Gas burner assembly

Abstract

An atmospheric gas water heater includes a burner assembly. The burner assembly includes a burner having a body, and a screen member coupled to the body. A conduit is fluidly connected to the body. The conduit has an open end configured to receive gas and air. The flow of gas and air from the open end through the conduit to the body and past the screen member is defined as a downstream direction. The screen member defines a zone of combustion. The gas and the air is 100% premixed together upstream of the zone of combustion. The body of the burner has a first segment extending between a first end and a second end, and second and third segments extending from the first segment. The second segment and the third segment extend parallel to and spaced apart from each other to form a U-shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An atmospheric gas water heater comprising:
 a tank containing water to be heated;   a flue assembly positioned within the tank; and   a burner assembly in fluid communication with the flue assembly, the burner assembly including,
 a burner having a body, and a screen member coupled to the body, and 
 a conduit fluidly connected to the body, the conduit having an open end, the open end configured to receive gas and air, 
   wherein a flow of the gas and the air from the open end through the conduit to the body and past the screen member is defined as a downstream direction,   wherein the screen member defines a zone of combustion,   wherein the gas and the air is 100% premixed together upstream of the zone of combustion, and   wherein the body of the burner has a first segment extending between a first end and a second end, a second segment extending from the first segment at the first end, and a third segment extending from the first segment at the second end, the second segment and the third segment extending parallel to and spaced apart from each other to form a U-shape.   
     
     
         2 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is only diluted by the air entering the burner assembly via the conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a combustion chamber configured to receive the burner assembly, wherein all of the air entering the combustion chamber is directed through the body of the burner and past the screen member. 
     
     
         4 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit includes a venturi portion, and wherein the venturi portion is positioned at the open end. 
     
     
         5 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is positioned between the second segment and the third segment, and wherein the conduit is fluidly connected to the first segment. 
     
     
         6 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the burner assembly includes an internal chamber defined by the body and the screen member, wherein a baffle assembly is positioned within the internal chamber for directing the air and gas within the internal chamber, and wherein the baffle assembly is positioned within the first segment. 
     
     
         7 . An atmospheric gas water heater comprising:
 a tank containing water to be heated;   a flue assembly positioned within the tank; and   a burner assembly in fluid communication with the flue assembly, the burner assembly including,
 a burner having a body, and a screen member coupled to the body, the body having a curved surface, and 
 a conduit fluidly connected to the body, the conduit having an open end, the open end configured to receive gas and air, 
   wherein a flow of the gas and the air from the open end through the conduit to the body and past the screen member is defined as a downstream direction,   wherein the screen member defines a zone of combustion,   wherein the gas and the air is 100% premixed together upstream of the zone of combustion,   wherein during operation, the burner is configured to oscillate at a first vibration frequency,   wherein during operation, flames produced at the zone of combustion are configured to oscillate at a second vibration frequency, and   wherein the curved surface of the body is configured to maintain the first vibration frequency at a frequency greater than the second vibration frequency throughout operation of the water heater.   
     
     
         8 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the gas is only diluted by the air entering the burner assembly via the conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 7 , further comprising a combustion chamber configured to receive the burner assembly, wherein all of the air entering the combustion chamber is directed through the body of the burner and past the screen member. 
     
     
         10 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the conduit includes a venturi portion, and wherein the venturi portion is positioned at the open end. 
     
     
         11 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the first vibration frequency is at least 1.5 times greater than the second vibration frequency. 
     
     
         12 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 7 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the body is a C-shape to form the curved surface. 
     
     
         13 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the body includes a flange, and wherein the screen member is movably coupled to the body by the flange. 
     
     
         14 . An atmospheric gas water heater comprising:
 a tank containing water to be heated;   a flue assembly positioned within the tank;   a combustion chamber fluidly connected to the flue assembly;   a pilot assembly at least partially positioned within the combustion chamber; and   a burner assembly positioned within the combustion chamber, the burner assembly including,
 a burner having a body, and a screen member coupled to the body, and 
 a conduit fluidly connected to the body, the conduit having an open end, the open end configured to receive gas and air, 
   wherein a flow of the gas and the air from the open end through the conduit to the body and past the screen member is defined as a downstream direction,   wherein the screen member defines a zone of combustion,   wherein the gas and the air is 100% premixed together upstream of the zone of combustion, and   wherein the pilot assembly is mounted outside of the combustion chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 14 , wherein the gas is only diluted by the air entering the burner assembly via the conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 14 , wherein all of the air entering the combustion chamber is directed through the body of the burner and past the screen member. 
     
     
         17 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 14 , wherein the conduit includes a venturi portion, and wherein the venturi portion is positioned at the open end. 
     
     
         18 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 14 , wherein the combustion chamber is defined at least partially by a wall member, the wall member having an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the pilot assembly is mounted to the outer surface and extends through the wall member from the outer surface through the inner surface and into the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 18 , wherein the combustion chamber includes a door assembly having a door movably mounted to a fixed portion of the wall member, the door forming a portion of the wall member, and wherein the pilot assembly is mounted to the door. 
     
     
         20 . The atmospheric gas water heater of  claim 14 , wherein the pilot assembly includes a pilot burner, a spark ignitor, and a thermocouple.