Floating heater to maintain hole through ice open

Claim 2

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.

Claim 3

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

Claim 4

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

Claim 5

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.

Claim 6

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.

Claim 7

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

Claim 8

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.

Claim 9

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.

Claim 10

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

Claim 11

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.