Abstract: A radiant heater which burns LPG fuel is provided with an improved burner assembly and an improved support assembly for mounting the heater on a propane tank. The heater includes a frame, a reflector mounted on the frame, and a burner assembly which is removably mounted within the reflector and the frame. The burner assembly includes a burner tube having an inlet end mounted within the frame and an outlet end positioned within the reflector. A generally dome-shaped screen is mounted on the outlet end of the burner tube, and a generally circular screen is attached to the dome-shaped screen substantially in alignment with the burner tube. A burner pan is mounted on the burner tube and surrounds the dome-shaped screen, and an outer screen extends across the burner pan. A thermocouple sensor and/or an igniter electrode on the frame extends through one or more openings in the burner pan.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for low NO.sub.x combustion in natural draft combustion chambers comprising staged-air combustion apparatus and process in which a fuel-rich, fuel/air mixture is introduced through a burner into a combustion chamber, forming a fuel-rich primary combustion zone flame. The fuel-rich primary combustion zone flame is attached to a flame guide disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the primary combustion zone flame and extending from behind the burner. The flame guide also provides for removal of heat from the primary combustion zone flame. Secondary combustion air is introduced into the combustion chamber downstream of the burner to complete combustion of the fuel-rich primary combustion zone flame products. Internal recirculation of combustion gases within the combustion chamber into the fuel-rich primary combustion zone flame stabilize the fuel-rich primary combustion zone flame and contribute to emissions reduction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar energy water heating apparatus. The apparatus is comprised of a solar panel having a plurality of channels through which the water flows. Each channel has a top lens portion which focuses and intensifies the light energy of the sun on the water. This allows the water to be heated in a more efficient and effective manner. An end cap is coupled to each end of the solar panel. The end caps prevent the water from leaking out of the solar panel. A nozzle is coupled to the end cap which allows the water to enter the apparatus and exit the solar panel once the water has been heated.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for a liquid includes a vessel (1) having a base and a side walls (2, 3), and a planar electrical element (5) integrated in the base wall (2). In order to render the apparatus efficient when only a small quantity liquid is to be heated, the base wall (2) of the vessel (1) surrounding the element (5) is inclined towards the element (5) so that the liquid retained in the vessel (1) is directed on to the element (5). Preferably, the portion of the base wall (2) of the vessel (1) surrounding the element includes a lip (9) whereby the element (5) is stepped downwardly from the base wall (2) to form a well whereby a small quantity of liquid is retained either in direct contact with or directly above the element (5). The angle (.alpha.) of inclination of the base wall (2) of the vessel (1) to the element (5) is preferably at least 5.degree..

Abstract: A high intensity and high efficiency radiant gas burner (10) has a housing (8), a gas inlet (11) for receiving a combustible gas, a gas injection plate (13) for distributing the gas, a gas distribution chamber (16) for permitting the gas to expand, a porous ceramic layer (17) for receiving the gas from the gas distribution chamber (16), and a plurality of elongated flame support rods (23) situated over and spaced from a burner surface (17b) of the porous ceramic layer (17). When the gas is ignited, the flame transfers energy via convective heat transfer to the rods (23). When the rods (23) heat up, they radiate energy back towards the burner surface (17b) and also outwardly away from the burner surface (17b) so that radiation intensity and efficiency are optimized. A rod adjustment mechanism (84) may be disposed on the burner (10) for moving the rods (23) to thereby optimize radiation intensity and efficiency.

Abstract: A counter-top or free-standing cooking unit with a top surface of natural stone, such as granite, is made especially resistant to cracking and fracture caused by mechanical or thermal stress. The natural stone's perimeter is cut and holes cut to match the diameters of the heating elements to be installed. The stone is preferably annealed for a suitable time at a suitable temperature to relieve stresses introduced by cutting. A reinforcing plate material is selected to have sufficient tensile strength, good thermal conductivity, and a thermal expansion coefficient that matches to some extent the stone's lateral thermal expansion. The plate may be a laminated composite of several metals, chosen such that the thermal expansion of the laminate matches that of the stone as closely as possible. The plate is cut smaller than the stone slab's outer dimensions.

