Abstract: This invention provides a molten salt, solar central smooth tube receiver that is able to effectively absorb a peak solar flux of 1.42 MW/M.sup.2 by constructing the receiver from low cycle fatigue 625 alloy. Although higher flux levels are attainable for a smooth tube receiver by reducing the tube diameter to increase the salt's heat transfer coefficient, the receiver's size is optimized at this flux level to minimize capital and performance costs. Analogously, material provides substantial performance and capital cost improvements for receivers constructed with internally enhanced film coefficient tubes. The receiver's cost is minimized by utilizing autogenously welded and drawn tubing with the weld located at the tube's neutral axis to provide minimal strain at the weld.

Abstract: The invention comprises a fray-resistant wick made up of an elongated fiber core with a web surrounding the core, and a jacket surrounding the web. The web has a lower melting point than both the core and the jacket, with the web and jacket fusibly or adhesively bonded to the core to form an integral structure. The core or jacket may comprise a fiber glass yarn, and the web a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene. The method of making the fray-resistant wick comprises forming an enlongated core of the fiber material and surrounding the core with the web, and then surrounding the web with the jacket. Heating the core, web and jacket to a sufficiently high temperature fuses the core and jacket to the web, thereby forming an integral wick structure. In an alternative embodiment, the method comprises surrounding the core with a web of adhesive material for the purpose of bonding the core and jacket.

Abstract: The pool cover is made of multi-layer light weight construction having a transparent top layer to permit sunlight to pass through and an opaque bottom layer for absorbing sunlight passing through the transparent layer. In addition, a plurality of pockets are formed in the opaque layer having air encapsulated therein. When in use, the opaque layer becomes heated by sunlight thereby transferring heat by contact to the body of water in the pool. The heated trapped air also serves to conduct heat to the body of water while also acting as a thermal insulation barrier during non-daylight hours.

Abstract: A gas cookstove having in its top face an opening forming a recess for accommodating a removable container below which is mounted at least one gas burner supported by a tray retained on the edge of the recess like opening and interposed between a casing and the bottom of the removable container, the cookstove being applicable to the cooking of any foodstuff in a container removably fitted into the top of the cookstove.

Abstract: A low thermal mass heat reflector for use with a fireplace grate which has a combustion zone directly thereabove when fuel is burned thereon in a fireplace. The heat reflector comprises a first portion for absorbing radiant energy from the combustion zone and reradiating thermal energy back into the combustion zone, and a second portion for absorbing radiant energy from the combustion zone and reradiating thermal energy over the fireplace grate and out of the fireplace.

Abstract: This invention reduces a molten salt, solar central receiver's size, pressure loss and cost by using a loose-tight-loose twist, twisted-tape insert inside the receiver's tubes to enhance the tube's heat transfer coefficient. This twist staging is designed to provide a higher heat transfer coefficient in the receiver's central region where the solar flux is high and a reduced pressure loss at the low solar flux entrance and exit end regions. Because the twisted-tape enhances the tube's heat transfer ability it can be made larger in diameter than a smooth bore tube at an equivalent pressure loss. This reduces the number of tubes which results in a substantial reduction in receiver cost.

Abstract: An air inlet system for gas water heaters that prevents or delays the ignition of fumes from flammable liquids accidentally spilled on the floor. The air inlet is above the quickly combustible fumes from spilled liquids, allowing time for personal escape or other response. Two concentric air baffles are placed around the tank of the water heater, and are sealed against the floor. They are spaced from each other and from the tank, forming two concentric air chambers around the tank which are open at the top. The inner air baffle is taller than the outer baffle, and has holes or gaps around its lower end for air passage. When the burner is operating, combustion inlet air enters the top of the outer air chamber, travels downward, passes through the holes in the inner baffle, and under the tank to the burner.

