US4580583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Smoke generating device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-03-12
•
Granted: 1986-04-08
•
Expires: 2004-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A rotor assembly driven by a motor, supports a burner element within a combustion chamber from which smoke is withdrawn. Combustible material stored in a hopper chamber is gravitationally fed into the combustion chamber with an inflow of air induced by rotation of blower vanes on the rotor assembly to produce the smoke when the burner element is electrically energized.
Inventors
- 👤 William D. Green, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:13
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23B; F23B1/00; F23B1/30; F23B1/32; F23B1/38; F23B50/00; F23B50/02; F23B50/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
In an apparatus for generating and dispensing smoke, having combustion chamber means into which combustible material is fed, and burner means for combustion of the material within said combustion chamber means, the improvement comprising means mounting the burner means in operative relation to the combustion chamber means for transfer of motion therebetween during said combustion of the material, means for rotating the combustion chamber means during operation of the burner means, and blower means mounted in operative relation to the combustion chamber means for inducing outflow of combustion products therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
In an apparatus for generating and dispensing smoke, having combustion chamber means into which combustible material is fed, and burner means for combustion of the material within said combustion chamber means, the improvement comprising means mounting the burner means in operative relation to the combustion chamber means for transfer of motion therebetween during said combustion of the material, means for rotating the combustion chamber means during operation of the burner means, and blower means mounted in operative relation to the combustion chamber means for inducing outflow of combustion products therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber means comprises a rotor body having an internal surface enclosing a combustion zone, said means for mounting the burner means including an internal surface of the rotor body within which the burner means is seated for exposure to the material fed to the combustion zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said blower means is secured to the rotor body for expelling smoke generated in the combustion zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement as defined in claim 2 including a hopper within which the material is stored, and means for directing the material from the hopper into the combustion zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said material directing means includes a wall formation between the hopper and the combustion zone having a conical portion projecting into the hopper, and a plurality of feed openings formed in the formation wall radially outward of the conical portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said material directing means includes a wall formation between the hopper and the combustion zone having a feed opening formed therein and a plurality of feed directing vanes projecting therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said blower means is secured to the rotor body for expelling the smoke generated in the combustion zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improvement as defined in claim 7 including control means having contact sections mounted on the rotor body and electrically connected to the heating element, brush means mounted for displacement into wiping contact with the contact sections and actuating means movably mounted for engagement with the brush means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement as defined in claim 7 including a housing having two relatively movable sections, and control means including switch means responsive to relative displacement of said housing sections for completing an energizing circuit through the heating element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said switch means includes contact sections mounted on the rotor body and electrically connected to the heating element, brush means mounted for displacement into wiping contact with the contact sections and actuating means movably mounted in the housing for engagement with the brush means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a housing having two relatively movable section, and control means including switch means responsive to relative displacement of said housing sections for completing an energizing circuit through the heating element
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber means comprises a rotor having a generally conical internal surface enclosing a combustion zone and a hub portion projecting into the combustion zone, said burner mounting means including means on the internal surface of the rotor within which the burner means is seated for exposure to the material fed to the combustion zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement as defined in claim 12 including a screen element secured to the hub portion of the rotor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement as defined in claim 13 including a housing enclosing the rotor, an internal wall formation on the housing enclosing a hopper chamber and grinding means mounted on the wall formation in operative relation to the screen element for comminuting the material fed from the hopper chamber to the combustion zone through the screen element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
89 words
In an apparatus for generating and dispensing smoke, having a hopper within which combustible material is stored, burner means for combustion of the material and blower means mounted in operative relation to the hopper and the burner means for inducing movement of the material from the hopper to the burner means, the improvement comprising means for rotating the burner means with the blower means relative to the hopper during said movement of the material, and means for directing said movement of the material from the hopper tothe burner means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
In an apparatus for generating and dispensing smoke, having a hopper within which combustible material is stored, burner means for combustion of the material and blower means mounted in operative relation to the hopper and the burner means for inducing movement of the material from the hopper to the burner means, the improvement comprising means for rotating the burner means with the blower means relative to the hopper during said movement of the material, and means for directing said movement of the material from the hopper tothe burner means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement as defined in claim 15 wherein said blower means includes a rotor body and blower vanes mounted on the rotor body upstream of the burner means in the direciton of said movement of the material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement as defined in claim 16 wherein said material directing means comprises a conical wall formation projecting axially into the burner means and enclosing the hopper therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improvement as defined in claim 17 including a screen element, said conical wall formation having a feed opening upstream of the blower vanes through which the material is fed into the burner means, and grinding edge means mounted on the wall formation at the opening in operative relation to the screen element for comminuting the material entering the burner means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement as defined in claim 18 including spring support means on which the screen element is mounted for biasing the screen element toward the grinding edge means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement as defined in claim 18 including flexible cover means mounted on the wall formation for selectively compacting the material stored in the hopper.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement as defined in claim 18 including means for adjustably metering feed of the material from the hopper to the combustion chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement as defined in claim 15 including a screen element, said material directing means comprising a conical wall formation converging axially toward the screen element within the burner means in enclosing relation to the hopper.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement as defined in claim 22 including yieldable support means on which the screen element is mounted in operative relation to the wall formation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement as defined in claim 22 including flexible cover means mounted on the wall formation for selectively compacting the material stored in the hopper.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement as defined in claim 22 including means for adjustably metering feed of the material in the hopper toward the screen element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-07 | 1989-10-07 | 1990-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-07 | 1993-10-07 | 1994-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-07 | 1997-10-07 | 1998-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |