Depot for granular carbonaceous fuel and method employing the same to provide high efficiency fires for charbroiling and the like
First Claim
1. A depot for granular carbonaceous fuel comprising,basket means of refractory material for supporting said granular fuel and ashes thereof during combustion of the fuel,said basket means including an array of substantially vertical porous flues therethrough for upward flow of air through the flues during combustion of the granular fuel contained in the basket means, which air flow provides oxygen for combustion of granular fuel contained in the basket means, said flues having predetermined dimensions such that feedback of heat across flues between opposing flue surfaces provides for rapid high-temperature combustion of said granular fuel,said basket means preventing movement of said granular material and ashes into the flues and resultant restriction of air flow through the flues during combustion of the granular fuel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A depot for granular carbonaceous fuel is shown including a refractory matrix containing the granular fuel. The refractory matrix includes either one or more baskets of screen material or a refractory binder. Vertical flues are included in the matrix for upward flow of air therethrough during combustion of the granular fuel. A manifold below the matrix supplies air for the vertical flues. Granular fuel and ashes thereof are prevented by the refractory matrix from moving into the flues whereby the flues remain open during combustion of the granular fuel. The fuel may include a relatively large amount of anthracite to provide for a low cost fire. A granular fuel mixture that includes 60 wt % to 80 wt % Buckwheat anthracite and 40 wt % to 20 wt % of charcoal having a size of 35 to 85 mesh Tyler scale is disclosed.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A depot for granular carbonaceous fuel comprising,
basket means of refractory material for supporting said granular fuel and ashes thereof during combustion of the fuel, said basket means including an array of substantially vertical porous flues therethrough for upward flow of air through the flues during combustion of the granular fuel contained in the basket means, which air flow provides oxygen for combustion of granular fuel contained in the basket means, said flues having predetermined dimensions such that feedback of heat across flues between opposing flue surfaces provides for rapid high-temperature combustion of said granular fuel, said basket means preventing movement of said granular material and ashes into the flues and resultant restriction of air flow through the flues during combustion of the granular fuel.
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21. A method of providing a fire for charbroiling or the like comprising,
providing an array of baskets of refractory screen which baskets are spaced from each other to define a plurality of flues therebetween, loading said baskets with granular fuel in preparation for burning, burning the granular fuel contained in the baskets, the spacing between adjacent baskets being such that feedback of heat across the flues between opposing basket surfaces provides for rapid high-temperature combustion of granular fuel contained in the baskets, substantially maintaining the flue dimensions while burning the granular fuel to maintain the rapid high-temperature combustion during burning.
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22. A fuel depot comprising carbonaceous granular material that is at least 50% anthracite, by weight,
basket means of porous refractory material for holding the granular material and its ash, said depot defining an array of substantially vertical porous flues having a hydraulic diameter of between substantially 0.3 and 0.5 inches and having a height of at least two times said hydraulic diameter to provide feedback of heat radiating from burning portions of the flues to other burning portions thereof, and means for substantially maintaining the shape of the depot throughout burning of the carbonaceous granular material to avoid restricting passage of air through the flues by the granular fuel or its ash throughout said burning.
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26. A depot for granular carbonaceous fuel comprising,
an array of baskets of refractory screen material for containing granular carbonaceous material, said screen material having pores of a sufficiently small size to support both said granular fuel and the ash thereof whereby substantially all of the fuel and its ash is contained in said baskets throughout combustion of the granular fuel, means for holding said baskets in spaced apart positions to form an array of flues therebetween for flow of air during combustion of the granular fuel, which air flow provides for combustion of granular fuel in the baskets, wherein said baskets are sufficiently spaced to provide feedback of heat across the flues between opposing basket surfaces for rapid high-temperature combustion of granular fuel contained in the baskets.
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33. A method of providing a high temperature fire of loose granular carbonaceous fuel comprising,
providing refractory basket means for holding the granular carbonaceous fuel to be burned, providing a plurality of open-ended porous refractory flues through said basket means, which flues have pores small enough to prevent the granular fuel and ashes thereof from entering the flues yet allow diffusion of air from the flue to the fuel and allow exit of the gaseous products of combustion into said flues, providing said flues with a hydraulic diameter that is no larger than necessary to supply the amount of air needed for rapid, high-temperature combustion of the fuel and with a flue surface area that is substantially greater than the flue cross sectional area.
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36. A depot for granular carbonaceous fuel comprising,
refractory basket means for holding loose granular carbonaceous fuel, an array of open ended flues extending through said basket means for entrance of air at one end and exit of flue gases from the other end, said flues having porous walls through which air may diffuse from the flue into the carbonaceous fuel contained in the basket means, and through which gaseous products of combustion of said fuel may simultaneously diffuse from the burning fuel into the flues, said porous flue walls having pores small enough to contain the fuel and ash granules and prevent their movement into the flues, said flues having a predetermined hydraulic diameter such that during burning of the fuel a minimum of radiant energy is emitted from the ends of the flues yet sufficient air enters the flue to support high temperature combustion of the fuel.
Specification