Burners

Abstract

An oil burner consists of an outer jacket surrounded and spaced from an inner burner tube to provide a surrounding counterflow chamber. Jacket and tube project horizontally inwards from the surrounding combustion chamber wall. Counterflow chamber is substantially closed at both ends. Tube projects inwardly beyond counterflow chamber and terminates in an upfacing burner head. Communication exists at opposite ends of the part of tube surrounded by counterflow chamber. At startup a tongue of flame travels through tube from an injector nozzle. Part of flame counterflows back through surrounding chamber and recirculates through tube. Another part of flame proceeds on to burner head. When parts sufficiently heated, flame in tube is caused to be extinguished and is replaced by hot clear blue flame jets from burner and a multiapertured band in tube within limits of counterflow chamber at end thereof remote from nozzle where counterflow originates. Combustion-supporting air to both chambers adjustably admitted at nozzle end.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In the art of combusting flammable fluid fuel for creating heated gas, the method steps which are characterized by: i. initially projecting a relatively long tongue of ignited fuel longitudinally from a source to a principal burning zone remote from said source,   ii. causing an opposite, counterflow of a part of said tongue back towards said source, the originating location of said counterflow being between said source and said principal burning zone,   iii. reintroducing said counterflow back into said tongue near said source,   iv. causing the flame of said tongue to be extinguished when a sufficient rise in ambient temperature has supervened, and substantially simultaneously therewith   v. causing the generation of a blue flame at the said originating location of counterflow, and at said principal burning zone, and   vi. introducing sufficient air to .[.meet the requirements aforesaid, said burning zone being further from said source than said original location of counterflow..]. .Iadd.said burner to support combustion..Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. The method according to claim 1 which includes the step of admitting additional counterflow air to mix with said first mentioned counterflow. .[.3. The method according to claim 1 which is effected within a surrounding combustion chamber and which includes the steps of: i. admitting additional counterflow air to mix with said first mentioned counterflow, and   ii. admitting air to said combustion chamber from a location near said source to mix with said tongue of ignited fuel within said combustion chamber..]. .[.4. A fluid fuel burner embodying an inner burner tube, a surrounding jacket, said tube and said jacket each having a first end and adjacent second ends, said jacket being spaced from said tube, a fuel nozzle assembly, an ignition electrode and sufficient air intake means, the foregoing being characterized by including:   i. a burner head, on the first end of said tube,   ii. means for providing a counterflow of ignited fuel through a counterflow chamber existing between and by virtue of said tube and said jacket, said counterflow being opposite in direction to the flow of, and consisting of a portion of, a tongue of flammable fluid projecting through said tube from said nozzle assembly   iii. the originating location of said counterflow being between said nozzle assembly and said burner head   iv. means for reintroducing said counterflow back into said inner tube near said nozzle assembly, and   v. means for causing the flame of said tongue to be extinguished when a sufficient rise in ambient temperature has supervened, and substantially simultaneously therewith thereby causing the generation of a blue flame at the said originating location of counterflow, and at a principal burning zone, said burning zone being further from said nozzle assembly than said   
     
     
        originating location of counterflow..]. 5. A fluid fuel burner .[.embodying.]. .Iadd.including in combination with .Iaddend.an inner burner tube, a surrounding jacket, said tube and jacket each having a first end and adjacent second ends said jacket being spaced from said tube, a fuel nozzle assembly, an ignition electrode and .[.sufficient.]. .Iadd.combustion supporting .Iaddend.air intake means .[., the foregoing being characterized by including.]. : i. a burner head .[.on.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.the first end of said tube   ii. first and second end walls for said jacket providing a counterflow chamber therebetween surrounding said inner tube, said inner tube admitting fuel at said second end and discharging it at said first end,   iii. said second wall extending between said jacket and inner tube adjacent said nozzle assembly   .[.iv. said inner tube being vented to an external side of said chamber at the first end of said jacket,.].   v. said first end wall being predominantly imperforate but .[.sufficiently apertured as to permit.]. .Iadd.having aperture means for permitting .Iaddend.a limited volume of counterflow air into said surrounding .Iadd.counterflow .Iaddend.chamber,   vi. said inner tube being of greater length than said jacket and projecting through an aperture provided therefor in said first end wall,   vii. said inner tube providing communication with said chamber adjacent both said end walls for the counterflow .Iadd.from .Iaddend.and reintroduction .[.respectively.]., to said inner tube of products of combustion burnt within said inner tube,   viii. said burner head being upon the first end portion of said inner tube which end projects through said first end wall to said external side of   
     
