US2500658A - Portable army stove - Google Patents

Description

J. u... BREESE ETAL 8 I March 14-, 1950 PORTABLE ARMY STOVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1944 March 14, 1950 J. L. BREESE ET AL PORTABLE ARMY STOVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1944 L I l I i I l II I l l l l l Patented Mar. 14, 1950 PORTABLE ARMY STOVE James L. Breese and Bruce Hayter, Santa Fe, N. Mex., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Breese Burners, Inc., Santa Fe, N. Mex., a corporation of Delaware Application March 18, 1944, Serial No. 527,022

This invention relates to an improvement in heaters. One purpose is to provide a portable stove unit for military or camping use. Another purpose is to provide a portable unit in which a volume of liquid fuel is included in the unit. Another purpose is to provide a portable burner in which a container of liquid fuel is enclosed within a package or outer housing formed by a part of the burner. Another purpose is to provide a burner which is sufliciently compact to be carried in the pocket of the user, when collapsed or taken down.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of specification and claims. The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figures 1 and 2 illustrating the device in condition for carriage or shipment;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fi ure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section illustrating the burner in use;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through a variant form of the device, the device being shown in condition for carriage or shipment;

Figure 6 is a vertical section illustrating the device in use;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of Figure 6 and Figure 8 is a vertical section of a further variation.

Like parts are indicated by like numbers throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and first to the form of Figures 1 to 4, I illustrates a foraminous burner cylinder shown as provided with air inlets 2 spaced generally uniformly throughout the area of the cylinder I, from top to bottom thereof. 3 is a surrounding fuel containing cup the bottom of which also serves as a bottom closure for the open ended cylinder I. The cylinder I may be permanently secured to the cup 3, or it may be detachable therefrom. In the event that the two parts are detachable, the bottom of the cup 3 may be curved or filletted about 3 Claims. (Cl. 12643) its outeredge, to center the cylinder I. The cup 3 is shown as having a slightly outwardly flared upper lip 4 which defines an air inlet opening 5, i

and renders easier the insertion of the cover or closure, III. The cylinder I is also shown as having upwardly extending supports 6 for any suitable removable container or cup I, in which a ports 6 space the cup upwardly a substantial distance above the top of the cylinder I, this substantial clearance or spacing being of importance in the operation of the device.

When the device is packed for carriage or shipment, the outer closure Ill slips into the top of the cup 3, as shown in Figure 2 and abuts against the supports 6. Any suitable container II, filled with a liquid fuel such for example, as gasoline, may be positioned within the cylinder I. I2 indicates any suitable removable cap. The heater may be sufficiently small to be slipped into the pocket of a camper or soldier. The container II will carry sufiicient fuel to heat a substantial volume of Water, coffee, soup or the like for 'possibly three or four beatings or more.

Figures 5 to '7 illustrate a variant form of the device. The cylinder 2I corresponds to cylinder I of earlier figures and is provided with a plurality of air inlet apertures 22, generally uniformly distributed throughout the cylinder. 23 is a combined closure and cup. It forms part of the surrounding housing, when the device is packed. It forms a fuel receiving cup when the device is in use. 24 is a centering element which centers the cylinder 2i in relation to the cup 23 and insures a circumferential air inlet passage 23a of substantially uniform radial width. 25 is an upper cup which is inverted and surrounds the upper portion of the cylinder 2|. There is preferably a clearance 25a between the cups 23 and 25, as shown in Figure 6. The cup has a central top aperture 26 surrounded by a solid annular portion 21. 28 is any suitable spring which tends to prevent unintended relative movement of the members 2| and 25. Since three of these springs are shown, they will also center the cup 25 to maintain a uniform clearance between the two members. The member 2I is provided with upward supporting projections 29 upon which the cup 25 seats. Thus, relatively large air inlets 30 are provided about the upper edge of the cylinder 2|. 3| are upwardly extending supports which support an upper element 32 having a central funnel portion 33 and a circumferential group of fiame apertures 34.

35 indicates any suitable container which may be employed to heat material to be heated. 36 indicates a fuel container which may he slipped into the assembled device when it is in condition for shipment. 31 is an outer closure which in- "cludes a portion 38 adapted to telescope within the lower cup 23 to complete a closed outer container for carriage or shipment.

limiid to be heated may be positioned. The sup- Figure 8 differs from the form of Figures 5 to 7 primarily in increasing the clearance between i the cup 23a and the cylinder Zla. This permits employment of a somewhat larger volume of liquid fuel. However, it is then desirable to employ an intermediate horizontal annular baffle 40 in order to reduce the downward flow of air to the bottom of the cup 23a. In practice this is necessary in order to stabilize the flame.

It will be realized that many changes may be made in size, proportion, shape and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, for example, some of the parts may be permanently secured to each other, or all or practically all of the parts, may be made freely separable from each other. Therefore, we wish our descriptions and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic.

