Abstract: This invention is a wood burning stove comprising an essentially air tight firebox module having three or more sides, an essentially horizontal cooking top and a bottom, both of said cooking top and bottom extending outwardly from a side to form firebox oven flanges, to which may be secured an oven module, a fire door at the front of the firebox, a draft control means, a chimney attachment means, disposed to the rear and the top of the firebox, a grate, and leg support means.

Abstract: An alignment device for use with a dual burner gas grill including a pair of gas supply tubes affixed to a burner element each having a venturi tube telescopingly disposed therein movable between an extended and retractable position, the venturi tubes being disposed in substantially parallel spaced relationship relative to each other, the alignment device comprising a base plate attached to the periphery of the venturi tubes including an alignment element inclined inwardly relative to the longitudinal axes of the venturi tubes to engage each of the dual venturi tubes to maintain parallel relationship relative to each other during movement between the extended and retracted position and a securing element comprising a first locking member coupled to the base plate and a second locking member coupled to the gas supply tubes to selectively engage each other to secure the venturi tubes in the extended position.

Abstract: A kitchen range has a compartment containing a flame-retardant blanket disposed immediately below the heating elements. In one embodiment of the invention, an access opening to the compartment at the front of the range is normally covered by a hinged door. One end of the blanket is releasably secured to the interior of the hinged door. In the event of a fire occurring on one of the heating elements, the door may be opened to expose the blanket, which may be readily withdrawn and draped over the fire. Operating handles may be provided on the front end of the blanket to facilitate its withdrawal and manipulation in a manner protecting a user from the flames. In another embodiment of the invention, the compartment may include a pull-out drawer containing the blanket. The door or drawer may also be used to control a switch for cutting off an energy supply to the range when the door or drawer is opened.

Abstract: A solar collector which is a deep chamber defined by side walls which are segments of mathematically definable curves, that are almost, but not quite, identical. A bottom wall is parabolic. The chamber will accept the rays of the sun from morning to evening and the annular space of the chamber will direct the rays at all times in a concentrated beam to a collection point where a transducer will convert the heat energy into a useful form.The collection point houses a transducer which is captured by separate segments of the side walls brought together and assembled into a unit with the transducer, thereby providing improved thermodynamic properties and facilitating the fabrication and erection of the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar heater for heating water comprising two sheets of blackened materials constituting one unit connected to each other by partition walls constituting longitudinal channels for the water to be heated and at both sides manifolds suitably closed at their ends having an inlet or outlet for the cold and hot water, respectively. The invention relates also to a method for the preparation of said solar heater.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device that make it possible to determine interplanar distances in electron diffraction images in electron microscopes. This is done through its beam stopper, which originally was used only to interrupt the central beam for better display of the diffraction image.The invention makes possible the elimination of errors normally committed in determining said distances, many of them related to the deformation of the film and to unsuitably exposed photographs.

Abstract: A self-pumping solar heating system having a collector including a multitude of small diameter riser tubes from which heated liquid is pumped into a header by a geyser action. A vapor condenser assures a header pressure conducive to bubble nucleation in the riser tube upper end segments. The level of liquid within the header or its outlet is higher than the liquid level in the riser tubes to produce a gravity imbalance capable of circulating heated liquid past a storage heat exchanger, below the header, and then upwardly through the closed vapor condenser in the header prior to return to a collector inlet manifold. A modified header utilizes an open vapor condenser in vapor communication with the collector header.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for tracking the sun which reorients itself immediately in the absence of sunlight. Large and small cannisters are provided at the respective ends of a pivotable frame. When the sun is not normal to the plane containing the cannister, the near cannister is shaded from direct sunlight and the far cannister is exposed. A conduit is provided between the cannisters, and a quantity of volatile fluid is located in the cannisters and conduit. The liquid volume of the volatile fluid is greater than that of the small cannister plus the conduit, but less than the volume of the large cannister. A gas spring fluid is located in the large cannister, which has a vapor pressure sufficient to force the volatile fluid into the small cannister in the absence of sunlight on the east cannister.

Abstract: An apparatus which would include a four wall closed structure having a rack on its floor portion in order to accommodate the food to be cooked or smoked. There is further provided a removable top which would have a recessed container means for housing coals or the like as a source of heat, with the recessed pan intruding into the interior of the apparatus. Positioned above the recessed pan means is a grill means hingedly attached to the top portion of the apparatus for placing meat or the like thereupon. The apparatus further comprises a means to smoke the meat while it undergoes baking, and a drain means for draining excess drippings during the cooking process. It also has members for supporting the top portion when the top portion has been removed for tending to the meat within the apparatus without the top portion having to be placed upon the ground or the like.

Abstract: A wood burning stove having improved air flow characteristics for effective combustion and purging of gaseous combustion by-products. A primary air inlet is provided below the loading door of the stove for feeding air to the firebox proper for combustion. A plurality of opposing supplementary air inlets are provided in opposite sides of the stove, at least two of the supplementary inlets being on the level of the primary air inlet, for introducing air into the firebox supplemental to the air flow through the primary inlet.

