A combustion and heating device

Abstract

A combustion and heating device 99 comprises a crucible 5 with holes (52, 53, Fig. 6). The crucible is inserted into a sleeve 6 with an upper cap 4 secured onto a first end of the sleeve and a lower c

Description

Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a combustion and heating device, in particular a device for burning organic fuel such as wood; more particularly but not exclusively a device for burning wood and producing charcoal. Background 10 In many societies across the world there is an increasing interest in fuel efficiency in many fields, as well as a more natural and low impact on the world and its resources. Charcoal making involves burning wood whilst controlling the amount of oxygen 15 present. Very little oxygen is allowed in, and the slow burn results in a product (charcoal) that burns at very high temperatures, but produces very little (if any) smoke. This process is called pyrolysis and it produces carbon that in turn is charcoal, which may be burnt for cooking purposes or similar. This is a process that requires planning 20 and correct and large equipment typically. Prior Art AT 525 531 (KEINRATH) discloses a furnace for pyrolysis of a solid fuel comprises a 25 tubular housing which is upright during operation and into which a pot-shaped combustion chamber with a closed base and a circumferential wall is inserted, forming an annular space between combustion chamber and housing, which is closed at its upper end by a ring, the wall having in its lower region a first and in its upper region a second ring of openings and an air supply opening into the annular space, and the air 30 supply being directed from below against the base of the combustion chamber. - US 2017 0 363 297 (ALVARADO) discloses a burner for a heat utilizing appliance, comprising a housing and a fuel holder within the housing, wherein the housing comprises a lateral wall surrounding and spaced apart from the fuel holder, a top wall 35 including a constricted exhaust outlet of transverse dimensions less than transverse dimensions of the lateral wall, the constricted exhaust outlet located above the fuel holder, and an air inlet opening admitting air to the fuel holder, wherein the lateral wall and the top wall are collectively configured to guide inducted air flowing around the fuel holder inwardly from a periphery of the housing to join exhaust products flowing upwardly through the exhaust outlet when solid fuel is being burned in the fuel holder, thereby supporting secondary combustion above the fuel holder. US 2017 0 347 832 (LIN) discloses a portable biomass stove comprising: a tubular seat unit including an inner tubular seat that has a tubular body defining a combustion chamber which is adapted to receive a biomass fuel therein, said tubular body being formed with a plurality of spaced-apart top and bottom holes that fluidly communicate with said combustion chamber, and an outer tubular seat that surrounds said inner tubular seat, that cooperates with said inner tubular seat to define an internal space therebetween, and that is formed with an air inlet located under said tubular body, a top end portion of said outer tubular seat being connected to a top end portion of said tubular body in a sealing contact manner; and an insulation unit disposed in one of said internal space and an ambient space outside said outer tubular seat so as to prevent dissipation of heat out of said outer tubular seat. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a combustion and heating device comprising: a crucible and a sleeve; wherein the crucible is inserted into the sleeve, an upper cap secures onto a first end of the sleeve and a lower cap secures onto a second end of the sleeve, and the crucible comprises a plurality of holes. In this way the device of the present invention provides a portable device that can be used for combustion or organic matter for example, and the caps may be screwed onto both ends of the sleeve to provide pyrolysis conditions. In some embodiments of the device the upper cap comprises a vent. In this way the upper cap and lower cap may be screwed onto the sleeve to close the sleeve, and the upper cap and lower cap may be unscrewed from the sleeve such that airflow passes through the sleeve and burns combustible fuel within the crucible. Additionally or alternatively when the caps are screwed on the vent may allow for a reduced air inflow so as to permit very little oxygen into the crucible, and the slow burn results in charcoal, that burns at very high temperatures, and may be stored within the device. In some embodiments of the device the vent comprises a displaceable bung, so as to allow control over exit and / or entry into the device, which bung may be tethered to ensure it remains available. In some embodiments of the device the upper cap comprises a screw thread to allow easy and secure control. In some embodiments of the device the sleeve comprises a reduced diameter lower section, so as to fit into the lower cap where the lower cap has an outer diameter the same as the sleeve. In some embodiments of the device the reduced diameter lower section comprises perforations, which enable entrance into the sleeve of airflow, and wherein the sleeve may allow the crucible to be elevated and airflow directed to it from below. In some such embodiments of the device therefore the perforated sidewall extends below the crucible, in use. In some embodiments of the device the reduced lower section comprises a screw thread and the lower cap may also comprise a screw thread. In this way the lower section of the sleeve may be screwed into or onto the cap, for example to close the two together and to space the two apart, wherein the perforated sidewall may be located above the cap in use and screwed thereto. In some embodiments of the device the lower cap covers the perforations, when the cap is screwed onto the sleeve. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a mount for a stove top, which mount may be hinged to the top of crucible, such as the inner surface. In some such embodiments of the device it may be envisaged that the device comprises a plurality of mount parts. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a silicone cover which may be over part or whole of the device. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with sleeve displaced in the lower cap and the upper cap removed; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, with caps in place; Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; and Figures 7 show detail section views of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 3. Detailed Description of Figures With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of a combustion and heating device 99 generally comprising: a crucible 5 and a sleeve 6; wherein the crucible is inserted into the sleeve, an upper cap 4 secures onto a first end of the sleeve and a lower cap 3 secures onto a second end of the sleeve, and the crucible comprises a plurality of holes 52,53. The pictured embodiment may be envisaged to be cylindrical with the dimensions of dimensions of 135mm x 200mm. Further embodiments may be envisaged to have different dimensions, being suited for different quantities of fuel, and / or personal or group usage. The embodiment comprises a sleeve 6 which has two open ends, the upper end having a bayonet-style limited screw thread 62, and the lower end having a plurality of oblong perforations 61 spaced around a reduced diameter section. The reduced diameter section further comprises upper screw thread 63 and lower screw thread 63 around its top and its bottom perimeter. z _ ..... . ■ . I It may be envisaged that the main body of the sleeve may be provided with a coating or covering, so as to reduce heat transfer and increase comfort and aesthetics. The whole part is made from stainless steel, or may be made in titanium. As shown in Figure 1, the screw threads of the reduced diameter section of the sleeve enable the sleeve to be screwed into and out of the lower cap 3, which internally has an insert 7 with a matching screw thread 71. In this way, as shown in Figure 1, the perforations may be elevated and exposed, so as to allow airflow into the sleeve’s internal space. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 7a the cap may be fully screwed over the reduced diameter section of the sleeve so as to prevent any airflow into the sleeve. As shown in Figure 1, the crucible may be placed into the internal space of the sleeve, wherein a lip 51 of the crucible extends radially wider than the sleeve, so as to allow the crucible to sit and hang in the sleeve. The crucible in general has a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the sleeve, so as to space the two apart. The crucible comprises a cylindrical stainless steel, or titanium, form with a closed base and open end. The crucible comprises a plurality of holes 52,53 in its closed base. Such holes comprise circular holes 52 and swirl-holes 53, which may be envisaged to encourage swirling airflow into or through the crucible. The lower cap 3 comprises an open end and a closed end 73, provided by the insert 7, and comprises an intermeidate cap body 33, and externally comprises a cover 30 which may be envisaged to reduced heat transfer and / or provide aesthetic or comfort improvements. The cover 30 has a central circular hole 31 in the centre of the closed end in use, providing a more effective face for uneven surfaces. The upper cap 4 comprises a body 44 with closed end 47 and an open end, and a cover 40 that is similar to the lower cap, having a central circular hole 46, and being resilient and / or insulative. The upper cap further comprises a central vent 41 in the centre of the closed end 47. This vent has a bung 45, formed in silicone which extends from the end of a silicone tether 42, tethered in use to the cover. Internally the upper cap includes a screw thread 43, which is arranged to screw onto and over a bayonet thread on the sleeve, so as to securely and easily close the top end of the sleeve. The pictured embodiment further comprises a mount 1 formed by three mount parts, which are hinged to the internal surface of the crucible. The three mount parts each comprise a base secured to the internal surface of the crucible, the bases having hinges 12 for the stove top parts, which comprise indentations 13 for receipt onto the top edge of the crucible and sleeve, and a serrated top edge 11 for receipt of the cooking utensil. In this way it may be envisaged that the embodiment may be used as a solid fuel stove with airflow through the perforations controlled by screwing the sleeve into and out of the lower cap, and then as required airflow may be fully restricted for production of 5 charcoal producing conditions where the caps are screwed onto the sleeve and the vent controls the limited air. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing 10 from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A combustion and heating device comprising: a crucible and a sleeve; wherein the crucible is inserted into the sleeve, an upper cap secures onto a first end of the sleeve and a lower cap secures onto a second end of the sleeve, and the crucible comprises a plurality of holes.

