GB2062484A - Disposable catalytic heater - Google Patents

Abstract

The catalytic heater comprises two sections. The lower section (12) containing the fuel (40) and wick (60) has a removable sealing cover. The upper section (20) consists of a chimney with a plurality of inlet openings (44) and combustion product openings (46), a wick snuffer tube (56) and a container (52) for liquid chemicals, food or beverages. Both said sections have a heat insulating coating (22) and, in the absence of the sealing cover, are designed to fit together with complementary mating edges (24, 28). Below the mating edge of the lower cartridge is a ledge (26) on which a catalytic member (30) and a catalyst impregnated stainless steel member (34) are supported. Alternatively, the lower section may comprise vertical partitions whereby chemicals can be stored adjacent to the fuel chamber, in which case the upper section will not incorporate a chemical container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Disposable catalytic heater This invention relates to a catalytic heater which is so inexpensive that it may be used as a disposable heater. It has a lower container section or fuel cartridge and wick for the fuel and any other liquid that may be present for dispensing. It is used together with an upper chimney container section. Alternately, only the fuel cartridge may be disposed of, and a new fuel cartridge may be mated with the previously used upper chimney section. A catalytic impregnated stainless steel member is reuseable along with a snuffer to be secured to the upper chimney section.

Small, pocket size hand warmers and scent pro pagators are well known, as illustrated in U.S. Patents No. 1,502,251; 2,670,728; 2,746,138; 2,821,570; 2,914,060; 2,942,601; 3,049,117; 3,046,975; 3,049,117; 3,119,650; 3,295,510; 3,405,704; and 3,420,221. These all have one feature in common; the fuel must be poured in the absorbent material by the user, which has attending dangers. If too much fuel is used, there is danger of a fire, and, also, the excess fuel may make the catalytic material inoperative. There is no suggestion in any of these patents that the heaters can be used as otherthan a hand or human body warmer, except in U. S. Patent No.

3,119,650, which also discloses using the heat to propagate a scent for attracting wild game.

This invention provides an inexpensive disposable catalytic heater which may be made up solely for use as a hand and body heater, and also may be made up for dispensing scents or chemicals for repelling insects and other pests, or for heating or cooking purposes. If the scent or chemical is miscibile with the fuel, only a single compartment is provided in the cartridge; if non-miscible, the fuel and the scent or chemicals are located in different compartments.

This invention consists of inexpensive metal fuel cartridge and chimney sections, aluminium for instance, that is coated with a heat insulating material to retain the heat and to make it possible to carry the heater without It being too hot for comfort. The two sections are mated together, and they have between them a catalyst-impregnated stainless steel foraminated single plane plate or mesh mounted in a frame that is held between the sections, the catalyst member having an opening through which is extended a wick from a fuel or a fuel absorbent material in the cartridge section.

When desired, the fuel may be mixed with a miscible scent or insect repellant. If the scent or insect repeliant is non-miscible, the cartridge is provided with a separate compartment for each liquid. The catalyst member is impregnated with an active catalyst e.g. platinum or palladium, as set forth in U.S. Patents No. 2,670,728; 2,746,138 and 2,821,510.

A removable cover is provided on the lower or cartirdge section, and the cover may be hermetically sealed for peeling off, or may be a paint can type cover or a snap-on sealing cover.

The chimney or upper section has a snuffer tube located to come down about the opening through which the wick extends, to snuff the flame. When all the fuel and liquids are in the fuel cartridge, the snuf fez tube is attached to the inside of the roof of the chimney section. When only fuel is provided in the cartridge section, an insertable container is provided in the chimney, which may have either liquid chemi cals, food or beverages, as desired. A removable cover on this insertable container is provided to be removed when the container is inserted through the roof of the chimney section. A tubular snuffer is integrally provided on the centre of the bottom of the insertable container of a size to just come down about the wick opening or eyelet when the container is inserted through the chimney section.

