Heating vessel

Abstract

A heating vessel comprises a chamber having enclosed sides, a thermally conductive bottom end and a top end forming an opening for the introduction and extraction of contents to be heated, the bottom end having an external bottom side. A heater comprises a heat exchanger and a heat source having a heat outlet disposed at a fixed distance from the external bottom side and configured to deliver heat to a central area thereof. The heat exchanger includes a series of thermally conductive radially disposed fins are coupled circumferentially about the central area of the external bottom side, the fins extending for a fixed distance to encase the heat outlet. A gas flow path is formed to allow intake of air and output of exhaust.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vessel having a highly efficient heat exchanger, the vessel comprising: 
 A. a chamber having enclosed sides, a thermally conductive bottom end and a top end forming an opening for the introduction and extraction of contents to be heated, the bottom end having an external bottom side for receiving heat;    B. a heater comprising: 
 1. a heat source having a heat outlet disposed at a fixed distance from the external bottom side and having a fuel intake port configured to couple to a fuel source, the heat outlet configured to deliver heat to a central area of the external bottom side;  
 2. a series of thermally conductive protrusions coupled circumferentially about the central area of the external bottom side, the protrusions extending from the external bottom side to a distance about equal to or greater than the fixed distance;  
 3. a top housing having a top rim coupled circumferentially to the external bottom side and encasing the protrusions, the housing having a series of exhaust vents formed therein and having a bottom rim;  
 4. a bottom housing configured to couple to the bottom rim and substantially encasing the heat source, the bottom housing having a set of air inlet vents formed therein, wherein a gas flow path is formed from the air inlet vents to the exhaust vents via the heat outlet.  
   
     
     
         2 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover configured to close the opening.  
     
     
         3 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal insulator configured to substantially encase the sides.  
     
     
         4 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom housing and heat source are removable from the top housing and the thermal insulator includes a bottom cover configured to encases the top housing and protrusions.  
     
     
         5 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the heat outlet is a burner.  
     
     
         6 . The vessel of  claim 5 , wherein the burner is configured to burn a combustible fuel, including one or more of butane, propane, kerosene, gas, alcohol, or white gas.  
     
     
         7 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions take the form of a series of fins formed from a single piece of thermally conductive material.  
     
     
         8 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions take the form of a series of pins.  
     
     
         9 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is a double walled chamber having an inner vessel and an outer shell, the inner vessel configured to hold the contents.  
     
     
         10 . The vessel of  claim 9 , wherein the protrusions are coupled to an exterior bottom portion of the inner vessel.  
     
     
         11 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the top housing and bottom housing are integral into a single unit.  
     
     
         12 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the heat outlet includes a top end configured to emit the heat and an bottom end coupled to the fuel source, the heater further comprising: 
 5. a baffle plate disposed at the bottom end of the heat outlet, the baffle plate having one or more air vents formed therein configured to deliver a predetermined amount of air received from the air inlet vents to the heat outlet, as part of the gas flow path.    
     
     
         13 . A high efficiency heater comprises: 
 A. a heat source having a heat outlet disposed at a fixed distance from a surface to be heated and having a fuel intake port configured to couple to a fuel source, the heat outlet configured to deliver heat to a central area of the surface;    B. a series of thermally conductive protrusions coupled circumferentially about the central area of the surface, the protrusions extending from the surface to a distance about equal to or greater than the fixed distance;    C. a skirt having a top rim coupled circumferentially to the surface and encasing the protrusions, the skirt having a series of exhaust vents formed therein and having a bottom rim;    D. a base configured to couple to the bottom rim and substantially encasing the heat source, the base having a set of air inlet vents formed therein, wherein a gas flow path is formed from the air inlet vents to the exhaust vents via the heat outlet; and    E. a baffle plate disposed below the heat outlet and above the air inlet vents, the baffle plate having one or more air vents formed therein configured to deliver a predetermined amount of air received from the air inlet vents to the heat outlet, as part of the gas flow path.    
     
     
         14 . A heating vessel for use with a heater for heating a liquid comestible, the heater having a fuel supply system, an upper support structure, and a burner head bounded by a peripheral border, the heating vessel comprising: 
 A. an inner vessel for holding the liquid comestible to be heated, said inner vessel having an inner vessel interior surface, an inner vessel exterior surface, and an open top, said inner vessel extending downward from said open top to terminate in an inner vessel bottom;    B. a housing having a housing sidewall with a housing sidewall exterior surface and a housing sidewall interior surface, said housing sidewall terminating in a housing sidewall base region and a housing sidewall top region, said housing sidewall being configured such that said inner vessel, when positioned and affixed in said housing, provides an annular gap between said inner vessel exterior surface and said housing sidewall interior surface, said housing sidewall top region having exhaust vents therethrough communicating with said annular gap;    C. means associated with said sidewall base region for mounting said housing to the upper support structure of the heater, said means for mounting said housing being configured to position the burner head under said inner vessel bottom; and    D. downwardly-directed protrusions provided on said inner vessel exterior surface, said protrusions extending beyond said inner vessel bottom and positioned such that said protrusions are arranged around the peripheral border of the burner head so as to provide a cavity, the projection of which encompasses the burner head so as to collect a substantial portion of the beat from the combustion gasses produced by the burner head as the hot combustion gasses pass through said arrangement of said downwardly-directed protrusions into said annular gap.    
     
     
         15 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  wherein said protrusions have an aspect ratio of at least about 5.  
     
     
         16 . The heating vessel of  claim 15  wherein said protrusions have an aspect ratio between about 10 and 20.  
     
     
         17 . The heating vessel of  claim 15  wherein said protrusions are substantially oriented to minimize radial obstruction of the flow of the combustion gasses from the burner head.  
     
     
         18 . The heating vessel of  claim 15  wherein said protrusions are arranged in at least one ring disposed about the burner head.  
     
     
         19 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  wherein said protrusions are attached to said inner vessel bottom.  
     
     
         20 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  wherein said protrusions are formed by undulations in at least one protrusion piece.  
     
     
         21 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  wherein said protrusions are connected by connecting segments, a portion of which are attached to said inner vessel bottom.  
     
     
         22 . The heating vessel of  claim 21  wherein said protrusions have an aspect ration of at least about 8.  
     
     
         23 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  wherein some of said protrusions radially extend beyond said inner vessel bottom and transverse a portion of said inner vessel exterior surface.  
     
     
         24 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  wherein the separation of said open top from said inner vessel bottom defines an inner vessel height H and said portion of the inner vessel exterior surface traversed by said protrusions is less than about ¼ of said inner vessel height H.  
     
     
         25 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  further comprising an insulating layer attached to said housing sidewall interior surface and configured to allow said exhaust vents to communicate with said gap.  
     
     
         26 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  further comprising a baffle plate having a plate central passage sufficient to accommodate the burner head and configured to engage said housing sidewall.  
     
     
         27 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 E. a handle for attachment to said housing; and  
 F. means for removably attaching said handle to said housing,  
 G. said handle being configured to be stored inside said inner vessel when removed from said housing.  
 
     
     
         28 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  wherein the heater is dedicated to use with the heating vessel and said means for mounting said housing to the upper support structure of the heater are provided by affixing the upper support structure to said housing sidewall base region of said housing.  
     
     
         29 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  further comprising intake ports in said housing sidewall base region.  
     
     
         30 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  wherein the upper support structure of the heater is made integral with said housing sidewall base region of said housing.  
     
     
         31 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 E. a burner mounting coupling formed on the upper support structure of the heater; and,  
 F. a housing mounting coupling on said sidewall base region, said housing mounting coupling being configured to fixably mate with said burner mounting coupling of the heater.  
 
     
     
         32 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  wherein the upper support structure of the heater is provided by a plurality of support members designed to support a conventional cooking vessel, said means for mounting said housing to the upper support structure further comprises: 
 E. a plurality of recesses in said sidewall base region, said recesses each being positioned and configured to engage one of the plurality of support members of the heater so as to support said housing sidewall thereon.  
 
