Abstract: Flow of liquid fuel to a vaporization tube of a heating device is controlled by a vertically adjustable float valve, with the vertical height of a surface level of the fuel in a float valve chamber being set to correspond to a desired operating level of the liquid fuel in the vaporization tube. Liquid fuel is permitted to free-flow from the float valve chamber to the lower end of the vertical vaporization tube without metering, the rate of flow and the level of the fuel in the vaporization tube being determined solely by the hydraulic head created by the surface level of the fuel in the float valve chamber. Raising of the float valve chamber produces a corresponding raising of the level of the fuel in the vaporization tube to increase the tube inner surface area which is contacted or wetted by the fuel in the tube, thus causing an increase in the rate of vaporization and a corresponding increase in heat output of the heating device.

Abstract: An improved burner assembly, especially useful to heat a thermoelectric generator, comprising an ultrasonic atomizer for atomizing liquid fossil fuels into a mist of fine particles; baffle means for causing an appropriate mixture of fuel and air; and, usually, a mantle for uniformly distributing the heat of combustion over a cylindrical hot plate against which thermoelectric legs are disposed.