Patents Examined by Carl D. Price
  • Patent number: 6422231
    Abstract: A portable stove includes a housing and at least one basin member secured to the housing. The basin member forms a bottom pocket at one end and a top opening at another end. A burner extends into the pocket and provides heat that the basin member directs from the pocket to the top opening. A plate member defines holes at predetermined positions of its body and lies between the pocket and the top opening to distribute heat evenly across the top opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth Rex Hamilton, Lawrence Mathew Stone
  • Patent number: 6409500
    Abstract: A process and product for producing an attractive soot-free fire from a specially formed gas pipe embedded in a bed of broken, specially-formulated, tempered glass pieces is provided. The broken glass pieces are preferably formed from a specifically-formulated, tempered glass which, after formation, is broken and then sifted and washed so as to remove any slivers or debris. The gas pipe is preferably formed with two rows of equally spaced openings offset with respect to each other and spaced approximately 90° apart to burn gas in a cleaner and hotter manner. A number of gas pipes may be used and formed in any desired configuration to add to the attractiveness of the soot-free fire produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Mark T. Georgantas
  • Patent number: 6408843
    Abstract: The invention is a portable ground thawing device using a shallow rectangularly shaped box-like apparatus (or thaw body) that is open-ended on the side that would normally form the floor of the thaw body. This open-ended box is constructed with a high degree of insulating value and is designed to trap heat against the surface of frozen ground while also including a reflective inner surface. The heating requirements are supplied by the use of an externally mounted radiant propane heater that is commonly available in the marketplace today. This attachment is built into one of the short vertical walls on the end of the thaw body by placing the burner element of the radiant heater in the most outward opening of a vented heat transfer tube. The vented heat transfer tube is a cylindrical opening that passes from the outside of the thaw body so as to leave an air gap to allow for the free flow of air from inside the thaw body to the outside by the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Ground Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Bernard Olson
  • Patent number: 6398545
    Abstract: A self-extinguishing torch for use in theatrical environments includes a supporting basket having a support for torch fuel. The supporting basket includes a screen providing side ventilation for containing torch fuel on the support and admitting air through the side ventilation to burn torch fuel. The supporting basket has fuel, which provides torch lighting. A container having an opening for receiving, surrounding, and containing the supporting basket has a handhold remote from the container for permitting the container to be held by a hand. A normally closed top is provided for moving from an open position to a closed position over the container with the supporting basket therein. The normally closed top is biased to the open position when the supporting basket protrudes from the container at the normally closed top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: GamProducts, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Adam Kleeman, Joseph N. Tawil
  • Patent number: 6397835
    Abstract: A portable gas burner having a swivel bracket mounted inside the housing thereof to hold a gas pressure regulator adapted to receive a gas can, and a tilting switch fixedly mounted on the swivel bracket adapted to control on/off of a gas switch that controls the supply of fuel gas from the loaded gas can to the burner grate of the burner unit of the portable gas burner. The tilting switch switches off the gas switch to stop the supply of fuel gas to the burner unit when the loaded gas can not kept in vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Hsin-Lien Liang
  • Patent number: 6386863
    Abstract: A compound spin vane (CSV) for use in an air passage of a fossil fuel-fired burner. In one embodiment, the CSV is a multi-piece construction of platelike outer and inner vane elements connected to an intermediate platelike rail element. In another embodiment, the CSV includes at least two and possibly three vane portions, rigidly interconnected in spaced lateral relationship with respect to each other. If desired, the vane portions may be simple, curved planar surfaces, and may be arranged with trailing edges arranged at angles with respect to each other. The invention may be employed as a replacement for flat spin vanes found in secondary air passages of known single and dual register burners. When used in such manner in a single register burner, the invention changes secondary air flow characteristics so as to mimic those commonly found in a dual register burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Hamid Sarv, Jeffrey A. LaRose, Albert D. LaRue, Peter W. Waanders
  • Patent number: 6386862
    Abstract: A mixed gas supply portion 1 for mixing fuel with air, a mixed gas ejection portion 2 for ejecting the mixed gas mixed by the mixed gas supply portion 1, a breathable first catalyst body 5 provided downstream of the mixed gas supply portion 2, a breathable second catalyst body 7 provided downstream of the first catalyst body 5, a separation board a 6 for increasing gas flow resistance provided between the first catalyst body 5 and the second catalyst body 7, a heat exchange portion 13 having a heated fluid passage 14 positioned on the peripheral part, a radiant heat reception portion 3 provided upstream of the first catalyst body 5 and integrated with the heat exchange portion 13, and a separation board b 8 and a separation board c 10 provided downstream of the second catalyst body 7 for increasing flow resistance of the mixed gas and/or the combustion gas thereof are provided, and the separation board a 6, the separation board b 8, the separation board c 10 and the heat exchange portion 13 are integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Fujita, Yoshitaka Kawasaki, Akira Maenishi
