Acoustically Variable Burner System
An acoustically variable burner system is provided, having a burner wherein the flow of gas thereto, and consequently the flame pattern resulting from the ignition of the gas, is variable by transmission of acoustic waves therethrough via an acoustically-based control system. The preferred burner design produces a realistic, wood-burning type flame pattern. An acoustic controller, such as an APPLE® iPod®, MP3 player, computer, etc., may be utilized to drive/control electroacoustic transducers positioned adjacent the burner, the sound waves of which are produced thereby varying the flow rate of gas to the burner gas ports, thereby varying the flame height in direct correspondence with the audio signal. Further, the flame color may be altered by introduction of flame color variant compositions exposed to the flame via a flame color variation device removably positioned adjacent the burner. The system is preferably controlled via a specialized computer program running on the acoustic controller, which enables choice of flame patterns, duration, audible audio to accompany the flame display, etc.
An acoustically variable burner system is provided, having a burner wherein the flow of gas thereto is variable by production of acoustic waves therethrough via an acoustically-based control system. Specifically, an acoustic controller, such as an APPLE® iPod®, may be utilized to drive transducers, the sound waves of which vary the flow rate of gas to the burner, thereby varying the flame height, etc.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTHistorically, variation and control of gas flow to burners has been undertaken to control the amount of heat produced by the burner, as well as attempt to create a realistic (i.e., wood-burning) flame pattern. Conventionally, to achieve same, gas burners have comprised valve mechanisms for the control of gas flow thereto. Such valve mechanisms have varied in design tremendously, ranging from basic manual control to electromechanical control systems.
In addition to mechanical and electromechanical valve systems for control of gas flow, systems have been developed for control of the gas flow/flame produced by the burner using acoustic means. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,045 (hereinafter '045), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses a gas burner system for producing dynamic flame patterns. As shown in
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an acoustically variable burner system capable of dynamic acoustic control.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an acoustically variable burner system capable of producing acoustically variable flames in a realistic wood-burning flame pattern.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn order to achieve the objects of the present invention, the present inventor earnestly endeavored to develop an acoustically variable burner system capable of flame control via an audio source, such as an iPod®, MP3 player, stereo, etc., so as to produce a flame that is dynamically responsive to the audio/acoustic output of the audio source. Further, the present invention endeavored to develop such a burner system which is also capable of producing a realistic (wood-burning) flame pattern. As a result, in a first embodiment of the present invention, an acoustically variable burner system is provided comprising:
(a) a burner comprising:
-
- (i) a central gas chamber; and
- (ii) two or more burner tubes, each burner tube having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer circumference, an interior area defined by the outer circumference, and two or more gas ports disposed through the outer circumference, the first end of each burner tube being in communication with the central gas chamber so as to be operable to receive gas flow therefrom;
(b) one or more electroacoustic transducers in acoustic communication with the two or more burners, so as to be operable to transmit acoustic sound waves into the interior area of the burner tubes, thereby creating pressure waves within the burner tubes; and
(c) a controller interface in electrical communication with the one or more electroacoustic transducers, said controller interface operable to interface with an acoustic controller so as to receive information therefrom and transmit same to the electroacoustic transducers.
The burner mentioned above may preferably comprise three or more burner tubes, each burner tube being non-linear, preferably semi-circular, in shape from the first end to the second end thereof. In a most preferred embodiment, the burner is comprised of four burner tubes.
In a further preferred embodiment of the first embodiment shown above, the acoustically variable burner system comprises one or more flame color variation devices, capable of varying the color of the flame. This flame color variation device is comprised of a retainer module having a plurality of perforations disposed therein; and one or more flame color variant compositions disposed within the retain module. Flame color variant compositions, such as strontium salt, calcium chloride, sodium nitrate, barium salts, copper sulfate, copper chloride, potassium permanganate and magnesium sulfate, are preferably utilized therein
In another preferred embodiment based on the first embodiment above, the acoustically variable burner system also comprises one or more radio frequency (RF) filters in communication with one or more of the electroacoustic transducers, thereby enabling filtering of the acoustic waves entering the burner tube.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, an acoustically variable burner system is provided comprising:
(a) two or more burners, each burner comprising:
-
- (i) a central gas chamber; and
- (ii) one or more burner tubes, each burner tube having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer circumference, an interior area defined by the outer circumference, and two or more gas ports disposed through the outer circumference, the burners tube being in communication with the central gas chamber so as to be operable to receive gas flow therefrom;
(b) one or more electroacoustic transducers in acoustic communication with each of the two or more burners, so as to be operable to transmit acoustic sound waves into the interior area of the burner tubes, thereby creating pressure waves therein;
(c) a radio frequency (RF) filters in communication with one or more of the electroacoustic transducers;
(d) one or more controller interfaces in electrical communication with the one or more radio frequency (RF) filters, each of said controller interfaces operable to interface with an acoustic controller means so as to receive electroacoustic information therefrom and transmit same to the electroacoustic transducers via the RF filters.
