Abstract: The present application relates in general to an apparatus and to methods for testing the performance of an automotive catalytic converter under conditions simulating those which occur in motor vehicles over extended driving conditions. The application provides a novel swirl plate and a novel fuel injector which enable the burner to run stoichiometric for extended periods of time.

Abstract: A lightweight, prefabricated, modular masonry fireplace. The firebox is pre-cast in modular sections of lightweight vermiculate concrete. A kiva-style version of the fireplace features a modular firebox disposed within an outer facade made from a tubular steel frame, covered with metal-mesh stuccoed and plastered to present the aesthetic configuration of a sculpted adobe fireplace. An alternative, but equally desirable Rumford-style version of the fireplace does not require an outer facade, but also is assembled from lightweight modular sections. The firebox of all embodiments is cast in modular sections. A central body section of the firebox is placed upon a base, and a smoke plenum section is placed upon the central body section. The central body section, and in some embodiments a portion of the smoke plenum section, define and mostly surround the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An oven lock mechanism is disclosed having a latch mechanism driven by a motor between a latched position wherein the oven door is held in a closed position and an unlatched position wherein the oven door freely opens and closes. The motor is controlled by a switch that enables rotation of the motor when in a first state and prevents rotation of the motor when in a second state. A switch actuator mechanism places the switch in the first state when the door is closed and in the second state when the door is open. The switch is mounted at the rear of the oven away from the front opening of the oven compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling the operation of a gas fired appliance having a gas valve circuit for enabling the flow of gas to the burner. The apparatus comprises a sensor capable of detecting the presence of flammable vapor, a switching means in series with the gas valve solenoid circuit for interrupting a thermocouple voltage to the gas valve solenoid to disable the flow of gas, and a fuse that normally conducts a current to the switching means to maintain the switching means in a conductive state for applying a thermocouple voltage to the gas valve solenoid. In response to the detection by the sensor of the presence of a predetermined level of flammable vapor concentration, a second switch supplies a higher current through the fuse. The higher current causes the fuse to blow and interrupt the current for maintaining the switching means in a conductive state, such that the switching means interrupts the thermocouple voltage applied to the gas valve solenoid to shut off the gas to the burner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a quartz glass single hole nozzle for feeding fluid capable of performing high-precision control of a flow rate, a burner for heat processing equipped with the quartz glass single hole nozzle, a quartz glass multihole burner head for feeding fluid preferably used in flame processing or the like, and a quartz glass burner for heat processing equipped with the multihole burner. By using the nozzle, even if a distal end portion of the quartz glass burner, namely the nozzle is broken by contact with a workpiece or the like, it is enough to only replace the broken nozzle with a new one without a necessity for replacing the entire expensive quartz glass burner. When applying the nozzle to a metal burner, there can be given usefulness of the quartz glass such as heat resistance and contamination resistance or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a switch, a fuse, and a sensor that is capable of detecting the presence of flammable vapors and responsively changing in resistance, wherein the sensor enables the switch to supply current to the fuse which opens to shut down an appliance burner. The fuse is connected in series with a control circuit that enables a gas valve to supply gas to the burner 65. The apparatus comprises a voltage divider circuit that includes the sensor, which upon exposure to flammable vapors, increases in resistance to provide a voltage input to the gate of a FET 100. The FET switches on and conducts a current that blows the fuse to interrupt the appliance burner control circuit and shut down burner operation.

Abstract: A portable cooking grill that is configured with a collapsible frame having telescoping legs and a pair of frame sections that extend outwardly to allow the user to adjust the height of the grilling surface and the size of the frame is disclosed. Each frame section has a pair of telescoping legs pivotally connected to the ends of side support rails which support a grill insert, having a pair of foldably connected grill sections, that forms the grilling surface. The legs include a securing mechanism suitable for securing the legs at the height desired by the user. The side support rails slidably engage grill supports located at the sides of the grill insert to extend the position of the legs outwardly. A locking mechanism locks the legs in either their upstanding or folded positions. A slidable connecting mechanism locks the legs in or between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: A gas-fired burner including a cylindrical burner housing having a premixed fuel/air opening. Disposed within the cylindrical burner housing is a cylindrical burner ring which forms at least one row of a plurality of burner ports. The cylindrical burner ring is sized relative to the burner housing such that an annular space is formed between the burner housing and the burner ring. Upper and lower annular rings extend between the burner ring and the burner housing, thereby enclosing the annular space. Disposed within the burner ring is a secondary air flow restrictor for controlling the flow of secondary air to the flame. A multi-finger grate having alternating long and short fingers is disposed above the burner housing.

Abstract: A partially open fired heater regenerative cycle wherein the fired industrial type heater cycle's heat transfer fluid replaces the air predominant nitrogen heat transfer fluid employed in a conventional air/fuel combustion heater. The heater cycle's method and apparatus means is susceptible to providing a 95 to 98 percent mass flow reduction of fugitive nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide mass flow emissions as emitted by current art Low-NO.sub.x art heaters on a rated per million Btu per hour basis, and is further susceptible to developing steady-state heat transfer thermal efficiencies exceeding 124 percent.

