Abstract: An artificial log is provided for use in a gas fireplace combustion chamber. A portion of the log outer surface has a charred appearance. When the fireplace is turned on and the log is heated, the log rotates to bring the charred surface in view from an open end of the fireplace combustion chamber so as to provide the appearance of a real wood log being burned. When the fireplace is turned off, the log rotates back to a position hiding the charred surface from view so as to have the appearance of a brand new log.

Abstract: A heating apparatus is provided which is improved in terms of its heating efficiencies over prior commercially available patio heaters. The heating apparatus includes a burner assembly housing containing a burner assembly for igniting fuel from a fuel source. The housing has a perforated wall so that the hot gases inside the housing can escape from the housing interior with the wall heating up so as to radiate infrared heat therefrom. The apparatus has a heat efficiency system which causes substantially all of the heat emanating from the housing to be used for heating of a preselected area about the apparatus. The heat efficiency system maximizes the amount of heat that is directed in a generally downward direction into the preselected area below the housing so as to minimize the heat loss and thus the amount of fuel that is necessary for heating of the preselected area.

Abstract: An artificial gas log set which simulates in a very realistic fashion a log fire in a fireplace. The artificial log set comprises a log, a burner tube having ports for creating a yellow flame that is in close proximity to the log and a second set of ports for creating a blue flame which is positioned between the yellow flame and the log. The blue flame impinges on the log and acts as a separator or curtain that prevents impingement by the yellow flame on the log. This prevents the creation of unwanted and dangerous levels of emissions such as oxides of carbon and nitrogen. An alternative embodiment replaces the blue flame and its ports with duct work and exhaust gases. The exhaust gases act as a separator between the log and the yellow flame. The result is a realistic looking, simulated wood burning fireplace which may be safely used in an unvented environment.

Abstract: A gas burner for a fireplace. The burner comprises a burner housing having a grid of openings that are formed from heat resistant material. The housing has a first burner assembly and a second burner assembly arranged therein in a side-by-side relationship, each burner assembly having a chamber with a perforated gas distribution plate. The gas distribution plate is located adjacent the grid. Each of the burner assemblies has a gas mixing area with an inlet for primary air and combustible gas, and air flow controllers e.g. primary air shutters, for controlling the ratio of primary air to gas in the first burner assembly lower than the ratio in the second burner assembly.

Abstract: A vent-free, gas fireplace for providing heat, light, and an aesthetic view includes an outer shell arranged with a top panel, front panel, rear panel, and left and right side panels and a combustion chamber positioned within the outer shell so as to define a plurality of air chambers. The combustion chamber is arranged with a primary combustion portion for initial combustion of the gas which is supplied to the fireplace and a secondary combustion portion which includes a catalytic converter and which is designed to bum the emissions from the primary combustion portion. The plurality of air chambers defined between the outer shell and combustion chamber include a rear chamber and a top chamber and positioned within the top chamber is a heat shield which defines an interior volume. The interior volume of the heat shield is in flow communication with the rear chamber so as to direct air through the heat shield and out into the room.

Abstract: A gas-fired burner apparatus includes a porous combustion surface disposed in a combustion chamber substantially sealed to prevent entry of secondary air. A subatmospheric pressure is maintained in the combustion chamber by a natural or aspirated draft. The subatmospheric pressure cooperates with an aspirating flow of fuel to the burner apparatus to provide an increased flow of primary combustion air which reduces the combustion temperature and the emission of pollutants. Alternatively, the subatmospheric pressure may be used to achieve a given flow of primary combustion air with a reduced combustion surface area. Water heater and room heater applications of the burner apparatus are illustrated.

Abstract: An improved fireplace assembly is described having a sheet metal burner and an associated set of simulated logs to create different sizes and shapes of flames, or flame patterns. The flame patterns generate hot exhaust gases which heat portions of the simulated logs to glow. The glowing appearance of these portions is enhanced by the use of filaments, whether in strands or in mat form. The filaments are attached to, embedded in, or wound about the visible face of the simulated solid fuel element. When heated sufficiently the filaments glow. The burner ports used in the assembly to generate suitably attractive flame displays may include large or non circular apertures or slots having local reinforcement to resist deformation of those apertures.

Abstract: A burner assembly for use in a gas burning fireplace for producing flame patterns simulating flame patterns produced by real burning wood, and a method for producing such flame patterns. A preferably cylindrical bluff body is placed into the gas flow path from a supply line dividing the flow into a first and a second flow and generating Karman vortices within each flow. The vortices between the two flows are staggered. Each flow enters into a burner and exits through the burner ports where it is ignited to produce a flame pattern. The vortices create a rotating turbulence within each flow such that each flow has relatively steady flow portions alternating with turbulent rotating portions. This variance in the flow results in flames that have varying intensity, as well as color, and produces flame patterns simulating those produced by real burning wood.

Abstract: A fireplace adapted to heat multiple heating zones of a building, controlled by a control circuit which adjusts the heat input to the fireplace, airflow through the fireplace and ducting of the airflow to the various zones individually in response to a call for heat by thermostats in the zones. The fireplace may also be adapted to provide cooled or circulated air to the zones and may also serve to provide heating to the zones in the event of an electrical power outage. The fireplace is provided with a cabinet having ducts through which air is conveyed by use of a fan to a tube-type heat exchanger, the heat exchanger also in communication with the hot flue gases exiting the combustion chamber of the fireplace. The air heated by the heat exchanger is conveyed to a multitude of fireplace outlets, each of which is provided with a damper which regulates the airflow through the outlet to one of the zones to be heated, depending on whether that zone calls for heat through its thermostat.

Abstract: A gas heater is provided with a combustion status sensor that provides heater performance data to a controller that controls the heater according to the sensor data and stored calibration parameters optimized for the particular heater.

Abstract: This invention provides a flammable fluid fuelled heater providing a direct opening into the primary combustion chamber to provide an unobstructed view of the fire. Any circulating means such as a fan may be provided adjacent the opening so as to provide an air curtain across the opening. This may limit the flow of air through the opening to reduce overall throughput as well as reducing spillage out the opening.In addition, the artificial log assembly in the fire may be arranged so that at least some of the logs meet collective surfaces at right angles so as to provide a visual continuity into the reflective surface and thereby provide a larger visual appearance to the fire.

Abstract: A burner for a gas fireplace has a burner tube with a plurality of gas ports that provide flames for combustion when the burner is operating. A plate is positioned above the burner tube and has apertures that align with the ports of the tube such that flame passes through the apertures and causes the plate to heat along the aperture preferably to a red heat. The burner tube is spaced from but close to the plate to provide for secondary combustion air to pass between the burner and the plate and out through the apertures. The apertures are elongated slots formed in a serpentine fashion so that, when the plate is glowing with a red heat and used in connection with artificial logs there is realistic appearance of real wood burning and there is efficient combustion.

Abstract: A gas burner for gas fireplaces has a housing defining a shallow chamber with an extended top and surface which covers most of the grate area of a gas fireplace and supports non-combustible logs and embers. The chamber has an opening receiving gas or a mixture of gas and primary air, which is discharged through areas of perforations formed in a top wall of the chamber, these areas including both relatively broader and relatively narrower and elongated areas irregularly distributed and oriented over the top wall to provide flames between the logs and to render the embers incandescent, with the areas connected or adjacent to promote the spread of flame between them during ignition. The top wall may be formed by laminating two metal sheets, one perforated and the other formed with slots and holes defining the perforated areas.

Abstract: A gas-fired log burner for simulating natural burning of firewood wherein a gas burner component having a decorative burner face surface engages within a recess formed in an exterior surface of a decorative log component. The recess within the decorative log component receives the gas burner component such that the decorative burner face surface is substantially flush with the exterior surface of the decorative log component.

Abstract: A vent free gas fireplace comprises a housing and a firebox within the housing spaced-apart from the housing walls to provide top, bottom, rear and side plenums. The side plenums are divided into upper and lower side plenums. Room air enters the lower side plenum and passes into the rear plenum, the combustion chamber and the upper side plenum. Exhaust gases pass from the combustion chamber through a catalytic converter and into the top plenum. The hot exhaust gases are combined with room air from the rear plenum and pass into the upper side plenums, combining with additional room air, and then out into the room.

Abstract: A novel control system for altering a fixed pattern of gas flames in a fireplace having artificial logs comprises a log set having a burner system and the burner system having a gas valve control which is coupled to source of gas or air to be regulated. The control system has a valve which controls the air or gas being supplied to the burner and a control sensor is coupled to the control system for activating the time sequence of the cycle of the control system so as to raise or lower the gas flames being regulated and to disturb the pattern of gas flames to produce the effect of dancing flames.

