Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus to improve the utilization of flow and power characteristics of a combustion air fan over the full range of burner operation. More specifically, it is an apparatus and a method of operation that uses a high flue-gas-to-air ratio over most of the boiler operating range to maximize thermal efficiency, but which switches to a lower ratio of flue-gas-to-air, or no flue gas in the limiting case, at the high end of the mass flow range of the burner to minimize the size of the fan housing and fan motor. When applied to current generation ULNBs, fan size can be reduced about 50% and operating power consumption can be reduced by about 50% without adversely affecting NOx emissions.

Abstract: A high efficiency hybrid atmospheric water heater that employs direct and indirect contact of water and hot gases to achieve approximately 99% efficiency. The heater employs a large capacity combustion chamber to burn both liquid and gaseous fuel and achieving low nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. The heater also employs exhaust tubes in combination with a unique receiver can, or alternately, candy cane shaped exhaust tubes, thereby eliminating expensive metal overheating associated with canopy covered exhaust tubes and preventing backpressure and associated sporadic burner performance, noise, and vibration. The heater employs two recirculation water nozzles for introducing water above the direct and indirect contact portions of the heater, depending on the temperature of the water to be recirculated.

Abstract: A gas burner in which a burner head is positioned within an inner pipe that is surrounded by an outer protective pipe. Fuel is delivered to the burner head through a fuel conduit positioned within the inner pipe, and combustion air is delivered through the inner pipe. The fuel conduit terminates short of the burner head and the wall of that conduit is provided with a plurality of holes. A further pipe surrounds at least the perforated part of the fuel conduit, and one end of the further pipe extends to the the burner head while the other end is sealed against the fuel conduit to form a mixing chamber between the outside of the fuel conduit and the inside of the further pipe. A second conduit is provided to conduct a given amount of air to the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A heater for burning fuel having a hollow enclosure with an air inlet, and a combustion gas outlet. The enclosure has an exterior heat exchange wall preferably directly exposed to ambient air and an interior surface defining a combustion chamber. The enclosure has a body with front and rear openings into which are fitted a front panel and a rear panel defining joints therebetween. The interior surface of the enclosure is coated and joints are sealed with heat resistant anti-oxidant material, for example: porcelain enamel, having a co-efficient of thermal expansion not substantially greater than the co-efficient of thermal expansion of the enclosure.

Abstract: A fireplace for concurrent use inside and outside of a structure includes a combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber, an inside opening, and an outside opening, wherein the combustion chamber is viewable from the inside of the structure through the inside opening and from the outside of the structure through the outside opening. The fireplace also includes a combustion air plenum system coupled to the combustion chamber enclosure to supply fresh air from the outside to the combustion chamber and an exhaust opening defined by the combustion chamber enclosure for exhausting exhaust air from the combustion chamber to the outside of the structure.

Abstract: A fuel-fired, forced draft air heating furnace has a draft inducer fan disposed in a vestibule chamber having an exterior wall with an air intake opening therein. During operation of the draft inducer fan its motor is cooled by combustion air drawn inwardly through the air intake opening. To enhance the combustion air cooling of the draft inducer fan motor, a deflection plate is supported within the vestibule chamber in an inwardly spaced apart, facing relationship with the air intake opening. A portion of the combustion air flowing inwardly through the air intake opening impinges on and is redirected by the plate toward the motor via a substantially unenclosed flow path within the vestibule chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of operating a burner, which comprises at least one first fuel supply conduit (5) with a first group of fuel outlet openings (6), essentially arranged in the direction of a burner longitudinal axis (3), for a first premix fuel quantity and one or a plurality of second fuel supply conduits (7) with a second group of fuel outlet openings (8), essentially arranged in the direction of the burner longitudinal axis (3), for a second premix fuel quantity, it being possible to admit fuel to the second fuel supply conduits (7) independently of the first fuel supply conduit (5). In the method, both fuel supply conduits (5, 7) are operated with the same fuel. By means of the present method of operating a burner, optimum mixing conditions can be set even in the case of different loads, gas qualities or gas preheat temperatures.

Abstract: A method for making a disposable package for an agent, typically water, activatable substance includes providing a planar support member of a moisture and air barrier material, mounting on the support member a sheet at least in part translucent, sealing all but one edge of the sheet to the support member to provide a pocket fixed to the support member, placing the agent activatable substance in the pocket so as to occupy only a portion of the pocket, folding the support member and pocket upon themselves, and releasably sealing overlying portions of the support member together along all but a folded edge of the support member, to enclose the agent activatable substance, whereby to provide a package which is openable by separating the overlying portions to expose the pocket for introduction of the agent into the pocket to activate the agent activatable substance therein.

Abstract: A torch and mount assembly wherein the torch, which has a plurality of gas receiving nipples is carried in a housing through which it extends. The housing has a plurality of walls forming a substantially air tight enclosure. In at least one wall of the housing are one or more leakproof fittings which are connected to similar leakproof fittings for the nipples by means of preferably flexible gas conduits within the housing. In the system, gaseous mixtures are applied from a source or sources to the fittings in the housing wall remote from the high temperatures of the torch, while the conduits within the housing are protected from mechanical and thermal stresses. An inert gas from a suitable source is introduced under pressure into the interior of the housing to reduce leakage from the torch into the housing. The atmosphere within the housing is heated, and the constituents of the housing atmosphere are monitored to aid in detecting leakage.

Abstract: An atomizing nozzle for a burner, especially for a heater that can be used on a vehicle includes a first flow guide element (34), which provides a flow guide surface (40) and has an atomizing lip (48) in an axial end area in relation to a central axis (A) of the nozzle, a second flow guide element (36) defining a first flow space area (30) leading to the atomizing lip (48) together with the first flow guide element (34). A fuel feed device (54) in the second flow guide element (36) is provided for applying fuel through the first flow space area (30) onto the flow guide surface (40) of the first flow guide element (34). Provisions are made for the fuel feed device (54) to have at least one fuel feed channel section (58) in the second flow guide element (36), which said fuel feed channel section (58) is open toward a surface area (44; 44′) of the second flow guide element (36) and has a surface normal radial component different from zero.

Abstract: A liquid heating cooker comprises a container having an access portion that is covered by a removable cover. A vat containing a heating medium is positioned within the container, and a combustion burner, provided to heat the medium, is positioned within the container such that a combustion surface of the burner opposes an outer wall surface of the vat. Guide means are also provided for sliding the burner in and out of the container via the access portion, such that the burner is removable and attachable with respect to the container. A combustion chamber is defined by the combustion surface of the burner and the opposing outer wall surface of the vat, and a portion of the burner defines a partitioning wall partitioning the combustion chamber into left and right chambers with respect to the sliding direction of the burner.

Abstract: A fireplace 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 compact, highly flexible and efficient, multi-positionable, multi-dimensional and multi-stage gas-fired heat exchanger system as described. The system is connectable in a forced air duct regardless of the angular position and size of the duct. The heat exchanger comprises one or more heat transfer tubes which are shaped and dimensioned as dictated by the customized use of the heat exchanger. The tubes are secured to a support panel as well as the gas burner associated with each of the inlet openings of the tubes. A position orientable gas valve is secured to a gas distribution manifold. A turbulator may be associated with at least some of the tubes to cause turbulence in the hot combustion flow in each of the tubes to modify the efficiency in heat transfer along one or more sections of the tubes by directing hot combustion gas along an inner circumferential wall of the tubes.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, and an apparatus for practicing the method, that creates a product stream and a heat of reaction from a fuel-rich fuel/air mixture and then contacts the product stream with a sufficient quantity of additional air to completely combust all of the fuel, to which air a portion of the heat of reaction has been transferred.

Abstract: A method for setting the performance of a gas operating cooking device by setting a complete combustion of the fuel gas/air mixture supplied to the gas burner of the cooking device.

Abstract: A support frame with legs is provided for supporting a chamber member with walls that taper inward from its upper end to an ash removal opening and a middle member forming a heating cavity. The upper end of the middle is adapted to support an upper member with walls that taper inward from its lower end to an upper vent. A lower grate is supported at the lower opening of the middle member for holding material to be burned. An upper grate is supported at the upper end of the middle member for supporting food to be cooked. In a further aspect, a side opening is formed through the wall of the middle member for use for adding burnable material on the lower grate. The four members can be broken down and stacked together in a small volume.

Abstract: A fireplace system, constructed of modules including a firebox, a chimney housing, and a base, each module substantially a block of foam. The firebox has a fire cavity which is lined with fire resistant board to protect the foam from direct exposure to heat. The chimney housing has a central bore and a flue extending concentrically therethrough which has an inner tube in communication with the fire cavity and a concentric and spaced outer tube which is attached to the central bore to impede the flow of heat from the inner tube to the foam chimney housing. The chimney housing, base, and firebox are selectively attached together using connector sets which each include a pair of connection devices, one of which is partially submerged and anchored within the foam of each of the modules to be joined. The modules are joined by mating the connection devices of each connection set.

Abstract: Of the type of lighters that have a gas tank (1) equipped with an exit valve (2) leading to a burner (6), where a push-button (15) simultaneously determines the opening of the valve (2) and the operation of a piezoelectric ignition generator (7), whose central characteristic is the incorporation of a track mechanism (16), operated by a second push-button (14) using the tension of a spring (20), so that said track mechanism can stop the functioning of the valve (2), in turn obstructing ignition, even though it acts on the push-button (15), which is necessary for the functioning of the lighter and simultaneously act on the push-buttons (14) and (15), thus producing ignition. The lighter has been designed to obstruct the manoeuvres necessary to produce ignition when in the hands of a child.

Abstract: A barbeque stand for supporting a cook top, having a base made substantially of foam, having a base top, a base bottom, and a cutout extending downward from the base top and having cutout sides and a cutout bottom. Fireproof boards extend against the base top, the cutout sides and the cutout bottom. Slots extend longitudinally parallel and adjacent to the base top, the cutout sides, and the cutout bottom. Inserts extend through the slots and are sized to fit snugly therein. The fireproof boards are anchored to the foam base by securing the fireproof boards to the inserts.

Abstract: A combustion chamber arrangement, in particular for a burner of a vehicle heating device, includes a housing arrangement in which a seating region is provided for abutment of a counter-seating region formed on an ignition element. An elastically effective retaining element for retaining the ignition element on the housing arrangement, the retaining element having a first support region supported with respect to the ignition element and a second support region supported with respect to the housing arrangement, wherein the retaining element is supported on at least one of the ignition element or the housing arrangement with the production of a substantially sealed closure of an ignition element passage opening of the housing arrangement.