Abstract: Apparatus for simulating a campfire includes a fire pan, a diffuser element in the pan interior and a gas injector extending into the interior. The gas injector has an outlet that introduces vaporized fuel so that the diffuser element disperses the vaporized fuel about the pan interior. Non-flammable particulate material may be provided at a depth sufficient to cover the outlet. A lid may be secured to the pan, for example, by the diffuser element. The fire pan may have a lower chamber portion and an upper pan portion with the outlet terminating in the lower chamber portion. The diffuser element may be centrally located in the pan. The method provides such a fire pan and directs the flow of gas toward the diffuser so that the gas is diffused upwardly to be ignited on the surface of the particulate material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuing the operation of a fuel fired furnace when the air supply from the blower to the furnace is interrupted by employing a combination of a ventilator and drop door, the ventilator having a power source independent of the blower.

Abstract: A barbeque grill includes a base member having a bottom surface and a plurality of sidewalls integral therewith. The base member includes a plurality of spaced support rails slidably engageable with the bottom surface. A plurality of elongated support legs are connected to the plurality of support rails respectively. A pair of opposed side panels having top and bottom edge portions are secured to the plurality of support legs. The grill further includes a top member pivotally connected to one of the side panels. The top member includes a grill surface for supporting foodstuff thereon. A plurality of baskets are disposed substantially medially between the base member and the top member. The grill further includes a drip pan for collecting and directing grease downwardly and away from the plurality of baskets.

Abstract: A dual conveyor jet impingement oven having a blower box with at least one air inlet opening and at least two air outlet openings and a heating space adjacent to and in fluid communication with the blower box. Disposed within the heating space are two spaced apart pairs of spaced apart heated air distribution plenums, which form a central return air conduit therebetween. The central return air conduit has a return air outlet end in fluid communication with the blower box and the spaced apart heated air distribution plenums have a heated air inlet opening in fluid communication with the at least two air outlet openings. A horizontal heating surface is disposed between each pair of spaced apart heated air distribution plenums, each of which has a perforated heated air distribution plate facing the horizontal heating surface.

Abstract: A new and improved combination smoker and barbecue pit having a housing with an open top, a grill resting on said housing, and a hood. A firebox is placed within said housing and is used for holding fuel which, when burned, creates heat and smoke. During the smoking process, the firebox is positioned below a shield which deflects and directs smoke into a pair of chambers within the housing which in turn channel smoke into elongated collection members evenly spaced below the grill. When smoke fills the collection members, is spills out the open-ended bottom of the collection members and drifts toward the grill in an even distribution. The firebox can also rest on the collection members where it is directly beneath the grill for barbecuing.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a support frame at least partially defining a cooktop, an orifice holder, an igniter assembly having an attachment bracket and a removable burner base. The orifice holder includes a central projection and a recessed portion through which extends an igniter receiving aperture. The removable burner includes an igniter receiving opening and a central receiving portion adapted to engage with the gas orifice holder through the central projection to form a burner assembly. The igniter is positioned in the igniter receiving aperture with the bracket being secured to the recessed portion of the orifice holder. Once assembly, the burner base is placed over the orifice holder to from a gas burner assembly. Preferably, the igniter is interconnected with an ignition wire having a terminal connector sized to pass through the igniter receiving aperture. With this arrangement, the igniter is installed/removed from a top portion of the cooktop.

Abstract: A versatile heater/cooler (2) comprising a chest (4) having insulated walls (6, 8, 10, 12, 14) including a lid (10). Contained within the chest is a removable heating and cooling source (46) which is submersible in a liquid for heating or cooling the latter. The source comprises first and second vertical conduits (48, 50) having lower portions connected for fluid communication with a transverse body (52) which forms a combustion chamber. The chamber serves for burning fuel (80) or for containing a refrigerant introduced by way of the conduits. Included in the chest lid is a vent port (110) for venting the chest contents including the source, and two limb ports (18, 20) for inserting the limbs of a user through the ports and into the interior of the chest. A self-adjusting shield (22, 24) connected to an edge portion of each limb port, yieldingly surrounds each limb for preventing hot or cold air losses from the chest.

Abstract: A multipurpose smokeless roaster comprising: a roasting unit (2), a ceiling (1) having an opened portion (7), a cylindrical outer box (9) having an exhausting unit (3) at the lower end thereof and opened at the upper end thereof, a cylindrical inner box (11) provided inside the outer box (9) and having a burner (23) inside thereof and being opened at the upper end thereof, and a suction passage (X) defined between the outer box (9) and the inner box (11) at a predetermined width for sucking a smoke generated during roasting and cooking. The inner box has an annular surface (15) on which a metal grill or a pot stand (18) are selectively mounted. A movable draft pipe (4) is slidably provided at the exhausting unit (3) of the outer box (9) and a connector box (5) is provided under the movable draft pipe (4) for connecting said movable draft pipe (4) and a duct unit (6) for defining an exhaust gas passage.

Abstract: A reflective heat conductor is presented in the form of a grill having a plurality of individual cells bounded by reflective bare metal surfaces. The grill has an arcuate shape complementary to the object, such as a stovepipe, on which it is located. Heat transfer is effected by substantially increasing the conductive area of the surface of the object on which it is mounted, by reflecting radiant heat energy emitted by the surface, and, in the case of a stovepipe, by also increasing turbulence within the stovepipe to reduce stack velocity and produce more complete burning.