Abstract: An artificial ember bed (5) for use within a fireplace (7) is disclosed. The fireplace will include a burner (12, 13) positioned below an elevated log grate (19), on which at least a pair of spaced artificial logs (20, 21) will be positioned. Situated in the space defined by, and between the logs will be an ember bed support grate (24), having an elevated surface on which a plurality of non-combustible artificial embers (25) will be disposed such that in use they will glow to create the visual appearance of glowing embers within the fire. The ember bed support grate may be constructed with a Z-shaped or a C-shaped geometry, or may include a pair of bifurcated legs (33, 34), or a pair of spaced legs (36, 37) for supporting the ember bed support grate on the log grate within the fireplace. In addition, the ember bed support grate can be fashioned as a planar grate, supported either on the logs, or received within notches (39) defined within opposed faces of the logs when situated atop the log grate.

Abstract: This invention relates to heating apparatus and particularly compact heating apparatus fuelled by a flammable fluid such as gas in which a visible flame is provided. The appearance of the visible flame and the fireplace setting within the heating apparatus is enhanced by the provision of a reflective means positioned behind the fuel assembly to reflect an image of the assembly and/or the flame towards a viewing port in the front of the heater. Additionally or alternatively, the heater apparatus provides an exhausting of the emissions of the primary combustion directly into the room in which the heater is housed to return much of the otherwise exhausted heat into the room. The exhaust is put through a secondary combustion chamber including or comprising a catalytic converter before being exhausted into the room.

Abstract: An improved burner assembly is disclosed for a gas fireplace system including a set of gas logs supported on a grate. The burner assembly includes a generally horizontal burner pan positionable beneath the grate. A burner is affixed to and extends upwardly from the burner pan. The burner comprises a generally rectangular elongate tube having a height substantially greater than a depth, to define an interior gas chamber, an inlet to the chamber for connection to a gas supply, and an outlet from the chamber, the outlet comprising an elongate narrow slot at the bottom of the burner proximate the burner pan.

Abstract: A gas burner assembly is provided which can be used in an unvented gas-fired fireplace and which closely approximates the look of a wood-fired fireplace. The gas burner assembly has a gas distribution chamber with a horizontal base, a vertical backwall, a top wall, a pair of opposing vertical side walls and a front wall. The front wall is a continuous surface having a vertical forward section and a substantially concave rear section. A small number of ports are disposed within the front wall to generate a small, evenly-distributed flame pattern across the front wall. A flame deflector plate located forward of the front wall to direct flame from the lower portion of the front wall upwardly. A large number of ports are disposed within the top wall to generate a large vertical flame pattern at the top wall.

Abstract: A novel fireplace element is made by a novel process wherein the fireplace element is first molded from a mixture of refractory and ceramic fibers and removed from the mold in a green state. While the fireplace element can be treated in the green state, it is preferred that the fireplace element is cured to provide a rigid fireplace element of the type used in artificial fireplace log sets. The element if not already processed is provided with a surface of loosened fibers so that the loose fibers will reach an incandescent glow set state and give the appearance of the total element being incandescent well before the surface and/or body of the fireplace element can reach an incandescent temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates to heating apparatus and particularly compact heating apparatus fuelled by a flammable fluid such as gas in which a visible flame is provided. The appearance of the visible flame and the fireplace setting within the heating apparatus is enhanced by the provision of a reflective means positioned behind the fuel assembly to reflect an image of the assembly and/or the flame towards a viewing portion in the front of the heater. Additionally or alternatively, the heater apparatus provides an exhausting of the emissions of the primary combustion directly into the room in which the heater is housed to return much of the otherwise exhausted heat into the room. The exhaust is put through a secondary combustion chamber including or comprising a catalytic converter before being exhausted into the room.

Abstract: A gas fireplace has a set of artificial logs. The logs rest on top of a burner. The burner is formed from top and bottom metal sheets. The sheets are sealed together around a channel matched generally to the prospective position of the logs. A gas orifice feeds gas into the channel, while gas ports in the top sheet release the gas. The gas ports are positioned to match the final position of the logs. The channel is formed by creating a depression in the bottom sheet using a press with a general purpose stamping die moving in the pattern of the channel, or a single hit special purpose die, or a rolling die moving in the pattern of the channel, or by the bottom sheet being moved across a stationary rolling or beading die in the pattern of the channel. Secondary air holes feed air through the burner adjacent to the channel and the gas ports.

