This invention relates to a stove preferably for burning alcohol, in particular ethanol and methanol.

Spirit stoves for burning of ethanol or methanol mixtures without pressure are previously known. A common principle for these apparatus is that the fuel is stored in a container which is filled with a porous mass absorbing the fuel. The container is provided with an opening which faces upwards and from which the fuel evaporates when being burned and a support for cooking utensiles is placed above the opening. A more elaborate embodiment of a spirit stove of said type is described in EP 29425. This stove is provided with a box shaped, double base part enclosing a fuel container and a burner, the burner being provided with a vertical burning tube which is placed above the opening of the fuel container, in order to increase the burning condition and hence the efficiency of the stove. The stove is also provided with means for controlling the size of the flame.

Even if the spirit stoves usually are designed for being simple and reliable, the complexity has gradually increased which is illustrated in said publication. Another example is given in US 4,984,559 disclosing a spirit stove comprising a housing made of two parts which are rotatably connected to each other by a hinge mechanism.

On the other side simplifying of the design may lead to disadvatageous properties of the stove with respect to the function, in particular concerning burning properties.
From US 4,544,348 A a stove for burning liquid fuel is known with a metal frame having mainly vertical walls continuing into a mainly horizontal hob having one or several fire place parts where the frame encloses a fuel container and a burning arrangement. Here, the frame is formed as a bottomless frame of one piece so as to allow charging and replacing the fuel container from the bottom side of the frame.
Moreover, from EP 0 433 252 A a stove is known having ventilation openings in the side walls to increase or to adjust the amount of air provided to the burner.
The purpose of this invention is to create a stove which is suitable for burning a cheap fuel such as methanol or ethanol in a good and efficient manner and which has certain basic functions, e.g. reliability and ruggedness, but which simultaneously is as simple as possible to operate and to manufacture with a minimum of parts such that the total costs for the stove is reduced. This means that the stove has the possibility to be more spread for use in for instance developing countries where it can replace the stoves which have so far been used and which are heated with wood, dried manure, paraffin oil and so on.
This is achieved by means of an arrangement having the characteristics mentioned in claim 1. Preferable embodiments are subject matter of the dependent claims.
According to the present invention the design of known spirit stoves is simplified by using a cup-like housing up side down instead of a box-like housing having a lid at the upper side. This simple measure enables a very easy production of the stove with only few parts as well as a simple handling, in particular during charging of the stove with the fuel containers. Due to the bottom-less design, the stove has namely to be turned upside down during charging with the fuel containers. This leads to the additional advantageous effect that fuel which cannot be kept by the fuel absorbing mass is leaving the fuel container. Hence, this surplus fuel which might cause problems during burning is automatically removed during charging.
Further, the simple design of the housing or frame, respectively, also enables the provision of simple means to achieve good burning or handling properties, for example a simple and efficient construction of an extinguishing plate, the provision of a channel for conducting combustion air around the fuel containers in order to cool them, a proper design of the flame spreader and the cooking utensil support. Therefore, in particular the combination of all these measures leads to an improved stove which is claimed herein.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of the spirit stove in question, Fig. 2 shows a corresponding plan view of the bottom side, whereas Fig. 3 is a section along the line III-III in Fig. 1 whereas Fig. 4 in a larger scale shows a section through the stove and the fuel container but with another type of cooking utensil support. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 6 shows details of still a further cooking utensil support, whereas Fig. 7 discloses details of the extinguishing plate used in the embodiment of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 represents details of the flame spreader of the embodiment of Fig.5.

The device according to the invention shown in Fig. 1-4 comprises a box shaped, bottomless frame 10. This frame is manufactured in one piece preferably by deep drawing and consists of for instance stainless steel in order to withstand corrosion as far as possible. The frame rests at its lower part on an outwardly flanged foot portion 11 and has a surrounding mainly vertical wall 12 continuing into a horizontal hob 13, the hob comprising an uprising edge portion 14 and a bottom portion 15 placed inside it. The side portions of the vertical wall 12 has several small openings 12a through which combustion air flows into the frame. The bottom portion 15 continues into two step shaped circular uprising parts, each being provided with a first anullar step 16 and a second central terrace 17. The annular step 16 has several comparatively small perforations 18 for limiting the heat transmission between the central terrace 17 and the other parts of the frame, whereas the central terrace 17 has several circular openings 19 forming a flame spreader for a burner 20 placed under the hob. Thus, the embodiment shown is a two flame spirit stove, but the invention is of course intended to be used also at stoves having one or more than two flames.

The frame 10 encloses a mainly U-shaped up-side-down heat protecting plate 21 that is fixed at the foot portion 11 and that partly surrounds two cylindrical or rectangular fuel containers 22. It should in this connection be mentioned that even if the embodiment shown comprises two cylindrical fuel containers it can be replaced by one single fuel container having a suitable shape. The heat protecting plate 21 that prevents heat radiation from the hob 13 to reach the fuel container 22 (which could cause the fuel to boil in the fuel container) extends along the major part of the length direction of the frame and has two circular openings 23 that are arranged coaxially with respect to the central terraces 17 and that surround an annular edge portion 24 of each fuel container 22 extending up through the opening 23, the edge portion 24 surrounding a central opening 25 of the fuel container. Each fuel container 22 is guided towards the opening 23 by means of several guides 26 punched out of the heat protecting plate these guides being somewhat inclined with respect to a vertical plane. Each fuel container 22 is supported by and is locked to the frame 10 by means of two locking plates 27 turnably arranged about vertically arranged shafts 28, the locking plates to a certain degree being flexibly arranged in the vertical direction by means of a spring washer 29 or the like. The locking plates 27 are kept in their locking positions by means of shoulders 30 arranged at the lower part 31 of the heat protecting plate.

The heat protecting plate also supports two vertical burner tubes 32, each burner tube being connected to an annular foot plate 33 having several downwardly directed distance means 34 which are fixed close to the peripheries of the openings 23. Further the heat protecting plate 21 supports two arms 35 which are turnably secured about vertical shafts 36, one end of the arms 35 extending through slots 37 arranged in the vertical wall 12 of the frame, whereas the other end of the arms extend between two of the distance means 34 and each support an extinguishing plate 38. The extinguishing plate 38 is circular and arranged to uncover or completely or partly cover the opening 25 of the fuel container 22 by manually controlling the arm 35 from the outside of the frame. The extinguishing plate operates such that it to a lager or a smaller extent, depending on its position, prevents the heat radiation from the flame to reach the opening 25 and hence the surface where the fuel evaporates, which means that the size of the flame is a direct function of the uncovered surface, which means that the size of the flame can easily be controlled.

The heat protecting plate 21 forms together with the frame 10 a channel 64 between the parallel side walls of the length side. The channel 64 comprises inlet openings 12a, 65 which allow combustion air to be fed to the channel 64 leading the air towards the burner 20. The inlet openings 12a, 65 are disposed in the side walls of the frame as well as of the heat protecting plate 21. In particular, the inlet openings 65 arranged at the side walls of the heat protecting plate 21 causes the air to flow around the fuel container, thereby cooling the same in order to prevent heating-up and causing boiling of the fuel due to the heat of the flame. Although the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 comprises only inlet openings at the side walls, it is evident that the openings may also be provided for in the bottom of the channel 64.

The fuel container 22 comprises a circular container with a bottom 39, a side wall part 40 and an upper wall part 41, the upper wall surrounding the opening 25 of the fuel container and continuing into the annular shaped edge portion 24. The bottom 39 has a central inwardly extending depression 42 whereas the upper wall part 41 has a peripheral flange-like upwardly extending, edge portion 43 connecting the upper wall part 41 with the side wall part 40. The fuel container 22 encloses a porous, liquid absorbing mass having a central, cylindrical part 44 and an annular part 45 arranged outside it, the mass being partly covered by a net 46 preventing the mass from falling out from the opening and which is drawn in under the upper wall part 41. When the fuel container is assembled the depression 42 will press the central part upwards with respect to the annular part 45 such that the central part 44 will abut the net 46 which means that an evaporation surface will be created for the fuel in the fuel container in association with the upper part of the fuel container. At the same time the net 46 is clamped between the fuel absorbing mass and the upper wall part 41 comprising notches 73 to form a path for escaping alcohol vapour and liquid alcohol when filling.

At the embodiment shown in Fig 1-4 two cooking utensil supports 47 are arranged on the upper side of the hob 13. Each cooking utensil support 47 comprises four strip shaped sections 48 that are fixed to one another to an annular structure with a tube shaped circular wind protecting surface 49, several inwardly directed parts 50 and several outwardly extending parts 51, the outwardly extending parts having a vertical extension which is larger than the extension of the wind protecting part such that a lower opening 52 is formed between the bottom portion 15 of the hob 13 and the wind protecting part 49 and an upper opening 53 between the wind protecting part 49 and a cooking utensil placed an the cooking utensil support 47. The lower edges of the inwardly directed parts 50 and the outwardly directed parts 51 are designed such that the shape of the cooking utensil support corresponds to the shape of the hob 13 which means that the cooking utensile support can easily be centered about the central terrace 17.

