Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an air fuel ratio in a gas furnace which can maintain optimum performance in combustion, irrespective of variation in temperature control stages. Air quantity and fuel quantity are integrally, rather than separately, controlled through the detection and adjustment of variation in each until the air fuel ratio reaches an objective value. In this manner, transient phenomena caused during the burning operation is prevented, and optimum combustion performance is maintained regardless of the temperature variation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating apparatus using thermal reaction of brown gas. After brown gas generated from a brown gas generator passes hexane liquid in a flame arrester, it is burnt in a brown gas burner located at a lower portion of a heating element. Heating members are installed in multi-stage inside a heating element body of a hollow form. The heating element body located at each stage includes vent holes and exhaust openings. A cover is disposed on the top of the heating element. The heating member located at the lower portion is heated by flame of the brown gas, and then also the heating member located at an upper portion is heated by flame of high temperature caused by the thermal reaction of the brown gas, which gradually heats the lower heating member. After all, the whole heating members are heated to emit a vast heat.

Abstract: A candlewick for use in a candle system includes two or more wicks which are intertwined and at least one binding member, such as a generally non-wicking yarn, which holds the wicks intertwined. The binding member decomposes in response to heat generated by a single flame fueled by the wicks so that the wicks separate from each other to define a pair of wick ends which fuel the single flame.

Abstract: A portable grill having a rectangular structural foam base and a structural foam pillar defining the outside of the grill. A metal collar is mounted on the pillar with a ceramic insulating gasket and a metal heat shield in contact with the gasket and collar. Aluminum bottom and top shells enclose the burner. At least one shelf bracket is on the bottom shell with a structural foam side table mounted thereon. The preferred foamed polymer has a flexural modulus of over 150,000 psi and a hardness of over 80 Rockwell Hardness R. The pillar and base have ribs aligned to resist bending or flexing. The preferred gasket is formed from ceramic material capable of resisting a temperature of at least 1800° F. during continuous use. The grill can operate at full combustion for at least eight hours for at least six consecutive days.

Abstract: The present invention provides various embodiments for a colored flame lamp and a colored flame candle. The lamps and candles may burn with a flame of a characteristic color such as green, red, blue, purple, orange, or silver-white. The lamp fuel composition may include a liquid solvent and dissolved metal salts. The candles may be composed of a solvent, a hardener, and metal salts dissolved in the solvent. The colored flame in the lamp and candle results from vaporized metal salts that travel up a wick with lamp fuel or melted candle material.

Abstract: A burner module for delivering a flow of chemical reactants to a combustion site of a chemical vapor deposition process includes a plurality of substantially planar layers. The substantially planar layers are arranged in a generally parallel and fixed relationship and define an inlet, an outlet and a passage fluidly connecting the inlet and outlet. At least one of the layers is a distribution layer having a plurality of apertures therethrough and fluidly communicating with the passage. The plurality of apertures collectively define a non-uniform pattern arranged and configured to improve the uniformity of a flow out through the outlet. Burner adapter and assembly embodiments are also included.

Abstract: A burner manifold apparatus (10) for delivering reactants to a combustion site of a chemical vapor deposition process includes fluid inlets (32a, 32b), fluid outlets (49), and a plurality of fluid passages (50) extending therebetween. The fluid passages (50) converge toward each other from the fluid inlets to the fluid outlets. One embodiment includes a manifold base (12), a pressure plate (14), and a manifold burner mount (16) for mounting thereto a micromachined burner (58). The fluid passages (50) internal to the manifold base are configured to distribute symmetrically the fluid to the manifold burner mount. The fluid is then channeled through fluid passages in the manifold burner mount. The fluid passages converge, yet remain fluidly isolated from each other, and the fluid passages create a linear array for producing linear streams of fluid. Alternatively, the burner manifold apparatus may include a plurality of manifold elements in a stacked arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a class of candles comprised of attached sections that fall away as the candle is burned. In a basic embodiment a novelty candle has a wick embedded in a wax core. Several attachments are connected to the core. The attachments are shaped, weighted, and placed such that they would tend to fall down and outward if not for their connection to the core. The falling process is initiated by lighting the wick. Heat from the flame causes the attachments to disconnect from the core and subsequently fall and rest on a table or other surface. Once the attachments have fallen, portions of the core previously hidden are revealed.

Abstract: A range hood having a grease collecting motor housing and integrated grease tray and fan grill. The motor housing intake openings are defined by circular walls projecting vertically into the motor housing that act to prevent grease from passing back through the air intakes. Condensed liquids within the housing are directed to drain holes in the lower surface of the housing for transport out of the range hood. The tray (with attached grill) is releasable connectable to the housing through the air inlet in the range hood lower panel. The tray may be removed without removal of the lower panel of the range hood.

Abstract: A locking lever for a lighter actuation mechanism prevents the actuator from operating when in a locked position. Operation of the lever causes a portion of the lever to be withdrawn from a housing portion of the lighter and permit the actuator to be moved and operated. The lever mechanism is spring loaded so that the end of the lever normally extends into the lighter housing in a locked position. A top portion of the lever is flattened and curved to prevent intuitive operation by a child, while permitting an adult to easily disengage the locking mechanism. An end portion of the locking lever has a sloped profile to move the lever in an upward direction when the actuator device is returned to a normal position after operating the lighter. When the lighter actuator returns to a normal position, the spring loaded lever again extends into the housing of the lighter to prevent accidental operation.

