Means for controlling the combustion of hydrocarbons

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Drawing sheet — no readable text.

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Patented May 17, 1927. 1,629,253

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. BREESE, JR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIs, AssIGNOR. To OIL DEVICES CORPORA

TION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE COMBUSTION or HYDROCARBONS.

Application filed November 9, 1926. Serial No. 147,218.t

My invention relates to a device for burn of the furnace A.- The inner end of this ex ing hydrocarbons, and is particularly adapt tension D is positioned and shaped, for ex ed for burning liquid hydrocarbons in con ample as shown at D?, to receive exhaust nection with domestic heating plants. One gases of combustion, and return them to the 5 object is the provision of a simple and easily passage C. .. .. . manufactured combustion device with a Eindicates an air inlet aperture positioned minimum number of moving parts. Another in the member D or in the extension D. It object is the provision of a combustion de is provided with the closure member E! vice in which hydrocarbons may be burned mountedas on a thermostatic strip E, herein secured as at E° to the wall of the 65 10 substantially noiselessly. Another object is shown the provision of means for returning a circu members D. It will be understood that in when the furnace is cold, the closure E will lation of the exhaust gases of combustion in to the inflowing mixture, in order to quiet preferably remain open. I also illustrate the noise of combustion. Another object is an auxiliary air inlet E, which may be pro vided with any suitable manually operable ls the provision of both automatic and manual closure means for regulating and varying the rela E. . . .

tive proportions of air and exhaust gases G is a fuel nozzle projecting into the delivered to the zone of combustion. An outer end of the passage C, and aligned with other object is the provision of automatic its longitudinal axis. It is supplied by the 75 to means for varying the relative proportions fuel line G which extends from any suitable of air and exhaust gases from a maximum of fuel source. G. indicates any suitable type. air at the initiation of combustion to a mini of pump, for example a rotary pump, which mum of air during normal full combustion. may be driven from the motor B, for ex Other objects will appear from time to time ample by means of the belt G. It will be realized that whereas I have 80 in the course of the specification and ass described

It illustrate my invention more or less and shown a practical and opera- , diagrammatically in the accompanying draw tive device, nevertheless many changes may ing, which is a side elevation of my device be made in size, shape, number and disposi with parts in section. Like parts are indi tion of parts without departing from the cated by like symbols throughout the draw spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my 85 ing and specification. a drawing and , description to be taken as in A indicates, any suitable furnace with a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to the specific which my burner may be used. Since the description details of the furnace form no part of the and showing. present invention, s cally indicated. it is merely diagrammati The use and operation of my invention are 90 as follows:

B' is any suitable base or support, on At the initiation of combustion, the ther which is mounted a motor B with which is mostatic element. E holds the closure. E. associated a fan chamber B. having a tan withdrawn a substantial distance from the . () gential exhaust passage B which extends airinlet E. As a result, a substantial current 95 into the furnace A and terminates in a casing of air flows in through the aperture E and B therein. B. indicates a top for said through the passage C. For ignition I may casing, having a main central aperture B employ any suitable means commonly known surrounded by a plurality of smaller aper in the art, for example a torch or pilot light, 160 tures B. - the ignition means being not shown, since the C indicates alongitudinal passage member details do not form part of the present in mounted within the passage B and termi vention. As ignition begins some of the nating in a mixing chamber C, the upper exhaust gases of combustion flow into the edge C of which engages the inner edge of lateral extension D and heat the thermo the aperture B. C. are any suitable sup static member E. As it is heated it closes porting or spacing members. the aperture E, thus decreasing the volume. In connection with the outer-end of the of the inflowing air, and increasing the vol- . passage C is the passage D, herein shown ume of the exhaust gases of combustion as generally vertical and provided with a returned to the passage C.

; lateral extension D passing through the wall It will be understood that the return of lio

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the exhaust gases has the double function lation of said exhaust gases, after the initia of heating the hydrocarbon and of reducing tion of combustion.

