Abstract: A positioning mechanism for a cooking apparatus or a cooking apparatus that includes the the positioning mechanism. The cooking apparatus includes a concave open top housing, a cover dimensioned and configured to engage the open top housing, a hinge coupling the housing and the cover to allow movement of the cover from a fully closed position to a fully open position, and a positioning mechanism to lock the relative positions of the housing and the cover, the positioning mechanism includes an L-shaped rod fixed to the cover and an eye bolt fixed to the housing, the rod extending through the eye bolt, the positioning mechanism further including a generally planar member having at least one part thereof having an upstanding portion for impacting the eye bolt and moving the planar member into oblique relationship with respect to the rod whereby the planar member is locked with respect to the rod. In some forms of the invention the upstanding portion may be a knee shaped bend.

Abstract: A method of using internal combustion engine exhaust in a combined cycle power plant is disclosed, wherein the quality and distribution of exhaust to the boiler space of a steam generated electric power plant is controlled to achieve greater system efficiencies. Outside air is blended only with that portion of the exhaust that passes through the burner ports as secondary or higher level combustion gas. The remainder of the exhaust is provided to the boiler space by a route other than through the burner.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for combustion of a gaseous fuel in a fireplace in which a plurality of periodic vortices are created in the airflow pattern of the combustion air prior to its mixing with the gaseous fuel, thereby producing a more natural looking, flickering flame.

Abstract: The invention is intended to suppress oscillatory combustion of a combustion apparatus. In the invention, acoustic closed ends are provided at an inlet side and an outlet side of the burner port unit, and the combustion apparatus is constituted so that the flame may be positioned between these closed ends, and a buffer chamber is provided at the inlet side. Thus, when the inlet side and outlet side of the burner port unit of the combustion apparatus are formed as acoustic closed ends, oscillatory combustion occurs easily. At this time, when the intake tube communicates at the upstream side of the inlet side closed end, and an exhaust tube communicates at the downstream side of the outlet side closed end, if the length of the intake tube and exhaust tube is changed, the air ratio and combustion amount for generating oscillatory combustion remain constant, and the oscillation frequency and oscillation pressure remain constant.

Abstract: A heavy oil emulsified fuel combustion furnace is provided which prevents lowering of combustion efficiency due to water content in the fuel as well as prevents elevation of sulfuric acid dew point due to water content in the flue gas of the combustion furnace. In the apparatus a heavy oil emulsified fuel (102) is heated by a heater (110) using a heat pipe etc. and then is separated by a water vaporizer (120) into heavy oil (122) and vapor (121) consisting of steam and a light oil combustible gas. The heavy oil (122) is supplied to a burner port of the combustion furnace, such as a boiler etc. The vapor (121) is condensed by a condenser (140) to produce liquid (141) comprising a mixture of water and light oil. The liquid (141) is separated by an oily water separator (150) into oil (151) and water (152). The oil (151) is used as a fuel for an igniting torch of the combustion furnace 10 and the water (152) is used partially as cooling water (41) for an SO.sub.

Abstract: A device for injecting fuels (4) into compressed gaseous media essentially comprises a cylindrical hollow body (24) with at least one fuel feed passage (2) and means for the introduction of compressed atomization air (5). A swirl chamber (1) is arranged in the interior of the hollow body (24), this swirl chamber being connected via at least one inlet opening (6) to the fuel feed passage (2). The cross-section of the swirl chamber (1) narrows in the direction of flow of the atomization air passed through the interior of the hollow body (24), thereby forming a cone (8). A dividing wall (20), which extends downstream at least as far as the center of the inlet openings (6), is arranged upstream of the swirl chamber (1), between the fuel in the swirl chamber (1) and the atomization air (5). A method for operating the device is furthermore described.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for clasp the rims of openings in shaped bodies made of glass ceramic, glass or ceramic, especially openings for the passage of atmospheric gas burners on cooking hobs or stovetops, from mechanical damage and for preventing soiling and damage to arrangements situated underneath the shaped body owing to the ingress of liquids through the openings in the shaped body. The clasp reaches over the rim of the respective opening and extends onto both the top and bottom sides of the shaped body. A sealing and/or heat-insulating material is advantageously inserted between the shaped body and the clasp.

Abstract: A cooking range, especially useful in commercial environments, wherein an automatic ignition gas burner is mounted thereon. The range includes an input valve connected to a gas fired burner element. The valve is mechanically operated by a plunger which is selectively engaged by a utensil placed on the cooking range in a preferred embodiment. The plunger may be connected to the valve directly or by a mechanical linkage.

Abstract: A tray for use with a barbecue having one or more griddles partly or wholly outlying or able to outlie the base of the barbecue wherein the tray is locatable beneath the griddles or the parts of griddles outlying the base to direct fat falling therefrom to the base is described. The tray is particularly suitable for use with multi-level hooded barbecues.

Abstract: The outdoor torch has a housing including a receptacle for removably receiving a flaming illumination means, such as an oil burner assembly, a support connected to the lower end of the housing for support the housing in an upright position and a flameguard of a fire resistant material, preferably in the form of a generally cylindrical sleeve and having opposed open ends, surrounding the outer surface of the housing for preventing flame from the oil burner assembly from contacting the housing.

