Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
The Embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is
claimed are defined as follows:
1) In a preferred embodiment, a propane cylinder is modified, by means of an
attached chimney of
approximately one half of the diameter of the cylinder, and a height of not
more than the length of
the cylinder, centred on the top end of the cylinder, and a rectangular, or
oval hole having a major
dimension of about one third of the circumference and a minor dimension of
about one third of the
height of the cylinder, is cut into the lower half of the vertical surface of
the cylinder. An
arrangement of twenty to twenty five ventilation holes, each about 2 cm.
diameter is cut into the
base of the cylinder. A square (approximately 1.5 times the diameter of the
cylinder, per side,)
geometrically stable base is attached to the bottom of the cylinder by means
of four legs which
support the base of the cylinder about 15 to 20 cm above the ground. The whole
assembly is
arranged to slope from front to back at an angle of 15 to 20 degrees so as to
facilitate the viewing
of the fire inside the cylinder. After igniting the fire inside the cylinder,
by means of conventional
techniques, suitably sized pieces of fuel wood, charcoal or briquettes may be
dropped down the
chimney into the fire, or it may be inserted through the open hole in the side
of the cylinder from
which the spark guard is temporally removed. A spark arrester is placed on a
swivelling hob or
permanantly installed hob or trivet, over the top of the chimney. Embers which
fall through the
ventilation holes in the base of the cylinder are caught in a metal bowl
placed below the base of the
cylinder. A metal tray (say 60 cm.square) having 5 cm. deep walls is placed
beneath the base of
the cylinder to diffuse the heat radiated from the bottom of the cylinder when
it is standing on a
wooden deck. The oval opening in the front of the cylinder is covered by a
spark-guard. A sheet
metal collar to facilitate the roasting of food (such as potatoes) is fitted
around the base of the
chimney, The spark guard on the swivelling hob may be replaced by a pan in
which water may be
boiled or food cooked.
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2) A propane cylinder is modified, by means of an attached chimney of
approximately one half of the
diameter of the cylinder, and a height of not more than the length of the
cylinder, located on the top
end of the cylinder, and a round, rectangular, or oval hole having a major
dimension of about one
third of the circumference and a minor dimension (in the case of rectangular
or oval holes) of about
one third of the height of the cylinder, is cut into the lower part of the
vertical surface of the cylinder.
An arrangement of ventilation holes, having a total surface area of about two
thirds of the area of
the chimney are cut into the base of the cylinder. A square, circular or
polygonal geometrically
stable base is attached to the bottom of the cylinder by means of four legs(in
the case of a square
base) or 3 or more legs in the case of a circular or polygonal base, which
support the base of the
cylinder about 15 to 20 cm above the ground. The whole assembly may be
vertical or may be
arranged to slope from front to back at an angle of 10 to 20 degrees so as to
facilitate the viewing
of the fire inside the cylinder. After igniting the fire inside the cylinder,
by means of conventional
techniques, suitably sized pieces of fuel wood, charcoal or briquettes may be
dropped down the
chimney into the fire, or it may be inserted through the open hole in the side
of the cylinder. A
spark arrester may be placed on a swivelling or permanently installed hob or
trivet (which may
also be used to support a container of water etc., over the top of the
chimney. Embers which fall
through the ventilation holes in the base of the cylinder are caught in a
metal bowl placed below the
base of the cylinder. A sheet metal collar to facilitate the roasting of food
(such as potatoes) is
fitted around the base of the chimney,
3) A propane cylinder or a sheet metal fabrication of circular, triangular,
square or polygonal shape has
an attached chimney of approximately one half of the diameter of the
fabrication, and a suitable
height, located on the top end of the cylinder, and an oval or alternate shape
hole having a major
dimension of about one third of the circumference and a minor dimension of
about one third of the
height of the fabrication, is cut into the lower part of the front vertical
surface of the fabrication,
leaving an integrated fire containment tray, or barrier, below the open hole,
having a depth of not
less than 5 cm. fronting the base of the fabrication..Alternatively a number
of secondary combustion
air inlet holes having a total area at least equal to that of the cross
section of the chimney may be
cut into the top half of the walls of the cylinder An arrangement of
ventilation holes, each about 2
cm. diameter is cut into the base of the fabrication, or alternatively, a
single hole of larger diameter,
covered by expanded mesh whose function is to support the burning fuel inside
the fabrication. A
circular or square base is attached to the bottom of the fabrication by means
of three or four legs
respectively, which support the base of the fabrication about 15 to 20 cm
above the ground. The
whole assembly may be arranged to stand vertically, or it may be arranged to
tilt, from front to back,
at an angle suitable for the viewing of the enclosed fire through the open
hole in the front of the
assembly. After igniting the fire inside the cylinder, by means of
conventional techniques, suitably
sized pieces of fuel wood, charcoal or briquettes may be inserted through the
open hole in the side
of the fabrication or dropped down the chimney into the fire. Embers which
fall through the base of
the fabrication are caught in a metal bowl placed below the base of the
fabrication. One or more
doors may be placed so as to cover the open hole in the front face of the
assembly so as to
completely enclose the fire, when considered necessary.
