Abstract: A fluid heater includes a housing, a burner unit disposed in a bottom portion of the housing for burning combustible fuel, a combustion chamber disposed within the housing where the fuel is burned and a heat exchanger disposed substantially within the housing over the combustion chamber. The heat exchanger absorbs heat generated from burning the fuel and conducts the heat to a fluid to be heated. The heat exchanger includes a pair of spaced, parallel, stainless steel tubesheets with a plurality of tubes running therebetween and sealingly received within mating apertures in each of the tubesheets. A plastic front header and a plastic rear header are removably attached to the tubesheets distal to said tubes. The apertures in the tubesheets preferably have forged flanges for increasing the surface contact area with the heat exchanger tubes. The heat exchanger is corrosion resistant due to the combination of corrosion-resistant tubesheets, tubes and headers.

Abstract: A heating system with a combustion chamber into which fuel is fed via a fuel feed unit in the form of an injection device which operates on the energy-storage principle and has a pump and a nozzle device which delivers bursts of fuel in specified quantities. With this fuel burner, it is possible to select both the quantity of fuel injected and the injection frequency independently of any boundary conditions, thereby optimizing levels of harmful pollutants in the exhaust gas and effectively counteracting resonance vibrations in the burner.

Abstract: A collapsible fuel-burning stove includes a burner assembly and a collapsible frame for supporting the burner assembly, the frame including a plurality of support members, the support members being pivotal relative to one another about a common axis on which the burner assembly is supported.

Abstract: The combination lighter and fishing lure includes a body having a feature useful for attracting a fish, a reservoir for holding a fuel, an igniter to ignite the fuel and produce a flame, an outlet at which the flame is produced, means provided on the body for attaching a fishing line, and means provided on the body for attaching a fish hook. The igniter may include a forwardly projecting valve actuator that when used as a fishing lure serves as a spoon or blade to help the lure move through the water and produce the desired lure motion. The invention provides a multipurpose device useful both as a lighter and a fishing lure and an article attractive as a novelty item.

Abstract: A combination gas and charcoal grill that includes a housing, a heat distribution element, a gas burner, and an ash pan drawer. The heat distribution element is disposed in the housing for supporting one of lava rocks and ceramic briquettes when the combination gas and charcoal grill is being used as a gas grill and for supporting charcoal briquettes when the combination gas and charcoal grill is being used as a charcoal grill. The gas burner is disposed in the housing for heating the one of the lava rocks and the ceramic briquettes when the combination gas and charcoal grill is being used as the gas grill and for initially igniting the charcoal briquettes when the combination gas and charcoal grill is being used as the charcoal grill.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a top cover for a barbecue grill which includes a casting with an aperture formed in the surface. A flexible insert is designed to close the aperture. The casting includes a support on at least one side of the aperture and at least one fastener to hold the insert in place in the casting. The support and fastener also seal the aperture by pressing the insert against the casting.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that optimize the combustion process in various reactors, furnaces, and internal combustion engines. Video cameras are used to evaluate the combustion flame grade. Depending on the desired form, standard or special video devices, or beam scanning devices, are used to image the combustion flame and by-products. The video device generates and outputs image signals during various phases of, and at various locations in, the combustion process. Other forms of sensors monitor and generate data signals defining selected parameters of the combustion process, such as air flow, fuel flow, turbulence, exhaust and inlet valve openings, etc. In a preferred form, a neural networks initially processes the image data and characterizes the combustion flame. A fuzzy logic controller and associated fuzzy logic rule base analyzes the image data from the neural network, along with other sensor information.

Abstract: A miniature gas stove support mainly including lower seat and upper locating ring distantly connected to one another by vertical bars, three equally spaced outward inclined legs connected to a bottom of the seat, and multiple petal-shaped wind shielding members connected to and along a top of the locating ring. Bolts are threaded downward to screw the locating ring and the vertical bars together while head portions of the bolts project from the locating ring to adjustably support a cooking utensil above a burner of the miniature gas stove. The petal-shaped wind shielding members fixed along the locating ring effectively shield the burner from wind to avoid undesired extinguishment of fire.

Abstract: A gas-fired artificial logs and coals-burner assembly is provided for fireplace use in cooperation with decorative gas logs, and artificial coals and embers decorative items by placement forward of the gas logs in the fireplace arrangement, a secondary elongated coals- and embers-burner tube apparatus. The assembly provides gas-fired artificial logs, coals- and embers-burner apparatus for fireplaces wherein gas flow through primary burner tube is the source of gas flow to a secondary coals- and embers-burner tube positioned forward and below the primary burner tube with multiple discharge ports in the secondary tube directed away from the front of the fireplace, thus enhancing the natural burn in cooperation of the fireplace draft as well as the aesthetic beauty of the imitation burning logs, coals and embers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable stove mounting apparatus used to securely mount a removable portable stove to a planar supporting structure without the use of hand tools. The portable stove mounting apparatus includes a planer base supporting structure wherein connecting devices secure the portable stove and fuel supply to the planer base supporting structure. Insulation is disposed between the connecting devices and the planar supporting structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modularly constructed and variably configurable cook top arrangement of ready-made single modules each containing in a frame construction all parts necessary for operation as a burner module, exhaust component, blower unit, control module, signal and display unit, or other components, having a glass ceramic cook top in which the individual modules have shaped metal parts to which materials for thermal insulation are joined, and which have fastening means by which the modules can be arranged with one another and with the frame and can be fastened releasably to form a single functional unit, and on which openings, bores and recesses are provided as an assembling means for fastening the parts necessary for operation and for leading in and fixing the wiring and/or the ignition, control, and safety and indicating systems.

