Abstract: A portable gas grill that rests on a substrate is disclosed. The grill includes a grill body having a floor, a burner and a heat shield including a substantially planar main portion and having at least one elongate, covered air channel. The heat shield is positioned between the burner and the floor. The heat shield minimizes heat transmission to the substrate while permitting airflow to the burner.

Abstract: An improved firering comprising an endless wall firering to encircle the perimeter of a fire area with a firering shield enveloping the firering, with the shield being attached to the firering in spaced apart, heat shielding relationship.

Abstract: A method for determining a soot charge in a combustion chamber includes measuring a spatial distribution of at least one parameter characteristic of a combustion by monitoring a flame in the combustion chamber. The at least one parameter allows a conclusion concerning a soot charge in the combustion chamber during operation and the at least one parameter is a temperature and/or a carbon monoxide content. The soot charge is determined based on the measuring step and by using a comparison with given conversion curves. A device for determining a soot charge in a combustion chamber is also provided.

Abstract: A flint-type ignition mechanism comprising a freely rotatable support member; a spark wheel combined with the supporting member so as to be integrally rotatable with same; an elastic member installed around the support member; a thumb wheel having a gear-type inner face installed around the elastic member so that it can idle, the thumb wheel switching between the concentric and eccentric position; and a disk-shaped engaging member which rotates together with the supporting member and has engagement stoppers on the peripheral surface of the exterior circumference thereof for engaging the gear type inner face of the thumb wheel. When the thumb wheel is switched to the eccentric position by a deformation of the elastic member, the stoppers engage together and the spark wheel rotates together with the thumb wheel, causing it to be in the ignite-state. In the ignite-state, rotation of the thumb wheel rotates the spark wheel for ignition.

Abstract: A drafthood assembly for inclusion within a vent stack for a direct venting stove or fireplace, converting the direct venting stove or fireplace for use with a natural venting flue. The assembly includes an air intake section for feeding ambient room air into the combustion chamber and an exhaust gas section for feeding ambient room air into the products of combustion that are exhausted from the combustion chamber in order to cool the exhaust gas products so that a B-vent type flue can be used to carry the exhaust gas products out of the dwelling.

Abstract: A cooking area cover panel to be applied separately for a cooking area is made of a hard material and comprises a plurality of individual partial covering panels having an underside and a top side and spacer feet provided with connecting means for selectively mounting on the cooking area cover panel. The spacer feet are mountable to the underside of the cooking area cover panel in a ready-to-use condition, wherein the spacer feet are separate from the cooking area cover panel in a disassembled condition of the cooking area cover panel.

Abstract: A lighter and bottle opener combination for supplying a user of a lighter with a convenient bottle opener. The lighter and bottle opener combination includes a housing having a first end, a second end and a peripheral wall extending between the first and second ends. The housing has a chamber therein. A fuel is located in the chamber. A lighting assembly for igniting the fuel and producing a flame is in communication with the chamber. The lighting assembly is attached to the second end of the housing. The first end of the housing has an arcuate slot therein defining a bottle cap engaging portion of the housing. The slot may be positioned against a bottle and the housing biased against a bottle cap on the bottle such that the bottle cap is removed from the bottle.

Abstract: A burner assembly having improved BTU output, flame stability and starting reliability is provided. The burner includes a retention plate at an output end of a gas supply line having a central hub from a which a plurality of spokes radially extend. The retention plate and gas supply line are provided within an outer sleeve of the burner. The retention plate occupies a relatively small cross-sectional area of the sleeve. Accordingly, large amounts of combustion air can be forced through the sleeve, with controlling air flow paths being created by apertures provided in each of the spokes. A pilot, including a circumferential spark gap, is provided to improve starting reliability.

Abstract: A process for installing a refractory burner block in a glass furnace crown, wherein the glass furnace crown comprises a second refractory material different than the burner block refractory, includes installing a refractory crown block in the furnace crown, wherein the crown block refractory is compatible with the burner block refractory and the second refractory material, wherein the crown block is provided with a hole for accepting the burner block; and disposing the burner block into the crown block hole in sealing engagement therewith.

Abstract: A package enables even aged people and children to warm up foods packaged therein by simply inverting a tank and tearing a sealing member sealing the tank. The package (1) includes an outer vessel (2) having a bottom wall (6b) and projections (7) projecting upward from the bottom wall (6b), an inner vessel (3) placed in the outer vessel (2) so as to form a heat generating block containing space (11) and a tank containing space (12) together with the outer vessel (2), a heat generating block (14) contained in the heat generating block containing space (11), and a tank (4) sealed by a sealing member (18), containing a heat generation promoting agent, having recesses (16) in which the projections (7) engage and placed in the tank containing space (12).

