Abstract: A personal heating device comprises a container and a heating arrangement within the container for providing heat to the container. The container has a hollow interior, a closable opening and a plurality of ventilation holes on the container. The heating arrangement arranged to fit within the hollow interior of the container has a support arranged to hold a heating element, a vented heat shield located above the heating element arranged to dispense the heat within the container. The closable opening is arranged to receive a seat portion on the container arranged such that the container is used as a seat. The seat portion has a venting chimney which is arranged to direct the heated air within the container directly into the clothing of a user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighter for generating a flame of controlled color, the lighter being of the type comprising a tank (20) adapted to receive a fuel (30) associated with flame coloring agents, expander means (40) suitable for expanding the fuel (30), means (50) suitable for conveying the fuel (30) to the expander means (40), and means (60) suitable for igniting the fuel (30) downstream from the expander means (40), the lighter being characterized by the fact that the expander means (40) are formed by an element that is hydrophobic, organophobic, and inorganophobic.

Abstract: In a method for injecting fuel into a burner (1), which burner (1) comprises an inner chamber (22) enclosed by at least one shell (8, 9), at which inner chamber fuel is injected through fuel nozzles (6) into a combustion air stream (23) flowing inside the inner chamber (22), the resulting fuel/air mixture flows within a time-lag (&tgr;) to a flame front (3) in a combustion chamber (2), and is ignited there, the formation of thermoacoustic, ignition-driven vibrations is achieved in that the fuel is injected in such a way by means of fuel nozzles (6) distributed over the burner length that the time-lag (&tgr;) between the injection of the fuel and its combustion at the flame front (3) corresponds to a distribution (12) that varies systematically over the burner length for the various fuel nozzles and reduces the vibrations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting and controlling a candle in an candelabra and other candle holders is disclosed. A candle support apparatus includes an outer shell or tubular body and inner shell or tubular body. The outer shell is typically a rigid casing that attaches to the candelabra or other candle holder. The inner radius of the outer shell is typically larger than the candle. The inner shell is typically resilient and has a radius smaller than the candle. The inner shell includes a substantially cylindrical portion having a longitudinal axis. The inner shell further includes a number of prongs sharing a common longitudinal axis with the substantially cylindrical portion. The end of the outer shell that is adapted to connect to the candelabra is a closed end with a hole adapted to receive a screw, bolt or other device used to attached the support apparatus to the candelabra.

Abstract: A method of burning emulsion fuel oil, having the advantages of excellent combustion efficiency and fuel saving effect, by selectively burning only a portion having a better emulsification state among the emulsion fuel oil, including a fuel oil additive composition mixed with water using a circulating system. The emulsification state of the fuel oil is maintained at a predetermined level using the circulating system.

Abstract: A continuously operating ultra-stable flare pilot for igniting a flammable fluid discharged from the open end of a flare stack and methods are provided. The flare pilot basically comprises a fuel-air mixture inlet conduit, a fuel-air mixture discharge nozzle attached to the fuel-air mixture inlet conduit and a wind shield having a lower end attached to the fuel-air mixture discharge nozzle or the fuel-air mixture inlet conduit. The wind shield has an open upper end which includes an upstanding wall portion facing the open end of the flare stack and the wind shield includes an outwardly extending wind capturing baffle attached to each of the opposite sides of the wind shield positioned substantially around openings in the wind shield through which captured wind can flow into the interior of the wind shield.

Abstract: A burner for operating a heat generator, includes a swirl generator (100) for a combustion air flow (115) means for injecting at least one fuel into the combustion air flow. A mixing section is arranged downstream of this swirl generator, which mixing section has, within a first section in the flow direction, a number of ducts in a transition piece (200) for the transfer of a flow formed in the swirl generator into a mixing tube (20) connected downstream of this transition piece. A combustion space (30) is arranged downstream of this mixing tube. The swirl generator (100) is integrated into an inlet flow cross section (10) which is essentially closed by the swirl generator, and is subjected to the combustion air flow (115).

Abstract: The installation stores thermal energy, i.e., heat energy and/or cold energy. A plurality of conduits are laid underground. Several regions that are arranged one inside the other and contain energy-saving material and conduits respectively are provided. The conduits that are arranged in the individual areas can be connected to users having different temperature levels. The innermost region is maintained at a highest temperature differential relative to the outside of the installation and the innermost region can be connected, inter alia, to drive an electrical generator.

Abstract: A method of firing a heat consuming device such as a boiler or furnace in which an oxygen transport membrane is integrated with the device such that part of the permeated oxygen supports an initial combustion to heat the incoming air to the oxygen transport membrane system. A remaining portion of the oxygen after having been diluted with flue gases from the boiler supports a secondary combustion of fuel within the heat consuming device.

