STOVE

Abstract

A low cost stove which is conformed essentially by three metallic cans, wherein the first can which has the function of serving as support structure, comprises a first plurality of holes along its entire periphery which serve as inlet ports of air and oxygen therein. The second can, which is integrally attached to the interior of the first can, has the function of serving as a container and alcohol burner. Said second can or burner comprises a second plurality of holes on its lateral wall extending along its entire periphery and which are spaced equidistantly from each other, wherein said second plurality of holes in the second can or burner, are in fluid communication with the first plurality of holes of the first can. The burner further comprises on its upper wall a central hole, which has the function of serving as inlet means for the alcohol to the interior thereof. Likewise, said central hole, in use, is covered by a coin to cause that the combustion gases and flame are deviated towards the second plurality of holes for carrying out the heating of the vessel containing food or water, which is disposed on the upper edges of the first and second cans. The third can is simple and without holes and has the function of extinguishing the fire and serving as an advertising space.

Description

The present invention refers to a low cost stove to be used in disaster areas, in camping areas, or in areas of extreme poverty where there is not any technology and services that are normally present in homes of middle and high class, for cooking and preparing food, such as LP gas service or electric grills or microwave ovens. In particular, the present invention refers to a stove with a high thermal efficiency using a simple and common fuel such as ethanol at 96% or 70%, and which is available in any store, pharmacy, mall, etc., at a very low cost. Likewise, the present invention refers to a stove of simple manufacturing, economic and fully ecological, which is conformed essentially by only three simple cans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, there are several ways for cooking and preparing food such as gas stoves, electric grills, microwave or electric ovens. Equally, it is also known that in camping areas or very poor areas said food preparation is carried out by means of fires, in which is used wood or paper as fuel.

However, all the aforementioned media presents several problems, for example when a person has to prepare food in disaster areas, since it is well known that after a disaster such as: earthquake, the passage of a hurricane, a tsunami, etc., the affected areas do not have any service such as gas or light, thus, the fact of preparing food or boiling water in these affected areas is too complicated, given that those affected areas commonly remain without means of communication such as roads by means of which stoves and their respective fuel as it is LP gas for preparing said food and much less electricity for the use of electric grills. Likewise, supplying said stoves and gas by air is also too dangerous due to the fact that the containers containing this kind of fuels, are vessels submitted to high pressures which are made of metal that is very heavy for its transportation as well as delicate, since in case that the vessel is hit because of turbulence (due to weather conditions), this could explode, causing even more damage.

Likewise, for very poor areas, food preparation is extremely complicated by the aforementioned means, since usually this kind of areas do not comprise any service such as potable water, electricity, drainage and much less gas. Equally, for people who inhabit these kind of zones it is almost impossible to acquire a common stove since they are very expensive and the fuel to make them work is also very expensive. Because of this, in such areas the food is commonly cooked or prepared by burning wood or charcoal which is highly polluting and harmful to health when is done indoors.

In the same manner, there are burners using solid alcohol as fuel to issue a flame; however, these kind of burners are not suitable for preparing food, since they do not reach the sufficient temperature for cooking food or boil water, thus, these kind of devices are known as “warmers” or “heaters” since they only keep food at a constant temperature, which is very low, to avoid the cooling thereof, but are not intended for cooking.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a low cost stove and easy to transport both said stove as the fuel used therein, to be used in disaster areas.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stove of low cost of manufacturing, simple, economic and fully ecological as well as with a long useful life.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a low cost stove with a high thermal efficiency using a simple and common fuel such as ethanol or alcohol at 70%, 96% or even 99.5%.

Another object of the invention is to provide a low cost stove, wherein said stove and its fuel are fully accessible to people living in areas of extreme poverty.

A further object of the invention is to provide a low cost stove, which reaches temperatures in the range of 310 up to 350° C. in a first embodiment for cooking any type of food, and in a second embodiment wherein the first can is also used as burner, such stove reaches temperatures in the range 350 up to 400° C.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a low cost stove, which can be used on any surface without using any insulating cover since the base of said stove is not heated.

