Abstract: An outdoor condensing furnace is provided with a condensate drain line which passes through the heat exchange compartment and to a location within the building where it can be discharged at temperatures above freezing. During heating operation, the drain line is maintained at temperatures above freezing such that the condensate will not freeze, and if condensate is trapped in the drain line and freezes during periods of nonheating operation, then it will be quickly thawed when heating operation is resumed. In an alternate embodiment, a drain pan is placed in direct contact with the primary heat exchanger and the condensate is routed to drain pan to be vaporized. Another embodiment provides for routing of the condensate from the condensing heat exchanger, through a flue pipe, and to a drain site which is at above freezing ambient conditions.

Abstract: A low-cost, high-mass-productivity catalytic combustion apparatus having a construction that permits easy maintenance is realized. There is provided a catalytic combustion apparatus in which, by means of a combustion chamber having a fuel supply portion 1 and a combustion air supply portion on the upstream side thereof and a combustion gas exhaust port on the downstream side thereof and a catalytic combustion portion with an upstream surface and a downstream surface provided in the combustion chamber, the upstream surface and the downstream surface being substantially parallel to each other, a fuel-air mixture supplied to the interior of the combustion chamber is caused to react to liberate heat.

Abstract: A safety mechanism in a cigarette lighter that utilizes a multi-button system: a button and a button cover. The button has at least two elevations and is placed adjacent to the button cover. The button cover is coupled to one of the elevations of the button. A blocking element limits the downward movement of the button cover sufficiently to prevent activation of the piezo unit. To operate the lighter, the user must apply pressure to the button to operate release fuel and to operate the piezo unit to generate a spark.

Abstract: A piezoelectric gas lighter includes a lighter body. The fuel gas in the lighter body is supplied to a nozzle through a valve mechanism which is opened and closed by an actuator lever and a piezoelectric unit ignites the fuel gas discharged from the nozzle. A depression member actuates the actuator lever and the piezoelectric unit to open the valve mechanism and ignite the fuel gas discharged from the nozzle in response to depression of the depression controller. The depression member includes a control cap operatively connected to a piezoelectric unit, a stopper member which is movable between a locking position where the control cap is prevented from being depressed and a releasing position where the control cap is permitted to be depressed and an urging member which urges the stopper member to the locking position.

Abstract: A venting plate for an apothecary jar candle is disclosed, which includes a ceramic venting chassis and decorative three dimensional ornamentation bonded to the chassis. The venting plate with its decorative three dimensional ornamentation can remain atop an apothecary jar candle while burning. The ornamentation is composed of molded poly resin reliefs of various genre and styles. The unique venting chassis provides sufficient thermal insulation to protect the reliefs and provides sufficient laminar air flow within an apothecary jar candle to improve the combustion efficiency and reduce candle smoke. In one embodiment of the venting plate, the ceramic chassis has a flat plate , a cylindrical skirt which extends from the bottom of the flat top and a plurality of mounting feet, which support the chassis atop a jar candle. The mounting feet space the plate above the candle brim to permit the flow of inlet air underneath the venting plate between the plate top and the brim of the candle vessel.

Abstract: A celestial tracking apparatus (20) has a support (26), a tracking assembly (28) coupled to the support (26) by an azimuth pivot (36), a collector assembly (30) coupled to the tracking assembly (28) by an elevation pivot (38), a wind-speed sensor (172), and a controller (150) coupled to the azimuth and elevation pivots (36,38) and configured to cause the collector assembly (30) to assume a wind-stow position (66) when the sensor (172) detects a wind having a speed greater than a predetermined speed, upon failure of a component of the apparatus (20), or upon receipt of a wind-stow command. The collector assembly (30) has a solar collector (22) with a substantially flat surface (24), a center of gravity (52), and a target axis (54) substantially perpendicular to the substantially flat surface (24) and passing through the center of gravity (52).