Abstract: A device for holding an outdoor cooking vessel over a campfire has an elongate post that is pushed into ground adjacent to the campfire. An elongate tubular member has an opening extending through top and bottom surfaces of the tubular member. The elongate post fits snugly through the opening. A second elongate tubular member is pivotally attached to the first tubular so that the second tubular member can pivot upwardly from a distal end of the first tubular member. A first end of an elongate plate is attached to an underside of the the end of the second tubular member so that the second end of the plate extends along an underside of the first tubular member and slightly beyond a second opening through the first tubular member.

Abstract: A low emission combustion system for use in a fuel-fired apparatus includes a fuel-fired burner (30) operative for generating a flame extending substantially axially outwardly from the outlet of the burner, a heat transfer tube (40) opposed to the outlet of the burner whereby the flame extending from said burner passes into a flame inlet section (48) of the gas flow conduit (46) of the heat transfer tube, a radiator body (50) disposed within the flame inlet section of the gas flow conduit of the heat transfer tube, and a catalytic converter (60) for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The radiator body (50) has a thermal mass sufficient to reduce peak flame temperatures in the flame inlet section to less than 2800 F. The catalytic converter is disposed within the gas flow conduit at a location downstream of the radiator body.

Abstract: A lighter including a lighter body containing fuel which is released through a nozzle. An actuating lever is placed on a mounting frame which is disposed on top of the lighter body. Activating the actuating lever causes fuel to flow through the nozzle. A striker rotatably mounted on the mounting frame is engaged to a piece of flint wherein rotating the striker against the piece of flint causes a spark to be generated, which ignites the fuel and causes a flame. A rotatable wheel hood having a safety position and an activation position is placed over the striker whereby placing the rotatable wheel hood in the safety position prevents the user from rotating the striker and causing a spark to be generated. Placing the wheel hood in the activation position allows the user to rotate the striker to generate a spark.

Abstract: An anti-flash wick support for candles having a candle floor. A candle floor includes the bottom surface of a container and the lowest extremity of a freestanding candle. A wick sustainer having a central bore is adhered to the candle floor by an adhesive plug which plugs the bore near the base of the upright column of the wick sustainer. The wick extends downwardly into the bore and the adhesive plug prevents fuel from being drawn upwardly by the wick through the bore to a flame. The flame goes out once the fuel, such as molten wax descends below the top end of the wick sustainer. In an alternative embodiment, a pedestal extends upwardly from, and attaches to, the container floor. A wick sustainer rests upon the fuel impervious top surface of the pedestal.

Abstract: Portable camp stove, wherein solid-fuel, especially of dried tree and bush twigs, is burned upon a supporting fuel grate positioned at bottom of a combustion-chamber. Solid-fuel is added directly into the combustion-chamber during operation through alligned stoke holes in a chimney and a vented-fire-ring, and then dropped vertically downward through an exhaust vent. Air for primary combustion is drawn into the combustion-chamber through a ring of intake apertures adjacent to and above the stove's bottom plate. Stove's outer wall is spaced apart from the wall of the combustion-chamber and the two walls are joined together and sealed by a top plate, creating an adjacent confining airspace. Air enters into said airspace through a ring of secondary air intake apertures in stove's outer-wall, where it is heated by thermal communication, as heat emitted from combusting solid-fuel passes through the combustion-chamber wall.

Abstract: A device for oxidizing a gas mixture that includes at least one hydrocarbon and oxygen. The device contains a porous solid that consists of zirconia. At least one metal having a catalytic oxidation activity, for example platinum or palladium, is deposited on the solid support. The device also contains an induced-air catalytic burner for the catalytic combustion of gaseous hydrocarbon mixed with atmospheric air and a member for dissipating the heat generated within the solid support. The device develops an average thermal power of at least 10 W/cm.sup.2 and an average temperature within the support of at least 700.degree. C.

Abstract: An improved electronic lighter with a safety device includes a liquid gas container and a seat provided on a top end of the gas container, the seat having disposed thereon a gas nozzle and a piezo-electric element controllable by a press button means. The press button means consists of an upper cover and a press cylinder capable of slidable engagement. The press cylinder is a hollow structure having two hook-like ends which may be movably inserted into a pair of second guide slots located slightly to the back of a pair of first guide slots of an electrode plate of the piezo-electric element. The upper cover has two hook-like ends at a front end thereof for matching the hook-like ends of the press cylinder such that the hook-like ends of the upper cover are retained by a step portion near an upper end of each second guide slot when the lighter is not in use.