Abstract: A burning method and apparatus, using solid type fuel, comprising a combustion chamber in combination with a heat-extractor labyrinth chamber through which an artificial draft is generated mechanically. The artificial draft can be generated by intake and exhaust fans and/or blowers operating at accurately controlled speeds.In a specific stove-type embodiment, the draft-flow within the combustion chamber is utilized by a reversal of its flow pattern for either conventional up-draft burning, or preferably, for down-draft burning, with the gases exiting through the heat extractor compartment at close to ambient temperature and a short horizontal flue into the atmosphere. In this embodiment, the intake fan also serves to distribute usable heat from the surfaces of the combination and heat extractor compartments.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for heating food products by forced air convection are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a tunnel heater having a tunnel-like cavity through which food products to be heated are conveyed. Air is drawn from within the tunnel cavity by a circulating blower arrangement, with air flow directed against the food products through upper and lower foraminous plates disposed above and below and adjacent to the tunnel cavity. Aerodynamically efficient ducting of the circulating air is provided by scroll-shaped passages positioned in association with the blower arrangement, and venturi-like passages positioned upstream of the foraminous upper and lower plates. A conveyor is provided for automatically advancing food products through the tunnel cavity, with heating of the food products taking place in an efficient and readily controlled manner.

Abstract: Non-focusing solar energy concentration apparatus comprising one or more solar energy absorbing surfaces defining a first area and solar energy transmissive material disposed adjacent the absorbing surfaces and defining an incident surface having a second area greater than the first area, the incident surface being arranged to receive incident radiation from the sun, the solar energy transmissive material also defining a second surface for transmitting radiation to the at least one absorbing surface, the transmissive material having an index of refraction and a configuration selected to provide total internal reflection at the incident surface of radiation incident on the incident surface within a predetermined azimuthal range.

Abstract: A building having rooms to be heated is supported at least in part on a cylindrical double wall concrete tank, the inner wall of which receives a heating fluid preferably heated by a solar collector while the outer wall includes a coil through which the heated fluid can be circulated to radiate heat into the rooms of the building.

Abstract: The present invention uses a dessicant and a means of drying out or changing the system by the use of off-peak electric power releasing. The heat is then released as required during periods of peak electric power by the reintroduction of moisture. The system includes a source of air and a fan for circulating the air in a circulation system including an outgoing loop and return loop for the circulating air. Selectively operatable evaporator heat exchanger, air wetting apparatus, and air heating apparatus are disposed in the outgoing loop of the circulating air. A dessicant-containing enclosure used to provide heat storage, and having air inlet means thereinto from outgoing loop the circulating and an air outlet means therefrom to the return loop of the circulating air is disposed in the circulation system.

Abstract: A solar tracking mechanism utilizes a semicircle collector trough body having an inner concave surface having a focal point at the center of the circle defined by the uppermost flat surface of the trough body, the upper flat portion of the trough body normally being generally horizontally disposed. A plurality of solar collection modules mounted in a matrix about said concave surface, each of the modules comprising a radial passageway formed in the concave surface along a line intersecting the focal point. A strip of thermally expandable material mounted in the passageway with normally open switch means positioned adjacent said thermally expandable strip for switching an electrical circuit between on/off positions respectively responsive to expansion/contraction of said strip.

Abstract: An afterburner for a wood stove for use as a retrofit assembly comprises a rectangular housing having openings in the upper and lower surfaces provided with cylindrical collars for cooperation with the flue duct and with the opening in the top of the wood stove respectively. The openings are positioned at the rear of the housing so as to provide a forward section spaced from the openings. A catalytic combuster mounted in a cylindrical support is movable from a position directly above the opening in the bottom surface into the front section by a manually operable handle extending through the front face of the housing. A baffle mounted on the support and arranged at a shallow angle to the horizontal overlies the major part of the combuster so as to direct gases into the front section of the housing for heat exchange contact with the walls thereof.

Abstract: A solar energy collecting and radiating panel for heating a fluid such as air circulating in an enclosure disposed behind the panel. The panel is in the form of a pan made of sheet metal, such as thin aluminum, darkened on its irradiated surface, the blackened or darkened surface being protected by a pane of glass. The panel has a plurality of dome-shaped dimples embossed on and projecting from its irradiated surface such as to present a large surface area to exposure to sun rays and to capture solar energy independently of the sun height or position relative to the horizon. The heat absorbed by the panel is conveyed by its back surface to air circulating by convection or by forced circulation in a thermally insulated enclosure, for heating a building or for any other utilization. A plurality of panels may be disposed side by side to form a solar energy collecting array preferably mounted on an outside wall of a building, in a southerly orientation.

Abstract: A thermostatically actuated arrangement for controlling opening and closing movement of the damper of a wood burning stove includes a duct arrangement extending through the combustion chamber of the stove between an air intake end opening through the stove housing at a location in the lower portion thereof and a discharge end opening through the stove housing at a location upwardly spaced from the intake end, for passage of ambient air through the duct arrangement for radiant heating thereof during burning of wood in the stove to create a continuous convective flow of heated air from the intake end to the discharge end, and a sensitive bimetallic spring disposed to receive the convective air flow from the duct arrangement at its discharge end and operably associated with the damper of the stove for actuating opening and closing movements thereof in response to decreases and increases in the temperature of the airflow.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the support and organization in a compact and efficient manner of the various components required for a solar heating system. Of importance are a pair of elongated upstanding members mounted in spaced apart relation for positioning therebetween of a pair of superimposed pumps and unitarily mounted electric motor drives therefor. The upstanding members are formed with internal passages and ports for the close and compact support of the balance of the components required for the solar loop circuit and a heat exchanger heated fluid such as potable water or spa water or various combinations of heated fluids.