Abstract: A flame sensor for sensing the presence of a flame in a burner. The signal from the sensor is passed to an amplifier located adjacent to the sensor and amplified without having a sensor signal contaminated with common mode radiation. The selectively amplified signal between 15 and 80 Hz is processed by a microcontroller located remotely from the sensor and amplifier which microcontroller may terminate or continue burner operation. The integrity of the connection circuitry between the amplifier and the microcontroller is also monitored and burner shutdown occurs if there is a fault in such circuitry.

Abstract: The invention is a device for muffling the sound of escaping gas from a dispensing pipe for natural gas or any similar gaseous fuel, where the dispensing pipe has one or more first orifices. The device is an insert that may be placed into the dispensing pipe. The insert has second orifices through which the natural gas or any similar gaseous fuel escapes, and the second orifices are smaller than the first orifices.

Abstract: A gas igniter comprises a casing detachably connected to a container which holds an inserted commercial available disposable gas lighter as fuel source, wherein. providing an easy and inexpensive means of gas refilling, whereby, a user can refill with a commercially available disposable lighter without discarding all the usable parts. A flexible extension that can be freely curved at any angle and retained to the given shape to perform ignition even in a tight spot area A p ay safety switch and a secondary safety switch of the igniter provide extra security to inhibit the children to master an ignition.

Abstract: A termination unit for a through-the-wall horizontal vent of a gas combustion device having a combustion chamber and a burner, is described. The termination unit comprises a wall mounting plate which is secured to a vertical wall outer surface and about an outer sleeve of a coaxial flue pipe. A fresh air chamber is secured to the wall mounting plate. An exhaust end of an exhaust flue pipe extends through the wall mounting plate and the fresh air chamber to exit through an outer wall of the chamber. Air intake ports are provided in an outer peripheral wall of the chamber to supply fresh air to a coaxial passage between the exhaust flue pipe and the outer sleeve to feed the combustion chamber. An air baffle is provided in the chamber about the exhaust end of the flue pipe and extends through the chamber. Wind deflector flanges are disposed in spaced relationship about the air intake ports of the chamber.

Abstract: An outdoor fireplace including a combustion chamber that has a top portion and an ash pan. The top portion and said ash pan are rigidly connected by a plurality of substantially vertical supports. The outdoor fireplace further includes a base, the base providing an upper portion and a support structure. The upper portion substantially spans the area spanned by the ash pan and is connected to the ash pan such that an integral airway is formed between the ash pan and the upper portion.

Abstract: The invention concerns a burner-type apparatus designed to facilitate fuel gas combustion in the atmosphere, comprising a combustion zone (1) supplied with at least a fuel gas through at least a tube (2) for burning gas intake. The invention is characterized in that the tube (2) end is enclosed with a plurality of elements (3) arranged around the latter each consisting of a venturi and motive fluid supply, and designed to increase the quantity of air in the combustion zone.

Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a barbecue ash discharge system comprised of a funnel-like device 18 having a length of outlet conduit 22 suspended under a barbecue grill 16 having a vent forming an outlet aperture 42 in the barbecue grill housing. The present invention provides for a plurality of methods for suspending the funnel-like device 18 under the barbecue grill 16 that may be dependent upon the support structure for the barbecue grill. A first funnel-like device 18 has a funnel harness with a plurality of straps 30 having hooks 34 positioned on the distal ends of the straps whereby the funnel is suspended beneath the barbecue grill 16 by attaching the hooks 34 to the lip 32 of the barbecue grill 16. A second funnel-like device has a flange 54 extending around the periphery thereof whereby a plurality of butterfly clips or the like 52 can be frictionally attached to the legs 50 of the barbecue grill 16 with the jaws 56 of the clips 52 engaging the funnel-like flange 54.

Abstract: A self-contained, easily foldable and reconfigurable charcoal lighting and/or grill device. In some variations, the lighting and/or grill device is arrangeable into multiple configurations: 1) in which the device has a thin profile for easy carrying and storage; 2) in which the device facilitates fuel lighting by forming an enclosure; and 3) for the combination charcoal and grill device only, in which the device has a generally U-shaped profile, with extended legs and one or more side handles for grilling foods. Another variation of the device includes an ignition enhancer housing that is suspendably attached to an existing grill. A rack is positioned above the housing, and one or more doors are used in conjunction with the existing grill sides to form an enclosure to enhance lighting of fuel. Upon lighting, the one or more doors are rearrangeable such that the grill may be used normally.

