Abstract: A burner system for controlling the gas/air mixture of a burner has a sensor providing a signal dependent on the pressures in gas and air lines supplying the burner. A summing device receives a signal based on the air flow rate and the signal from the sensor, and provides a regulating signal controlling the setting of a gas regulating valve regulating the flow of gas in the gas line.

Abstract: A lighter. The lighter includes a container for storing a combustible fuel and a source of ignition. The source of ignition is responsive to the manual manipulation of an actuating member and a member resisting the operation of the actuation member so that the source of ignition is not activated in response to forces less than approximatey 3.5 kgf.

Abstract: The invention concerns a piezo lighter incorporating a child safety mechanism. The mechanism relates to an activation button and a flipper, which is either pivotally secured or integrally formed with the activation button. The safety mechanism includes a stopper on the activation button, which limits the downward movement of the activation button. The activation button translates downward sufficiently to operate the fuel-release lever opening the fuel-discharge valve. However, in order to activate the piezoelectric unit, the flipper must also be depressed a further distance than the activation button and rotated about a button axis to generate a spark to ignite the fuel released by the fuel-release lever and fuel-discharge valve.

Abstract: The system for active regulation of the air/gas ratio of a burner comprises one or two differential pressure measuring systems each of which has a differential pressure sensor with two inlet orifices. The orifices are respectively connected to pressure ports in one of which there is a calibrated throttling orifice. The regulator system comprises a 2-channel valve which, when closed, isolates the two inlet orifices from each other, and, when open, connects them to each other. A measurement circuit is provided and has memory means for storing at least two values of the output signal of the sensors, a control unit for switching the valve and controlling the storage of a first value of an output signal of the sensor in the memory means when the valve is closed and the storage of a second value of the output signal of the sensor when the valve is open, and subtractor means for calculating the difference between the two stored values of the output signal of the sensor and thereby eliminating any drift.

Abstract: This invention provides cutter/lighter combination devices wherein the cutter is equipped with a blade attached to a holder that moves on a track. The end of the blade holder distal from the blade edge protrudes from a notch in the side of the case. When the protruding portion of the blade carrier is pushed forward in the direction of the case, the blade moves forward across the aperture to cut any object which has been inserted into the aperture. The blade edge may be any shape, so long as the cutting edge is not present in the aperture in the absence of pressure on the blade carrier to force the blade edge to move the blade across the aperture.

Abstract: A gas burner assembly, including its gas intake manifold, in combination with upper and lower tiered baffles, and includes the side chambers for regulation of flow if air through a draw in and through type of burner assembly, to provide heated air for a building. Various slots are provided in both the side chambers, and are custom designed for application to select tiers of the upper and lower baffles, to precisely regulate the flow of air into the combustion chamber, and regulate the type of flame generated, to furnish very precise generation of heat, and BTU output for the various sized burner assemblies.

Abstract: A flue seal (10) utilized in conjunction with a flue (12) within a fireplace (14). The flue seal (10) has a magnetic sheet (18) positionable within the flue (12). The magnetic sheet (18) has a sheet opening (18a) therethrough. A fastener (20) is securely connected through the sheet opening (18a). A pull chain (22) is securely connected to the fastener (20) extending downwardly therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing the total pressure of a compressible fluid fuel. The apparatus includes at least two closely spaced apart constant enthalpy expansion sections, each section having at least one orifice, the orifices in adjacent sections being noncoaxial. The pressure reduction lowers flow velocity when mixed with the air to below the flame speed to promote ignition and stable combustion.

Abstract: A portable solid-fuel burning camp-stove with a unique air supply system that allows for sufficient thermal power output to facilitate cooking while keeping the size of the combustion chamber small enough to allow for acceptable packing weight for backcountry hiking. Pack stoves powered by gas or liquid fuels have the major disadvantages of the need to bring fuel and limited fuel supply. Solid fuel stoves have the advantage of being able to use fuel straight from nature in the form of wood, there is no need to carry fuel, generally these stoves are too heavy for backpacking since they need a large combustion chamber which makes these stoves to heavy for back packing. This invention allows for adequate combustion in an acceptably small chamber by blowing additional air into the combustion chamber for a higher combustion rate. The air is blown in by mouth through a hose and nozzle arrangement, thereby eliminating the need for extra air-pump hardware.

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 flame-retardant wick holder for a candle is made of a plastic having a UL-94 vertical burn test rating of at least V-0. The wick holder has a bore for holding a wick at the bottom of a candle. The wick holder is provided so that when the candle and wick burn down to the level of the wick holder, the material of the wick holder causes the flame on the wick to extinguish, thereby preventing flashover of the residual candle fuel at the end of the candle useful life. The wick holder is preferably made of a polyethersulfone (PES).

