Abstract: A self-cleaning litter box assembly for litter using pets, which is capable of providing new litter and disposing of soiled litter for extended periods while minimizing human contact. The apparatus comprises, a receptacle with a receiving area, a central area, and a disposal area, a continuous litter support material, such as a roll of membranous material containing or supporting litter, and a traversing mechanism mounted to the receptacle for advancing the litter support material from the receiving area through the central area and on to the disposal area. Following litter soiling in the central area, the membrane is advanced to a disposable waste receptacle. After the roll of litter support material is completely used, the waste receptacle is disposed of. To renew the system one merely loads a fresh cartridge of litter support material into the device and inserts a new waste receptacle into the disposal area and operation continues.

Abstract: The current invention provides an improved material for the repair, replacement, and/or enhancement of aquatic habitats. It is a composition for use as a replacement for concrete or as a coating for concrete in structures such as artificial reefs. The combination of calcium carbonate (preferably Aragonite), a resin (preferably a marine use resin or Dion ISO 6631), and a catalyst results in a composition that is strong, durable, easy to use, and compatible with aquatic life. The current invention can be used to fabricate structures for use as a foundation for the repair and regeneration of damaged coral reefs. The organically enhanced nature of the composition facilitates the attachment and growth of coral and algae and is compatible with other aquatic life. The composition can be fabricated into slab form and used as a surface for coral farming/seeding for eventual transplantation of live coral species.

Abstract: A method is provided for raising poultry, such as chickens, for food production. In a first preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, exposing an interior of the facility to natural light cycles of an outside environment for a first period and regulating light cycles of the interior for a second period, thereby mimicking daylight duration variation representative of seasonal changes for stimulating sexual development of the poultry. In a second preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, limiting exposure of an interior of the facility to light to produce a brown-out effect therein for enhancing physical development of the poultry.

Abstract: A livestock cooling system creates an environment for protecting the health and productivity of animals, particularly dairy cows. One or more cooling fans are connected to programmable oscillation means, enabling the herds man to program fan oscillation according to the location of the livestock. Water is injected under high pressure into the air stream of the fans to create a fog. The system is also programmable according to various environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, and wind velocity. The pressure and volume of the injected water are programmable and may be adjusted by the controller according to the observed environmental conditions. The disclosed system provides a cool and healthy environment for livestock, where the environment is programmed to track the animals according to the time of day, location of the animals and the location of shade.

Abstract: An exercise disk that can be attached to a small animal shelter is disclosed.

Abstract: A pet stroller having an enclosure mounted in a tray provided in the bottom section of a frame. The frame has a tray located in its bottom section, a handle for pushing the pet stroller and wheels for rolling along a surface. The enclosure has a flexible material secured to its frame which covers the outer section and at least one end of the enclosure. The flexible material may be a netting material such as fish netting. The enclosure also has a door releasably secured to an end of the enclosure. A fabric layer may be provided on the bottom section of the enclosure.

Abstract: A pet-used ultraviolet-sterilizing comb comprises at least one ultraviolet sterilizing lamp and a comb. The comb is formed by a handle and a combing portion. The combing portion has an opening. The opening is installed with a plate. The plate is formed with a plurality of round tapered claws. The claws are arranged along a straight line. A tip of each claw is transparent to ultraviolet ray. The ultraviolet sterilizing lamp is assembled in the combing portion of the comb for generating the sterilizing ultraviolet ray. The ultraviolet ray transmits through the tips of the claws. When combing hairs of a pet, bacteria and parasites on the body of the pet can be removed at the same time by the pet-used ultraviolet-sterilizing comb.

Abstract: The present invention provides a full body harness which can include curved webbing, a spreading back pad and/or leg buckles which improve the comfort, use and performance of the harness. Preferably, the harness uses five pieces of webbing, namely, two curved webbing shoulder straps, two identical leg straps, and a subpelvic strap. The harness can also have a spreading back pad which helps to keep the shoulder straps from riding up onto the neck of the wearer.

Abstract: The circulating fluidized bed reactor device comprising a reactor chamber (12) delimited horizontally by walls, a centrifugal separator (14) and a back pass (16) for heat recovery, the reactor device comprising means for introducing a fluidizing gas into the reactor chamber and for maintaining a fluidized bed of particles in said chamber, means (24) for transferring gas to be dedusted from the reactor chamber into the separator, means (42) for discharging separated particles from the separator and means for transferring dedusted gas from the separator into the back pass. The reactor chamber and the separator both have a common wall with the back pass.

