surface is cylindrical adjacent said flameholder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The burner of claim 2 in which said inner surface is cylindrical from said flameholder to said combustion chamber outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The burner of claim 3 in which said inner surface has the same diameter as the downstream end inner surface of said enclosure means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The burner of claim 1 in which said combustion chamber is defined by a thin metal wall, and said whirling prevents said wall's becoming hot therethrough adjacent said flameholder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The burner of claim 5 in which said angle is less than 60°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The burner of claim 6 in which said angle is 45°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
9 words
The burner of claim 2 which is a torch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The burner of claim 8 in which said mixing chamber includes a jet ejector pump with air inlet ports.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The burner of claim 9 in which said jet ejector pump includes a diffuser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The burner of claim 1 in which said combustion chamber is of length for accommodation therein of full combustion of said mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The burner of claim 9 in which said torch is portable and in which said mixing chamber is adapted for mixing pressurized combustible gas and ambient air.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The burner of claim 12 in which said combustion chamber is enclosed by a thin metal wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The burner of claim 1 in which the ratio of total vane cross-sectional area to total passage cross-sectional area in said flameholder is in the range from 1:3 to 3:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The burner of claim 14 in which said range is from 1:3 to 1:1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The burner of claim 15 in which said ratio is 1:1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The burner of claim 14 in which the pressure drop owing to said whirling motion is equal to the pressure drop owing to said eddying.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
121 words
The method of heating a workpiece efficiently which comprises mixing a combustible material and a combustion-supporting gas material to produce a combustible mixture, giving the said mixture a rotating movement by advancing it against vanes positioned at an angle to the net direction of movement, producing localized eddying at downstream ends of said vanes by bluff body effects caused by end means of said vanes, burning said mixture in a combustion chamber downstream of said vanes, and discharging said hot mixture from an open end of said combustion chamber against said workpiece, said eddying being sufficient, in conjunction with said rotating movement, to hold a separate flame at each of said vanes, thereby to produce a characteristic blue whirling flame pattern.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
121 words
The method of heating a workpiece efficiently which comprises mixing a combustible material and a combustion-supporting gas material to produce a combustible mixture, giving the said mixture a rotating movement by advancing it against vanes positioned at an angle to the net direction of movement, producing localized eddying at downstream ends of said vanes by bluff body effects caused by end means of said vanes, burning said mixture in a combustion chamber downstream of said vanes, and discharging said hot mixture from an open end of said combustion chamber against said workpiece, said eddying being sufficient, in conjunction with said rotating movement, to hold a separate flame at each of said vanes, thereby to produce a characteristic blue whirling flame pattern.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 18 in which said vanes are at an angle of less than 60° to said net direction of movement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18 in which the ratio of total cross-sectional said vane area to total cross-sectional said passage area is 1:3 to 1:1.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 in which combustion of said mixture is completed just as it emerges from said combustion chamber outlet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The burner of claim 2 in which said inner surface is imperforate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The burner of claim 2 in which said vanes are imperforate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The burner of claim 23 in which the inner surface portions of said enclosure means lie in the same imaginary cylindrical area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The burner of claim 2 in which each of said passages is of the same cross-section throughout its length in the direction of flow.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The burner of claim 14 in which the outside diameter of said hub is less than half the inside diameter of said enclosure means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
178 words
The burner of claim 4 in which said inner surface is imperforate and has the same diameter as the downstream end inner surface of said enclosure means, said combustion chamber being defined by a thin metal wall and of length for accommodation therein of full combustion of said mixture, said angle is 45°, said whirling prevents said wall's becoming hot therethrough adjacent said flameholder, the ratio of total vane cross-sectional area to total passage cross-sectional area being in the range from 1:3 to 3:1, each of said passages being of the same cross-section throughout its length in the direction of flow and said vanes being imperforate, the pressure drop owing to said whirling motion being equal to the pressure drop owing to said eddying, the inner surface portions of said enclosure means lying in the same imaginary cylindrical area, and in which said burner is a torch including also a jet ejector pump and a diffuser in said mixing chamber, said mixing chamber being adapted to mix pressurized combustible gas and ambient air, and said torch being portable.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-21 | 1980-09-20 | 1981-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-21 | 1984-09-20 | 1985-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-21 | 1988-09-20 | 1989-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |