AU2002306234B2 - An air-gas mixer device, particulary for gas burners and similar apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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An air-gas mixer device, particularly for gas burners and similar apparatus Technical field o00 The present invention relates to an air-gas mixer device, designed particularly but not exclusively for gas burners with forced ventilation.

Technoloqical background As is well known, devices of the above-mentioned type are used in boilers Iand similar apparatus with gas burners, mainly for domestic use and, in particular, in applications with forced ventilation.

A device having the characteristics specified above is also known from the Applicant's International application PCT/IT01/00087.

In these devices, the combustible air-gas mixture is proportioned by axial injection of gas into an air-flow and subsequent mixing of the air-gas mixture produced with a further air-flow. The homogeneity of the combustion mixture obtainable with a device of this type is also increased by the suction effect of a fan disposed downstream of the mixer.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention there provided an air-gas mixer device, particularly for gas burners with forced ventilation, comprising: an air-gas mixing chamber supplied by a gas-flow and by an air-flow which are directed in the device through a first duct and a second duct, respectively, characterized in that it further comprises: 00 1A (1 first means for choking the second duct in order to choke the air-flow admitted to 00oO the mixer device through the second duct, air-flow diverting means for separating and directing the choked air-flow into a primary air-flow and a separate and distinct secondary air-flow, and second choke means associated with the secondary air-flow so as to direct the IDsecondary air-flow selectively towards the mixing chamber. 0 SIn a related aspect the invention advantageously may provide an air-gas 0mixer device which is compact and inexpensive in comparison with known solutions but which, at the same time, satisfies the above-mentioned requirements.

In a further related aspect the invention advantageously may reduce resonance phenomena which are triggered by flame fronts in the burner and are responsible for the generation of noise outside the apparatus in which the device is installed; typically, these phenomena are amplified as a result of the pressure losses which are necessarily produced in order to perform the flow-rate modulation and regulation functions.

In a preferred aspect the invention may provide the precision of the proportioning of the combustible mixture as well as to extendl the effective range of modulation of the flow delivered (and consequently of the power obtainable).

WO 03/092875 PCT/IT02/00284 2 The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic axial section through apparatus equipped with an air-gas mixer device formed in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic view in partial section, taken on the line I1-11 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 1, of a variant of the invention.

Preferred embodiment of the invention With reference to the drawings mentioned, an air-gas mixer device formed in accordance with the invention, in particular for supplying a forced-ventilation burner (not shown), is generally indicated 1.

The device 1 comprises a tubular body 2 with a cylindrical shell of axis X, and having two opposite ends 2a, 2b. A first duct 3 for directing a flow of fuel gas into the mixer extends inside the tubular body 2, coaxially therewith, between the ends 2a and 2b. A second axial duct 4 of annular cross-section is defined between the tubular body 2 and the first duct 3, for directing an air-flow admitted to the device 1 at the end 2a.

According to the invention, the flow admitted to the duct 4 can be regulated by means of a choke element, generally indicated 5. The element 5 is movable axially along the axis X inside the second duct, between a first position and a second position in which a minimum annular cross-section and a maximum crosssection are defined for the air-flow admitted at the end 2a. More particularly, the choke element 5 comprises a sleeve-like element 6 which is mounted for sliding on the first duct 3 and from an axial end of which a disc-shaped portion 7 extends radially. In the path of the element 5 between the two above-mentioned positions, the second duct 4 has a part 8 which diverges in the direction of the flow so as to define, jointly with the portion 7, flow cross-sections which increase from the first position towards the second position. In Figure 1, the element 5 is shown in solid outline in the first position of minimum cross-section and in broken outline in the second, maximum-flow position.

WO 03/092875 PCT/IT02/00284 3 Preferably, the part 8 of the duct 4 and the portion 7 are axially symmetrical and the part 8 has a preselected taper.

At the end 2b, the device 1 further comprises a tubular section 9 disposed coaxially between the first and second ducts 3, 4 and arranged downstream of the choke element 5, with reference to the direction the air and gas flow, indicated by the arrow F of Figure 1.

