Abstract: A fireplace surround structure is disclosed. The fireplace surround structure includes a mantel portion, a first vertical leg portion and a second vertical leg portion. The first leg portion and the second leg portion extend downward from the mantel portion at opposite ends to form a unitary fireplace surround structure. Each leg portion has a skeletal bar frame with a plurality of bar portions defining a three sided generally rectangular structure. Each of the sides has a lightweight non-combustible board portion attached on the exterior of the frame. The fireplace surround structure is open to one side and mountable on a wall surface. Each board portion is cast from a mix of Portland cement, silica, and cellulose fibers, which are combined and sintered into a flat board structure.

Abstract: A heat shield panel arrangement for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the heat shield panel arrangement includes a first panel having a first rail, the first rail having a first distal tip and a first angled outer wall, the first distal tip having a first distal tip length; and a second panel having a second rail, the second rail having a second distal tip and a second angled outer wall, the second distal tip having a second distal tip length. The first distal tip length is less than the second distal tip length and the first angled outer wall is substantially parallel to the second angled outer wall with a gap formed therebetween.

Abstract: A hot stamp cell has a source of blanks, an oven to elevate the temperature of the blank, and a press to form the blank to the required shape. The oven has a pair of access doors located on opposite sides. A first robot is provided to move a blank from the source to the oven through one of the doors and a further robot provided to remove the blank from the oven through the other door. Each of the robots has a material handling tool that includes a fork with tines to carry a blank and a gripping mechanism to secure the blank to the tines. The floor of the oven has a support surface to allow stable support of the blank during heating. The floor is provided with channels extending between the doors dimensioned to receive the tines. The channels permit placement of the blank on to the surface by lowering of the fork and subsequent removal of the fork from the oven.

Abstract: A wall lining of industrial ovens for protecting from corrosion, in particular, a heat-resistant wall made of concrete, steel, sheet metal, or the like. The lining of the wall is made of at least two layers, wherein a layer is pressurized as a blocking layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food-cooking surface for a kitchen utensil or cooker, characterized in that the cooking surface is a coating containing at least 30% niobium. Advantageously, the coating contains zirconium or titanium, with a content of less than 70%.

Abstract: The improved charcoal starter design has several improvements, one being that it utilizes either; readily combustible materials like wadded up paper or a removable or replaceable common electric heating element to heat charcoal to incandescent and safely deposit hot embers into the grill. The common electric heating element is held in place through a clip fixedly attached to the inside of the charcoal starter housing walls and opposite of the opening for the electric heating element.

Abstract: A combustion chamber of a combustion system comprises a combustion space, a support structure, a heat shield, and at least one through-opening. The heat shield has at least two segments, and each segment has an edge region, a gap communicating with the combustion space being formed between edge regions of adjacent segments, and a retaining device. The adjacent segments include a support element disposed in a bottom region of the gap. The retaining device fixes the respective liner element on the support structure via the respective support element. The at least one through-opening communicates with the gap so as to enable a cooling gas to flow through the through-opening. The at least one through-opening is disposed in at least one of the respective edge region and the support element at the bottom region of the gap.