Abstract: A portable barbecue grill assembly can be readily attached to the trailer receiver hitch of a motor vehicle and cantilevered therefrom to allow the assembly to be taken freely anywhere. The apparatus includes a principal support arm projecting horizontally outwardly from the rear of the vehicle and an upturned portion, to which an ash saucer is attached, and bolts therethrough anchor a kettle-type barbecue grill having a removable dome-shaped cover. Two food preparation and serving tables are attached to table supporting arms connected to the principal supporting arm below the ash saucer. The table tops, table supporting arms, and ash saucer are readily attachable and detachable by means of snap fastener pins.

Abstract: A collapsible multi-level baking rack assembly includes a plurality of racks, at least one connector leg and at least one leg retainer. Each rack includes at least one horizontally projecting lug. Each connector leg defines a plurality of substantially horizontal, vertically spaced slots for removably receiving a lug of one of the racks to support and space apart the plurality of racks. The retainer leg mutually engages a lug of each rack and the connector leg to retain each lug in each slot of the connector leg.

Abstract: A unique outdoor full function cooking appliance including a cart, a grill fixedly mounted on the cart and having a hemispherical body and a lid, two ring burners one disposed within the other, mounted within the hemispherical body, a flame tamer arranged within the hemispherical body and located above the two ring burners, a supporting mount fitted in a central portion of the flame tamer, a circular disc, and a cooking wire grid mounted with the hemispherical body and located above the supporting mount, whereby the cooking appliance combines the functions of barbecue gas grill, stove and oven in one unit thereby enabling it to be used with other cooking wares for making soup, sauce, frying dishes, and vegetable in addition to barbecuing.

Abstract: A gas heating apparatus comprises a duct constructed by a heat insulating material having a heat resisting property, a plurality of honeycombs disposed across in the duct so as to oppose to a direction of a gas flow in the duct, the honeycombs being formed of a material having a heat resisting property, and a plurality of heat radiating members disposed inside the duct so as to oppose to the honeycombs, respectively, for radiating heat to the honeycombs. The gas entering the duct flows therein and is heated during the passing through the honeycombs. The honeycombs are constituted as partition walls.

Abstract: A decorative candle that includes an outer wax layer, at least one specifically shaped wax inlay, a wax plug, an inner wax filler, and a substantially rigid wick. The outer wax layer has a color, a first side, a second side, a top with a length, a bottom with a length, an outer surface, and at least one specifically shaped aperture being disposed therethrough. The at least one specifically shaped wax inlay has a color different than the color of the outer wax layer. Each of the at least one specifically shaped wax inlay is disposed in a respective one of the at least one specifically shaped aperture of the outer wax layer. The wax plug has a perimeter, a centrally disposed throughbore and is disposed at the top of the outer wax layer. The outer wax layer and the wax plug define a filler chamber. The inner wax filler has a bottom, a centrally longitudinally disposed throughbore, and is disposed within the filler chamber.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a barbecue grill and a cooking related device such as an additional grill, burner or table top, to a support structure such as a post or cart. The mounting device is especially suitable for gas barbecue grills and allows for various size grill units to be combined whether the two units are of the same size or different sizes. In one embodiment, only a single grill is utilized, and the area adjacent the grill is used as a working surface. In another embodiment, a single grill unit is employed, and the support surface adjacent the grill has an auxiliary burner. The mounting assembly is fabricated from few parts and permits ease of installation.

Abstract: Rotary burner suitable for installation on a sidewall (11) of a furnace and for cooperating with the inside of the furnace, which comprises at least one sidewall (11) equipped with cooled panels (18), the rotary burner (10) including at least one supporting and fixture assembly (12) solidly associated with the sidewall (11) of the furnace and at least one positioning and orientation assembly (13) rotatably fitted on the axis of the supporting and fixture assembly (12), the positioning and orientation assembly (13) containing a through hole (22) in which a body (14) of the burner (10) is removably secured in a retracted position, the through hole (22) having its axis (34) downwardly inclined towards the inside of the furnace by an angle ".beta." between 10.degree. and 60.degree. in relation to the axis (33) of rotation of the positioning and orientation assembly (13), the positioning and orientation assembly (13) being able to be rotated by at least an arc of a circumference up to .+-.180.degree.

