Abstract: Backyard type gas grills are made suitable for use with solid fuels such as charcoal by removing existing passive radiant heat material such as lava rocks and inserting an apparatus comprising supports (50) and perforated fuel basket (40). The unique design of the invention allows for its implementation in a majority of gas grills on the market by permitting the supports (50), which rest on at least a gas burner, to be positioned and fastened to the fuel basket (40) anywhere and in various directions with respect to the fuel basket (40). Locking means (56) prevent separation of the supports from the fuel basket. By locking the supports (50) to the fuel basket (40), the supports add structural integrity to the fuel basket and prevent the basket from warping and torquing due to repeated exposure to extreme temperature differentials.

Abstract: A portable heat generating device in which fuel vapor (e.g. methanol) and an oxygen supply (e.g. air) are uniformly released through porous tubes woven with catalyst-impregnated glass filaments into a sheet-shaped, fabric-like structure enclosed in a mylar envelope. The catalyst promotes flameless combustion of the fuel vapor and oxygen, with consequent heat release occurring uniformly over the fabric-like structure. The heat generation process is started by pumping liquid fuel and air into the porous tubes using a peristaltic pump, thereby building up hydraulic pressure within the liquid fuel portion of the microbore-tubes. The level of pressure sustained within the liquid fuel portion of the microbore-tubes is limited by a manually set variable pressure release valve. The pressure in the microbore-tubes forces the liquid fuel within the porous microbore-tubing through the pores where it is converted into a vapor state before reacting with the oxygen and catalyst to produce flameless combustion.

Abstract: A supporting device used to securely mount a selectively removable portable stove and a fuel tank to a planar supporting structure without the use of hand tools. A base which includes an upper surface, lower surface, stove receiving region and tank receiving region has positioned above the stove receiving region a stove mounting plate. The stove mounting plate is positioned a fixed distance above the upper surface of the base. The spacing insulates the base from the heat of the stove.

Abstract: A cordless tool which includes a glue gun function and may include other functions includes a sleeve for receiving a stick of hot melt glue for sliding through the sleeve and a tip at the forward end of the sleeve for discharging the glue when melted. A butane heated gas burner heats the sleeve using gas permeable catalytic heater which surrounds or lies in intimate contact with the sleeve to communicate heat to the sleeve. The arrangement can be modified by closing off the catalytic heater for use to provide multi function.

Abstract: A barbecue grill device includes two grill plates each are supported by a frame and the two grill plates are pivotally connected with each other so that the two grill plates are overlapped together. One of the grill plates has two flanges extending from two ends thereof and the other grill plate has two flanges extending from two ends thereof. When the second grill plate is overlapped on the first grill plate, the flanges on the first grill plate and the second grill plate are located side by side so as to reduce the total thickness of the overlapped grill plates.

Abstract: An utility lighter including a housing having a handle at one end and a nozzle at another end and including a fuel supply connected for selective fluid communication with the nozzle. An ignitor assembly, such as a piezoelectric mechanism, is operatively connected to the housing for generating a spark proximate the nozzle and an actuating assembly is connected to the housing proximate the handle and operates to both dispense fuel from the fuel supply and to activate the ignitor assembly. A latch member is operatively connected with the handle and includes a blocking portion connected for biased movement relative to the actuating assembly. The latch member is normally biased into engagement with the actuating assembly to prevent operative movement except when the user moves the latch member against the bias. When the latch member is moved out of engagement with the actuating assembly by the user, a trigger may be pulled to release fuel and initiate a spark at the nozzle.

