Abstract: A portable cooking grill assembly having a cooking grill portion for holding food over an open fire and a support portion for supporting the grill portion over the fire. The invention is characterized in that the location of the grill portion along the post is adjustable so as to regulate the heat and flame intensity of the fire in terms of cooking the food. More particularly, the portable cooking grill assembly comprises a support post, a grill grate holder having a handle and a grill grate support attached to an end of the handle, and a cooking grill grate supported by the grill grate support. After the post is set in the ground, the grill grate holder is positioned over and onto the post such that the post is received by an opening defined between the handle and the grill grate support.

Abstract: A child-resistant lighter is disclosed which includes an actuator and a latch member coupled thereto. The latch member includes a finger actuation portion and a body portion integrally formed therewith. The body portion has a free end. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention when in an inoperative position, the free end of the latch member is aligned with a blocking surface of the lighter body, thus, preventing inadvertent lighting of the lighter. When in an operative position, the free end of the latch member is pivoted out of alignment with the blocking surface so that the lighter can function. During pivoting, as the finger actuation portion moves in a first direction, the free end moves in an opposite, second direction. The first direction is substantially forward and the second direction is substantially rearward. In another embodiment, the latch member can be slidable coupled to the actuator.

Abstract: A combustion heater includes a combustion chamber having a burner input port and a heat output port. A burner is coupled to the burner input port, whereby heat is generated within the combustion chamber. A heat exchanger is provided having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the heat output port of the combustion chamber. The heat exchanger consists of two hollow corrugated cones secured in base to base relation with opposed apexes. This form of heat exchanger is capable of withstanding high temperatures when directly coupled with the combustion chamber and serves to make any combustion heater with which it is coupled more efficient.

Abstract: In the apparatus of the invention, a first excitation laser or other excitation light source is used in tandem with an ignitor laser to provide a compact, durable, engine deployable fuel ignition laser system. Reliable fuel ignition is provided over a wide range of fuel conditions by using a single remote excitation light source for one or more small lasers located proximate to one or more fuel combustion zones. In the embodiment of the invention claimed herein, the beam from the excitation light source is split with a portion of it going to the ignitor laser and a second portion of it being combined with either the first portion after a delay before injection into the ignitor laser.

Abstract: The present invention is a gas appliance utilizing a single electrode spark ignition system. The gas appliance comprises two common ground planes, a conductive piece, a spark ignition device, and a P-N junction device. The conductive piece, e.g., a burner, a chassis, or a metal plate adjacent to the burner, is grounded to a first common ground plane. The spark ignition device has an electrode, and it is grounded to a second common ground plane. The spark ignition device is adapted to generate a spark between the electrode and the conductive piece to ignite the fuel. The P-N junction device is adapted to isolate the second common ground plane from the first common ground plane. As a result, the design prevents transient voltage spikes caused by the spark ignition device from interfering with the normal operation of the control circuitry of the gas appliance.

Abstract: A child resistant lighter is disclosed which includes an actuator and a latch member pivotally coupled thereto. The latch member, when in an inoperative position, is aligned with a blocking surface of the lighter body, thus, preventing inadvertent lighting of the lighter. When in an operative position, the latch member is pivoted out of alignment with the blocking surface so that the lighter can function.

Abstract: A combustion device for providing a stream of combustion products. In particular, there is a combustion device, utilizing micro-sized combustion tubes, that can 1) control firing profiles of an array of combustion tubes, 2) control acoustics generated thereby, and 3) provide an exhaust gas for actuating an attached device, like a piston. The array of combustion tubes is individually controlled. Wherein the array of tubes comprises either uniformly dimensioned tubes or is formed of a variety of dimensions, like length and diameter, which are arranged in selected patterns. There can be either a single ignition point at an end of the combustion tubes, or a multiple of ignition points positioned along the interior length of the tubes. There is also a combustion sequence that self extinguishing after burning all of the fuel in the combustion tube at the end of each cycle.

Abstract: A liquid heating apparatus is provided in which fins are directly secured and fixed at the bottom portion of a liquid tank to ensure sufficient heat efficiency with production cost reduced by simplification of the construction thereof and with maintenance being easily carried out. In the liquid heating apparatus which raises the temperature of liquid in a liquid tank by heating the bottom of said liquid tank with a burner disposed downward of the bottom of said liquid tank, an inclination plane which is inclined at a predetermined degree of angle and is formed on the bottom of said liquid tank, and long fins are fixed on the rear side of said inclination plane along the inclination direction thereof. The fins are provided with thermal expansion absorbing capabilities along the lengthwise direction thereof. The fins can be formed with channel-like cross sections, and the bottom wall portions thereof are fixed close to the rear side of the inclination plane of the liquid tank.

Abstract: A method for controlling the combustion of burners in a batch-type combustion furnace, includes the steps of electrically linking a where the fuel gas control valves are electrically linking to corresponding air control valves for each of the burners in a batch-type combustion furnace. The method includes the steps of preliminarily calibrating the air-fuel ratio adjusted with zero and span adjustments between the fuel gas control valve and the corresponding air control valve so as to give a theoretical air-fuel ratio when same electric signals are given to the fuel gas control valve and the air control valve.

Abstract: A gas burner that produces a yellow flame for use in a fireplace assembly, including front and rear non-combustible logs and a cross-over log supported atop the front and rear logs. The burner includes an elongate, generally tubular sheet metal body having an inlet end, a closed distal end and a tubular segment extending between the ends. The inlet end is formed to define a gas orifice holder which is adapted to mount a gas orifice element and to define at least one primary air opening arranged to admit combustion air into the tubular burner segment. A bluff body is located downstream from the gas orifice element and is positioned such that gas emitted by the orifice impinges on the bluff body. Rows of slot-like flame ports are defined in the tubular segment and are arranged to create a desired predetermined flame pattern and include tabs which determine the effective size of the ports.

