Smudge pot

Abstract

A smudge pot with a pot, a pot lid, a chimney, a return pipe, and an access port. The pot has an interior configured to hold liquid fuel. The pot lid has a combustion hole and a return hole extending therethrough. The chimney is aligned with the combustion hole. The return pipe has a first end positioned inside of the chimney, a second end coupled with the pot lid at the return hole, and a pipe wall extending between the first end and the second end. The first end has a first opening aligned with a center of the return pipe and the second end has a second opening aligned with the center of the return pipe. The pipe wall comprises an arc adjacent to the first end and may be parallel to the chimney adjacent to the second end.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A smudge pot, comprising:
 a pot having an interior configured to hold a liquid fuel;   a pot lid configured to cover the interior of the pot and contain the liquid fuel, the pot lid having a combustion hole and a return hole extending therethrough;   a chimney aligned with the combustion hole of the pot lid, the chimney extending up from the pot lid and having a plurality of vents extending through a sidewall of the chimney;   a hollow return pipe having a first end positioned inside of the chimney, a second end coupled with the pot lid at the return hole, and a pipe wall extending between the first end and the second end, the first end having a first opening aligned with a center of the return pipe and the second end having a second opening aligned with the center of the return pipe, wherein the pipe wall comprises an arc in a range of 91-220 degrees adjacent to the first end, wherein the pipe wall is parallel to the chimney adjacent to the second end, wherein the second opening is aligned with the return hole of the pot lid, and wherein, when the liquid fuel is ignited, the return pipe is configured to cycle air within the chimney through the return pipe back down to the pot; and   an access port extending through the pot lid and having a sleeve extending down from the pot lid into the interior of the pot and a dipstick configured to plug the access port and extend down into the sleeve, wherein the dipstick is configured to indicate a depth of liquid fuel remaining in the pot.   
     
     
         2 . The smudge pot of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat shield positioned on a top of the chimney and configured to deflect heat passing through the chimney. 
     
     
         3 . The smudge pot of  claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter of the arc is greater than an outer diameter of the chimney. 
     
     
         4 . The smudge pot of  claim 1 , wherein the return pipe is manufactured using a mandrel bending process. 
     
     
         5 . The smudge pot of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe wall comprises an arc in a range of 160-200 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . A smudge pot, comprising:
 a pot having an interior configured to hold a liquid fuel;   a pot lid configured to cover the interior of the pot and contain the liquid fuel, the pot lid having a combustion hole and a return hole extending therethrough;   a chimney aligned with the combustion hole of the pot lid, the chimney extending up from the pot lid; and   a return pipe having a first end positioned inside of the chimney, a second end coupled with the pot lid at the return hole, and a pipe wall extending between the first end and the second end, the first end having a first opening aligned with a center of the return pipe and the second end having a second opening aligned with the center of the return pipe, wherein, when the liquid fuel is ignited, the return pipe is configured to cycle air within the chimney through the return pipe back down to the pot.   
     
     
         7 . The smudge pot of  claim 6 , wherein the chimney has a plurality of vents extending through a sidewall of the chimney. 
     
     
         8 . The smudge pot of  claim 6 , wherein the pipe wall is parallel to the chimney adjacent to the second end. 
     
     
         9 . The smudge pot of  claim 6 , wherein the second opening is aligned with the return hole of the pot lid. 
     
     
         10 . The smudge pot of  claim 6 , further comprising a heat shield positioned on a top of the chimney and configured to deflect heat passing through the chimney. 
     
     
         11 . The smudge pot of  claim 6 , wherein the inner diameter of the arc is greater than an outer diameter of the chimney. 
     
     
         12 . The smudge pot of  claim 6 , wherein the return pipe is manufactured using a mandrel bending process. 
     
     
         13 . The smudge pot of  claim 6 , wherein the pipe wall comprises an arc in a range of 160-200 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . A smudge pot, comprising:
 a pot having an interior configured to hold a liquid fuel;   a pot lid configured to cover the interior of the pot and contain the liquid fuel, the pot lid having a combustion hole and a return hole extending therethrough;   a chimney aligned with the combustion hole of the pot lid, the chimney extending up from the pot lid;   a return pipe having a first end positioned inside of the chimney, a second end coupled with the pot lid at the return hole, and a pipe wall extending between the first end and the second end, wherein, when the liquid fuel is ignited, the return pipe is configured to cycle air within the chimney through the return pipe back down to the pot; and   an access port extending through the pot lid and having a sleeve extending down from the pot lid toward a base of the pot and a dipstick configured to plug the access port and extend down into the sleeve, wherein the dipstick is configured to indicate a depth of liquid fuel remaining in the pot.   
     
     
         15 . The smudge pot of  claim 14 , wherein the first end has a first opening aligned with a center of the return pipe and the second end has a second opening aligned with the center of the return pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The smudge pot of  claim 14 , wherein the pipe wall is parallel to the chimney adjacent to the second end. 
     
     
         17 . The smudge pot of  claim 14 , further comprising a heat shield positioned on a top of the chimney and configured to deflect heat passing through the chimney. 
     
     
         18 . The smudge pot of  claim 14 , wherein the inner diameter of the arc is greater than an outer diameter of the chimney. 
     
     
         19 . The smudge pot of  claim 14 , wherein the return pipe is manufactured using a mandrel bending process. 
     
     
         20 . The smudge pot of  claim 14 , wherein the pipe wall comprises an arc in a range of 160-200 degrees.