In both the first and second embodiments of the present invention, as shown above, the acoustically variable burner system may further comprise an acoustic controller means in electrical communication with the controller interface. This acoustic controller means may be one or more of a computer, stereo, portable electronic device (iPod®, MP3 player, etc.), signal generator, and digital audio player.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:
As illustrated in
The electroacoustic transducers 19 may be disposed adjacent the second ends 11 of the burner tubes 7, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As shown in
As shown in
In a further embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in
In particular, the flame color variant composition 33 may be any chemical composition capable of altering the color of a flame when exposed thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the flame color variant composition 33 is one or more of a strontium salt (creates a red flame), calcium chloride (creates an orange flame), sodium nitrate (creates a yellow flame), barium salts (creates a green flame), copper sulfate (creates a turquoise flame), copper chloride (creates a blue flame), potassium permanganate (creates a purple flame) and magnesium sulfate (creates a white flame). Alternative compositions capable of varying the color of flames may be disposed in place of, or in combination with, the above-identified compositions.
Preferably, the flame color variation device 27 is removable and replaceable, such that when the flame color variant composition therein is expended, the retainer module 29 may be refilled with fresh composition 33. Alternatively, the retainer module 34 may be prefilled and disposable, such that new modules 34 may be placed adjacent the burner 3 at will. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in
Additionally, the flame color variation device 27 may be utilized with any burner system, so as to color the flame thereof. In particular, the retainer module supports 30 and handle 34 may be tailored to interact with/mount on any conventional burner device. As long as the retainer module 34 is disposed adjacent a flame, the flame color variation device 27 is operable to color the flame, thereby providing decorative enhancement of the flame.
In a further preferred embodiment, the system further comprises a computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for execution on/by the acoustic controller, wherein the computer program product is comprised of data operable to enable creation of a distinctive acoustic/audio signal which, when transmitted by the electroacoustic transducers 19, creates a predefined flame pattern.
For example, the computer program product (software application) is operable to: display list of flame pattern, and one or more of execution time (duration), frequency, and audio accompaniment options; enable input of desired flame pattern, and one or more of execution time, frequency, and audio accompaniment query a database of gas flow rate, acoustic frequency and amplitude corresponding to desired flame pattern; compile a user command comprising gas flow rate, acoustic frequency and amplitude, and one or more of execution time, frequency and audio accompaniment; and execute user command.
The computer readable medium 41 may be, for example, a hard drive external to and in communication with the acoustic controller 37. Alternatively, the computer readable medium 41 may be integrated into the acoustic controller 37, as illustrated in
Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed herein, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention is not to be restricted to the specific embodiments. Furthermore, it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention
LIST OF DRAWING ELEMENTS
- 1: acoustically variable burner system
- 3: burner
- 5: central gas chamber
- 7: burner tube
- 9: first end of burner tube
- 11: second end of burner tube
- 13: outer circumference of burner tube
- 15: interior area of burner tube
- 17: gas port
- 19: electroacoustic transducer (speaker)
- 21: controller interface
- 23: sound wave deflection means
- 25: deflection faces
- 27: flame color variation device
- 29: retainer module
- 31: retainer module perforations
- 33: flame color variant composition
- 34: flame color variation device handle
- 35: radio frequency (RF) filter
- 37: acoustic controller
- 39: flame color variation device support
Claims
1. An acoustically variable burner system comprising:
- (a) a burner comprising: (i) a central gas chamber; and (ii) two or more burner tubes, each burner tube having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer circumference, an interior area defined by the outer circumference, and two or more gas ports disposed through the outer circumference, the first end of each burner tube being in communication with the central gas chamber so as to be operable to receive gas flow therefrom;
- (b) one or more electroacoustic transducers in acoustic communication with the two or more burners, so as to be operable to transmit acoustic sound waves into the interior area of the burner tubes, thereby creating pressure waves within the burner tubes; and
- (c) a controller interface in electrical communication with the one or more electroacoustic transducers, said controller interface operable to interface with an acoustic controller so as to receive information therefrom and transmit same to the electroacoustic transducers.
2. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 1, wherein the burner comprises three or more burner tubes, each burner tube being non-linear in shape from the first end to the second end thereof.
3. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 2, wherein each burner tube is semi-circular in shape.
4. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 2, wherein the burner comprises four burner tubes, each burner tube being semi-circular in shape.
5. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 1, wherein a distance between each gas port formed in each burner tube decreases from the first end to the second end of the burner tube.
6. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 1, wherein an electroacoustic transducer is disposed within or adjacent to the second end of each burner tube, thereby operable to transmit sound waves into each burner tube.
7. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 1, wherein an electroacoustic transducer is disposed within or adjacent to the central gas chamber, thereby operable to transmit sound waves into the central gas chamber.
8. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 7, further comprising a sound wave deflection means disposed within the central gas chamber, said sound wave deflection means having two or more deflection faces operable to deflect sound waves into the burner tubes.
9. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 1, further comprising an acoustic controller in electrical communication with the controller interface.
10. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 9, wherein the acoustic controller is comprised of one or more of a computer, stereo, portable electronic device, signal generator, and digital audio player.
11. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 1, further comprising one or more flame color variation devices, each flame color variation device comprised of:
- (i) a retainer module having a plurality of perforations disposed therein; and
- (ii) one or more flame color variant compositions disposed within the retain module,
- wherein the flame color variation device is disposed adjacent one or more gas ports of the burner tubes, so as to be operable to expose the color variant compositions to flames emitted from the burner tubes during operation of the system, thereby altering the color of produced flames.
12. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 11, wherein the flame color variant compositions are one or more selected from the group consisting of a strontium salt, calcium chloride, sodium nitrate, barium salts, copper sulfate, copper chloride, potassium permanganate and magnesium sulfate.
13. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 11, wherein the retainer module is removably attached to the burner.
14. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 1, further comprising one or more radio frequency (RF) filters in communication with one or more of the electroacoustic transducers.
15. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 14, wherein the radio frequency (RF) filters are one or more selected from the group consisting of high pass filters, low pass filters, band pass filters and band reject filters.
16. An acoustically variable burner system comprising:
- (a) two or more burners, each burner comprising: (i) a central gas chamber; and (ii) one or more burner tubes, each burner tube having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer circumference, an interior area defined by the outer circumference, and two or more gas ports disposed through the outer circumference, the burners tube being in communication with the central gas chamber so as to be operable to receive gas flow therefrom;
- (b) one or more electroacoustic transducers in acoustic communication with each of the two or more burners, so as to be operable to transmit acoustic sound waves into the interior area of the burner tubes, thereby creating pressure waves therein;
- (c) a radio frequency (RF) filters in communication with one or more of the electroacoustic transducers;
- (d) one or more controller interfaces in electrical communication with the one or more radio frequency (RF) filters, each of said controller interfaces operable to interface with an acoustic controller means so as to receive electroacoustic information therefrom and transmit same to the electroacoustic transducers via the RF filters.
17. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 16, wherein an electroacoustic transducer is disposed within or adjacent to one or more ends of each burner tube, thereby operable to transmit sound waves into each burner tube.
18. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 16, wherein an electroacoustic transducer is disposed within or adjacent to the central gas chamber, thereby operable to transmit sound waves into the central gas chamber.
19. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 18, further comprising a sound wave deflection means disposed within the central gas chamber, said sound wave deflection means having two or more deflection faces operable to deflect sound waves into the burner tubes.
20. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 16, further comprising an acoustic controller means in electrical communication with the controller interface.
21. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 16, wherein the acoustic controller means is comprised of one or more of a computer, stereo, portable electronic device, signal generator, and digital audio player.
22. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 16, wherein the radio frequency (RF) filters are one or more selected from the group consisting of high pass filters, low pass filters, band pass filters and band reject filters.
23. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 16, further comprising one or more flame color variation devices comprised of:
- (i) a retainer module having a plurality of perforations disposed therein; and
- (ii) one or more flame color variant compositions disposed within the retain module,
- wherein the flame color variation device is disposed adjacent one or more gas ports of the burner tubes, so as to expose the color variant compositions to flames emitted from the burner tubes.
24. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 23, wherein the flame color variant compositions are one or more selected from the group consisting of a strontium salt, calcium chloride, sodium nitrate, barium salts, copper sulfate, copper chloride, potassium permanganate and magnesium sulfate.
25. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 23, wherein the retainer module is removably attached to one or more of the burners.
26. The acoustically variable burner system of claim 1, further comprising a computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for execution on/by the acoustic controller comprising:
- (a) application program code operable to display list of flame pattern, and one or more of execution time (duration), frequency, and audio accompaniment options;
- (b) application program code operable to enable input of desired flame pattern, and one or more of execution time, frequency, and audio accompaniment;
- (c) application program code operable to query a database of gas flow rate, acoustic frequency and amplitude corresponding to desired flame pattern;
- (d) application program code operable to compile a user command comprising gas flow rate, acoustic frequency and amplitude, and one or more of execution time, frequency and audio accompaniment; and
- (e) application program code operable to execute user command.
27. A flame color variation device comprised of:
- (i) a retainer module having a plurality of perforations disposed therein; and
- (ii) one or more flame color variant compositions disposed within the retain module,
- wherein the flame color variant compositions, when exposed to a flame, alter the color of the flames.
28. The flame color variation device of claim 27, wherein the flame color variant compositions are one or more selected from the group consisting of a strontium salt, calcium chloride, sodium nitrate, barium salts, copper sulfate, copper chloride, potassium permanganate and magnesium sulfate.
Type: Application
Filed: May 25, 2010
Publication Date: Dec 1, 2011
Inventors: Darvil Benjamin McBride (Hesperia, CA), Darvil Anthone McBride (Hesperia, CA)
Application Number: 12/786,793
International Classification: F23Q 2/32 (20060101); F23Q 7/10 (20060101);