Abstract: Apparatus for storing a combustible gas including a pressure storage vessel, a pressure relief valve communicating with the storage vessel for venting the gas from the vessel when the pressure therein is too high, and a catalytic reactor communicating with the pressure relief valve to catalytically combust the gas exiting the valve and thereby reduce the amount of such gas that enters the environment.

Abstract: A cooking pot apparatus includes a cooking pot having a pot rim and a pot lid assembly for rapidly dissipating heat within the cooking pot, the pot lid assembly being sealingly and lockingly secured to the pot rim and extending across the pot rim, the pot lid assembly including a coolant compartment extending across the pot rim for retaining a quantity of heat absorbing coolant. The pot lid assembly preferably additionally includes a pot safety valve assembly.

Abstract: A device for obtaining rapid ignition of a gas burner of a cooking hob fed via a gas pipe provided with a solenoid safety valve, with said burner there being associated a usual igniter and a knob for controlling its activation, the solenoid valve being connected to powering means immersed in the flame generated by the burner to maintain the solenoid valve in a working position which ensures gas feed to the burner, further powering means being provided to maintain said solenoid valve in said working position immediately a user activates the burner by means of the knob, without any further action on the knob by said user.

Abstract: A barbecue grill includes a base on which a first expandable unit and a second expandable unit are uprightly mounted such that the first expandable unit is fastened to two first cross bars of a stand, and such that the second expandable unit is fastened to two second cross bars which are rested on the first cross bars. A charcoal holder is supported by the first cross bars. A cooking grid or plate is supported by the second cross bars. As the stand is adjusted in height by the first expandable unit, the charcoal holder and the cooking grid are simultaneously raised or lowered. As the second expandable unit is adjusted, the second cross bars are caused to move away from or toward the first cross bars, thereby resulting in an adjustment in distance between the cooking grid and the charcoal holder.

Abstract: A barbecue device includes front and rear leg members disposed under and pivoted to a support plate. The leg members are pivotable relative to the support plate for moving between a first position, in which lower ends of the leg members are moved away from each other, and a second position, in which the lower ends of the leg members are moved toward each other. A cook unit is disposed removably on the support plate. The support plate and the leg members cooperatively define an accommodating space thereamong for receiving the cook unit when the cook unit is removed from the support plate. A retaining unit is mounted on one of the leg members, and engages releasably the other one of the leg members for retaining the leg members at the second position.

Abstract: A burner (10) for reducing NOx emissions where supply fuel (16) and supply air (20) are supplied to a combustion tunnel (52) at high and low velocities and secondary air (26) is supplied to a secondary combustion zone (60), wherein products of combustion (59) exiting into the secondary combustion zone (60) from the combustion tunnel (52) are drawn back into the combustion tunnel (52) and back into the secondary air conduit (54).

Abstract: The present invention provides a dome guard for a dome cover having an inside surface, an outside surface and a rim. The dome guard includes a heat resistant grid, at least one standoff for holding the dome guard a first predetermined distance from the dome cover, and a clip for engaging the inside rim of the dome cover. Contact of human skin with the rim of the dome is limited by the clip, which holds the dome guard a second predetermined distance from the inside rim of the dome.

Abstract: A structure or enclosure with a solar energy absorbing system, arranged so that at least one wall faces the sun and at least one wall is shaded. The structure has a thermal switch between the solar energy absorbing unit and a solar energy storage unit. The structure has a thermal switch between the solar energy storage unit and the interior. The structure has a thermal switch between the shaded wall of the structure and a heat dissipating heat sink. The thermal switch between the solar energy absorbing unit and the solar energy storage unit is modular and is replaceable with other thermal switches having different temperature set points. The thermal switches control the temperature of the interior of the structure in varying climates and sunlight conditions to within a desirable and limited range.

Abstract: An oven rack has a notch along its periphery. Flat items placed on the rack traversing the notch can be easily removed from the oven without having to first slide the rack from the oven. A handle can be included on the rack to assist in pulling the rack from the oven, if desired.

Abstract: A thermostatic gas valve structure for a kitchen oven comprises a valve body and a body cover, manual and thermostatic valves built into the body to regulate a main flow of said main burner, an actuating shaft traversing said cover and a rotary control coupled to the shaft. The actuating shaft is also provided with reciprocal axial movement so as to push a thermoelectric safety valve, and with a pilot flow passageway departing directly from the safety valve, in order to maintain a standing pilot flow independent of the control turning movements, in which the “off” and “pilot” position markers coincide.

Abstract: A gas-fired burner wherein a back plate having at least one inlet tube is connected with respect to a flameholder plate having a plurality of ports. The flameholder plate and the back plate form a plenum. A plurality of mixing baffles are formed within the plenum and between the back plate and the flameholder plate. A radiation plate is also connected with respect to the flameholder plate, the radiation plate and flameholder plate forming a combustion chamber with at least one gas flow boundary serving as a heat radiating surface.