2. A combustion and heating device according to claim 1 wherein the upper cap comprises a vent.

3. A combustion and heating device according to claim 2 wherein the vent comprises a displaceable bung.

4. A combustion and heating device according to claim 3 wherein the bung is tethered.

5. A combustion and heating device according to any preceding claim wherein the upper cap comprises a screw thread.

6. A combustion and heating device according to any preceding claim wherein the sleeve comprises a reduced diameter lower section.

7. A combustion and heating device according to claim 6 wherein the reduced diameter lower section comprises perforations.

8. A combustion and heating device according to claim 7 wherein the reduced lower section comprises a screw thread.

9. A combustion and heating device according to any preceding claim wherein the lower cap comprises a screw thread.

10. A combustion and heating device according to any preceding claim wherein the perforated sidewall extends below crucible.

11. A combustion and heating device according to claim 10 wherein the lower cap covers the perforations.

12. A combustion and heating device according to any preceding claim comprising a mount for a stove top.

13. A combustion and heating device according to claim 12 wherein the mount is 5 hinged to top of crucible.

14. A combustion and heating device according to claim 12 or 13 comprising a plurality of mount parts.10 15. A combustion and heating device according to any preceding claim comprisinga silicone cover16. A combustion and heating device according to any preceding claim with dimensions of 135mm x 200mm x 135mm.

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