US3807385A

US3807385A - Floating heater to maintain hole through ice open

Info

Publication number: US3807385A
Application number: US00271656A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Hedstrom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-07-14
Filing date: 1972-07-14
Publication date: 1974-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-30

Abstract

A hollow upstanding tubular member closed at its lower end and weighted at its bottom so as to float upright in a body of water with but a small portion of the upper end of the housing projecting above the water level. A liquid fuel burner is positioned in a lower portion of the housing for heating the latter from its interior and a horizontally disposed and vertically shiftable damper is mounted within the housing above the liquid fuel burner for varying the height of the flame of the burner and snuffing the wick of the burner out as desired. When the heated upright housing is disposed within an upstanding opening formed in a layer of ice covering a body of water, the water within the ice opening or hole will be sufficiently heated, even in sub-zero temperatures, to maintain the ice hole open.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Hedstrom Apr. 3%, 1974 [75] Inventor: Gilbert Hedstrom, Alexandria,

Minn.

[73] Assignees: John J. McCarten; Ralph S. Tillitt,

both of Alexandria, Minn. part interest to'each [22] Filed: July 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 271,656

Great Britain 126/360 R Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A hollow upstanding tubular member closed at its lower end and weighted at its bottom so as to float upright in a body of water with but a small portion of the upper end of the housing projecting above the water level.' A liquid fuel burner is positioned in a lower portion of the housing for heating the latter from its interior and a horizontally disposed and vertically shiftable damper is mounted within the housing above the liquid fuel burner for varying the height of the flame of the burner and snuffing the wick of the burner out as desired. When the heated upright housing is disposed within an upstanding opening formed in a layer of ice covering a .body of water, the water within the ice opening or hole will be sufficiently heated, even in sub-zero temperatures, to maintain the ice hole open.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FLOATING HEATER TO MAINTAIN HOLE THROUGH ICE OPEN In the frigid areas of the country fishing through the ice in the wintertime has become an ever increasing pastime. The ice on lakes and streams in the northern United States freezes to a thickness of 36 or more inches, depending on the temperature, and to greater or lesser thicknesses in other parts of the country, depending on the temperature and geographic location.

In order to fish through the ice, it is necessary to remove sufficient ice to insert a fishline and to extract a fish when a fish is caught. When the ice is thick, the hole through the ice is conventionally made with a incl auger which is either manually operated or operated by a. gasoline engine. Once an ice hole has been opened, it will freeze closed again unless some means is provided to maintain the temperature of the water in the hole above-freezing.

The heater of the instant invention has been specifically designed to be floated within an ice hole and to generate sufficient heat in its interior to enable the heat transfer from the exterior wall surfaces of the heater to the ambient water to prevent the ice within the ice hole from freezing.

The heater is in the form of a closed bottom and upwardly opening tubular housing which is weighted at its lower end so as to float in an upright position with only a small portion of the upper end of the housing projecting above the water in which the housing is floated. A removable liquid fuel burning wick-type heater is positioned in the lower portion of the housing and a combined chimney and damper assembly is positioned over the wick of the heater with the damper being supported for vertical shifting to vary the discharge of combustion gases from the heater and the spacing of the damper above the wick of the heater. Thus, the damper not only serves as an obstacle to the free flow of combustion supporting fresh air about the wick, but also as a means to throttle the escape of combustion gases from the housing and to snuff out the flame of the wick when desired.

The main object of this invention is to provide a heater which may be floated in an ice hole and utilized to maintain the water in the ice hole above freezing temperatures.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ice heater constructed in a manner whereby the heat generated thereby may be readily controlled.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a floatingheater constructed in'a manner whereby ready access to the liquid fuel burning heater thereof is afforded.

A further object of this invention is to provide a heater which may be used to heat a fish house disposed on the ice over an ice hole, whether the heater is disposed on the floor of the house or floating in the ice hole.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a floating heater for ice holes which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These togetherwith other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of an ice hole and with the heater of the instant invention floated in the water within the ice hole;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the longitudinal centerline of the heater;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIG. 2; V

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating the telescopingly engageable upper ends of the outer housing and inner tubulr chimney portions of the heater; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the heater indicating the manner in which the various components thereof are assembled.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the heater of the instant invention. The heater 10 includes an upstanding cylindrical housing 12 having cylindrical side wall portions 14 and a bottom wall 16. An axially short cylindrical weight'container referred to in general by the reference numeral 18 is provided for receiving a selected quantity of buckshot 20 and the container 18 includes an upper wall 22 having a central opening 24 therein in which a closure member 26 is removably seated. The container 18 includes a pivoted bail-type handle 28 supported from the top wall 22 and accordingly, the container 18, with the proper quantity of buckshot 20 therein, may be lowered by means of its bail-type handle 28 downwardly into the lower end of the housing 12 for support from the botom wall 16.