Abstract: The invention aims to achieve a strong low-noise exhaust from a smoke collecting hood disposed right above a gas range on a cooking table through a piping in a ceiling in a high-rise apartment house or a detached house. The cooking table is provided on a floor, and the smoke collecting hood is disposed right above the gas range placed on the cooking table and is connected to the piping in the ceiling. The piping is connected to one side of a box-like hollow member provided on an outer surface of an external wall of the house, and a drawing port of an exhaust blower is connected to another side of the box-like hollow member so that the space through which the piping and the drawing port face each other is maximized. The box-like hollow member is formed so that its inside diameter is larger than the inside diameters of the drawing port and the piping.

Abstract: A lantern includes an elongated tubular mantle which is attached to a burner assembly by a spring clip and an electronic ignitor for igniting fuel which flows into the mantle. The mantle is surrounded by a globe, and a wire guard surrounds the globe. A ventilator cap is removably attached to the burner assembly and to the wire guard so that the cap, wire guard, and globe can be removed as a unit from the burner assembly. A nut is rotatably captured on the ventilator cap for attaching the ventilator cap to the burner assembly. The fuel tank includes a wide, molded base which provides stable support. An air pump for the fuel tank includes a check valve which automatically opens and closes as air is pumped and a pressure indicator to indicate when the fuel tank reaches operating pressure. The pump is automatically lubricated on each stroke.

Abstract: A multiple inshot-type gas burner structure is formed from a pair of facing, intersecured stamper sheet metal plates. A spaced plurality of parallel, rectangularly cross-sectioned burner bodies are defined by facing triangular indentation pairs in the plates and have, at front outlet end portions thereof, side indentations which serve to mix air and gaseous fuel received at rear end portions of the burner bodies, and to divert a portion of the fuel/air mixture into crossover channels intercommunicating front interior portions of the burner bodies. The crossover channels have central arcuate closed portions that cooperate with progressively sized standoff dimples extending between opposite wall portions of the channels to provide an even crossover flame pattern along the outlet slot section of each channel.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, methods and apparatus to control or monitor 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 comprising means for viewing light emitted by a flame from a burner, means for optically transporting the viewed light into an optical processor, optical processor means for processing the optical spectrum into electrical signals, signal processing means for processing the electrical signals obtained from the optical spectrum, and control means which accept the electrical signals and produce an output acceptable to one or more oxidant or fuel flow control means. The control means may be referred to as a "burner computer", which functions to control the oxidant flow and/or the fuel flow to the burner.

Abstract: A gas lighter having a safety device includes a lighter body that includes a fuel emission portion for emitting fuel from a fuel well, a piezoelectric unit having an ignition pushbutton and a shoulder portion, and a cutaway portion on a top part of the body. A cap is arranged on the cutaway portion such that the cap can be depressed to depress the ignition pushbutton. A lock member positioned between the cap and ignition pushbutton, over the ignition pushbutton, includes a resilient leg at one end and a rigid leg at another end. An end of the rigid leg urged into a position over the shoulder portion of the piezoelectric unit by the resilient leg, is moved from this position over the shoulder portion to a position away from the piezoelectric unit by operating the lock member against the urging force of the resilient leg.

Abstract: Solar collector device constituted by a pyramid-shaped structure comprising three faces 1, 2, 3 or more and a base 4. The face 1, on which various solar energy collecting means are mounted, is the only face used as a planar solar collector, the other faces 2, 3 serving merely to protect the overall device from the wind. The solar collector device is also provided with two different tracking systems: a first system, which operates in azimuth, enabling the pyramid-shaped structure, by a rotation about a vertical axis V, to maintain face 1 in the direction of the sun, and a second system, which operates in elevation, enabling face 1, by a rotation about a horizontal axis H, to keep an inclination normal to the sun's rays.