Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
374 words
A liquid fuel burner comprising: a flame tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, an atomizing chamber communicating with said inlet end of said flame tube and enclosing fuel atomizing means for discharging atomized fuel into said flame tube through openings in a dividing wall separating said flame tube from said atomizing chamber, said atomizing means comprising a plurality of hollow plenum chambers each having a smooth outer surface and each defining therein a small through aperture, a means for producing a flow of fuel in a thin film over each said through aperture and a means for introducing air under pressure into each said plenum chamber to rupture said film at said aperture, means for supporting said plenum chambers in said atomizing chamber in a manner to cause the plurality of directional streams of atomized fuel issuing therefrom to be directed through respective ones of said openings in said dividing wall into said flame tube in directions extending toward and along the central axis of said flame tube for combustion of substantially all said atomized fuel within said flame tube, means for introducing air into said atomizing chamber to thereby cause low velocity air to issue through said openings in said dividing wall along with said streams of atomized fuel and said pressurized air issuing from each said plenum chamber, means for igniting the atomized fuel in said flame tube downstream of its said inlet end, first means for introducing air into said flame tube adjacent its inlet end with a tangential component to produce in said flame tube a single tangential vortex to promote the admixing of air with the atomized fuel and to maintain the flame spaced from the flame tube's inner surface adjacent its inlet end, and second means for introducing air into said flame tube at at least one location downstream of the location of air introduction by said first means and downstream of the point of ignition of the fuel-air mixture by said ignition means with a velocity and direction to impede the tangential vortex generated by said first means so as to permit the flame to expand to the flame tube wall and to permit substantially complete combustion within the confines of the flame tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
374 words
A liquid fuel burner comprising: a flame tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, an atomizing chamber communicating with said inlet end of said flame tube and enclosing fuel atomizing means for discharging atomized fuel into said flame tube through openings in a dividing wall separating said flame tube from said atomizing chamber, said atomizing means comprising a plurality of hollow plenum chambers each having a smooth outer surface and each defining therein a small through aperture, a means for producing a flow of fuel in a thin film over each said through aperture and a means for introducing air under pressure into each said plenum chamber to rupture said film at said aperture, means for supporting said plenum chambers in said atomizing chamber in a manner to cause the plurality of directional streams of atomized fuel issuing therefrom to be directed through respective ones of said openings in said dividing wall into said flame tube in directions extending toward and along the central axis of said flame tube for combustion of substantially all said atomized fuel within said flame tube, means for introducing air into said atomizing chamber to thereby cause low velocity air to issue through said openings in said dividing wall along with said streams of atomized fuel and said pressurized air issuing from each said plenum chamber, means for igniting the atomized fuel in said flame tube downstream of its said inlet end, first means for introducing air into said flame tube adjacent its inlet end with a tangential component to produce in said flame tube a single tangential vortex to promote the admixing of air with the atomized fuel and to maintain the flame spaced from the flame tube's inner surface adjacent its inlet end, and second means for introducing air into said flame tube at at least one location downstream of the location of air introduction by said first means and downstream of the point of ignition of the fuel-air mixture by said ignition means with a velocity and direction to impede the tangential vortex generated by said first means so as to permit the flame to expand to the flame tube wall and to permit substantially complete combustion within the confines of the flame tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The burner of claim 1 in which a foraminous radiation shield is supported adjacent to but spaced from the side of said dividing wall facing said flame tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The burner of claim 2 which further includes a spray discharge cone for each said plenum chamber, each said spray discharge cone being truncated with its larger end adjacent the through aperture of the respective plenum chamber and extending through said respective opening in said dividing wall and said radiation shield.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The burner of claim 2 in which both said shield and said dividing wall define a central aperture for producing a flow of air from a source of pressurized air along the central axis of said flame tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The burner of claim 4 which further includes a central tube extending from said air source through said apertures in said dividing wall and shield and into said inlet end of said flame tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The burner of claim 1 in which said first means comprises a plurality of louvers formed in said flame tube wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The burner of claims 1 or 6 in which said second means comprises a plurality of apertures in said flame tube disposed substantially at the mid-length thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The burner of claims 1 or 6 in which said second means comprises a plurality of apertures in said flame tube substantially at its outlet end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The burner of claims 1 or 2 in which said second means comprises a first plurality of apertures in said flame tube substantially at the mid-length thereof and a second plurality of apertures in said flame tube substantially at its said outlet end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The burner of claim 1 which further includes means for pressurizing said atomizing chamber with a pressure above atmospheric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The burner of claim 1 which further includes air channel means for conveying air via said first and second means to the interior of said flame tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The burner of claim 11 in which said air channel means includes a tube of larger diameter than, and surrounding, said flame tube to define an annular channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
241 words
A liquid fuel burner comprising: a flame tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, an atomizing chamber communicating with said inlet end of said flame tube and enclosing fuel atomizing means for discharging atomized fuel into said flame tube through openings in a dividing wall separating said flame tube from said atomizing chamber, said atomizing means comprising a plurality of hollow plenum chambers each having a smooth outer surface and each defining therein a small through aperture, means for producing a flow of fuel in a thin film over each said through aperture and a means for introducing air under pressure into each said plenum chamber to rupture said film at said aperture, means for supporting said plenum chambers in said atomizing chamber in a manner to cause the plurality of directional streams of atomized fuel issuing therefrom to be directed through respective ones of said openings in said dividing wall into said flame tube in directions extending toward and along the central axis of said flame tube, means for pressurizing said atomizing chamber with above atmospheric pressure to thereby cause low velocity air to issue through said openings in said dividing wall along with said streams of atomized fuel, means for igniting the atomized fuel in said flame tube downstream of its said inlet end, and means for introducing air into said flame tube at at least one location along its length for admixing with the atomized fuel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
241 words
A liquid fuel burner comprising: a flame tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, an atomizing chamber communicating with said inlet end of said flame tube and enclosing fuel atomizing means for discharging atomized fuel into said flame tube through openings in a dividing wall separating said flame tube from said atomizing chamber, said atomizing means comprising a plurality of hollow plenum chambers each having a smooth outer surface and each defining therein a small through aperture, means for producing a flow of fuel in a thin film over each said through aperture and a means for introducing air under pressure into each said plenum chamber to rupture said film at said aperture, means for supporting said plenum chambers in said atomizing chamber in a manner to cause the plurality of directional streams of atomized fuel issuing therefrom to be directed through respective ones of said openings in said dividing wall into said flame tube in directions extending toward and along the central axis of said flame tube, means for pressurizing said atomizing chamber with above atmospheric pressure to thereby cause low velocity air to issue through said openings in said dividing wall along with said streams of atomized fuel, means for igniting the atomized fuel in said flame tube downstream of its said inlet end, and means for introducing air into said flame tube at at least one location along its length for admixing with the atomized fuel.