     
        said .Iadd.counterflow .Iaddend.chamber. 6. The invention according to claim 5 in which said communication between said inner tube and said .Iadd.counterflow .Iaddend.chamber adjacent the first end wall thereof is in the form of an annular band comprised of a multiplicity of apertures in 
     
     
        said inner tube. 7. The invention according to claim 6 in which said communication between said inner tube and said .Iadd.counterflow .Iaddend.chamber adjacent the second end wall thereof includes an annular space between the second end of said tube and said second end wall. .[.8. The invention according to claim 6 in which said communication between said inner tube and said chamber adjacent the second end wall thereof is in the form of an annular band comprised of a multiplicity of apertures in said inner tube..]. .[.9. The invention according to claim 8 in which said communication between said inner tube and said chamber adjacent the second end wall thereof also includes an annular space between the adjacent end 
     
     
        of said tube and said second end wall..]. 10. The invention according to claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.7 .Iaddend.which is also characterized by the provision of an air intake aperture in said second wall, a frustoconical funnel secured to the rim of said aperture substantially on the vertex plane thereof, said fuel nozzle assembly .[.and said ignition electrode.]. 
     
     
        projecting into said funnel. 11. The invention according to claim 10 in which said burner is secured to and projects inwardly from the wall of a combustion chamber, and .[.adjustable.]. .Iadd.air distributing .Iaddend.means on the external side of said wall for .[.varying the admission.]. .Iadd.balancing the volume .Iaddend.of combustion supporting air .[.to.]. .Iadd.between .Iaddend.the interior of said combustion chamber and .[.into.]. .Iadd.the vicinity of .Iaddend.said .[.funnel through venting.]. .Iadd.combustion tube through aperturing in said funnel and .Iaddend.in said wall upon the outer side of said jacket .[...]. .Iadd., all said aperturing being within the confines of said distributing 
     
     
        means. .Iaddend. 12. The invention according to claim 5 which is also characterized by including a multiapertured air-distributing plate on the counterflow chamber side of said first end wall, slightly spaced 
     
     
        therefrom. 13. The invention according to claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.7 .Iaddend.which is also characterized by including a multiapertured air-distributing plate on the counterflow chamber side of said first end 
     
     
        wall, and slightly spaced therefrom. 14. The invention according to claim 5 in which said burner head is characterized by being secured to the fuel discharge end of said inner tube, said head being in the form of an outflared and rimmed head formation, and at least one multiapertured fuel 
     
     
        jet plate spanning said rim. 15. The invention according to claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.7 which is also characterized by the provision of an air intake operature in said second wall, a frusto-conical funnel secured to the rim of said operature substantially on the vertex plain thereof, said fuel nozzle assembly and said ignition electrode projecting into said funnel and .Iaddend.in which said burner head is characterized by being secured to the first end of said inner tube, said head being in the form of an outflared and rimmed head formation and at least one multiapertured fuel 
     
     
        jet plate spanning said rim. 16. The invention according to claim 5 in which said burner head is characterized by being secured to the first end of said inner tube, said head being in the form of an outflared and rimmed head portion, and a pair of closely spaced and parallel, multiapertured fuel jet plates spanning said rim, said burner in situ being axially horizontal with said inner tube horizontal and said burner head generally right-angularly disposed with said inner tube axis so that said head formation opens upwardly with the rim thereof lying in a horizontal plane. 
     
     
        7. The invention according to claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.15 .Iaddend.in which said burner head is characterized by being secured to the first end of said inner tube, said head being in the form of an outflared and rimmed head portion, and a pair of closely spaced and parallel multiapertured 
     
     
        fuel jet plates. 18. The invention according to claim 6 which is also characterized by including a multiapertured air-distributing plate on the counterflow chamber side of said first end wall, and slightly spaced 
     
     
        therefrom. 19. The invention according to claim 6 in which said communication between said inner tube and said chamber adjacent the second end wall thereof includes an annular space between the adjacent end of 
     
     
        said tube and said second end wall. 20. The invention according to claim 19 in which said burner is secured to and projects inwardly from the wall of, a combustion chamber, and .[.adjustable.]. .Iadd.air distributing .Iaddend.means on the external side of said wall for .[.varying the admission.]. .Iadd.admitting variable volumes .Iaddend.of combustion supporting air .Iadd.and distributing said air separately to the vicinity of the second end of said inner burner tube and .Iaddend.to the interior of said combustion chamber .[.and into said counterflow chamber..]. 
     
     
        .Iadd...Iaddend. 21. The invention according to claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.1 which is effected within a surrounding combustion chamber and which includes the steps of: admitting additional counterflow air to mix with said first mentioned counterflow, and   admitting air to said combustion chamber from a location near said source to mix with said tongue of ignited fuel within said combustion chamber, and .Iaddend.which includes the step of preventing the reignition of said tongue by said counterflow after it has been vaporized by said temperature   
     
     
        rise and extinguished. 22. .[.The invention according to claim 4 which includes.]. .Iadd.A fluid fuel burner embodying an inner burner tube, a surrounding jacket, said tube and said jacket each having a first end and adjacent second ends, said jacket being spaced from said tube, a fuel nozzle assembly, an ignition electrode and combustion supporting air intake means, and including in combination: i. a burner head, on the first end of said tube   ii. means for providing a counterflow of ignited fuel through a counterflow chamber existing between said tube and said jacket, said counterflow being opposite in direction to the flow of, and consisting of a portion of, a tongue of flammable fluid projecting through said tube from said nozzle assembly,   iii. the originating location of said counterflow being between said nozzle assembly and said burner head,   iv. means for reintroducing said counterflow back into said inner tube near said nozzle assembly, and   v. means for causing the flame of said tongue to be extinguished when a sufficient rise in ambient temperature has supervened, and substantially simultaneously therewith thereby causing the generation of a blue flame at the said originating location of counterflow, and at said burner head, and   vi. .Iaddend.means for preventing the reignition of said tongue by said counterflow after it has been vaporized by said temperature rise and   
     
     
        extinguished. 23. The invention according to claim 5 which includes flame arrestor means in said counterflow chamber for preventing the reignition of said tongue by said reintroduced products of combustion after said 
     
