MULTI-CHANNEL BURNER ASSEMBLY SIMULATANEOSULY ACCEPTING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FUEL-AIR MIXTURES
A burner assembly comprising a burner casing having two or more separate chambers therein, the chambers being divided from each other by one or more walls. The assembly also comprises one or more input conduits each configured to deliver different fuel-air mixtures to at least one of the separated chambers.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/446,939, filed by Joseph A. Benedetti et al. on Feb. 25, 2011, entitled, “IMPROVED LINEAR FIREPLACE WITH BURNER,” commonly assigned with this application and incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis application is directed, in general, to heating apparatuses and, more specifically, to a burner assembly of a heating apparatus, and to a method of manufacturing the burner assembly.
BACKGROUNDFor various fuel-fired heating apparatuses, such as gas or propane fireplaces, it is sometimes desirable to simultaneously produce a flame with mixed characteristic, e.g., a highly visible yellow flame, and, a hot blue flame to cause a viewing insert, e.g., artificial logs or embers, to glow. Traditionally, to achieve this goal, either a compromising fuel-air mixture has to be accepted, or, multiple burner assemblies each with different fuel-air mixtures have to be used, at increased component cost and complication to assemble and adjust. The latter solution also compromised the flame's characteristics because multiple burner elements cannot occupy the same space, and therefore certain regions of the viewing insert can have one or the other types of flames, but not both.
SUMMARYOne embodiment of the present disclosure is a burner assembly for a fireplace. The assembly comprises a burner casing having two or more separate chambers therein, the chambers being divided from each other by one or more walls. The assembly also comprises one or more input conduits each configured to deliver different fuel-air mixtures to at least one of the separated chambers.
Another embodiment is a fuel-fired heating apparatus, comprising a viewing insert located in a heating zone of the apparatus and the above-described burner assembly located under the viewing insert.
Another embodiment is method of manufacturing a burner assembly. The method comprises providing a burner casing having two or more separate chambers therein, the chambers being divided from each other by one or more walls. The method also comprises coupling one or more input conduits, each configured to deliver different fuel-air mixtures, to at least one of the separated chambers.
Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The term, “or,” as used herein, refers to a non-exclusive or, unless otherwise indicated. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a burner assembly that provides a multi-channel burner casing which allows multiple fuel-air ratios to be delivered to desired portions of the burner assembly. The multiple channels facilitate the formation of a combination of tall visible flames and hot blue flames imparting glow to a viewing insert. Some embodiments of the burner assembly allow both types of flame to co-exist in substantially the same space. Additionally, the burner assembly with the multi-channel burner casing is more cost effective to produce, efficient to assemble, and easier to adjust get the desire flame characteristics, than burner assemblies with multiple separate burners and component parts.
One embodiment of the present disclosure is a burner assembly 100 such as depicted in
With continuing reference to
The term separate chamber, as used herein, means that the fuel-air mixture in one chamber (e.g., chamber 120) is isolated from and does not mix with the different fuel-air mixture in any other chamber (e.g., either of chamber 122 or chamber 124). The term input conduit, as used herein, refers to a hollow structure configured to receive fuel (e.g., natural gas, propane, butane or similar fuels) from an input supply line (e.g., lines 230, 232, 234) and to entrain air with the jet flow of fuel to the conduit 220, 222, 224. In some cases, one or more of the input conduits 220, 222, 224 can have a Venturi configuration to facilitate acceleration of fuel flow there-through.
In some embodiments the burner casing 110 can include an upper pan half 105 and lower pan half 205 which are configured to fit together to define the chambers 120, 122, 124 therein. In some case such as shown in
In some embodiments, wherein the burner casing 110 include one or more sets 140 of porting holes 142 on one side of the burner casing 110 (e.g., the upper pan half 105), the different sets of porting holes 142, e.g., configured to feed the fuel-air mixture from one of the chambers into a viewing portion of a heating apparatus, as further discussed in the context of
As illustrated in
Intertwining the chambers 120, 122, 124, facilitates the precise placement of hot, blue “lean” flame, from burning air-rich fuel-air mixtures to one chamber (e.g., chamber 122) to generate glow in a viewing insert of a heating apparatus (e.g., an artificial log-set of a fireplace), and, the simultaneous precise placement of tall visible yellow flames from burning a fuel-rich fuel-air mixtures to another chamber (e.g., chamber 124). By intertwining the chambers 122, 124 and their corresponding sets of porting holes 142 the hot blue flame and the large yellow can be configured to occupy substantially the same volume of space. Intertwining chambers 120, 122, 124 can facilitate interlacing areas of glowing portions of the viewing insert and the visible flame.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
By adjusting the size of the windows 250, 252, 254 different fuel-air mixtures can be delivered to the different chambers 120, 122, 124. For instance, the different fuel-air mixtures includes a first fuel-air mixture and a second fuel-air mixture provided from a same flow rate of fuel and two different flow rates of air (e.g., due to different sized windows 250, 252), respectively. For instance, in some cases the conduits can include an adjustable covering for one or more of the windows (e.g., coverings 256, 258 for windows 252, 254, respectively) to adjust the size of the window. Alternatively, the separate input conduits 220, 222, 224 could have different numbers of same-sized windows 250, 252, 254 to produce different fuel-air mixtures. Alternatively the sizes of the windows 250, 252, 254 could all be the same, and the size of an orifice (e.g., the diameter of cylindrical orifices 260, 262, 264) could be adjusted to produce different fuel-air mixtures. For instance, the different fuel-air mixtures includes a first fuel-air mixture and a second fuel-air mixture provided from a same flow rate of air and two different flow rates of fuel (e.g., due to differently-sized orifices 262, 264, respectively).