It is an object of this invention to provide an inex pensive, catalytic heater, particularly for warming the hands orthe body, that may be partially or com pletely disposed of after use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pocket carried hand and/or body heater that may be solely a heater, and also may be set up as an insect repellant.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive heater that may have either a single solid fuel or liquid fuel and mixed chemical com partment, or alternatively may have two or three separate compartments for use with non-miscible liquids.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a catalytic heater having a disposable fuel containing lower section that has a cover sealed thereon until it is ready to be used, by removing the cover, lighting the wick, then mating it with the upper chimney sec tion to snuff out the wick flame and thus continue the catalytic process of producing the heating action.

Still yet a further object of this invention is to pro vide a heat insulating coating on the heater to retain the heat at its highest possible temperature and also enable the heater to be used and carried comfort ably.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a new type of an inexpensive catalyst that can be made to fit any size or type of catalytic heater.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a catalyst that has a flat surface completely exposed to the fumes of the fuel, thus providing prompt igni tion and uniform combustion to generate the max imum amount of heat possible, which, with normal care, can be used without any protective covering.

Yet a furtherobjectofthis invention is to provide an improvement over the catalytic heater of my U.S.

Patent No. 4,068,651 which provides a catalytic hea ter comprising a lower container section having an upwardly extending flange adjacent to the top of said lower container section, an upper chimney sec tion fitting snugly on and removably supported on said lower container section about said lower con tainer section extending flange, said chimney sec tion having air draft means therein, a sealed fuel car tridge having a fuel absorbent material therewithin having a premeasured amount of liquid fuel absorbed therein, and a wick in said fuel absorbent material extending up from said material, said sealed fuel cartridge having a readily removable cover secured thereon, said cartridge fitting within said lower container section, a catalyst containing member supported over said fuel absorbent material and having aperture means through which said wick is extended, a wick snuffer depending from a frame mounted above said fuel cartridge insertable through a top opening in the roof of said chimney section, said chimney section having fuel combustion vapor emitting openings therein.

The present invention provides a catalytic heater (10,70) comprising a sealed lower section fuel cartridge (12,72), an upper chimney section (20,102), said sealed lower section having a manually removable sealing cover (14, 18,96), said sections having complementary mating edges (24, 28, 111, 114), in the absence of said sealing cover, said lower cartridge section having an inwardly extending ledge (26, 112) spaced somewhat below its mating edge (28,114), said cartridge section having fuel material (40, 78) therein, both said sections having a heat insulating coating (22, 107) directly thereon, a catalytic member comprising a single plane frame member (30,88) fitting on and supported on said ledge, a catalyst-impregnated stainless steel member (34,86) in said plane supported in said catalytic frame member over said fuel material, said stainless steel member having a wick receiving opening (36, 84) centrally located therein, a wick (38, 81) in said fuel material extendable up through said wick opening, a snuffertube (56,110) mounted centrally inside said chimney section and contacting said catalytic member about said wick (60, 82) extending therethrough, said chimney section having a plurality of inlet openings (44, 104) adjacent its bottom edge and a plurality of combustion product exit openings (46, 106) adjacent its roof (48, 108).

This invention, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. is a perspective view of one form of the catalytic heater of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section view on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the catalytic member of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fuel cartridge of Fig. with the hermetically sealed lid partly removed.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a snap-on lid for the fuel cartridge of Figs. 4, 11 and 12.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an insertable chemical container and snuffer tube combination, as in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a snap-on lid forthe container of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another form of catalytic heater of this invention.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view on line 9--9 of Fig.

8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the catalytic member of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the partitioned cartridge of Figs. 8,9 and 12, with the hermetically sealed lid partly removed.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the partitioned cartridged, but having the catalytic member installed within the hermetically sealed cartridge, and having a removable wrapper protecting the catalytic member from being contaminated by the liquid fuel while still sealed.

In the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts and, for the purpose of explication, set forth below are the numbered parts of the disposable catalytic heaterofthis invention.

