Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6648628
-
Patent Number
6,648,628
-
Date Filed
Monday, March 5, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 18, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
- Wallenstein Wagner & Rockey Ltd.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 431 230
- 431 114
- 431 240
- 431 125
- 431 346
- 431 355
- 431 241
- 431 354
- 431 232
- 431 233
- 431 234
- 431 235
- 431 236
- 431 237
- 431 244
- 126 39 R
- 126 41 R
- 126 92 AC
- 126 512
- 239 432
- 239 553
- 239 5533
- 239 552
- 060 725
- 181 229
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The invention is a device for muffling the sound of escaping gas from a dispensing pipe for natural gas or any similar gaseous fuel, where the dispensing pipe has one or more first orifices. The device is an insert that may be placed into the dispensing pipe. The insert has second orifices through which the natural gas or any similar gaseous fuel escapes, and the second orifices are smaller than the first orifices.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a muffling device for use in an artificial log fireplace.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gas-fired burners for fireplaces are well-known. These gas-fired burners are placed at the base of fireplaces in homes and commercial buildings, such as restaurants. Typically, these gas-fired burners include a gas supply pipe, orifices through which gas escapes, and simulated logs and embers. These gas-fired burners are cleaner than wood-burning fireplaces, do not require the acquisition, transporting, and chopping of wood, and yet provide a fire that closely simulates a natural wood-burning fire.
United States patents describing such burners included U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,455 (“the '455 patent”). As may be seen in the '455 patent, gas-fired burners typically include a pair of gas pipes
16
and
18
. Gas pipe
16
is disclosed in the '455 patent as having five orifices
26
, while gas pipe
18
is disclosed as having twenty-six orifices
28
. As may be seen in
FIG. 2
of the '455 patent, these orifices
26
and
28
face downwardly. In practice, these orifices
26
and
28
are covered by sand or a similar substance. To start the gas-fired burner, a natural gas valve is opened, and the gas moves through the orifices
26
and
28
and then through the sand. As the natural gas is diffused through the sand, it is ignited by a match placed near the surface of the sand. There is no appreciable noise created when this natural gas passes through these orifices
26
and
28
and then the sand.
Certain governmental authorities have discouraged or prohibited the use of sand in such natural gas-fired burners. In the view of these authorities, the sand poses a potential hazard to children, who may unknowingly ingest the sand.
In some instances, to comply with these regulations, gas-fired burners have been used without any kind of sand. In other instances, as a replacement for the sand, either glowing embers or lava rocks have been used at the bottom of these orifices. When the natural gas escapes from these orifices
26
and
28
and then passes through these glowing embers or lava rocks, a loud rushing or whistling sound is created. This loud rushing or whistling sound is unacceptable in residential or commercial installations. Accordingly, there is a need for a method or device that muffles the rushing or whistling sound of the escaping gas in natural gas-fired burners that do not use sand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a device for muffling the sound of gas escaping from a pipe dispensing natural gas or any other suitable gaseous fuel. The device comprises a braided metallic element of a given length. The braided metallic element has an inlet end and an outlet end. A braided fibrous element surrounds at least a portion of the braided metallic element. The braided metallic element is crimped at its outlet end.
In a most preferred aspect, the braided metallic element is made of bronze. That most preferred embodiment also includes a braided fibrous element that is made of a fiberglass or a ceramic material.
Alternatively, the braided fibrous element is made of a cotton material.
The invention is also a device for muffling the sound of escaping gas from a pipe dispensing natural gas or any other suitable gaseous fuel. The dispensing pipe has one or more first orifices. The device further comprises an enclosure into which the natural gas or any other suitable gaseous fuel flows. The enclosure includes second orifices along the exterior of that enclosure through which the natural gas or any other suitable gaseous fuel escapes. These second orifices are smaller than the first orifices.
The invention is also a device for muffling the sound of escaping gas from a dispensing pipe for natural gas or any other suitable gaseous fuel. The dispensing pipe has one or more first orifices. The device itself comprises an insert that may be placed into the dispensing pipe. The insert has second orifices through which the natural gas or any other suitable gaseous fuel escapes. The second orifices are smaller than the first orifices, and preferably substantially smaller than the first orifices. For example, the first orifices may be between approximately {fraction (1/16)}th of an inch and ⅛th of an inch. The second orifices are typically substantially less than {fraction (1/64)}th of an inch. Preferably, the insert is made of a metallic braided element, and the insert is at least partially surrounded by a fibrous braided element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2
is a view of the embodiment of
FIG. 1
, positioned adjacent and ready for insertion into the gas dispensing pipe of a gas-fired burner.