Abstract: An improved solar collector pipe that directly conveys fluid to be heated and collects and transfers solar energy efficiently and directly to the internal fluid, thereby maximizing both the amount of energy transmitted to the internal fluid and the peak temperature attainable by that fluid. The solar collector pipe includes a transparent portion for admitting solar energy into the solar collector pipe. Internal to the solar collector pipe is an absorbing portion for absorbing solar energy. A conduit portion is also included and comprises a reflecting surface thereon for reflecting solar energy received through the transparent portion onto the absorbing portion. In embodiments of the invention, the transparent portion, the conduit portion, and the absorbing portion together define at least one fluid passageway for conveying the fluid. In other embodiments of the invention, an internal conduit defines a fluid passageway for conveying the fluid.

Abstract: Low NOx axial premix burner apparatus and methods for burning fuel gas are provided by the present invention. The methods of the invention are basically comprised of the steps of mixing a first portion of the fuel gas and all of the air to form a lean primary fuel gas-air mixture, discharging the lean primary fuel gas-air mixture into the furnace space whereby the mixture is burned in a primary combustion zone therein, discharging a second portion of the fuel gas into the primary combustion zone to stabilize the flame produced therein and discharging the remaining portion of the fuel gas into a secondary combustion zone in the furnace space.

Abstract: Infrared emitter with luminous radiation for a supply of gas at very low pressure and of primary atmospheric air via venturi, said supply comprising at least one gas injector, an injector holder, a safety valve, a gas supply connector, especially for raised heating appliances for directional heating towards the ground and/on the sides in the agricultural, industrial, craft and service sectors, characterised in that it comprises; a geometrical structure comprising at least one first (1), second (2), third (4) and fourth (5) concentric enclosure, a substantially horizontal upper plate (6) below which the said at least first (1), second (2), third (4), fourth (5) enclosures are fixed concentrically to said plate, fitting the one inside the other, a central opening (7) leading the air-gas flow perpendicularly to said plate, into the interior space created by the first enclosure (1).

Abstract: A water heater comprising a water-tight tank having a combustion chamber located in the bottom portion of the tank. A combustion air blower is operable to draw combustion air into the combustion chamber through a vertical tube in which the air flows from atmosphere downwardly into the combustion chamber. Combustion air entering the combustion chamber supports combustion of gas emanating from burners positioned in the combustion chamber. The products of combustion (flue gases) are drawn upwardly through a plurality of tubes, which extend from the combustion chamber to a flue gas collector box on the top of the water heater. From the flue gas collector box, the flue gases flow into an air/flue product mixing chamber and then out through an exit port.

Abstract: A lighter having a two-stage locking type safety switch includes a press member pivotally mounted on the liquid gas container, a first-stage safety switch structure, and a second-stage safety switch structure. The first-stage safety switch structure includes a clutch structure mounted in the press cover, for controlling the press cover and the liquid gas container to be disposed at a first-stage locking or free state. The second-stage safety switch structure includes a locking recess formed in the guide slot of the top cover, so that the locking recess and the guide slot of the top cover may form a substantially L-shaped structure. Thus, the slide knob has to slide in the locking recess to move into the guide slot. Then, the slide knob may move in the guide slot to release the safety switch, thereby igniting the lighter.

Abstract: Gas lighter having a safety mechanism. The lighter includes a lighter body housing a tank of liquefied gas under pressure. A valve allows passage of gas. A burner is connected to the valve. A push-button is disposed on the body and is adapted to be pressed by a user's finger. A lever is used for acting on the valve. The lever is adapted to cooperate with the push-button. A wheel is used for engaging a flint. The wheel includes at least one driver. A spring is arranged below the flint for biasing the flint against the wheel. An axle is used upon which the wheel is rotatably mounted. A mechanism is used for preventing the rotation of the wheel. The mechanism is adapted to engage at least one tooth on the at least one driver so as to prevent the rotation of the wheel.