Burner assembly

Abstract

A burner assembly including a housing having an air inlet and a burner end, a motor, and an impeller mounted in the housing. The impeller is in fluid communication with the air inlet, in mechanical communication with the motor, and adapted to direct air from the air inlet towards the burner end of the housing. The burner assembly also includes at least one pre-mix gas injection nozzle mounted in the housing. Each of the at least one pre-mix gas injection nozzle has at least one orifice adapted to direct gaseous fuel into the housing. The burner assembly further includes a spin vane comprising at least one spin vane blade. The spin vane is mounted in the burner end of the housing and adapted to direct the flow of air in the burner end. The burner assembly still further includes an igniter mounted in the burner end of the housing. The igniter is adapted to ignite the air and fuel mixture in the burner end of the housing to produce a main flame.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS / PATENTS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 957,252 filed on Oct. 1, 2004 and entitled “Burner Assembly” which relates back to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 508,138 filed on Oct. 3, 2003 and entitled “Burner Assembly.”FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to an improved burner assembly, and more particularly, to an improved burner assembly for heating and drying aggregate materials used in connection with the production of hot mix asphalt.BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART[0003]It is known to use a burner assembly to heat and dry aggregate materials used in connection with the production of hot mix asphalt. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,143, No. 5,511,970, No. 4,559,009 and No. 4,298,337. However, conventional burner assemblies suffer from several disadvantages. For example, conventional burner assemblies are incapable of producing a flame configu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, and a detailed description thereof follows. It is not intended, however, that the invention be limited to the particular embodiments described or

Problems solved by technology

However, conventional burner assemblies suffer from several disadvantages.

For example, conventional burner assemblies are incapable of producing a flame configuration satisfactory for asphalt production in a variety of different-sized combustion chambers.

Adjustable spin vanes, however, increase the cost of manufacture and maintenance, and the amount of labor required to operate the burner.

In addition, conventional burner assemblies experience excessive temperatures in the area of the burner flame, resulting in damage to components in the area of the burner flame.

Further, in conventional burner assemblies, the components in the area of the burner flame are exposed to debris produced in the combustion chamber.

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