Abstract: A furnace in combination with a heat pump and solar panels for providing domestic hot water and forced hot or cooled air utilizing heat pump achieved efficiency levels in an on-demand and unlimited domestic hot water, heating and air conditioning system. In heating mode, recycled air acquires heat from the heat pump's condenser coil and transfers this heat to the on-demand hot water.

Abstract: A barbecue grill has a grill body, two hinge plates, a rear cover, a front cover and holding pins. The hinge plates are mounted on the grill body and respectively have a mounting foot and a mounting and adjustment panel. Each mounting and adjustment panel has a pivot hole and adjusting holes. The rear cover is connected pivotally to the hinge plates and has a curved panel, two side panels and two pivot pins. Each side panel has positioning holes. The pivot pins protrude out from the side panels and extend through the pivot holes. The front cover is mounted around the rear cover and has a curved panel, two side panels and two pivot collars. Each side panel has positioning holes. The pivot collars are protruded out the side panels and mounted around the pivot pins. The holding pins are extended through the adjusting holes and the positioning holes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the thermal treatment of process exhaust gases containing pollutants, which can be used for a very wide range of surface modification processes carried out under a vacuum. The intention is to achieve the object of thermally treating process exhaust gases containing pollutants in such a way that accumulations of particles on the inner wall of a combustion chamber and an undesirable adverse effect on the thermal conversion can be avoided with little outlay.

Abstract: A draft control system and method can provide for automated control of the air drafting for heating systems. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary draft control system comprises at least one draft plate and a draft plate control system. Draft plate control system can comprise a control unit, one or more input devices, and one or more actuation systems. During operation, the control unit can receive a signal from an input device and use the actuation system to automatically adjust the amount of air intake by controlling movement of one or more draft plates.

Abstract: A speed cooking oven is disclosed comprising a cooking cavity, a controller, thermal heating source, blower assembly, air directing means and a vent assembly. Hot air is circulated by the blower motor assembly into the oven cavity where the hot air is directed in a maimer wherein a conflicting, colliding turbulent gas flow is directed at a food product providing for the rapid cooking of food products.

Abstract: A system (22) for orienting an object (28) relative to a base (24) to which the object (28) is rotatably coupled includes a braking surface (46) in fixed relation with the base (24). A brake (48) is engaged with the braking surface (46). A linear actuator (82) has a body (86) in fixed attachment with the object (28) via a strap member (84) and a coupling element (80). The linear actuator (82) also includes a rod (88) in fixed communication with the brake (48) through an elongate member (90) that flexes in response to a braking force (66) imposed on the braking surface (46) by the brake (48). The linear actuator is activated to generate linear motion (120) of the rod (88). The linear motion (120) of the rod (88) causes rotational motion (122) of the object (28). The strap member (84) is enabled to flex as the object (28) rotates.

Abstract: A warming device consisting essentially of a heat generating main body comprising a heat generating element and an air-permeable holding member having the heat generating element enclosed therein. The warming device has a receiving part for receiving a part of a body being inserted. The heat generating element comprises a sheet which contains an oxidizable metal, a moisture-retaining agent, and a fibrous material and is prepared by papermaking.

Abstract: High-pressure air is discharged in the form of jets moving at a high velocity from nozzles mounted on a ring around the interior of the flare stack, placed at a predetermined distance from the flare tip and the portion of the surrounding stack wall downstream of the jets is perforated with air passages to admit atmospheric air. The high-velocity air movement induces a larger volume of air from the atmosphere to enter the stack where it rises to the flame zone, thereby lifting the flame and enhancing turbulent mixing of air and gas in the flame zone. Adequate stoichiometric amounts of oxygen to assure complete combustion are determined by measuring any variations of the mass flow rate of the fuel gas and/or undesired chemical and effecting a corresponding adjustment of an air flow control valve to admit a predetermined amount of pressurized air and/or atmospheric air to the flaring tip.

Abstract: A food roasting apparatus according to the present invention includes an elongate rigid rod with opposite first and second ends, a handle attached to the first end, and a basket attached to the second end. The rod defines a rod longitudinal axis, the basket defines a basket longitudinal axis, and the rod includes an offset portion such that the rod longitudinal axis is inline with the basket longitudinal axis. Since the rod longitudinal axis is inline with the basket longitudinal axis, the basket does not rise or fall when rotated with the rod. The food roasting apparatus may include a sleeve coupled to the rod and a stand that releasably captures the sleeve and supports the rod. The present invention includes an open-ended basket and a basket that easily and safely opens and closes. When cool, the basket can be removed from the rod for transport or cleaning.

Abstract: An oven rack for supporting food items to be cooked in a oven cavity of an appliance includes a frame portion and a support platform defined by a plurality of support members that establish a food item support zone and a food item access zone. The plurality of support members include substantially straight support members and offset or shaped support members. The offset support members, in combination with a vertically offset section of the frame portion, define the food item access zone which is vertically offset from the food item support zone so as to enable a consumer to access a bottom portion of a food item resting on the rack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control method for gas burners for providing a gas-air mixture. According to the invention, the ionization signal is only used for setting the mixing ratio dependent on the gas quality when the burner flame completely sweeps over the sensor generating the ionization signal. Outside the above-mentioned range, i.e. when the burner flame does not completely sweep over the sensor generating the ionization signal, the gas-air mixture is controlled dependent on the previously determined mixing ratio.