Abstract: A gas heating apparatus comprises a duct constructed by a heat insulating material having a heat resisting property, a plurality of honeycombs disposed across in the duct so as to oppose to a direction of a gas flow in the duct, the honeycombs being formed of a material having a heat resisting property, and a plurality of heat radiating members disposed inside the duct so as to oppose to the honeycombs, respectively, for radiating heat to the honeycombs. The gas entering the duct flows therein and is heated during the passing through the honeycombs. The honeycombs are constituted as partition walls.

Abstract: A flat pan gas burner for a gas log fireplace system comprises a U-shaped pan formed in a sheet of metal. The U-shaped pan is provided with attachment flanges and a gas pipe attachment aperture through which is attached a gas pipe adapter. A burner plate is further provided with a plurality of gas flame apertures in a predetermined pattern for creating a desired flame pattern below the gas log system. If desired, there is further provided a layer of porous ceramic material on the burner plate which is impregnated with metallic salts and which produces a desired lengthening and coloring of the gas flames of the gas burner. A rocking or sliding support of the flat pan gas burner imparts movements and/or different length to the colored flames.

Abstract: A nozzle and gas injection method using the nozzle wherein the nozzle comprises a section of porous material. Gas passes through one or more passageways running the length of the porous material section and also diffuses through the porous material section exiting across the nozzle face. This gas passing through the face serves to keep deleterious material, such as zone vapors, from contacting and fouling the nozzle.

Abstract: A gas burner for use with artificial logs in a gas log heater includes a thin metal top member having substantially flat upper and front burner surfaces, and a metal base member affixed to the top member. The top member and the base member define a burner cavity which may have a generally L-shaped cross section. The upper burner surface has top gas ports, and the front burner surface has front gas ports in gas communication with the burner cavity. The base member has an inlet port that is located with respect the gas ports so as to limit pressure differentials between the gas ports. A mixing tube supplies a mixture of air and gas from a gas source to the inlet port of the burner cavity.

Abstract: A sealed-combustion chamber fireplace includes a combustion air to fuel adjustment device comprising an primary air-fuel mixing body having a fuel source inlet at one end and at least one combustion air inlet port disposed through a wall portion of the body. The air-fuel mixture body may be configured in the form of an air-fuel venturi, burner tube and the like to effect mixing together of the air and fuel to form a combustible air-fuel mixture. An air inlet port cover is movably disposed adjacent the air-fuel mixing body and forms an adjustable air combustion aperture by placement of the cover adjacent the air inlet port. Movement of the cover about the body effects opening or closing of the aperture, thereby effecting adjustment of the primary air to fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture combusted in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An oven for pizza and other baked goods includes auxiliary heating means positioned in the baking chamber. By designing the auxiliary heater to simulate a burning log viewable through the baking chamber access door, the ambience of a wood burning oven is presented to customers. By control of activation of the auxiliary heater, faster responsiveness and improved control of baking chamber heating is achieved, resulting in improved quality control of baked goods and significantly faster baking times for increased efficiency. By provision of a front central exhaust vent, the need for an oven door is avoided.

Abstract: A self-cleaning gas-fueled oven for cooking with a flameholder and door which permit self-cleaning at temperatures exceeding 900.degree. F. The flameholder has a grille divided into two opposed, substantially flat portions, each of which contains an array of ports of two distinct sizes. The smaller-sized ports are tapered, increasing in cross-sectional area in the direction of gas flow through the grille. The oven door has a lip extending substantially perpendicularly from the door's sidewalls so as to overlap the periphery of the door's inner panel.

Abstract: A novel horizontal-vertical (H-V) direct vented gas heating unit comprises a box-shaped heating unit having seven walls which surround a combustion chamber. One of the seven walls comprises a diagonal wall connected between the back vertical wall and the top wall. An exhaust stack extends through the diagonal wall and is surrounded at its exit by a coaxial fresh air inlet adapter which connects to a fresh air passageway which extends down the back wall. An inner heat exchanger comprise passageways which extend along six of the seven walls outside the combustion chamber. The fresh air passageway on the back wall extends through the heat exchanger passageway in the back wall and enters a plenum having two exits, one of which is positioned opposite the upper level and the other opposite the lower level of a dual level burner.