FIG. 3
is an enlarged, sectional view of a portion of the gas dispensing pipe of the gas-fired burner of
FIG. 2
, with the device of
FIG. 1
inserted in its normal position within the gas dispensing pipe.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view, taken along lines
4
—
4
of
FIG. 3
, of one end of the gas dispensing pipe, with the device of the embodiment of
FIG. 1
positioned within that gas dispensing pipe.
FIG. 5
is an exploded view, prior to assembly, of the components that make up the device of the embodiment of FIG.
1
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
This invention is susceptible of many different embodiments. The drawings and the description detail preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of the invention. It is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the illustrated embodiments.
As may best be seen in
FIG. 1
, the invention is a device
10
for muffling the sound of gas escaping from a pipe
12
that dispenses natural gas or any other suitable gaseous fuel. This pipe
12
dispensing natural gas or any other suitable gaseous fuel is a part of an artificial gas-fired burner of the kind well-known in the art. One example of an artificial gas-fired burner
14
in which this device
10
can be used is shown in FIG.
2
. While some prior art artificial gas-fired burners
14
, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,455, can include two gas dispensing pipes, the device
10
of the present invention can be used in gas-fired burners having any number of gas dispensing pipes. The artificial gas-fired burner
14
shown in
FIG. 2
uses one gas dispensing pipe
12
.
While
FIG. 1
shows an assembled device
10
in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 5
shows this same device
10
in exploded form, in the manner in which it would appear prior to its assembly. Referring now to
FIG. 5
, one of the elements of the device
10
is a braided metallic element
16
of a given length. In this embodiment, the braided metallic element
16
has a length of three to four inches, and an internal diameter ranging from approximately ¼ inch to ½ inch. The most preferred braided metallic element
16
is made of a bronze material. An example of a most preferred ¼″ braided metallic element
16
is available in bulk form from Metal Flex Sales, St. Louis, Mo. (Tel. (314) 521-3023). The braided metallic element
16
has both an inlet end
18
, where the gas enters the device, and an outlet end
20
, where at least a portion of the gas ultimately exits the device
10
.
As may further be seen in
FIGS. 1 and 5
, the device
10
also includes a braided fibrous element
22
. Like the braided metallic element
16
, the braided fibrous element
22
has a length of approximately three to four inches, and a diameter of between ¼″ and ½″. Because the braided fibrous element
22
surrounds at least a portion of the braided metallic element
16
, as may best be seen in
FIG. 1
, the braided fibrous element
22
should have a slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the braided metallic element
16
. Alternatively, the braided fibrous element
22
should have the ability to expand radially, so that it can grow to accommodate the outer diameter of the braided metallic element
16
. One example of a preferred braided fibrous element
22
is available as a fiberglass packing, Part No. 8819K44, having a ¼″ diameter, usable to up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, and available in amounts up to one hundred feet, available from McMaster Carr Products, Chicago, Ill. (Tel. (630) 833-0300). Alternatively, the braided fibrous element
22
may be made of a ceramic fabric or a cotton fabric.
The braided metallic element
16
is crimped at its outlet end
20
. Alternatively, the braided metallic element
16
and the braided fibrous element
22
are together crimped adjacent the outlet end
20
of the braided metallic element
16
. Obviously, this crimping at the outlet end
20
of the braided metallic element
16
decreases the effective size of the outlet end
20
. As a result, there is more restriction to the passage of gas through this crimped outer end
20
. The clamp
24
that creates the force for crimping is an adjustable clamp, also available from McMaster Carr Products of Chicago, Ill., (tel. (630) 833-0300) as Part No. 52545K42. The clamp
24
is a staple-less ear hose clamp. It is a ⅜″ size clamp
24
, and that clamp
24
can be used for a diameter range of {fraction (5/16)}″ to ⅜″.
The components of
FIG. 5
are assembled by sliding the braided fibrous element
22
over the braided metallic element
16
. The clamp
24
is then placed over at least the outlet end
20
of the braided metallic element
16
, and adjusted to radially compress the outlet end
20
as much as possible. The device
10
is now fully assembled, and ready for use, as may be seen in FIG.
1
.
As may be seen in
FIG. 2
, the device
10
is inserted into one end
26
of the gas dispensing pipe
12
of the artificial gas-fired burner
14
. After insertion into this end
26
of the gas dispensing pipe
12
, a natural gas supply pipe (not shown) from the residence or commercial establishment is connected to this end
26
. The artificial gas-fired burner
14
is now ready for use.