Abstract: A charcoal starter is provided that is fully consumable through combustion. The starter takes the form of a container that includes one or more walls that define a top and bottom compartment. Solid fuel is deposited in the top compartment and kindling material is deposited in the bottom compartment. The divider allows for oxygenation and ventilation while also supporting the solid fuel in the top compartment. The starter is generally composed of a cardboard or other flammable, non-toxic material. The starter is configured such that solid fuel is supported in the top compartment for a period of time after the kindling material is lit and thereafter collapses and is completely consumed. Associated methods for igniting solid fuel, e.g., charcoal, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A top section for an oven formed with an outer support shell, an intermediate insulating layer and an inner refractory lining wherein the three layers are connected by a plurality of spaced members. The spaced members are preferably formed as stainless steel pegs welded to an inner surface of the outer support shell extending across the intermediate insulating layer and fixed to the inner refractory lining as a result of the cast refractory lining setting around the pegs. The pegs may be covered at least in part by a plastic tip or coating to provide a relative expansion capacity between the pegs and the refractory lining. The outer section is preferably formed from steel, may be any suitable shape and includes one or more apertures to form doorways, flues and access ports for accessory items such as char-grilles, lights, fire retardant systems and windows. The invention extends to an oven including a top section as disclosed.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus for controlling the opening of a cover over a barbecue grill includes a motor for opening and closing the cover over the barbecue grill, with the motor connected to the cover by a coupling rod. The cooking apparatus includes, in one embodiment, a counterweight attached at the rear of the barbecue cover. The cooking apparatus also comes with a remote control for transmitting control signals to the motor. The remote control transmits start and stop signals to the motor, or alternatively, the motor operates only during the transmission of control signals to the motor. The remote control may also transmit signals to control flow of a combustible gas. The barbecue cover opener is removable from the barbecue grill. Control of the motor allows movement of the cover to stop at any point within the full range of the cover being opened or closed.

Abstract: A top section for an oven formed with an outer support shell, an intermediate insulating layer and an inner refractory lining wherein the three layers are connected by a plurality of spaced members. The spaced members are preferably formed as stainless steel pegs welded to an inner surface of the outer support shell extending across the intermediate insulating layer and fixed to the inner refractory lining as a result of the cast refractory lining setting around the pegs. The pegs may be covered at least in part by a plastic tip or coating to provide a relative expansion capacity between the pegs and the refractory lining. The outer section is preferably formed from steel, may be any suitable shape and includes one or more apertures to form doorways, flues and access ports for accessory items such as char-grilles, lights, fire retardant systems and windows. The invention extends to an oven including a top section as disclosed.

Abstract: A fireplace system, constructed of modules including a firebox, a chimney housing, and a base, each module substantially a block of foam. The firebox has a fire cavity which is lined with fire resistant board to protect the foam from direct exposure to heat. The chimney housing has a central bore and a flue extending concentrically therethrough which has an inner tube in communication with the fire cavity and a concentric and spaced outer tube which is attached to the central bore to impede the flow of heat from the inner tube to the foam chimney housing. The chimney housing, base, and firebox are selectively attached together using connector sets which each include a pair of connection devices, one of which is partially submerged and anchored within the foam of each of the modules to be joined. The modules are joined by mating the connection devices of each connection set.

Abstract: This invention relates to a barbeque grill capable of being conveniently transported to remote outdoor locations.

Abstract: A lightweight prefabricated masonry/steel kiva-style fireplace. The firebox is cast in three or more modular sections. The entire inner combustion chamber is lined with split refractory firebrick and an outer shell is lightweight vermiculite concrete. The center firebox section has a semi-circular concave interior and the tubular steel and mesh exterior kiva fireplace stuccoed and plastered frame facade has a semi-circular convex exterior configuration with the appearance of a sculpted adobe fireplace. The firebox damper/anchor plate provides a transition from the masonry firebox to a double-walled chimney system. The firebox can be placed in a room comer or in a chase on a flat wall. It can also be installed over wood floors, in old or new construction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a barbeque grill capable of being conveniently transported to remote outdoor locations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispersion shifted optical fiber having zero dispersion at a wavelength band of 1.5 &mgr;m, which suppresses an increase of transmission loss and an increase of polarization mode dispersion when carrying out fiber drawing. An optical fiber according the invention is provided with the first core (refractive index n1.), the second core (refractive index n2), the first clad (refractive index n3) and second clad (refractive index n4) in this order from the center to outside, wherein the abovementioned refractive indexes are in a relationship of n1>n4>n2>n3, Ge which is at a ratio of 0.4 to 1.0% for the value of relative refractive index difference with respect to the second clad is doped on the first core, which is at a ratio of 0.1 to 0.5% for the value of relative refractive index difference with respect to the second clad is doped on the second core as in the above, and the second clad is SiO2, which has a thickness from 1 &mgr;m or more to 40 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: A prefabricated open-ended fireplace box for use in fireplace assemblies is molded from a slurry of refractory ceramic fibers and a non-organic binder. The prefabricated fireplace box is preferably formed in or over a mold which provides an accurate shape to the green or semi-rigid open end box which must be dried or partially fired while on the mold to avoid warping or distortion while being removed from the mold. A rigid surround trim in the form of a C-shape is placed in or on the mold at the open ends of the fireplace box. At least one attachment flange of the surround trim is integrally molded into walls of the fireplace box so that at least the open end of the semi-rigid fireplace box is made rigid when removed from the mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating appliance comprising an outer case made entirely of chrome, with various brick systems arranged inside the case. Within the brick systems is arranged a required quantity of chrome pipes, which ensure that the flames are able to spread throughout the appliance and that the bricks and the pipes are heated within a short span of time. To complete and operate the appliance, valves have to be installed at the chimney and outlet of the outer case, so that once the desired temperature has been reached, the valve can be shut and thus the heat maintained for a long time.

