Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus and system for safely and efficiently evacuating a ventilation hood having at least one blower unit disposed within a hood. The present invention incorporates an upper plenum frame having an opening in the bottom thereof. A squirrel cage fan is disposed about the opening to draw air down through the upper plenum frame, through a lower plenum, and out an exhaust duct connected to the lower plenum. In certain embodiments, the squirrel cage fan is driven at a speed appropriate to liquefy grease suspended in the heated air.

Abstract: A grease, smoke, and odor extraction system includes an outer housing including a lower entrance passage and an upper exit duct for drawing the exhaust airstream upwardly through a scrubbing chamber, the lower entrance passage is fitted with a pipe which discharges ozone gas into the exhaust air and, alternatively, a water supply manifold which directs the water into the ozonated exhaust stream at the chamber area in such as way as to create a vortex of water droplets in the ozonated exhaust stream to encourage the extraction of grease, fumes, and other contaminants from the stream. Several alternate embodiments as described including a housing, an ozone generator, an ozone injector into the housing in combination with a baffle member and alternatively water and filter members for use with kitchen exhaust systems as well as water treatment systems and the like.

Abstract: A firelog grate for retaining fire starters is disclosed. The grate has a front member and a rear member connected together by a transverse bars to form a cradle for holding firelogs. Pairs of legs extend down from the underside of the cradle and firelog retaining projections extend upward from the upper surface of the cradle. The grate includes at least one shelf that is connected to and lies beneath the underside of the cradle. The shelf includes a strut which has a cross-sectional shape configured to interlock with a groove in the bottom surface of a fire starter. When the fire starter is interlocked with the strut, it is held a spaced distance underneath the firelog to be ignited.

Abstract: A solar water heater has a rotationally-molded water box and a glazing subassembly disposed over the water box that enhances solar gain and provides an insulating air space between the outside environment and the water box. When used with a pressurized water system, an internal heat exchanger is integrally molded within the water box. Mounting and connection hardware is included to provide a rapid and secure method of installation.

Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly, in particular for a vehicle heating device, has combustion chamber housing in which a combustion chamber is bounded by a combustion chamber outer wall, the combustion chamber having a combustion chamber outlet aperture for the exit to a flame tube of exhaust gases produced during combustion, furthermore comprising a deflecting arrangement for deflecting at least a partial stream of the exhaust gases leaving the combustion chamber to flow along at least a partial region of the outer side of the combustion chamber outer wall facing away from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A solar heat collector constructed of non-conducting laminated and corrugated material to form a collector container with a bottom panel, a plurality of end panels that include a plurality of attached plenums with air inlet and exiting apertures and distribution apertures for air flow over and under an absorber plate. A plurality of side panels include longitudinally folded supports for an absorber plate held in place by bonding attachment to longitudinal side and underlying center supports extending upward from the bottom panel. The conductive absorber plate is positioned vertically to allow air flow space between the plate and a cover and air flow space below the plate parallel to the centerline. In another embodiment, end and side panels including the end plenums and side supports are co-extensive panels of a common multi-panel blank that is folded to form the container bottom, ends and sides.

Abstract: A device for supporting a candle thereon includes a casing having an opening therein and a generating mechanism for generating special effects, such as audible sounds. More particularly, the generating mechanism includes a switch mounted in the opening of the casing. The switch has a first contact member, which is substantially immovable relative to the casing, and a second contact member. The second contact member is movable relative to the first contact member between a first position, in which the second contact member is in contact with the first contact member, and a second position, in which the second contact member is out of contact with the first contact member. The generating mechanism is adapted to generate special effects when the second contact member is in its first position. A movable member is movably mounted on the casing for moving the second contact member between its first and second positions.

Abstract: A gas lighter with a locking device of q-shape for reliably preventing ignition of the lighter when the actuator is in its locked position, and allowing ignition of the lighter when the locking device is moved from the locked position to a second unlocked position. The piezoelectric device has a step, and an end portion of the locking device contacts with the step in its locked position. When the users operate the locking device, the end portion of the locking device can be disengaged from the step. When the locking device is in its unlocked position, the actuator of the gas lighter can be pressed down to ignite the gas lighter. When the external force is missing, the locking device returns to a normal locking position by the spring force of the piezoelectric device. According to the present invention, the safety of the gas lighter is improved and the potential safety hazard due to an unintentional operation is eliminated.

Abstract: A catalytic gas combustion device for an appliance for personal use with a gas supply device and a catalyst connected to the gas supply device is disclosed. To ignite the gas/air mixture and therefore to initiate catalytic combustion at the catalyst, an ignition device which can be controlled by an ignition system is provided. The gas supply device has a bypass for branching off part of a gas stream which flows onto the ignition device. In this way, the ignition system is actuated even shortly after the gas valve device is opened, and the catalyst is brought to its operating temperature as a result of the explosion of the gas/air mixture.

Abstract: A synthetic ember comprising refractory ceramic wool coated with about 0.10 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. % of an oxidation catalyst of Pt, Pd, Rh, Co, Mn and mixtures thereof for use in small pieces as embers in a gas-fired log set or fireplace. The refractory ceramic wool preferably has a surface area of from 20 to 200 square meters per gram and a density of 0.01 to 0.05 grams per cubic centimeter and the catalytic embers are less than one inch square. The synthetic embers increase heat recoverable at a given BTU from a flame, with reduced nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and CO emissions and improved aesthetics.

