Abstract: A countertop oven includes a housing having a rear panel, an upper panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, an opposing second side panel and an open front end, together defining a cooking cavity therebetween. The cooking cavity is accessible via the open front end of the housing. At least one heating element within the housing selectively heats the cooking cavity. A door is movably attached to the housing via at least one 4-bar linkage mechanism. The door is selectively movable between a closed position, wherein the open front end of the housing is covered by the door, and an open position, wherein the door is positioned generally atop the upper panel of the housing, thereby uncovering the open front end of the housing to access the cooking cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods of use pertaining to a rocket-type heating and cooking system feature three distinct cooking surfaces designed for simultaneous use and may be dismantled and transported for use in a variety of environments, including use as a heating and cooking device in the home as a fireplace insert, use outdoors in a hiking or camping setting, or use in a developing-world application as a third-world outdoor or indoor kitchen. The heating and cooking system features a combustion chamber and exhaust chimney having optimized dimensions to achieve maximum combustion efficiency, which translates to increased heating and cooking capacities as well as reduced smoke exhaustion. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas oven has an oven muffle and a gas burner for said oven muffle. The gas oven has a thermogenerator for generating electrical energy during operation of the gas burner for the purpose of supplying electrical energy to an electrical functional unit, for example for supplying said electrical energy to a fan or a control of the gas oven. In this case, the thermogenerator is designed and arranged to be heated, and for heat to be introduced by the gas burner.

Abstract: A cooking device has a casing 1, a heating chamber 8 provided in the casing 1, an exhaust tube 18 for guiding exhaust from inside of the heating chamber 8 through an electric component chamber 9 in the casing 1 to front face side, and a dew receiving container 4 that is provided on front face side of the casing 1 and that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust tube 18 to outside of the casing 1.

Abstract: A method capable of enhancing the heat exchanging and humidifying performance of a warming stove and a warming stove with a humidifying function. Water fog is guided into the initial end of an air channel of a stove body, so that the water fog flows through a heat exchange region in the air channel along with circulating air; and the water fog is gasified under a high temperature, so that the circulating air is changed into wet air in the process and carried into a warming space from an outlet at the tail end of the air channel. Heat exchange function is greatly enhanced, and more heat energy can be taken away by humidity-containing gas in each unit volume.

Abstract: A gas oven has an oven muffle and a gas burner for said oven muffle. The gas oven has a thermogenerator for generating electrical energy during operation of the gas burner for the purpose of supplying electrical energy to an electrical functional unit, for example for supplying said electrical energy to a fan or a control of the gas oven.

Abstract: A high efficiency stove has a chamber attached to a base. The chamber is liquid tight and holds liquid fuel such as alcohol within. At least one heat conductor is provided to capture heat and redirect it back into the fuel to increase the gasification process required for combustion. This heat is normally lost in conventional stoves. This greatly increases the efficiency of the stove and allows small size stoves to have a heat output superior to conventional stoves. In one embodiment, removable heat conductors are used to adjust heat output. In another embodiment an adjustment sleeve is used that effectively changes the height of the chamber to adjust output. Another embodiment utilizes an outer sleeve that rotates to open and close at least one airflow opening provided for that purpose. One embodiment includes cooking support legs that allows a user to use a pot or pan.

Abstract: A device comprising an improved electrical hot-air gun for fast ignition of the charcoal-bed of a barbeque charcoal grill for home use having a very short distance between the front of the hot-air gun and the electrical heating wire of the heating assembly and a very high outlet temperature. The hot-air gun also has a scraper mounted on the igniter/heater front to be able to aid in cleaning the grating of a BBQ grill.

Abstract: A method of using a fire starter includes providing a fire starter made of a calcium silicate hydrate with an inflammable liquid and a packaging at least partially surrounding the fire starter; removing a portion of the packaging to expose a portion of the surface area of the fire starter less than the entire surface area of the fire starter; and lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid in the fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the fire starter and a flame burns from the exposed portion of the surface area of the fire starter.

Abstract: A heat recovery device for use with a portable incinerator. The heat recovery device comprises first and second legs which support a heat exchanger thereon. An air flow path is formed from the bottom to the top of the first leg, through the heat exchanger and from the top to the bottom of the second leg. An open space is provided between the two legs and below the heat exchanger. A portable incinerator may be placed within this open space. When solid waste is burned within the incinerator, the exhaust port of the incinerator lies below the heat exchanger. A blower attached to the lower portion of the first leg creates air flow through the heat recovery device such that the air is heated in the heat exchanger by heat produced from the exhaust port of the portable incinerator. A tube is then coupled to the second leg in order to direct the heated air flow to the interior of an adjacent building.