Abstract: The present invention includes a universal combustion chamber preferably shipped from a factory as a separate unit for field installation into a plurality of different fireplace units and includes a top panel and a floor panel connected to sidewall panel to form a complete ready to use gas tight structure. The combustion chamber is fabricated from flat and/or curved panels which are preferably molded from a thick paste slurry of mixed vitreous alumina silicate fibers combined with an aqueous solution of silica binder and fired to form non-porous gas tight panels which are interconnected to form a gas tight combustion chamber. The connecting joints are preferably reinforced by the addition of a high temperature adhesive added to the mating joints. The joints may be further reinforced and/or sealed by mechanical reinforcing at or in the joints. The joints may be eliminated by forming a one piece combustion chamber on forming molds that are designed to be separated from a formed but uncured combustion chamber.

Abstract: An improved charcoal starter that employs a grate having a conical shaped charcoal briquette receiving and stacking portion, to permit an enhanced rise of heat to impact the coals to get them to burn. The heat may come from paper kindling as conventionally disposed beneath the grate, or from a resistance heater element built into the grate. The grate may resemble a witch's hat with the retaining disk being the brim and a conical portion being disposed thereon, both with suitable apertures therein; or the grate can be made of suitable wire. The grate may be permanently mounted within the starter's cylindrical body or be removable therefrom.

Abstract: A clay throat with a smooth inner surface is provided for a brick fireplace, and a template and process are described for cutting clay flue liners into selected portions for assembly and joining into the configuration of the clay fireplace throat at the site of the fireplace.

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 pot-type oil burner is disclosed which is capable of stabilizing the vaporization rate of fuel oil in a pot to accomplish the stable complete combustion with a good efficiency. The oil burner is constructed to arrange a heat-resistant fabric on the bottom surface of the pot to vaporize fuel oil with a constant rate. The oil burner is also capable of significantly reducing retention of tar in the pot and facilitates removing tar from the pot as desired.

Abstract: A boiler having a downdraft solid fuel firebox with a refractory hearth structure with a plurality of parallel internal conduits forming an internal combustion chamber, a heat exchanger below the firebox connected to the outlet of the internal combustion chamber, an outlet blower connected to the outlet of the heat exchanger and an air inlet valve controllable with the outlet blower to control the induction of air through the boiler for automatic boiler control.

Abstract: Each ceramic fiber block is temporarily supported by a supporting member and bar combination previously secured to the furnace casing, before it is finally secured to the casing by another supporting member and bar combination. No separate means for holding the block temporarily is required. As ceramic fiber blocks and supporting members are alternately attached to the casing, it is possible to ensure intimate contact between every two adjoining blocks. The absence of any extra work for holding the blocks temporarily improves the efficiency of the block installation work.

