Abstract: This invention is an attachment for installation along a flue duct between a heater and a chimney, including a flue duct section, having a jet tube therein, receiving air from an exterior motor-driven fan, so as to create a vortex and a third stage burner at the jet tube end.

Abstract: A solar trough reflector structure using a single stressed reflector skin, parabolic shaped ribs, and members to structurally close the aperture develops high strength and stiffness from a minimum of material.

Abstract: Selective surfaces for photothermal solar collectors consisting of a nickel support, preferably commercial nickel of 99.5% purity, a layer of a porous nickel oxide of about 0.2 .mu.m covering the metallic support, the layer of porous nickel oxide being covered with asperities in the form of a network of nickel oxide discs in which the major portions are oriented at an angle with respect to the vertical. The network of discs has a thickness of about 2 .mu.m. The preparation of these selective surfaces is carried out in the following manner. Thin nickel plates are subjected to a heat treatment by heating and oxidizing in an oxidant gas during a short period of time at a temperature varying between about 1000.degree. C. and 1100.degree. C. The oxidized nickel plates are reduced at a temperature of about 1100.degree. C. in the presence of a reducing gas until the metallic state is obtained. The surrounding temperature is thereafter lowered between 810.degree. and 830.degree. C.

Abstract: A burner unit particularly adapted for use in a non-vented dwelling space as a fireplace substitute includes a fuel cell carried on a grate which in turn is connected by support frames to a base plate. The fuel cell has a slidable lid to provide access to a fuel canister holding container portion of the fuel cell. The base plate has a glass covered cutout to allow upward illumination from a light fixture connecting with the unit below the base plate. The burner unit may be installed in an enclosure which in turn may be freestanding, placed in a wall opening or in a furniture piece. To use the unit, fuel in the canisters is ignited to burn with a slight flame and produce heat and toxic-free products of combustion. The light fixture is energized to illuminate rock pieces on the glass and simulate glowing embers under the grate.

Abstract: In a gas burning installation a pilot burner is provided with means to control the amount of atmospheric air introduced into the fuel gas in the burner tube, the means comprising a restriction in the tube upstream of where air enters and a variable choke downstream of where air enters, which choke affects the resistance to the flow of gas along the tube.

Abstract: A zone valve is described in which the frame for the operator unit is assembled without separate fasteners. Tongue and groove on the frame pieces fit together in an interlocking manner to provide a rigid frame construction. The assembly of the frame, hinges the parts against each other so that they snap together and are rigidly retained together by the inherent spring force of the members.

Abstract: Apparatus supporting a catalytic converter for a burner comprising a support including an opening for passage of exhaust gases therethrough, a catalytic converter mounted on the support for movement into and out of an operating position adjacent to the opening to receive the exhaust gases, and means extending from the support for causing the catalytic converter to be moved into and out of the operating position.

Abstract: An ignitor probe assembly (10) for the ignition of fossil fuel burners comprises in combination an ignitor (11) having a tip (70) activated by electrical energy and producing a temperature sufficient to ignite a fossil fuel, pipe means (12) for positioning the ignitor into the burner, means for carrying electrical power (13) to the ignitor passing through the pipe means adapter means (14) carried by the pipe means for the removable assembly of the ignitor thereto, and refractory insulator means (15) engageable with the means for carrying electrical power and interposed substantially concentrically within the adapter means for maintaining the means for carrying electrical power separate therefrom.

Abstract: An adjustable grate includes first and second identical grate members each with first and second parallel supports. A plurality of upper and lower elements are secured to and extend perpendicularly to the parallel supports providing a space between the upper and lower elements. The grate is assembled by positioning the second support of each grate member between the upper and lower elements of the opposing grate member. The width of the grate is adjusted by sliding the first and second grate members together or apart. The length of the grate is adjusted by moving an upper end of the first grate member above the upper end of the second grate member until the distance between the upper end of the first grate member and the lower end of the second grate member is the desired length. First and second extension members are then positioned between the first and second supports and the upper and lower elements of each grate member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a heating apparatus such as an oil heater, a gas heater or an electric heater generating heat and light, and to provide an arrangement such that at least a part of periphery of a heat source of the heating apparatus is covered with a netlike member and the netlike member is arranged to be wrapped therearound so that the meshes of the net apparently overlap each other at the front and rear sides of the heat source, thus improving both heating and illuminating effects.