     
        tongue has been vaporized by said temperature rise and extinguished. 24. The invention according to claim 12 which includes an annular apertured flame arrestor plate spanning said counterflow chamber between said tube and said jacket, said plate being relatively near the second ends of said tube and jacket, said plate preventing the reignition of said tongue by said counterflow after .[.it.]. .Iadd.said tongue .Iaddend.has been vaporized by said temperature rise and extinguished. .Iadd. 25. For use in combination with a burner tube adapted and designed to project into a combustion chamber from the enclosure defining said chamber, air distributing means on the exterior side of said enclosure, said distributing means being apertured for air admission and communication with: a. the interior of said burner tube,   b. said combustion chamber, means for automatically, separately, and simultaneously feeding air into said tube and into said combustion chamber according to the relative barometric demands of said tube and combustion chamber, and means for isolating the proportion of air fed into said combustion chamber against entry into said burner tube at least in the vicinity of said location from which said burner tube projects into said combustion chamber; said air distributing means being secured to and projecting outwardly from said enclosure, said enclosure being apertured within the confines of said housing so as to be enclosed thereby and permit the passage of air within said distribution housing therethrough into said combustion chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. The invention according to claim 25 which includes a venturi funnel for a fuel nozzle positioned in said distributing housing, said funnel being secured and substantially sealed around its reduced discharge end against air admission other than through the enlarged intake end thereof, said funnel being substantially co-axial with said tube. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 27. The invention according to claim 26 in which said funnel is situated substantially central of said distributing housing the aperturing in said enclosure being arranged about said funnel and spaced therefrom. .Iaddend..Iadd. 28. The invention according to claim 27 in which said air intake housing includes a surrounding apertured wall secured against and projecting outwardly from said enclosure and an end plate spanning said apertured wall, a plenum chamber occupying the space between said apertured wall, said end plate, and the portion of said combustion chamber enclosure bounded by said apertured wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 29. The invention according to claim 22 in which said burner projects into a combustion chamber from a location at least near to a portion of the enclosure defining said chamber, air distributing means on the exterior side of said enclosure, said distributing means being apertured for air admission thereto and air communication with:     a. the interior of said burner tube,   b. said combustion chamber, means for automatically, separately, and simultaneously feeding air into said tube and into said combustion chamber from said air distributing means according to the barometric demands of said combustion chamber, and means for isolating the proportion of air fed into said combustion chamber against entry into said burner tube at least in the vicinity of said location from which said burner tube projects into said combustion chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd. 30. The invention according to claim 5 in which said burner projects into a combustion chamber from a location at least near to a portion of the enclosure defining said chamber, air distributing means on the exterior side of said enclosure, said distributing means being apertured for air admission and communication with:     a. the interior of said burner tube,   b. said combustion chamber, means for automatically, separately, and simultaneously feeding air into said tube and into said combustion chamber from said air distributing means according to the barometric demands of said combustion chamber, and means for isolating the proportion of air fed into said combustion chamber against entry into said burner tube at least in the vicinity of said location from which said burner tube projects into said combustion chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd. 31. The invention according to claim 7 in which said burner projects into a combustion chamber from a location at least near to a portion of the enclosure defining said chamber, air distributing means on the exterior side of said enclosure, said distributing means being apertured for air admission and communication with:     a. the interior of said burner tube,   b. said combustion chamber, means for automatically, separately, and simultaneously feeding air into said tube and into said combustion chamber according to the barometric demands of said combustion chamber, and means for isolating the proportion of air fed into said combustion chamber against entry into said burner tube at least in the vicinity of said location from which said burner tube projects into said combustion chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. The invention according to claim 22 in which said burner projects into a combustion chamber from a location at least near to a portion of the enclosure defining said chamber, air distributing means on the exterior side of said enclosure, said air distributing means being apertured for air admission and communication with:     a. the interior of said burner, and   b. said combustion chamber, means for automatically, separately, and simultaneously feeding air into said tube and into said combustion chamber according to the barometric demands of said combustion chamber, and means for isolating the proportion of air fed into said combustion chamber against entry into said burner tube at least in the vicinity of said location from which said burner tube projects into said combustion chamber, said air distributing means being in the form of an apertured air intake housing secured to and projecting outwardly from said enclosure, said enclosure being apertured within the confines of said housing to permit the passage of air within said distribution housing therethrough into said combustion chamber, said burner tube lying within the produced boundary of said housing, a