Yet another object of the invention to is provide a low cost stove, fully scalable, which can be made of different sizes or dimensions according to the needs, without losing efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are achieved by a low cost stove which is conformed essentially by three metallic cans, wherein the first can which is opened at its upper end, and has the function of serving as support structure, comprising a first plurality of holes along its entire periphery which serve as inlet ports of air and oxygen therein. The second can which is integrally attached by any suitable means, to the interior of the first can, has the function of serving as a container and fuel burner. Said second can or burner comprises a second plurality of holes on its lateral wall extending along its entire periphery and which are spaced equidistantly from each other, wherein said second plurality of holes in the second can or burner, are in fluid communication with the first plurality of holes of the first can. The burner further comprises on its upper wall a central hole which has the function of serving as inlet means for fuel to the interior thereof. Likewise, said central hole, in use, is covered by a coin to cause that the combustion gases and flame are deviated towards the second plurality of holes for carrying out the heating of the vessel containing food or water, which is disposed on the upper edges of the first and second cans.

The third can is simple and without holes and has the function of extinguishing the fire by covering the burner cutting off abruptly the oxygen supplying from the first plurality of holes, also the third can or lid has the additional function of maintaining the ethanol or alcohol inside the tank/burner for long periods of time, and serving as an advertising space.

In a further embodiment, the first can or stove structure functions as a second burner, for which, fuel is introduced into the interior cavity formed between the first and second cans, which is ignited after igniting the fuel of the first burner and cover the upper central hole of the first burner.

Said further embodiment of the low cost stove of the present invention further comprises a fourth can, which like the third can is simple and without perforations and has the function of extinguishing the fire of the second burner, covering it cutting off abruptly the supplying of oxygen from the environment and which is introduced into the cavity through the first plurality of holes, further, said fourth can or cover has the additional function of maintaining the ethanol or alcohol within the cavity for long periods of time, and also serves as advertising space.

The additional features and advantages of the invention should be more clearly understood by means of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, given by a non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the low cost stove, which shows the first and second cans before use.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the low cost stove, which shows the third can covering the second can to extinguish the stove after use.

FIG. 1B is a cutaway view in cross section of the low cost stove of the present invention showing all its components assembled.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the first can or stove structure, which shows the configuration of the inlet holes of air and oxygen.

FIG. 2B is a cutaway view in cross section on line A-A of FIG. 2A, which shows the configuration of the elements forming the first can.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the second can or burner, which shows the configuration of the holes of air and oxygen inlet and flame outlet.

FIG. 3B is a cutaway view in cross section on line A-A of FIG. 3A, which shows the configuration of the elements forming the second can.

FIG. 4A is a front view of the third can or cover lid.

FIG. 4B is a cutaway view in cross section on line B-B of FIG. 4A, which shows the configuration of the elements forming the third can.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the low cost stove of the present invention during use, in which the upper central hole is covered by a coin.

FIG. 5B is a cutaway view in cross section of FIG. 4A, which shows the fluid communication between the holes of the first can and the holes of the second can.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the low cost stove of the present invention after use, wherein a fourth can which covers completely the first can and/or stove.

FIG. 6B is a cutaway view in cross section of FIG. 6A, which shows the third and fourth cans covering the first and second cans, respectively.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the behavior of the combustion and flames of the low cost stove of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6B, it is shown the low cost stove of the present invention generally numbered in 10. This stove is shown generally conformed by a first can or stove structure 12, a second can or burner 14, and a third can or lid 16. Also, in a further embodiment said low cost stove comprises a fourth can or cover 22.