In some embodiments, the different fuel-air mixtures includes a first fuel-air mixture having an air-to-fuel volume ratio that is in a range of about 1:2 to about 1:3, and a second fuel-air mixture having an air-to-fuel volume ratio that is in a range of about 1:1 to 2:1. Based on the present disclosure one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the numerous alternative to produce different fuel-air mixtures.
Alternatively, as illustrated in
As further illustrated in
Using a conduit 222, with the divider 270 therein, allow the elimination some component parts while still achieving the distribution of different fuel-air mixtures to different chambers. For instance, the burner casing 110 can three separate chambers, first and second ones of the chambers 122, 124 receiving two of the different fuel-air mixtures from a single first one of the input conduits 222. Of course, other conduits could be configured as illustrated in
Another embodiment of the disclosure is fuel-fired heating apparatus.
For instance, the apparatus 300 comprises a viewing insert 310 located in a heating zone 315 of the apparatus 300. The apparatus 300 also comprises a burner assembly 100 located under the viewing insert 310. The burner assembly 100 includes a burner casing 110 having two or more separate chambers 120, 122, 124 therein, the chambers being divided from each other by one or more walls 130 (
For instance, some embodiments of the apparatus 300 includes a first set 320 of porting holes 142 in the top surface 322 of the burner casing 110 receiving an air-rich fuel-air mixture from one of the chambers (e.g., one of chambers 120, 122, 124) are adjacent to parts of the viewing insert 310 are configured to produce a blue flame to thereby cause the viewing insert to glow when the air-rich fuel-air mixture is combusted. In some embodiments, a second set 325 of porting holes 142 in the top surface 322 of the burner casing 110 receiving a fuel-rich fuel-air mixture from another one of the chambers (e.g., a different one of chambers 120, 122, 124) are configured to provide a yellow flame when the fuel-rich fuel-air mixture is combusted
In some embodiments, the apparatus 300 is apparatus is configured as a fireplace, a stove, or a fire-pit. In some embodiments, the viewing insert 310 is configured as an artificial log-set or embers. In some embodiment, the apparatus 300 includes a viewing window 330 in a firebox 335 through which the viewing inset 330 is visible.
As further illustrated in
Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a method of manufacturing a burner assembly, such as any of the assemblies 100 discussed in the context of
In some embodiments of the method 400 the step 410 of providing the burner casing 110 includes a step 430 coupling an upper pan half 105 to a lower pan half 205 to form the separate chambers 120, 122, 124 therein. For instance, outer portions 160, 280 (
In some embodiments of the method 400 the step 410 of providing the burner casing 110 includes a step 435 of forming different sets 320, 325 of porting holes 142 in a major surface 170 of the upper pan half 105, where each of the different sets 320, 325 of porting holes 142 open into one of the chambers 120, 122, 124.
In some embodiments of the method 400 the step 410 of providing the burner casing 110 includes a step 440 of forming intake holes 240 in a bottom surface of the pan lower half 205. Each of the intake holes 204 are configured to open into one or more of the chambers 120, 122, 124. In some cases, one of the intake holes 240 straddles two of the chambers and thereby opens into the two chambers (e.g., chambers 122, 124 in
In some embodiments of the method 400 the step 410 of providing the burner casing 110 includes a step 445 of forming chamber walls 130 on a major surface 170 of the upper pan half 105 or a major surface 242 of the lower pan half 205. For instance, parts of a material layer (e.g., a metal, ceramic or other noncombustible material) can be machined or molded to define the walls 130. In other embodiments, drawing or extrusion process can be used alternatively or additionally.
