US2087983A - Draft equalizer for gas burners - Google Patents

Description

Juiy 27' J. w. MARTIN DRAFT EQUALIZER FOR GAS BURNERS Filed April 50, 1955 Patented July 'UNITEDSTATES DRAFT EQUALIZER Foa GAS BURNERS James Woodward Martin, Dallas, Tex; assignor to Lone Star Gas Company, Dallas, Tex., a

corporation of Texas Application April 30, 1935, Serial No. 19,115

5 claims; (01. 110-147) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a draft equalizer for gas burners and the present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 731,231, filed June 19, 1934.

The object of this invention is to provide a gas burner adapted for various uses and equipped with means for preventing sudden changes in atmospheric conditions from extinguishing the pilot or creating a back draft on the flue through which the products of combustion are discharged.

' A further object of the invention is to provide means for equalizing the pressure in the exhaust and intake conduits, thus preventing the blowing out or sucking out of the flame.

With the above and other objects in view which will appearas the description proceeds, my

invention resides in the novel features hereinset forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away showing one form of my invention in stalled in connectionwith, a liquefied petroleum gas vaporizing apparatus of the type shown and described in my co-pending application filed of even date herewith, Serial No. 19,114.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged connecting end view of the draft equalizer shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a modification constituting the preferred form of draft equalizer.

In the drawing, referring toFig. '1, numeral l represents a gas burner of any suitable type having a conventional pilot 2, said burner and pilot being fed from any suitable source and housed in a box or casing 3, the latter having a door I which is adapted to be firmly secured inplace by a nut and bolt arrangement 5 of any convenient type. The burner box 3 in the adaptation shown in the drawing, is locatedlimmediatelybeneath the bottom wall of a receptacle 6 containing the fluid to be heated, a flue 'I extending upwardly through the bottom wall of said receptacle for a predetermined distance and then being inclined downwardly with its inclined end projecting outwardly from said receptacle and terminating in communication with a draft equalizer 8 hereinafter referred to more in detail.

.The rear wall of the burner box 3 is provided with a suitable opening for receiving the end of an air intake conduit 9, the other end of which terminates in communication with said draft equalizer 8. v

Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, the form of draft equalizer here shown consists of a housing having upper side walls Ill and II, lower side walls I2 and I3, and end walls I4 and i5.

, The connecting end wall i4 is provided with two openings l6 and I! into which the ends of the air intake conduit 9 and the exhaust conduit or flue I are respectively connected, a transverse vertical partition Yl8 being arranged substantially centrally of the housing between said openings to form intake and exhaust chambers lie and Ha, respectively.

The upper end of the housing is provided with an exhaust opening l9 between adjacent ends of theside walls In and II, and the lower end of said housing is provided with an intake opening 20 between adjacent ends of the side walls I! and I3. Just inside the mouth of each of these openings and extending entirely across the housing, I provide an angular baffle l9a and 20a, respectively, to interrupt any sudden influx of air through said openings.

The four side walls of the housing are provided with openings Ilia, Ila, Ma and Ba, respectively, and adjacent each of these openings I provide baffle plates 2| which lie within the respective chambers and extend transversely across the housing with their adjacent ends in spaced relation, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and The flue I is preferably provided with a drain outlet 22 (Fig. 1) adjacent the point where it emerges from the receptacle 6, a dam or obstruction 23 extending across the lower portion of the flue immediately posterior to the drain opening, whereby any condensation in the flue is drained out before it reaches the draft equalizer 8. This apparatus is usually. located out of doors, and in extreme weather any moisture entering the draft equalizer would freeze and eventually obstruct one or more of the openings therein.

, In the operation of this form of draft equalizer, the products of combustion from the flue 'l are discharged into chamber lla through opening l1, thence through the spaces between the baflies II and partition l8, exhausting to atmosphere through openings l9, Ila and Ba. Fresh air is drawn intochamber lGa by the draft created by and Ila and prevents any appreciable mixtureof the products of combustion with the fresh air taken into the burner. The baflles l9a, 20a and 2| prevent any outside atmospheric disturbances from passingunobstructed through the various openings into the chambers Mia and I la.

With these bailies and openings arranged in staggered relation, no outside atmospheric dis- \turbances are transmitted directly into the chambers. For example, in the case of changing wind velocity which is ordinarily the most serious of these atmospheric disturbances, the winds are caused to disperse and distribute themselves throughout the outer space between the bailies 2| and the walls of the housing, so that the effect of such disturbances is distributed simultaneously and with the same intensity to both chambers I61: and Na, thus affecting an equal and balanced pressure throughout the combustion system including the draft equalizer and the burner box. Obviously, under these conditions i the flame is allowed to create its own positive draft regardless of outside atmospheric disturbances.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a device which operates upon the same principle as that just described but due to its simplicity, this modification is the form which I prefer to use in most instances.

This device consists of a cylindrical housing 24 which is vertically disposed in place of the draft equalizer 8 just described, with the flue 1 connected into an L 25 which projects through the wall of the housing 24 with its open end directed upwardly, and the air intake conduit 9 connected into a similar L 26 extending through the wall of the housing with its open end directed downwardly. It will be noted that in this form of my invention the flue and air intake conduits are vertically spaced instead of being located side by side as in Fig. 1. However, the important feature is to arrange the open ends of the Ls 25 and 26 in vertical alignment substantially in the central portion of the cylindrical housing 2.

The ends of the housing 24 are open as at 21 and 28-and provided with deflectors or bailles 21a and 28a, respectively, which may be secured to the walls of the housing by any suitable means such as brackets 29, said bailles extending across the open ends of the housing and spaced therefrom a predetermined distance to provide for suflicient intake and exhaust.

This form of my invention provides an effec- 'tive means of equalizing atmospheric disturbances, and as in the structure just described, permits the burner to create its own positive draft. The hot products of combustion leaving the burner box 3 through flue I are conducted upwardly through the L 25 into the upper portion of the housing 24, being discharged through the space between the baille 21a and the upper end 21 of-the housing. Fresh air is drawn in through the open lower end 28 of the housing, past the baiiie 2811 into the down-turned end of the L 26 and from thence ,through conduit 9 into the burner box.

Obviously, any wind disturbances are interrupted by the baflles 21a and 28a, and due to the aosmas arrangement of the L's, their effect is equall distributed in the housing 24 so as to permit tlu uninterrupted operation of the burner.

While I have shown and described my preseni invention as particularly adapted. for use in connection with liquefied petroleum gas vaporizer: of the type shown and described in my copending applications, it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit-myself in any way to this particular use. Obviously, this invention may be used with equal eflect in connection with any type of gas burner which is subjected to changing atmospheric conditions, such for example as orchard heaters and other burner equipment which is located out of doors and exposed to the elements.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and operation of my invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set out in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. The combination with a fuel burner having an air inlet conduit and a flue, of a draft equalizer comprising a housing, exhaust openings and intake openings in said housing, baflie means adjacent saidopenings, the outer ends of said air conduit and flue projecting through the wall of said housing and terminating within the latter, and separate means for preventing the admixture of flue gases with the fresh air drawn into said conduit.

2. In combination with a fuel burner, a closed burner box, an air inlet conduit leading into said box, a flue leading from said box, a draft equalizer, including a housing, intake and exhaust openings in said housing, baifles adjacent said openings, said conduit and flue leading into said equalizer, and means within said equalizer for preventing the admixture of flue gases with the fresh air drawn into said conduit.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a vertically disposed body portion open at its upper and lower extremities, said flue terminating in an upturned end and said air inlet conduit terminating adjacent said flue in a down-turned end.

I 4. The combination 'as claimed in claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a vertically disposed body portion open at .its upper and lower extremities, said flue terminating in an upturned end and said air inlet conduit terminating below said flue and in vertical alignment therewith, in a down-turned end.

5. The combination with a fuel burner having an air inlet conduit and a flue, of a draft equalizer comprising a housing, a vertical partition dividing said housing into an inlet chamber and an exhaust chamber, said air inlet conduit being in communication with said air inlet chamber, said flue being in communication with said exhaust chamber, inlet and exhaust openings for said chambers, and baflie means adjacent said openings, said chambers being arranged in indirect communication with one another whereby atmospheric disturbances are equally distributed throughout said housing but the admixture oi flue gases with the fresh air is prevented.

JAMES WOODWARD MARTIN.

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