Combination burner

Abstract

A combination burner apparatus includes: a housing including a peripheral wall defining an interior cavity; and side-by-side first and second burner assemblies disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the interior cavity, wherein the first burner assembly is of a first burner type, and the second burner assembly is of a second burner type different from the first burner type.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination burner apparatus, comprising:
 a housing including a peripheral wall defining an interior cavity; and   side-by-side first and second burner assemblies disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the interior cavity, wherein the first burner assembly is of a first burner type, and the second burner assembly is of a second burner type different from the first burner type.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a divider separating the interior cavity into two individual cavities, each of the cavities communicating with one of the burner assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the housing includes a pair of spaced-apart parallel first and second mounting flanges;   a portion of the divider cooperates with the first mounting flange to define a first slot, and with the second mounting flange to define a second slot;   the first burner assembly is disposed in the first slot; and   the second burner assembly is disposed in the second slot.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first burner assembly is an infrared burner. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first burner assembly includes:
 a baffle having a generally C-shaped cross-section defining an open slot; and 
 an infrared mesh overlying a top of the baffle and extending over the open slot. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the infrared mesh comprises a thin strip of material with a pattern of small holes formed therein. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the infrared mesh comprises a ceramic or a metal alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second burner assembly is a ribbon burner. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the second burner assembly includes a plurality of thin ribbons stacked side-by-side so as to define a plurality of ports passing therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein each of the ribbons a wavy shape defining a series of peaks and valleys along its length. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the ribbons are bonded to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing extends between first and second ends, each of which is terminated by an end plate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of the end plates includes a port communicating with the interior cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a coupling connected to the end plate in fluid communication with the port. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a fuel supply apparatus configured to supply a stream of combustible mixture, the fuel supply apparatus connected in fluid communication with the interior cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a divider separating the interior cavity into first and second individual cavities, each of the cavities communicating with one of the burner assemblies, the apparatus further comprising a fuel supply apparatus configured to direct a first stream of combustible mixture to the first individual cavity, and a second stream of combustible mixture to the second individual cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first and second streams differ from each in other in at least of: flowrate, fuel composition, and air/fuel mixture.