IP Library Granted Patent US 11,846,449
Granted Patent B2
US 11,846,449 · App. 16/862,972 · Granted Dec 19, 2023

Combustion systems with ease of serviceability

Inventors: Ashwin Rao (Montgomery, AL); Jason Hall (Prattville, AL); William Tomlin McLemore (Montgomery, AL); Ronnie Eaton (Montgomery, AL); Sina Jasteh (Montgomery, AL)
Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
F24H1/0036F23M11/042F24H9/1836F24H9/2035F23D14/36F23D2203/1012F23D2207/00F23D2208/10F23D2213/00F23D2900/00017F23N2900/05005
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,846,449
App. No.
16/862,972
Granted
Dec 19, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosed technology includes a combustion system providing ease of access to components of the combustion system and optimal placement of a burner such that efficient combustion and heat transfer can occur. The combustion system can include an inner tube having a first end and a second end, the second end having a flange with a sensor port, and an outer tube having a first end and a second end. The inner tube can be disposed within the outer tube. The inner tube can have an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the outer tube, creating a gap between the outer tube and inner tube. An ignitor assembly and a flame sensor assembly can extend through the sensor port and the gap and be positioned proximate a burner.

Claims (33)

1. A combustion system comprising:

an outer tube having a first end and a second end, the first end in communication with a burner;

an inner tube having an outer diameter, a first end, a second end, and a flange that includes a sensor port, the inner tube being disposed within the outer tube and the outer diameter of the inner tube being less than an inner diameter of the outer tube such that a gap exists therebetween, the sensor port being aligned with the gap, and the flange attached to the second end of the outer tube;

the burner in communication with the first end of the inner tube and extending beyond the first end of the outer tube;

an ignitor assembly extending through the sensor port and the gap; and

a flame sensor assembly adjacent to the ignitor assembly and extending through the sensor port and the gap;

wherein each of the ignitor assembly and the flame sensor assembly extend through the sensor port and the gap from a first position adjacent to the burner outside of the first end of the inner tube and the first end of the outer tube to a second position outside of the second end of the inner tube and the second end of the outer tube; and

wherein the sensor port comprises a single opening configured to receive both the ignitor assembly and the flame sensor assembly extending through the single opening of the sensor port.

2. The combustion system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor port is sized such that each of the ignitor assembly and the flame sensor assembly is removable through the sensor port.

3. The combustion system of claim 1 , wherein each of the ignitor assembly and the flame assembly is removable without removing the burner.

4. The combustion system of claim 1 , wherein the ignitor assembly and the flame sensor assembly are removable concurrently.

5. The combustion system of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the outer tube includes a flange.

6. The combustion system of claim 5 , wherein the flange of the inner tube attaches to the flange of the outer tube.

7. The combustion system of claim 1 , further comprising a blower assembly removably fixed to the second end of the inner tube.

8. The combustion system of claim 7 , wherein each of the ignitor assembly and the flame sensor assembly is removable without removing the blower assembly.

9. The combustion system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the ignitor assembly and a portion of the flame sensor assembly are positioned proximate to the burner via a mounting bracket aligned with the sensor port.

10. The combustion system of claim 1 , further comprising a refractory assembly removably fixed to the first end of the outer tube.

11. The combustion system of claim 1 , wherein the flange of the inner tube mounts to a tank ring of a combustion tube, such that the inner tube, the burner, and the outer tube are disposed within the combustion tube.

12. The combustion system of claim 5 , wherein the flange of the outer tube mounts to a tank ring of a combustion tube, such that the inner tube, the burner, and the outer tube are disposed within the combustion tube.

13. The combustion system of claim 1 , further comprising a sight glass window affixed to the first end of the outer tube, a portion of the ignitor assembly and a portion of the flame sensor assembly being visible via the sight glass window.

14. The combustion system of claim 1 , wherein the gap has a width of between approximately 1.5 inches and approximately 2.5 inches.

15. A combustion tube assembly comprising:

an outer tube having a first end and a second end;

an inner tube having a first end, a second end, and a flange that includes a sensor port, the inner tube configured to at least partially insert into the outer tube, the inner tube having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the outer tube such that a gap exists therebetween, the sensor port being aligned with the gap;

a burner configured to attach to the first end of the outer tube and extend beyond the first end of the outer tube;

an ignitor assembly configured to extend through the sensor port and the gap from a first position adjacent to the burner outside of the first end of the inner tube and the first end of the outer tube to a second position outside of the second end of the inner tube and the second end of the outer tube and proximate the sensor port; and

a flame sensor assembly configured to extend through the sensor port and the gap from a first position adjacent to the burner outside of the first end of the inner tube and the first end of the outer tube to a second position outside of the second end of the inner tube and the second end of the outer tube and proximate the sensor port;

wherein the sensor port defines a sensor port width and the gap defines a gap width, and wherein the sensor port width and the gap width are substantially equal.

16. The combustion tube assembly of claim 15 , wherein the flange of the inner tube is configured to attach to the second end of the outer tube.

17. The combustion tube assembly of claim 15 , wherein the second end of the outer tube includes a flange and the flange of the outer tube is configured to attach to the flange of the inner tube.

18. The combustion tube assembly of claim 15 , wherein the second end of the inner tube is configured to attach to a blower assembly.

19. The combustion tube assembly of claim 15 , wherein each of the flame sensor assembly and the ignitor assembly is configured to be removable through the sensor port.

20. The combustion tube assembly of claim 15 , wherein each of the flame sensor assembly and the ignitor assembly is configured to be removable without removing the burner.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2020
From: RAO, ASHWIN; HALL, JASON; MCLEMORE, WILLIAM TOMLIN; EATON, RONNIE; JASTEH, SINA
To: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 052538/0086 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210341176A1 · Nov 4, 2021