Abstract: A distal end part of an endoscope including an objective optical system which is disposed in the distal end portion of an insert part of the endoscope so that the optical axis of the objective optical system perpendicularly intersects the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the insert part. The distal end part further includes a planar image sensor which is incorporated in the distal end portion, so that it can be inserted and removed along the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion. The planar image sensor is secured in opposed relation to the objective optical system to convert an image of an object, which is formed by the objective optical system, into an electric signal.

Abstract: An add-on video camera arrangement permits onscreen viewing of a target within an enclosed structure, such as a patient's body cavity, using an optical laparoscope. A standard C-mount adaptor is fitted to the ocular of the laparoscope lens tube. The camera arrangement has a handle unit that is formed of a short one piece housing. A camera lens and imager unit is disposed therein at the distal end of the housing. A standard female-thread socket receives the standard male thread of the C-mount adaptor. A flexible umbilical tube couples the housing to a connector module that plugs into a light and power supply unit. The fiber optic bundle light conduit has its proximal end within the connector module to receive light from the light unit, and the light conduit extends through the umbilical tube in the handle unit housing and exits the housing at a light conduit port. A flexible tubular connector extends from this port and carries the fiber optic bundle light conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical apparatus which provides multidimensional views of the internal area of a biological specimen. The apparatus includes an endoscope connected to an operating microscope. The endoscope can be a sleeve formed by a series of collar elements or a rigid rod. The endoscope contains a guide or lens means for transmitting an optical image and an illuminating means for the transmission of light. A moveable prism is positioned on the end of each of the guide or lens means and serves to enlarge the apparatuses field of view as well as enhance stereoscopic imaging.

Abstract: In order to confirm the direction of each portion of an image picked up by an endoscope, the endoscope includes a direction indication mechanism detachably mounted on a tip member. This direction indication mechanism includes an annular holder member which is held in contact with a front end face of the tip member and is arranged along a peripheral edge of an inspection window, and a displacement member supported by the holder member for displacement circumferentially of the holder member under the influence of gravity. The displacement member has a direction indication portion disposed radially inwardly of the inner peripheral edge of the holder member and the peripheral edge of the inspection widow. The direction indication portion is observed from the inspection window. When the direction indication function is not needed, the direction indication mechanism is detached from the tip member.

Abstract: A space heating unit is designed for use in a recreational vehicle and particularly to operate in conjunction with a cooking stove wherein the heating unit has a housing which is placed over a pair of burners and air flow ducts extend across the housing above the burners to draw air from the room upwardly through the ducts and across the housing in order to heat the air and discharge it into the room. The upper end of the housing communicates with an exhaust duct and has a baffle to regulate the rate of air flow through the housing.

Abstract: An anchoring structure for an endoscope cover comprising a cylindrical rigid cover composed of an elastic material, which is fitted to an endoscope to cover a front end rigid portion of the endoscope. A transparent window is arranged on a closed face formed on the front end of the rigid cover to face at least an observation port and an illuminating port, which are arranged on the top end of the endoscope. A bag-shaped covering member having a length covering at least an intermediate conduit portion of the endoscope is attached to a rear part of the endoscope. An anchoring concave portion is formed at a predetermined part of the intermediate conduit portion, a notched face is formed on the circumferential face of the top end rigid portion and an anchoring groove is formed on the circumferential face.

Abstract: In a device for supplying light to endoscopes, in particular video endscopes, the light is passed from a light source by way of a revolving filter plate with areas of primary colors, and a runner wheel, to a photoconductor of the endoscope, for illuminating an object to be examined, the colored image of which is passed to the video endoscope. The runner wheel rotates faster than the filter plate so that the beam of light on passing each transition from one colored area of the filter plate to another is covered by an opaque region of the runner wheel.

Abstract: This apparatus relates to stoves, to devices for heating that use sawdust, ground corn cobs and other suitable materials gravity fed through a conical truncated feeder-hopper into a firebox. The heat generated raises the temperature of a tubular cylindrical structure that contains or encloses the firebox and directs gaseous by-products along its longitudinal axis to an upturned, upwardly disposed second terminal end that effects a ninety degree elbow turn, becoming a flue extension. A variety of secondary devices may be affixed to the basic heat generator or stove to provide for a variety of applications.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooking and/or heating of air, comprising a hearth having at least one hearth plate and a hinged cover which is arranged at the hearth for overlapping the hearth plate, the cover defining a chamber, a partition being provided between the upper wall and the lower wall of the cover for dividing the chamber into a first section and a second section, a passageway being provided for interconnection of said first section with said second section, an inlet being provided in communication with the upper section and an outlet being provided in communication with the lower section of the chamber, and in which the lower wall of the cover may be brought into heat conducting contact with at least one hearth plate.