Abstract: A flavor generation piece (12) incorporates a formed body (32) of a material containing a flavor substance. A heater (42) heats the flavor generation piece (12) without burning it, thereby generating a flavor. The heater (42) has a tank (46) mounted in a heat-insulating holder (44) to store a combustible gas. A combustion portion (52) for burning the combustible gas is disposed on the tank (46). Ignition or extinction of the combustion portion (52) is selected by a switch (58). The upper portion of the heat-insulating holder (44) forms a heat exchange duct (62) surrounding the combustion portion (52) and providing an exhaust path (64). An air pipe (74) is disposed to cross the heat exchange duct (62) transversely in the exhaust path (64). Heat exchange is performed between a fluid flowing in the exhaust path (64) and a fluid flowing in the air pipe (74).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a utility lighter including a housing having a handle at one end and a nozzle at another end and including a fuel supply connected for selective fluid communication with the nozzle. An ignitor assembly, such as a piezoelectric mechanism, is operatively connected to the housing for generating a spark proximate the nozzle and an actuating assembly is connected to the housing proximate the handle and operates to both dispense fuel from the fuel supply and to activate the ignitor assembly. A linking mechanism is provided in order to initiate the flow of fuel from the fuel supply prior to generation of a spark such that a spark is generated when fuel is present at the nozzle. A locating mechanism is provided proximate the valve of the fuel container in order to properly position the fuel container within the housing. In addition, an isolator cap is disposed around the nozzle to assist in directing the spark in the vicinity of the nozzle.

Abstract: A candle holder comprising a plurality of layers of stacked glass. The layers may be of any desired thickness, or varying thicknesses, and may also be any desired color. The layers have an aperture for accommodating a candle therewithin, and preferably include positioning grooves for aligning the layers. By mixing and matching the various layers, different unique and pleasing ornamental effects may be achieved.

Abstract: A portable heat generating device in which fuel vapor and an oxygen supply (e.g. air) are directed through channels contained within a thin, flexible and compliant elastomeric sheet of material. Elongated catalytic heat elements, placed strategically within the channels, spontaneously interact with the fuel-air stream liberating heat energy. Means and methods are defined that permit flameless catalytic combustion to be uniformly extended over the length of each heat element, lowering power density but maintaining the overall power generated, permitting the use of many types of low temperature materials like plastics, polymers, and elastomers in the construction of the heater. The heat generation process is started by pumping an air stream into a reservoir containing a fuel source (e.g. methanol) thereby saturating the air stream with fuel vapor.

Abstract: The periodic equivalence ratio modulation (PERM) method and apparatus significantly reduces and/or eliminates unstable conditions within a combustion chamber. The method involves modulating the equivalence ratio for the combustion device, such that the combustion device periodically operates outside of an identified unstable oscillation region. The equivalence ratio is modulated between preselected reference points, according to the shape of the oscillation region and operating parameters of the system. Preferably, the equivalence ratio is modulated from a first stable condition to a second stable condition, and, alternatively, the equivalence ratio is modulated from a stable condition to an unstable condition. The method is further applicable to multi-nozzle combustor designs, whereby individual nozzles are alternately modulated from stable to unstable conditions.

Abstract: For use with a fireplace, a heat exchanger mounted across the top portion of the fireplace with the heat exchanger comprising a heat exchanger core with four identical extruded core sections connected together around an inner spin chamber for the passage of combustion gases and surrounded by an outer spin chamber for the passage of combustion gases, with each core section having a center core passageway for the passage of room air and the heating of the room air by the heat from the combustion gases being transferred to the room air through the heat exchanger cores, and tortuous passageways between the core sections from the outer spin chamber to the inner spin chamber to increase the area of contact by the hot combustion gases to the core sections and to increase the dwell time of the combustion gases in the core to increase the amount of heat transferred to the combustion gases to the room air in the core sections.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, methods and apparatus to control the combustion of a burner are presented which overcome many of the problems of the prior art. One aspect of the invention comprises a burner control apparatus including a device for viewing light emitted by a flame from a burner, a device for optically transporting the viewed light into an optical processor, an optical processor for processing the optical spectrum into electrical signals, a signal processing for processing the electrical signals obtained from the optical spectrum, and a control device which accepts the electrical signals and produces an output acceptable to one or more oxidant or fuel flow control devices. The control device, which may be referred to as a "burner computer," functions to control the oxidant flow and/or the fuel flow to the burner.