venturi channel for a fuel nozzle positioned in said distributing housing, the reduced end of said funnel lying substantially on the plane of said enclosure, said funnel being secured on said plane and substantially sealed around its reduced discharge end against air passage other than through the enlarged intake end thereof, said funnel being substantially co-axial with said tube, said funnel being situated substantially central of said distributing housing, the aperturing in said enclosure being arranged about said funnel and spaced therefrom, said air intake housing including a surrounding apertured wall projecting outwardly from said enclosure and an end plate spanning said apertured wall, a plenum chamber occupying the space between said apertured wall, said end plate, and the portion of said combustion chamber enclosure bounded by said apertured wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 33. The invention according to claim 5 in which said burner projects into a combustion chamber from a location at least near to a portion of the enclosure defining said chamber, air distributing means on the exterior side of said enclosure, said air distributing means being apertured for air admission and communication with:     a. the interior of said burner, and   b. said combustion chamber, means for automatically, separately, and simultaneously feeding air into said tube and into said combustion chamber according to the barometric demands of said combustion chamber, and means for isolating the proportion of air fed into said combustion chamber against entry into said burner tube at least in the vicinity of said location from which said burner tube projects into said combustion chamber, said air distributing means being in the form of an apertured air intake housing secured to and projecting outwardly from said enclosure, said enclosure being apertured within the confines of said housing to permit the passage of air within said distribution housing therethrough into said combustion chamber, said burner tube lying within the produced boundary of said housing, a venturi funnel for a fuel nozzle positioned in said distributing housing, the reduced end of said funnel lying substantially on the plane of said enclosure, said funnel being secured on said plane and substantially sealed around its reduced discharge end against air passage other than through the enlarged intake end thereof, said funnel being substantially co-axial with said tube, said funnel being situated substantially central of said distributing housing, the aperturing in said enclosure being arranged about said funnel and spaced therefrom, said air intake housing including a surrounding apertured wall projecting outwardly from said enclosure and an end plate spanning said apertured wall, a plenum chamber occupying the space between said apertured wall, said end plate, and the portion of said combustion chamber enclosure bounded by said apertured wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 34. A fluid fuel burner including an inner burner tube having at a first end thereof a burner head, and a jacket surrounding part of said tube, characterized in that said jacket has a first end wall and a centrally apertured second end wall, said jacket and end walls defining a counterflow chamber around said inner tube, said inner tube being annularly perforated in the vicinity of said first end wall and within the confines of said first and second end walls, said inner tube and counterflow chamber being in communication in the vicinity of said second end wall and within the confines of said first and second end walls, an air distributing housing overlying said second end wall on the exterior side thereof, means for admitting air into said housing, a venturi funnel within said housing communicating with the interior of said housing and with said second end wall central aperture, said funnel being substantially coaxial with said inner tube, an injection nozzle for pulverized fuel, and aperture means within the confines of said housing and communicating between the interior of said housing and the space surrounding said burner. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 35. The invention according to claim 5 in which said first end wall is sufficiently apertured to admit said limited volume of counterflowing air. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 36. The method according to claim 1 which is effected within a surrounding combustion chamber and which includes the steps of admitting air to an air distributing means and dividing said air within said distributing means into two essentially enclosed and separate air streams one of which mixes with said ignited fuel and the other of which enters said combustion chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd. 37. A fluid fuel burner embodying an inner burner tube, a surrounding jacket, said tube and said jacket each having a first end and adjacent second ends, said jacket being spaced from said tube, a fuel nozzle assembly, an ignition electrode and combustion supporting air intake means, and including in combination:     i. a burner head, at the first end of said tube,   ii. means for providing a counterflow of ignited fuel through a counterflow chamber existing between said tube and said jacket, said counterflow being opposite in direction to the flow of, and consisting of a portion of a tongue of flammable fluid projecting through said tube from said nozzle assembly,   iii. the originating location of said counterflow being between said nozzle assembly and said burner head,   iv. means for reintroducing said counterflow back into said inner tube near said nozzle assembly, and   v. means for causing the flame of said tongue to be extinguished when a sufficient rise in ambient temperature has supervened, and substantially simultaneously therewith thereby causing the generation of a blue flame at the said originating location of counterflow, and at said burner head. .Iaddend..Iadd. 38. The invention according to claim 15 in which said burner is secured to and projects inwardly from the wall of a combustion chamber having air venting in said wall upon the outer side of said jacket and air distributing means on the external side of said wall enclosing said venting, for admitting combustion supporting air to (a) the interior of said combustion chamber through said venting, and (b) through said funnel to said burner tube..Iaddend.