Abstract: A hydrogen enhanced engine system using high compression ratio is optimized to minimize NOx emissions, exhaust aftertreatment catalyst requirements, hydrogen requirements, engine efficiency and cost. In one mode of operation the engine is operated very lean (equivalence ratio ø=0.4 to 0.7) at lower levels of power. Very lean operation reduces NOx to very low levels. A control system is used to increase equivalence ratio at increased torque or power requirements while avoiding the knock that would be produced by high compression ratio operation. The increased equivalence ratio reduces the amount of hydrogen required to extend the lean limit in order to avoid misfire and increases torque and power. The engine may be naturally aspirated, turbocharged, or supercharged.

Abstract: In a cooling system of an internal combustion engine, coolant flowing through a radiator and bypassing the radiator are mixed in a flow control valve controlled by ECU on the basis of signals provided by sensors such as a coolant temperature sensor, so that the coolant is circulated by an electric pump to control the coolant temperature for the internal combustion engine. A desired coolant temperature is changed according to the operating condition of the internal combustion engine, the traveling condition of a vehicle and the ambient condition. Thus, the temperature of the coolant flowing into the internal combustion engine is changed properly so that frictional resistance in the engine and exhaust gas may be reduced and the internal combustion engine may be kept at its most efficient temperature near a detonation limit temperature.

Abstract: A water jacket for a cylinder head is disclosed. The water jacket comprises a coolant flow channel formed between a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet for allowing the coolant to flow in the cylinder head. Coolant flow regulation parts are provided in the coolant flow channel for accomplishing smooth flow of the coolant between exhaust ports corresponding to respective combustion chambers, and a coolant flow distribution part is provided in the coolant flow channel for uniformly distributing flow of the coolant between the exhaust ports corresponding to the respective combustion chambers. According to the present invention, delay of the coolant flowing between the exhaust ports corresponding to the respective combustion chambers is prevented, and thus a cooling efficiency of the cylinder head is improved.

Abstract: A free-piston engine has a stepped piston having a larger end face thereof guided in the compression cylinder, and a smaller end face in the work cylinder. Both the work cylinder and the compression cylinder are connected with a common high-pressure accumulator for initiating the compression stroke or for charging during the expansion stroke.

Abstract: A control device for a multicylinder spark-ignition engine includes a flow path switching unit for switching intake and exhaust flow paths between a two-cylinder interconnect configuration and an independent cylinder configuration and an air-fuel ratio control unit. In a low-load, low-speed operating range, the flow path switching unit switches the engine to the two-cylinder interconnect configuration, and the air-fuel ratio control unit produces a lean mixture having an air-fuel ratio larger than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by a specific amount in preceding cylinders by injecting fuel thereinto and an air-fuel ratio approximately equal to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio in following cylinders by supplying fuel together with burned gas of a lean mixture state discharged from the preceding cylinders into the following cylinders to perform combustion in special operation mode.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve fuel economy by means of lean combustion, and in particular to improve fuel economy on a low load side and during idling. Burned gas discharged from an exhaust stroke side preceding cylinder of a pair of cylinders having an overlapping exhaust stroke and intake stroke is introduced as is into an intake stroke side following cylinder through an intercylinder gas channel, and only the gas which is discharged from the following cylinder is led into an exhaust passage. Particularly during low loads and idling, combustion is performed in the preceding cylinder at an ultra-lean air-fuel ratio of at least three times the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, and in the following cylinder, combustion is performed by spark ignition at a substantially stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by feeding fuel to the burned gas introduced from the preceding cylinder. In the following cylinder, combustion is performed through compression ignition in accordance with increases in the load.

Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine including a cylinder; and a piston movably mounted in the cylinder. The cylinder includes an exhaust port and transfer ports. The transfer ports include a first pair of the transfer ports disposed closer to the exhaust port than a second pair of the transfer ports which are disposed further away from the exhaust port. The first pair of transfer ports are angled relative to each other at a first angle of about 70° to about 85° and the second pair of transfer ports are angled relative to each other at a second angle of about 120° to about 150°. Directional discharge of scavenged air out of the transfer ports establishes a flow path for the scavenged air to minimize losses of fresh unburned fuel into the exhaust port.

Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine including a cylinder; and a piston movably mounted in the cylinder. The cylinder includes an exhaust port and transfer ports. The transfer ports include a first pair of the transfer ports disposed closer to the exhaust port than a second pair of the transfer ports which are disposed further away from the exhaust port. The first pair of transfer ports are angled relative to each other at a first angle of about 70 degrees to about 85 degrees and the second pair of transfer ports are angled relative to each other at a second angle of about 120 degrees to about 150 degrees. Directional discharge of scavenged charge out of the transfer ports establishes a flow path for the scavenged charge to minimize losses of fresh unburned fuel into the exhaust port.

Abstract: In a variable phased valve lifter of an internal combustion engine, a roller lifter is allowed to move along a constraining member of a constraining mechanism, and the constraining mechanism is allowed to move freely in a direction substantially parallel to a line perpendicular to the flat surface machined onto the roller lifter. As the roller lifter moves through its arcuate path, the parallel flat surface(s) of the roller lifter will slide across the constraining member(s) of the constraining mechanism, and end members of the constraining mechanism slide fore-and-aft within stationary blocks. The roller lifter is thus prevented from rotating about its longitudinal axis as it moves in arcuate fashion in cooperation with the constraining mechanism, maintaining line contact between the roller and cam lobe of the camshaft.

Abstract: An engine valve actuator for an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine valve actuator includes a housing having an opening and a first fluid passageway leading to the opening. An adjustment member is disposed in the housing and includes a protrusion that extends into the opening of the housing. A piston is disposed in the opening of the housing and has a bore adapted to receive the protrusion, a chamber, and a second fluid passageway that connects the bore with the chamber. The piston is adapted to move in a first direction relative to the housing in response to an introduction of pressurized fluid into the first fluid passageway. The piston moves in the first direction until the protrusion substantially withdraws from the bore. A push rod is operatively engaged with the piston such that movement of the piston in the first direction causes a corresponding movement of the push rod to thereby engage and open the engine valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for deactivating an engine valve has an accumulator sleeve slidably retained in an engine block and biased toward a lower chamber in fluid communication with an interior of the sleeve. A follower piston slides in the sleeve in contact with a lobe of a cam. An upper piston slides in an upper chamber in contact with a pushrod. A fluid passage connects the lower chamber and the upper chamber. A normally open spool valve in the fluid passage includes a control spool for opening and closing the passage. Another passage connects the lower chamber and one end of the control spool. A spring chamber provides fluid to an opposite end of the control spool through a control valve from a source of pressurized fluid.

Abstract: An engine valve actuation system is provided. The system includes an engine valve having a valve element, a rocker arm having a pivot point, a first end, and a second end, and a valve actuator. The valve actuator has a body member having a chamber adapted to receive a fluid, a seat, and a passageway adapted to conduct fluid into and out of the chamber. A piston is slidably disposed in the chamber of the body member and is operatively engaged with the second end of the rocker arm. A control valve is connected to the passageway. The control valve has a first position where fluid is allowed to flow relative to the passageway to allow the body member to move relative to the piston until the seat moves into engagement with the piston to thereby move the piston to pivot the rocker arm and actuate the engine valve.

Abstract: A connecting means (11) for ignition systems in internal combustion engines (12) is designed such that the connecting means (11) is functionally reliable even under unfavorable operating conditions.

Abstract: A starting motor is mounted to an approximately central portion of an engine body along the axis of a crankshaft. An over-running clutch is mounted to a first end portion of the crankshaft at a position where a starting clutch is sandwiched between the over-running clutch and the starting motor. A starting gear reducer having gears respectively fixed to both ends of a rotational shaft overlapping the starting clutch 39 is provided between the starting motor and the over-running clutch. A rotor of a generator is connected to the other end of the crankshaft.

Abstract: An air intake apparatus has an air intake port opening outside, and an air intake path communicating the air intake port with a combustion chamber of an engine. For suppressing noise getting out from the air intake port, with respect to walls partitioning the air intake path, an opening is provided at a part of said walls corresponding to an antinode region of resonance mode of standing wave in a full length of the intake path, or at a part of noise pressure level being high in the intake path. The opening is closed with a permeable member and a noise insulating wall is disposed outside the permeable member for suppressing emission of transmitting noise passing through the permeable member. member. Alternatively, a vibration control member for suppressing face-vibration of the permeable member and reducing radiant noise from the permeable member is provided instead of the noise insulating wall.