At the embodiment shown in Fig 4 the cooking utensil support 47 comprises four radially directed plates 54 having a step shaped lower edge part 55 adapted to the shape of the hob 13, the plates being fixed to a ring 56 surrounding the central terrace.

It is within the scope of the invention also possible to replace the locking plates 27 with one or several trough shaped collecting boxes which are placed below the fuel containers such that the boxes collect the fuel which might flow out from the fuel container at the same time as the boxes are turnably supported by the frame and can be locked in a horizontal position and hence press the fuel containers against the heat protecting plate. The advantages of simple design and easy and safe charging of the fuel container is still achieved by an embodiment containing this modification.

Another embodiment of the present invention corresponding to the previous embodiment except for the details described below is shown in the Fig. 5 to 8.

Fig. 5 shows the design of the frame 10 of the stove having ventilation openings 12a at all side walls. At the top of the stove the fire place parts comprise different flame spreader 60 and still another embodiment of the cooking utensil support 47. In addition, the frame 10 of this stove is formed to allow stacking of the frames 10 for transport. In particular, the side walls 12 of the frame 10 have at least partially a conical shape.

As can be seen best in Fig. 6 a) and b), the cooking utensil support 47 consists of three segments 67 to 69 of circle, the ends 70 of which being bent inwards so as to direct radially to the middle of the circle. The segments 67 to 69 are fixed to each other by welding, in particular spot welding of the segment ends 70. The segments are formed of perforated sheet metal so as to allow air flowing to the flame, while preventing wind from disturbing the burning process.

Fig. 7 shows a detail of the extinguishing plate 38 used in the embodiment represented in Fig.5. The extinguishing plate 38 comrises a W-shaped annular edge area 71 which improves closing of the opening of the fuel container or the heat protecting plate, respectively, since this structure of the edge area 71 allows a tight closing due to resilient restraint.

The flame spreader 60 of the embodiment of Fig. 5 is shown in more detail in Fig. 8 a) to c), wherein Fig. 8 a) is a perspective view, Fig. 8 b) is a side view and Fig. 8 c) is a plan view. The flame spreader 60 comprises a U- or Ω-shaped strip for securing to the hob 13 of the frame 10. As part of the strip a screen 63 is formed in order to be placed above the opening 62 of the hob 13 or the burner 20, respectively. The screen devides the flame in several partial flames, while allowing sufficient air to be fed to the flame from the side. Thus, an excellent burning of the flame is achieved.

The spirit stove operates and is used in the following manner. The spirit stove with the fuel container is turned up side down after which the fuel container is removed and filled with fuel, preferably methanol, by holding it in an inclined position after which the fuel is poured through the opening 25 until the fuel reaches the lower part of the opening 25 where it will be visible when the available mass by capillary forces has sucked up a maximal amount of fuel. The container is then turned up side down (the fuel being kept within the container by said capillary forces) and is inserted from the bottom side of the frame whereby it is directed by the guides 26 such that the edge portion will be inserted through the opening 23 in the heat protecting plate 21. During this procedure any fuel excess in the fuel container will flow out to the ambient instead of being kept in the fuel container which prevents the fuel from expanding when ignited causing the burning fuel to boil over. When the fuel container has been placed in the frame the locking plates 27 are turned such that they are placed between the shoulders 30 which means that the fuel container is fixed at the frame 10. The stove is then ready to be used by turning the arm 35 which means that the extinguishing plate 38 is moved such that the opening of the fuel container is uncovered. A match can then be inserted through the opening 19 of the flame spreader and ignite the fuel in the container. This means that a flame is created which extends from the net 46 in the opening 25 up through the burner tube 32 and up through the openings of the flame spreader where it is divided into several minor flames spreading out along the bottom side of the cooking utensil. Simultaneously combustion air will flow in through the openings 12a in the side walls which means that the air will flow around the fuel containers and cool them. The small openings 12a, contrary to larger openings, also operate as flame arresters for uncontrolled flames from the burner, which might occur, at the same time as they prevent wind if any from influencing the flame of the burner. At the embodiment shown in Fig 1-3 secondary combustion air flows in via the opening 52 whereas the flame spreading occurs via the opening 53 at the same time as the flames are protected against the wind by means of the wind protecting part 49. The size of the flames can then be controlled by means of the extinguishing plate 38 by acting at the arm 35 and the flames might, after having been used, be extinguished by covering completely the opening 25 of the fuel container 22 with the extinguishing plate.