10 one form of this invention 12 fuel cartridge 14 hermetically sealed cover on 12 16 pull handle on 14 18 snap-on coverfor 12 to 72 20 chimney section 22 heat insulating coating 24 outwardly displaced mating flange on 20 26 inwardly extending ledge in 12 28 top edge of cartridge 12 30 single plane catalytic frame member 32 plate of30 34 catalyst impregnated mesh screen of frame member 30 36 eyelet in centre of 34 38 wick 40 fuel absorbent material 42 fuelfilterover40 44 air admitting holes in chimney 20 46 combustion products exits 48 roofof20 50 turned on edge of opening in 48 52 chemical container 54 bottom of52 56 flame snuffer tube secured on 54 58 bottom end of 56 60 flame wick end of 38 62 sealed cover on 52 64 pull handle on 62 66 snap-on cover for 52 68 chemically saturated absorbent material in 52 70 second form of this invention 72 fuel and chemical containing cartridge 74 vertcial partitions 76 centre compartment 78 fuel absorbent material in centre compartment 76 80 chemical absorbent materials in side compartments 81 wick 82 flame end of wick 81 84 eyelet 86 catalyst impregnated mesh screen of flame member 88 88 single plane catalytic frame member 90 open ends of 88 for chemical vapour two rise through 92 moisture resistant wrapper under 86 94 pull tab on 92 96 cartridge cover on 72 98 cover pulling handle on 96 100 fuelfilterover78 102 chimney section 104 air inlet holes in chimney 102 106 combustion products exit openings 107 insulating coating 108 roof of 102 110 snuffertube in 102 secured integrally to roof 108 111 outwardly displaced mating flange on 102 112 inwardly extending ledge in 72 114 top edge of cartridge 72 Referring now to the Drawings, there is shown at 10 one form of the complete, assembled catalytic heater of this invention. The heater 10 includes a fuel cartridge 12 which is initially provided with readily openable hermetically sealed cover 14 having a pull handle 1 6for manually removing the cover 14. A snap-on cover 18 is provided for then sealing the opened cartridge by snapping on the cover over cartridge edge 28 for use when only part of the fuel has been used up. Alternatively, the snap-on cover 18 may be used initially when packaged, omitting the hermetically sealed cover 14 entirely.

After the cover is removed, the cartridge 12 is mated with the upper chimney section 20 for operation. Both the lower fuel containing 12 and the upper chimney section 20 are coated with a conventional heat insulating material 22 so as to retain the heat in cartridge 12 and chimney 20 and make the heater comfortable to use. An outwardly displaced mating flange 24 is provided on one of the sections, preferably the upper chimney section 20, for the lower fuel cartridge 12 is disposed of when its fuel contents are used up.

A ledge 26 is located slightly below the top edge 28, and is always provided, whether or not the sealed cover 14 is provided, because it acts as a seat to receive and support the catalytic member 30 thereon, which is shown in Fig. 2.

This catalytic member 30 is made of a single plane plate 32 having a rectangular centre portion occupied by catalytically impregnated stainless steel section, here shown as being of approximately 0.0037 guage, and may be either a forminated stainless steel plate of this same guage, or a stainless steel wire mesh plate of this same guage, or a stainless steel wire mesh screen 34 woven of approximately eighty strands to the inch. A central wick receiving opening therethrough is provided and this opening may have an eyelet 36 fixed thereabout in the screen 34through which is extended a wick 38 extending upwardly from a fuel material 40 filling the cartridge 12, in which the liquid fuel has previously been absorbed to the desired amount. Afuel filter42 of activated charcoal may be provided over the fuel containing absorbent material 40.The eyelet 36 may or may not be used in a foraminated plate catalytic member. Only a centrally located aperture of appropriate size to receive the wick 60 or 82 therethrough is needed.

The chimney section 20 is provided with two lower rows of air-admitting punched-in openings 44 in its opposite sides, and two oppositely disposed chimney combustion products exit openings 46 in its opposite oval ends adjacent the roof 48 thereon. The centre of the roof 48 of the chimney section 20 is provided with an opening having an inturned edge 50 thereabout through which is inserted the chemical container 52.

Extending from the bottom 54 of chemical con tainer52 is a central flame snuffer tube 56 of such size that when the container 54 is inserted through the chimney top opening between ledges 50, the snuffer tube bottom edge 58 will just contact the mesh 34 or the eyelet, orthe foranimous plate about the central opening and the snuffer tube 56 will surround the flaming wick top end 60 and extinguish the flame. The catalytic heating by the fuel through the catalytic member 34 may continue as long as fuel is present.

To stop the heating action, the chimney section 22 is removed from the fuel cartridge 12, and the snapon cover 18 is put in place. Alternatively, if the snap-on cover 18 is not available, the heating action may be discontinued by turning the heater 10 upside down and separating the fuel cartridge 12 from the chimney section 20 which will then prevent contact of the catalyst with the fuel vapours. The chemical in container 52 is saturated, to the desired amount, in an absorbent material 68.

A sealed cover 62 on chemical container 52 has a pull handle 64 for manually removing it, and a snap-on cover 66 is provided for resealing it, if desired. Alternately, the snap-on cover 66 may be used initially when packaged, omitting the hermeti callysealed cover62 entirely.

There is shown in Fig. 8 at 70 another form of this invention. In form 70, a fuel and chemical containing cartridge 72 is provided with vertical partitions 74 providing a plurality of compartments 76, three compartments here being shown. In the centre compartment a solid fuel, or a fuel absorbent material 78 is saturated with the desired amount of fuel, and in the side compartments, chemical absorbent materials 80 are saturated with the desired amount of chemical materials. The same or different materials may be provided in the separate chemical compartments.

The fuel or fuel absorbent material 78 in centre compartment 76 has a wick 81 therein, whose top end 82 is extended up through a central opening in the mesh, or in the eyelet 84 in catalytic mesh 86, as in the first form. This mesh 86 is supported in a single plane frame 88, preferably of stainless steel.

The frame 88 is oval in shape to fit in the top of oval cartridge 72, but is open at its ends 90, so that vapours from the chemical absorbent materials 80 may readily evaporate therethrough when the heater is in operation.

As shown in Fig. 12, the catalytic frame 88 may be pre-packaged in the cartridge 72, in which case a moisture resistant wrapper 92 is packed thereunder, and provided with a tab 94. After removing cover 96 by pulling its handle 98, tab 94 is pulled to remove the wrapper 92, so that the fuel and chemicals may be evaporated when the heater is in use. A fuel fiiter 100 is provided over the centre compartment 76 for the fuel in the fuel material 78.

The chimney section 102 of this form 70 has an outwardly displaced mating flange 111, which mates on cartridge 72 in the same manner as 20 mates on 12 in heater 10. Air inlet holes 104 and combustion products exit slits 106 are similarly provided.

The chemical provided in either form are for any appropriate purpose, such as insect repellants or exterminators, air fresheners, or deodorizers.

Chimney section 102 and cartridge 72 are similarly insulated at 107 to retain the heat and to make the heater comfortable to use. At the bottom of the roof 108 of chimney section 102, there is provided a snuffez tube 110 to fit about the central opening in the mesh or plate or against eyelet 84 and surround the flaming wick top 82 to snuff out the flame when the chimney section 102 is mated with cartridge 72. An inwardly extending ledge 112 below the cartridge top edge 114 is left when removing the cover 96, to receive and support the catalytic member 88 thereon and the same snap-on cover 18 of the first form may be used to seal this cartridge 72 when desired.

The chimney sections and the cartridge sections of either form may be interchanged with that of the other form, if desired. Miscible fuels and chemicals may be used in cartridge 12, if desired, and the chimney section 102 of the second form may thus be used therewith.

Also, instead of chemicals in container 52, food or beverages may be provided, and the container would then be made of appropriate size.