Abstract: A gas log burner assembly produces a glowing effect by providing a cover wall over the heretofore open top of a usual burner pan. A gas supply pipe is buried within a non-combustible porous medium, such as sand, within a gas distribution chamber formed by the walls of the burner pan. The cover wall has a series of gas outlet holes arranged across the plate including an elongated slot at an upper rear edge thereof. An artificial log is mounted on the top and rear of the burner pan and extends along the elongated slot and has a rough textured concave front surface. The slot and holes in the top cover wall and the concave surface of the log control and direct the flow of gas from the supply pipe into a combustion area formed in front of the log to provide controlled combustion of the gas within and adjacent to the concave front surface of the log to provide a glowing effect to the rough textured surface thereof.

Abstract: A gas fireplace burner comprises a support frame, a baffle internally of the support frame, a gas inlet to the burner through the support frame beneath the baffle, a top plate above the baffle and a gas distributor between the top plate and the baffle. The top plate has a substantially solid central region and front and back edge regions provided with a plurality of gas escape openings along the edge regions. The gas escape openings at the back edge region include major and minor openings. The gas distributor extends to all of the openings and the baffle which is shorter than the top plate is positioned directly beneath the major openings with some of the minor openings being located outwardly of the baffle.

Abstract: This gas burner system provides an asymmetrical flame pattern together with the presence of glowing embers around and beneath non-combustible logs, closely resembling the overall appearance of a natural wood fire in a fireplace. The burner system has a plurality of gas burner pipes arranged in a fan-out pattern on a log mounting plate to provide gas throughout the logs arranged over the plate. Air supply openings are formed at selected areas in the mounting plate to permit fresh air to pass only therethrough from below the mounting plate to the fire. Air deflectors are located adjacent to the openings and lava rock and/or mineral fiber pieces are placed below the logs over the gas burner pipes to disperse the combustible gas throughout the log arrangement. The provision of openings and deflectors create air currents flowing over the surfaces of the logs to prevent the flames from imposing on the log surfaces for reducing the formation of carbon deposits and carbon monoxide gas.

Abstract: The combustion apparatus is composed of: a porous burner component being made of a permeable metallic material and having a centrally located first region (11a, 11aa, 11ba, 11ca) where the fuel-air mixture is ejected and the red heat condition is formed on the surface of downstream side and having a second region (10b, 11ab, 11bb, 11cb) being located outside of the first region to recover heat from high temperature product gas coming from a combustion chamber, wherein the heat recovered in the second region is conducted to the first region; the combustion chamber (8) being located covering both the first region and the second region and enclosing these regions; a fuel-air mixture supply passage (7) to feed the fuel-air mixture into the central first region; and an exhaust passage (6) to lead the flue gas discharged from the second region to the exhaust opening (9), which exhaust passage is located adjacent to and outside of the fuel-air mixture supply passage and is separated by a separation wall (4) therefro

Abstract: The combustion apparatus having a heat-recirculating function comprises: a porous burner component (4) being made of permeable metallic material and having a first region (4a) through which a fuel-air mixture flows and is ejected therefrom into the combustion chamber at a velocity higher than the burning velocity of the fuel-air mixture to form a flame base on the periphery of the fuel-air mixture ejection area and having a second region (4b) being located adjacent to and outside of the first region to recover heat from high temperature product gas generated from the combustion of the fuel-air mixtures by red-heating the surface of the second region on the combustion chamber side while the product gas is penetrating through the burner component (4), wherein the heat recovered in the second region is conducted to the first region; the combustion chamber (5) being located to cover both the first region (4a) and the second region (4b) and enclosing these regions, and a cylindrical wall (6) separating a fuel-air

Abstract: A burner pan comprises a large top plate conforming to the entire burner area for providing convenient support for the logs and wide flexibility in the configuration and location of the gas flame ports. The burner pan comprises a plurality of gas ports disposed along the outer periphery of the top plate, a burner plenum subjacently disposed along the outer periphery of the top plate for delivering gas to the gas ports, and a dead air space in the center of the burner pan. The burner plenum is formed between a shallow gas-tight outer housing shell which defines the outer peripheral walls of the burner plenum and a smaller inner shell adapted to fit within the outer shell which defines the inner peripheral walls of the burner plenum and circumscribes a substantially sealed central dead air space which is essentially free from the burner gas.