Abstract: A range hood motor housing and fan assembly for exhausting gases generated above a cooking surface. The motor housing has top, bottom and side surfaces defining a substantially cylindrical chamber within which a motor and fan are housed. An air outlet is present in the top surface. Space between the top surface and the fan increases in the direction of rotation of the fan from one side of the air outlet to the other side of the air outlet. The fan has a plurality of arcuate fan blades having at least one trough declining to the outer radial edge of the fan blade to direct any grease draining on the blade in this direction. The motor housing may be equipped with an air exhaust chamber projecting from the motor housing and connected to the range hood body for recycling air from above the cooking surface back into the cooking environment.

Abstract: A collapsible barbecue apparatus includes a base housing a fuel supply. First and second wings are pivotally attached to the base and movable between a closed position wherein the wings face one another, and an open position wherein the wings are generally co-planar with one another. Each wing includes a grill cooking surface and an underlying gas burner. First and second supports are movable from a retracted position adjacent to the base to extended positions for supporting the first and second wings, respectively.

Abstract: A mixture fitting for use in a combustible gas system, for example, a fireplace. The mixture fitting may include a first portion configured to be coupled to a combustible gas source and a second portion configured to be coupled to a burner assembly. The first and second portions together form a gas passage. The mixture fitting also includes an air orifice extending from an exposed surface of the mixture fitting to the gas passage. The air orifice is configured to allow primary air to travel through the air orifice and into the gas passage to facilitate mixing of air with the combustible gas. Alternatively, the air orifice may be angled, and multiple air orifices may also be provided.

Abstract: A lighter includes a device generating a flame whereof one part called actuator is mobile along a longitudinal axis between a neutral position, wherein the device cannot generate a flame, and an active position, wherein the device can generate a flame, and a safety mechanism mobile between a locked position, wherein the safety mechanism locks the actuator in its neutral position and a released position allowing the actuator to move toward its active position. The safety mechanism includes a safety member having a part which, when the safety mechanism is in the locked position, is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator in the direction thereof so as to be arranged against a stop and, when the safety mechanism is in released position, is arranged facing a housing.

Abstract: A combustion burner includes an air supply case connected to an air supply mouth a position at a position on the air supply case from a rear end part to a tip portion thereof, which supplies air from air supply equipment; a nozzle body attached so as to cover a tip portion of the air supply case, and having a jet nozzle formed in a center part of the nozzle body; a fuel nozzle in the nozzle body so as to supply air from the air supply case through an air jet hole, placed between the tip perimeter part of the fuel nozzle and the jet nozzle, having a frusto-conically shaped fuel supply passage, and which supplies air from a tip portion thereof; a plurality of air guide holes provided between an outer circumferential portion of the fuel nozzle and the nozzle body so as to supply air from the air jet hole in a spiral pattern; a fuel supply support member in the fuel supply passage, which supplies fuel from at least two fuel supply holes in an opposite spiral pattern from the tip end of the fuel nozzle; and at lea

Abstract: An air type solar system of the present invention has a heat-collecting unit for heating air by solar heat, and a blower fan for blowing the air as a heat medium from the heat-collecting unit. The blower fan is of a large scale, which is capable of: blowing the air at a rate of about 100 to 2000 m3/hour; and rotating by a direct-current generated from solar cells under normal conditions. In addition, the amount of airflow is confined by an automatic electrical control in winter to adjust the temperature of heat-collected air to an appropriate temperature for heating and humidification. Therefore, the air type solar system of the present invention can be appropriately operated in quest of an effective use of the solar cells while there is no need to use any storage cell.

Abstract: A tangential fired boiler has a circumferential wall defining a combustion zone and a plurality of fuel inlets disposed along the circumferential wall. The plurality of fuel inlets inject fuel at non-uniform rates in order to produce localized fuel rich, oxygen poor zones and fuel lean, oxygen rich zones within the combustion zone, and to cause ambient boiler gases to be entrained into and mix with the oxygen poor zone to achieve fuel staging of the boiler.

Abstract: A device for foot operation of the cover of a cooking instrument, such as a barbecue grill, includes a lever located so as to be operated by a foot, a lift support attached to the cover of the cooking instrument and a linkage connecting the foot operated lever and the lift support. A spring connected to the lift support assists in operating the lid with only a small amount of foot pressure. The foot operated lever can be moved so as to lock the cover in the open position. This enables the cover of the cooking instrument to be safely and conveniently operated in a “no hands” manner.

Abstract: A straight path carbon powder combustion machine uses carbon powders as fuel of the combustion machine. The carbon powders enter into the interior of an igniter from carbon powders inlets. Then the carbon powders further enter into a forced firing internal combustion chamber. The gas in the gas tube of the igniter is fired by an electric shock rod. Part of air input from the whirlwind combustion air inlet to mix in the forced firing internal combustion chamber. When the gas in the igniter is fired by the electric shock rod, the fire jets out from the gas combustion air inlet tube so as to fire the carbon powders. The carbon powders are intercepted by the tinder intercepter to adhere thereon. The carbon powders contact and are fired by the tinder on the tinder intercepter to form a large flame which is sprayed out from the plurality of flame outlets.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus (1) is generally composed of a principal part (5), a supplementary part (6) and a burner port assembly (3). Four metal plates (7,8,10,11) constituting the principal and supplementary parts (5,6) are pressed to have in them several protuberances and recesses. These metal plates are laid one on another to form in them some hollow spaces and sealed regions. These hollow spaces communicate with each other to form a thin gas passage (22) together with a thick gas passage (73) in this combustion apparatus (1) in such a manner that its condition of thick and thin fuel combustion is rendered more stable.