With reference now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, in said figures it is shown the first can 12, which has a substantially cylindrical shape, said can 12 comprises a side wall 122 which is joined integrally to a base wall 128 forming an open can on its upper end. Said side wall 122 comprises a first plurality of holes 124 having a configuration substantially oblong, which have a first function of allowing the entering of air and oxygen into the first can, said plurality of holes is disposed along the entire periphery said side wall 122, forming rows of holes 124 equidistantly spaced from each other. Said sidewall further comprises a rounded ridge 126 at its upper end which avoids that the user cuts his hand during the handling of the stove, and which serves as a reinforcement for supporting the vessel in which the food will be prepared.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, said figures show the second can or burner 14 of the low cost stove 10 of the present invention, which is disposed within said first can, said burner 14 comprises a sidewall 142, which is integrally joined to an upper wall 146 and a base wall 152, forming a closed can. The side wall 142 comprises a second plurality of holes 144 with a substantially circular configuration, having a first function of serving as inlet means of air and oxygen into said burner and a second function of serving as outlet means for the combustion gases and flames so as to provide heat to the vessel in which the food will be prepared.

Said second plurality of holes 144 is formed by pairs of holes vertically disposed one upper and one lower, which are arranged along the entire periphery of said side wall 142 and spaced equidistantly from one another. Said pairs of holes 144 are located in a such way that that the center of the diameter of the lower holes 144 coincides with the center of the can or burner 14 so that there is enough space between the lower hole of each pair of holes 144 and the wall base 152 for containing the alcohol to carry out the cooking of food. The upper wall 146 is slightly conical to serve as a funnel during the supplying of fuel into the burner. Said upper wall 146 further comprises a central bore 148 which allows the entry of alcohol into said burner, and reinforcing ridge 150 which serves to support the vessel, in which the food will be prepared, along with the ridge 126 of the first can 12. The base wall 152 serves as connection means between the first can 12 and the second can or burner 14, wherein the outer surface of said base wall 152 is fixedly or permanently attached to the inner surface of the base wall 128 of the first can.

Said first and second cans can be joined by any suitable means, such as welding, punching, or adhesives, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, in said figures the third can or lid 16 is shown, which comprises a sidewall 162 and a wall integrally attached to an upper wall 164, said third can or lid 16 has the function of turning off the stove 10 once the food has been cooked, by covering the second can or burner 14 cutting off suddenly the air and oxygen supplying into said burner.

In a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first can also has the function of second burner, for which an inner cavity or second combustion chamber 20 located between the sidewall 122 of the first can and the sidewall 142 of the second can or first burner is provided with alcohol for its combustion, in said second embodiment, the first plurality of holes have a second function of outlet means for the combustion gases and flames to provide heat and additional fire to the vessel wherein the food will be prepared.

In the second embodiment of the present invention shown said FIGS. 6A and 6B, the low cost stove further comprises a fourth can or cover 22, which is similar in design to the third can 16, but with such dimensions that it completely covers the first can, extinguishing the fire of the second burner 12.

The operation of the first embodiment of the low cost stove of the present invention is as follows:

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7, in a first step, the third can 16 is removed from the stove, leaving free the burner 14, then, said burner 14 is provided with alcohol at 99.5% or 96% or 70%, which is introduced through the upper central hole 148, once the alcohol is located within the burner 14, the gases expelled by the alcohol are ignited by any suitable ignition means such as a match or lighter, thereby generating a flame of a yellow or orange color.

After initiating the alcohol combustion, said hole 148 is capped or covered by the coin 18, as shown in FIG. 5A, which generates a change in said combustion, and causes the combustion gases and flames are fully deviated towards the holes 144 so that the flame changes into a blue color, which indicates that the temperature of the flames is at its more optimum point as shown in FIG. 7.

Once reached said color Blue of the flames, the vessel or container containing food or water is positioned over the stove for its heating and/or preparation, whose cooking surface reaches temperatures in the range of 300-350° C.

When the food has been prepared or water has been boiled, the stove 10 is turned off by placing the cap or lid 16 over the burner 14, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, which causes that the oxygen feeding into the burner 14 is suddenly cut off, causing the immediate extinguishing of flames.

