FUEL BURNER

Abstract

A fuel burner for a fireplace is provided. The fuel burner comprises a tubular body forming a plenum extending between an open proximal end and a closed distal end. The body comprises a plurality of ports extending from the plenum to an exterior surface. The proximal end configured for threaded engagement with a pipe fitting enabling fuel flow into the plenum and through the ports to the exterior surface for combustion. The body is constructed from a single, continuous piece of material using an additive manufacturing process.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates generally to a fuel burner for use in an indoor fireplace, outdoor fireplace, or firepit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art by referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a fuel burner constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the burner shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3-3 is a cross-sectional view of the burner shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4. is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a fuel burner constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the burner shown in FIG. 4

FIG. 6-6 is a cross-sectional view of the burner shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 6-6 as shown in FIG. 5;

Use of identical reference numerals in different figures denotes the same or similar components or features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3-3 illustrate one exemplary embodiment of a fuel burner 100 constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fuel burner 100 comprises tubular body 110 forming a plenum 112 extending between an open proximal end 114 and a closed distal end 116. Body 110 comprises a plurality of ports 120 extending from plenum 112 to an exterior surface 122. Proximal end 114 is configured for threaded engagement with a pipe fitting (not shown) enabling fuel flow into plenum 112 (indicated by arrow 118) and through ports 120 to surface 122 for combustion.

Ports 120 are sized and oriented to reduce sound pressure level resulting from fuel flow through ports 120. In particular, ports 120 are oriented to enable fuel flow in a direction toward proximal end 114. Ports 120 are evenly spaced across surface 122. Ports 122 each have cross sectional area of less than 1 mm{circumflex over ( )}2. Body 110 is cylindrical.

As used herein, “fuel” refers to a combustible gas such as natural gas or propane, or a gaseous fuel mixture, and a “port” refers to an aperture or opening through which fuel flows.

Body 110 is constructed from a single, continuous piece of material such as a metal, or a metal alloy, or a ceramic, or other suitable material. In particular, burner 100 is constructed using an additive manufacturing process such as binder jetting, laser powder bed fusion, and the like which do not require specialized tooling or fixturing to construct burner 100. Additive manufacturing processes are capable of constructing solid, hollow, and porous three-dimensional physical objects having simple to complex geometries which can be physically impractical and/or higher cost for conventional manufacturing processes. An additive manufacturing process constructs an object using electronic data from a three-dimensional computer model of the object. The model of the object is electronically sliced into a plurality of cross-sectional layers. Each layer is then physically constructed in succession with the desired material feedstock by additive manufacturing equipment until the object is completely constructed, after which thermal processing may be required to achieve desired material properties.

In operation of burner 100, fuel (not shown) flows through a pipe fitting (not shown) in threaded engagement with proximal end 114, into plenum 112 (indicated by arrow 118) and through ports 120 to surface 122 for combustion.

FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6-6 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a fuel burner 200 constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fuel burner 200 comprises a first tubular body 210 and at least one second tubular body 310. First tubular body 210 extends between an open proximal end 212 and a closed distal end 214. Each second tubular body 310 extends between an open proximal end 312 and an open distal end 314. Proximal end 212 is configured for threaded engagement with a distal end 314. Proximal end 312 is configured for threaded engagement with a distal end 314. Body 210 and each body 310 are arranged in threaded engagement forming a plenum 216 therebetween. Body 210 comprises a plurality of ports 220 extending from plenum 216 to an exterior surface 222. Each body 310 comprises a plurality of ports 320 extending from plenum 216 to an exterior surface 322. Proximal end 312 of each body 310 is configured for threaded engagement with a pipe fitting (not shown) enabling fuel flow into plenum 216 (indicated by arrow 218), through ports 220 to surface 222 for combustion and through ports 320 to surfaces 322 for combustion.

The overall length of burner 200 is extendable by increasing the number of bodies 310 to accommodate differing sizes of fireplace or firepit.

Body 210 is constructed from a single, continuous piece of material such as a metal, or a metal alloy, or a ceramic, or other material suitable for combustion of fuel. In particular, body 210 is constructed using an additive manufacturing process as previously described.

Each boy 310 is constructed from a single, continuous piece of material such as a metal, or a metal alloy, or a ceramic, or other material suitable for combustion of fuel. In particular, each body 310 is constructed using an additive manufacturing process as previously described.

In operation of burner 200, fuel (not shown) flows through a pipe fitting (not shown) in threaded engagement with proximal end 312, into plenum 216 (indicated by arrow 218), through ports 220 to surface 222 for combustion and through ports 320 to surfaces 322 for combustion.

Ports 220 are sized and oriented to reduce sound pressure level resulting from fuel flow through ports 220. In particular, ports 220 are oriented to enable fuel flow in a direction toward proximal end 212. Ports 220 are evenly spaced across surface 222. Ports 220 each have cross sectional area of less than 1 mm{circumflex over ( )}2. Body 210 is cylindrical.

