Abstract: In staged combustion, wherein fuel is fed into a furnace, and less than all of the gaseous oxidant needed to completely combust the fuel is fed with the fuel and combusted, providing uncombusted fuel, and the remaining portion of gaseous oxidant needed to combust the fuel is fed into the furnace through a second port, fuel is fed and combusted at the second port to heat the second port and lessen the tendency of deposits to form at the second port.

Abstract: A cooker includes a steam generator that supplies steam into a cooking chamber of the cooker. The steam generator includes a heating chamber having a heating space; a steam discharge port through which steam in the heating space is discharged; a residual water discharge port through which steam water in the heating space is discharged; a heater that heats the heating space; and a residual water discharge pipe connected with the residual water discharge port and that selectively discharges steam water from the heating space to an outside. A first end of the residual water discharge pipe is connected with the residual water discharge port, a second end of the residual water discharge pipe is arranged lower than the residual water discharge port, and a portion of the residual water discharge pipe between the first and second ends is arranged higher than the residual water discharge port.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a burner management system (BMS) for an industrial gas appliance and method for controlling a warm-up operation of the industrial gas appliance. The BMS and control method only requires a subset of the burners to be provided with flame detectors. In accordance with one aspect, the method involves lighting a supervised burner by providing a fuel gas flow thereto; continuously detecting a flame at the supervised burner indicating that the supervised burner is lit; incrementally lighting non-supervised burners by providing the fuel gas flow thereto when a non-supervised burner status indicates a safe lighting condition, the non-supervised burner status being determined by: measuring a total fuel gas flowing to the plurality of burners; and determining the number of the non-supervised burners with the fuel gas flowing thereto from the measurement of the total fuel gas and a supervised burner status.

Abstract: A system for repelling insects from an outdoor area includes at least one torch configured to disburse an insect repellant by burning a fuel, and a central fuel reservoir interconnected with the torches by a fuel plumbing system and configured to automatically replenish the fuel in a local reservoir of the torch. Fuel can be gravitationally transferred from the central reservoir to the torches, or maintained under pressure in the plumbing system and controlled by level sensors and valves in the torches. A remotely operated wick seal can exclude air from torch interiors and prevent fuel spills. A central controller and/or local torch controllers can be powered by wires and/or by batteries, which can be recharged by solar power. The controllers can be wirelessly monitored and/or controlled by software running on a remote device. The remote device and software can control a plurality of the systems.

Abstract: A ventilation system for a cooktop appliance comprising a cooktop surface. The ventilation system defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The ventilation system includes a casing positioned above and spaced apart from the cooktop appliance along the vertical direction with an image monitor supported on the casing at a front end of the casing. The ventilation system is selectively configurable to provide fluid communication from an air inlet to one of a recirculation outlet, a first exhaust outlet, and a second exhaust outlet without removing or rearranging an air handler of the ventilation system.

Abstract: To heat a furnace chamber (16) indirectly using radiant tubes (11) to (14), heating energy is transferred through the radiant tube wall into the furnace chamber (16). During steady-state operation, the temperature in the radiant tube (11) to (14) and on its surface is higher than the furnace, depending on the specific heat output of the radiant tube (11) to (14). At a furnace temperature of 770° C. and a heat output of 50 kW/m2, the radiant tube has a temperature of 900° C. The radiant tube (11) to (14) can thus operate continuously with flameless oxidation at this output, even though the temperature in the furnace is only 100° C. However, if the radiant tube (11) to (14) has cooled to the furnace temperature of 770° C. during a break in burning, deflagration is avoided when the associated burner is ignited by initially operating said burner with a flame for a few seconds.

Abstract: A portable multiple grill assembly includes a trailer that is towed behind a vehicle. A fire pit is coupled to the trailer for containing an open flame. A plurality of cooking grills is each coupled to the trailer. A table is coupled to and extends outwardly from the plurality of cooking grills. A plurality of chair units is each slidably coupled to the trailer. Each of the chair units is slidable into a deployed position to have a user sit thereon. A venting unit is coupled to the trailer to vent smoke from cooking grills thereby inhibiting the user from being exposed to the smoke. A display is coupled to the trailer and the display is elevated above the fire pit and the cooking grills to be visible to the user when the user is seated on the one of the chair units.

Abstract: A smart oven includes a box body unit, a heating unit and a feed unit. The box body unit includes a box body that has a first inner wall surface, two second inner wall surfaces, two third inner wall surfaces, and a heating chamber having a chamber opening that faces downward. The heating unit includes a plurality of upper radiation heating lamps disposed above the chamber opening, and a plurality of outer radiation heating lamps disposed in proximity to the second and third inner wall surfaces. The feed unit includes a carrier platform that is movable relative to the box body between a material-placing position and a material-operating position, in which the carrier platform is distal from and closes the chamber opening, respectively.

Abstract: An barbeque device (9) to prolong fuel burning comprising multiple vertical walls that are cut from a single strip such that they provide fuel containment and air openings without removing or discarding any material needed to provide air openings for the fuel.

Abstract: A gas burner for a cooking appliance includes a frustoconically-shaped crown having a plurality of gas ports defined therein, a cover positioned above the crown, and a shell secured to the cover and positioned on the crown. The shell defines a hollow chamber positioned between the crown and the cover.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a downdraft assembly capable of ventilating a cooktop including housing with a frame, a fluid box, and a movement assembly with a belt-lift. In some embodiments, the movement assembly can include a vertically moveable chimney. Some embodiments include a chimney with a horizontal member coupled to a first vertical region and a second vertical region and including a fluid inlet. In some embodiments, a first control panel can be coupled to the housing to activate at least one function of the downdraft assembly while remaining substantially stationary as the chimney moves. Some embodiments include a second control panel coupled chimney. Some embodiments include a visor and at least one illumination source configured and arranged to at least partially illuminate the cooktop. In some embodiments, the visor can articulate to control illumination or the flow of a cooking effluent into a fluid inlet.