The operation of the second embodiment of the low cost stove of the present invention is as follows:

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6B, in a first step, the third and fourth cans 16 are removed from the stove, leaving free the first burner 14 and second burner 12, then said first 14 and second 12 burners are provided with alcohol 99.5% or 96% or 70%, which is introduced into the first combustion chamber through the upper central hole 148, and in the second combustion chamber through the upper part thereof, once the alcohol is located within the first and second combustion chambers 14, 12, the alcohol gases expelled from both the first combustion chamber and the second combustion chamber are ignited simultaneously by any suitable ignition means such as a match or lighter, thereby generating a first and second flames of a yellow or orange color.

After initiating the combustion of the alcohol of the first and second burners 14, 12, said hole 148 is capped or covered by the coin 18, which generates a change into the combustion, and causing that the combustion gases and flames within the first burner are entirely deviated towards the holes 144 as shown in FIG. 7, causing that both the flame of the first burner 14, as the flame of the second burner 12 change into a blue color, which indicates that the temperature of the flames is at its more optimum point.

Once the blue color of the flames has been reached, the vessel or container containing food or water for its heating and/or preparation is placed over the stove.

When the food has been prepared or water has been boiled, the heater 10 is turned off by placing the cap 16 on the first burner 14 and by placing the cover 22 over the second burner 12, which causes that the oxygen feeding into the first and second burners 14 is suddenly cut off, causing the immediate extinguishing of flames.

By the structural configuration of the cans and the holes of the low cost stove of the present invention, it is possible to use the stove on any surface, since the base thereof never heats, due to the fact that the high temperatures are concentrated only in the upper part of said stove.

Also, due to the arrangement and disposition of the first and second plurality of orifices, it is possible to reach temperatures from 350° C. up to 400° C., because of the high oxygenation of the combustion chambers of the first and second burners.

Similarly, with the low cost stove of the present invention it is possible to have a high efficiency and performance of the relationship temperature-fuel, which are indicated in the following tables and examples, as well as a comparison between the known conventional stoves and low cost stove of the present invention:

Tank one uses 330 ml of ethanol at 96%.

Tank two uses 550 ml of ethanol at 96%.

The stove is made of nickel-plated metal sheet.

Results:

1. Using Ethanol at 96%. Tank 1

	Boiling Time (2.8 L of water)	37	minutes
	Ethanol consumed	130.0	grams
	Thermal Efficiency	39%
	Firepower	1,417.0	watts

Thus, 48 g of ethanol are used to boil 1 L of water.

2. Using Ethanol at 96%. Tank 2

	Boiling Time (2.8 L of water)	11	minutes
	Ethanol consumed	255.0	grams
	Thermal Efficiency	16%
	Firepower	9,350.0	watts

Thus, 89 g of ethanol are used to boil 1 L of water.

3. Emissions*

1.2 g CO/kg ethanol.

2.8 g PM/kg ethanol.

*Was measured using Tank 2.

	Time:
	Ini-	.5	1.0	1.5	2	2.5	3
Product	tial	minute	minute	mins.	mins.	mins.	mins.
Glatt Stove tank	21	125	180	230	270	300	315
#1
Glatt Stove tank	21	170	250	320	340	370	390
#1 + tank #2
Homemade gas	21	160	250	315	337	340	343
stove with 6
burners
Can of Solid	21	110	120	140	140	155	155
alcohol
Under Pressure	21	110	260	315	350	370	375
Gas Grill
Gas Grill with	21	140	230	290	310	315	330
an External
Tank 30 Kg.
Electrical Grill	21	110	200	220	300	310	310
Campfire made	21	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
of three stones
Brazier	21	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA

Everything is in Celsius Degrees.

The test was made with a griddle for tortilla made of thin sheet with a diameter of 30 cm.

NA means “Not Applicable” since turning on any of these products or systems takes more than 3 minutes.

The temperatures are average temperatures since due to the griddle is thin, this is heated unevenly.