Abstract: An inexpensive and easily maintained gas burner assembly achieves the manufacturing and maintenance advantages of the conventional sand pan burner design in addition to the heat output and fuel efficiency of more complex burner designs. The invention comprises a tray having a bottom wall and sidewalls defining an interior and an open top. A cover channel having a midsection segment and at least two downwardly depending flanges is adapted to fit in the interior of the tray to form a mixing chamber between the cover channel and the tray. The downwardly depending flanges are spaced away from the sidewalls of the tray to form gaps suitable for filling with a noncombustible granular substance, such as sand or crushed pumice stone. The cover channel additionally comprises at least one projection extending above the top segment and defining at least one burner port. The projection is preferably a longitudinal ridge defining a plurality of burner ports.

Abstract: A small combustion apparatus for domestic or commercial use, wherein the quantity of combustion is increased by enhancing the mounting density of the burner units and to stabilize combustion using a lean fuel mixture resulting in a decreased generation of nitrogen oxides and noise. The burner has first and second burner units, arranged alternatively adjacently to one another. Each of the burner units has a flame port portion at the top of the burner body vertical and flat, has an inlet for fuel gas and air at the bottom of the burner body, has a mixing channel extending from the inlet to the flame port portion; and has inlets of the first burner units located below the inlets of the second burner units fuel gas spouts, are provided to correspond to the respective inlets of the first and second burner units.

Abstract: A catalysis heating apparatus includes a catalytic combustion cell and a reflector made of two semi-circular sections which form the seat for a partition. Spacers create a gap between the combustion cell and the reflector and also accommodate an annular nozzle placed at one end of a channel. The partition center holds a ventilator which feeds air to said channel, while an electromagnetic valve controls the input of gas to the combustion cell. The assembly is held together by a section which comprises a grooved ring with an annular slot opening onto the inside, its two ends being fixed by rivets. A filtering compartment and a top are mounted on said grooved ring.

Abstract: A heating apparatus has a catalytic burner and a thermal receiver which consumes at least one portion of the heat generated by the catalytic burner. The catalytic burner has a member for ejecting a flow of combustible gas, a member for admixing primary air with the flow of combustible gas to obtain a mixture to be burnt, a chamber for distributing the mixture, and a catalytic combustion structure in communication with the distribution chamber. The combustible gas travels into an upstream face of the catalytic combustion structure, and combustion exhaust gases are removed through a downstream face of the catalytic combustion structure. A radiating flameless combustion front is located in the vicinity of the upstream face of the catalytic combustion structure during operation. A thermal receiver extends along virtually the entire surface of the upstream face of the catalytic structure and receives thermal energy.

Abstract: A heat producing gas log apparatus includes a blower having an inlet and an outlet for circulating air through the log apparatus. A gas burner has a plurality of openings for emitting combustible gas to produce a flame. At least one air supply channel has an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet opening is disposed at the front and bottom of the heat producing gas log apparatus and receives air, and the outlet opening is in fluid communication with the blower inlet. At least one heat exchanger tube is disposed above at least a portion of the gas burner and has an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is in fluid communication with the blower outlet, and the outlet end is disposed generally coplanar with the inlet opening of the at least one air supply channel at the front and bottom of the apparatus.

Abstract: A gas burner having first flame openings for discharging a stable and self-combustible high-concentration gas and second flame openings for discharging a unstable and non-self-combustible low-concentration gas, with the first and second flame openings being disposed alternately with each other. The effect of stable flame formations at the first flame openings assists stabilization of flame formations at the second flame openings adjacent thereto. Consequently, the gas burner as the whole may have a high air excess ratio to reduce its NOx generation and to prevent incomplete combustion. Further, if a rectifying member is provided in the second flame opening, it becomes possible to enlarge the opening area of the second flame opening without disturbing its flame formation, whereby the burner will achieve further reduction in NOx generation and combustion noise and also improvements in its combustion load and ignition performance.

Abstract: A standard atmosphere furnace constructed of a steel casing formed as a cylinder with fibrous insulation attached is operated as a vacuum furnace. A plurality of radiant, fuel-fired ceramic heat tubes positioned in a centered but circumferentially spaced arrangement provides heat input to the furnace to permit it to operate at high, vacuum associated temperatures. The ceramic tubes are vacuum sealed to the furnace case by an elastomer seal/water jacket arrangement which uses an outboard clamp arrangement to establish a ceramic-to-metal contact to permit thermal cooling and prevent tube-flange movement so that the integrity of the elastomer seal can be maintained. In addition, an articulated joint connector is provided so that the tube can be supported in a pivotable manner permitting thermal movement while reducing tube stress to prolonged tube life.

