Lightweight, portable cooking stove

Abstract

A small, lightweight, portable cooking stove that utilizes alcohol as fuel and is suitable for backpacking, hunting, camping and similar activities. The cooking stove includes a combustion chamber which encloses, contains and regulates the entire combustion process. The stove also includes an efficient fuel vaporizer, which is adapted to perform in unison with the combustion chamber, to effect the metered and efficient mixing of the air and fuel vapor. An integral, simple and convenient means is provided to vary the intensity and pattern of the heat output, thereby controlling the cooking performance of the stove. The stove achieves high heat output and efficiency, low fuel consumption, and superior cooking performance in a small, lightweight, portable, convenient, simple and integrated assembly.

1 . A lightweight, portable cooking stove comprising the combination of:
 a combustion chamber having a first end, a second end, and at least one row of substantially equally spaced ports, the combustion chamber forming a defined interior shape when the first and second ends are removably fastened together in an assembled state and forming a coil when the first and second ends are not fastened together in an unassembled state;   a fuel vaporizer substantially axially aligned within the defined interior shape of the assembled combustion chamber;   a cooking pot having a defined exterior shape smaller than the defined interior shape of the assembled combustion chamber, the cooking pot having a lip resting on a top edge of the combustion chamber to form an annular gap between the cooking pot and the combustion chamber;   whereby air entering the at least one row of ports extending through the combustion chamber mixes with vaporized fuel discharged from the fuel vaporizer to form a combustible mixture of fuel and air thereby producing products of combustion engaging a substantial portion of the defined exterior shape of the cooking pot.   
   
   
       2 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the defined interior shape of the assembled combustion chamber has a circular cross-section. 
   
   
       3 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the defined interior shape of the assembled combustion chamber is cylindrical. 
   
   
       4 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the defined interior shape of the assembled combustion chamber is conical. 
   
   
       5 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the combustion chamber comprises an upper section and a lower section, the upper section and lower section being removably attached in an assembled state. 
   
   
       6 . The cooking stove according to  claim 5  wherein the defined interior shape of the assembled combustion chamber is cylindrical in the lower section and conical in the upper section. 
   
   
       7 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the combustion chamber further comprises a cutout to accommodate a handle of the cooking pot. 
   
   
       8 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the combustion chamber further comprises at least one exhaust opening at or near the top edge of the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       9 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the top edge of the combustion chamber comprises a plurality of tabs to support the cooking pot within the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       10 . The cooking stove according to  claim 9  wherein the plurality of tabs are adjustable to center the cooking pot within the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       11 . The cooking stove according to  claim 9  wherein the plurality of tabs are adjustable to vary the size of the annular gap between the cooking pot and the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one row of substantially equally spaced ports comprises a plurality of tabs, said tabs being bendable to meter air flow into the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       13 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the combustion chamber further comprises a plurality of substantially vertical ribs to support and center the cooking pot within the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       14 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the defined interior shape of the assembled combustion chamber is scalable to accommodate cooking pots of varying sizes. 
   
   
       15 . The cooking stove according to  claim 14  wherein the first and second ends of the combustion chamber are removably fastened together using at least one spring clip. 
   
   
       16 . The cooking stove according to  claim 15  wherein the at least one spring clip supports the cooking pot. 
   
   
       17 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the combustion chamber comprises a first row of relatively large substantially equally spaced ports and a second row of relatively small equally spaced ports, the first and second rows of ports separated by a predetermined longitudinal distance. 
   
   
       18 . The cooking stove according to  claim 17  wherein the combustion chamber further comprises an obturating device movably supported on the combustion chamber wall for at least partially covering either the first row or the second row of ports. 
   
   
       19 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the combustion chamber is formed of aluminum. 
   
   
       20 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the annular gap formed between the cooking pot and the combustion chamber allows for exhausting of the products of combustion. 
   
   
       21 . The cooking stove according to  claim 1  wherein the combustion chamber further comprises at least one opening at or near the top edge to allow for exhausting of the products of combustion.