Atmospheric burner unit for unvented gas logs heater

Abstract

An atmospheric burner unit for use in an unvented gas log heater has a base and a gas distribution valve supported by the base. The valve has an inlet opening and a number of outlet openings. A plurality of burner elements are mounted by the base. Each of the burner elements has an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. The inlet port of each burner element is in proximate spaced relationship with an outlet opening of the gas distribution valve thereby defining open spaces through which gas may flow from the distribution valve to the burner elements thus obviating the use of tubes or other conduits.

We claim:  
     
         1 ) A gas burner assembly comprising: 
 a) a base;    b) a gas distribution valve supported by the base and having an inlet opening and a plurality of outlet openings; and    c) a plurality of burner elements mounted by the base, each having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, the inlet port of each burner element being in proximate spaced relationship with respective ones of said valve outlet openings thereby defining open spaces through which gas may flow from the distribution valve to the burner elements    
     
     
         2 ) A gas burner assembly comprising: 
 a) a base;    b) a gas distribution valve supported by the base and having an inlet opening and plurality of outlet openings;    c) a first burner element mounted by the base and having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports;    d) conduit means communicating said inlet port of the first burner element with one of the outlet openings of the distribution valve;    e) a plurality of second burner elements mounted by the base and each having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, the inlet ports of the second burner elements being in proximate spaced relationship with respective other outlet openings of the gas distribution valve thereby defining open spaces through which gas may flow from the distribution valve to the second burner elements; and    f) an ignition unit mounted by the base in adjacent relationship with one of said first and second burner elements thereby to ignite gas admitted to said one of said first and second burner elements, at least one of the others of said first and second burner elements having a portion thereof in adjacent relationship with said one of said first and second burner elements whereby gas ignition in said one of said first and second burner elements causes ignition in the others of said first and second burner elements.    
     
     
         3 ) A gas burner assembly comprising: 
 a) a base;    b) a gas distribution valve supported by the base and having an inlet opening and a plurality of outlet openings;    c) a plurality of burner elements mounted by the base and each having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, the inlet ports of the burner elements being in proximate spaced relationship with respective outlet openings of the distribution valve thereby to define open spaces through which gas may flow from the valve outlet openings to the burner elements; and    d) an ignition unit mounted on the base in adjacent relationship with one of said burner elements thereby to ignite gas admitted to said one burner element, at least one of the others of said burner elements having a portion thereof in adjacent relationship with said one burner element whereby gas ignition in said one burner element causes ignition in the others, of said burner elements.    
     
     
         4 ) The gas burner assembly according to claims  1 ,  2  or  3  wherein said distribution valve is further defined by: 
 a) a valve body having a first cylindrical bore;  
 b) said valve body having a plurality of second through bores each communicating with said cylindrical bore and defining said outlet openings of the distribution valve;  
 c) a cylindrical valve unit mounted in said first cylindrical bore for rotation therein and having an axial bore defining at least in part said inlet opening of the distribution valve, said cylindrical valve unit also having a plurality of radial through bores each communicating with said axial bore, said radial through bores being positioned for selective registry with respective ones of said second through bores in response to rotary movement of said cylindrical valve unit.  
 
     
     
         5 ) The gas burner assembly according to  claim 4  wherein at least three of said second through bores define longitudinal central axes contained in a common plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical valve unit.  
     
     
         6 ) The gas burner assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said ignition unit is mounted adjacent said first burner element.