Low profile brooder

Abstract

A low profile brooder is provided, comprising a venturi, a burner base, a burner cap, and a baffle. The burner base and the burner cap reside adjacent to each other, with the burner cap disposed above the burner base and with a distribution chamber between them. A central axis is defined. A venturi resides below the burner base and is in fluid communication with the distribution chamber at the central axis. The venturi defines a fuel flow path between its upstream and downstream ends. The fuel flow path resides at least partially at one or more of an acute angle, a perpendicular angle, and an obtuse angle to the central axis. A baffle resides in the distribution chamber between the central axis and the periphery.

1 . A low profile brooder, comprising:
 an emitter;   a fuel supply duct disposed at least partially nonvertically; and   means for providing a predetermined heating pattern upon the emitter.   
     
     
         2 . The low profile brooder of  claim 1 , wherein the means for providing a predetermined heating pattern upon the emitter is means for providing a symmetrical heating pattern upon the emitter. 
     
     
         3 . The low profile brooder of  claim 1 , wherein the means for providing a predetermined heating pattern upon the emitter is means for providing uniform heating of the emitter. 
     
     
         4 . The low profile brooder of  claim 1 , wherein the emitter defines a central axis and the fuel supply duct resides at least in part radial to the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . The low profile brooder of  claim 1 , wherein the emitter defines a central axis, the fuel supply duct resides at least in part radial to the central axis, the radiant defines a first polar direction from the central axis, and in which the means for providing a predetermined heating pattern upon the emitter is disposed at a location in the first polar direction from the central axis. 
     
     
         6 . The low profile brooder of  claim 1 , wherein the emitter defines a central axis and the fuel supply duct resides at least in part perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The low profile brooder of  claim 1 , wherein the emitter defines a central axis, the fuel supply duct resides at least in part perpendicular to the central axis, the radiant defines a first polar direction from the central axis, and in which the means for providing a predetermined heating pattern upon the emitter is disposed at a location in the first polar direction from the central axis. 
     
     
         8 . A method of increasing the interior temperature of a poultry house, comprising the steps of:
 providing the low profile brooder of  claim 1 ;   providing a fuel to the fuel supply duct; and   igniting the fuel within the low profile brooder.   
     
     
         9 . A low profile brooder, comprising:
 a distribution chamber that defines at least two burner ports;   a fuel flow path extending at least in part nonvertically away from the distribution chamber; and   a baffle residing in the distribution chamber, the baffle including means to equalize the fuel velocities at each of the at least two burner ports.   
     
     
         10 . The low profile brooder of  claim 9 , in which the means to equalize the fuel velocities at each of the at least two burner ports includes at least one of the relative location of the baffle within the distribution chamber, a lower opening, a first chamfer, and a second chamfer. 
     
     
         11 . The low profile brooder of  claim 9 , in which the distribution chamber defines a central axis, the fuel flow path extends upstream away from the distribution chamber at least in part in a first direction, and the baffle resides apart from the central axis in the first direction. 
     
     
         12 . The low profile brooder of  claim 9 , in which the distribution chamber defines a central axis and the baffle is at least partially planar, the at least partial plane being parallel to the central axis. 
     
     
         13 . A method of increasing the interior temperature of a poultry house, comprising the steps of:
 providing the low profile brooder of  claim 9 ;   providing a fuel to the fuel supply path; and   igniting the fuel within the low profile brooder.   
     
     
         14 . A method of increasing the interior temperature of a poultry house, comprising the steps of:
 providing the low profile brooder of  claim 9 ;   providing an orifice adaptor configured for a specific fuel and connecting the orifice adaptor to the upstream end of the fuel supply path;   providing a source of the specific fuel to the fuel supply path; and   igniting the fuel within the low profile brooder.   
     
     
         15 . A low profile brooder, comprising:
 a venturi, a distribution chamber, at least two burner ports, and a baffle;   the distribution chamber in fluid communication with at least two burner ports;   the venturi:
 in fluid communication with the distribution chamber; 
 having an upstream end and a downstream end; 
 defining a fuel flow path between the upstream end and the downstream end, the fuel flow path residing at least partially at one or more of an acute angle, a perpendicular angle, and an obtuse angle to vertical; and 
   the baffle residing in the distribution chamber between the downstream end and the at least two burner ports.   
     
     
         16 . The low profile brooder of  claim 15 , in which the distribution chamber defines a central axis and the venturi resides at least in part radial to the central axis. 
     
     
         17 . The low profile brooder of  claim 15 , in which the distribution chamber defines a central axis and the venturi resides at least in part radial to the central axis, the radiant defining a first polar direction from the central axis, and the baffle resides in the first polar direction from the central axis. 
     
     
         18 . The low profile brooder of  claim 15 , in which the baffle includes at least one of a lower opening, a first chamfer, and a second chamfer. 
     
     
         19 . The low profile brooder of  claim 15 , in which in which the distribution chamber defines a central axis, the baffle is at least partially planar, and the at least partial plane is oriented perpendicular to a radiant extending from the central axis. 
     
     
         20 . The low profile brooder of  claim 15 , in which the baffle includes means for providing uniform heating of the emitter.