Ported burner

Abstract

A fuel burner includes a tube extending along a centerline from a first end to a second end and having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a central passage. The central passage is supplied at the first end with a mixture of air and combustible fuel pre-mixed upstream of the tube. The second end is closed by an end wall in a fluid-tight manner. The tube has fluid directing structure for directing the pre-mixed mixture radially outward from the central passage to an exterior of the tube such that flames exiting adjacent fluid directing structures extend towards and impinge one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel burner comprising:
 a tube extending along a centerline from a first end to a second end and having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a central passage, the central passage being supplied at the first end with a mixture of air and combustible fuel pre-mixed upstream of the tube, the second end being closed by an end wall in a fluid-tight manner, the tube having fluid directing structure for directing the pre-mixed mixture radially outward from the central passage to an exterior of the tube such that flames exiting adjacent fluid directing structures extend towards and impinge one another.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel burner of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid directing structure includes a plurality of openings and a guide associated with each opening, each guide including a base connected to the tube and a pair of legs extending circumferentially in opposite directions from the base such that the legs of adjacent fluid directing structures confront one another. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel burner of  claim 2 , wherein the guides are arranged in a series of rows that extend continuously around the periphery of the tube to encircle the centerline. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel burner of  claim 2 , wherein the guides are substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel burner of  claim 1 , further comprising secondary fluid directing structure positioned on opposite longitudinal sides of the fluid directing structure. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel burner of  claim 5 , wherein the secondary fluid directing structure comprises ports extending through the tube to the central passage. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel burner of  claim 6 , wherein a guide is associated with each port and extends towards the fluid directing structure. 
     
     
         8 . A heating appliance including the fuel burner of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A fuel burner comprising:
 a base extending along a centerline from a first end to a second end and having an upstream side and a downstream side, the upstream side being supplied with a mixture of air and combustible fuel pre-mixed upstream of the base, the base having fluid directing structure for directing the pre-mixed mixture from the upstream side to the downstream side such that flames exiting adjacent fluid directing structures extend towards and impinge one another.   
     
     
         10 . The fuel burner of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid directing structure includes a plurality of openings and a guide associated with each opening, each guide including a base connected to the tube and a pair of legs extending in opposite directions from the base such that the legs of adjacent fluid directing structures confront one another. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel burner of  claim 10 , wherein the guides are substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel burner of  claim 9 , further comprising secondary fluid directing structure positioned on opposite longitudinal sides of the fluid directing structure. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel burner of  claim 12 , wherein the secondary fluid directing structure comprises ports extending through the base. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel burner of  claim 13 , wherein a guide is associated with each port and extends towards the fluid directing structure. 
     
     
         15 . A heating appliance including the fuel burner of  claim 9 .