Abstract: A fluid heating apparatus for use in water heaters, boilers, cooking applications or the like comprising a body. The fluid heating apparatus also comprises a primary heat exchanger arranged within the body and a secondary heat exchanger arranged adjacent to the primary heat exchanger within the body. The apparatus also comprises a burner arranged within the primary heat exchanger. The primary heat exchanger comprises a plurality of concentric doughnut shaped plates arranged over the burner. A blocking plate is arranged adjacent to one of the concentric plates of the primary heat exchanger. The secondary heat exchanger comprises a plurality of concentric doughnut shaped plates arranged adjacent to the blocking plate on a side opposite of the plates of the primary heat exchanger. The apparatus further comprises a manifold in fluid communication with the plurality of concentric plates and blocking plates of both the secondary heat exchanger and primary heat exchanger.

Abstract: A gas burner for use in water heaters, boilers, cooking appliances or the like uses a ceramic cylindrical body to increase conductivity of the gas burner. The gas burner comprises a solid ceramic perforated tube and a flange arranged on one end of the tube. The burner assembly also compromises a cap arranged on the opposite end of the tube from that of the flange, wherein the tube has turn down characteristics of approximately 30 to 1. The tube is manufactured by molding a non-perforated shell within a die assembly. The non-perforated shell is then dried to a predetermined moisture content and machined with a plurality of orifices into the shell to create the burner tube for a ceramic burner assembly.

Abstract: A fluid heating apparatus for use in water heaters, boilers, cooking applications or the like comprising a body. The fluid heating apparatus also comprises a primary heat exchanger arranged within the body and a secondary heat exchanger arranged adjacent to the primary heat exchanger within the body. The apparatus also comprises a burner arranged within the primary heat exchanger. The primary heat exchanger comprises a plurality of concentric doughnut shaped plates arranged over the burner. A blocking plate is arranged adjacent to one of the concentric plates of the primary heat exchanger. The secondary heat exchanger comprises a plurality of concentric doughnut shaped plates arranged adjacent to the blocking plate on a side opposite of the plates of the primary heat exchanger. The apparatus further comprises a manifold in fluid communication with the plurality of concentric plates and blocking plates of both the secondary heat exchanger and primary heat exchanger.

Abstract: A radiant heater including a burner having an inlet for receiving an air and gas mixture and an exhaust for emitting exhaust gases generated by combustion of the air and gas mixture within the burner, an elongated radiant heating tube having an inlet for receiving the exhaust gases emitted by the burner, a gas flow control assembly for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, and a blower for controlling the flow of air to the burner. The blower comprises a two-stage blower including a motor having a low winding corresponding to a low blower speed and a high winding corresponding to a high blower speed. The gas flow control assembly comprises a two-stage regulator or two-stage valve having a low setting for delivering a low gas flow to the burner and a high setting for delivering a high gas flow to the burner.

Abstract: A radiant heater including a burner having an inlet for receiving an air and gas mixture and an exhaust for emitting exhaust gases generated by combustion of the air and gas mixture within the burner, an elongated radiant heating tube having an inlet for receiving the exhaust gases emitted by the burner, a gas flow control assembly for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, and a blower for controlling the flow of air to the burner. The blower comprises a two-stage blower including a motor having a low winding corresponding to a low blower speed and a high winding corresponding to a high blower speed. The gas flow control assembly comprises a two-stage regulator or two stage two-stage valve having a low setting for delivering a low gas flow to the burner and a high setting for delivering a high gas flow to the burner.

Abstract: A radiant heating system including at least one gas burner and at least one conduit connected to the at least one burner on one end and connected to at least one exhaust tube at an opposite end for transporting hot exhaust gas. Heat is transferred via conduction to an external surface of the conduit. The heat is then radiated omnidirectionaly from the external surface of the conduit as infrared rays. A fan directs a stream of air across the external surface of the conduit to cool the conduit allowing the at least one burner to operate continuously for longer periods of time.

Abstract: A radiant heating system having a housing for holding a plurality of gas burners with a ceramic burner element that emits infrared rays after becoming hot. A controller is used for selectively controlling at least one valve to restrict the gas flow to the individual burners. A method is shown for radiating heat from a gas burner in response to a thermostat by controlling the gas flow to individual burners with electronic valves located in a gas supply line and selectively shutting off the gas flow to each burner.

