Combustion control device for solid fuel

Abstract

An apparatus for combusting a solid fuel mass therein controls the rate of combustion to slow the combustion process and extend the life of the solid fuel mass. The apparatus has a base cup configured to receive a lower portion of the solid fuel mass and a descending cup configured to receive an upper portion of the solid fuel mass, wherein the descending cup includes a flame hole. A descending cup is telescopically associated with the base cup and moves toward the base cup as the solid fuel mass burns, and flames generated as the solid fuel mass burns extend outwardly from the flame holes of the descending cup.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for controlling the burning rate of a solid fuel to extend the flame generation life of the solid fuel. Background Art

[0002] It is known that products such as decorative patio and garden torches and tabletop lanterns burn alcohol-based gel or liquid fuels to produce aesthetic lighting flames. In this type of product, the fuel is typically contained in a can with a lid that is difficult to reseal after being opened. By design, the fuel can is intended for single continuous use and typically lasts about two hours after being lit. Using gel or liquid fuels poses safety hazards as the lit fuel can spill and spread onto surfaces. For example, if a garden torch or the table on which a lantern is placed is inadvertently bumped and the fuel spills, the spilled fuel can spread the flame to people, pets, or flammable objects.

[0003] It is advantageous to use solid fuel blocks (such as ethanol-based solid fuel blocks) instead of gel or liquid fuels. Ethanol-based solid fuel pellets are known to be used as fire starters for campfires and the like. The solid fuel blocks will improve safety by eliminating the spill risk and will reduce waste by facilitating multiple intermittent uses of a single fuel supply. However, a disadvantage of substituting ethanol-based solid fuel blocks for gel or liquid fuels is that the solid fuel blocks exposed to the surrounding air burn at a faster rate, thus significantly reducing the life of the lantern or torch flame compared to using gel or liquid fuels.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus for controlling the burning rate of solid fuel blocks. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present disclosure provides an apparatus in which a solid fuel block is burned, wherein the burning rate of the solid fuel block is controlled to slow down the burning process and extend the service life of the solid fuel block. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the apparatus includes a base cup configured to receive a lower portion of the solid fuel block and a drop cup configured to receive an upper portion of the solid fuel block, wherein the drop cup includes at least one flame hole. The drop cup is telescopically associated with the base cup and moves toward the base cup as the solid fuel block burns, and the flame generated as the solid fuel block burns extends outward from each flame hole of the drop cup.

[0006] The base cup may have an external cylindrical shape defined by an outer diameter, and the dropping cup may have an internal cylindrical shape defined by an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the base cup. The dropping cup may include a top wall for contacting the solid fuel block. The flame holes may be arranged to extend through the top wall of the dropping cup. When the height of the solid fuel block drops below the level of the top edge of the base cup as the solid fuel block burns, the top wall of the dropping cup may engage the top edge of the base cup such that the dropping cup stops moving towards the base cup. The device may further include a housing that houses the base cup and the dropping cup.

[0007] The present disclosure also provides a method for burning a solid fuel block. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes placing a lower portion of the solid fuel block in the base cup, placing a dropping cup including flame holes above an upper portion of the solid fuel block, igniting the solid fuel block such that flames extend outward from the flame holes of the dropping cup, and causing the dropping cup to drop towards the base cup as the solid fuel block burns. The method may further include stopping the dropping of the dropping cup once the height of the solid fuel block drops below the level of the height of the base cup. The method may also include applying a swirling air flow to the flames. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The nature and mode of operation of the present disclosure will now be more fully described in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a device for burning a solid fuel block according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0010] Figure 2 is Figure 1 another exploded perspective view of the device shown in

[0011] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a perspective view of the device shown in

[0012] Figure 4 loaded with a solid fuel block, wherein a second wall portion of the housing of the device is shown in a closed position relative to a first wall portion of the housing; Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to that of

[0013] Figure 5 is Figure 1 a top plan view of the device shown in

[0014] Figure 6 a perspective view of the base of the housing;

[0015] Figure 7A is a cross-sectional view of a device taken generally along Figure 5 line A-A therein, where the device is filled with new solid fuel blocks and the solid fuel blocks have just been ignited;

[0016] Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 7A wherein the solid fuel blocks are partially consumed by combustion;

[0017] Figure 7C is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 7A wherein the solid fuel blocks are further consumed by combustion; and

[0018] Figure 7D is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 7A wherein the solid fuel blocks are even more consumed by combustion; and

[0019] Figure 7E is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 7A wherein the solid fuel blocks are completely consumed by combustion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Figures 1 to 5 Illustrated is a device 10 formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, which device 10 can be used to combust solid fuel blocks SFM received therein. For example, the device 10 can be a decorative item that can be placed on a tabletop or other support surface, or a decorative item placed on a ground-engaging support rod to provide illumination and a decorative flame when the solid fuel blocks SFM are ignited and combusted. The solid fuel blocks SFM can be consumable solid fuel blocks sized and shaped to be received by the device 10. As a non-limiting example, the solid fuel blocks SFM can be ethanol-based solid fuel blocks or solid fuel blocks based on other chemicals.

