Abstract: A gas fireplace unit has a combustion chamber in which a gas burner is provided as a heat source, and the gas fireplace unit has a heat exchanger on an upper wall of the combustion chamber. A first set of ports pass through the upper wall into the combustion chamber at a position wherein they are offset from the axis of an exhaust pipe that opens to the heat exchanger. A second set comprising a port or ports is provided aligned with the exhaust pipe, and a damper is mounted to be controllable to cover or uncover the second set from the exterior of the gas fireplace unit. The damper will permit hot gases from the burner to either be directly exhausted out the second set to the exhaust pipe, or when the damper is closed cause hot gasses to be exhausted only through the first set of ports, which provides a greater heat exchange path.

Abstract: A safety device for preventing uncontrolled burning in wick-fed liquid fuel burners of the type where a removable tank (60) feeds a fuel chamber (40), which supplies the fuel to a wick (54), via a sump opening in the upper surface of the chamber (40). A plate (32) in the removable tank (60) contains a seat (90) and a needle (76), which, in conjunction with a compartment (80), a float (88), a lever (82), and an orifice (34), restrict fuel egress from the tank. A fill tube (44) traverses the plate. An opening (104) in the plate, along with a face (102) attached to an arm (96), allows air egress from a chamber (30) in the tank during fueling of the tank, but prevents fuel egress from the chamber when the tank is inserted in the burner. Fuel flow through the plate (32) is regulated by the movement of a float (88) attached to a lever (82), which is operatively connected to a needle (76) and a seat (90). Fuel flows through a seat (90) into a compartment (80), and begins to egress through an orifice (34).

Abstract: An oil burner capable of ensuring normal combustion of quality-deteriorated kerosine. A burner body including a vaporization section is fed with fuel and air from a fuel pump and an air fan, respectively. A combustion control unit controls the fuel pump and air fan to control a combustion quantity in the burner body. The combustion control unit increases the combustion quantity to a combustion level sufficient to permit tar collected in the vaporization section to be burned at a predetermined time interval. Also, the combustion control unit keeps the combustion quantity increased to the combustion level for a predetermined period of time which permits tar collected in the burner body prior to an increase in combustion quantity to the combustion level to be substantially exhausted. This permits the combustion quantity to be intermittently increased, to thereby ensure substantial exhaustion of tar collected in the burner body.

Abstract: An improved low NOx burner assembly having a burner plate assembly which is attached to a burner head portion thereof, the burner plate assembly having a burner plate and a wrapper, the burner plate having a relatively large central aperture and a plurality of smaller apertures of several diametrical sizes disposed at selected radial positions. The burner plate, attached to the burner head portion of the burner assembly via its wrapper, partially closes the outlet end of the burner head, and flame combustion is partially contained in a premixing chamber, thus effecting prolonged contact with combustion air prior to the gas and air mixture passing through the apertures of the burner plate.

Abstract: A headlamp mounting system for an automobile includes respective headlamp housings for holding monofilament headlamps. Also, respective bases are attached to the automobile and each base is pivotably engaged with a respective one of the headlamp housings. An activating shaft extends between the headlamp housings and is connected to each, and an activating rod is connected to a radially protruding ear of the activating shaft. The activating rod is coupled to an operating knob in the passenger compartment, and the knob can be pushed and pulled as desired by an occupant to cause the activating rod to reciprocate and, thus, to rotate the activating shaft and hence pivot the headlamp housings. Thereby, the elevation angle of the headlamp beams is selectively established, with a high angle establishing a high beam orientation and a low angle establishing a low beam orientation.

Abstract: A combustion type detoxifying apparatus which carries out detoxifying treatment of a raw gas containing toxic components injected through a burner (3) into a combustion chamber (1) by allowing the toxic components to burn or undergo pyrolysis. The burner (3) has a raw gas nozzle (32a) for injecting the raw gas, a lift gas nozzle (32b) for injecting an inert gas, a raw gas combustion assisting gas nozzle (32c) for injecting a gas for assisting combustion of combustible components in the raw gas, a fuel gas combustion assisting gas nozzle (32d) for injecting a gas for assisting combustion of the fuel gas and a fuel gas nozzle (32e) for injecting the fuel gas.