Advantageously, the tubular section 9 is connected axially to the first duct and has a converging wall 10 which defines a third duct 11 having an annular cross-section extending outside the first duct.

The wall 10 in turn defines a fourth duct 12 disposed in an annular arrangement outside the third duct 11 and communicating with the second duct through one or more radial openings 13 (two openings in the embodiment shown) provided in the outer cylindrical shell 14 of the tubular section 9. The third and fourth ducts 11, 12 constitute diverting means for directing the air-flow supplied through the duct 4 into respective and distinct primary and secondary air-flows.

The shell of the second duct also has at least one recess 15 formed in the inner surface of the duct and extending axially downstream of the part 8 in a position facing the openings 13 so as to form a passage for putting the second and fourth ducts into communication through the openings. The cylindrical shell advantageously has two recesses 15 of equal circumferential extent and spaced apart uniformly. The tubular body 2 is also fitted at least partially on the tubular section 9 so as to be movable rotatably relative to the section 9 about the axis X in order to constitute means for choking the openings 13. More particularly, cylindrical shell portions, indicated 16, which are disposed between adjacent recesses 15, are movable away from and towards a position in which they are completely superimposed on the openings 13, consequently closing them.

The circumferential extent of the recesses 15 is selected in a manner such that the openings 13 are closed or are fully open simultaneously as a result of the relative rotation between the tubular body 2 and the section 9.

A radial fan, indicated 17, disposed downstream of the tubular body 2 in the direction of the air and/or gas flow, has an intake opening 17a extending in front of the outlet end 2b from which the air/gas mixture emerges. Defined between the fan 17 and the tubular body 2 is a mixing chamber 18 which is supplied by the WO 03/092875 PCT/IT02/00284 4 above-described ducts 3, 11 and 12 and the operation of which will become clearer from the following description.

In use, the mixer device 1 is suitable for applications in which the choke element 5 is mounted with a vertical path, that is, applications in which the axis X is the axis along which the force of gravity acts. In this case, the choke element is subject to the gravitational force correlated with its own weight and to the pressures induced in the duct 4.

With a minimum-pressure signal produced by the minimum rate of revolution of the fan 17 in suction, the choke element 5 is moved vertically by its own weight to the first position (shown in solid outline in Figure 1) in which it is in abutment with an abutment element 19 extending radially in the duct 4. In this position, the minimum cross-section for the gas-flow admitted at the end 2a of the duct 4 is defined.

Upon an increase in the pressure-signal produced by an increase in the rate of revolution of the fan, the consequent reduction in pressure tends to move the element 5 towards the second position (shown in broken outline in Figure 1), in opposition the effect of the gravitational force. In this position, the maximum cross-section for the air-flow is defined. Between the minimum and maximum positions, it is possible to define intermediate flow cross-sections each of which is obtained by equilibrium of the gravitational force and the pressure acting on the choke element 5. The air-flow which is to be mixed with the gas-flow delivered through the duct 3 is thus modulated.

The flow is also separated into the primary and secondary air-flows directed through the ducts 11 and 12, respectively. In the maximum-flow condition (choke element 5 in the second position) the secondary air-flow is directed through the openings 13 and the fourth duct 12 into the mixing chamber 18. The secondary air-flow can also be modulated by adjustment of the outflow cross-sections of the openings 13, for example, by partial closure thereof.

It is thus possible to modulate the air-flow at the intake of the fan, extending the range of modulation in comparison with known applications.

In a variant of the invention, shown in Figure 3, in which details similar to those of the previous embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, the choke element 5 is urged resiliently into the first position (of minimum flow WO 03/092875 PCT/IT02/00284 cross-section), for example, by a spring 20 fitted on the first duct 3 and having opposite ends acting on the tubular section 9 and on the element 5, respectively.

This variant of the invention is usable effectively in all applications in which the element 5 is not subject to the force of gravity, for example, owing to horizontal mounting of the mixer device 1. In this case, the element 5 is subject to the pressures and to the resilient forces of the spring 20 along the axis X and the flowmodulation positions (including the minimum and maximum flow positions) are reached as a result of the equilibrium which is brought about between the abovementioned forces acting on the element The invention thus achieves the objects proposed, affording many advantages over known solutions.

