Air-flow-controlling rear housing member

Abstract

An oxygen flow controlling rear housing member for use in a burner comprises a main body portion with a first oxygen inlet. An annular oxygen gathering chamber is in fluid communication with the first oxygen inlet. An annular wall divides the annular oxygen gathering chamber and an annular oxygen-flow mixing chamber. A first oxygen flow passageway extends between the annular oxygen gathering chamber and the annular oxygen-flow mixing chamber, and has a first height that is a portion of the height of the annular wall. A second oxygen flow passageway extends between the annular oxygen gathering chamber and the annular oxygen-flow mixing chamber, and has a second height that is a portion of the height of the annular wall. The height of the first oxygen flow passageway is greater than the height of the second oxygen flow passageway.

1 . An air-flow-controlling rear housing member for use in a burner, said air-flow-controlling rear housing member comprising:
 a main body portion having a front end and a back end and defining a longitudinal axis extending between said front end and said back end;   a first air inlet in said main body portion;   a substantially annular air gathering chamber in said main body portion and in fluid communication with said first air inlet;   a substantially annular air-flow mixing chamber within said main body portion;   a substantially annular wall generally dividing said substantially annular air gathering chamber and said substantially annular air-flow mixing chamber;   a first air flow opening extending between said substantially annular air gathering chamber and said substantially annular air-flow mixing chamber, and having a first height that is a portion of the height of said substantially annular wall; and,   a second air flow opening extending between said substantially annular air gathering chamber and said substantially annular air-flow mixing chamber, and having a second height that is a portion of the height of said substantially annular wall;   wherein the height of said first air flow opening is greater than the height of said second air flow opening.   
     
     
         2 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 1 , further comprising a third air flow opening extending between said substantially annular air gathering chamber and said substantially annular air-flow mixing chamber, and having a third height that is a portion of the height of said substantially annular wall, and wherein the height of said first air flow opening is greater than the height of said third air flow opening, and the height of said second air flow opening is greater than the height of said third air flow opening. 
     
     
         3 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 2 , further comprising a fourth air flow opening extending between said substantially annular air gathering chamber and said substantially annular air-flow mixing chamber, and having a fourth height that is a portion of the height of said substantially annular wall, and wherein the height of said first air flow opening is greater than the height of said fourth air flow opening, the height of said second air flow opening is greater than the height of said fourth air flow opening, and height of said third air flow opening is greater than the height of said fourth air flow opening. 
     
     
         4 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 1 , wherein said made body portion is made from metal. 
     
     
         5 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 1 , further comprising a second air inlet, and wherein said substantially annular air gathering chamber is in fluid communication with said second air inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially annular air gathering chamber is substantially circular in shape. 
     
     
         7 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 6 , wherein said substantially annular wall is substantially circular in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 1 , wherein said wherein the height of said substantially annular flow passage and the height of said air gathering chamber are similar one to the other. 
     
     
         9 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially annular air gathering chamber generally surrounds said substantially annular air-flow mixing chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 9 , wherein said substantially annular air gathering chamber and said substantially annular air-flow mixing chamber are substantially longitudinally aligned one with the other along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 1 , wherein said first air inlet is disposed rearwardly of said substantially annular air gathering chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 11 , wherein said first air inlet is oriented generally along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 1 , further comprising a second air inlet in said main body portion, and wherein said substantially annular air gathering chamber is in fluid communication with said second air inlet. 
     
     
         14 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 13 , wherein said second air inlet is disposed rearwardly of said substantially annular air gathering chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 14 , wherein said second air inlet is oriented generally along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle receiving throughpassage in said main body portion. 
     
     
         17 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 16 , wherein said nozzle receiving throughpassage is generally centrally disposed in said main body portion and oriented along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 17 , further comprising an annular cone portion extending forwardly from said main body portion. 
     
     
         19 . The air-flow-controlling rear housing member of  claim 18 , wherein said nozzle receiving throughpassage extends through said annular cone portion.