Abstract: A utility lighter having a housing and a spark generator operable to generate a spark generally adjacent an exit opening of the housing. Movement of a trigger from its inoperative position to its operative position in a normal mode of operation of the lighter operates the spark generator to generate a spark. A disabling mechanism is positionable relative to the housing between a first position corresponding to a disabled mode of operation of the lighter in which the lighter is ineffective to generate a spark and a second position corresponding to the normal mode of operation of the lighter. The trigger is movable between its inoperative and operative positions in both the disabled mode and the normal mode of the lighter. In the disabled mode of the lighter the disabling mechanism is adapted to disable the trigger from operating the spark generator in the operative position of the trigger.

Abstract: A cooking pot is provided which includes a base portion and a removable cover therefor. An annular lip of the pot is formed with at least one vent opening therein. Airflow between ambient and a cooking chamber defined within the pot is adjustable by rotating the cover relative to the base portion. The cooking pot is also multifunctional in that it is operable in any one of a plurality of cooking modes including but not limited to an open charcoal-grilling mode, a closed charcoal-grilling mode, an externally-heated charcoal-grilling mode, a grilling and smoking mode, a deep-frying mode, a boiling and simmering mode, a steaming mode, and oven modes.

Abstract: A catalytic combuster having a mixing section upstream of a combustion section. The mixing section includes a multi-port injector for injecting a first reactant gas into the mixing section in a plurality of directions perpendicular the direction or flow of a second reactant gas.

Abstract: A candle holder 1 comprises an annular collar 2 and a bottom disc 3 interconnected by ribs 4 having sharp edges 5 for trimming a candle end inserted in the cavity defined by the ribs 4, the collar 1 and disc 3 while rotating the holder relative to the candle such that the sharpened edges 5 trim the candle end until said end is entirely received in the cavity, resilient arms 11 being provided for ensuring that the holder with candle inserted may be stably secured in the socket of a candlestick.

Abstract: A solar system comprising a reflector and a heat collecting element (HCE) received at the focus of the reflector. The HCE comprises a coated tube received within a coaxial evacuated enveloping glass tube. The enveloping glass tube is secured at respective ends thereof to the coated tube by a coaxially deformable connector element having a distal end thereof sealingly secured to the coated tube and a proximal end thereof sealingly attached to a respective end of the enveloping glass tube by a glass to metal connection (GMC). A radiation shield assembly is provided over the connector element and over the GMC and is secured to the connector element by support legs engaging the connector element adjacent the proximal end.

Abstract: A piezoelectric lighter includes a gas emission arrangement including a pair of jet nozzles and a gas emitting tube communicating with a liquefied gas storage respectively, a gas releasable valve extended from the liquefied gas storage for controlling a flow of gas to the gas emission arrangement, a pair of gas ejecting conduits connected from the gas releasable valve to the two jet nozzles respectively, and a gas ejecting duct connected from the gas releasable valve to the gas emitting tube. Therefore, the piezoelectric lighter is adapted for selectively producing either a pair of jet flames at the same time when the gas discharged to the two jet nozzles through the gas ejecting conduits or producing a visible flame when the gas discharged to the gas emitting tube through the gas ejecting duct.

Abstract: A barbecue grill assembly includes aside rack mounted foldably on a main frame, which has a mounting seat formed with an insert hole for access to a slide passage and installed with a resilient locking pin and an operating shaft coupled to the locking pin. The side rack has an insert rod extending slidably into the slide passage and formed with an engaging groove for engaging the locking pin so as to retain the side rack at a horizontal unfolded position. The insert rod extends through a side hole portion of the insert hole when in the unfolded position. The operating shaft is operable against restoring action of the locking pin so as to disengage the locking pin from the insert rod. The insert rod is slidable outwardly and is turnable downwardly to extend through a bottom hole portion of the insert hole when disengaged from the locking pin.

Abstract: A wood burning stove is provided. The combustion chamber in which the fire occurs has a baffle plate that is moveable to direct air flow through one of two different pathways from the combustion chamber to the chimney. When in a first position, the baffle plate forces the air and smoke to move through a first pathway; when in a second position, a by-pass pathway is opened, allowing air and smoke to move through a second pathway. The stove can have a door in the front wall, or the top wall, or both walls, to provide access to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A pressure gauge subassembly, a pump subassembly, a lower skirt and cap, and an ignition bowl having an up-pipe are coupled to a fuel tank. A safety cover has a Z-shaped upward projection coupled to the lower skirt. A heat resistant glass chimney is coupled to the lower and upper skirts. A lower skirt is coupled to the glass chimney. A lantern top cap with a mixing chamber is coupled to the upper skirt. A plurality of connecting rods firmly hold and contain the glass chimney between the upper skirt and the lower skirt. A vaporizer has two warming coils and a nipple. A quantity of steel wool is wrapped around a vaporizer shaft. A J-shaped mixing tube having a wire mesh and a baffle plate is coupled to the lantern top cap. A mantel is coupled to the mixing tube. The fuel is a quantity of liquid methanol.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel in a combustion chamber of a furnace or boiler are presented, the combustion normally using only air as an oxidant, part of the air entering the combustion chamber through one or more burners, and a remaining portion of air entering the combustion chamber at a plurality of locations downstream of the burners. The methods comprise injecting oxygen-enriched gas through a plurality of lances into the combustion chamber at a plurality of downstream locations, the oxygen-enriched gas injected at a velocity ranging from subsonic to supersonic, and the oxygen-enriched gas being present in an amount sufficient to provide an oxygen concentration of no more than 2% on a volume basis greater than when air is used alone as oxidant.