The heater 10 also includes an axially short upstanding cylindrical tank referred to in general by the reference numeral 30 and the tank 30 comprises the reservoir of a liquid fuel burning heater referred to in general by the reference numeral 32. The tank 30 includes a top wall 34 having a centrally disposed and upwardly projecting threaded neck 36 through which liquid fuel 38 may be poured into the tank 30. A centrally apertured threaded cap 40 is removably threadedly engaged over the upper end of the neck 36 and a wick 42 projects through the cap 40, the lower end of the wick 42 being disposed below the level of liquid fuel 38 in the tank 30. The cap 40 includes a tubular neck portion 44 which projects upwardly from the central opening formed through the cap 40 and through which the wick 42 extends. A circular heat shield or disc assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 46 is provided and includes vertically spaced upper and lower centrally apertured walls 48 and 50 between which a pad 52 of heat insulative material is secured, the outer marginal portions of the walls 48 and 50 being joined together and the heat shield 46 being downwardly seated on the neck portion 44 below the upper end of the latter whereby the liquid fuel tank 30 will be shielded from the flame 54 of the wick 42 when the latter is ignited.

A tubula chimney construction referred to in general by the reference numeral 56 is provided and includes an inverted frusto-conical lower portion 58 having a diametric internal brace 60 secured thereacross provided with a central aperture 62. A second diametric brace 64 is secured across the upper end of the chimney 56 and has a rectangular opening 66 formed in its center. Further, the underside of the brace 64 has a plate 67 secured thereto having a second rectangular opening 69 formed therein slightly offset relative to the opening 66. A damper shaft 68 having a smooth lower end portion is provided and the lower end portion is rotatably and slidably received through the aperture 62. The upper end portion of the damper shaft or rod 68 includes a flattened and twisted portion 70 extending through the

openings

66 and 69 and defining a threaded connection between the shaft or rod 68 and the upper brace 64, with the slightly relatively

offset openings

66 and 69 frictionally engaging the portion 70 of the rod. The upper end of the rod 68 is provided with a control knob 72 and the lower end of the rod 68 is provided with a circular damper plate 74 below the lower brace 60. The damper plate 74 is but slightly smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the lower terminal end of the lower portion 58 of the chimney 56.

The upper end of the chimney 56 includes axially extending circumferentially spaced and radially outwardly projecting spacing flanges 76 which maintain the chimney 56 centered within the housing 12 when the chimney 56 is telescoped downwardly into theupper end of the housing 12. In addition, the upper end of the chimney 56 includes an annular flange 78 extending circumferentially about and projecting radially outwardly from the chimney 56, the flange 78 having an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the upper end of the housing 12 whereby the flange 78 may be abutted against the upper end of the housing 12 to limit downward sliding movement of the chimney 56 within the housing 12. The flange 78 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced fresh air inlet openings 80 formed therein and a plurality of circumferentially spaced and radially outwardly projecting elongated abutments 82 are carried by the undersurface of the flange 78 and are seatingly receivable within upwardly opening radial notches 84 formed in the upper edge of the housing 12. Thus, the chimney 56 may be keyed to the housing 12 against rotation relative to the latter.

The upper end of the housing 12 includes diametrically opposite apertured mounting ears 88 to which the opposite ends of a bail-type handle 90 are pivotally attached. Accordingly, the handle 90 may be utilized to carry the heater 10. In operation, after a hole such as that indicated at 92 in FIG. 1 of the drawings has been bored through a layer of ice 94, the appropriate amount of shot weight may be placed within the container l8 and the container 18 may be lowered into the bottom of the housing 12. Thereafter, the tank 30 may have liquid fuel 38 disposed therein and the cap and heat shield 46 may be applied to the heater 32. Thereafter, the heater 32 may be lowered downwardly into the housing 12 for resting upon the container 18 and appropriate means may be utilized to ignite the wick 42. Thereafter, the chimney 56 may be lowered into position within the upper end of the housing 12 after it has been determined that the rod 68 is in an elevated position so as to elevate the damper plate 74 above the wick 42 and above the lower terminal end of the lower portion 58 of the chimney 56. Thereafter, the knob 72 may be turned so as to vertically adjust the rod and the damper plate 74 carried thereby. The heater 10 may then be lowered into the bore 92 and a length of chain or other tension member 96 may be attached to the handle and suitably anchored on the surface of the ice 94. With the heater 10 floating within the water in the ice hole 92, the heat generated within the housing 12 by the heater 32 will be absorbed by the water within the hole 92 to prevent the water from freezing. Actually, sufiicient heat may be generated by the heater 10 in order to enlarge the hole 92 in the manner indicated as at 98.