The foraminous tube which we use as part of our burner is of the utmost importance. By foraminous we mean a tube having a very large number of closely spaced perforations extend- In effect, it is ing from end to end of the tube. a tube of the kind of material that might be used for a sieve or a screen. The apertures in the tube, which define it as a foraminous tube, are

those closely spaced of relatively smaller size and extending as they do from end to end of the tube they permit passage of fuel, passage of air, I passage of flame and products of combustion through the wall of the tube at whatever position there along is necessary to promote combustion and, of course, under definite conditions of full fuel amount, temperature, wind and oxygen supply, the positions in the wall of the tube where such movements take place may be unpredictable.

However, under normal circumstances, the interior of the foraminous sleeve or tube constitutes a mixing chamber into which air flows through the apertures in the tube to mix with the vaporized fuel therewithin, the inflow of air resulting in adequate air to provide a completely combustible mixture which may normally burn in the upper part of the tube or at or above the top of the tube.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

We illustrate what is in effect a miniature hydroxylating burner which is particularly adapted to military or camping use, but may have other applications, domestic or otherwise. In considering the form of Figures 1 to 4, a soldier or sportsman can easily carry one of the heaters in his pocket or pack. The packaged heater includes a can of liquid fuel. The outer housing Ill surrounds and protects the burner parts and the can of fuel. To use it, the outer housinglll is removed, the fuel container II is taken out and the cylinder I, in the cup 3, is stood on end. A

relatively small volume of liquid fuel can then be poured into the bottom of the cup 3, as shown in Figure 4. Under some circumstances it is advisable first to pour in a small volume of water. The fuel will float on the surface of the water. When the fuel is lighted the cup I can be positioned as shown. Primary air for combustion will flow down about the cylinder I, within the cup 3, and will supply primary air to the vaporized fuel. The combustion can be initiated by dropping a lighted match or a lighted piece of paper or oil soaked waste into the bottom of the cylinder l. The primary mixture will rise in the cylinder I and receive secondary air through the higher air inlets 2. The air gap between the top of the cylinder I and the bottom of the cup l is also an important factor in maintaining prop.- er combustion. The flame thus provided will rapidly heat the contents of a. small container to the boiling point.

In the form of Figs. 5 to 7 the operation of the device is similar, but in larger sizes, the addition of water, as shown at A, becomes more important and the gasoline level indicated at B, may be somewhat higher in the burner, when combustion is initiated. The primary air flows through the gap 25a and down into the space 2311. The secondary air flows upwardly within a cup 25 and into the upper apertures or through the cutaway portion 30. The supports 3| maintain the necessary clearance between the top of the burner and the bottom of the heated container 35. The funnel 33 makes the pouring of water or fuel into the burner easy.

Where the diameter of the cup 23a is increased as in Figure 8, we find it important to employ a baflie 40 in order to restrict the volume of primary air which flows downwardly to the lower portion of the cylinder 2la.

We claim:

1. In a portable, demountable heater, an outer housing including a cup and a closure in removable relation with said cup, an open ended foraminous sleeve positioned within said cup and adapted, when the closure is removed and the cup is in upright position, to serve as a burner, with the lower end of the sleeve extending into the cup, the cup being radially outwardly spaced from and surrounding a lower portion of the sleeve, and means effective, when the closure is removed, to support a cooking vessel at a level spaced upwardly from the end of the sleeve including a perforated plate extending across the upper end of said sleeve.

2. In a portable, demountable heater, an outer housing including a cup and a closure in removable relation with said cup, an open ended foraminous sleeve positioned within said cup and adapted, when the closure is removed and the cup is in upright position, to serve as a burner, with the lower end of the sleeve extending into the cup, the cup being radially outwardly spaced from and surrounding a lower portion of the sleeve, and means eiTective, when the closure is removed, to support a cooking vessel at a level spaced upwardly from the end of the sleeve including a perforated plate extending across the upper end of said sleeve, said plate having a circumi'erential flange extending downwardly about and surrounding an upper portion of said sleeve.

3. In a portable, demountable heater, an outer housing including a cup and a closure in removable relation with said cup, an open ended foraminous sleeve positioned within said cup and adapted, when the closure is removed and the cup is in upright position, to serve as a burner, with the lower end of the sleeve extending into the cup, the cup being radially outwardly spaced from and surrounding a lower portion of the sleeve, and means effective, when the closure is removed, to support a cooking Vessel at a level spaced upwardly from the end of the sleeve including a perforated plate extending across the upper end of said sleeve, said plate having a circumferential flange extending downwardly about and surrounding an upper portion of said sleeve, the lower edge of said flange being spaced from the upper edge of said cup.

JAMES L. BREESE. BRUCE HAYTER.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Name Date Toothill Dec. 10, 1861 Jenseh Aug. 9, 1887 Peters Dec. 8, 1896 Schleusselberg Mar. 21, 1916 Piotrowski July 16, 1918 Number FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Norway Oct. 3, 1921 Austria Mar. 10,1910 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1922 France May 12, 1902 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1936 France Aug. 25, 1919 Germany June 8, 1935 France Apr. 20, 1942

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