Abstract: A burner assembly is provided that includes a burner pan having a peripheral portion adapted to engage a range top at the periphery of a burner opening and a sealed burner in central portion of the burner pan. A resilient elastic seal straddles the peripheral portion of the burner pan so as to be disposed between the burner pan and the range top and between the burner pan and the burner grate. The elastic seal retains the burner grate in position slightly above the range top and provides a seal to close the burner opening.

Abstract: The apparatus is multifunctional in that it can be transported, readily and safely, from place to place by means of a vehicle. The transportable barbecue apparatus is detachably attachable to a land vehicle having connection means at the rear thereof, such as a receiver hitch on the rear bumper. The apparatus comprises a barbecue cooker and an support arm, most preferably an articulated support arm, having an inner end portion whereby the arm can be detachably secured at its inner end portion to the connection means so that the apparatus is held above ground level at the rear of the vehicle. Preferably, when the arm is detachably secured in this manner, the arm projects rearwardly from the vehicle in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the rear bumper. The apparatus, supported by the arm, can be utilized with a stand whereby it becomes a stand alone barbecue cooker.

Abstract: A radiation gas burner comprises a burner stone having an axis and a front surface over which a flame is distributed and which is heated by the flame so as to radiate heat, the burner stone being ring-shaped, an outlet pipe arranged radially inwardly of the burner stone and having an inner cylindrical space with an axially rear inlet and an axially front outlet, means for supplying fuel into the rear inlet of the inner cylindrical space of the outlet pipe, first passage means extending from the front surface of the burner stone and through the burner stone rearwardly, second passage means through which a primary air is supplied into the rear inlet of the inner cylindrical space of the outlet pipe to form a fuel-gas mixture which is supplied through the outlet pipe and exits through the front outlet, and third passage means through which secondary air passes through the burner and exits at the front surface, the first passage means for recirculating combustion products through the burner stone communicating wi

Abstract: A musical candle holder has a body. A cylindrical plug frictionally fits inside the body and supports a loudspeaker and a printed circuit board. A battery and a melody chip are mounted on the board. Exposed conductors (not shown) are shorted by a slider when required and provides a switch to turn on the chip.The slider has a finger which extends out of the bottom of the body to allow manual operation of the switch.

Abstract: An improved combination convection/steamer oven is provided that is capable of maintaining an optimum steam saturation level without quenching by equipping the steam generating system of the oven with an adjustable water supply source. When the oven is initially being brought up to the preselected cooking temperature, a microprocessor controller uses a stored water flow rate profile to calculate the water flow rate required to prevent quenching yet enable a desirable rate of temperature increase. Once the oven has reached operating temperature, the microprocessor controller analyzes temperatures in a drain channel and the cooking cavity and, based on these parameters, calculates the water flow rate into the steam generating system required to optimize steam saturation in the cooking cavity. The steam generating system also has an improved atomizer including a rotating paddle wheel that is fed water from within by a sprayer fan.

Abstract: Stoves fueled by biomass pellets are provided with a grate assembly that supports the pellets for combustion and directs combustion gas into the fire. The grate assembly includes a passive grate of equally or unequally spaced rods. The design of the rods serves to prevent the ash and clinkers from accumulating on the grate in mounts that could reduce the flow of combustion gas into the fire. In one embodiment, an ignitor rod is provided as one of the spaced rods in the grate assembly. By applying power to the ignitor rod, the rod is raised to a sufficient temperature to ignite unburned biomass pellets in proximity to the ignitor rod.

Abstract: A substantially U-shaped guard that is attached to pivots that are mounted on the side of the stove. The pivots allow the guard to be moved quickly into or out of position and are detachably secured to the guard so the guard can be removed for cleaning.