US2648378A - Gas burner having selectable - Google Patents

Description

1953 G; F. JENKINS 2,648,378

GAS BURNER HAVING SELECTABLE PRIMARY AIR INLETS g Filed Dec. 29,- 1949 A LTE RNATE POSITION #l Ihwentor GEORGE E JENKINS g IV M attorney Patented Aug. 11, 1953 GAS BURNER HAVING SELECTABLE PRIMARY AIR INLETS' George F. Jenkins, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1949, Serial No. 135,623

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements ini gas burners and, more particularly, to improvements in a shield for adjusting the size of a primary air opening of a gas pilot burner and for shielding said primary air opening from flames or drafts which occasionally enguh said burner.

In heating systems, both commercial and domestic, it is common to provide a pilot burner for igniting a main burner. During the heating season, the pilot burner is continuously burning while the main burner is only ignited from time to time depending upon the demand. Sometimes, due to a draft or other operating condition of the main burner, when it is ignited, the flames from the burner will engulf the pilot burner sufficiently to cause ignition of the gas at the orifice of the spud positioned within the pilot burner body adjacent the primary air hole therein. Such a burning of the pilot burner gas, will prevent proper ignition of the main burner inasmuch as there will be no fiame from the tip of the pilot burner to come in contact with the gas issuing from the main burner. Under such circumstances, there may be a dangerous accumulation of unburned gas within the burner before ignition takes place, resulting in a damaging explosion.

In the above-mentioned type of heating system, it has been customary to provide means for adjusting the size of the air openings of the pilot burner to adapt said burner for use with different types of gas. It has also been customary to provide some type of shielding means that will prevent the flame of the main burner from coming into the primary air openings of the pilot burner to cause ignition of the gas therein.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple combination of a pilot burner and a shield therefor that provides a positive predetermined air adjustment for the pilot burner, for use with a particular type of gas, and simultaneously provide a shielding means for the primary air openings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reliable shield for a pilot burner which may be applied in any angular relationship to the pilot burner and still provide a single predetermined adjustment of the size ol the primary air opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple shield means which may be selectively used or not used, depending upon the type of gas to be burned in the pilot burner.

Still a further object oi the invention is to provide an air adjusting shield for a pilot burner which so cooperates with the body shape of the pilot burner that a predetermined air adjustment takes place by the mere placing of the shield on the burner body in any position that it may assume thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air shield of inexpensive construction which does not require skilled workmen to install it.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side eievational view of a thermoelectric generating unit embodying the invention, with portions thereof broken away;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the unit taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of a shield per se, being a part of said unit.

Referring to Figure l of the drawing, a burner body I l is shown as being supported by a bracket i2, which also supports a thermopile l3. Openings M in the bracket l2 are provided to receive a bolt for fastening the bracket to a main burner unit (not shown). As the details of the connections between the bracket and the thermopile and pilot burner form no part of the invention, it'willsuffice to say that they may be secured in any suitable manner well known in the art.

Positioned at the upper end of the burner body II, is a burner tip l5 having flame orifices it connected by a runner slot ll.

As can be best seenin Figure 2 of the drawing, the lower portion Ha of the burner body is hexagonal in shape. It is to be understood, however, that the body portion 1 la may be square or have any other even number of sides, so long as they are of equal width and symmetrical to the axis of the burner. Extending diametrically through the lower portion lta of the burner body are primary air openings 18. Both of these air openings are necessary, when the unit is burning liquid petroleum gas or natural gas, but only one of the openings is needed where manufaetured or mixed gas is being used.

A shield I9 is the means for sealing oii one of the primary air openings it whenever manufactured or mixed gas is used. This shield has one side 20 that has an inner surface of the same width as one of the sides of the burner body portion I ia. Two adjacent sides 2i and 22 are disposed at the same angle to the sides 20 as the angle between adjoining sides of the body portion Ha. With this arrangment, it is obvious that nomatter what angular relationship the shield has with respect to the body portion Ha, the surfaces 20, 21 and 22 would be in engagement with said portion I la and one of the air openings [8 will be covered and the other will be open. This may be best seen in Figure 2 which shows two alternate positions for the air openings l8 in angular relationship with the shield member. It will be noted that a part of the shield member is adapted to fit snugly against one-half of the surface of the body portion Ila with the remainder of the shield member spaced from the other half of said body portion. It is deemed obvious that the remaining portion of the shield may take most any form, so long as it provides adequate space between the side wall of the shield and the uncovered opening I8.