Abstract: A burner for a gas convection oven comprises an annular-shaped burner tube having outer peripheral slots and two gas input ends. The burner is disposed about the outer periphery of a fan and a cylindrical sleeve is disposed between the fan and tube as an inner burner baffle. An annular ring extends radially outward from the downstream end of the sleeve as an outer baffle. The burner and fan are disposed in the same chamber and are used in both commercial and residential ovens and ranges.

Abstract: A gas burner includes a gas valve block having a gas input control part connected to a fuel gas source and a gas output control part connected to a flame tube and gas nozzle for producing an igniting flame for burning fuel gas outputted through the flame tube, a differential pressure device adapted to control the fuel gas passage between the gas input control part and the gas output control part through a normal-close valve and a normal-open valve, an electronic igniter controlled by a cock in the gas valve block through a micro-switch to discharge sparks through discharging electrode means for burning fuel gas outputted through the gas nozzle, and a temperature switch for controlling the operation of the normal-open valve and the electronic igniter subject to a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: A log burning device that includes a standing grate that supports at least one log and a cover that is attached by at least one hinge to the standing grate. A method for burning logs using a standing grate that has a hinged cover that is attached to the standing grate. The method includes the steps of rotating the cover to an open position, loading at least one log onto the standing grate, lighting the log, and then rotating the cover to a closed position.

Abstract: A method of operating a combustion plant having a number of burners includes controlling a composition of a fuel mixture of each burner with at least one setpoint that is determined with reference to dynamic characteristic quantities characterizing a combustion process, and determining the at least one setpoint in dependence on a contribution of each individual burner to a total proportion of a reaction product produced in the combustion process. The contribution of each burner to the total proportion of the reaction product is determined for each burner with reference to the dynamic characteristic quantities and static characteristic quantities characterizing a combustion plant. The method homogenizes the combustion process. The invention also includes an apparatus applying the method, including burners respectively controlled with the setpoint for a composition of a fuel mixture. A setpoint module determines the setpoint for each individual burner of the burners.

Abstract: A snow disposal apparatus for melting snow having a receiving tank with an interior, a top portion in which snow is disposed through a top opening and a lower portion having a downward tapering shape terminating in a bottom opening, and a load plate positioned in the top portion of the receiving tank in proximity to where the top portion joins the lower portion. A means for heating is positioned within the top portion of the receiving tank below the load plate, which in the preferred embodiment is a fuel distribution manifold and a plurality of burner tubes and flame guards. In operation, the apparatus is positioned above a drain or sewer opening and the means for heating is ignited. Snow is deposited within the top portion of the receiving tank wherein the snow is melted and flows into the lower portion of the receiving tank and out of the apparatus through the bottom opening in the lower portion of the receiving tank and into the drain below.

Abstract: An improved barbecue that includes a pan having a floor and a plurality of side walls projecting generally normally from the floor, which is configured for supporting a heat source. The present barbecue also includes a removable grill dimensioned for placement within a space defined by the walls, at least one grill support rod pivotally engaged with the walls and having a grill support portion configured for receiving the grill, and an adjustment portion. Also included is a grill height adjustment mechanism mounted to the pan and configured for receiving the at least one adjustment portion and for effecting pivotal movement of the grill support portion for adjusting the height of the grill relative to the floor. The present barbecue provides an adjustment mechanism which simultaneously adjusts both ends of the grill, and which can be placed on a side wall of the barbecue rather than the bottom, resulting in more efficient use of space.

Abstract: There is provided a blower unit for a range hood which is in compliance with the provision of UL Standards in which a connecting work for a power supply cord or the like suspended from a ceiling or the like of a building and an inner cord or the like and a maintenance work for the connected section can be carried out easily from outside.

Abstract: A building (1) has a roof structure (2) clad with a plurality of ambient heat collection tiles in the form of panels (3), mounted on parallel battens (4) carried by roof rafters (10), and disposed in edge-overlapping relationship. The panels (3) are of identical form. Each panel comprises a plank-like aluminum extrusion of substantial length and of rectangular plan form, having edge-coupling portions (5, 6). The interior of each panel (3) is formed with pair of substantially parallel ducts (7, 8) disposed side by side, which define flow and return paths respectively, for a heat transfer fluid, such as water. The flow and return ducts (7, 8) are divided from each other by an integral barrier wall (9). A panel (3) is not of uniform lateral cross section throughout its length. The cross section is uniform except at the ends where the dividing wall (9) has been cut away at one end so as to allow water to pass from the flow path (7) to the return path (8) in a re-entrant manner.

Abstract: A burner pad for use in a gas burner in a gas fireplace includes a plurality of noncombustible fibers held together by fillers and binders to form a noncombustible body having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The body has a porosity that allows gas to pass therethrough in a substantially random manner. The body is also dimensionally stable. The burner pad may be used to form a gas burner having a burner pan having an open top with the porous burner pad enclosing the burner pan by covering said open top of said burner pan to define a gas distribution chamber between said pad and said burner pan. Gas is supplied to the gas distribution chamber and allowed to randomly seep through the pad where it may be ignited to form a low-profile, rolling flame that simulates the appearance of glowing embers in a wood-fueled fire.

Abstract: Valve arrangement (1,2) for automatically controlling the gas flow in the burner of a gas fireplace appliance, comprising a manual flow regulating tap (1) connected to the gas supply and provided with a rotary control knob (1a), a gas switching servovalve operated by a diaphragm (8), connected in series to the manual valve outlet (1b), and whose action is governed by an auxiliary electromagnetic bleed valve (5,15), an electronic control circuit (3) supplied by an electrical battery (4) and an electrical thermostat switch inserted in the auxiliary valve supply line.