When it is desired to extinguish the flame 54, the knob 72 is rotated so as to lower the rod 68 and the damper plate 74 carried thereby until such time as the damper plate 74 contacts the upper end of the wick 42 and snuffs out the flame 54.

The heater 10 may not only be utilized to maintain the hole 92 open, but may also be used as a heater within a fish house erected upon the ice.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A heater assembly comprising an upstanding hollow housing closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, a combustible fuel type burner supported within the lower end portion of said housing and having an upper central flame zone, a tubular chimney of appreciably smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter of said housing supported within the upper end portion of said housing, the interior of said chimney defining a flue passage for the upward escape of combustion gases from said burner, the spacing between the exterior of said chimney and the interior of said housing defining an air intake for combustion supporting fresh air, the lower end of said chimney being open and disposed at an elevation adjacent the elevation of said flame zone, the lower end of said chimney terminating downwardly at an elevation spaced above the center of said flame zone, a horizontal damper plate, means supporting said damper plate in generally centered position relative to the vertical center axis of said chimney and for vertical shifting along said center axis between an upper position disposed within the lower end of said chimney and a lower position displaced downwardly to a point at least in the lower portion of said flame zone.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lower end portion of said chimney tapers downwardly.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the lower end of said chimney terminates at an elevation spaced above said flame zone.

4. A heater assembly comprising an upstanding hollow housing closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, a combustible fuel type burner positioned within the lower end portion of said housing and having an upper central flame zone, a tubular chimney of appreciably smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter of said housing removably downwardly telescoped within the upper end portion of said housing, the interior of said chimney defining a flue passage for the upward escape of combustion gases from said burner, the spacing between the exterior of said chimney and the interior of said housing defining an air intake for combustion supporting fresh air, the lower end of said chimney being open and disposed at an elevation adjacent the elevation of said flame zone and the center of gravity of said housing being disposed below its vertical center and the weight of said housing being at least slightly less than the weight of the water displaceableby said housing, the lower end of said chimney terminating downwardly at an elevation spaced above the center of said flame zone, and a horizontal damper plate of generally the same horizontal plan shape as the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the lower end of the chimney, means supporting said damper plate in generally centered position relative to the vertical center axis of said chimney and for vertical shifting along said center axis between an upper position disposed within the lower end of said chimney and a lower position displaced downwardly to a point at least in the lower portion of said flame zone.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the lower end portion of said chimney tapers downwardly.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper end portion of said chimney includes a circumferentially extending generally radially outwardly projecting abutment flange abutted against the upper end of said housing, said flange having circumferentially spaced air inlet openings formed therein.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said combustible fuel type burner comprises a tank for liquid fuel downwardly received within said housing, said tank including an upper wall having an upstanding wick receiving tube secured therethrough, a wick extending through said tube, and a horizontally disposed heat insulative shield supported on said tube intermediate its upper and lower ends and projecting radially outwardly therefrom so as to shield the upper portion of said tank against heat from the flame zone disposed thereabove.

above and resting upon said weight container.

Claims

4. A heater assembly comprising an upstanding hollow housing closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, a combustible fuel type burner positioned within the lower end portion of said housing and having an upper central flame zone, a tubular chimney of appreciably smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter of said housing removably downwardly telescoped within the upper end portion of said housing, the interior of said chimney defining a flue passage for the upward escape of combustion gases from said burner, the spacing between the exterior of said chimney and the interior of said housing defining an air intake for combustion supporting fresh air, the lower end of said chimney being open and disposed at an elevation adjacent the elevation of said flame zone and the center of gravity of said housing being disposed below its vertical center and the weight of said housing being at least slightly less than the weight of the water displaceable by said housing, the lower end of said chimney terminating downwardly at an elevation spaced above the center of said flame zone, and a horizontal damper plate of generally the same horizontal plan shape as the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the lower end of the chimney, means supporting said damper plate in generally centered position relative to the vertical center axis of said chimney and for vertical shifting along said center axis between an upper position disposed within the lower end of said chimney and a lower position displaced downwardly to a point at least in the lower portion of said flame zone.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper end of said housing includes a pivoted bail-type handle.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lower portion of the interior of said housing has a weight container disposed therein, said burner being positioned above and resting upon said weight container.