GB2049153A

GB2049153A - Device and method for use in feeding combustion air to a combustible material

Info

Publication number: GB2049153A
Application number: GB8008603A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: DOERFLIGER W
Current assignee: DOERFLIGER W
Priority date: 1979-03-20
Filing date: 1980-03-13
Publication date: 1980-12-17
Also published as: JPS55126726A; NL8001146A; DE3007405A1; BE881957A; SE8002104L; FR2452058B3; FR2452058A3

Abstract

The device has a distributor head (1) and an air inlet line (2). The distributor head (1) includes a chamber into which the air inlet line (2) leads and over which there are distributed a multiplicity of exit holes (6). The end of the air inlet line (2) remote from the distributor means (1) can be connected to a pressure means which blows air along the line (2) and into the chamber so that it is divided into a plurality of jets of air as it is dispersed through the holes (6). In use the distributor head (1) is located in, for example, a charcoal grill and air blown through the holes (6) initiates the burning of the charcoal. The distribution of the holes can not only prevent a blast of air from extinguishing the newly ignited charcoal, but also from blowing dust and sparks out of the grill. The inlet line (2) can be movable relative to the distributor head to allow maneouvrability of the device in the grill. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device and method for use in feeding combustion air to a combustible material The present invention relates to a device for feeding combustion air to a combustible material particularly though not exclusively to charcoal in a grill, fireplace or other hearth.

Battery-operated hand-held blowers or fans are known with the aid of which air can be fed to a combustible material in a grill, fireplace or the like so as to accelerate the ignition and initial burning of the combustible material. Such hand-held blowers have the disadvantage that an air jet formed by the blower can impinge on the combustible material in such an excessively strong blast that there is a risk that the initial ignition flame may be blown-out. A further disadvantage which can arise is that dust adhering to the combustible material or deposited in the fire location i.e. the grill, fireplace or other hearth can frequently be blown out of the fire location together with sparks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device with which it is possible to feed combustion air in a desirable distribution to the core of a pile of combustible material to be ignited.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for use in feeding combustion air to a combustible material in a charcoal grill, fireplace or other hearth, the device having distributor means adapted to be located amongst the combustible material and an air inlet line connected at one end to the distributor means and adapted at its other end for connection to pressure means for forcing air along the inlet line of the distributor means, the distributor means including a chamber into which the inlet line leads and over which there is distributed a multiplicity of holes so that in use air issues from the chamber as a plurality of jets strewn over a surface of the distributor means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of igniting combustible material in a grill, fireplace or other hearth comprising the steps of: (i) locating the distributor means of a device of the present invention amongst the combustible material in the fireplace; (ii) connecting pressure means at the said other end of the gas inlet line of the device; (iii) igniting the combustible material; and (iv) actuating the pressure means to force air along the inlet line so that it issues from the chamber of the device as a plurality of jets which is strewn over a surface of the distributor means and which impinges on the combustible material.

The provision of a multiplicity of holes scattered over the distribution means thus ensures that in use air impinging on the combustible material is divided into a plurality of jets. Air can thus be supplied to a fire in a manner which does not extinguish a fire which is just starting to burn. The absence of a single blast of air can moreover reduce the likelihood of dust and sparks being blown out of the fireplace. The present invention is particularly suitable for use in domestic fireplaces and braziers such as charcoal grills and the like.

The air inlet line can either be made fast to the distributor means or alternatively it can be arranged to be movable relative to the distributor means. The latter arrangement has the advantage that it can allow maneouverability of the device in the fireplace.

In one form of the invention the distributor means includes support means to support the distributor means on a surface, the support means including a bearing plane adapted to lie on the said surface and the holes being distributed such that in use gas issues from the chamber as a plurality of jets in a direction substantially parallel to the bearing plane. In another form of the invention the chamber is in the form of a tube with the inlet line arranged to lead coaxially into one end of the tube and with the other end of the tube being closed. In use the tube is conveniently lain on its side so that the holes are suitably distributed over a radial section of the tube.

