Patent Application
20200088401
The present invention relates to a combustion device and, particularly, to a combustion device that allows a user to use and to refill fuel safely.
Generally, there are two types of liquid fuel burning devices, with one type using a flammable fuel that can be lit directly to produce a flame, and with another type using a wick to draw fuel and to produce a flame.
An ethanol fireplace is a fuel burning device that uses an easy flammable alcohol. A common ethanol fireplace has a fuel reservoir defining a chamber for holding the ethanol and an opening for permitting the ethanol to be poured into the fuel reservoir. It is commonly seen that the fuel reservoir is made of stainless steel. Nonetheless, it is difficult to provide a stable flame when using the flammable fuel. In addition, it is not safe to touch the fuel reservoir since the flame will transfer heat to the fuel reservoir and the fuel reservoir becomes hot with a high temperature. Thus, for safety reasons, the fuel reservoir is refilled after it cools and when the flame is completely extinguished. Further, if the flame is not completely extinguished, it may result in a flare-up.
Instead of igniting ethanol directly, some ethanol fireplaces use ceramic fibers so the flame is controlled, but the ceramic fibers do not prevent the flame transferring heat to the fuel reservoir. Therefore, if it the fuel reservoir is not cooled or if the flame is not completely extinguished, it is dangerous to refill the fuel reservoir.
Fuel burning devices uses nonflammable fuel is another type. Because the nonflammable fuel is not configured to be lit to produce a flame, such fuel burning device use a wick that can be lit to produce a flame. However, the nonflammable fuel will vaporize into a gas which ignites without the help of any external flame or ignition source or when the temperature of the fuel inside the fuel burning device exceeds the flash point of the nonflammable fuel.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,476,586 shows a fuel burning device with a safety cover. The fuel burning device includes a fuel reservoir and a mounting seat that can hold a wick. The cover is operable between a closed position and an open position. When refilling the fuel reservoir, the cover is opened to allow fuel to be poured into the fuel reservoir.
Since heat can transfer through convection, or conduction or radiation, when the fuel burning device burns a flame, heat of the flame renders surrounding air heated and expanded, and the density difference between the hot air and cool air in the environment causes the hot air to move upward and to create a low pressure zone into which the cool air tends to move. Further, heat of the flame can conduct and radiate to the fuel reservoir. Thus, for safety reasons, it is necessary to keep the temperature of the fuel reservoir below the flash point of the fuel in the fuel reservoir.
When the scale of the combustion is larger, the convection and radiation of the heat also increases, plus if the environment temperature is relatively high or if a crosswind blows the flame and toward the fuel reservoir, dissipation of the heat is not enough and the danger of a flash flame can still happen.
Further, if the fuel temperature becomes too high, even though not blow its flash point, it is also dangerous that the fuel reservoir is knocked over inadvertently.
The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.
According to the present invention, a combustion device includes a fuel reservoir which includes a container and a tray disposed on the container and a wick inserted through a first hole of the tray and into a space of the container. Further, the combustion device includes a heat insulating and dissipating device which includes a heat insulating member and a heat dissipating member encircling the wick. The heat insulating member is made of a non-metallic material. The heat dissipating member is made of a metallic material.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
Other objectives, advantages, and new features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawings.
The fuel reservoir 20 includes a container 21 and a tray 22 disposed on the container 21. The container 21 has an opening. The tray 22 covers the opening of the container 21.
The wick 30 is made of metal. The wick (30) has a top end having a substantially circular outer periphery and a bottom end having an outer periphery including two substantially parallel sides. The wick 30 is inserted through a first hole 221 of the tray 22 and into a space 211 of the container 21. The wick is clamped between two holding members of a holding device. The tray 22 defines a recess which has a base and raised lateral side walls which extend from the base upward and annularly along a perimeter of the base. The tray 22 has a brim protruding from the lateral side walls. The container 21 has a brim 212 corresponding to the brim of the tray 22. At least one fastener engages with the brims of the container 21 and the tray 22 to securely clamp the container 21 and the tray 22. The brims of the container 21 and the tray 22 include a gasket 224 disposed therebetween. With the gasket 224, the brims of the container 21 and the tray 22 join together tightly and in a sealed manner The tray 22 defines a second hole 222 communicated with the space 211 of the container 21, and the tray 22 includes a cover 223 movably connected thereto and selectively closing the second hole 222.
The cover 223 can slide with respect to the tray 22 between an open position and a closed position. When the cover 223 is moved to the open position, the hole 222 is open and allows fuel 90 to be poured into the space 211 of the container 21. Further, the cover 223, in the closed position, fully closes up and covers the hole 222.
The heat insulating and dissipating device 40 includes a heat insulating member 41 and a heat dissipating member 42 encircling the wick 30. The heat insulating member 41 is made of a non-metallic material. The heat insulating member 41 is disposed on a side of the base of the tray 22 which is opposite to a side delimiting the space 211 of the container 21. The heat insulating member 41 is disposed between the side of the tray 22 and the heat dissipating member 42. The heat insulating member 41 prevents the heat dissipating member 42 from causing the side of the tray 22 to become hot. The heat dissipating member 42 is made of a material different from that of the heat insulating member 41. The heat dissipating member 42 is made of a metallic material. The heat dissipating member 42 is disposed at a height lower than the lateral side walls of the tray 22 in order to prevent a user from accidentally touching it. The heat dissipating member 42 has a cross sectional area not smaller than a cross sectional area of the heat insulating member 41. The heat insulating member 41 and the heat dissipating member 42 are overlapped. The heat insulating member 41 and the heat dissipating member 42 respectively define an aperture through which the wick 30 inserts. The apertures of the heat insulating member 41 and the heat dissipating member 42 correspond to the first hole 221.
In view of the forgoing, the cover 223 allows a user to pour fuel 90 into the space 211 of the container 21. The cover 223 can slide with respect to the tray 22 between an open position and a closed position. When the cover 223 is moved to the open position, the hole 222 is open and allows fuel 90 to be poured into the space 211 of the container 21. Further, the use and the arrangement of the heat insulating member 41 and the heat dissipating member 42 of the heat insulating and dissipating device 40 as set forth effectively inhibits the temperature of the combustion device 10 from accumulating as the wick 30 burns, thereby preventing the user from getting burned accidentally. Furthermore, there is no need to trim the metallic wick 30 to prevent the generation of black smoke and soot.
The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 107132745 | Sep 2018 | TW | national |