4) A container, set on a stable base, in which primary combustion air is
admitted through holes in its
lower surfaces so as to promote vigorous combustion of solid fuel, placed and
ignited in the lower
part of the container, and in which secondary combustion air is admitted to
the container via one or
more holes in its upper surface, so as to allow the further combustion of
smoke, particles or
combustible gases, so as to produce hot gases which are contained inside the
container for a time
period long enough to efficiently heat the internal walls of the container, so
as to make the external
surface of the container a heat radiating body suitable for the comfort and
warming of persons who
may be seated around the container. Simultaneously, the generated hot gases
are released from a
chimney located on the top surface of the container at a height above the
ground such that they are
encouraged to rise up into the atmosphere by natural forces, where they are
diluted and cause
minimum discomfort to persons who may be seated around the container.
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5) A metallic surface, (supported above the ground) which may be cylindrical
or other suitable
geometric shape, raised to a temperature sufficient to radiate heat to the
surrounding space by
means of an internal fire; the temperature of the surface(s) to be
sufficiently high so as to
radiate heat for the comfort of sedentary persons sitting around the radiating
surface
6) A form of smoke control, achieved by the fact that the hot gases from the
vigorous combustion of
the solid fuel are contained inside a container, in close conjunction with a
supply of secondary air,
for a period long enough to cause almost complete combustion of smoke
particles and small
embers generated by the combustion process. An optional detachable spark
arrester is available to
provide additional security against the risk that a spark or glowing ember
could be emitted from the
patio heater and cause a local conflagration
7) A form of smoke and noxious fume control, achieved by the fact that the
combustion gases leaving
the chimney are:
a) released to the atmosphere at approximately head height of the persons
sitting around the
heater, from a small diameter chimney, and
b) very hot, and are caused to rise quickly into the atmosphere.
8) A portable and transportable patio or camp-site heater which combusts
solid, liquid or gaseous fuels
in a manner which effectively heats the internal surfaces of the cylinder so
as to create a hot
radiating body.
9) A patio or camp-site heater having a supporting structure attached to the
external surface of the
heater which may be used for the purposes of roasting food placed into it.
Alternatively or
simultaneously, edible tid-bits may be cooked by inserting the food carried on
a suitable spit, or long
fork, into the heat emanating from the chimney of the assembly, or
alternatively into the front
opening in the wall of the assembly so as to gain direct access to the heat
from the source of
combustion.
10) A patio or camp-site heater which may be used for the heating of water or
the cooking of food by
placing a suitable container on a swivelling or permanently installed hob, or
trivet, positioned directly
over the heat rising from the chimney.
11) A patio or camp-site heater which is designed for the efficient combustion
of solid fuel which
incorporates a chimney having an internal diameter large enough to allow the
solid fuel to be
dropped down the chimney for the purpose of sustaining the longevity of the
fire contained in the
device.
12) A patio or camp-site heater having sliding or hinged doors on its outer
surface, which, when open,
to allow persons sitting around the fabrication to see the enclosed fire and
its associated flames.
The opening may also be used for the insertion of solid fuel, or for the
purpose of roasting, cooking
or heating food or edible tid-bits. When not used for viewing the fire, the
doors may be closed so
as to enclose the fire in a safe and effective manner.
13) A patio or camp-site heater having a means by which gaseous or vaporized
fuels may be mixed
with primary combustion air and ignited, so as to burn with a high temperature
flame which is
directed so as to swirl around the internal surfaces of the device. Secondary
combustion air being
supplied by means of an air inlet in the under surface of the assembly in
order to facilitate the
complete and efficient combustion of the gaseous fuel, so as to generate a
high temperature inside
the container. Also a mechanism whereby the volume of fuel supplied to the
burner per unit of time
may be controlled.
14) A patio or camp-site heater which is both portable and transportable.
15) A patio or camp-site heater which can be manufactured in different sizes,
whilst maintaining the
desirable properties described herein.
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