Abstract: A system for heating the air in the room containing a fireplace includes a heat exchanger mounted at the top portion of the combustion chamber of the fireplace to extend across the chimney flue opening and a fan for circulating room air through the heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with the combustion gases passing from the combustion chamber in a vortex flow through a heat exchange passage in the heat exchanger to the chimney flue opening. There are preferably provided a pair of the heat exchangers mounted in side-by-side relationship to conform with the rectangular shape of the plain view of the fireplace.

Abstract: A modular kiosk for use in the food service industry is described. The kiosk includes one or more structural units having upstanding sides and back, and a horizontal roof with couplings on the back thereof for coupling appliances disposed in the unit to sources of energy. The unit typically would have metal, upper and lower sections, each receiving a different appliance for cooking or storing food. The unit can include a hood disposed at eye level and a griddle or deep fat fryer disposed below the hood in the middle section. When a hood is included, the hood is intended to be coupled to a flue. The device is intended to be used in malls and open areas for cooking and dispensing food.

Abstract: A low-profile burner assembly (LPBA) with pilot for creating realistic firefighter training fires in a controlled setting. The LPBA generally includes a sealed pipe fitting shell with a fuel inlet for inputting combustible fuel, an air inlet for inputting air to be mixed with the fuel, a spark ignition system coupled to the pipe fitting shell for igniting a pilot flame, and a main burner outlet for outputting a combusting air/fuel mixture to create a firefighting training flame. Fuel is distributed within the pipe fitting by an internal distribution tube for metering pilot and main burner portions, and for proper mixing with air. In addition, a sensor probe assembly is provided for monitoring the LPBA. All internal components are well-protected from the high-pressure spray of extinguishing agents by a transport/deflector assembly.

Abstract: A gas burner for use with artificial logs in a gas log heater includes a thin metal top member having substantially flat upper and front burner surfaces, and a metal base member affixed to the top member. The top member and the base member define a burner cavity which may have a generally L-shaped cross section. The upper burner surface has top gas ports, and the front burner surface has front gas ports in gas communication with the burner cavity. The base member has an inlet port that is located with respect the gas ports so as to limit pressure differentials between the gas ports. A mixing tube supplies a mixture of air and gas from a gas source to the inlet port of the burner cavity.

Abstract: The invention discloses a gas powered burner with perforated ceramic elements which are adjustable in their planes and/or essentially perpendicular to their planes. The burner dan be adjusted so as to emit uniform infra-red radiation with good precision within the wavelength band, irrespective of how the burner is angled or located.

Abstract: A fuel gas burner has a supply tube formed with a supply orifice in one end surrounded by aspirator vanes. The burner has a venturi member with a reduced diameter throat region received in the burner inlet. The aspirator vanes frictionally engage the throat region of the venturi. In one embodiment of the venturi comprises a helically wound wire and in another embodiment an annular member with turbulating surfaces formed downstream of the throat.

Abstract: A candle including a shaped mass of suitable material, such as for example wax or other petroleum by-products solid at room temperature and the like, which provides a source of combustible fuel during burning thereof is disclosed. The shaped mass includes a central portion disposed at a lower part thereof, and a pair of divergent branch portions joined atop the central portion. In the preferred embodiment, upper portions of the branch portions as well as the central portion are preferably disposed substantially in the vertical direction to permit safe and even burning of the candle, and to enhance the aesthetic appeal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a roof module having an integral solar energy concentrator. The present modules can be combined to form a weathertight roof with an integral solar concentrator. Radiant solar energy can be collected from this modular roof using reflected solar energy collectors, among other solar energy concentrating or energy transferring elements. The present invention results in a lower weight and easier to install system for placing solar energy concentrators atop a structure, and thus, lower the cost collecting radiant solar energy from atop a building or roofed structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a roof having an integral solar energy concentrating system. A combination of solar energy concentrating reflectors and reflected solar energy collectors is used, among other solar energy concentrating or energy transferring elements, to gather radiant solar energy from a roof atop a building or roofed structure. The reflectors or reflector backing panels are integrated into other roof structure elements so as to form a weathertight roof. Thus, the present invention results in a lower weight and lower cost way of collecting radiant solar energy from atop a building or roofed structure.

Abstract: A flue gas recirculation burner providing reduced No.sub.x emissions uses a cylindrical tangential mixer to separately receive combustion air and flue gas through axial inlets. The mixed air and gas pass through a vaned diffuser which continues the tangential flow pattern, and thereafter fuel is introduced tangentially and combustion occurs.