Abstract: A direct contact water heater comprises a cylindrical column having a plurality of heat exchange bodies disposed in the upper portion thereof, a spray nozzle disposed above the heat exchange bodies for discharging water thereon and a combustion chamber extending into the lower end of the column. A cooling jacket is mounted in surrounding relation to the combustion chamber and extends downwardly along the sides and around the bottom thereof. The cooling jacket is open at its upper end for receiving a portion of the water falling from the heat exchange bodies and has a discharge opening formed adjacent its upper periphery for discharging a portion of the collected water into a water tank below the column to effect circulation of the cooling water through the jacket.

Abstract: A fuel metering apparatus is shown as having a throttle body with an induction passage therethrough and a throttle valve for controlling flow through the induction passage, a fuel-air mixture discharge member is situated generally in the induction passage downstream of the throttle valve, an air passage communicates between a source of air and the fuel-air mixture discharge member, the air passage is shown as also including a flow restrictor therein which provides for sonic flow therethrough, and a fuel metering valving assembly having a ball valve member is effective for metering liquid fuel as at a superatmospheric pressure and delivering such metered liquid fuel as into the air passage upstream of the flow restrictor thereby causing the thusly metered liquid fuel and air to pass through the sonic flow restrictor before being discharged into the induction passage by the fuel-air mixture discharge member, the ball valve member has a flattened surface against which an armature of a solenoid assembly operative

Abstract: A culture tube is divided into 5 sealed chambers: a gaseous supply chamber; a liquid supply chamber; a culture chamber; a gaseous return chamber and a liquid return chamber. Cell-impermeable hydrophilic tubes extend from the liquid supply chamber, through the culture chamber to the liquid return chamber. Liquid nutrient flows in the tubes and perfuses through the walls thereof under differential pressure to nourish the cells in the culture chamber. Cell-impermeable hydrophobic tubes extend from the gaseous supply chamber, through the culture chamber, to the gaseous return chamber to provide respiratory gases to and remove waste gases from cells in the culture chamber. The apparatus is designed to be a radially symmetric and thus, provide a uniform tissue culture. Pressure indicators flush-mounted on the walls of the chamber tube, may be provided to monitor chamber conditions and relay this information to a micro-computer which enriches the culture chamber environment.

Abstract: A frying pan has a bottom surface with an outwardly protruding central, planer and circular masses area which is made for contact with an electrically heated plate. There is also a wing-shaped bottom portion on each side of the contact area. The wing-shaped portions have a periphery which account for 30-80% of the total periphery of the frying pan bottom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel apparatus for culturing mammalian cells, whereby a plastic housing encasing a double membrane bag or bags supplies nutrients and oxygen to mammalian cells for propagation thereof. The double membrane bag contains a first bag formed of a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane disposed within a second membrane bag formed of a liquid impermeable, gas permeable membrane. This apparatus has a first chamber containing oxygen, a second chamber containing cells and a third chamber containing nutrients.

Abstract: Fireplace heat transfer apparatus includes a main inner panel assembly adapted to be positioned across any opening to a fireplace and an auxiliary outer panel assembly pivotally mounted to the main assembly. The main assembly includes an inner transparent plate of glass and the auxiliary assembly includes an outer transparent plate of glass. The outer glass plate is thicker than the inner glass plate. The mounting relationship of the auxiliary frame to the main frame maintains the outer plate of glass in a spaced relationship to the inner plate of glass so as to define a heat transfer chamber between them. The auxiliary and main assemblies have respective frame structures which closes the chamber at its sides but provides the chamber with an open top and bottom for communicating the chamber with ambient air in the room surrounding the fireplace.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar energy collector comprising a plurality of elongated heat-absorbing troughs. The elongated heat-absorbing troughs are supported in a generally parallel side-by-side terraced array, in position to retain liquid and with an end of each trough elevated relative to the other end to permit a liquid flow by gravity toward the respective lower ends thereof. The terraced array of troughs is oriented toward to the sun to permit the impingement of solar radiation upon the troughs. Heat-absorbing liquid is introduced into the troughs at the upper ends thereof to produce a flow of the heat-absorbing liquid toward the respective lower ends, with the heat-absorbing liquid becoming heated by the exposure to solar radiation. The heat-absorbing liquid is then collected from the troughs at the lower ends thereof.

Abstract: A heater closure attachment for 30 and 55 gallon metal drums which includes a main closure section provided with an exhaust stack and two depending draft inlet pipes, and a hinged section through which solid fuel is inserted, the inlet draft pipes having damper lids to control combustion and the whole attachment being in knock-down, readily portable form for assembly on the job by unskilled labor.

Abstract: A solar energy collector which includes a solar panel with channels for solar energy collecting fluid or liquid which channels are adapted to efficiently use the available panel area and thus more efficiently collect the solar energy per unit area than so far achieved. This solar energy collector comprises a solar panel distinctively including fluid channels tapering in width from an inlet end to an outlet end thereof and laterally juxtaposed such that the channels of one set laterally alternate with the other channels and taper in width in opposite direction relative to these other channels.

Abstract: A flue restrictor for installation in the flue piping of a heating system to reduce its effective cross sectional area comprises sheet metal inlet and outlet sections having flanges secured together in a joint that has a guideway in it for a sheet metal gate valve that may be transversely positioned to produce the desired cross-sectional area and riveted in place to provide a substantially tamper-proof assembly.

Abstract: Solar collector apparatus includes a ceramic absorber panel comprised of a plurality of hollow, generally pyramidal-shaped elements with open bases positioned in a common plane in staggered formation with the open bases adapted to be oriented toward the sun to receive radiant energy from the sun and the apex of each of the pyramidal-shaped elements terminating in a projection which is circular in cross-section protruding outwardly from the apex and tapering to a point on its distal end. An insulated frame assembly is provided under the absorber panel to support the absorber panel and to form an air flow duct beneath the absorber panel for conducting a stream of air as a heat transfer medium in contact with the apices and protruding members.