It is unnecessary to secure the device
10
into the gas dispensing pipe
12
. There are two reasons for this. First, the natural gas or any other suitable gaseous fuel being supplied to the gas dispensing pipe
12
has a pressure of only about ½ psig. Second, the device
10
has an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the gas dispensing pipe
12
. As a result, upon insertion of the device
10
into the gas dispensing pipe
12
, the user manually compresses the exterior of the device
10
so as to cause that device
10
to be initially compressed to a size sufficiently small to enter the gas dispensing pipe
12
. When the device
10
is released by the user upon full insertion into the gas dispensing pipe
12
, the device
10
attempts to reassume its original, uncompressed outer diameter. The device
10
is prevented from reassuming this diameter by the inner walls
28
of the gas dispensing pipe
12
. Nevertheless, as the device
10
attempts to reassume its original, uncompressed outer diameter, its outer walls
30
press against the inner walls
28
of the gas dispensing pipe
12
. This in turn helps to retain the device
10
in its place within the gas dispensing pipe
12
, in the position shown in FIG.
3
.
As noted above, the invention is a device
10
for muffling the sound of escaping gas from a pipe
12
dispensing natural gas. It will be understood that the device
10
itself may comprise an insert of virtually any shape that may be placed into the dispensing pipe. In the shape shown in
FIGS. 1-5
, the device
10
further includes an enclosure
32
or hollow pocket into which the natural gas flows.
As may best be seen in
FIG. 3
, the gas dispensing pipe
12
has one or more first orifices
34
. These first orifices
34
dispense the natural gas that feeds the flames in the artificial gas-fired burner
14
. For example, the first orifices
34
may be between approximately {fraction (1/16)} th of an inch and ⅛ th of an inch in diameter.
After the natural gas enters the enclosure or pocket
32
of the device
10
, it exits the device
10
through a plurality of second orifices
36
. These second orifices
36
are typically substantially smaller than the first orifices
34
.
In the embodiment of the device
10
shown in
FIGS. 1-5
, the second orifices are in one of two general areas. First, some of the second orifices
36
are located at the outlet end
20
of the braided metallic element
16
. At this outlet end
20
, the metallic fibers are compressed to create small openings between those fibers. These openings comprise the second orifices
36
at the outlet end
20
.
The remainder of the second orifices are located along, and are cooperatively formed by, the walls of the braided metallic element
16
and the braided fibrous element
22
, respectively. As may be best seen in
FIG. 5
, the braided metallic element
16
and the braided fibrous element
22
both include sidewalls
3
8
and
40
, respectively. As a consequence of the particular crosshatched, loosely woven construction of these braided metallic
16
and braided fibrous elements
22
, these sidewalls
38
and
40
are porous. These pores in both the sidewalls
38
and
40
of the elements
16
and
22
cooperatively create the second orifices
36
in these sidewalls. The gas that does not escape the device through the second orifices
36
near the outlet end
20
of braided metallic element
16
instead escapes through the second orifices
36
positioned along the exterior sidewalls
38
and
40
of the braided metallic
16
and braided fibrous elements
22
, respectively.
It is not completely understood why the present device
10
muffles the sound of the gas escaping from the larger, first orifices
34
. It is possible that the gas moving through the larger, first orifices
34
in a gas pipe without the device
10
approaches those orifices in a laminar flow pattern, and that that laminar flow pattern results in the loud noise. In contrast, with the device
10
positioned within the gas pipe as shown in
FIGS. 3-4
, it is believed that the gas moving through and then leaving that device
10
may instead approach those orifices
34
in a turbulent flow pattern, and it may be that the sound is reduced as a result of this turbulent flow pattern.
Specific embodiments have been illustrated and described. Numerous modifications are possible without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.
Claims
- 1. A device for muffling the sound of gas escaping from a pipe dispensing natural gas or any other suitable gaseous fuel, comprising (a) a braided metallic element of a given length, said braided metallic element having an inlet end and an outlet end; (b) a braided fibrous element surrounding at least a portion of said braided metallic element; and (c) said braided metallic element being crimped at its outlet end.
- 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said braided metallic element is made of bronze.
- 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said braided fibrous element is made of a fiberglass material.
- 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said braided fibrous element is made of a cotton material.
- 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said braided fibrous element is made of a ceramic material.
- 6. A device for muffling the sound of escaping gas from a dispensing pipe for gas, said dispensing pipe having one or more first orifices, said device comprising an insert that may be placed into said dispensing pipe, said insert having second orifices through which said gas escapes, wherein said insert is made of a metallic braided element, and wherein said insert is at least partially surrounded by a fibrous braided element, said second orifices being smaller than said first orifices.
US Referenced Citations (30)