Abstract: A cooking appliance that includes: a gas cooking element; an igniter located next to the gas cooking element to ignite the gas cooking element; a gas valve for regulating gas flow to the gas cooking element; a burner control coupled to the gas valve to vary the gas flow to the gas cooking element; and a control circuit coupled to the burner control and for activating the igniter when the burner control is positioned within a predetermined range of positions, where the control circuit detects when the burner control has been moved through the predetermined range of positions in less than a predetermined time, and in response to determining that the burner control has been moved through the predetermined range of positions in less than the predetermined time, generate an alert to a user.

Abstract: A cooktop appliance may include a top panel and a gas burner. The top panel may define an opening. The gas burner may include a burner body, a fuel tube, an injet bracket, and an insulator pad. The burner body may be positioned on the top panel at the opening. The fuel tube may extend below the burner body in upstream fluid communication therewith. The injet bracket may be mounted below the burner body. The injet bracket may define a fuel orifice disposed upstream from the fuel tube and below the top panel. The insulator pad may be disposed between the burner body and the injet bracket to restrict heat transfer therebetween.

Abstract: A sealed package is disclosed for a self-heating assembly that produces heat by virtue of a liquid reactant reacting exothermically with a solid reactant to heat a product. The sealed package includes an outer container, a lower support structure (e.g., of open cell foam) within the outer container, a layer of the solid reactant above the lower support structure and within the outer container, an upper structure (e.g., of open cell foam, as well) above the solid reactant and within the outer container, and an upper layer that is permeable to liquid and that extends across an otherwise open top of the outer container above the upper structure.

Abstract: The present application provides an atmosphere-adjustable multi-staged swirl ammonia burner, including a combustion structure, a tangential inflow structure, a secondary-air structure, and an ammonia adjustment structure. The combustion structure includes a swirl-flow pre-combustion chamber, a combustion housing, and a staged-flow adjustment assembly. The staged-flow adjustment assembly is configured to introduce staged airflows into the combustion chamber. The tangential inflow structure is configured to introduce air and fuel gas into the swirl-flow pre-combustion chamber. The secondary-air structure is disposed between the combustion housing and the tangential inflow structure. The ammonia adjustment structure extends through the tangential inflow structure to the combustion chamber and includes a branched inlet pipe and a central adjustment assembly. The branched inlet pipe is configured to introduce ammonia gas.

Abstract: An all-purpose gas stove structure capable of increasing its air intake includes an all-purpose opening-covering case, an extended supporting frame, and at least one gas nozzle. The all-purpose opening-covering case includes an opening-covering case body for covering the heat source-receiving opening of a roasting/grilling device completely, and a gas controller with a gas operation unit for controlling the state of communication between gas input and output ends. The extended supporting frame is a box with a protective lid, is coupled to the inner side of the opening-covering case body at one end, and has a stove burner opening at the opposite end. The lateral walls of the protective lid are formed with vent holes. The gas nozzle is provided on the inner side of the stove burner opening. The all-purpose gas stove structure allows a ceramic roasting/grilling device to have a higher air intake and therefore produce higher heat.

Abstract: A tabletop cooking assembly for preparing foods thereon includes a burner element, a pan surrounding the burner element, a grill adjacent to the burner element, and an exhaust plenum adjacent to the grill having a plurality of apertures for drawing smoke away from the grill and an outlet for exhausting smoke therefrom. The exhaust plenum forms a defined volume around the grill to draw the smoke into the exhaust plenum and away from the grill such that the smoke does not pass through the grill or about the burner element. An exhaust duct and at least one filter assembly having at least one filter disposed therein are in fluid communication with the exhaust plenum for filtering grease. The subject invention also includes a blower for exhausting the smoke from the exhaust duct to an area outside of and immediately adjacent to the tabletop cooking assembly.

Abstract: A multi-burner gas oven control system is used in a cooking appliance to control multiple gas burners disposed in one or more cooking cavities of the cooking appliance. Each gas burner has an associated dedicated gas valve that is coupled to a gas supply through a common, shared gas valve, as well as an igniter that is used to ignite the gas supplied to the gas burner. During activation of a selected gas burner, all igniters are activated in connection with activating the shared gas valve and the dedicated gas valve for the selected gas burner. In addition, in some instances individual ignition sensors may be used to both confirm ignition of the selected gas burner and detect ignition of any unintended gas burner.

Abstract: A self-adhering vent cover allows a user to improve the appearance of a vent while facilitating sufficient airflow for the continued use of a heating, cooling, or air-ventilation system. The present disclosure also provides for the distribution of essential oils within an indoor environment via the use of a heating, cooling, or air-ventilation system.

Abstract: An oven appliance includes a cabinet with a chamber is defined within the cabinet for receipt of food items for cooking. The oven appliance also includes a gas burner positioned proximate to a bottom portion and/or a back wall of the chamber. A natural convection flow path is defined through the chamber. The natural convection flow path extends from an origin at the gas burner to a top wall of the chamber. The oven appliance further includes a convection fan positioned along the natural convection flow path above the gas burner and below the top wall. The convection fan is positioned and configured to divert combustion products generated by the gas burner from the natural convection flow path along a forced convection flow path towards a center of the chamber when the convection fan is activated.

Abstract: A duct includes a rigid air-permeable tube of composite material. The duct also includes a layer of insulation coupled to an exterior surface of the rigid air-permeable tube. The duct further includes a non-rigid insulation layer in contact with the layer of insulation. The non-rigid insulation layer forms an air-impermeable duct wall.

