Abstract: An atmospheric, low emission gas burner within the combustion chamber of a hot water heater in which the combustion chamber is sealed against entry of air except for the air/gas mixture entering through the burner. The burner comprises a venturi through which gas and air enter and a diffuser disposed about the venturi, the diffuser and venturi constructed to take advantage of the high thermal buoyancy within the water heater. The burner operates at low manifold pressure and creates low emissions of NOx and CO. The burner diffuser has a multiplicity of small slots disposed on the upper surface which is covered by a course mesh fabric material having relatively large openings designed to keep the flame front above and off the diffuser while maintaining a stable flame that does not flashback.

Abstract: A propane burner system for orchards includes a housing, a venturi system, and a propane fuel system. The housing preferably includes a bottom enclosure interconnected with a stack and may be a converted standard fuel burning orchard heater. The venturi system is positioned within the bottom enclosure so that it extends into the stack. The bottom enclosure has at least one vent/fuel opening and the stack preferably includes an igniter opening. The venturi system includes a support system, a flue that is preferably triangular in crosssection, an exhausting chamber, and a deflector plate.

Abstract: A mounting structure for positioning light bulbs and push button switches in computers. The mounting structure includes a body with a plurality of light mounting seats and switch mounting seats. The light mounting seats are each provided with a central through hole having clamping and shielding plates which work in cooperation with curved slots above and below the through hole to effectively position light bulbs of acceptable tolerance, apart from enabling the light beams to concentrate and extend forwardly to prevent confused light indication. The switch mounting seats are provided with slots which may guide wires to the back of the body and receive switches of acceptable tolerance.

Abstract: A cooktop, hob top or the like includes a cooktop, hob top panel having a peripheral edge portion, a frame bordering the same and a substantially one-piece homogeneous injection molded polymeric/copolymeric encapsulation securing the peripheral edge portion of the panel to the frame. The encapsulation includes integral fasteners adapted to be inserted into openings of a horizontal flange of a range, countertop or the like.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable Barbecue Set which mainly includes an outer case, a heat-insulation inner paper wall provided inside the outer case, a supporting stand positioned inside the inner paper wall, multiple synthetic charcoal blocks positioned in the supporting stand, and a gridiron covering a top of the outer case. All parts of the hibachi are made of light weight and reusable material for recycling purpose. The synthetic charcoal blocks supplied along with the Barbecue Set are provided with ignition fuses. The Barbecue Set has simple structure and a user needs only to remove a shrinked plastic film from the outer case without the need to separately prepare charcoal or to assemble the gridiron before grilling.

Abstract: A cooking fuel device includes a fuel container and a wick supporting member positioned at the top of the container. The wick supporting member substantially closes the fuel container and contains at least one aperture to communicate with the interior of the container. A wick formed from a piled fabric includes a burn portion and a fuel feed portion. The fuel feed portion extends through the aperture into the fuel in the container. A cover having a central aperture is positioned over the top of the container to define the burn area on the wick. A peelable lid is adhesively attached to the cover and the wick which when removed will raise the pile on the wick.

Abstract: In a burner of the double-cone design, bores (27) are arranged in the burner sickle (26), via which bores (27) the gaseous fuel (16), to the extent of about 3 to 8% of the total mass fuel flow, is mixed into the outer recirculation zone (28) of the burner. This leads to additional outer stabilization of the flame and to an extended operating range of the burner.

Abstract: The line-illumination device has a carrier (1), a plurality of tubular lamps (2) and a screen (5). Mounting brackets (7), which may be mounted to the screen (5) in any area of its length, are coupled to the screen (5) and to suspension brackets (6), which are coupled to the carrier (1) in a free area thereof. The suspension brackets (6) have a first hole (60) which extends up to the circumference of the bracket, and which may have a narrowed portion adjacent said circumference. A first pin (73) of the mounting brackets (6) is supported in said hole (60) and may be unround so as to be able to pass through the narrowed portion of the hole (60) in a rotational position which is different from rotational positions in which the pin (73) is supported in the hole (60). The construction of the device allows for an easy and fast assembling.

Abstract: There is disclosed a combustion-state detecting circuit of a combustion apparatus installed in a combustion chamber, including: a flame detector that has a heat-emitting device for emitting heat on application of an alternating current signal, and produces a potential difference between the current applied to the heat-emitting device and flame-electric current produced by ignition occurring within the combustion chamber; a rectifier that changes the alternating current signal provided by the flame detector into a direct current signal; an inversion amplifier that inverts the direct current signal produced by the rectifier with respect to a reference signal and increases the magnitude of the inverted signal; and a flame discriminator that compares the output signal of the inversion amplifier with a flame discriminating reference signal to determine if ignition occurs.

Abstract: A hood comprising a suction and/or filtration unit, to collect cooking fumes of a houshold cooker, complete and functionally independent from the hood housing, provided with means for simple and fast insertion and pull-out from the housing without the use of tools in a fully safe manner for the user.Said suction and/or filtration unit is provided with electric contacts firmly fastened to its structure, which upon insertion in the housing will be connected to a power take-off rigidly fastened inside the housing, so that the electric parts of the unit are live only when the unit is inserted in the housing.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a control for a gas fire, the control comprising a support member in which an elongate aperture (1) is formed, and a slide member (5), part (7) of which slide member (5) projects through and is manually movable along said elongate aperture (1). Said slide member (5) is connected via a linkage (9,35) to a gas burner control lever (11) whereby movement of said part (7) along said elongate aperture (1) causes said slide member (5) to move said gas burner control lever (11) between two end regions of available movement, to control a valve (13) and the feed therethrough of gas from a gas inlet (19) to at least one burner. One microswitch (23) is operable by the control lever (11) to activate an igniter (25) towards one end region of the available movement of the control lever, and another microswitch (31) is operable by the control lever (11) to activate and interrupter (17,29) which can close off the supply of gas.