Abstract: A starter mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a spring that is wound during the starting operation of the internal combustion engine. As the operator pulls the starter rope of the engine the starter spring begins to wind creating a force within the spring. Once the spring force overcomes the compression force of the piston the spring will unwind thereby turning the crankshaft of the engine and consequently starting the engine. The starter rope is returned to the housing of the starter mechanism by the use of a rope return spring.

Abstract: A cast iron cylinder liner for an engine has a body with a radial upper flange and a generally cylindrical wall extending axially from an inner portion of the flange. An arcuate fillet is formed at a juncture between the upper flange and an exterior of the cylindrical wall. To strengthen the juncture of thin wall liners, for example with wall thickness less than 2.5 mm, a portion adjacent the fillet is laser hardened to a selected depth of the wall, thus increasing resistance to stresses created in the wall when the liner is installed and operating in an engine.

Abstract: An engine is described having a hole for a dipstick which is closed by a cap from which the dipstick depends. The engine body is formed with an overhanging lip adjacent the mouth of the hole, and the cap comprises a spigot rotatably received in the mouth of the hole and a flange extending radially outwards from the spigot to cover the mouth of the hole. The flange is non-circular so that by rotation of the cap relative to the hole, a radially projecting portion of the edge of the flange may be selectively engaged beneath the overhanging lip to prevent axial displacement of the cap and the dipstick relative to the engine body.

Abstract: An engine comprising a connecting rod, a piston and a crankshaft, the connecting rod connecting between the piston and the crankshaft, characterized in that: the connecting rod having at least one hole which provides the lubrication path between the connecting rod and piston conjunction point.

Abstract: The present invention aims to allow an arbitrary selection to be made between gas operation and diesel operation, to achieve a reduction in NOx even when in diesel operation, to allow the compression ratio to be adjusted and altered in accordance with the operating state when in gas operation, to allow quick starting, and to perform operations at a high combustion efficiency over the entire load range. The dual fuel engine of the present invention is provided with a precombustion chamber unit, which is located in the cylinder head of the dual fuel engine, having a precombustion chamber and an electromagnetic fuel injection valve (a liquid fuel injection valve) and also with a compression ratio control valve. The compression ratio control valve opens and closes an air passage that connects the main combustion chamber with an intake port.

Abstract: The fuel injection system has one high-pressure fuel pump (10) with a pump work chamber (22) and one fuel injection valve (12), communicating with the pump work chamber, for each cylinder of the engine. The fuel injection valve (12) has a first injection valve member (28), by which at least a first injection opening (32) is controlled, and which is movable in an opening direction (29) counter to a closing force by the pressure generated in the pump work chamber (22).

Abstract: An air fuel injection engine including an injector composed of a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel and an air fuel injection valve for directly injecting fuel together with compressed air into a combustion chamber and an injector housing for holding and securing the injector to an engine body. The injector is supported on a head cover, and at least part of a compressed air supply passage for supplying compressed air to the injector is provided directly in the head cover. Further, an injector housing is formed integrally with a head cover which forms part of an engine body. With this configuration, the scale of the engine, the complication of the structure around the engine, and the number of part required can be kept to a minimum.

Abstract: An intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an intake port leading to an engine cylinder. The intake port is divided into first and second passage section by a partition extending in the intake port in a longitudinal direction of the intake port. A gas motion control valve is arranged to open and close an upstream end of the second passage section. A connection passage connects an upstream end portion of the second passage section to the first passage section.

Abstract: An intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an intake port having therein first and second regions extending longitudinally of the intake port. There is further provided a recirculating section defining an intake recirculation passage to recirculate part of intake air from the second region in the intake port to an upstream portion in the intake port to strengthen an intake air stream in the first region of the intake port.

