Ovens, burner tube assemblies, and methods for delivering air to a gas power burner

Abstract

Ovens for heat treating products may include a gas power burner having a burner tube assembly, a venturi tube assembly, and a blower mount. The burner tube assembly has a plurality of air inlet holes extending from an outer surface to an inner surface of the burner tube. The blower mount has an opening spaced from the outer surface of the burner tube for receiving a flow of combustion air directed in a first direction toward the burner tube. The opening of the blower mount is disposed out of axial alignment with the plurality of air inlet holes such that a portion of the burner tube and the blower mount form an air manifold for redirecting the flow of combustion air from the first direction around the burner tube and towards the air inlet holes. Methods for delivering air to a gas power burner are also disclosed.

1 . A burner tube assembly for a gas power burner, said burner tube assembly comprising:
 a burner tube having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end, and a plurality of air inlet holes extending from an outer surface to an inner surface of said burner tube adjacent to said second end;   a venturi tube assembly disposed longitudinally in said burner tube and having an inlet portion disposed adjacent to said second end and a burner head portion disposed adjacent to said first end;   a blower mount having an opening spaced from said outer surface of said burner tube for receiving a flow of combustion air directed in a first direction toward said burner tube, said opening of said blower mount disposed out of axial alignment with said plurality of air inlet holes; and   wherein a portion of said burner tube and said blower mount form an air manifold for redirecting the flow of combustion air from the first direction around said burner tube and towards said plurality of air inlet holes.   
   
   
       2 . The burner tube assembly of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of air inlets holes are obscured from view through said opening of said blower mount. 
   
   
       3 . The burner tube assembly of  claim 1  wherein plurality of air inlets holes direct the flow of combustion air in a plurality of generally radial directions towards said longitudinal axis of said burner tube. 
   
   
       4 . The burner tube assembly of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of air inlet holes is generally evenly spaced around said burner tube. 
   
   
       5 . The burner tube assembly of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of air inlet holes comprises four air inlet holes. 
   
   
       6 . The burner tube assembly of  claim 1  wherein said burner tube comprises a cylindrical tube. 
   
   
       7 . The burner tube assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a flame spreader disposed adjacent to said second end. 
   
   
       8 . The burner tube assembly of  claim 1  wherein said flame spreader comprises a center portion defining a cone, and a plurality of outwardly extending angled fins. 
   
   
       9 . An impingement oven comprising:
 a housing having a chamber therein for receiving and heating a heat treatable product; and   gas power burner comprising a burner tube assembly of  claim 1  for supplying heat to said chamber.   
   
   
       10 . The impingement oven of  claim 9  further comprising a movable conveyor. 
   
   
       11 . The impingement oven of  claim 9  wherein said gas power burner further comprises a modulating gas valve for regulating the supply of gas to the gas power burner between 0-percent and 100-percent. 
   
   
       12 . A method for delivering air to a gas power burner, the method comprising:
 providing a flow of combustion air along an axis in a first direction toward an outer surface of a burner tube;   redirecting the flow of combustion air around at least a portion of the outer surface of the burner tube; and   transferring the flow of the redirected combustion air from an outer surface of said burner tube to an inner surface of said burner tube in a direction different from the first direction.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising obstructing the flow of combustion air along the axis with a portion of the outer surface of the burner tube. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the transferring comprises transferring the flow of redirected combustion air through a plurality of air inlets holes spaced from the axis. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the transferring comprises transferring the flow of redirected combustion air through four air inlet holes spaced from the axis. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the transferring comprises transferring the flow of redirected combustion air in a plurality of generally radial directions toward a longitudinal axis of said burner tube. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the transferring comprises transferring the flow of redirected combustion air generally evenly toward a longitudinal axis of said burner tube. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising regulating the supply of gas between 0-percent and 100-percent to the gas power burner. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising providing a flow of gas to a venturi tube disposed in the burner tube, and spreading a flame generally radially from the burner tube.