Abstract: Disclosed is a furnace adapted for burning solid materials, including biomass fuels. The furnace comprises an igniter having a heating element carried by a ceramic core and disposed within a ceramic cover tube for directing air at fuel disposed within the furnace for the purpose of igniting the fuel. Also disclosed is an igniter having a heating element carried by a ceramic core and disposed within a ceramic cover tube for directing air at fuel disposed within the furnace for the purpose of igniting the fuel.

Abstract: A gas burner for cookers of the type fitted to a cooking hob includes a central body having a first flame distribution ring and at least one external body, fluidly separated from the central body and substantially concentric with it, having at least one second flame distribution ring. In addition, structure is provided for separately feeding the mixture of primary air and gas to the central body and to the external body. This structure includes at least one horizontal mixing chamber with a radial Venturi effect.

Abstract: An outdoor cooking cooker having a lid biased towards an open position by a torsional spring and able to remain partially open at a plurality of partially open positions by increased friction against the lid along a pivot. The outdoor cooking cooker may also include a vertical lifting device for lifting a single rack or multiple racks out from the outdoor cooking cooker and a device for coupling the racks together. The outdoor cooking device can include a firebox that is double-walled and may be mounted upon a trailer for easier transportation between locations. A flexible peripheral seal damps sound and seals against leakage when the lid is moved to a closed position.

Abstract: A solar collector system including solar elements connected to form an array for intercepting the sun's radiation, a compression element that is positioned substantially perpendicular to the array, and pairs of cables that run from opposite sides of the array to the compression element to mutually stabilize each portion of the array to which the pair of cables connects. A support structure is provided for securing the array to a fixed structure. A tracking system further provides the system with two degrees of freedom for tracking the array with the sun's movement.

Abstract: A overfiring air port of the present invention is to supply an incomplete combustion region with air making up for combustion-shortage, in a furnace in which the incomplete combustion region less than stoichiometric ratio is formed by a burner. Furthermore, the airport is characterized by comprising: a nozzle mechanism for injecting air including an axial velocity component of an air flow and a radial velocity component directed to a center line of the airport; and a control mechanism for controlling a ratio of these velocity components.

Abstract: A candle flame candle which is constructed of a center wick and a body of wax surrounding the center wick except a tip portion of wick wherein the wick is impregnated with at least one of a coloring agent and a color enhancer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to heat cells that are suitable for incorporation into disposable heating wraps. The heat cells comprise an exothermic composition comprising an absorbent gelling material, wherein the absorbent gelling material provides for improved heat application in the relief of temporary or chronic body aches and pains.

Abstract: Process for solid waste treatment, and particularly municipal solid waste, with recovery of the thermal energy, which is based on the general pyrolysis process modified in order to improve, on the one hand, the energy yield and, on the other, to reduce the quantity of unusable solid residues to be sent to the waste disposal, the unusable solid waste being limited to 10-15% of the total weight of the initial residue. The process and relative plant include a boosted treatment of the incoming waste, with a preliminary separation into three solid fractions, the first one of which is separately subjected to a preliminary drying step and the third one undergoes further shredding. The process and relative plant also include a section for recovering energy from the pyrolysis coke, wherein the latter is subjected to a thermochemical treatment with the production of a further quantity of synthesis gas.

Abstract: The air intake apparatus provides for additional auxiliary air to a wood or pellet burning stove. The apparatus is provided in more than one embodiment for fit to more than one type of stove. The curved T-handle controls the damper sleeve for dampened control of the auxiliary air.

Abstract: An outer case 10 accommodating a gas combustion apparatus main body comprises a case main body 2 opening forward, and a front cover 3 closing a front end opening of the case main body 2. A waterproof packing material 17 is sandwiched between inner peripheral flanges 20 and 39 formed on inner peripheral edges of the front end opening of the case main body 2 and a rear end of the front cover 3. To deteriorate outward appearance and cleaning easiness of a connected portion between the front cover 3 and the case main body 2, and to stably secure waterproof of the connected portion for a long term, a protection plate covering a range extending along an upper edge of a front end opening of the case main body 2 of the packing material 17 is possessed to the front cover 3 or the case main body 2.

Abstract: A passage opening and closing device has first and second doors for respectively opening and closing passages defined in a case. The first and second doors have first and second rotation shafts, respectively. Each of the first and second rotation shafts includes a projection on its first end and a cylindrical portion defining an engaging hole on its second end. When the first and second doors are assembled in a first assembled condition where the projections extend in opposite directions and the cylindrical portions are rotatably engaged with a second supporting portion of a shaft receiving portion, the first and second rotation shafts are independently rotatable. When the first and second doors are assembled in a second assembled condition where the projection of the second rotation shaft is engaged with the engaging hole of the first rotation shaft, relative rotation of the first and second rotation shafts is restricted.

Abstract: Devices and methods for accelerating the combustion of non-gas cooking fuels used in barbequing. The devices include a starting fuel for preparing, or starting, a cooking fuel, such as charcoal briquettes, for use to cook food. The starting fuel is contained in a kindling chamber beneath an upper chamber containing the cooking fuel. A powered air delivery mechanism may provide an airflow to the fuels to increase combustion and heating thereof. In some embodiments, the device is a breach-loading device. In some embodiments, the air delivery mechanism is battery-powered. The device may be configured to provide, and/or may be automated to provide, different operating states responsive to the degree of ignition and/or combustion of the fuels in the device. In some embodiments, the device is adapted to automatically be transitioned between forced-air and natural-draft operating states, which may be controlled responsive to sensed operating parameters of the device.

