Cooking stove

Abstract

The present invention relates to forced air cooking stoves, in particular, to efficient cooking stoves for use by the military, those undertaking general camping or other outdoor leisure pursuits, or by larger groups of people for entertaining or humanitarian purposes. The cooking stoves include a fan to aid combustion, and a collar to focus the exhaust gasses onto the cooking vessel. They are designed to make efficient use of any type of fuel, including biomass such as wood, and solid fuel blocks. They are also designed to minimise the soot deposited on the cooking vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A cooking stove system comprising:
 (a) a combustion chamber;   (b) a fan; and   (c) a collar;   wherein:   said combustion chamber is defined by walls;   said walls are closed at one end by a base;   said walls are open to define an exhaust outlet at an opposing end to said base;   said combustion chamber has one or more air inlets which are defined by apertures in said walls;   said fan is configured to force air into said combustion chamber through said one or more air inlets;   said collar is adjacent to said open end of said walls of said combustion chamber;   said collar is configured to restrict said exhaust outlet;   said collar has one or more openings which in total are 20% to 80% smaller in area than said open end of said walls of said combustion chamber; and   said collar is substantially disc shaped.   
     
     
         21 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein said collar is reversibly attachable to said cooking stove. 
     
     
         22 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  further comprising a fuel delivery chute attached to said cooking stove such that fuel placed on said delivery chute transitions to said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         23 . The cooking stove system of  claim 22  further comprising a cooking vessel support frame, wherein said cooking vessel support frame is configured to hold a cooking vessel between 10 mm and 20 mm above said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein said one or more air inlets in said walls of said combustion chamber are positioned at least 35 mm from said base. 
     
     
         25 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein said one or more air inlets in said walls of said combustion chamber are positioned only in a top half of said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein said one or more air inlets in said walls of said combustion chamber are positioned in a bottom half of said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein:
 said cooking stove system further comprises a heat shield configured to protect said fan; 
 said fan, said heat shield, and said combustion chamber are aligned in a vertical assembly; 
 said fan is positioned below said heat shield; 
 said combustion chamber is positioned above said heat shield; and 
 said heat shield is positioned between said fan and said combustion chamber. 
 
     
     
         28 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein said fan is electrically driven and is electrically connected to at least one power source, said power source selected from a group consisting of: battery; rechargeable battery; socket adapted to receive AC or DC electricity; thermoelectric generator; wind-up generator; and solar power generator. 
     
     
         29 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein said fan is mechanically driven and is mechanically connected to a wind-up spring or a means for attaching an external drive shaft or belt drive. 
     
     
         30 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  further comprising means for manipulating a rotational speed of said fan. 
     
     
         31 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein:
 said fan is driven directly or indirectly by a thermoelectric generator; 
 said thermoelectric generator has a hot side and a cold side; and 
 said hot side is directly or indirectly in thermal contact with said combustion chamber. 
 
     
     
         32 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein:
 said fan is driven directly or indirectly by a thermoelectric generator; 
 said thermoelectric generator has a hot side and a cold side; 
 said hot side is directly or indirectly in thermal contact with said combustion chamber; and 
 said cold side of said thermoelectric generator is cooled by said fan. 
 
     
     
         33 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein said combustion chamber is reversibly detachable from said fan. 
     
     
         34 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein said combustion chamber comprises an insert which forms said walls of said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         35 . The cooking stove system of  claim 20  wherein said combustion chamber comprises an insert reversibly attachable to said cooking stove system which forms said walls of said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         36 . A method of heating a cooking vessel using a cooking stove system, said cooking stove system comprising:
 (a) a combustion chamber;   (b) a fan; and   (c) a collar;   wherein:   said combustion chamber is defined by walls;   said walls are closed at one end by a base;   said walls are open to define an exhaust outlet at an opposing end to said base;   said combustion chamber has one or more air inlets which are defined by apertures in said walls;   said fan is configured to force air into said combustion chamber through said one or more air inlets;   said collar is adjacent to said open end of said walls of said combustion chamber;   said collar is configured to restrict said exhaust outlet;   said collar has one or more openings which in total are 20% to 80% smaller in area than said open end of said walls of said combustion chamber;   said collar is substantially disc shaped;   said method comprising the steps of:   (1) placing fuel on said base of said combustion chamber and setting said fuel alight;   (2) using said fan to force air through said one or more air inlets in said walls of said combustion chamber; and   (3) placing a cooking vessel onto said cooking stove system.   
     
     
         37 . The cooking vessel heating method of  claim 36  further comprising a step of adjusting a rotational speed of said fan. 
     
     
         38 . A kit comprising a cooking stove comprising:
 (a) a combustion chamber;   (b) a fan;   (c) a collar; and   (d) one or more fuel blocks;   wherein:   said combustion chamber is defined by walls;   said walls are closed at one end by a base;   said walls are open to define an exhaust outlet at an opposing end to said base;   said combustion chamber has one or more air inlets which are defined by apertures in said walls;   said fan is configured to force air into said combustion chamber through said one or more air inlets;   said collar is adjacent to said open end of said walls of said combustion chamber;   said collar is configured to restrict said exhaust outlet;   said collar has one or more openings which in total are 20% to 80% smaller in area than said open end of said walls of said combustion chamber; and   said collar is substantially disc shaped.   
     
     
         39 . The kit of  claim 38  further comprising a fuel delivery chute.