  • Patent number: 6382962
    Abstract: A venting cover for a containerized candle that stabilizes the combustion flame and improves the efficiency of the combustion of containerized candles is disclosed. The venting cover of this invention is a flat disc, which is seated over the mouth of the container or jar. The venting cover has an annular flange around its periphery, a central exhaust vent and six oblong inlet vents spaced radially from the exhaust vent around the periphery of the venting cover. The venting cover creates a concentric laminar air flow within the interior of the jar, which stabilizes the flame and improves the efficiency of the combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Tod A. Papai
  • Patent number: 6371754
    Abstract: A gas burner assembly for connection to a gas source includes a burner body having a sidewall and a main gas conduit. The burner body further includes a number of primary burner ports disposed within the sidewall, each for supporting a respective main flame. Additionally, a main fuel chamber is disposed within the burner body to provide fuel to the primary burner ports. A burner cap is disposed atop said sidewall. A stability channel is disposed within an outer portion of the burner cap. The stability channel is positioned adjacent the primary burner ports to capture a supply of gas and hot products from the burner assembly to re-ignite the primary burner ports after flameout. This configuration creates a repository of fuel and combustion products during normal burner operation within the stability channel for re-igniting the primary burner ports after flameout, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the burner assembly to pressure disturbances, while allowing a symmetric appearance to be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Joel Meier Haynes
  • Patent number: 6371105
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a stove burner shield having multiple panels 16, 18, 48, 50 hingedly 42 mounted onto a substantially horizontal frame 12 which is mounted onto a stove top 14 by using fasteners 34 mounted onto downwardly extending flanges 46 spaced apart about the frame 12. When in a raised position, the rear panel 16 and control knob panel 18 act as splash guards. When lowered, the rear panel 16 covers the rear stove burners 52 and the control knob panel 18 covers the control knobs 36. The control knob panel 18 has a release button 32 by means of which it is opened. A hingedly mounted right 50 and left 48 panel are also provided for covering the front stove burners 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: Cecilia Merritt
  • Patent number: 6363928
    Abstract: The solar tracking mechanism is utilized in connection with a solar energy collection system. The collection system includes a light reflective shell shaped to focus solar radiation on a radiation absorbing segment of a tube which carries a heat transfer fluid. The shell is pivotally mounted on a support frame. An actuator mounted between the support frame and the shell rotatably the shell. A solar sensor is mounted deep within a sighting tube which is fixed to the shell such that a line of sight through the sighting tube is at least parallel to the optical axis of the shell. The solar sensor generates a sensor signal which is used as a control input to an actuator control system. End limit switches generate a limit stop signals when the shell reaches maximum angular positions. The actuator control system generates fluid flows to the actuator based the solar sensor signal and the limit stop signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Alternative Energy Group, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6361311
    Abstract: A low-burning candle comprises a body of fuel (1) having top (1a) and base (1b) regions, a glass enclosure (2), a central wick (3) and a glass or metal spacing member (5) encircling the wick within the body of fuel at a location above the base region of the fuel (1b). The spacing member (5) includes a wick-encircling top portion which limits combustion and thus defines a lower limit of travel of the flame (4) as the fuel is consumed, and vertically extending portion which serves to space the said limit of travel of the flame above the base region of the fuel (1b). The flame is thus kept away from direct contact with the glass enclosure (2) and by selecting the desired thermoconductivity of the spacing member (5) the flame will burn at its lower limit of travel for a greater or lesser length of time, depending on the amount of heat that is transferred to the base region of the fuel (1b) via the spacing member (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Globol Chemicals (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Nigel Peter Smith
  • Patent number: 6354288
    Abstract: A portable fireplace having an inner housing defined by an inner housing wall and forming a flame pit, an outer housing having an outer housing wall, the outer housing and the inner housing being interconnected to one another, the outer housing being in surrounding relationship to the inner housing, at least the majority of the walls of the inner and outer housings being spaced from one another to provide an insulation space and a support disposed in the flame pit for supporting a flame presentation substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: Timothy W. McDonald
  • Patent number: 6354830
    Abstract: A first object of the invention is to provide a control circuit (1) for gas burners with a fail-safe system. The circuit (1) includes a microcontroller (2) that acts on at least one valve (4), flame detector circuits (50) and tap opening detector switches (6). For each valve (4) the circuit (1) has a plurality of switches by means of which these valves are supplied with the voltage required to open them and keep them open. The microcontroller (2) governs said switches in accordance with the signals it receives from the circuits (5), from the switches (6), and from points of the actual circuit (1). The circuit (1) is safe against the failure of any of its components, including the microcontroller (2). A second object of the invention is also to provide a circuit (1) that has protection against a double failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Fagor, S. Coop.