Abstract: An improved oven of a type having an on/off pilot and gas valve for receiving gas, with the on/off pilot and gas valve being purely mechanical and having inner workings and a manually operated push button knob, a pilot in communication with the on/off pilot and gas valve and the oven for igniting the oven, a manually operated shut-off valve in fluid communication with the on/off pilot and gas valve for shutting off the gas, and a thermostat in fluid communication with the pilot and in fluid and mechanical communication with the oven for controlling the temperature of the oven.

Abstract: A fire-lighting device includes a jetting nozzle for jetting fuel gas, a gas passage for fuel gas to be burned extending from a fuel tank to the jetting nozzle, and a sintered filter made of sintered powder inserted in the gas passage upstream of a small-diameter portion. Provision of the sintered filter prevents obstruction of fuel supply by foreign matter clogging the gas passage at a nozzle plate of the jetting nozzle.

Abstract: A concentrator for focusing solar radiation onto an elongate absorber, comprising a plurality of transverse supports arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction, stabilizing the concentrator in the transverse direction and defining the shape of the concentrator profile, and a thin-walled support structure resting on said transverse supports and having a plurality of adjacent longitudinally extending ribs stabilizing the concentrator in the longitudinal direction. In the transverse direction, the support structure adapts to the curved profile of the transverse supports and forms a light-weight and strong bearing for a reflector plate.

Abstract: A lamp having a hydrocarbon fuel source is provided. The lamp includes a housing and a fuel source containing hydrocarbon fuel. A mantle is disposed inside the housing and is in communication with the exit of the fuel source. A cover is attached to the housing in thermal communication with the interior housing. The cover has a slot and a replaceable pad is disposable in the slot; the pad preferably contains a volatilizable substance. When the fuel egresses the fuel source and is ignited and burns, heat generated from the fuel is conducted through the cover to the pad so that the volatilizable substance is volatilized. The volatilizable substance is preferably an insect repellent. The lamp may be portable such as a flashlight. A separately attachable cover that may retrofit an existing lamp is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is an outdoor cooking rack apparatus. The invented outdoor cooking rack apparatus comprises a grooved support post for support of cooking platforms, and a cooking platform for supporting a pot, grill or other device over a campfire. Additionally, the invented apparatus may also comprise a kettle hook attached to the apparatus for holding a kettle or other pot over a campfire. The cooking platforms contain a leveling bend in their attachment arm allowing them to hold pots and other utensils in a level position.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for transferring heat to a fluid from combustion gases including a housing (12) extending between a first end (14) and a second end (16). The apparatus further includes a burner (24) in which a combustible gas and oxygen react to form hot combustion gases which flow from the burner to a gas outlet (28) in the second end. The fluid flows in a length of helically coiled tubing (30) extending the length of the housing. The tubing includes a fin portion (36) which is spirally wound about the length of tubing. The apparatus further includes a core member (40) which extends within the coils of the tubing, and which engages the tubing. The core member includes a spirally-wound threaded area (62) about which the tubing is wrapped. The core member further includes a recessed portion (66) which creates stagnant air pocket adjacent the end of the core member.

Abstract: A burner for burning a combustible gas comprising fuel gas and air that has been mixed before being supplied to the burner. The burner has a flame holder .[.concavely.]. .Iadd.axially and radially .Iaddend.recessed into a flame outlet. The .[.concave.]. configuration of the flame holder focuses the individual flames on the combustion surface toward a central location where the individual flames interact with and reinforce one another in a direction axial to the burner. Thus very little heat is transmitted directly from the burner in a direction normal to the burner axis. This characteristic of the burner allows it to be used to fire a flue type heat exchangers where the walls of the heat exchanger are very close to the burner without excessive temperatures being produced in the heat exchanger walls adjacent the burner.