To operate either embodiment of the invention, the sealing cover is first removed from the fuel cartridge and the catalytic member is positioned in the top of the cartridge, if not already there, in which case the wrapper is removed by pulling its tab. The wick, having been extended through its opening or eyelet, is lit up and left burning until the catalytic action has been initiated, whereupon the chimney section is mated with the cartridge fuel section, thus snuffing out the flame and permitting the catalytic action to continue as long as desired, or until the fuel is exhausted. The catalytic action may be stopped, when desired, by removing the chimney section and either putting on the snap-on cover 18, or by turning it over, to remove contact of the catalyst with the fuel vapours. If the snap-on cover is used, it will keep the remaining fuel or chemical for future use; otherwise it may be lost by evaporation.

The heater 10 may be made in any desired size, from a pocket or hand warmer size to a camp or home food heater, to receive and heat commercially prepared containers of food of the desired size, orto receive any container of the proper size.

The term "foraminated", as used in this specification and its claims, means any article with some holes therethrough, whether it be a screen or any suitable material or a plate with holes formed therethrough. Thus, a metal plate with holes therethrough or a metal or plastic screen are both "foraminated".

Claims (11)

1. A catalytic heater (10,70) comprising a sealed lower section fuel cartridge (12,72) an upper chimney section (20, 102), said sealed lower section having a manually removable sealing cover (14, 18,96), said sections having complementary mating edges (24, 28, 111, 114) in the absence of said sealing cover, said lower cartridge section having an inwardly extending ledge (26,112) spaced somewhat below its mating edge (28, 114), said cartridge section having fuel material (40, 78) therein, both said sections having a heat insulating coating (22, 107) directly thereon, a catalytic member comprising a single plane frame member (30; 88) fitting on and supported on said ledge, a catalyst-impregnated stainless steel member (34, 86) in said plane supported in said catalytic frame member over said fuel material, said stainless steel member having a wick receiving opening (36, 84) centrally located therein, a wick (38, 81) in said fuel material extendable up through said wick opening, a snuffer tube (56, 110) mounted centrally inside said chimney section and contacting said catalytic member about said work (60, 82) extending therethrough, said chimney section having a plurality of inlet openings (44,104) adjacent its bottom edge and a plurality of combustion product exit openings (46, 106) adjacent its roof (48, 108).

2. A heater as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said snuffertube (110) depends integrally from the roof (108) of said chimney section.

3. A heater as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said chimney section (20) has a container receiving opening (50) in its roof (48), a sealed container (52) extending snugly down through said roof opening and having said snuffer tube (56) extending integrally down from its bottom, and said container has a readily removable cover (62, 66) thereon.

4. A heater as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein said lower section has inwardly extending horizontal ledge means (112) providing support for said catalytic member, said lower cartridge having vertical partition means (74) dividing said lower section (72) into a plurality of compartments, one compartment (76) having fuel therein, and other compartments having liquid absorbent material (80) therein and liquid means therein that is non-miscible with said fuel.

5. A heater as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said vertical partition means includes two vertical partitions (74) dividing said lower section into three compartments, the middle compartment (76) having liquid fuel absorbent material (78) and liquid fuel absorbed therein, said outer compartments having absorbent material (80) and liquids non-miscible with said fuel absorbed therein.

6. A heater as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said catalytic frame (88) has open ends (90) permitting vapours from said two outer compartments to rise therethrough when said heater is in operation.

7. A heater as claimed in any preceding Claim which comprises a fuel vapour filter (42, 100) over said fuel.

8. A heater as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said lower cartridge section (12,72), prior to mating with said chimney section (20, 102), is a sealed container having a readily removable sealed cover member (14,96), and a handle (16,98), on said cover for manually pulling off said cover.

9. A heater as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the said lower cartridge section, priorto mating with said chimney section, is a sealed container having a readily removable snap-on cover (18).

10. A heater as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein said catalytic member is located in said sealed lower cartridge below said cover ledge (112), and a moisture resistant wrapper (92) is provided under said catalytic member.

11. A heater as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.