In some embodiment of the method 400, the step 420 of coupling the one or more input conduits 220, 222, 224 includes a step 450 of coupling at least one of the input conduits (e.g., the conduit 232 in
Some embodiment of the method 400, can further include a step 455 of coupling each of the one input conduits 220, 222, 224 to an input fuel line (e.g., lines 230, 232, 234)
Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.
Claims
1. A burner assembly, comprising:
- a burner casing having two or more separate chambers therein, the chambers being divided from each other by one or more walls; and
- one or more input conduits each configured to deliver different fuel-air mixtures to at least one of the separated chambers.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the burner casing includes a upper pan half and a lower pan half which are configured to fit together to define the separate chambers therein.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the burner casing includes:
- one or more sets of porting holes on one side of the burner casing, the different sets of porting holes configured to feed the fuel-air mixture from one of the chambers into a viewing portion of a heating apparatus; and
- intake holes on the opposite side of the burner casing configured to receive the fuel-air mixtures from one of the input conduits.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a first one of the separate chambers intertwines with at least a second one of the isolated chambers.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a surface of the one or more input conduits rests on a surface of the burner casing, and an opening in the conduit surface is aligned with an intake hole in the burner casing such that the fuel-air mixture in the input conduit can flow into one or more of the chambers.
6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more input conduits includes separate input conduits, each input conduit having a separate air input window, and each of the separate input conduits are coupled to a separate input fuel line such that one of the input conduits delivers a first fuel-air mixture to a first one of the chambers and a second one of the conduits delivers a second fuel-air mixture to a second one of the chambers.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input conduits has a divider therein, the divider separating an input fuel flow into separate cavities, each of the cavities having a separate air flows thereto, one of the cavities delivering a first fuel-air mixture to a first one of the chambers and a second of the cavities delivering a second fuel-air mixture to a second one of the chambers.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein an input fuel line coupled to the at least one input conduit has two orifices the each separately deliver fuel to the separate cavities.
9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of at least one of the walls between two of the chambers separates flows of the different fuel-air mixtures from a first one of cavities and a second one of the cavities to the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively.
10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the burner casing has three separate chambers, first and second ones of the chambers receiving two of the different fuel-air mixtures from a first one of the input conduits, and a third one of the chambers receiving one of the different fuel-air mixtures from a second one of the input conduits.
11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the different fuel-air mixtures includes a first fuel-air mixture and a second fuel-air mixture provided from a same flow rate of fuel and two different flow rates of air, respectively.
12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the different fuel-air mixtures includes a first fuel-air mixture and a second fuel-air mixture provided from a same flow rate of air and two different flow rates of fuel, respectively.
13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the different fuel-air mixtures includes a first fuel-air mixture having an air-to-fuel volume ratio that is in a range of about 1:2 to about 1:3, and a second fuel-air mixture having an air-to-fuel volume ratio that is in a range of about 1:1 to 2:1.
14. A fuel-fired heating apparatus, comprising:
- a viewing insert located in an heating zone of the apparatus; and
- a burner assembly located under the viewing insert, the burner assembly including:
- a burner casing having two or more separate chambers therein, the chambers being divided from each other by one or more walls; and
- one or more input conduits each configured to deliver different fuel-air mixtures to at least one of the separated chambers.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein
- a first set of porting holes in the top of the burner casing receiving an air-rich fuel-air mixture from one of the chambers are adjacent to the viewing insert are configured to produce a blue flame to thereby cause the viewing insert to glow when the air-rich fuel-air mixture is combusted, and,
- a second set of porting holes in the top of the burner casing receiving a fuel-rich fuel-air mixture from another one of the chambers are configured to provide a yellow flame when the fuel-rich fuel-air mixture is combusted.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured as a fireplace, a stove, or a fire-pit.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the viewing insert is configured as an artificial log-set or embers.
18. A method of manufacturing a burner assembly, comprising:
- providing a burner casing having two or more separate chambers therein, the chambers being divided from each other by one or more walls; and
- coupling one or more input conduits, each configured to deliver different fuel-air mixtures, to at least one of the separated chambers.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing a burner casing includes coupling an upper pan half to a lower pan half to form the separate chambers therein.
20. The method claim 18, wherein coupling the one or more input conduits includes coupling at least one of the input conduits to two of the chambers.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 24, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 30, 2012
Applicant: Lennox Hearth Products LLC (Nashville, TN)
Inventors: Joseph A. Benedetti (Nashville, TN), Kenneth D. Johns (Chapel Hill, TN), Kamal Al-Farran (Nolensville, TN)
Application Number: 13/405,163
International Classification: F24B 1/199 (20060101); B21D 53/00 (20060101); F24B 1/192 (20060101); F23D 23/00 (20060101); F23D 14/46 (20060101);