Abstract: A solar concentrating collector includes corrugated board parabolic support segments with flexible strips and side tabs over the cut edge to support a laminate with reflective coated film. The reflector assembly has supporting arms and pivots about a heat absorbing conduit secured to vertical extensions of adjacent stationary posts. Selected external surfaces are weatherproofed. The conduit includes vacuum insulators and means to isolate conduit from insulator expansion. Upper arms support pulleys and cable take-ups for continuous collector position changes. Cross members of the extended post secure the fixed conduit, and at a higher level, a programmable drive to rotate two cable capstans for cables that pivot two adjacent reflector assemblies. Other embodiments include triangular or square fluid conduits with planar surfaces for photovoltaic cells and a modified reflective surface to disperse solar rays into a band of reflected sunlight directed to photocell areas.

Abstract: A conveyor oven in which a heated circulating air stream provides impingement air toward a conveyor, which is turned to flow horizontally along the conveyor toward an inlet and/or an outlet thereof. The conveyor oven includes a ductwork that provides a positive pressure airflow to form the impingement air as well as a positive pressure a second air flow that intersects with the horizontal air flow with a more positive pressure adjacent the inlet and/or outlet to redirect the horizontal airflow toward an air return plenum so as to substantially reduce the escape of heat to ambient.

Abstract: An overheated steam oven which discharges overheated steam to an outside after changing the overheated steam of a high temperature into water. The overheated steam oven includes a cabinet to define a cooking cavity therein, an overheated steam generator to supply overheated steam into the cooking cavity, and an overheated steam discharger to discharge the overheated steam from the cooking cavity to the outside after condensing the overheated steam. The overheated steam discharger includes a cooling water path which is provided on a steam discharging path to exchange heat with the overheated steam discharged from the cooking cavity to the outside.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the combustion process by stimulating one or more components of a fuel/air mixture using nuclear resonance to selectively reduce or increase the oxidation of selected components of the combustion reaction, e.g., nitrogen (N-14) or hydrogen (H-1). The method can utilize either nuclear magnetic resonance for H-1 or nuclear quadrupole resonance for N-14. Stimulation of the components can occur before, during, or after the combustion reaction in the combustion area. Stimulation with an electromagnetic pulse can be synchronized with the combustion reaction. A feedback system is used to sense one or more operating parameters of the combustion reaction, and adjust the nuclear resonance stimulation based on sensed operating parameters. For example, if the stimulation is an RF signal having a beginning frequency, this frequency can be adjusted based on sensory information regarding gas levels or temperature in an exhaust stream.

Abstract: A method of extending the droplet half-life of water droplets in a combustion furnace by increasing the relative humidity in the droplets' environment; thereby reducing the evaporation rate of the water from the droplet and increasing the half-life of the droplets in the droplets' environment.

Abstract: A combustor includes a combustor head with an integrated counter-flow heat exchanger. The combustor head defines a combustion chamber and has a surface accessible for external delivery of thermal energy. The counter-flow heat exchanger has a fuel channel extending between a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet coupled to the combustion chamber, an exhaust channel extending between an exhaust inlet coupled to the combustion chamber and an exhaust outlet, and a shared wall between the fuel channel and the exhaust channel for transfer of thermal energy therebetween.

Abstract: A method is described for igniting discharges of inflammable fluids, such as gases which are discharged in a flare, where an ignition pellet is set in motion towards the fluid discharge along a conducting body and made to detonate in or near the fluid discharge, so that the fluid is ignited. The invention is characterised in that the device, during its travel towards the fluid discharge, goes through detonation generating events in which an electronic system registers several subsequent sequences, such as: 1) a sequence in which a control circuit (a system) is activated (switched on), 2) a sequence in which the device is activated as it passes, and registers a predetermined series of identical or different pulse influences, and 3) a sequence in which the device thereafter is made to detonate by a pulse influence which indicates that it has passed the conducting body towards the fluid discharge. A system for carrying out the method is also described.

Abstract: A method for assessing solar insolation potential upon existing building rooftops in a given region comprises: (a) computing Global Horizontal Insolation values based on topographical Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data for the region; computing a Sky Transmissivity parameter as it affects Global Horizontal Insolation based on available climate and cloud cover data for the region; (c) applying an Albedo parameter for ground reflectivity and scattering to determine Diffuse Insolation values; (d) applying a Shading Coefficient based on measuring shadow surface areas in relation to total area from aerial photographs of the region over defined times and periods; (e) determining Total Building Roof Area based on image analysis of aerial photographs of the region, and applying a typical roof slope factor; (f) estimating typical Roof Slope, Type, and Orientation (azimuth) selected from a defined set (vocabulary) of rooftop types based on a visual survey of the region; and (g) calculating Total Building Rooftop Insola

Abstract: A torch operable to pivotally secure a lever on opposite sides of the torch. The torch may comprise a torch butt, a valve assembly, and a lever. The valve assembly may be operable to control a flow of a fluid through the torch butt. The lever may be selectively securable to a first portion of the torch butt and a second portion of the torch butt. The second portion of the torch butt may be disposed opposite the first portion of the torch butt. The valve assembly may be selectively securable within the torch butt to enable the lever to operate the valve assembly with the lever selected to pivot about the first portion of the torch butt and the second portion of the torch butt.