Liquid-Fuel Burner with Brick Member

Abstract

A liquid-fuel burner apparatus for a fireplace using a liquid fuel. The apparatus includes a fuel-containment housing having walls forming a housing upper edge, the fuel-containment housing being adapted for insertion of a porous, fuel-wicking brick member. The porosity of the brick member is sufficient to support a continuous flame at the upper burn surface with fuel present in the fuel-containment housing.

1 . A liquid-fuel burner apparatus comprising:
 a fuel-containment housing having walls forming a housing upper edge, the fuel-containment housing being adapted for insertion of a porous, fuel-wicking brick member therein;   the porous brick member, when inserted in the housing, having a vertical dimension extending from a lower surface within the housing to an upper burn surface at or near the level of the housing upper edge, the porosity of the brick member being sufficient to support a continuous flame at the upper burn surface with fuel present in the fuel-containment housing; and   a cover over the housing, the cover having a main portion defining a flame aperture over the upper burn surface of the brick member and a shutter member movable with respect to the main portion for opening and closing the flame aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flame aperture is elongate and the upper burn surface of the brick member is dimensioned to extend under and beyond the full length and width of the flame aperture and in contact with the main portion of the cover, thereby to facilitate flame size limitation and flame position control and to provide a flame as broad as the flame aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the fuel-containment housing is elongate. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shutter member is hinged to the main portion of the cover. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the porous brick member has lateral surfaces; 
 the fuel-containment housing includes a bottom surface with brick-positioning members affixed thereto in positions to engage the lateral surfaces of the brick member; and 
 the cover includes an undersurface having a brick-engaging lip affixed thereto to engage the lateral surfaces of the brick member, thereby to facilitate flame position control. 
 
     
     
         6 . The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the porous brick member is dimensioned such that liquid fuel contacts the lateral surfaces of the brick member. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the main portion of the cover includes a fuel opening for refilling the fuel-containment housing. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the fuel opening includes:
 an externally-threaded removable closure; and 
 a tube with an upper edge affixed to and substantially flush with the main portion of the cover and a lower edge within the housing, the tube being internally-threaded for engagement with the closure. 
 
     
     
         9 . The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the housing upper edge projects above the fuel opening thereby to facilitate containment of fuel spillage during filling. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fuel is selected from the group consisting of isopropanol and ethanol in a liquid form. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the liquid-fuel burner apparatus is dimensioned for removable use with a wall-unit fireplace.