Ports 320 are sized and oriented to reduce sound pressure level resulting from fuel flow through ports 320. In particular, ports 320 are oriented to enable fuel flow in a direction toward proximal end 312. Ports 320 are evenly spaced across surface 322. Ports 320 each have cross sectional area of less than 1 mm{circumflex over ( )}2. Body 310 is cylindrical.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Claims

1. A fuel burner for a fireplace, comprising:

a tubular body forming a plenum extending between an open proximal end and a closed distal end, said body comprises a plurality of ports extending from said plenum to an exterior surface, said proximal end configured for threaded engagement with a pipe fitting enabling fuel flow into said plenum and through said ports to said exterior surface for combustion, said body constructed from a single, continuous piece of material using an additive manufacturing process.

2. A fuel burner according to claim 1, said ports sized and oriented to reduce sound pressure level resulting from fuel flow through said ports.

3. A fuel burner according to claim 1, said ports oriented to enable fuel flow in a direction toward said proximal end.

4. A fuel burner according to claim 1, each said port having cross sectional area of less than 1 mm{circumflex over ( )}2.

5. A fuel burner according to claim 1, said tubular body is cylindrical.

6. A fuel burner according to claim 1, said ports are evenly spaced apart across said surface.

7. A fuel burner for a fireplace, comprising:

a first tubular body and at least one second tubular body, said first tubular body extending between an open proximal end and a closed distal end, each said second tubular body extending between an open proximal end and an open distal end, said proximal end of said first tubular body configured for threaded engagement with a said distal end of a said second tubular body, said proximal end of each said second tubular body configured for threaded engagement with said distal end of a said second tubular body, said first tubular body and each said second tubular body arranged in threaded engagement forming a plenum therebetween, said first tubular body comprises a plurality of ports extending from said plenum to an exterior surface, each said second tubular body comprises a plurality of ports extending from said plenum to an exterior surface, said proximal end of each said second tubular body configured for threaded engagement with a pipe fitting enabling fuel flow into said plenum, through said ports of said first tubular body to said exterior surface of said first tubular body for combustion, and through said ports of each said second tubular body to said exterior surface of each said second tubular body for combustion, said first tubular body constructed from a single, continuous piece of material using an additive manufacturing process, each said second tubular body constructed from a single, continuous piece of material using an additive manufacturing process.

8. A fuel burner according to claim 7, said ports sized and oriented to reduce sound pressure level resulting from fuel flow through said ports.

9. A fuel burner according to claim 7, said ports of said first tubular body oriented to enable fuel flow in a direction toward said proximal end of said first tubular body, said ports of each said second tubular body oriented to enable fuel flow in a direction toward said proximal end of each respective said second tubular body.

10. A fuel burner according to claim 7, each said port having cross sectional area of less than 1 mm{circumflex over ( )}2.

11. A fuel burner according to claim 7, each said tubular body is cylindrical.

12. A fuel burner according to claim 7, said ports of first tubular body evenly spaced apart across said exterior surface of said first tubular body, said ports of each said second tubular body evenly spaced apart across each respective said exterior surface of said second tubular body.

13. A fuel burner for a fireplace, comprising:

a first tubular body and at least one second tubular body, said first tubular body extending between an open proximal end and a closed distal end, each said second tubular body extending between an open proximal end and an open distal end, said proximal end of said first tubular body configured for threaded engagement with a said distal end of a said second tubular body, said proximal end of each said second tubular body configured for threaded engagement with said distal end of a said second tubular body, said first tubular body and each said second tubular body arranged in threaded engagement forming a plenum therebetween, said first tubular body comprises a plurality of ports extending from said plenum to an exterior surface, each said second tubular body comprises a plurality of ports extending from said plenum to an exterior surface, said proximal end of each said second tubular body configured for threaded engagement with a pipe fitting enabling fuel flow into said plenum, through said ports of said first tubular body to said exterior surface of said first tubular body for combustion, and through said ports of each said second tubular body to said exterior surface of each said second tubular body for combustion, said ports of said first tubular body oriented to enable fuel flow in a direction toward said proximal end of said first tubular body, said ports of each said second tubular body oriented to enable fuel flow in a direction toward said proximal end of each respective said second tubular body, each said port having cross sectional area of less than 1 mm{circumflex over ( )}2, said first tubular body constructed from a single, continuous piece of material using an additive manufacturing process, each said second tubular body constructed from a single, continuous piece of material using an additive manufacturing process.

14. A fuel burner according to claim 13, each said tubular body is cylindrical.

15. A fuel burner according to claim 13, said ports of first tubular body evenly spaced apart across said exterior surface of said first tubular body, said ports of each said second tubular body evenly spaced apart across each respective said exterior surface of said second tubular body.