Abstract: The block or brick is adapted to ensure an easy construction of a two-shell tile stove without requiring any particular skill in the art. A longitudinal center rib projects from two faces of the block adapted to contact adjacent blocks, longitudinal center grooves arranged on the two opposite faces correspond to said longitudinal rib. At least one first lateral groove whose depth and breadth corresponds to the depth and breadth of said longitudinal groove is arranged on a first side face, the marginal distances of said longitudinal groove and of said lateral groove being equal. A number of first lateral grooves whose center distance corresponds to the wall thickness of the block and second lateral grooves intersecting said first lateral grooves at a right angle are preferably provided on said first side face, said second lateral grooves being arranged and shaped like said first lateral grooves. The second side face is closed and planar, i.e. free from discontinuities.

Abstract: A combustion chamber and liner for use in a wound boiler formed from a heat exchanger slab rolled into a plurality of wound heat exchanger convolutions, the inner heat exchanger convolutions defining a space in which a sized and shaped elongated hollow cylindrical member defining the fire box is removably mounted and in assembled position forms an inner annular combustion gas flow passage disposed to communicate with an outer combustion gas flow passage, the cylindrical member has means to position and orient the cylindrical member in assembled position so that a top inlet in the wall of the cylindrical member in association with an aligning and guide member will pass combustion gases from the fire box into the inner combustion gas flow passage, in a direction counter to the flow of combustion in the fire box, and the outer combustion gas flow passage is disposed to communicate with a suitable flue or discharge outlet to pass residual combustion gases to waste.

Abstract: A steel-bodied, coal burning stove is provided with an improved combustion system including a one-piece fire pot having an integral, non-shakeable grate. The pot is mounted in the lower regions of the stove and is suspended by a circular mounting ring arrangement which defines the interior of the stove into upper and lower chambers. The pot projects downwardly from the mounting ring arrangement into the lower of the stove chambers. The mounting ring arrangement is constructed to enable air to flow directly from the lower chamber, peripherally about the pot to the upper chamber, bypassing the grate and means are provided to vary the flow of such bypass air.

Abstract: A log-burning stove which contains a full refractory firebox, the stove designed to permit the easy insertion of large, economical, wood logs, particularly green logs, which stove comprises a shell defining a combustion chamber, the combustion chamber fully lined with refractory material, and having an entrance and a full-length loading door adapted to permit the easy introduction of logs into the combustion chamber, the door adapted to move between a closed, upright, sealed position and an open supporting position extending generally laterally from the lower portion of the entrance opening, the door containing roller means on the internal surface thereof which provides for the lateral movement of a large log thereon which permits the positioning of the log adjacent the center of the entrance, whereby, after said positioning of the log adjacent the opening, the log may be moved inwardly through the entrance and into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A molded fireplace construction whose firebox has an outer wall comprised of a mixture of magnesium oxychloride, organic resin and a fiber reinforcement such as fiberglass, an inner refraction liner of slate dust and magnesium oxychloride and an insulator therebetween comprised of magnesium oxychloride, expanded mica or slag and microballons. The completed construction has an inner liner resistant to abrasion and heat, an effective insulating layer and an outer structural layer which can be decorative or merely functional. In the exhaust system for the firebox, the outer two layers can be used without the inner refractory layer. The fireplace construction is fabricated for easy assembly and replacement of portions thereof should that ever be required.

Abstract: The present invention includes a universal combustion chamber preferably shipped from a factory as a separate unit for field installation into a plurality of different fireplace units and includes a top panel and a floor panel connected to sidewall panel to form a complete ready to use gas tight structure. The combustion chamber is fabricated from flat and/or curved panels which are preferably molded from a thick paste slurry of mixed vitreous alumina silicate fibers combined with an aqueous solution of silica binder and fired to form non-porous gas tight panels which are interconnected to form a gas tight combustion chamber. The connecting joints are preferably reinforced by the addition of a high temperature adhesive added to the mating joints. The joints may be further reinforced and/or sealed by mechanical reinforcing at or in the joints. The joints may be eliminated by forming a one piece combustion chamber on forming molds that are designed to be separated from a formed but uncured combustion chamber.