Abstract: A gas appliance such as a gas burner or gas fire, has means to vary the factors producing flames in the appliance in a substantially random or pseudo-random manner. This means can take several forms, including a ‘liquid-bubbling’ device (FIG. 1), fan devices (FIGS. 2 and 3), flapper or governor valve devices (FIGS. 4, 5 or 9), feed back devices (FIG. 6) and other electrically controlled or motorised devices.

Abstract: A portable cooking apparatus is provided that comprises a bottom plate sized to receive a tray receptacle. A first wall, a second wall, and a third wall are each attached to the bottom plate, with the first wall and the second wall on opposite sides of the bottom plate. The portable cooking apparatus further includes at least one support bar on each of the first and second walls for supporting a grate thereon. A grate rests on the support bars and a tray receptacle is located above the bottom, below the cooking grate and between the first wall and the second wall. The portable cooking apparatus is sized to be received in a fireplace and adapted to be portable and usable outdoors.

Abstract: A display stand for displaying at least one object such as a pumpkin thereon, comprising a support including an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end is adapted for maintaining the support in a generally upright position relative to a surface upon which the support is placed. A base is connected to the upper end of the support and includes an up per surface for receiving and supporting the object thereon, and the upper surface defines a threaded bore extending therethrough. The display stand also includes a complementary elongate threaded member adapted for being matingly threaded into the bore. The elongate threaded member extends in an upright direction above the upper surface for securing the object thereto, thereby stabilizing the object on the base.

Abstract: The cooking apparatus includes a glass or glass-ceramic plate (1) providing a cooking surface with one or more cooking areas with a throughgoing opening (2) in each cooking area and with an annular atmospheric gas burner under each opening (2). The annular atmospheric gas burner is an annular pipe (19b) provided with a plurality of circumferentially distributed orifices (19c) for supporting flames (19a). The annular pipe (19b) has a circular transverse cross-section and bounds a central opening (19d). An overflow catching container (20) may be provided under the gas burner to catch overflowing cooking material falling through the throughgoing opening (2). The peripheral -edge (1a) of the glass or glass-ceramic plate (1) around the throughgoing opening (2) is preferably curved upward from the cooking surface, which also assists in handling overflowing material.

Abstract: The oven described herein comprises at least one conveyor for carrying food products through a bake chamber to be cooked, a bake chamber with openings for conveyor(s), an air heating, distribution and return system, a fan box that contains means for pressurizing heated air and a drive end that contains the fan motor, conveyor drive motor(s) and oven temperature controls. The bake chamber, air distribution components, air return components and conveyor(s) are designed so that all components may be easily and quickly removed for cleaning while allowing access for maintenance. Each conveyor has a separate speed control and may travel in either a left to right or right to left direction.

Abstract: A high-temperature burner is provided that is suited for the incineration of shredded plastics, tires, carpet or similar materials. The burner walls are protected from the heat of the ongoing combustion reaction by an annular curtain of water vapor or carbon dioxide that takes the radiant heat energy of the high-temperature combustion reaction. The annular curtain removes the heat energy from the vicinity of the burner walls before the energy can be conveyed to them. Higher temperature combustion can be attained without resorting to jacketed burner construction or the use of refractory materials.

Abstract: The invention provides a candle holding device, which has an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member mounted on a base. The inner tubular member houses a light-emitting element such as a candle. The base of the candle holding device has light emitting elements such as LEDs and sound recording and/or producing devices, which are connected to a power source.

Abstract: A device for rotatably mounting on a mixing tube of a gas burner apparatus. The device includes a perforated shield portion for positioning over an air opening in the mixing tube to prevent insect intrusion therein, and an unperforated portion which partially or completely encloses an air opening of the mixing tube to prevent or limit primary air into said tube. A stop is provided on the device to limit rotation thereof and an extending tab provides for ease of rotation of the device on the mixing tube by providing an accessible surface against which pressure may be applied.

Abstract: A central solar receiver comprises an axisymmetric housing having front and rear ends and having an aperture at the front end, an elongated tubular window mounted in the aperture co-axially with the housing, a volumetric solar absorber disposed within the housing and extending around and along the elongated window for absorbing solar radiation that has passed therethrough; and working fluid ingress and egress formed in the housing so as to, respectively, inject thereto, and withdraw therefrom, a pressurized working fluid in a manner enabling the working fluid interaction with the volumetric absorber. The window has an open front end which is secured to the housing at the front end thereof, and a closed rear end which is disposed adjacent the rear end of the housing and is free of any securing thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved structure of an oven rack of a gas stove, employing a controller to automatically memorize and learn to change the flame from a gas source, such that when the height of the oven rack is adjusted, the flame is also adjusted in such a way that the flame at the bottom of a cooking utensil is always at the best position to provide maximum heating effectiveness.