Solid-fueled cooking or heating device

Abstract

A solid-fueled cooking or heating device that stays relatively cool on the sides and bottom of the device during continuous operation. The inventive device utilizes the flow of inlet combustion air in conjunction with three parallel air spaces to heat the inlet air and cool the exterior of the device. The inventive device has uses ranging from a portable camp stove to a fondue pot burner to a patio heater.

1 . A heating apparatus comprising: 
 a combustion chamber with at least one air intake in the side of the chamber;    a safety structure comprising: 
 an inner shell;  
 an intermediate shell; and  
 an outer shell;  
   wherein the combustion chamber and the safety structure are operably connected such that three parallel air spaces exist between the combustion chamber and the exterior of the outer shell; and    wherein the combustion chamber and the safety structure are operably connected such that air can flow from an at least one air intake in the outer shell to the at least one air intake of the combustion chamber via the three air spaces.    
   
   
       2 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a gaseous- or vaporized-fuel burner is within the combustion chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combustion chamber is configured for burning solid fuel.  
   
   
       4 . The heating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the combustion chamber is removable.  
   
   
       5 . The heating apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a top of the combustion chamber is open to the atmosphere.  
   
   
       6 . The heating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the support structure is further comprised of a lid structure operably connected to the inner shell, the intermediate shell, and the outer shell.  
   
   
       7 . The heating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the combustion chamber rests directly upon the lid structure.  
   
   
       8 . The heating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein attached to the lid structure is an at least one cooking support, wherein the at least one cooking support is configured to support a grill, a griddle, a pan, a dutch oven, a smoking chamber, or any combination thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The heating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the safety structure further comprises a damper.  
   
   
       10 . The heating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the inner shell, intermediate shell, and the outer shell are formed in geometric shapes selected from the group consisting of cylinders, barrels, conical frustums, hemispheroids, ovals, trigonal pyramidal, square pyramidal, cuboids, trigonal prisms, and pentagonal prisms.  
   
   
       11 . The heating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the combustion chamber is generally shaped as a conical frustum, a hemispheroid, a cylinder, or a saddle.  
   
   
       12 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combustion chamber and the safety structure are formed from aluminum, glass, Pyrex®, sheet metal, galvanized steel, stainless steel, porcelain, ceramic, polymers, or any combinations thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising of an inlet air blower.  
   
   
       14 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stove is portable.  
   
   
       15 . The heating apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the safety structure is disassemblable.  
   
   
       16 . A portable stove comprising: 
 a removable bucket including at least one port for air flow in a side thereof, and    an insulative ductwork for providing airflow to the removable bucket through the at least one port.    
   
   
       17 . The portable stove of  claim 16 , wherein the insulative ductwork for providing airflow to the removable bucket through the at least one port comprises a ductwork having at least three concentric chambers.  
   
   
       18 . The portable stove of  claim 17 , wherein the insulative ductwork comprises the sides and bottom of the stove and are configured to remain relatively cool to the touch during continuous operation.  
   
   
       19 . A method of generating heat, the method comprising: 
 combusting a solid fuel in a removable container;    providing at least a portion of the combustion air to the removeable container through a side of the removable container, where the at least a portion of the combustion air is traveling through at least one pre-heating jacket encircling the removable container, prior to entering the container.    
   
   
       20 . The method of generating heat according to  claim 19 , wherein providing at least a portion of the combustion air to the removable container through a side of the removable container comprises providing the at least a portion of the combustion air through the bottom of the removable container.