Split stream burner assembly

Claim 1

A burner assembly comprising an inner tubular member, and outer tubular member extending around said inner tubular member in a coaxial relation thereto to define an annular passage, a conical divider member extending between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member for defining an inner annular passage and an outer annular passage each having an inlet and an outlet, means for introducing a mixture of air and particulate fuel into said annular passage in a tangential direction relative to said annular passage so that a majority of the fuel enters said outer annular passage by centrifugal forces, means for forming a plurality of angularly-spaced, discrete passages in said outer annular passage, each of said discrete passages having an inlet for receiving said mixture and an outlet for discharging said mixture, the cross-sectional area of each of said discrete passages gradually decreasing from its inlet to its outlet so that, upon discharging from said outlets of said discrete passages, said mixture forms discrete flame patterns upon ignition, and a plurality of ribs formed on the inner surface of said conical divider member for concentrating the fuel particles in said inner annular passage so that, upon discharge from said outlet said inner annular passage, said mixture forms an additional flame pattern upon ignition.