Abstract: A ventilation fan includes a body unit, which has a fan disposed in a body case and a fan controller operable to control an air volume of the fan. The ventilation fan also includes a sensor module having an indoor environment detecting sensor and a module controller operable to control a detecting operation of the indoor environment detecting sensor. The body unit has a module mount on which the sensor module is mounted and another sensor module can be mounted in place of the sensor module. The module mount is connected to the fan controller. The module controller outputs detection information obtained based on a detection result of the indoor environment detecting sensor to the fan controller, which in turn controls the air volume of the fan based on the detection information inputted thereto.

Abstract: A fuel-fired burner 100 includes a combustion air inlet 113 for receiving combustion air coupled to a combustion air nozzle 136 at an input to a second chamber 152 within a burner housing 110 spaced apart from a third chamber 168 within the second chamber. The combustion air nozzle 136 directs the combustion air 171 into the third chamber 168. A fuel inlet 111 coupled to a burner nozzle 167 secured to a burner mounting plate 161 has a recycle port 164 for receiving hot exhaust gas provided to an exhaust gas path 165. A jet pump located entirely inside the burner housing is configured to receive the hot exhaust gas from the exhaust gas path. The jet pump operates by flowing the combustion air through the combustion air nozzle 136 which suctions in the hot exhaust gas through the recycle port into the exhaust gas path then into a gas mixing zone 178 for mixing the hot exhaust gas and the combustion air.

Abstract: A ventilation system includes a main housing defining an internal region and a blower contained within the internal region. The ventilation system is positioned adjacent to a room of a building structure and is configured to draw air out of the room to provide ventilation. The ventilation system further includes a grille secured relative to the main housing using an attachment feature.

Abstract: A system for controlling thermal comfort in a space is provided with variable mode of operation. This system may include a conditioner for conditioning air in the space, and a sensor for measuring a temperature in the space. A controller is provided for controlling the conditioner based on the temperature sensed by the sensor, and a fan for circulating air within the space is regulated based on the temperature sensed by the sensor. A related system for controlling a fan based on height is also provided, as is a system and method for easily and efficiently determining the height of a fan using a simple camera, such as one on a “smart” phone. A further aspect pertains to a controller, such as for example a portable handheld device, having a user interface adapted for suggesting an increase in a set point temperature of a thermostat based on the selected speed of the fan.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes a wall portion having a wall inner surface and a wall outer surface, a base portion having a base inner surface and a base outer surface, at least a portion of the wall portion and the base portion forming a vessel to retain fluid therein, at least part of the base portion configured to receive heat, and a plurality of shaped portions with at least three sides extending above, each shaped portion of the base inner surface including at least three sides and polygonal shaped tops, each of the plurality of shaped portions capable of supplying heat from the sides to fluid adjacent to the sides, the plurality of shaped portions including the polygonal shaped tops to induce creation of a plurality of hexagonal convection cells in contact with a surface of the fluid which increases heat transfer from a heating source to the fluid.

Abstract: Combustion heater control systems and methods that include dynamic safety settings. Current operating parameters of the combustion heater are sensed at a plurality of time intervals and converted into a time-varying signal. The time-varying signal is compared to a burner stability envelope indicating when a burner is likely to enter an unstable state. The unstable state may include huffing, flashback, and/or liftoff. When the burner is likely to enter an unstable state, the combustion heater is controlled to prevent the unstable state.

Abstract: A cooking grate includes a peripheral frame defining a periphery of the cooking grate, a plurality of fingers extending from the peripheral frame toward a center of the cooking grate, and a slot formed in the peripheral frame, the slot forming a passageway through the peripheral frame from a lower portion to an upper portion thereof in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A flue damper may include a flue pipe with a first side leading to an outlet of the flue damper and a second side leading to an inlet of the flue damper. A damper gate may be included and have an open state and a closed state, where in the open state, the first side of the flue pipe is in fluid communication with the second side, and where in the closed state, the damper gate interrupts fluid communication between the first side and the second side. A float may be secured to an upper surface of the damper gate. The upper surface of the damper gate may face the first side of the flue pipe when the damper gate is in the closed state such that the damper gate at least partially opens when condensate collects within the first side of the flue pipe.

Abstract: Gas cooking appliance including at least one burner and an ignition device configured to ignite the burner. The ignition device includes a pulse generator configured to send at least one electric pulse for the purpose of generating a spark to ignite the burner. The cooking appliance also includes a flame detector configured to detect the presence/absence of a flame in the burner. The pulse generator is in electrical contact with a part of the burner and the flame detector is connected to ground. The cooking appliance further includes insulating means that insulates the burner with respect to ground, such that when the pulse generator sends at least one electric pulse, an electric spark capable of igniting the burner is generated between the burner and the flame detector.

Abstract: A fan assembly for use in a sidewall of an animal house. The fan assembly includes an impeller, a motive force configured to rotate the impeller about a fan assembly axis, and a butterfly shutter. A shutter operation mechanism moves the butterfly doors of the shutter between the closed position and the open position in synchrony with an operating speed of the impeller. The shutter operating mechanism includes pushrods connected to the butterfly doors, and a linkage between the impeller and the second pushrods. The linkage includes at least one weight configured to rotate with the impeller about the fan assembly axis, wherein rotation of the at least one weight causes the linkage to exert a force on the pushrods to push the butterfly doors toward the open position when the impeller is rotating.