Abstract: A pot-type oil burner is disclosed which is capable of effectively preventing the generation of bad odor and soot during the igniting operation by turning on an electric heater positioned above a heat-resistant fabric spread on the bottom surface of a pot to previously heat the pot and fabric to a temperature sufficient to vaporize fuel oil prior to introducing fuel oil to the pot by means of a nozzle pipe.

Abstract: A normally energized motor maintains a counterbalanced damper closed to block air inflow in a non-combustion condition of an appliance. Deenergization of the motor by thermostat control releases a rotor for displacement through a limited angular stroke. Through a lost-motion linkage connection the damper is displaced, in lagging relation to the rotor to the open position. The open position of the damper is detected by a sensor to open a fuel valve in the appliance.

Abstract: A housing having a longitudinal aperature therethrough, and an exterior surface adapted to be securable to a container. A stem is longitudinally movable within the housing and is cooperatively conformed with the housing such that an annulus exists between a portion of the housing and the stem. The stem includes a plurality of ports allowing fluid communication between the annulus and a longitudinal cavity extending from the top end of the stem. A sealing instrumentality if included proximate a bottom end of the valve to prevent the flow of fluid into the valve annulus when the valve is in a first "closed" position. The stem is adapted to be moved longitudinally within the housing to a second, "open", position wherein the sealing instrumentality is released and fluid may enter the annulus and pass through the ports to exit the valve through the stem cavity.

Abstract: A device connected at a remote end to a water faucet for metering water through a squeezable tube for watering plants or the like, in which prior art clamps to pinch the tube and thus control the volume of water flow therethrough are replaced by a rotatable cam, which obviates damage, due to pinching, in the tube, and other prior art shortcomings.

Abstract: This invention is for an inexpensive flexible heater material (heat pad) for food heating, medical compresses and the like. The heat pad is a composite material consisting of a supercorroding metallic alloy powder dispersed throughout a porous polyethylene matrix. The supercorroding alloy material consists of a powdered alloy of magnesium and iron which is produced by high energy powder metallurgical milling techniques. Pressureless sintering of a mixture of the supercorroding alloy powders with UHMW polyethylene powder results in the formation of a flexible porous matrix material with active ingredients therein that are readily activated with a suitable electrolyte fluid.

Abstract: A solar heating apparatus is disclosed along with a method of making a solar heating apparatus. The apparatus has a frame with a solar collector movably mounted thereto. A solar tracking mechanism moves the solar collector on the frame during daylight hours responsive to differential heating of a plurality of fluid filled containers located on the solar collector. The tracking mechanism includes a rotating mechanism attached between the frame and the solar collector and having a pair of arcuate cylinders therein along with a pair of fixed pistons. The arcuate cylinders are connected to a pair of fluid filled containers or pipes located on the solar collector and partially shaded in different positions to provide a differential fluid pressure between the containers and between the cylinders of the rotating mechanism. The differential fluid pressure rotates one part of the rotating mechanism attached to the solar collector.

Abstract: A thermostatic valve assembly having a rotatably adjustable insert for varying the throttle resistance of the valve. The insert has a skirt with a spiral shape to effect a first varying cross section for the valve chamber in which the insert is disposed and the skirt also has an inclined section to effect a second varying cross section for the valve chamber.

Abstract: A heat generating body suitable for use as a body warmer or the like. The heat generating body is composed of a closed bag locally provided with at least one air permeable portion constituted by a group of fine pores of a diameter equivalent of not more than 20 microns, and a heat generating composition accommodated in the bag.

Abstract: An infrared gas burner plate of the type in which a sintered plate body formed of a heat resisting material is provided at its front surface with a plurality of grooves crossing one another to define a plurality of intercepting portions and a plurality of convex portions, the plate body being additionally provided with a plurality of burner holes therethrough between the front and rear surfaces thereof and distributed over the grooves and the convex portions. In accordance with the present invention, each of the intersecting groove portions is provided with a small convex portion having the burner hole at its center. More particularly, the small convex portions are frusto-conical in form.

Abstract: In the construction of a liquid fuel burner in which liquid fuel is subjected to two-staged combustion, active and passive expedients are preferably combined for complete burning of the liquid fuel. The active expedient employs specified edge construction of a fuel scatter ring for production of ideally atomized fuel whereas the passive expedient employs a barrier construction arranged at the open front end of a combination cylinder for effective prevention of fuel drop causable of incomplete fuel burning.