Abstract: A cooktop, defining top and bottom surfaces, may include: cooking zones and a cavity in the top surface; and a device for operating and controlling the cooktop and for permitting downward exhaust of cooking vapors. The device may include, in order from the top surface, an apparatus holding elements that heat the cooking zones and control and monitor electronics for the cooktop, a first cooking vapor intake chamber in fluid communication with the cavity, a fan housing for a radial fan, and a second cooking vapor intake chamber in fluid communication with the cavity. The fan housing may be in fluid communication with the first and second intake chambers. The first intake chamber may be configured to divide the cooking vapors into a first portion, to be conveyed downward into the fan housing, and a second portion, to be conveyed upward into the fan housing through the second intake chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of a cooking station for cooking a food product are provided. In one embodiment, the cooking station includes a main body and an insert. The main body includes a vertically extending wall extending between a closed bottom end and a closable upper end with a lid. The main body is configured to extend longitudinally in a vertical orientation. The main body defines a lower insert opening and an upper insert opening, the main body including a slideable door moveable to close-off either the lower and upper insert openings. The insert is sized and configured to be removably positioned through either one of the lower insert opening and the upper insert opening, the first insert having heating element container structure configured to deliver heat to the food product.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus for treating an effluent gas includes a combustion chamber; a burner; an inlet for receiving secondary combustion air; an exhaust gas outlet for outputting exhaust gases from the combustion chamber; and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between a first fluid and a second fluid flowing through respective first and second fluid flow paths. The first fluid flow path is connected to the inlet and the second fluid flow path is connected to the outlet such that the exhaust gases received at the outlet flow into the second fluid flow path. The heat exchanger comprises a fluid flow communication path for providing a path for flow of a portion of the exhaust gases from the second fluid into the first fluid; and at least one inlet aperture for inputting the first fluid to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A knob assembly and an appliance having a knob assembly are provided. The knob assembly may include a knob configured to be rotatably installed, a knob ring configured to surround the knob and to be rotated independently from the knob, a spring configured to provide an elastic force so as to return the knob ring toward an initial position when the knob ring is rotated to a position spaced apart from the initial position, and a magnetic force provider configured to provide a magnetic force to return the knob ring to the initial position when the knob ring is at a position adjacent to the initial position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooking apparatus capable of accurately perceiving whether a door is closed. Disclosed herein is also a cooking apparatus capable of preventing a latch assembly of a main body from being pressurized by another object outside the cooking apparatus in a state in which a door is opened. The cooking apparatus includes a latch assembly disposed in a main body and configured to confine a key member of a door, wherein the latch assembly includes: a body including an interference hole therein; a first lever rotatably coupled to the body; a second lever configured to be rotatable in a first direction due to pressurization of the key member; a stopper connected to the second lever and configured to restrict rotation of the first lever as the stopper is inserted into the interference hole; and a sensor configured to be selectively pressurized by the first lever and sense whether the door is opened and closed to prevent malfunction of the cooking apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for thermally drying pasty products, in particular wastewater sludge, and a belt dryer implementing such a method. The principle consists of partitioning the drying operations and using, for each of the successive operations, a different quality of air: (i) hot air for “searing” the sludge, (ii) low temperature air, then (iii) cold air for quenching the sludge before the extraction of same. Also proposed are loops of air supply circuits making it possible to optimize the energy consumption of the dryer by reusing energy produced within these circuits. Moreover, the loops make it possible to recover unavoidable low temperature energy or cheap energy, further optimising the consumption of the dryer.

Abstract: A separator and/or stack stabilizer (referred to as a sticker) used to stack materials for drying and/or curing. The sticker has support members that extend radially outwardly from a central portion. An open-ended channel configured to allow air to flow therethrough is defined between each adjacent pair of support members. Together, the central portion and at least a portion of the support members may have an X-shaped cross-sectional shape. A different support platform having a support surface may be connected to each of the support members. Optionally, the support surfaces include airflow grooves. The sticker may be constructed entirely of a material that includes aluminum.

Abstract: A joint, a knob assembly, and an appliance having a joint and a knob assembly are provided. The joint may include a housing, a first shaft support, a second shaft support, and a coupling shaft. A slot having a predetermined width extending in a circumferential direction of the housing and a predetermined length extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing may be formed in the housing. The coupling shaft provided in the second support may include a rotary shaft rotatably inserted into the slot. A stopper may be formed to protrude from an outside of the rotary shaft, and a position of the stopper inside the slot may be changed according to rotation of the rotating shaft. The stopper may be provided in the slot so that the stopper interferes with an inner wall of the housing formed by the slot at a predetermined position.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for adjustably positioning a fuel source. The apparatus includes a first and second fuel source receiving space and a biasing member. The first fuel source receiving space is defined by a substantially planar first fuel supporting surface and a first wall. The first wall extends substantially perpendicularly from the first fuel supporting surface and circumscribes the first fuel supporting surface. The second fuel source receiving space is hingedly coupled to the first fuel source receiving space. The second fuel source receiving space is defined by a substantially planar second fuel supporting surface and a second wall. The second wall extends substantially perpendicularly from the second fuel supporting surface and circumscribes the second fuel supporting surface. The biasing member is configured to bias at least a portion of the first wall against at least a portion of the second wall.