Abstract: A pressure relief system for a gas fireplace. The pressure relief system has a flue pipe with an opening in its side. A pressure relief plate is coupled to the flue pipe so that it is movable between an open and a closed state. The pressure relief plate positioned so that it covers the opening in the side of the flue pipe when the pressure relief plate is in the closed state. In the event of a gas explosion, the pressure relief plate is moved to an open state and the pressure build-up in the fireplace is relieved.

Abstract: A combustion air and exhaust gas balancing system for use with a direct-vent heater appliance. The balancing system includes a combustion air valve in fluid communication with a combustion air duct and an exhaust gas valve in fluid communication with an exhaust gas duct. The combustion air valve is operatively coupled to the exhaust gas valve with an actuator. The combustion air and exhaust gas valves are shaped and sized so that a single operation of the actuator simultaneously adjusts the flow of combustion air into the firebox and the flow of exhaust gas out of the firebox and provide selected flame characteristics in the firebox. In one aspect of this embodiment, a movement of the actuator in a first direction simultaneously increases the flow of combustion air and exhaust gas, and a movement of the actuator shaft in a second direction simultaneously restricts the flow of combustion air and exhaust gas.

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: The “fuel-air pressure ratio” combustion control system for maintaining a selected fuel-air ratio for a combustion apparatus supplied with air at a substantially constant volumetric rate is improved by means for adjusting the flow rate of fuel in relation to temperature fluctuations of the air. A temperature sensor positioned in the air stream before it mixes with the fuel is connected to a converter which transmits converted temperature signals from the sensor as adjustments of a remote control, secondary valve in the fuel line downstream of a primary valve regulating the flow of fuel. Fuel temperature fluctuations can also be converted into adjustments of the remote control, secondary valve.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for bringing together a gas fuel and an oxidant in proportions providing optimal burning, so as to obtain, in particular for a fuel gas supplied with low pressure level and containing hydrocarbons, a smokeless burning. Said device comprises a central supply 1, consisting of at least one tube located in the axis of a body forming a venturi 2, and through which the fuel gas is input. The invention is characterized in that a plurality of tubes 6 is provided in annular arrangement around the central supply 1.

Abstract: A device and method for exposing the ignitable end of a candle wick embedded in wax leaving an area around the wick to facilitate future lighting. The device includes an elongate hollow heated tube, heated by a heating source which heats the elongate hollow tube to a temperature sufficient to substantially soften or liquefy candle wax. A working end of the heated elongate hollow tube is inserted into the candle wax around the embedded ignitable end of a candle wick. The candle and the device are inverted and the wax around the candle wick flows through the interior of the heated elongate hollow tube and out a draining end of the heated elongate hollow tube thus exposing the embedded wick. The device also includes a handle allowing a user to easily hold and control the heated tube.

Abstract: A device including a burner (6) for directing a fuel/air mixture into a reaction chamber (2) for flameless oxidation of fuels. The burner (6) discharges a fuel/air jet transversely to a longitudinal axis (A) of the burner and an exhaust gas channel (17) is arranged in or on the burner concentric or parallel to the burner longitudinal axis (A). An outlet direction (R) of the fuel/air jets from the burner and the direction (A) of the exhaust gas channel cross each other. Hence, the burner introduces fuel parallel or at an angle to the wall into the furnace chamber where the burner is mounted for flameless oxidation of the fuel.

Abstract: A method of air-conditioning a building with low heat loss, having the following steps: providing a fresh-air/outgoing-air system for feeding fresh air through a heat accumulator being located beneath said building and extracting said outgoing air through the heat accumulator; routing the fresh-air and the outgoing air in first and second tubes, where the first tubes are nested in the second tubes so as to recover heat energy present in the outgoing air.

Abstract: The invention provides a safety module for connection to a fuel-burning appliance. The safety module connects to the existing circuitry of the appliance and triggers an alarm response when certain predetermined conditions are met. The safety module includes a CO sensor and a processor and can respond not only to acutely high CO levels but also to chronically high CO levels and lack of adherence to service schedules amongst other conditions. The safety module can also be programmed/reset.

Abstract: The absorber pipe (1), especially for a parabolic collector for a solar heat collecting apparatus, is described. The absorber pipe (1) includes central metal pipe (3), a glass sleeve tube (2) surrounding the nine so that an annular space (4) is formed between them and an expansion compensating device connecting the central metal nine and a glass-metal transitional element (5) on a free end of the sleeve tube (2). The expansion compensation device (10) connects the metal pipe and sleeve tube, so that they can slide relative to each other, and includes folding bellows (11) for that purpose. Furthermore it also includes a connecting element (15), which has either a cylindrical or a conical section (17,18,18?) and which connects an interior end of the folding bellows with the metal pipe.

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.