Abstract: A new gas appliance safety shut-off system for preventing accidents and deaths related to the utilization of gas-fueled appliances by providing a gas-fueled appliance with an integrated valve. The operating handle of the valve is accessible from the front of the appliance housing so that the gas supply to the burning devices on or in the appliance may be turned off quickly and easily. The inventive device includes a hydrocarbon gas-fueled appliance that has a gas supply line located in the external housing of the appliance and at least one burning device. An internal pipe member is fluidly connected to the gas supply line such that all hydrocarbon gas burned by the burning devices of the appliance must pass through the pipe member. A valve is pivotally secured in the lumen of the pipe member to selectively cut off the supply of hydrocarbon gas to all the burning devices of the appliance.

Abstract: A solar energy baking apparatus comprises one or more baking containers for receiving material to be baked or dried; reflectors with respect to the baking containers for reflecting solar energy and collecting and focusing the light on the baking containers; and a driving device for moving the reflectors to locate above or below the baking container. The present device may be used to set the baking temperature and the operating time. Through monitoring the controlling device, two driving devices are controlled respectively for operating the baking container, and for causing the reflectors to move to the lower portion of the baking container for reflecting and collecting solar energy, or rotate to the upper portion of the baking container so as to prevent the solar energy to radiate the baking containers. Thus the baking temperature and time are controlled and the process of baking by solar energy is improved.

Abstract: A gas burner assembly is provided for use with a gas stove top. The gas burner assembly includes a burner base with an inlet receiving a mixture of gas and primary air. A burner cap is supported by the burner base. The burner base and the burner cap together define a burner fuel chamber. The burner cap includes a plurality of main burner ports where the air and gas mixture exits and burns in the presence of secondary air. A spark ignition assembly is operatively associated with the burner base for igniting the mixture. The burner cap includes an ignition pocket for capturing gas for reignition for drafts or door slam conditions. A venturi assembly communicates with the burner base inlet providing the air and gas mixture. The venturi assembly includes mounting features for mounting the gas burner assembly to the gas stove, thereby eliminating the need for fasteners to secure the burner base to the gas stove.

Abstract: A four season, lightweight, highly efficient stove, versatile enough to meet the needs of a solo backpacker and weekend camping groups, that will boil one quart of water at an outdoor temperature of 0.degree. F. in less than five minutes using foraged fuel. This stove consists of two semi-cylindrical pieces of metal detachably joined together at the side edges, with all the parts continuously linked together to form a one-piece stove. It provides a light weight, easy to set up, stove which occupies minimal space, being easily wrapped around a sleeping pad. The stove uses twigs and other materials normally found around a campsite for fuel. Hence there is no need for one to bring one's own fuel when going camping.

Abstract: A spark ignition electrode assembly includes an electrode wire and an electrically insulative support member receiving and positioning the electrode wire proximate to the gas burner. The electrically insulative support member includes a threaded outer wall portion for receipt within a corresponding internally threaded aperture in the cooktop wall. The threaded outer wall portion is threadingly inserted in the corresponding cooktop aperture for positioning the spark ignition electrode assembly with the gas burner.

Abstract: A portable vertical rotary grill includes a support structure, a power source, a motor, and a grill. The support structure is preferably a tripod, but other support structures may also be used. The power source is preferably two D size dry cell batteries. A battery holder is preferably fastened to a top of the motor. The motor assembly is fastened to a top of the support structure with a chain. A thrust bearing is attached to an output shaft of the motor. The thrust bearing is supported by a thrust plate which is fastened to an outer housing of the motor. A chain collar is attached to the output shaft of the motor at an end thereof. A chain with a hook on an end thereof extends downward from the chain collar. The grill is preferably supported by three chains which are equally spaced around the circumference of the grill. The three chains are joined at their ends and placed on the hook.

Abstract: A safety device for preventing uncontrolled burning in wick-fed liquid fuel burners of the type where a removable tank (60) feeds a fuel chamber (40), which supplies the fuel to a wick (54) via a sump opening in the upper surface of the chamber (40). A plate (32) in the removable tank (60) contains an orifice (34), which restricts fuel egress from the tank. A fill tube (44) traverses the plate. An inner equalization tube (24), a chamber (30), and an outer equalization tube (28) are connected to the fill tube (44).