     
     
         33 . The heating vessel of  claim 31  wherein said plurality of recesses in said sidewall base region includes a first series of recesses positioned at 90° angles and a second series of recesses positioned at 120° angles.  
     
     
         34 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 E. a blocking ring which slidably, rotatably engages said housing sidewall base region, said blocking ring having a first series of cutouts which can be aligned with said first series of recesses and a second series of cutouts which can be aligned with said second series of recesses.  
 
     
     
         35 . The heating vessel of  claim 14  wherein said housing further comprises: 
 1. an exterior wall member, on which at least a portion of said housing sidewall exterior surface is provided;  
 2. an interior wall member, on which at least a portion of said housing sidewall interior surface is provided, said interior wall member being spaced apart from said exterior wall member to form an annular passage therebetween, said annular passage communicating with said exhaust vents; and  
 3. means for allowing ingress of air into said annular passage at said housing sidewall base region.  
 
     
     
         36 . The heating vessel of  claim 35  wherein said housing further comprises: 
 4. an upper notched ring in said housing sidewall top region to which said exterior wall member and said interior wall member are mounted, said upper notched ring having spaces therein which allow said annular passage to communicate with said exhaust vents.  
 
     
     
         37 . The heating vessel of  claim 36  wherein said housing further comprises: 
 5. a lower notched ring in said housing sidewall base region to which said exterior wall member and said interior wall member are mounted, said lower notched ring having spaces therein which provide said means for allowing ingress of air into said annular passage at said housing sidewall base region; and  
 6. a baffle plate affixed to said interior wall member at said housing sidewall base region, said baffle plate residing below said protrusions and having a plate central opening therein which is sized larger than the peripheral border of the burner head.  
 
     
     
         38 . A self-heating vessel which combines a heating vessel for holding liquids and a gas burner for heating the vessel and the liquid contained therein, the self-heating vessel comprising: 
 A. an inner vessel designed to hold the liquid to be heated, said inner vessel having an inner vessel interior surface and an inner vessel exterior surface, said inner vessel having an open top and extending downward from said open top to terminate in an inner vessel bottom;    B. a housing having a housing sidewall with a housing sidewall exterior surface and a housing sidewall interior surface, said housing sidewall terminating in a housing sidewall base region and a housing sidewall top region, said housing sidewall being configured such that said inner vessel, when positioned and affixed in said housing, provides an annular gap between said inner vessel exterior surface and said housing sidewall interior surface, said housing sidewall top region having exhaust vents therethrough communicating with said annular gap;    C. a gas heater having a fuel supply system and a burner head bounded by a peripheral border, said gas heater being mounted to said housing sidewall base region of said housing so as to position said burner head under said inner vessel bottom; and    D. downwardly-directed protrusions provided on said inner vessel exterior surface, said protrusions extending beyond said inner vessel bottom and positioned such that said protrusions are arranged around said peripheral border of said burner head so as to provide a cavity, the projection of which encompasses said burner head so as to collect a substantial portion of the heat from the combustion gasses produced by said burner head as the combustion gasses pass through said arrangement of said downwardly-directed protrusions into said annular gap.    
     
     
         39 . The heating vessel of  claim 38  wherein said fuel supply system further comprises: 
 1. a fuel tank; and  
 2. a fuel and air mixing tube which is positioned between said burner head and said fuel tank, said fuel and air mixing tube having a substantial portion of its path being parallel to said inner vessel bottom.  
 
     
     
         40 . The heating vessel of  claim 38  wherein of said gas heater is made integral with said housing sidewall base region of said housing.  
     
     
         41 . The heating vessel of  claim 38  further comprising: 
 E. a burner mounting coupling formed on said gas heater; and,  
 F. a housing mounting coupling on said sidewall base region, said housing mounting coupling being configured to attachably mate with said burner mounting coupling of said gas heater.