A first advantage is that, by virtue of the modulation of the flow which can be achieved with the device according to the invention, the flow-modulation range, and consequently the power range, is advantageously extended.

A further advantage is that the maximum flow achieved with the modulation of the device according to the invention is further adjustable by selective modulation of the secondary air-flow.

Yet another advantage is that the choke element according to the invention brings about pressure losses such as to reduce the effects of resonance and the consequent noise phenomena induced in the device.

One of the chief advantages is greater axial and radial compactness of the device, by virtue of the fact that the means for choking the radial openings of the mixer are incorporated in the air-diverting duct.

Claims (16)

1. An air-gas mixer device, particularly for gas burners with forced ventilation, comprising: an air-gas mixing chamber supplied by a gas-flow and by an air-flow which are I directed in the device through a first duct and a second duct, respectively, O e characterized in that it further comprises: S- first means for choking the second duct in order to choke the air-flow admitted to S 10 the mixer device through the second duct, air-flow diverting means for separating and directing the choked air-flow into a primary air-flow and a separate and distinct secondary air-flow, and second choke means associated with the secondary air-flow so as to direct the secondary air-flow selectively towards the mixing chamber.

2. A mixer device according to Claim 1 in which the first choke means comprise a choke element movable axially inside the second duct between a first position and a second position in which a minimum cross-section and a maximum cross-section for the air-flow admitted to the second duct are defined, respectively.

3. A mixer device according to Claim 2 in which the second duct diverges in the direction of the air-flow, at least in a part extending in the region of the axial path of the choke element between the first and second positions, so that the choke element defines, jointly with the second duct, flow cross-sections in the second duct which increase from the first position towards the second position.

4. A mixer device according to Claim 3 in which the first and second ducts, as well as the choke element, are coaxial with one another.

A mixer device according to any one of Claims 3 to 4 in which the choke element and the second duct are axially symmetrical, at least along the said part.

6. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 in which the first gas duct extends axially inside the second duct and the choke element is fitted slidably on the first duct.

7. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 6 in which the choke element comprises a disc-shaped portion extending radially from a sleeve element, the sleeve element being associated slidably with the first duct. 00 7 O O

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the diverting means comprise a tubular section disposed coaxially between the first 00 and second ducts, downstream of the choke element with reference to the direction of the air-flow, the tubular section defining a third duct which converges in the direction of the flow and which can divert the primary air-flow, as well as a fourth duct, communicating with the first duct through one or more radial openings Iwhich are associated with the second choke means and are provided in the tubular section, so as to direct the secondary air-flow selectively towards the mixing chamber.

9. A mixer device according to Claim 8 in which the second duct is at least partially fitted on the tubular section in order to constitute means for choking the openings, the second duct being movable rotatably on the tubular section away from and towards a position in which the openings are completely closed.

A mixer device according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 in which the conveyor means comprise at least one axial passage defined between the second duct and the tubular section for putting the second and fourth ducts into communication through the one or more openings.

11. A mixer device according to Claim 10 in which the at least one passage comprises a respective recess which is provided in the inner surface of the second duct, extends for at least a circumferential portion of the cross-section of the duct, and is elongate axially in the duct in the region of the openings.

12. A device according to Claim 11 in which two angularly spaced-apart recesses are provided, defining respective axial passages associated with two openings, the recesses having a circumferential extent such that the second duct and the tubular section are movable rotatably relative to one another between a position in which the openings are completely closed and a fully-open position in which the recesses are superimposed on the respective openings.

13. A mixer device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first choke means are urged resiliently towards the first operative position of minimum gas-flow cross-section.

14. A mixer device according to Claim 13 in which a spring is provided, fitted on the first duct and having opposite ends acting on the tubular section and on the choke element. 00 8 c

15. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the l- mixing chamber is disposed in the region of an intake opening of a fan the output oo of which is connected to a gas burner.

16. An air-gas mixer device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.