Abstract: A device for coupling a rigid surgical endoscope and a video camera has a compact, lightweight configuration which receives the endoscope without the conventional bulky endoscope eyepiece. The coupler has front and rear sections rotatable with respect to each other under a frictional drag to enable the endoscope and camera to be rotated either in unison or with respect to each other, so as to change the field of view of the endoscope or to change the orientation of the image on the screen of a video monitor, or both. The device includes sealing means to prevent fogging of the optics while enabling complete immersion of the endoscope, coupler and video camera, as a unit, in suitable liquid sterilization bath. The coupler also is adapted to accept endoscopes of various configurations.

Abstract: This invention is a wood burning stove comprising an essentially air tight firebox module having three or more sides, an essentially horizontal cooking top and a bottom, both of said cooking top and bottom extending outwardly from a side to form firebox oven flanges, to which may be secured an oven module, a fire door at the front of the firebox, a draft control means, a chimney attachment means, disposed to the rear and the top of the firebox, a grate, and leg support means.

Abstract: A heat exchange device is adapted to recover heat from the fire box of a wood burning stove or the like for heating ambient air in a room or other enclosed space. The heat exchange device is adapted to mount in a recess in a stove top in place of a lid which is normally supplied with the stove. The device according to the invention includes heat exchange means which extend into the fire box of the stove below the top surface thereof. The heat from the heat exchange device is transmitted into a main cavity of the device where the heat is transferred to air forced through the main cavity by a blower mounted to an outside surface of the device. Air exit means are provided on a surface opposite to the surface on which the blower is mounted to provide a passage for heated air into the room or other enclosed space to be heated. The device may also include a top mounted isolated handle for ease in handling the device such as for moving from one area to another.

Abstract: A combination fireplace furnace and cookstove is adapted for insertion as a unit into the front opening of an existing fireplace. Such apparatus includes a firebox portion adapted for positioning within a fireplace and a cookstove portion provided with a cooktop, designed to protrude into the room when the apparatus is installed in a fireplace. A sheet metal jacket around the firebox portion encloses an airspace communicating with air intakes at the front of the unit. Heat exchange tubes communicating with the airspace at the back of the firebox pass through the firebox and cookstove portions to discharge openings at the front of the unit so that air warmed in the airspace is further heated in such tubes before discharge into the room. A baffle within the firebox directs products of combustion forwardly into the cookstove portion to heat the cooktop and upper heat exchange tubes before passing up the chimney.

Abstract: An electric furnace fireplace including a heat exchanging fireplace for burning any type of combustible fuel, and electric heating elements positioned near the fireplace plenum exhaust for operation as an electric furnace. An oven is provided above the fireplace combustion chamber for heating comistibles placed therein. Water contained in a tank overlying the combustion chamber and surrounding the fireplace flue is heated by fuel burned within the combustion chamber or by heating elements within the tank.

Abstract: A fireplace cooking range and room air heater, in one embodiment installed in a conventional fireplace and in another embodiment freely standing, has: a bottom fire chamber; a cooking range-air heater having a spaced porous grill and spaced above the bottom fire chamber, surrounding walls extending up from the fire chamber and spaced about surface structures of the cooking range-air heater and then converging for exiting the combustion gases into a flue; a flue for carrying the combustion gases out of a dwelling; non-combustible sealing material, as necessary, positioned about the flue to prevent room air from escaping up and around the exterior of the flue; entry doors to close the cooking range-air heater at its room side; entry doors to close the fire chamber at its room side; a room air intake located below the entry doors of the cooking range-air heater and at the top of the fire chamber; and a draft regulator to control the quantity of room air flowing through the room air intake, then flowing down insi

Abstract: A stove shaped to fit flush with the top and sides of a standard kitchen counter, with the stove designed to burn solid fuel such as wood, coal or trash. The stove is formed of insulated rectangular side walls and an insulated rectangular rear wall, with an insulated rectangular floor mounted at the bottom of the stove sides. The interior is divided into an upper combustion space and a lower ash collection compartment, with a slidable drawer mounted in the lower ash collection compartment to enable ready removal of the burnt ashes. A front door enclosed the ash collection compartment, and a removable top plate provides access to the combustion space.

Abstract: A fire box is provided having upstanding peripheral walls and bottom and top walls. The fire box includes draft air inlet structure opening through the bottom wall thereof and flue gas outlet structure opening upwardly through the top wall thereof. The lower portion of the fire box includes horizontally outwardly projecting seat structure extending peripherally about at least all but one peripheral wall portion of the fire box and a downwardly opening hollow plenum box including upstanding peripheral walls and a top wall is also provided with the plenum box being removably downwardly telescoped over the fire box and with the lower portions of the peripheral walls of the fire box seated against and in at least reasonably good air sealed engagement with the seat structure and with the corresponding peripheral walls and top walls of the fire box and plenum box disposed in spaced relation defining a heating chamber therebetween.

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.