Combustion – With simulation feature
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-10
2001-05-08
Price, Carl D. (Department: 3743)
Combustion
With simulation feature
C126S512000, C126S0920AC, C126S04100R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227843
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of portable campfires. More particularly this invention relates to portable campfires of the type which utilize propane, natural gas, or the like as a source of fuel and which have a burner designed to direct the flames therefrom in a generally inwardly and upwardly direction relative to the sides of the campfire, through ceramic logs, so as to have a generally conical appearance to thereby replicate the appearance of the traditional wood campfire.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The authentic wood burning campfire is an integral part of the outdoor camping experience of campers requiring a wood campfire as a heat source for meal preparation is dwindling and the campfire is becoming solely a source of pleasure for ones atavistic nature.
There are, however, many concerns associated with open fires and campfires in particular which this invention seeks to overcome. Open fires in areas used for camping and recreation pursuits can be dangerous and require experience and skill to handle properly. Many campers without these skills still choose to light fires. Also, weather conditions can affect traditional campfires. In windy and wet conditions a campfire is difficult to light and in extremely dry seasons open fires may be prohibited. In campgrounds the number of users wishing to light a campfire results in a high demand for a diminishing fuel source and the production of a large amount of smoke which can cause discomfort to those suffering from allergies.
In the prior art applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,128 which issued Feb. 9, 1999 to Omar for a Firepit. Omar discloses supplying gas, through spaced outlet ports in a gas line, upwardly into a suspended bed of lava rocks. What is neither taught nor suggested, and which it is an object of the present invention to provide, is the use of small particulate filler which presents much more the impression of a smooth surface through which gas jets are radially inwardly inclined so as to simulate, once lit, a conically-shaped campfire.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable, re-usable, non-woodburning campfire which is easy to light, safe to use, smoke free and which provides the appearance, warmth and enjoyment of the traditional wood burning campfire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The portable gas campfire of the present invention includes an integral stand and base and may include a removable lid all of which may, in one embodiment, be fabricated from 22ga. galvanized steel. The lid may have a carrying handle mounted to it. Catches secure the lid to the base. In one embodiment, the base and lid are generally circular in horizontal planar section. However, they may be made in other shapes.
Secured to the bottom wall of the base by means of a spacer bracket is an annular burner ring tube. The burner ring contains a plurality of radially spaced apart burner orifices. These orifices are positioned on the burner tube so as to face radially inwardly and upwardly. That is, the bore axes of the orifices form the shape of a cone above the burner. Thus because the gas or fuel jets from the orifices follow generally along the bore axes, the orientation of the burner orifices result in flames being directed in a generally inwardly and upwardly direction. The resulting fire has a generally conical appearance.
The burner tube is secured to the spacer bracket by welding or the like. The spacer bracket is bolted to the bottom wall of the base. The base is advantageously filled with fine, garden grade vermiculite or other appropriately granular and non-flammable fill, to a level slightly above the upper surface of the burner tube, that is, so as to cover the burner tube. Ceramic logs may be positioned over the burner tube, on the surface of the fill.
The portable campfire is connected to a source of fuel such as a propane tank or natural gas line through a regulator assembly. A series of fittings between the burner tube, the base and the regulator assembly regulate the fuel/air mixture to the burner. Fittings connect the gas supply to the burner vertically upwards through the bottom wall of the base.
The burner tube may have a tee or like fitting to permit the inlet venturi tube to pass vertically downwardly from the burner tube through the bottom wall of the base and laterally outwardly through the stand. The end of the venturi tube is connected to a fuel/air mixing fitting, which allows air to be mixed with the fuel.
A shut-off valve to which the base and regulator are connected has a fuel regulating orifice threaded into the fuel outlet side of the valve.
In summary, the gas-fired portable campfire of the present invention comprises: (a) a base container, (b) a gas burner tube mounted into the base container, and (c) non-flammable low-density particulate insulating filler such as vermiculite or the like mountable into the base container so as to cover the gas burner. The gas burner tube has an inlet aperture for mounting to a gas supply and a spaced apart array of outlet apertures arranged so as to be radially spaced generally around a center of the container. The outlet apertures are radially inwardly inclined so as to direct gas jets from the outlet apertures upwardly and inwardly toward the center so as to form a generally conically shaped flame pattern when the gas jets are ignited.
Advantageously artificial non-flammable logs are mountable into the container and onto the filler when the filler is mounted into the container so as to cover the gas burner tube. The logs are positionable so as to lie in the conically shaped flame pattern.
In one aspect of the invention, the gas burner tube includes an annular tube and a gas supply line. The supply line is mounted to the annular tube in fluid communication therewith. The inlet aperture may be a restriction orifice in the gas supply line.
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Pedersen Robert V.
Schlechtleitner Jeffrey A.
Edwards Antony C.
Price Carl D.
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