Apparatus and Method for a Self-Contained Heating Vessel

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a self-contained heating vessel having enhanced efficiency and safety features. In one embodiment, the vessel includes a chamber for containing fuel; a burner assembly for burning the fuel; a fuel delivery mechanism that delivers the fuel from the chamber to the burner assembly; and a container disposed adjacent to the heat exchanger assembly, the container including an opening to an interior portion of the container. In other aspects, the vessel includes an ignition assembly operatively connected to said burner assembly and a heat exchanger assembly disposed adjacent to the burner assembly. In further aspects, the vessel includes a displacement sensor to prevent operation when displaced from an intended operating position and a pressure regulator that controls delivery of fuel to the burner assembly to maintain a substantially constant heating profile over a varying temperature range.

1 . A self-contained heating vessel, comprising: 
 a chamber for containing fuel;    a burner assembly for burning the fuel;    a fuel delivery mechanism that delivers the fuel from said chamber to said burner assembly;    a container disposed adjacent to said heat exchanger assembly, said container including an opening to an interior portion of said container; and    a control assembly operatively connected to at least one of said fuel delivery mechanism and said burner assembly;    wherein said control assembly includes a displacement sensor that monitors a position of said heating vessel and prevents operation of said burner assembly when said heating vessel is displaced from an intended operating position.    
   
   
       2 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an ignition assembly operatively connected to said burner assembly.    
   
   
       3 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a heat exchanger assembly disposed adjacent to said burner assembly.    
   
   
       4 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a transparent covering disposed adjacent to said burner assembly that allows an external view of said burner assembly for assessing whether said burner assembly is generating a flame.    
   
   
       5 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said displacement sensor is a tilt monitor mechanism and wherein said tilt monitor sensor prevents operation of said burner assembly when said heating vessel is tilted beyond a predetermined tilt degree.  
   
   
       6 . The vessel of  claim 5 , wherein said tilt monitor mechanism is a pendulum sensor.  
   
   
       7 . The vessel of  claim 5 , wherein said tilt monitor mechanism is a cam assembly sensor.  
   
   
       8 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said displacement sensor is a device for sensing whether said heating vessel is resting on a flat surface.  
   
   
       9 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one volume extender that attaches to the container and expands a capacity of the container.    
   
   
       10 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said control assembly further includes a temperature sensor that monitors a temperature of the vessel and prevents operation of said burner assembly when a predetermined temperature is reached.  
   
   
       11 . The vessel of  claim 10 , wherein said temperature sensor is a bimetallic switch.  
   
   
       12 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said heat control assembly further includes a boil detect sensor that monitors contents of the vessel for boiling and prevents operation of said burner assembly when boiling is detected.  
   
   
       13 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein said ignition assembly is a piezo igniter.  
   
   
       14 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a button that is operatively connected to said fuel delivery mechanism, wherein activation of said button permits delivery of fuel by said fuel delivery mechanism to said burner assembly.    
   
   
       15 . The vessel of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a button that is operatively connected to said ignition assembly, wherein activation of said button controls ignition of said burner assembly.    
   
   
       16 . A self-contained heating vessel, comprising: 
 a chamber for containing fuel;    a burner assembly for burning the fuel;    a fuel delivery mechanism that delivers the fuel from said chamber to said burner assembly;    a container disposed adjacent to said heat exchanger assembly, said container including an opening to an interior portion of said container;    wherein said fuel delivery mechanism includes a pressure regulator that controls delivery of the fuel to said burner assembly and maintains a substantially constant heating profile over a varying temperature range.    
   
   
       17 . The vessel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 an ignition assembly operatively connected to said burner assembly.    
   
   
       18 . The vessel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a heat exchanger assembly disposed adjacent to said burner assembly.    
   
   
       19 . The vessel of  claim 16 , wherein said pressure regulator is fixed and provides a constant fuel pressure.  
   
   
       20 . The vessel of  claim 16 , wherein said pressure regulator is variable and provides a user-selected fuel pressure.  
   
   
       21 . The vessel of  claim 16 , wherein said pressure regulator is altitude compensating to provide a variable fuel pressure based on an operating altitude of the vessel.  
   
   
       22 . The vessel of  claim 16 , wherein said pressure regulator maintains a substantially constant heating profile for temperatures from approximately 40 F to approximately 120 F.  
   
   
       23 . The vessel of  claim 16 , wherein said pressure regulator comprises a conductive heating element applying heat to said chamber.  
   
   
       24 . The vessel of  claim 16 , wherein said pressure regulator comprises a convective heating element applying heat to said chamber.  
   
   
       25 . The vessel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a control assembly operatively connected to at least one of said fuel delivery mechanism and said burner assembly.    
   
   
       26 . The vessel of  claim 25 , wherein said control assembly includes at least one of a displacement sensor; a temperature control sensor; a boil detect sensor, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       27 . The vessel of  claim 16 , wherein said ignition assembly is a piezo igniter.  
   
   
       28 . The vessel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a button that is operatively connected to said fuel delivery mechanism, wherein activation of said button permits delivery of fuel by said fuel delivery mechanism to said burner assembly.    
   
   
       29 . The vessel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a button that is operatively connected to said ignition assembly, wherein activation of said button controls ignition of said burner assembly.    
   
   
       30 . The vessel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a transparent covering disposed adjacent to said burner assembly that allows an external view of said burner assembly for assessing whether said burner assembly is generating a flame.    
   
   
       31 . The vessel of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 at least one volume extender that attaches to the container and expands a capacity of the container.    
   
   
       32 . A self-contained heating vessel, comprising: 
 a chamber for containing fuel;    a burner assembly for burning the fuel;    a fuel delivery mechanism that delivers the fuel from said chamber to said burner assembly;    a container disposed adjacent to said heat exchanger assembly, said container including an opening to an interior portion of said container;    a control assembly operatively connected to at least one of said fuel delivery mechanism and said burner assembly; and    a transparent covering disposed adjacent to said burner assembly that allows an external view of said burner assembly for assessing whether said burner assembly is generating a flame.    
   
   
       33 . The vessel of  claim 32 , wherein said fuel delivery mechanism includes a pressure regulator that controls delivery of the fuel to said burner assembly and maintains a substantially constant heating profile over a varying temperature range.  
   
   
       34 . The vessel of  claim 32 , wherein said control assembly includes a displacement sensor that monitors a position of said heating vessel and prevents operation of said burner assembly when said heating vessel is displaced from an intended operating position.