Claims

1. A stove suitable for use in disaster areas or regions of extreme poverty, said stove comprising: a first can comprising a first base wall integrally joined to a first side wall, and a first reinforcing ridge along a first upper edge of said first side wall for supporting a vessel for preparing food, wherein said first side wall defines a plurality of first holes;a burner disposed within said first can and comprising a combustion chamber defined by a base, a second upper wall defining a central hole for receiving fuel, and a second side wall integrally joined to said base and to said second upper wall, and further comprising a second reinforcing ridge along a second upper edge of said second side wall for supporting said vessel, wherein said base is attached to said first base wall of said first can, wherein said second burner wall defines a plurality of second holes in fluid communication with said plurality of first holes, and wherein said central hole is sized and shaped to be covered by a coin; anda cap comprising a third side wall integrally joined to a third upper wall, said cap sized and shaped to fit over said burner for selectively extinguishing combustion.

2. The stove according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of first holes comprises a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart openings along said first side wall and arranged in a plurality of rows.

3. The stove according to claim 2, wherein said openings are substantially oblong.

4. The stove according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of second holes comprises a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart pairs of openings along said second side wall, said pairs of openings arranged vertically, an upper opening and a lower opening.

5. The stove according to claim 4, wherein each opening of said plurality of second holes is substantially circular.

6. The stove according to claim 5, wherein said lower opening is positioned relative to said base of said burner to allow sufficient space to contain said fuel.

7. The stove according to claim 1, wherein said second upper wall is slightly conical in shape to funnel said fuel toward said central hole during filling.

8. The stove according to claim 1, wherein said fuel is a liquid alcohol having a percentage of 99.5 percent, 96 percent, 90 percent, or 70 percent.

9. The stove according to claim 1, wherein said base of said burner may be placed on any surface during combustion with a low risk of burning said surface.

10. The stove according to claim 1, wherein ignition of gases expelled by said fuel generates flames appearing yellow or orange, and when said central hole is blocked by said coin, said flames are directed toward said plurality of second holes and said flames appear blue, indicating a suitable temperature for cooking.

11. The stove according to claim 1, wherein ignition of gases expelled by said fuel generates temperatures near said vessel of about 300 degrees Celsius to about 350 degrees Celsius.

12. The stove according to claim 1, further comprising a first advertising indicia located on a first outer surface of said cap.

13. The stove according to claim 1, wherein a second combustion chamber is defined by a space between said first can and said burner for receiving a second fuel, said stove further comprising a cover comprising a fourth side wall integrally joined to a fourth upper wall, said cover sized and shaped to fit over said first can for selectively extinguishing combustion in said second combustion chamber.

14. A stove suitable for use in disaster areas or regions of extreme poverty, said stove comprising: a first can comprising a first base wall integrally joined to a first side wall, and a first reinforcing ridge along a first upper edge of said first side wall for supporting a vessel for preparing food, wherein said first side wall defines a plurality of first holes;a burner disposed within said first can and comprising a combustion chamber defined by a base, a second upper wall defining a central hole for receiving fuel, and a second side wall integrally joined to said base and to said second upper wall, and further comprising a second reinforcing ridge along a second upper edge of said second side wall for supporting said vessel, wherein said base is attached to said first base wall of said first can, wherein said second burner wall defines a plurality of second holes in fluid communication with said plurality of first holes, and wherein said central hole is sized and shaped to be covered by a coin;a cap comprising a third side wall integrally joined to a third upper wall, said cap sized and shaped to fit over said burner for selectively extinguishing combustion in said combustion chamber;a second combustion chamber defined by a space between said first can and said burner for receiving a second fuel;a cover comprising a fourth side wall integrally joined to a fourth upper wall, said cover sized and shaped to fit over said first can for selectively extinguishing combustion in said second combustion chamber.

15. The stove according to claim 14, wherein said second fuel is a liquid alcohol having a percentage of 99.5 percent, 96 percent, 90 percent, or 70 percent.

16. The stove according to claim 14, wherein ignition of gases expelled by said fuel, and of second gases expelled by said second fuel, together generates temperatures near said vessel of about 350 degrees Celsius to about 400 degrees Celsius.

17. The stove according to claim 14, further comprising a second advertising indicia located on a second outer surface of said cover.