Abstract: This invention describes a radiant heating unit, which can be used with a scarifier or patcher. The heating unit system is comprised of a supply means used for supplying a quantity of gaseous fuel at a predetermined pressure, a housing, and a layer of ceramic fiber with a mesh retaining layer on the upper and lower side thereof. A fuel-air mixture system is located in an upper aperture of the housing, which provides a combustible mixture to the housing chamber. This combustible mixture is eventually burnt at the bottom outer surface of the ceramic fiber layer to provide a hot radiant heating surface.

Abstract: A standard atmosphere furnace constructed of a steel casing formed as a cylinder with fibrous insulation attached is operated as a vacuum furnace. A plurality of radiant, fuel-fired ceramic heat tubes positioned in a centered but circumferentially spaced arrangement provides heat input to the furnace to permit it to operate at high, vacuum associated temperatures. The ceramic tubes are vacuum sealed to the furnace case by an elastomer seal/water jacket arrangement which uses an outboard clamp arrangement to establish a ceramic-to-metal contact to permit thermal cooling and prevent tube-flange movement so that the integrity of the elastomer seal can be maintained. In addition, an articulated joint connector is provided so that the tube can be supported in a pivotable manner permitting thermal movement while reducing tube stress to prolonged tube life.

Abstract: In an infrared stove apparatus, there is provided a stove body having a radiation window at the front and upper portions of the stove body. A frame is placed within the stove, and one open end of the frame faces to the front portion of the stove body so as to serve as a radiation opening, the other open end of the frame having a porous burner plate through which a mixture of fuel gas and air is to be released. An exhaust opening is provided at the upper lateral side of the frame to pass exhaust gas released through the porous burner plate when the mixture of fuel gas and air is ignited at the time of operation. A metallic net of a suitable mesh screen is provided within the exhaust opening to increase fluid-resistance of the exhaust gas flowing out through the exhaust opening so as to keep a uniform velocity distribution of the exhaust gas while restraining outside air from entering into the frame through the radiation opening leading to the exhaust opening.

Abstract: A gas fireplace burner assembly which produces a yellow flame and simulates the appearance and pattern of the yellow flames produced by a natural wood log fire includes a log grate for supporting a plurality of artificial logs. The log grate is formed with a stepped configuration and has a back wall and opposite side walls, each of which has an opening formed through its thickness to allow secondary air to pass therethrough and into an interior space defined by the walls of the log grate. The log grate also includes a slotted grate front member. At least a front and rear artificial log is supported on the log grate. A burner tube is also supported by the log grate and has front and rear portions which are disposed in parallel. A front flame deflector is interposed between and spaced apart from the grate front member and the front portion of the burner tube and defines first and second channels for secondary air to flow through.

Abstract: A gas burner having first flame openings for discharging a stable and self-combustible high-concentration gas and second flame openings for discharging an unstable and non-self-combustible low-concentration gas, with the first and second flame openings being disposed alternately with each other. The effect of stable flame formations at the first flame openings assists stabilization of flame formations at the second flame openings adjacent thereto. Consequently, the gas burner as the whole may have a high air excess ratio to reduce its NOx generation and to prevent incomplete combustion. Further, if a rectifying member is provided in the second flame opening, it becomes possible to enlarge the opening area of the second flame opening without disturbing its flame formation, whereby the burner will achieve further reduction in NOx generation and combustion noise and also improvements in its combustion load and ignition performance.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for enhancing the aesthetics of a gas fireplace. The assembly includes an elongated burner tube which is laterally disposed within the combustion chamber of the fireplace and which includes discharge ports which are inwardly oriented with respect to the combustion chamber. A tray adjoins the front side of the burner tube and may support lava rocks or the like for hiding the burner tube from view. A gap is defined between the floor of the combustion chamber and the bottom surface of the tray so that secondary air can travel from the front end of the combustion chamber towards the burner tube. A support adjoins the rear side of the burner tube and includes an inclined surface facing the burner tube. An emberizing material such as mineral wool is supported by the inclined surfaces. Ignition of the burner tube causes flames to be directed rearwardly and to impinge upon the emberizing material, causing it to glow.