Abstract: A furnace burner for combusting solid particulate fuel comprises a drum configured for containing the solid particulate fuel for combustion. The drum is supported in a burn chamber of a furnace for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. The drum comprises a combustion portion inside the burn chamber and configured to support combustion of the fuel therein and a drive portion connected to the combustion portion and extending therefrom to an external end disposed outside the burn chamber for operative coupling to a drive system to rotate the drum. The combustion portion is perforated to permit passage of air but not fuel through a peripheral wall of the combustion portion, and comprises one or more interior flights extending axially and angularly of the drum in a manner conducive of movement of the particulate fuel, upon rotation of the drum, towards a downstream end to release fuel consumed during combustion.

Abstract: A furnace for combusting wood comprises a firebox floor in a primary burn chamber of the furnace, where the wood is received for generating a gas therefrom, that is defined by a thermally conductive body of refractory material. The body of refractory material defines an upper support surface arranged to support the wood above or over the same. The body of refractory material also defines, beneath the upper support surface, a duct as part of a secondary burn chamber of the furnace which is arranged (i) to be communicated with the primary burn chamber of the furnace to receive the gas generated by heating of the wood therein and carrying combustible products, and (ii) to convey the gas in a manner supporting combustion of the combustible products carried thereby.

Abstract: A furnace for combusting wood comprises a firebox floor in a primary burn chamber of the furnace, where the wood is received for generating a gas therefrom, that is defined by a thermally conductive body of refractory material. The body of refractory material defines an upper support surface arranged to support the wood above or over the same. The body of refractory material also defines, beneath the upper support surface, a duct as part of a secondary burn chamber of the furnace which is arranged (i) to be communicated with the primary burn chamber of the furnace to receive the gas generated by heating of the wood therein and carrying combustible products, and (ii) to convey the gas in a manner supporting combustion of the combustible products carried thereby.

Abstract: A training device for measuring the impact of an athlete on the training device is provided. The training device comprises a striker module, a display module and a communication system. The striker module comprises a front, a back, and a detector. The front comprises a flexible material, and is connected to the back to define a space. The detector comprises at least two components, one mounted on the front and the other on the back, such that upon flexing of the front, the components approach one another. The communication system sends information from the detector to the display module. A method of assessing an athlete's impact is also provided.

Abstract: An integrated stimp-putt meter for use with a golf ball, putter and distance measure, for assessing golf ball speed along a given path is provided. The stimp-putt meter comprises: at least two transmitter/receiver pairs, for transmission and reception of an electromagnetic beam; a microcontroller in electronic communication with the transmitter/receiver pairs; a display in electronic communication with the microcontroller; and a housing. The transmitter/receiver pairs are located along a given path, and the transmitter and receiver of each pair are separated by a predetermined distance sufficient for a golf ball to pass through and positioned such that each beam is interrupted by the passage of a golf ball.

Abstract: A coal consuming boiler is provided with a combustion chamber having a divider of refractory material formed therein which separates the combustion chamber into primary and secondary combustion areas. A coal burner head for combusting coal is located in the primary combustion area. Primary combustion air is directed to the burner head while additional secondary combustion air is directed to the secondary combustion area to ensure that all combustible gases are thoroughly burnt up prior to the exhaust exiting the combustion chamber through a heat exchanger of the boiler. Exhaust tubes extending through the heat exchanger are configured in a horizontal double-pass configuration. A cleaner is provided in the form of nozzles associated with each of the exhaust tubes which are arranged to direct a high pressure flow of gas periodically therethrough for removing collected ash from the exhaust tubes to increase efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Portable or temporary heating is provided by locating a container adjacent an area to be heated in which the container comprises a portable building including a coal storage compartment and a heating compartment therein. A heating apparatus, for example a boiler, is provided in the heating compartment which consumes coal. The coal storage compartment includes a transfer mechanism for transferring the coal stored therein to the heating apparatus responsive to fuel demands of the apparatus. Ambient heat from the heating apparatus is used to maintain coal in the coat storage compartment above freezing to prevent bridging thereof.