Abstract: Lighting assemblies are provided for visual indicators which indicate the level of fluid in a container. One such assembly comprises a backlighting assembly for a visual fluid level indicator having front and rear transparent viewing windows for viewing the level of a fluid contained therein, comprising (i) a substantially flat fiber optic panel located proximate the rear transparent viewing window; (ii) an attachment mechanism for attaching the substantially flat fiber optic panel to the visual fluid indicator proximate the rear transparent viewing window; and (iii) an illumination source optically coupled to the substantially flat fiber optic panel. The illumination source is a gas filled light source operating at less than 25 volts A.C. which is enclosed in a waterproof and explosion-proof enclosure, and which is optically coupled to the fiber optic panel by a fiber optic light cable.

Abstract: A head lamp device for a vehicle in which a light distribution can be properly adjusted in response to a state of a road or a running environment and visibility can be improved is provided. The head lamp device for a vehicle capable of adjusting a lighting region in a forward direction of the vehicle comprises proper vehicle position sensing means for sensing a proper vehicle running position in a lateral direction of a road, and control means for calculating a distance from the proper vehicle running position to a center line on the road and adjusting a lighting region of the head lamp in such a way that the lighting region is expanded more and more toward the center line as the calculated distance is longer and longer.

Abstract: A multi-purpose lamp (10) for outdoor use provides, as desired, a function of a pagoda lamp or of a projections lamp, or of a combined pagoda-projecting lamp.It includes a pole (101) for insertion into the ground, a support 102 mounted on the pole (101) in desired angular position, a bulb (107) within the support (102), a lens (104) mounted on the support (102) above the bulb (107), a convex-concave reflector (113) mounted within the support (102) and disposed below the bulb (107), and two shades (105, 106) mounted on the support (102). The shades (105) is a pagoda-type shade which comprises another convex-concave reflector (117), so as, when the pagoda-type shade (105) is mounted on the support (102) to provide a pagoda lamp performance, the reflectors (113, 117) form a pair of spaced-apart convex-concave parabolic reflectors substantially parallel to each other.The shade (106) is a ring-type shade. When the ring-type shade (106) is mounted on the support (102), the lamp (10) performs as a projecting lamp.

Abstract: A low voltage reflector lamp comprises a bowl-shaped reflector symmetrically disposed about an optical axis, and a low voltage light source permanently located within the reflector at a predetermined position. A transparent or translucent decorative appendage is located at the outer edge of the annular rim of the reflector, said appendage also having a rim at an annular edge of complementary size to that of said first annular rim. Annular fixing means serve to press said rims together to secure said decorative appendage rigidly to said reflector.

Abstract: A surface light source device having light sources provided along all four side edges of a light-conducting member. A light guide has a diffusion plate on its front surface and a reflection surface on its back surface. The back surface of the light-conducting member has a pattern consisting of tiny rough surface areas. The pattern is so formed that in a direction of connecting a pair of two opposed sides of the light-conducting member, the density of the rough surface areas is the largest in the center portion, but gradually decreases toward the two opposed side edges and reaches the smallest density on the two opposed side edges. Thus, the surface light source device increases the brightness and provides a uniform distribution of brightness.

Abstract: The indoor/outdoor lantern comprises a lamp base mounting a lamp socket, electric wire conductors extending from the lamp socket for connection to a source of electrical current, a lamp enclosure including an ornamental grillwork or grating surrounding the lamp and extending between an upper end thereof and a lower end thereof which forms a support for the lantern, a cover for the lantern, the lamp base being mounted inside the lantern cover whereby said lamp socket depends from the cover. The grillwork or grating has a pleasing ornamental appearance which cast pretty shadows. For example the grillwork or grating can include an ornamental outline of vegetation, and more specifically of vines or branches having leaves or flowers.

Abstract: A field of action light allowing lamp replacement in the voltage-free condition of the socket without prior disconnection of the power supply. The base and the lamp form a structural unit that is held is easily detachable fashion in the housing of the light fixture, wherein the base is provided with electrical wiper contacts that interact such with corresponding cooperating contacts in the housing of the light fixture that a contacting of the electrical contacts automatically ensues upon introduction of the structural unit into the housing and a separation of the electrical contacts automatically ensues with the detachment of the structural unit from the housing. A mechanism for axially adjusting the position of the lamp with respect to the reflector is provided.