Abstract: A prebuilt fireplace construction for installation in a building structure, such as a mobile home. The construction includes a firebox having an open side and a combustion gas outlet adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a flue. A transparent door is provided for substantially sealing the open side and a housing at least partially surrounds the firebox in close proximity thereto to define an air space therebetween. The air space has a relatively low inlet and a relatively high outlet. A conduit isolated from the air space is provided and is adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a source of outside air. The conduit opens into the firebox to provide combustion air. A baffle is interposed between the opening of the conduit into the firebox and the combustion area thereof.

Abstract: Bread oven for individual or home use. A fume vent is arranged in the roof of the oven at the opposite end from the source of heat so that the hot gases contact the roof to heat it. A by-pass passage is provided, which can be unblocked by one position of the ash pan to produce a counter-draft and thus slow down the rate of heat production. The ash pan can also be positioned so that the by-pass passage vents fumes from cinders or embers in it.

Abstract: Heat absorbing sheet sections with corrugated surfaces terminate in part cylindrical flanges. The flanges are pressed between spaced heat collection tubes and held in place by spring action. The combined structure forms a heat absorbing surface and is secured within a pan having integral bottom and upraised sides. A seal molding is secured on the upraised sides of the pan and mounts two glass panels over the heat absorbing surface. A peripheral slot is formed in the seal molding. A key is pressed fit into the peripheral slot to hold the glass panels and molding in position.

Abstract: A charcoal-water smoker and cooker in which water separates the coals formed by charcoal briquettes and the meat, vegetables or other items being cooked and which includes a generally cylindrical body supporting a water pan and one or more supporting grilles with a base pan supporting the main body and also supporting a charcoal liner or pan for receiving a quantity of charcoal briquettes with the upper end of the main body being closed by a dome having a combined handle and heat indicator incorporated therein at the apex thereof. The main body is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed handles which enables the main body along with the water pan, grilles and dome to be lifted off of the base pan and charcoal liner in order to enable the charcoal to be replenished if necessary. The water pan and grille or grilles are supported interiorly of the main body by vertically spaced radially inwardly extending supporting clips.

Abstract: An inexpensive and efficient solar energy collector formed by a thermally-insulated channel covered by a transparent plate assembly to define an elongated passage having an input end into which air is admitted, and an output end from which air is discharged. The channel is divided into a series of stages each having a heat exchange section therein which acts to transfer absorbed heat to the air flowing therethrough, whereby cool air entering the channel is raised in temperature in the course of its passage. The effective surface area of the heat exchange sections increases progressively in the successive stages, so that as the temperature difference between the air and exchange sections is reduced as the air passes through the stages, the area of exchange increases to maintain a rapid rate of heat transfer. To maximize the heat retention in relation to the radiation acceptance in each stage, the transparent cover assembly is formed by plates whose number is stepped up from the input to the output stage.

Abstract: A modular flat plate solar collector for fluid such as air or water includes a plurality of stacked, separable solar collector elements or sub-assemblies. Removable fastening members maintain the sub-assemblies in intimate contact with each other during operation and permit access and replacement of the sub-assemblies for repair purposes. This modular approach provides a reliable, low-cost and structurally strong unit. The use of a flow channel plate having passages with aspect ratios substantially in the range of 20 or greater further improves the performance and efficiency of the collector.

Abstract: A free standing unit for modifying the temperature in a U-shaped forced air channel which has air directing baffles. The wall structure of the unit maximizes forced air temperature modification for heating or cooling sources and provides a cooking surface for a heat source.

Abstract: A field range, primarily for cooking out-of-doors, comprising a removable ter shell capable of easy and quick locking and unlocking with respect to the frame of the field range cabinet and easy removal from the frame to facilitate cleaning of the interior walls of the field range oven and the horizontal and vertical support elements of the frame.

Abstract: A fireplace heat extractor comprising an air-shield, such as a glass screen, to be mounted across the fireplace opening with manually controlled, limited capacity openings therethrough that admit just enough air into the fireplace to support combustion. Baffle means prevent such air from bypassing the fire. A blower directs air through a horizontal header extending through the air-shield into place, and then through an array of tubular air ducts which extend downwardly and rearwardly from the header to function also as a fire basket. The ducts extend up along the back of the fireplace and then forwardly to open back through the air-shield into the room. Replaceable fill bars are positioned between the fire basket portion of the ducts to improve coal-supporting characteristics.

Abstract: A portable barbeque grill having a coal-receiving member hingedly connected to a cover member rotatably mounted between a pair of inverted U-shaped side frame members. The hinge means between the cover member and the coal-receiving member mounts the coal-receiving member and cover member off center between the juncture of the rear legs and the bight portion of the inverted U-shaped frame members so that the coal-receiving member can rotate under its own weight to a position wherein coals and ashes can be readily removed from its interior. The coal-receiving member can be locked in a substantially horizontal position by retaining pins received through the juncture of the front legs and bight portions of the inverted U-shaped frame members and inserted into the coal-receiving member to preclude it from rotating.

Abstract: A solar heater is disclosed herein for increasing the temperature of water which provides a conical array of a tubular coil carried on a circular frame. Drive mechanism is operably coupled to the frame for maintaining the water conducting coil array substantially perpendicular to the impinging rays of the sun. A circular parabolic mirror is mounted on the frame beneath the conical coil array for redirecting the sun's rays passing through a central opening in the array to the underside of the water conducting coil while other rays of the sun directly strike the top side of the coil. The drive mechanism is controlled by an electrical circuit including a time clock, a motor, limit switches and several relays operably connected together to provide a controlled drive to achieve the sun-following feature.