Abstract: A ventilating hood and cooktop system includes safety components to reduce or eliminate the possibility of a fire in the ventilating hood. The system provides elements for sensing the temperature over the cooktop. When the temperature reaches a first predetermined level, the ventilation fan speed is increased. The system includes alarm warning elements which issue different signals depending on the temperature above the cooktop. If a maximum temperature is reached, the system shuts off the fan of the ventilating hood and shuts down the cooktop.

Abstract: A draft inducer blower for high efficiency furnaces, including a blower housing which provides enhanced contact between the blower housing and the furnace collector box to reduce the flexing and vibration between the blower housing and the collector box. The blower housing includes contact structure which provides a direct abutting contact relationship between the blower housing and the collector box at least along a substantial periphery of the blower housing and/or at one or more rigid transition points on the collector box. In one embodiment, the contact structure can be part of the blower housing body and/or the blower housing cover. In another embodiment, the contact structure can be part of the collector box or furnace to which the blower housing is mounted. When fasteners secure the blower housing to the collector box, the contact structure provides a substantially integral rigid construct between the blower housing and the collector box.

Abstract: The gas manifold (1) adapted for installation on a cooking range includes a conduit (2) for distribution of a flow (Q) at a pressure “P”, with a number of regulating taps (5) fixed to the conduit (2). The conduit is made from a metal pipe (3) with a thin cylindrical wall To and the pipe end (6) is sealed without cracks by means of friction welding with no addition of material, with a sealing wall (7) formed by means of a thickening in the form of a tip (7a) in the axial direction of an enlargement or height “H” greater than the original thickness To of the pipe. For making the gastight closure a rotary tool (8) is used that includes at least two rotary rollers (9) for the compaction of the metallic mass between two counterposed centripetal forces (Fr), in combination with an axial stretching force (Fa).

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device which utilizes catalytic microcombustion for the production of heat or power and which exhibits a low pressure drop and has a high catalytic surface area. The catalytic microcombustor includes catalyst inserts in the reaction chamber separated by a sub millimeter distance. Thermal spreaders ensure temperature uniformity and maximum thermal efficiency. A mixing zone is prior to the combustion zone. Thermally conductive and/or insulating inserts are in the vicinity of the reaction zone.

Abstract: An exhaust system in a radiation gas range is provided that includes a housing having exhaust openings in a rear part for discharge of exhaust gas, a sheet of glass on top of the housing for transmission of radiant heat to an object placed thereon, front and rear burner housings in contact with a bottom surface of the sheet of glass for forming spaces to burn mixed gas thereon, front radiation gas burners in lower parts of the front burner housings, respectively, each burning mixed gas at a surface of a radiation body to generate a radiation energy, rear radiation gas burners in lower parts of the front burner housings, respectively, each burning mixed gas at a surface of a radiation body to generate a radiation energy, and an exhaust duct in lower parts of, and in communication with the front and/or rear burner housings that discharges exhaust gas from the front and rear radiation burners toward the exhaust openings.

Abstract: A solar chimney includes a solar collector which heats air in the chimney, producing updrafts which can be harnessed to perform useful work. The solar collector may be located inside or outside the chimney. The device may include a reservoir for storing a heat transfer fluid, thus enabling the device to be used during both day and night. The solar chimney may be equipped with both internal and external solar collectors, operating in parallel. The solar chimney may also be equipped with multiple external solar collectors, connected in parallel to a reservoir. The solar chimney of the invention provides a convenient and practical way to convert solar energy into electrical power.

Abstract: The object of the present patent is an elevator for hot plates or grates of barbecue grills, having gutters (1), (2) and (3) assembled in a “U” shape, the gutter (5), in its ends the plates (6) with rollers (8), the gutters (10), (11) and (12), also assembled the shape of a “U”, constituting the support for the hot plate or grate and with the mortises (13) embracing the gutter (5), which slides vertically through the grooves (4) of gutters (1) and (3), taken by the cable (18), which passes through the groove of the pivot (7) of one of the plates (6) and is fixed there by the fixers (19), being the cable mobile in a circuit between the pulleys (16) and (17), by the action of the crank (14), fixed to the axle (15), the pulley (16) and the pivot (20), after its release from the part (21), but coming back due to the work of the spring (22), when the hot plate or the grater is the desired position and, in order to keep the hot plate or the grate in a horizontal position, there are the cables (24) and (25) departin

Abstract: Apparatus for drying leaf products including a product supply or loading section, a product centrifugation and drying section and a dried product discharging section. The loading section comprises a conveyor belt for continuously supplying the entering product and then discharges the collected product on the drying section. The centrifugation and drying section, downward of the supply section comprises a continuous conveyor with two parallel chains on which a plurality of centrifugation baskets is mounted, each one rotating about its own axis. The discharge section, receiving the dried product from the centrifugation section, and transferring the same at the exit, comprises an elevator conveyor belt operated by a motor.