Abstract: A safety device for preventing uncontrolled burning in wick-fed liquid fuel burners of the type where a removable tank (60) feeds a fuel chamber (40), which supplies the fuel to a wick (54) via a sump opening in the upper surface of chamber (40). A gasket (76) contains vapors present in the sump area when the tank (60) is seated in the sump opening. When the tank (60) is removed from the sump opening, a plate (84) moves upward due to the action of a spring (82) and contains vapors in the sump area.

Abstract: A flashlight and charging system includes a flashlight having a body with a rearward end portion and a forward end portion, and a charging/mounting rack with a base, a first contact in the form of a clip adapted to engage the body of the flashlight, and a second contact adapted to face the rearward end portion of the body. The body of the flashlight includes an electrically conductive annular surface on the forward end portion of the body that is connected to a first terminal on the battery pack. It contacts the clip on the charging/mounting rack when the flashlight is held by the rack. The flashlight also includes a switch assembly mounted on the rearward end portion of the body for enabling a user to turn the flashlight on and off in a user selected one of intermittent operation and continuous operation. The switch includes a depressible, electrically conductive button member connected to a second terminal on the battery pack.

Abstract: A knob for a stove or range that has a releasable lock assembly which prevents a switch or valve of the range from being turned ON. The lock assembly has a pin movable between a lock position and a release position with a linear to rotational movement mechanism mounted in a housing joined to the body of the knob.

Abstract: A safety lighter with an improved striker wheel and striker wheel mounting frame. The lighter has an igniter having a striker wheel which rotates about an axis in response to force applied to the wheel by a user's finger. The annular recessed center portion of the striker wheel's outer annular surface has protuberances formed thereon (or grooves formed therein), while the annular unrecessed lateral portions of the striker wheel's outer annular surface are smooth. Further, the striker wheel is mounted to the lighter in slots. The striker wheel is pressed from a first position having insufficient spring force to cause the lighter flint to spark when the striker wheel is rotated into a second position having sufficient spring force to cause the lighter flint to spark when the striker wheel is rotated.

Abstract: An air heating and humidifying system and method using direct contact heating principles. The system consists in providing a source of hot water by feeding hot flue gases in a direct contact water heater and wherein the water sprayed over a packing in the water heater is heated as it percolates through the packing and is in contact with the hot rising flue gases. This hot water from the direct contact water heater is used in a direct contact air treating chamber wherein it is sprayed over a further packing whereby to heat and humidify fresh air which is pushed through the packing by a fan and exits at an outlet flue of the treating chamber to supply hot moist fresh air in a building air conditioning system. The cooled water in the direct contact air treating chamber is collected and supplies the spray nozzle of the direct contact water heater to cool the hot flue gases which are rising therein and thereby enhances considerably the efficiency of the direct contact water heater.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fire safety and prevention method, system and apparatus for preventing flammable fumes or vapors from entering into the pilot light or flame area of a gas hot water or other type of heater and igniting into a fire, which is easily installed at low cost and without special expertise.The preferred embodiment is a simple metallic or similar cylinder placed around the heater, with appropriate vapor-tight seals, which will prevent flammable vapors moving near the floor from entering the heating area and igniting.Also disclosed is a method, system, apparatus and method to incorporate this safety feature into the manufacture of new gas hot water and other heaters.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator including a drive shaft for receiving a rotative drive force from an external drive source and mounting thereon a plurality of rotor elements to be rotated together with the drive shaft, a housing assembly in which at least one first heat generating component chamber confining therein a heat generative viscous fluid to which a shearing action is applied by the rotor elements, a second heat-generating-performance variable chamber confining a heat generative viscous fluid to which shearing action is applied by the rotor element, and a heat receiving chamber in which heat exchanging liquid flows therethrough to receive heat from the first and second heat generating chambers. The viscous fluid type heat generator further may includes a control chamber for controlling an amount of the viscous fluid in the second heat-generating-performance variable chamber, and a heat-generating-performance changing unit.

Abstract: Control system and method for monitoring and controlling the stoichiometry of a secondary air burner in a thermal oxidizer. The burner control system secures a certain stoichiometry independent of possible simultaneous changes of the gas mixture flow rate and/or of the combustible impurity concentration in the process gas. The firing rate of the burner is adjusted by a controller. Additionally, the flow of the burner fuel and of the process gas mixture are measured and transformed into separate signals. Both signals are sent to an evaluation apparatus that compares the signals and generates a third signal based upon that comparison. This third signal is in communication with a device that changes the gas mixture flow resistance, and thus the desired amount of gas mixture will be diverted for the combustion of the fuel.

Abstract: A premixed gas burner for use in a boiler or the like has a burner body including a distribution tube into which air under pressure and a gas fuel are received. The gas is supplied to the distribution tube through a gas supply orifice tube having a flange in the form of a disk disposed about the periphery of the gas supply tube and positioned a short distance within the distribution tube. The gas supply tube has a number of orifices located about the tube adjacent to the downstream facing surface of the flange. The distribution tube is located within a pressurized air chamber and gas supplied from a manifold to the supply tube is mixed turbulently adjacent the downstream face of the flange. The invention extends the operating range of premixed gas burners and reduces the carbon monoxide and NO.sub.x output of the burner.