[0021] The device 10 generally includes a base cup 20 configured to receive a lower portion of the solid fuel blocks SFM and a drop cup 30 configured to receive an upper portion of the solid fuel blocks. The drop cup 30 includes at least one flame hole 32. As will be apparent from the following description, the drop cup 30 is telescopically associated with the base cup 20 and moves towards the base cup 20 as the solid fuel blocks SFM combust. As the solid fuel blocks SFM combust, a flame generated by the burning fuel extends outwardly through the flame holes 32 of the drop cup 30.

[0022] As illustrated in the figures, the base cup 20 can have an outer cylindrical shape defined by an outer diameter 21 (see Figure 7B), and may include a lumen 24 having a cylindrical shape defined by an inner diameter 25 (see Figure 7B ). The base cup 20 may further include a bottom wall 26 having a downward depression 27, a side wall 28 extending upward from the bottom wall 26, and a rim 29 located at the top end of the side wall 28. As further illustrated in the figure, the down cup 30 may include a lumen 34 having a cylindrical shape defined by an inner diameter 35 (see Figure 7A ), which inner diameter 35 is larger than the outer diameter 21 of the base cup 20. The flame holes 32 of the down cup 30 communicate with the lumen 34. In the illustrated embodiment in which the lumen 24 of the base cup 20 and the lumen 34 of the down cup 30 are of cylindrical shape, the solid fuel mass SFM may have a generally cylindrical shape or a frustoconical shape sized to be received within the lumen 24 of the base cup 20. Although cylindrical shapes which are easy to manufacture are shown and described for the base cup 20, the lumen 24, the down cup 30, the lumen 34, and the solid fuel mass SFM, non-cylindrical shapes may also be used without departing from the present disclosure.

[0023] The down cup 30 may include a top wall 36 having an inner surface for contacting the solid fuel mass SFM and a side wall 38 hanging from the top wall 36. The flame holes 32 may extend through the top wall 36 of the down cup 30. Alternatively or additionally, the flame holes 32 and / or additional flame holes (not shown) may extend through an upper region of the side wall 38.

[0024] The device 10 may further include a housing 50 that houses the base cup 20 and the down cup 30. The housing 50 may include a base 60, a first wall portion 70 mounted on the base 60 in a fixed position, and a second wall portion 80 mounted on the base 60 for pivotal movement between a closed position (see Figure 3 ) in which the first wall portion and the second wall portion surround the base cup and the down cup and an open position (see Figure 4 ) that allows access to the base cup and the down cup. As Figure 5As best seen, the first wall portion 70 and the second wall portion 80 can be offset from each other in the closed position to define a pair of air flow gaps 82A and 82B through which air enters the housing 50 and creates a vortex that affects the flame. The first wall portion 70 and the second wall portion 80 can each appear as an arc in a top plan view. In one embodiment, the arc can be a circular arc that encompasses an angle greater than 180°, such as 188°, such that each air flow gap 82A, 82B follows a corresponding curved passage between the first wall portion 70 and the second wall portion 80 to provide fluid communication between the exterior and interior of the housing 50. Alternatively, the first wall portion 70 and the second wall portion 80 can be non-arc-shaped in a top plan view. The first wall portion 70 and the second wall portion 80 can each be formed of a transparent or translucent material (such as glass, high-temperature plastic, or other engineered transparent or translucent materials) that can withstand the heat generated during the combustion of the solid fuel mass SFM. To benefit from economies of scale in production, the first wall portion 70 and the second wall portion 80 can have the same specifications.

[0025] The base 60 can include a base platform 61, a first bracket assembly 62A on the base platform 61 configured to removably hold the first wall portion 70, and a second bracket assembly 62B on the base platform 61 configured to removably hold the second wall portion 80. The second bracket assembly 62B can be mounted on the base platform 61 by a hinge 64 such that the second bracket assembly 62B can pivot relative to the first bracket assembly 62A. The first bracket assembly 62A or the second bracket assembly 62B can include a magnet 65, and the other bracket assembly (the second bracket assembly 62B or the first bracket assembly 62A) can include a ferrous material that attracts the magnet 65, whereby the first bracket assembly 62A and the second bracket assembly 62B are biased to hold the first wall portion 70 and the second wall portion 80 in the closed position. Each bracket assembly 62A, 62B can include a support member 67 and a clamping plate 68 having a plurality of elastically deflectable spring clips 69 configured to releasably hold the associated wall portion 70 or 80 on the surface of the corresponding support member 67. The base platform 61 can include a groove or opening 63 sized to receive a recess 27 in the bottom wall 26 of the base cup 20 such that the base cup 20 can be removably positioned at a central location on the base platform 61.

[0026] The apparatus 10 may further include a snuffer 90 which may include a handle portion 91 and an extension portion 92 located at the distal end of the handle portion 91. The snuffer 90 may be operable by a user to extinguish the flame by placing the extension portion 92 of the snuffer 90 above the flame hole 32 of the drop cup 30. As seen in the illustrated embodiment, the base platform 61 may include a slot 66 configured to slidably receive at least the extension portion 92 of the snuffer 90 to facilitate storage of the snuffer 90 when not in use. The slot 66 may be configured such that when the snuffer 90 is stored in the slot 66, the handle portion 91 of the snuffer 90 protrudes from the base platform 61.