Extending downwardly from the surface of the shield which engages a surface of the valve body, is an arm 26 of a supporting bracket for the sleeve which also comprises a washerlike portion 21 having a bore 28. The center of bore 28 is the same distance from the inner surface of the portions and 26 as between the center of the burner body and the outer surface of the body which bears against the portion 20 of the sleeve. Extending upwardly from the opposite side of the washerlike portion 21, opposite the leg 26, is an arm 29 having a detent 30 pressed inwardly from the surface thereof. The innermost portion of the detent 30 is spaced from the inner surface of the leg 26 a distance equal to the width of the body portion I la, or very slightly less than said width. It is thus seen that when the sleeve 19 is positioned around the body portion Ila, with the upper surface of the washer portion 21 bearing against the lower end of said body portion, the detent 30 will frictionally engage the body and hold the portion 20 of the shield firmly against the burner and over the opening l8.

A conventional burner spud 3| has a threaded orifice portion 32 which is screw-threaded into the lower end of the burner body portion Ila so as to bring an annular bearing shoulder, formed by an enlarged grip portion thereof, against the underside of the washer-like portion 21 of the sleeve to securely clamp the shield member against the bottom end of the body portion Ila. An orifice 33 at the upper end of the member 32 is substantially in transverse alignment with the air openings I8.

Screw-threaded on a lower externally threaded portion 34 of the spud, is a conventional conduit coupling unit 3536 for connecting the pilot burner to a gas supply line.

It will be observed from mere inspection of the drawing that the shield member may be made from cheap material by first cutting the shield to the right pattern and then bending the cut material into the shape shown in the drawing. The space between the two ends of the shield walls 25 is preferably kept to a minimum although a relatively wide space therebetween does not prevent the shield from performing its function.

From the above description of the invention, it will be observed that a burner adapted to burn liquid or natural gas, may be converted into a burner for manufactured or mixed gas by the simple process of removing the spud 3i from the burner body, placing the shield around the lower end of the burner body in an angular position, and then reinserting the spud. It is thus seen that the above simple changeover could be made by an unskilled person without having to remove the burner from its installation and without having to actually see the burner while the changeover is being made. As no adjustment other than the mere positioning of the shield on the burner is necessary, it is possible by the mere feeling of the elements to make the abovementioned change.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is described above, it is apparent that an infinite number of even sides would form a round body portion lia, which would still be a satisfactory shape. As in the modification where the portion Ha has fiat sides of substantial area, no matter what angular relationship a shield, having a rounded bearing surface, would have on a round burner portion Ha, either one hole would be open or a part of each hole, the sum of which would equal one hole, would be open. Therefore, any of the above described modifications of the invention would provide a satisfactory arrangement or design although the preferred embodiment is deemed to be the better in that one large hole is less likely to clog than two smaller holes.

As other modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is to be determined solely from the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A gas burner comprising a burner body having the circumference of at least the lower portion thereof formed of six equal flat sides, a burner tip at the upper end of said body having a laterally extending orifice therein for directing a flame against a thermocouple, diametrically opposed air openings through two of said sides, a spud constructed to securely fit within the bottom of said burner and having a bearing shoulder thereon opposing the lower end of said body, a sleeve-like shield having six fiat sides, one of the shields sides having an inner surface equal in circumferential width to that of one of said body sides, the adjacent side of said shield at each end of said one side being longer than said one side and making the same angle with said one side as the angle between the sides of said body, and bracket means extending from said shield and clamped between said lower end of said body and said bearing shoulder on said spud.

2. A gas burner comprising a burner body having the circumference of at least the lower portion thereof formed of equal fiat sides, a burner tip at the upper end of said body having an orifice therein for directing a flame against a thermocouple, diametrically opposed air openings through two of said sides. a spud constructed to securely fit within the bottom of said burner and having a bearing shoulder thereon opposing the lower end of said body, a sleeve-like shield having at least two flat sides, one of the shields sides having an inner surface equal in circumferential width to that of one of said body sides, the adjacent side of said shield at each end of said one side being longer than said one side and making the same angle with said one side as the angle between the sides of said body, and bracket means extending from said shield and clamped between said lower end of said body and said bearing shoulder on said spud.

3. A gas burner comprising a burner body having the circumference of at least the lower portion thereof formed of equal fiat sides, a burner tip at the upper end of said body having an orifice therein for directing a flame against a thermocouple, diametrically opposed air openings through two of said sides, a sleeve-like shield having at least two flat sides, one of the shields sides having an inner surface equal in circumferential width to that of one of said body sides, the adjacent side of said shield at each end of said one side being longer than said one side and making the same angle with said one side as the angle between the sides of said body, and bracket means extending from said shield and secured to said body.