Abstract: A portable heating device includes a reservoir having a lid which closes the reservoir during heating. A heat plenum assembly is provided having a firebox disposed underneath the reservoir. The firebox communicates with a burner tube for introducing heat to the lower surface of the reservoir. Tertiary heating of the side walls of the reservoir are provided, as well as heating along the length of the reservoir bottom surface. A deflector at one end of the passage way improves the distribution of tertiary heat by directing heat within the passage way towards each of the corners of the reservoir. A convective air curtain is provided by a doubled walled outer lining which encloses the heat plenum and reservoir. Efficient heat transfer is accomplished between the firebox and reservoir while maintaining the outer surface cool to the touch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spark wheel type gas lighter comprising a lighter body, a reservoir, a valve permitting gas to leave the reservoir, an ignition system comprising a pyrophoric flint co-operating with a spark wheel and a spring maintaining the flint against the spark wheel, a lever pivotally mounted on an axis essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the spark wheel and co-operating with the valve and the axis of the lever is mounted movably with respect to the body of the lighter between an active position permitting the operation of the valve mounted on the reservoir and a rest position in which action on the lever does not permit operation of the valve, the spark wheel can be displaced with respect to the body of the lighter, and operate the lever in its movement, and elastic means act on the lever and/or on the spark wheel to return them to a position of rest in which the lever does not act on the valve.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that optimize the combustion process in various reactors, furnaces, and internal combustion engines. Video cameras are used to evaluate the combustion flame grade. Depending on the desired form, standard or special video devices, or beam scanning devices, are used to image the combustion flame and by-products. The video device generates and outputs image signals during various phases of, and at various locations in, the combustion process. Other forms of sensors monitor and generate data signals defining selected parameters of the combustion process, such as air flow, fuel flow, turbulence, exhaust and inlet valve openings, etc. In a preferred form, a neural networks initially processes the image data and characterizes the combustion flame. A fuzzy logic controller and associated fuzzy logic rule base analyzes the image data from the neural network, along with other sensor information.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator including a housing assembly in which a heat generating chamber confining therein a heat generative viscous fluid to which a shearing action is applied by a rotor element rotated by a drive shaft, and having inner wall surfaces confronting outer surfaces of the rotor element, the inner wall surfaces of the heat generating chamber and the outer faces of the rotor elements defining a small space in which the heat generative viscous fluid is held, and having fluid movement regulator formed by an elongate recess or ridge formed therein to increase or suppress heat generation of the viscous fluid during the rotation of the rotor element in response to a change in an environmental condition in which the heat generator is used, and a change in an operation condition of the viscous fluid heat generator.

Abstract: An oil burner includes a pivotal cover that exposes a unitary gun assembly. The gun assembly is movable longitudinally with respect to the central axis of the air tube of the burner by rotating a cam. A spinner assembly is positioned on the gun assembly. The air cone is divided into various surfaces, some of which are at angles to the axis of the air tube. The burner further includes an adjustable air entry port. A work station for facilitating nozzle replacement is also included. The firing rate is controlled by the air entry port setting, the nozzle used, and the position of the nozzle and spinner assembly in the air cone.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator having a heat generating chamber in which heat generation by the viscous fluid is carried out in response to the rotation of a rotor element applying a shearing action to the viscous fluid, a heat generation control chamber for containing the viscous fluid to be supplied into the heat generating chamber and receiving the viscous fluid withdrawn from the heat generating chamber so that an ability of quickly increasing and decreasing the heat generating performance of the heat generator is achieved in response to a requirement for a change in the supply of heat to be exchanged with a heat exchanging liquid of a heating system. The heat generator has a fluid supplying passage, a fluid withdrawing passage, a fluid supplying recessed groove in the heat generating chamber, and a subsidiary fluid supplying passageway which are arranged so as to provide a fluid communication between the heat generating chamber and the heat generation control chamber.

Abstract: A generally rectangular metal cooking pan and skirt assembly in which the pan is mounted above the skirt and is joined thereto. Disposed within the skirt is a gas or electric heating unit which generates heat that is applied to the pan to cook meat or other food placed therein. Because of thermal stresses created in the pan by the applied heat in the course of a cooking operation, the pan is susceptible to warpage and possible damage. To constrain such warpage there is provided a reinforcing bar extending diagonally across the rectangular skirt and being welded at its end to opposing diagonal corners of the skirt. The diagonal bar defines a constraining bridge that maintains the geometry of the assembly in the course of a cooking operation to prevent it from exceeding its elastic limit and permanently deforming the assembly.

Abstract: A system for heating and ventilating a building which includes a generally peripheral foundation element which supports the external walls of the building. Room air is heated and circulated below the floor and up through floor openings at the external wall. A barrier is connected to the foundation wall so as to span the area enclosed by the foundation wall at a level beneath the floor. Exhaust air is conducted to a region beneath the barrier for surface-enlarged contact with the underside of the barrier. The foundation element and/or the base that supports the foundation element is permeable to air along essentially its full length beneath where the foundation element connects with the barrier and exhaust air flows out through the foundation element or its supporting material while effecting an exchange of heat therewith.

Abstract: The gas burner of the present invention includes a mated burner body and a burner lid. A plurality of gas ports in a substantially circular and planar arrangement are interposed between the mated body and lid and are directed radially from the body and lid. An air shield member is coformed to and extends radially from the burner body or burner lid. Extending radially from the air shield member in substantial radial alignment with the gas ports is a plurality of flame partitions equal in number to the gas ports. Each flame partition has two attached tabs which are substantially perpendicular to each other when the flame partition is observed in cross-section.