Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A low NOx burner comprising means defining a combustion zone, means to distribute fuel in fluid form into said combustion zone to be burned in said combustion zone, a central tube having an open end at said combustion zone, means defining an annular channel around said central tube, and having an open end at said combustion zone, means to cause air to flow axially through said central tube and through said annular channel with no angular flow component and with the velocity of flow in said annular channel being substantially greater than the velocity of flow in said central tube to generate axial recirculation in said combustion zone with no angular flow component, said central tube containing no obstructions affecting axial flow through said central tube and causing turbulence in said combustion zone, said annular channel containing no obstruction affecting axial flow through said annular channel and causing turbulence in said combustion zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A low NOx burner comprising means defining a combustion zone, means to distribute fuel in fluid form into said combustion zone to be burned in said combustion zone, a central tube having an open end at said combustion zone, means defining an annular channel around said central tube, and having an open end at said combustion zone, means to cause air to flow axially through said central tube and through said annular channel with no angular flow component and with the velocity of flow in said annular channel being substantially greater than the velocity of flow in said central tube to generate axial recirculation in said combustion zone with no angular flow component, said central tube containing no obstructions affecting axial flow through said central tube and causing turbulence in said combustion zone, said annular channel containing no obstruction affecting axial flow through said annular channel and causing turbulence in said combustion zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A low NOx burner as recited in claim 1, wherein said means to distribute fuel to said combustion zone comprises a fuel oil nozzle and means to supply fuel oil under pressure to said nozzle, said nozzle comprising means to spray said fuel oil into said combustion zone at an angle relative to the axis of said central tube distributed concentrically with respect to said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A low NOx burner as recited in claim 2, wherein said angle is between 30 and 45 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
A low NOx burner comprising means defining a combustion zone, means to distribute fuel in fluid form into said combustion zone to be burned in said combustion zone, a central tube having an open end at said combustion zone, means defining an annular channel around said central tube, and having an open ed at said combustion zone, means to cause air to flow axially through said central tube and through said annular channel with no angular flow component and with the velocity of flow in said annular channel being substantially greater than the velocity of flow in said central tube to generate axial recirculation in said combustion zone with no angular flow component, wherein said means to distribute fuel to said combustion zone comprises means to distribute fuel gas to said combustion zone from a circular locus surrounding the axis of said tube from within said central tube and arranged to direct said gas outwardly at an angle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
A low NOx burner comprising means defining a combustion zone, means to distribute fuel in fluid form into said combustion zone to be burned in said combustion zone, a central tube having an open end at said combustion zone, means defining an annular channel around said central tube, and having an open ed at said combustion zone, means to cause air to flow axially through said central tube and through said annular channel with no angular flow component and with the velocity of flow in said annular channel being substantially greater than the velocity of flow in said central tube to generate axial recirculation in said combustion zone with no angular flow component, wherein said means to distribute fuel to said combustion zone comprises means to distribute fuel gas to said combustion zone from a circular locus surrounding the axis of said tube from within said central tube and arranged to direct said gas outwardly at an angle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A low NOx burner as recited in claim 4, wherein said angle is between 15-30 degrees with respect to the axis of said burner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A low NOx burner as recited in claim 4, wherein said means to distribute fuel to said combustion zone further comprises a fuel oil nozzle and means to supply fuel oil under pressure to said nozzle, said nozzle comprising means to spray said fuel oil into said combustion zone at an angle relative to the axis of said central tube distributed concentrically with respect to said axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A low NOx burner as recited in claim 1, wherein said annular channel has an open proximal end and wherein said means to cause air to flow axially through said central tube and said annular channel comprises a windbox surrounding said tube and the proximal end of said annular channel and further comprises openings defined in said central tube to meter air flow from said windbox into said central tube, said windbox comprising means to provide uniform pressure distribution around the proximal end of said annular channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A low NOx burner as recited in claim 7, wherein said annular channel is defined between said central tube and an outer tube surrounding said central tube and coaxial therewith, said outer tube having an outwardly flared proximal end to receive air flow from said windbox.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A low NOx burner as recited in claim 7, wherein radial vanes are mounted in said annular channel to promote axial flow in said channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A low NOx burner as recited in claim 9, wherein said vanes divide said annular channel into arcuate segments and wherein said means to cause air to flow through said arcuate segments causes the air to flow with equal velocity through each of said arcuate segments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A low NOx burner as recited in claim 1, wherein the area of the open end of said central tube is 50-60 percent of the area of the open end of said annular channel and said central tube combined and wherein said means to cause air flow causes 10-20 percent of the total air flow to said combustion zone to flow through said central tube.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of burning fuel in a low NOx burner, wherein said burner comprises a central tube and an annular channel surrounding said central tube, said central tube and said annular channel having open discharge ends opening to a combustion zone, comprising the steps of causing air to flow through said central tube and through said annular channel through said open discharge ends into said combustion zone in parallel axial streams with no radial or angular components within said central tube and said annular channel adjacent to said combustion zone with the relative velocity of the stream flowing through said annular channel being sufficiently greater than the stream flowing through said central tube to cause axial recirculation in said combustion zone, and burning fuel in said combustion zone where said axial recirculation occurs.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of burning fuel in a low NOx burner, wherein said burner comprises a central tube and an annular channel surrounding said central tube, said central tube and said annular channel having open discharge ends opening to a combustion zone, comprising the steps of causing air to flow through said central tube and through said annular channel through said open discharge ends into said combustion zone in parallel axial streams with no radial or angular components within said central tube and said annular channel adjacent to said combustion zone with the relative velocity of the stream flowing through said annular channel being sufficiently greater than the stream flowing through said central tube to cause axial recirculation in said combustion zone, and burning fuel in said combustion zone where said axial recirculation occurs.