Abstract: Supplementary control valve devices (26) may be utilized to control the flow of a fluid within an intake passage (16) of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine and may include a valve member (56) axially reciprocally disposed within the intake passage and at least partially defining a solenoid armature (60). First and second solenoids (38, 50) are provided on opposite sides of the solenoid armature to reciprocally move the valve member between a valve open position and a valve closed position. Sealing contact faces are preferably defined by pole faces (68, 70) of the second solenoid and a peripheral fluid flow passage (34) extends through apertures (46) defined within the second solenoid and between the sealing contact faces. The valve member closes the peripheral fluid flow passage when pressed against the sealing contact faces. Springs (62, 64) preferably bias the valve member towards a central position between the first and second solenoids.

Abstract: A plurality of intake air amount control devices for controlling an amount of air drawn into a combustion chamber in association with a depression stroke of an accelerator pedal are provided. Each of the intake air amount control devices responds to a change in depression stroke of the accelerator pedal after the lapse of a predetermined delay period.

Abstract: In an engine speed control system for an outboard motor having a throttle valve that regulates air to be sucked and an actuator connected to the throttle valve to move it in an opening direction or in a closing direction, the actuator is driven to move the throttle valve in the closing direction such that the engine speed drops, if it is discriminated that a detected engine speed exceeds a predetermined speed (set to a speed at which the engine can assumably continue to run until the boat has returned to port), when a trouble has occurred in the engine. Thus, the system can lower the engine speed so as to allow the boat to return to port, without causing the engine to vibrate, when a trouble has occurred in the engine.

Abstract: The fuel injection system has a fuel injection valve (12) which has at least one injection valve member (34) by which at least one injection opening (36) is controlled, in which the injection valve member (34) is urged in an opening direction (35) counter to a closing force by the pressure prevailing in a pressure chamber (44) of the fuel injection valve (12); the pressure prevailing in the pressure chamber (44) is generated by a pump piston (18) of a high-pressure fuel pump (10) that is driven in a reciprocating motion by a cam (22); a control valve (54) actuated by a piezoelectric actuator (58) is provided, which is triggered by an electric control unit (53) by which, at least indirectly, a communication (71) of the pressure chamber (44) with a relief chamber is controlled; when the control valve (54) is closed, the pressure chamber (44) is disconnected from the relief chamber; and the control valve (54) has a control valve member (56), which is coupled with the actuator (58) via a hydraulic coupler (57).

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine has an upstream fuel injector provided upstream from the throttle valve and a downstream fuel injector provided downstream therefrom. A device is provided for determining a fuel injection quantity of the upstream and downstream fuel injectors. A sensor detects the intake temperature TA on the upstream side from an injection area of the upstream fuel injector. A device is provided for seeking an intake temperature correction factor KTA on the basis of the intake temperature TA and a fuel injection quantity of the upstream fuel injector. At least one of the fuel injection quantities due to the upstream and downstream fuel injectors is corrected on the basis of the intake temperature correction factor KTA.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system directs exhaust gasses from an exhaust manifold to an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The exhaust gasses travel from the exhaust manifold, first passing through a flow control valve and then through a measuring orifice before entering the intake manifold. Pressure upstream of the orifice is used, along with correction pressure downstream of the orifice, to measure and control exhaust gas flow. Further, manifold pressure is determined from downstream pressure and the used along with the measured exhaust gas flow to calculated a cylinder air charge amount.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrically operated fuel injection apparatus comprising a fuel inletting device(110), a fuel pumping device (112) and a fuel injecting device (113). Fuel from the said fuel inletting device (110) is pumped by the said fuel pumping device (112) and then is injected out by the said fuel injecting device, wherein the said fuel pumping device (112) includes an operating coil (13), a returning coil (12) and a driven device (114) driven by the magnetic fields of these two coils; the magnetic loop induced by the said operating coil (13) excites the said driven device 9114) so as to inject the fuel by the said fuel injecting device (113), and the magnetic loop induced by the said returning coil (12) excites the said driven device to return back to its original position.

Abstract: The present device is a fuel supply device to pressurize and supply fuel F which is stored in a fuel tank 10, which comprises a fuel supply pipe 11 which forms a supply passage for the fuel F, a fuel filter 12 to filter the fuel F disposed at the midway of the fuel pipe 11 and below the fuel tank 10, a fuel pump 13 to pressure-feed the fuel F disposed at the downstream side than the fuel filter 12, and a venting pipe 15 to connect the downstream side of the fuel filter 12 and an upper air-space A of the fuel tank 10. The object is to provide the fuel supply device and the fuel filter utilized for the fuel supply device which can ensure the discharging amount of the fuel pump by satisfactory removing of vapor which is generated in the fuel sucked to the fuel pump.