Abstract: An automatically controlled broiler for use in broiling steaks in a restaurant has individual burner units for each grilling position. A memory unit contains a number of different cooking times that are addressed by the cook entering via a keyboard various parameters relating to the broiling operation, such as cooking amount, weight of the steak, and the like. A microcomputer looks-up the cooking time and opens a controllable gas valve for the selected burner unit for the read-out time period, after which the gas at that burner unit is extinguished and an indicator set off to alert the cook. At such time, the cook turns the steak and reactivates the burner unit using the keyboard in case only the first side has been broiled, or the cook takes the steak from the grill in the case that the second side has just been broiled.

Abstract: A compact, non-polluting, extremely energy-efficient, through-the-wall vented forced hot air heater, which humidifies and cleans said hot air without any additional equipment or water supply, comprises a rotating cylindrical heat and moisture transport/storage element which has many substantially identical axially parallel flow passages and very large transfer surface per mass, a means for controllably transferring the heat and the moisture from the combustion products to said rotating element and then to said hot air stream counter-currently, and a means for preventing formation of air pollutants.

Abstract: A premixing burner includes a pilot burner formed from two half conical shells and a plurality of main burners arranged around the pilot burner. Each of the main burners is formed with an cylindrical outer wall to contain a main flow. Each of the main burners includes a plurality of vortex generators arranged inside the cylindrical wall about a circumference. In addition, a venturi nozzle is disposed in each of the main burners downstream of the vortex generators. A fuel lance for each of the main burners injects one or both of a gaseous and liquid fuel into the burner as a secondary flow, and an outlet of the lance is positioned to inject the secondary flow in the region of the venturi nozzle having a maximum constriction.

Abstract: A cover for withstanding stormy weather and increasing solar heating of a body of water is disposed over the surface of the water. The cover is more transparent to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation, and is anchored and sealed around its periphery over the surface of the body of water. Means are provided for reducing the pressure between the bottom of the cover and the top of the water to subatmospheric, and for flooding the top surface of the cover with a layer of water, and draining the layer of water from the top of the cover.

Abstract: The space heating system has a stove (1, 2) with a sealed combustion chamber (3); air is heated in the stove in a heat exchanger (12) therein, and heated air is conducted through hollow blocks (80) of chamotte arranged, for example, as heating panels, heated walls, benches, floors or the like. The hollow blocks are formed, internally, with projections or obstructions (83) to increase heat transfer, and may be faced at the outside with decorative tiles. To seal the combustion chamber, a vertically movable panel, typically of fire-resistant glass, is slidably located in front of a fuel inlet opening (7). In operation, the panel is sealed, so that the combustion chamber (3) will receive air only under controlled conditions, in two air paths; a primary air path supplies air to a narrow space (22) below a fuel support grate (25), after being preheated by passing around an ash receiver (18); and a secondary air flow, passed through ducts (30) within the combustion chamber, and ejecting air towards the panel.

Abstract: The capsular heat-radiating base for a stainless steel cooking utensil is characterised in that a lateral wall of the external stainless steel covering of the capsular base which faces the utensil is perforated to allow the metal of good conductivity contained within the capsular base to be seen, the perforations having a configuration such as to form on the outer lateral surface of the capsular base the required graphic elements.

Abstract: A safety device for preventing uncontrolled burning in wick-fed liquid fuel burners employs a thermal barrier between the heat of the combustion process and a removable fuel tank 60. Also, a fuel containment compartment (24) and fuel containment sump (44) are provided to receive fuel from the fuel chamber (40) when excess fuel is delivered to the fuel chamber from the removable fuel tank. When the fuel in the fuel chamber exceeds a predetermined level, a warning gauge needle 90 is deflected, alerting the user of the liquid fuel burner to a dangerous condition.

Abstract: The invention concerns an injection and regulation device for burners for heating appliances equipped with a duct (4) for an air/gas mixture and comprising a Venturi element (5). According to the invention, the means of injection include at least two injectors (13, 18) arranged with their injection nozzles staggered longitudinally and oriented so that the axis of their flux converges on the heart of the Venturi element (5). Furthermore, one of the other injectors (13), named first stage, is calibrated so that it gives an injection flow corresponding to a minimum idling rate, and is connected in such a way as to be constantly supplied with gas. In addition, the means of regulation (16) are adapted to modulate the supply to each of the other injectors (18), named second stage, so as to obtain the power required.

Abstract: A reliable, easily installable and replaceable range top system sealingly and removably connects a sealed glass panel to the structure of a range top. The system comprises a glass panel-elastic seal assembly, including a glass range top panel and an elastic seal attached at the periphery of the glass range top panel, a carrier for the glass panel-elastic seal assembly and means for removably fastening the glass panel into sealing engagement with the range top structure without tools, the fastening means providing an easily disengageable interlock with the range top structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plate of glass ceramic suitable as component of a cooking appliance with at least one region of the one-piece plate deviating from the main plane of the plate.