The present invention extends to the present device in combination with pressure means connected to the said other end of the inlet line. It also extends to the device when located in a brazier, fireplace or the like. If desired, the distributor head can include magnet means to allow the distributor head to be detachably secured to a brazier, fireplace or the like made from a magnetic material.

Embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a partial section taken along the line ll-ll of Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-section through a grill apparatus incorporating the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 a device has an air distributor head 1 and an inlet airline 2, the latter being in the form of a tube. The air distributor head 1 includes a housing which in horizontal cross-section is annular-cylindrical and which is sealed on top and below so as to provide a pressure equalisation chamber 3. The bottom wall of the air distributor head 1 constitutes a support hav ing a bearing plane 4 by which the head 1 can lie on a surface. Instead of the bearing plane 4 being the lower side of the bottom wall it can be formed by an adhesion magnet 5 as shown in dot-dash line in Fig. 2. The adhesion magnet 5 would in such a case be made fast with the lower side of the bottom wall. In the housing of the air distributor head 1 there are distributed a plurality of holes 6 for egression of air from the chamber 3.The holes 6 are arranged to penetrate a side wall of the housing so that the respective axes of the holes are oriented at least approximately parallel to the bearing plane 4 and in a radial direction with respect to the cylindrical housing 1. The distribution of the holes 6 is preferably symmetrical relative to the cylindrical axis of the air distributor head 1.

The distribution of the air holes 6 and their substantially parallel orientation relative to the bearing plane 4 has the effect that air issuing from the chamber 3 is strongly divided into a plurality of jets dispersed around the side of the distributor head 1 which thus blow any possible sparks sideways. In use combustible material is usually piled in layers in a conical configuration over the distributor head 1 so that the head 1 lies at the maximum cone diameter which can thus afford an adequate barrier against escape of any sparks. It is however possible to arrange air exit holes in the upper wall of the air distributor head 1 either in addition to or instead of those in the side wall of the housing.

In the housing of the air distributor head 1, there is arranged an aperture 7 in the form of a drawn-in socket through which the inlet air line 2 extends. One end of the airline 2 is located in the pressure equalisation chamber 3 and has an outwardly directed flange 8 the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the aperture 7. The air distributor head 1 is thereby connected in such manner that it cannot be parted from the airline 2. The external diameter of the airline 2 is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the aperture 7, so that the airline 2 fits into the aperture 7 with clearance and can thus be pivoted relative to the air distributor head 1.

It may be expedient to provide an angle in the airline 2 and/or to provide therein an articulated connection so that the airline can be readily and easily disposed on the rim or edge of a grill, fireplace or the like.

At the end of the inlet line 2 remote from the air distributor head 1 and not shown in the drawing, the airline is adapted to receive pressure means to blow air along the line. The pressure means is preferably a battery-operated blower or fan. To connect the blower to the airline a plug connection, flange connection, screwthreaded connection, or bayonet connection could be used.

Fig. 3 shows the employment of the abovedescribed device in connection with a charcoal grill 9. The air distributor head 1 is disposed substantially in the centre of the base or floor of the grill 9. If the charcoal grill is made from a magnetic material the head 1 can be se cured to its base or floor by means of an adhesion magnet 5. However, it is usually possible to dispense with any means of at tachment. The inlet airline 2 is deposited on the rim or edge of the charcoal grill 9. At the end of the air inlet line 2 remote from the head 1 there is connected a battery-operated blower or fan 10.

In use the following method can be em ployed to ignite charcoal in the grill. A piece of paper, such as for example a paper napkin is placed over the distributor head 1, and weighted down with some individual pieces of charcoal. The piece of paper is then set on fire. Further charcoal elements are then placed over the air distributor head 1 and the fan 10 is actuated to feed air to the charcoal to allow it to ignite and burn for a short period of time at the burning paper. After the charcoal has ignited, the blower 10 can be stopped and the entire device removed.