and practically eliminating the noise of 2. In a heating device a combustion cham combustion. It is not necessary to go into ber, an air inlet passage in communication the causes of this silencing effect, but it is a . therewith, a fuel inlet member, a return con 70 fact that the use of a return circuit of ex nection adapted to direct a circuit of the haust gases does practically eliminate the exhaust gases of combustion into said air noise of combustion, the mixtures so formed inlet passage, and automatic means adapted burning silently. . . . at the same time to decrease the air circula () I preferably so arrange the thermostatic tion. tion and increase the exhaust gas circula 75 element that it will completely close the air inlet E after a predetermined period of com 3. In a heating device a combustion cham bustion. In order to provide a minimum ber, an air inlet passage in communication of air I may employ the supplemental and there with, a fuel inlet member, a return con manually controlled air inlet E'. Whereas nection adapted to direct a circuit of the the circulation of air and exhaust gases into exhaust gases of combustion into said air 80 and through the passage C is effected by Apte, inlet passage, and thermostatic means natural draft, I prefer to provide a second at the same time to decrease the air ary air supply which is or may be constantly circulation and increase the exhaust gas controlled, for example by the enployment circulation. - of a blower. This secondary air is admitted 4. In a heating device a combustion cham into the zone of combustion through the ap ber, an air inlet passage in communication ertures B in the top B of the casing B', therewith, a fuel inlet member, a return con whereas the primary mixture of hydrocarbon nection adapted to direct a circuit of the 25 and exhaust gases, with whatever air is exhaust gases of combustion into said air 90 admitted to it through the apertures E and inlet passage, and means for at the same E", enters the zone of combustion through time decreasing the volume of the inflowing air and increasing the volume of the circu the main central aperture B'.

The details of the admission or spraying lated exhaust gases.

30 of the oil are not important in the present 5. In a heating device a combustion cham invention, but I indicate a rotary pump ber, an air inlet passage in communication 95 driven by the motor B, which delivers fuel therewith, a fuel inlet member, a return con under pressure along the line G' to the exhaust nection adapted to direct a circuit of the spraying, nozzle, G. The finely divided gases of combustion into said air 35 . . hydrocarbon so delivered in liquid form is inlet passage, and automatic means for at mingled with the heated exhaust gases and the same time decreasing the volume of the 100 is to a great extent vaporized or gasified inflowing air and increasing the volume of thereby, prior to reaching the actual Zone the circulated exhaust gases after a prede of combustion. termined initial period of combustion. 40 Although the thermostatic regulation 6. In a heating device a combustion cham above described is particularly important in ber, an air inlet passage in communication 105 connection with the initiation of combustion, therewith, a return connection adapted to it will be realized that a decrease in the direct a return circuit of exhaust gases into temperature of the exhaust gases returned the stream of inflowing air, a fuel inlet 45 will always increase the primary air supply member, an inlet opening in communication admitted through the aperture E. with said air inlet passage, and automatic O Although. I have illustrated thermostatic means for controlling it.

means for effecting the regulation of the 7. In a heating device a combustion cham flow of return gases and air, it will be ber, an air inlet passage in communication 50 realized that I do not limit myself to thermo therewith, a return connection adapted to static means. Any automatic control for. direct a return circuit of exhaust gases into effecting such regulation may be employed, the stream of inflowing air, a fuel inlet ; and, for example, any automatic means for member, an inlet opening in communication cutting in and increasing circulation of ex with said air inlet passage, and automatic

haust gases after the initiation of combus means for at the same time varying the 20 tion. .. passage of exhaust gases through the return I claim: connection in inverse proportion to varia 1. In a heating device a combustion cham tions in the supply of inflowing air effected ber, a fuel line, an air line, and a passage by said control.

member adapted to circulate exhaust gases 8. In a heating device a combustion cham 2.5 for mixture with the fuel and air, and ber, an air inlet passage in communication control means adapted initially to restrict therewith, a return connection adapted to such circulation of exhaust gases and direct a return circuit of exhaust gases into adapted automatically to increase the circu the stream of inflowing air, a fuel inlet

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member, an inlet opening in communication mum of exhaust gases and a maximum of with said air inlet passage, control means for air, adapted automatically to decrease the said air inlet passage and for said return flow of air to a predetermined minimum connection adapted, at the initiation of com: and increase the return circuit of exhaust bustion, to permit the flow of a minimum of gases to a predetermined maximum after exhaust gases and a maximum of air, and a predetermined period of combustion. adapted automatically to decrease the flow 10. En a heating device a combustion of air and increase the return circuit of ex chamber, an air inlet passage in communi haust gases after the initiation of combals cation therewith, a fuel inlet member, a 10 tion. return connection adapted to direct a cir 30 9. In aheating device a combustion cham cuit of the exhaust gases of combustion ber, an air inlet passage in communication toward the combustion chamber, and auto therewith, a return connection adapted to matically operative unitary means for in direct a return circuit of exhaust ases into versely varying the flow of the air and of the 5 the stream of inflowing air, a fuel inlet exhaust gases, respectively, through said air 35. member, an inlet opening in communication inlet passage an return connection, after with said air inlet passage, control means the initiation of combustion. for said air inlet passage and for said re Signed at Washington, in the District of turn connection adapted, at the initiation Columbia, this 8th day of November, 1926. of combustion, to permit the flow of a mini JAMES L. BREESE, JR.