Abstract: A radiant heating system including at least one gas burner and at least one conduit connected to the at least one burner on one end and connected to at least one exhaust tube at an opposite end for transporting hot exhaust gas. Heat is transferred via conduction to an external surface of the conduit. The heat is then radiated omnidirectionaly from the external surface of the conduit as infrared rays. A fan directs a stream of air across the external surface of the conduit to cool the conduit allowing the at least one burner to operate continuously for longer periods of time.

Abstract: A gas-fired infra-red burner has a dome-shaped wire mesh burner screen bulging out of the plane of the burner opening away from a plenum. This bulge or dome effect allows the screen to undergo controlled thermal expansion without any rippling, waviness or other undesirable deformation of the screen. A metal blocking plate is secured to the center of the screen and blocks the flow of gas therethrough to create a non-radiating zone at the center of the burner, thus providing even heating over the surface of the food being cooked. A plurality of creases radiate from the approximate center of the plate in a star-shaped pattern, and the plate is bent about several of the creases to give it a concave surface which contacts the screen. When heated, the creases grow in height so that the overall horizontal dimensions of the plate do not increase as much as would a flat plate.

Abstract: A fuel enriched ignitor for a fuel gas burner appliance wherein a fuel enricher tube is provided with a coupling having a threaded insert which, by way of a metering orifice, matches the enricher tube to the particular fuel gas being used. By both two-element and three-element ignitors are disclosed. The ignitor is also illustrated in a gas supply system having a single main valve which serves both the enricher tube and the primary appliance burner.

Abstract: A deep fat fryer includes three horizontally aligned heat tubes surrounded by cooking oil in a cooking vessel. An infrared type combustion burner is in each of the two outer tubes and combustion products therefrom are directed along separate paths back and forth through the center tube. The center tube includes a divider, having a zig-zag metal baffle mounted on each side, that forms an upper and lower passage in the tube. A blower forces air to the burners and combustion products from the outer tubes flow over the baffles in the passages of the center tube and out a flue via a divided, insulated plenum.

Abstract: A compact gas-fired radiant space heater is adapted for residential use, having an output in the 20k BTU to 40k BTU/hr range and exterior dimensions small enough to allow it to be installed in a standard two foot by four foot suspended ceiling opening. A radiator tube having a total length of approximately 15 feet is bent into a serpentine shape, and combustion control components are housed within a plenum chamber supplying combustion air to the tube, both the tube and the chamber being encircled by a frame that fits within the two foot by four foot opening. The combustion control components are attached to a chassis plate whereby the components are removable from the plenum chamber as a unit to enhance serviceability of the heater. A burner venturi of novel configuration produces a flame that is less than four feet long yet which is relatively quiet.

Abstract: A fuel enriched ignitor for a fuel gas burner appliance wherein a fuel enricher tube is provided with a coupling having a threaded insert which, by way of a metering orifice, matches the enricher tube to the particular fuel gas being used. By both two-element and three-element ignitors are disclosed. The ignitor is also illustrated in a gas supply system having a single main valve which serves both the enricher tube and the primary appliance burner.

Abstract: An infrared heater for a fluid immersion apparatus such as a commercial deep fat fryer includes a burner whose burner element is made from woven ceramic fibers, preferably formed as a cloth. The burner can also include a wire mesh or screen for supporting the cloth; alternatively, the cloth can be made self-supporting through the wrapping or affixing of several cloth layers together. The burner element possesses a predetermined gas permeability adequate to avoid any significant backflash during the use of the burner. The gas permeability is selected to match the flow rate, composition and backpressure of the selected gas, and takes into account the insulative capacity of the fiber weave employed. The resulting burner construction is substantially more durable and resistant to damage during replacement or inspection than are burners having conventional ceramic elements, such as foams, felts, or the like.

Abstract: An infrared heater for fluid immersion apparatus is disclosed and includes a cylindrical ceramic foam radiant gas burner, the burner being made from retriculated ceramic foam having a porosity of about 40 to about 100 pores per linear inch. Also disclosed is a high emissivity coating on the reticulated ceramic foam burner element for substantially decreasing the likelihood of backflashing. In conjunction with the burner element, a cylindrical baffle having unevenly spaced openings distributes the gas mixtures within the burner element to enhance uniform burning.