Referring now to Fig. 4 the second embodi ment has an air distributor head 1' which includes a housing in the form of a tubular member 11. An upper portion of the housing has a plurality of air exit holes 6' distributed over it. One end of the tubular member 11 is shut off by means of a fitted cap 12, whilst the other end is inserted into a fitted tubular sleeve 1 3. The cap 1 2 and the sleeve 1 3 are each secured preferably by spot welding to the tube member 11. The cap and sleeve are also secured again preferably by spot welding to a bearing plate 14 which is in the form of an angle plate in U-form. The airline 2' is inserted coaxially into the sleeve 1 3 so as to be rotatable therein.The airline 2' comprises a plurality of tube portions of tube sections 1 5 and tube elbows 1 6 which are interchange ably connected with each other by respec tive plug connections 1 7 and are rotatable relative to each other. In the case of the tube elbows 16, the plug sleeve connections 1 7 are preferably manufactured in one piece with the elbow element, whereas in the case of connections between straight tube sections 15 they comprise tube sections 18 of larger di ameter which are pushed on to the sections 1 5 and fixedly welded thereto. At the end of the blowing airline 2' not shown in Fig. 4 a battery-operated blower or fan (not shown) can be attached by means of a plug sleeve connection. Due to the omission or addition of tube sections 1 5 or tube elbows 16, the shape of the airline 2' and also its length can be varied so that the rotatability and the various positions of the tube sections 1 5 and of the tube elbows 1 6 relative to each other can be considerably increased. It is thereby possible to arrange the air distributor head 1' and the blower or fan (not shown) in optimum fashion for firing purposes with respect to each grilling apparatus or each fireplace used.

The shape of the distributor head 1 can be varied to a considerable extent. Instead of being cylindrical it may alternatively be spherical or cuboidal. In addition it may be made fast with the airline 2.

Claims

1. Device for use in feeding combustion air to a combustible material in a charcoal grill, fireplace or other hearth, the device having distributor means adapted to be located amongst the combustible material and an air inlet line connected at one end to the distributor means and adapted at its other end for connection to pressure means for forcing air along the inlet line to the distributor means, the distributor means including a chamber into which the inlet line leads and over which there is distributed a multiplicity of holes so that in use air issues from the chamber as a plurality of jets strewn over a surface of the distributor means.

2. Device according to claim 1 wherein the distributor means includes support means to support the distributor means on a surface, the support means including a bearing plane adapted to lie on the said surface and the holes being distributed such that in use gas issues from the chamber as a plurality of jets in a direction substantially parallel to the bearing plane.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the inlet line is connected to the distributor means so as to allow pivotal movement between the inlet line and the distributor means.

4. Device according to claim 1 wherein the chamber is in the form of a tube, the inlet line being arranged to lead coaxially into one end of the tube, the other end of the tube being closed.

5. Device according to claim 4 including a bearing plate to which the chamber is fixedly attached.

6. Device according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the inlet line is connected to the distributor means so as to allow rotational movement between the inlet line and the distributor means.

7. Device according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the inlet line is divided into a plurality of portions which are rotatable relative to each other.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the distributor means is provided with magnet means arranged so that in use the distributor head adheres to a portion of a charcoal grill, fireplace or other hearth made of a magnetic material.

9. Device substantially as herein described and set forth with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with pressure means connected to the said other end of the inlet line.

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims located in a grill, fireplace or other hearth.

1 2. The combination of a device according to any one of the preceding claims and a grill, fireplace or other hearth.

1 3. Method of igniting combustible material comprising the steps of: (i) locating the distributor means of a device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 amongst the combustible material in a grill, fireplace or other hearth; (ii) connecting pressure means at the said other end of the gas inlet line of the device; (iii) igniting the combustible material; and (iv) actuating the pressure means to force air along the inlet line so that it issues from the chamber of the device as a plurality of jets which is strewn over a surface of the distributor means and which impinges on the combustible material.

14. Method according to claim 1 3 wherein the device is located underneath a pile of charcoal and the pressure means is a fan, blower or the like.

1 5. Method of igniting combustible material substantially herein described.