Abstract: A system for conditioning intake air for an internal combustion engine includes an oxygen separation system. The oxygen separation system includes an entry port for ambient air, and at least two separate exhaust ports through which separate exhaust streams are drawn by separate suction sources. The oxygen separation system further includes a plurality of gas-permeable electrodes that are charged to provide a high-voltage static electric field inside the separator. An exhaust stream taken from the anode side of the separator is enriched in oxygen relative to ambient air. This oxygen-enriched stream is provided to an internal combustion engine for use in combusting fuel.

Abstract: A system and method for injecting fuel is provided. The pressure of a flow of fuel is increased to a predetermined pressure. The temperature of the flow of fuel is increased to a predetermined temperature. A flow of intake air is directed into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The flow of intake air has a pressure lower than the pressure of the flow of fuel. An amount of the pressurized and heated fuel is injected into the flow of intake air to thereby decrease the pressure of the amount of fuel. The decrease in the pressure of the amount of fuel causes the amount of fuel to vaporize.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method of deriving mechanical work from a combustion gas in internal combustion engines and reciprocating internal combustion engines for carrying out the method. The invention includes methods and apparatuses for managing combustion charge densities, temperatures, pressures and turbulence in order to produce a true mastery within the power cylinder in order to increase fuel economy, power, and torque while minimizing polluting emissions.

Abstract: Cylinders of an internal combustion engine are provided with an exhaust port that is opened when the piston approaches bottom dead center. Exhaust in the cylinder at the end of the power stroke flows to an EGR tank for containment and cooling. During the intake stroke as the piston approaches bottom dead center, the exhaust port is reopened allowing gas from the EGR tank to flow into the cylinder as a portion of the charge prior to compression. Alternatively, the exhaust port on a first cylinder is connected to the exhaust port on a second cylinder to allow exhaust gas from the power stroke on the first cylinder to flow into the intake stroke on the second cylinder. Pulsed turbocharger systems comprise an internal combustion engine comprising a piston cylinder and a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder. The cylinder includes an exhaust gas port that is disposed through a wall section of the cylinder.

Abstract: A compressed gas-powered projectile accelerator is disclosed having an improved means of gas distribution, a valve locking mechanism, an improved combined bumper/seal, and self-contained modular components to improve efficiency, manufacturability, and reduce size and weight.

Abstract: An oven construction wherein the oven wall forms an oven cavity containing in a lower portion thereof a HTA producing device, wherein a steam generator is provided in the cavity in physically isolated relationship to the device, wherein the steam generator contains a plurality of metal balls which act as a heat sink, and wherein a water reservoir is provided on the outside of the oven and is in water flow communication with the steam generator thru a water feed line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shelf 300 for a barbecue grill frame assembly 302 of a barbecue grill. The shelf 300 has a bottom wall 310, a plurality of sidewalls 312-318, and a securing member 308. The shelf 300 has a perimeter that is cooperatively dimensioned with the interior space of the barbecue grill frame assembly 302 such that the shelf 300 is positioned within the interior space. The securing member 308 secures the shelf 300 to the barbecue grill frame assembly 302 in a first position. The securing member 308 adjusts to a second position to detach the shelf 300 from the barbecue grill frame assembly 302.

Abstract: A modular outdoor kitchen comprises a plurality of weather-resistant outdoor kitchen modules. Each module comprises a frame having a plurality of outer faces. The modules are releasably connected together in mating arrangement. A plurality of weather-resistant fascia panels are provided on at least a portion of the pluralities of outer faces of the frames. Each fascia panel includes at least one exterior surface that simulates the appearance of an outdoor building material. The modular outdoor kitchen substantially has the appearance of a built-in outdoor kitchen that is substantially constructed of the outdoor building material when the plurality of outdoor kitchen modules are connected together.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for the warming of materials. In an embodiment, the heat for warming the materials is provided by an activatable heating substance, such as a supercooled salt solution. In an embodiment, an apparatus maintains fluid at a preselected temperature for prolonged durations. In an embodiment, an apparatus may be sterilized for deployment in a sterile surgical field. In an embodiment, an apparatus may be reused. In an embodiment, an apparatus is adapted for easy pouring of contents.