Abstract: A cover, such as a countertop addition, is disclosed. The cover includes a primary flat section having a first perimeter sized equivalently to a second perimeter of the range top, and having an upper side and an under side. The primary flat section is fittedly integrated along the first perimeter with at least one countertop adjacent to the range top on at least one side of the range top. The primary flat section may include at least one seam, wherein, upon unfolding of said primary flat section along the at least one seam, the primary flat section is sized equivalently to the perimeter of the range top. This folding improves ease of storage, such as in a storage compartment of an adjacent countertop to the range. The primary flat section may be formed of a wood or a metallic, for example, and may include a plurality of designs thereon.

Abstract: A barbecue grill accessory that includes an inverted V-shaped burner cover having drip channels formed along opposed side edges thereof that are each formed to channel drippings toward a first end of the burner cover. A method of using the barbecue grill accessory is also provided.

Abstract: A lantern having a compact configuration. The lantern has a generally cylindrical shape with a lower housing containing a fuel tank, a shut-off valve and a regulator. A cap at the base of the lower housing can be removed, providing access to the fuel tank. The fuel tank is refillable via a fuel fill valve arranged at the base of the tank. A burner tube is coupled to the regulator and extends upwards beyond the housing. A mantle, which when lit provides illumination, is removably coupled to the upper end of the burner tube. A generally conical reflector is arranged around the burner tube below the mantle and above the regulator. A glass globe is arranged around the burner tube/mantle assembly and a ventilator cap is arranged above the globe. The ventilator cap attaches to rails which extend up from opposite sides of the lower housing and can be readily removed to access the mantle.

Abstract: An improved grate for burning solid fuel having a support for the fuel, a blower for transporting air through the support, a multiplicity of orifices jets uniformly distributed across the entire area of the grate and directed through the support generally upwardly to transport preheated air toward the lower surface of the solid fuel. A trough located immediately below the support, and in close proximity to the lower surface of the solid fuel, for collecting a layer of glowing coals and providing a combustion zone in troughs between the supports. Internal air transport tubes within the support provide passageways for air to flow from the blower out of the grate. A low thermal mass heat reflector may be used with the grate for absorbing radiant energy from the combustion zone and reradiating thermal energy over the fireplace grate and out of the fireplace.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for high velocity injection of a stream of fluid fuel into a stream of NOx containing combustion effluents downstream of a primary combustion zone, without the use of recirculated flue gas or other carrier gas. The apparatus includes a fuel introducing member that has a fuel receiving end for receiving fluid fuel from a fuel source and a fuel injection end for injecting the fluid fuel into the stream of combustion effluents. A fuel passage is in fluid communication with the fuel receiving end and the fuel injection end of the fuel introducing member. A means for increasing the velocity of the fluid fuel, without the need of a carrier gas, is associated with the fuel introducing member.

Abstract: An oil burner control system is disclosed in which an extended time may be temporarily selected, in situations such as initial set up or periodic maintenance, for priming the pipes, filters and pumps, before a safety lockout of system operation occurs, while otherwise leaving the normal safety lockout functions intact. An igniter in the system operates in an “intermittent” mode during the temporarily selected extended time, and otherwise operates in an “interrupted” mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel means for generating hydrogen gas which is particularly useful in domestic applications, particularly, a hydrogen-fueled gas fireplace. The hydrogen generating means comprises a filter-press electrolyzer that generates hydrogen from an electrolyte solution and has a relatively small size, e.g., about 600 mm2, and is thus convenient for domestic use. Suitable domestic applications include cooking stoves and the like as well as gas fireplaces. A hydrogen-fueled fireplace comprises a housing containing a firebox, an electrolyzer, which comprises a series of electrolytic cells, and a power module.

Abstract: A furnace blower has an inexpensive and compact coaxially arranged simplified construction that includes an electric motor having a shell with radially projecting fins that is press-fit into a cylindrical blower housing and a combustion tube that is also press-fit into the blower housing where the interior of a combustion tube is positioned in close proximity to a fan on the motor shaft. The press-fit assembly of the motor into the blower housing as well as the combustion tube into the blower housing simplifies the construction of the furnace blower and reduces its manufacturing costs. The furnace blower is also smaller than prior art furnace blowers which enables it to be readily retrofit into conventional furnaces in place of prior art furnace blowers.

Abstract: An ignitor controller and method of providing the same triggers an ignitor switch of a gas appliance, such as a furnace, subsequent to the zero-crossing of the line voltage, but before the voltage exceeds +/−five volts. This effectively reduces EMI levels caused by the constant triggering of AC line voltage to the ignitor switch after +/−five volts, which constant triggering is needed to properly operate ignitors (e.g., silicon nitride ignitors) in electronic ignition systems. The controller includes a voltage detector circuit (i.e., a two transistor circuit), a series switch (i.e., a darlington array) and an energy storage device (i.e., a capacitor), which trigger the ignitor switch (e.g., a triac) sufficiently close to the line voltage zero-crossing to reduce line conducted interference.