Abstract: A radiant energy redirecting system comprising a radiant energy transmitting body structure; the structure comprising multiple elements, each of which acts as a radiant energy redirecting module, having on its cross-sectional perimeter an entry face to receive incidence of the energy into the interior of the perimeter, an exit face to pass the energy to the exterior of the perimeter in a direction towards the reverse side of the body from the side of the incidence, and a Totally Internally Reflecting face angled relative to the entry and exit faces to redirect towards the exit face the radiant energy incident from the entry face; the body structure generally redirecting incident radiant energy towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of the body relative to the side of the incidence; and lens structure associated with at least one of the faces for redirecting radiant energy passing between the entry and exit faces via the Totally Internally Reflecting face.

Abstract: A gas cylinder joined to a gas appliance. Based on the knowledge that a resonance frequency of cassette type gas cylinder does not vary with a residual quantity of gas therein a transmitter and a receiver are placed in positions opposed to a weld zone of the trunk portion of the gas cylinder and which permits an output voltage of the receiver with respect to a residual quantity of the gas to be detected at a specific resonance frequency of the gas cylinder. The resonance frequency is not lower than a predetermined level, the residual quantity of a liquefied gas in the cylinder being detected by transmitting the specific resonance frequency signal from the transmitter and detecting a reception output of not lower than a predetermined level by the receiver. This enables a residual quantity of the gas in the liquefied gas containing cassette type gas cylinder to be detected reliably from the outside.

Abstract: A method is presented for stabilizing the flame on the tips of burner internals in a process for preparing synthesis gas by partial oxidation of a gaseous hydrocarbon-containing fuel. The method comprises supplying a gaseous hydrocarbon-containing fuel, a moderator gas and an oxidizer through a burner to a reactor, and adjusting the mass flow of the moderator gas such that the moderator gas concentration does not exceed a predetermined limit. The process conditions are effected such that the flame contacts the burner internal tips. In case of flame-lifting from the burner internal tips, the velocities and mass flows of the fuel and/or oxidizer and/or moderator gas are re-adjusted in such a manner that the flame is restabilized on the burner internal tips.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning grill range units and for removing accumulated grease and other obstacles blocking the grease-carrying conduits in their grease collection systems is provided for cooktops including a grill, a drip pan for collecting grease, a drain opening in the drip pan and a conduit leading from the drain opening to a grease collector. A method of cleaning a cooktop comprises the steps of providing a long semi-rigid but flexible drain cleaner having a length at least about equal to the length of, and a diameter smaller than the diameter of said conduit and inserting the drain cleaner into the drain opening and pushing the drain cleaner through the conduit to remove collected materials therefrom. In preferred methods and apparatus the drain cleaner can have a low thermal conductivity. For example, the drain cleaner can comprise a thermoplastic material such as a nylon rod which is both thermally and electrically insulating.

Abstract: A burner has a plate (21) with small openings (22) leading a first portion of the combustion air to mix with fuel and larger openings (24) for leading a second portion of the combustion air to mix with the burning fuel downstream of the position where the first portion of the air mixes with the fuel. The smaller openings (22) are sufficiently small for boundary layer effects to influence the ratio of the first portion to the second portion of the combustion air as the temperature of the air changes.

Abstract: A heat pack for use as a warmer mattress for infants is formed of a flexible container at least partly filled with a supercooled aqueous salt solution which is selectively trigger-activated to produce heat by exothermic crystallization. The container is compartmentalized, being divided into several compartments by a heat-sealing arrangement of upper and lower joined halves. When crystallization is initiated by activating the trigger, crystallization is propagated quickly into the several compartments, from each of which heat is thereby liberated, the compartments being shaped such that the crystallizing solution in each compartment is effectively trapped therein to substantially prevent saddle-bagging, and whereby the heat pack reliably and safely supports an infant upon the warmer mattress. The upper and lower halves are heat-sealed together in various possible heat seal patterns defining the compartments, as by sealed margins and heat-seal extensions extending inwardly from the peripherally margins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved solar energy concentrating system having a novel focal collection zone. In general, the system comprises a moveable solar energy collector supported above a cylindrically arcuate solar energy concentrating reflector. Instead of positioning the collector to rotate about the center of curvature of the reflector and to extend down halfway between the center of curvature and the reflector, in the present invention, the solar energy collector extends further down according to a particular algorithm.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus, method and system for heating glue in conjunction with a service vehicle by using coolant fluid from a cooling system of the service vehicle.

Abstract: In this combustion gas control device, an electromechanical control is provided for automatically controlling the supply of the gas to the pilot burner when it is being ignited and subsequently to the main burner. The device has a main chamber, a pilot chamber and an outlet chamber. A spring-biassed valve is provided between the main chamber and the pilot chamber to close communication between the main chamber and pilot and outlet chambers. The spring-biassed valve is opened when a solenoid is actuated to allow gas from the main chamber to flow into the pilot chamber to the pilot outlet for lighting the pilot light. A diaphragm cover is provided between the pilot chamber and outlet chamber while the pilot is lighted to prevent gas from entering the outlet chamber.

Abstract: Illumination apparatus for use in localized illumination applications, such as an automobile dashboard. The apparatus includes a light emitting diode mounted on a metallized circuit board; a TIR lens mounted over the light emitting diode to collect light emitted from the light emitting diode and to direct the light in a single direction; and a light pipe disposed over the light emitting diode and the TIR lens. The light pipe has walls extending from the circuit board to a plane above the circuit board such that directed light from the TIR lens is channeled through the light pipe to the plane. The apparatus can also include a cover disposed in the plane over the light pipe. The cover may be integrally molded to the light pipe and have an icon configured therein, such that the icon is illuminated by the light from the light emitting diode.