    Inventor: Eduardo Beltran de Nanclares
  • Patent number: 6350116
    Abstract: The invention concerns a pre-vaporizing and pre-mixing burner for liquid fuels which has a fuel feed line (56), a pump which pressurizes the fuel in the feed line, a mixing region (123) and a fuel valve (119) which opens out into the mixing region and by means of which the fuel is atomized and fed to the air for combustion (127). According to the invention, the fuel is vaporized in an optimum manner in that the fuel valve opens automatically as from a given fuel pressure, and a heating device (128) is associated with the fuel valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Inventor: Stephan Herrmann
  • Patent number: 6349713
    Abstract: To provide a novel barbecue stove, a cooking stove includes an outer frame and an inner frame having an opening portion at its upper portion and disposed within the outer frame. A flame lattice is provided within the inner frame. A multi-layer structure space partitioned by a partitioning member is formed between the outer frame and the inner frame. The space is formed into an air flow passage through which outside air to be introduced from one position is discharged from the other position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Green Life Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Toyama
  • Patent number: 6347625
    Abstract: A heating system for a tower mounted wind machine is provided. The heating system includes a burner that is rotatably mounted on the tower, in the air stream of the wind machine. The burner receives a combustible fuel conducted through a rotatable manifold on the central tower. The wind machine is a conventional type, generating the air stream by the rotation of a propeller. The wind machine is received on the top of a central tower. The manifold also mounts to the central tower, proximate the wind machine. The manifold has an inner ring and an outer ring. The inner ring mounts in a fixed position to the central tower, and the outer ring circumferentially mounts on the inner ring. The outer ring is rotatable relative to the inner ring. The inner ring includes a fuel inlet, and the outer ring includes a fuel outlet. The burner combusts the fuel that is conducted through the manifold to heat the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Inventor: Daryl G. Hill
  • Patent number: 6345979
    Abstract: A burner (10, 210) is provided in accordance with the present invention that includes an outer tube (62), an inner tube (34) positioned to be within the inner tube (34), a power supply (38) coupled to the inner tube (34), and an ignitor pin (70) coupled to the outer tube (62). An insulator (16) is provided that separates the burner (10) from a natural gas supply (28). The natural gas supply (28) provides natural gas to a combustion zone (45) through the inner tube (34). An oxygen supply (58) provides oxygen to the combustion zone (45) through a gap (144) between inner and outer tubes (34, 62). A spark is created between the inner tube (34) and the ignitor pin (70) to ignite the natural gas and oxygen to create a flame (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Maxon Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis L. Taylor, Daniel A. Ertl, Bradley D. Watt
  • Patent number: 6338337
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel two-stage heat recovery submerged combustion heating system. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel submerged combustion heating system with a lowered self-cooling combustion chamber and a two stage heat recovery system. The system can be installed singly or in combination with other similar submerged combustion systems to heat large quantities of liquids and liquid-solid solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Inproheat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Leopold Panz, Steven Eric Panz, Joseph Lech Jachniak
  • Patent number: 6332773
    Abstract: A handle (1) for gas burners, wherein a plug insert is locked in an axial direction by means of a lock (10) and rotation of the plug insert is fixed at a particular position. When the lock (10) is activated, the rotational locking can be released so as to modify the rotational position of the plug insert, without having to remove the plug insert from the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: J. Lorch Gesellschaft & Co. GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Kuhn