4. A gas burner comprising a burner body having the circumference of at least the lower portion thereof formed of an even number of symmetrical flat sides, a burner tip at the upper end of said body, diametrically opposed air openings through two of said sides, a spud constructed to securely fit within the bottom of said burner and having a bearing shoulder thereon opposing the lower end of said body, a sleeve-like shield having at least two flat sides, one of the shields fiat sides having an inner surface equal in circumferential width to that of one of said body sides, the adja cent side of said shield at each end of said one side being longer than said one side and making the same angle with said one side as the angle between the sides of said body, and bracket means extending from said shield and clamped between said lower end of said body and said bearing shoulder on said spud.

5. In combination, an elongated and hollow burner body having an even number of equal width sides, an air hole in each of two diametrically opposed sides of said body, a sleeve-like shield for encircling said body and having adjacent sides which engage a circumferential half of a portion of said body sides adjacent said holes to cover one of said air holes regardless of the circumferential position of said shield with respect to said body, the remaining portion of said shield being shaped so as to be spaced from the remaining circumferential portion of said body sides, and means for holding said shield on said burner body.

6. In combination, an elongated and hollow burner body having an even number of identically shaped sides, an air hole in each of two diametrically opposed sides of said body, a spud extending into the lower end of said burner body, a sleeve-like shield for encircling said body and having adjacent sides which engage a circumferential half of a portion of said body sides to cover one of said air holes regardless of the circumferential position of said shield with respect to said body, the remaining portion of said shield being shaped so as to be spaced from the remaining circumferential portion of said body sides, and bracket means having a washer-like portion fitting around said spud for holding said shield on said burner body in the above-mentioned position.

7. In combination, an elongated and hollow burner body having an even number of equal width sides, an air hole in each of two diametrically opposed sides of said body, a sleeve-like shield for encircling said body and having adjacent sides which engage a circumferential half of a portion of said body sides to cover one of said air holes regardless of the circumferential position of said shield with respect to said body, the remaining portion of said shield being shaped so as to be spaced from the remaining circumferential portion of said body sides, and means for holding said shield on said burner body in the above-mentioned position, said means comprising a generally U-shaped bracket with one end thereof connected to said shield and the other end thereof having a detent for frictionally engaging a side of said body.

8. In combination, an elongated and hollow burner body having an even number of equal width sides, an air hole in each of two diametrically opposed sides of said body, a sleeve-like shield for encircling said body and having adjacent sides which engage a circumferential half of a portion of said body sides to cover one of said air holes regardless of the circumferential position of said shield with respect to said body, the remaining portion of said shield being shaped so as to be spaced from the remaining circumd ferential portion of said body sides, a spud secured in the lower end of said body and means for holding said shield on said burner body, said means comprising a bracket having a portion which extends between said spud and the adjacent end of said burner body.

9. The combination comprising a burner having diametrically opposed holes for the admission of air, a shield having a sleeve-like member with a first portion thereof shaped so as to be engageable with and extend only half way around said burner when applied thereto and a second portion shaped so as to be spaced from and to extend substantially the rest of the way around the burner, and means for holding said shield on said burner with half of the air holes covered.

10. A combination as described in claim 9, wherein said holding means is adapted to frictionally engage said burner and hold the burner engaging portion of said shield firmly against the burner.

11. In a shield for a burner having an even number of concentric fiat sides and an air hole in each of two diametrically opposed sides thereof, the combination comprising a sleeve-like member having an even number of longitudinally extending surfaces, half of which are an equal perpendicular distance from a longitudinal axis of said sleeve and the other half of which are a greater perpendicular distance from said axis, and means for supporting said shield.

12. A shield for a burner having a body portion with an even number of equal width sides and an air hole in each of two diametrically opposed sides thereof, said shield comprising a generally U-shaped mounting bracket having friction means on one leg thereof for holding said shield in assembled position, said bracket having a bore through substantially the center of the base of said U-shaped bracket, and a sleeve-like member on the other leg of said bracket having substantially half of its circumference concentric with the axis of said bore and the remainder thereof a greater distance from said axis.

13. A shield for a burner of the type having concentric side walls and air openings in at least two opposed side walls thereof, said shield comprising a tubular member having substantially half of its circumference formed of substantially fiat sides, the surfaces of which are perpendicularly equidistant from a common point, and the remainder of the circumference being a greater distance from said point than said perpendicular distance.

14. A shield for a burner having a body portion with an even number of equal Width sides and an air hole in each of two diametrically opposed sides thereof, said shield comprisin a mounting bracket for holding said shield in assembled position, said bracket having a bore therethrough and a sleeve-like member on said bracket having substantially half of its circumference concentric with the axis of said bore and the remainder thereof a greater distance from said axis. GEORGE F. JENKINS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 562,410 Moon June 23, 1896 2,429,360 Kells Oct. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 350,570 Germany Mar. 21, 1922

Images