Abstract: A solar energy system comprises first and second generally opposed and at partially spaced-apart panels, one of which is exposed to solar radiation, and both of which are at least partially transparent to solar radiation. The edges of the panels are interconnected so that a chamber is formed between the panels. Radiation absorbing means in the chamber absorbs one portion of the solar radiation transmitted through the exposed panel and converts this portion to sensible heat. The radiation absorbing means transmits another portion of the solar radiation transmitted through the exposed panel in the form of visible light. The radiation absorbing means includes a first fluid circulating in the chamber. A conduit extends through the chamber with a section of the conduit being disposed in the upper portion of the chamber and exposed to the first fluid.

Abstract: A fast food service technique in which a meal is pre-cooked and then transferred to a tray in which the food is refrigerated at a temperature just above its freezing point to preserve the meal without degrading its texture or flavor. When the food is to be made available to customers, the cold trays are transferred to the open shelves of a heating apparatus which is adapted to blow hot air into the shelves to heat the food in the trays to a temperature well below its boiling point to prevent re-cooking thereof and to form a curtain of heated air surrounding the shelves to effectively isolate the trays from relatively cool ambient air, whereby the heated trays may be directly withdrawn by a customer from a shelf without heat loss and without the need to open a door.

Abstract: Solar energy converting apparatus is disclosed which comprises:(a) focussing means having a focal plane;(b) solar energy absorbing means located along the focal line of the focussing means;(c) a support structure including mounting means for rotating the focussing means about an axis which is co-incident with the focal line of the focussing means; and(d) solar tracking means having an optical plane which is parallel to said focal plane, said tracking means including two heat extensible members which are arranged to receive equal amounts of heat from solar energy when the optical plane is directed at the sun and to receive unequal amounts of heat from solar energy when the optical plane is not directed at the sun, said extensible members being coupled to act between the support structure and the focussing means to cause rotation of the focussing means in accordance with the heat received by respective extensible members.

Abstract: A fireplace construction is provided including a hollow base and a firebox having interconnected opposite side, rear and bottom walls is mounted on the base and includes an open front side. Closed heating air plenum structures are disposed outwardly of the firebox including interconnected opposite side, rear and top wall portions and a front wall portion extending between and interconnecting the forward marginal edge portions of the side and top wall portions and provided with an opening through which the front side of the firebox opens. The base includes upstanding peripheral walls and one of the walls has heated air outlet openings formed therein. The lower portions of the heating air plenum structures open into the base and combustion air plenum structure extends peripherally about the open side of the firebox and opens into the latter through openings spaced along the forward marginal edges of at least two of the walls of the firebox.

Abstract: A solar heat concentrator-collector comprising, in combination, solar radiation concentrator means and collector means for receiving the concentrated solar energy and providing for conversion of the energy into usable or more readily convertable form. The concentrator means may be any of a variety of concentrators known and used in the art, however the collector means of the present invention functions extremely well with a line focus Fresnel array, the array including a plurality of generally parallelly disposed elongated self-supporting elements or panels each with a reflective surface, and with each element or panel having means for positioning its reflective surface in an operative solar viewing disposition.

Abstract: The heat of a fireplace is absorbed by the invention and conducted to a desired area or place instead of merely dissipating and escaping up through the chimney. The invention herein is a fireplace heater and comprises an air conductor having a heat absorbing portion and an air passage through the air conductor and air moving means for moving air through the air passage of the air conductor thereby causing ambient air to pass through the heat absorbing portion which greatly increases the temperature of the air resulting in hot air coming out of the exit opening of the air conductor. An air hole in the air conductor faces in the direction of the fire and the size of the air hole is controlled by a valve. Since air is being moved through the air conductor by the air moving means the effect of the air hole is to fan the fire and give the fire additional oxygen resulting in a hotter fire and a much more easily started fire.

Abstract: A two-temperature refrigerator appliance having a refrigerator unit operated by a single compressor set, a refrigeration loop with two evaporator sections connected in series, one evaporator associated with a cold compartment and the other with a warmer compartment, a control element associated with the colder compartment disposed in the electric circuit of the compressor set, a control element associated with the warmer compartment having a constant switching-on point above the freezing point, several heating elements switched on by said warmer compartment control element with one heating element disposed adjacent a refrigerant collector connected to the refrigeration loop and another element disposed adjacent the sensor of the colder compartment control element, and at least one intermittently operated additional switching element disposed in the electric circuit of the compressor set.

Abstract: An improved arrangement of locking apparatus for securing the fulcrum ring of a clutch in adjusted position includes a rotatable cam operable from a readily accessible location for forcing a locking bar radially into engagement with a slotted fulcrum ring; a wedge shaped nose on the locking bar is preferred for taking up clearance between the bar and slot in order to eliminate hammering or chucking; the nose of the locking bar may have compound inclination for exerting wedging action both radially and parallel to the axis; the wedging and securing of the locking bar is facilitated by the provision of coaxial hexagonal drive lugs adapted for engagement by wrenches. In addition, an improved interlocking drive connection is provided between the finger of a belleville spring and a release sleeve assuring that the sleeve rotates with the spring.

Abstract: An air circulating heater including a walled enclosure covered by a fire plate and adapted to be inserted within a regular or below a self-standing fireplace. A circulating fan is positioned behind a louvered front panel so that cold room air is drawn thereinto and directed upwardly and rearwardly by fan shaped baffles on the underside of the fire plate. The cold air is heated through the fire plate by heat within the fireplace and the heated air is returned to the room through the louvered panel.