[0027] Now refer Figures 7A to 7D to the use of the apparatus 10. First, the drop cup 30 is removed from the base cup 20 by pivoting the second wall portion 80 to its open position, the lower portion of the solid fuel mass SFM is inserted into the inner cavity 24 of the base cup 20, and the drop cup 30 is placed above the upper portion of the solid fuel mass SFM to load the solid fuel mass SFM into the apparatus 10. Then, a match, lighter or other flame source located above the flame hole 32 may be used to ignite the solid fuel mass SFM. Once the solid fuel mass SFM is ignited, the user pivots the second wall portion 80 to its closed position to close the housing 50. Figure 7A Illustrated is the operation after the solid fuel mass SFM has just been ignited and the housing 50 is closed, where the top wall 36 of the drop cup 30 rests on the top surface of the solid fuel mass SFM. As the solid fuel mass SFM burns, the flame F extends outwardly from the flame hole 32 of the drop cup 30.

[0028] As Figure 7B shown, as the solid fuel mass SFM is consumed by combustion, the drop cup 30 moves downwardly towards the base cup 20. At this stage, the top surface of the solid fuel mass SFM still remains above the top edge 29 of the base cup 20.

[0029] Figure 7C Illustrated is the state after the state shown as Figure 7B the solid fuel mass SFM continues to burn, where the top surface of the solid fuel mass SFM is just below the top edge 29 of the base cup 20. At this stage, the top wall 36 of the drop cup 30 engages the top edge 29 of the base cup 20 and the drop cup 30 stops moving towards the base cup 20.

[0030] Figure 7D Illustrated is the state after the state shown as Figure 7C the solid fuel mass SFM continues to burn. As the fuel is consumed, the top surface of the solid fuel mass SFM moves downwardly, but the drop cup 30 remains Figure 7CThe position shown in

[0031] Finally, Figure 7E A state is shown in which the solid fuel mass SFM has been completely consumed by combustion. The dropping cup 30 continues to rest on the top edge 29 of the base cup 20, and the flame F goes out due to lack of fuel.

[0032] The provision of the dropping cup 30 advantageously slows down the rate of combustion of the solid fuel mass SFM, so that the flame F lasts longer. In experiments conducted by the applicant, without using the dropping cup 30, the solid fuel mass lasted for about 45 minutes, but with the dropping cup 30, an equivalent solid fuel mass lasted for about 3 hours.

[0033] Although this disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments, the detailed description is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure to the specific forms set forth. This disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents of the described embodiments that may be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. An apparatus for burning a solid fuel block therein, the apparatus comprising: A base cup configured to receive a lower portion of the solid fuel block; And A drop cup configured to receive an upper portion of the solid fuel block, the drop cup including a flame hole; Wherein the drop cup is telescopically associated with the base cup and moves towards the base cup as the solid fuel block burns; and Wherein a flame generated as the solid fuel block burns extends outwardly from the flame hole of the drop cup.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base cup has an external cylindrical shape defined by an outer diameter, and the drop cup has an internal cylindrical shape defined by an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the base cup.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drop cup includes a top wall for contacting the solid fuel block.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the flame hole extends through the top wall of the drop cup.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the height of the solid fuel block drops below the level of the top edge of the base cup as the solid fuel block burns, the top wall of the drop cup engages the top edge of the base cup and the drop cup stops moving towards the base cup.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing for accommodating the base cup and the drop cup.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the housing includes a base, a first wall portion mounted on the base in a fixed position, and a second wall portion mounted on the base, the second wall portion being configured for pivotal movement relative to the first wall portion between a closed position in which the first wall portion and the second wall portion enclose the base cup and the drop cup and an open position allowing access to the base cup and the drop cup.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first wall portion and the second wall portion are offset from each other in the closed position to define a pair of air flow gaps through which air enters the housing and generates vortices affecting the flame.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the base includes a base platform, a first bracket assembly on the base platform configured to removably hold the first wall portion, and a second bracket assembly on the base platform configured to removably hold the second wall portion, wherein the second bracket assembly is mounted on the base platform by a hinge such that the second bracket assembly can pivot relative to the first bracket assembly.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein one of the first bracket assembly and the second bracket assembly includes a magnet, and the other of the first bracket assembly and the second bracket assembly includes a ferromagnetic material attracting the magnet, wherein the first bracket assembly and the second bracket assembly are biased to hold the first wall portion and the second wall portion in the closed position.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an extinguisher, wherein the base platform includes a slot for slidably receiving the extinguisher when not in use.

12. A method for burning a solid fuel block, the method comprising: placing a lower portion of the solid fuel block in a base cup; placing a drop cup over an upper portion of the solid fuel block, the drop cup including a flame hole; igniting the solid fuel block such that a flame extends outwardly from the flame hole of the drop cup; and lowering the drop cup toward the base cup as the solid fuel block burns.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising stopping the descent of the drop cup once the height of the solid fuel block has dropped below a level that is lower than the height of the base cup.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising applying a swirling air flow to the flame.

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