CA1166035A - Fire bowl - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A fire bowl having a bowl-like container filled with a fuel like oil, and a rotary body rotatably supported above said fuel, a plurality of non-consumable wicks being held on said rotary body, said wicks being partly immersed into said fuel and the upper ends thereof being situated within or beneath a shell of translucent material which is open at its upper and lower ends. The rotary body can have apertures for the wicks, and for each wick a separate shell can be provided. The shells rest on said rotary body. In the upper side of said rotary body or in said container at least one aperture for admitting air is provided. Preferably, said wicks being arranged in wick holders attached to the lower side of said rotary body.

Description

1 1~603~
FIRE BOWL

The invention relates to a fire bowl suitable for domestic use in flats, on balconies and ~erraces but also for restaurants, which burns with open flames and therefore is not merely a table ornament but also contributes to the heating of the adjacent area and may have other uses, for instance it may be used for preparing fondue, for grilling or the like.

Candles which have several wicks and therefore burn with ~everal flames are already known. Howev~r, the number of flames is restric~Pd since each flame produces a certain current of air which disturbs the other flames~ A further drawback of the known candles is that their length is reduced during burning whereas, if the candles are to be protected by a globe, ~he flame should always be at a certain level, so the candle must be pressed by a spring mechanism against a fixed stop face which comprises an aperture for the wick. When the candle burns down, it must be replaced by another one, which is uncom~ortable and expensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide a decorative fire bowl which is suitable for room heating, for grilling or the like, and which can burn with a plurality of flames which flames are always at the same level relative to their glass enclosures, and do not disturb one another by air currents.

According to the invention there is provided a fire bowl, comprising: a bowl-like container for holding a fuel that is liquid at normal operating temperatures at least at its upper s~rface, said contalner having an open upper end; a rotary body; means for rotatably supporting said rotary body at the open upper end of the container at a vertical position that is independent of the fuel level in the container; a plurality of non-consumable wicks, each having an upper end and a lower end, for support by said rotary body with said lower ends of said wicks extending into said container; and a plurality of shells of translucent material each having an open upper end and an open lower end t said shells being supportable by said rotary body at positions thereon such that the upper end of each wick is associated with a separate shell.

The fuel can be a material such as paraffin which is solid . at room temperature or a li~uid fuel like oil. It i5 essential that a flame can burn at the upper end of the non-consumable wick fed by the fuel.

Such a fire bowl has several burning positions or Gan burn with several flames and is in addition extremely decora-tive~ especially since the flames can travel together with the rotary body on a circular path. The heat produced by the flames can completely be used for heating the room within which the fire bowl is situated, or can be used for : other purposes, while the heat produced by wood burning ~ ~L¢'~0~5 with open fla~e in an open ire place escapes in its major part through the chimney.

Four embodiments of the fire bowl of the present invention are shown in the drawings, i.e.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a first embodiment of the fire bowl which is inserted into a table, Fig. 2 is a partial section of the embodiment of figure 1 in approximately natural size, Fig. 3 iS a perspective, partly cut view of a wick holder 10with a wick inserted into it, Fig. 4 is a partial view onto the rotary body shown in figure 2, Fig. 5 is a vertical section throgh a second embodiment of the fire bowl which stands on a basis, Fig. 6 is a vertical partial section of a third embodiment of the fire bowl which is inserted into a table, Fig. 7 is a vertical section o~ a fourth embodiment of the fire bowl, Fig. 8 is a partial view of the wick in an extremely 20enlarged representation, in partial section, Fig. 9 is a cross-section through a modified wick in an extremely enlarged representation, Fig. 10 is a detail from figure 7, FigO 11 is an isometric view o another embodiment of the wick in extremeley enlarged representation, Fig. 12 a longitudinal section of the wick in Fig. 11, 1 1~603~
Fig. 13 a cross section along line XIII-XIII in Figq 7 in enlarged scale, Fig. 14 a longitudinal partial section showing how the rotary body can be supported on the container for the fuel, . and Fig. 15 a partial section of the rotary body and its extension which holds the wicks, in slightly altered embodiment.

According to figure 1 a table 1 has in its table-top 2 an aperture 3 into which the fire bowl 4 is inserted. At least one of the legs 5 of the table 1 is in its length adjustable so that the table-top 2 can be adjusted accurately horizontal.

The fire bowl 4 comprises a bowl-like container 6 and a rotary body 7 which is supported above the container 6 and immerses at least partially into fuel 8 filled into the container 6. In the center of the rotary body 7 a hub 9 is fastened which is arranged on a vertically movable needle 10 so that the rotary body 7 can rotate on the point lL o the needle 10.

The lower end 12 of the needle 10 rests on a cam disk 13 having preferably a spiral cam surface~ which cam disk is fixed on a shaft 14 supported into bearings 15 and 16 on the underside of the bowl 6 and having at its external end knob 17 which is a handle for adjusting the cam disk 13. Accord-ing to the position of the cam disk 13 the needle 10 or its .~

, V 3 $
point 11 extends more or less ahove the bowl 6 so that the position of the rotary body 7 above the bowl 6 depends on the adjustment of the cam disk 13.

Near the external end of the shaft 14 friction disk 18 is secured on it which is pressed by means of a pressure spring 19 arranged on shaft 14 against a plate 20 arranged at the underside of the table top 2 to avoid that shaft 14 and cam disk 13 can be displaced unintendedly.

On hub 9 a shank 21 is arranged an elongation on which shank are secured sheet-metal deflectors 22 and 23 in the form of spiral sheet-metal bands for deflecting heat.
Shank 21 can be telescopically extensible or can also be replaceable to enable to reduce the height of the structure above the rotary body 7 if the fire bowl is not in use.

Hub 9 has at its lower end a circumferential flange 24 to which the rotary body 7 is attached by means of screws 25~ The screws 25 extend through an elastic ring 26 and a disk-like shoulder 27 of the rotary hody 7 and are screwed into a disk 28. Ring 26 can be made of rubber or can be 20 a spring washer. Therefore, screws 25 can be tightened differently to enable an exact adjustment of the rotary body 7.

_ 5 _ - ~ 166~5 At the outer rim the rotary body 7 is provided with a horizontal portion 29 below which a ring~like bowl 30 is secured by means of screws 31 and distance sleeves 32.
The bowl 30 is provided for receiving wick holders 33 into each of which is inserted a wick 34. The wick holders 33 are arranged in two concentric rows and are bent from sheet metal in form of an U as shown in figure 3. They have radially extendings lugs 35 which conduct heat from the flame 36 of the ignited wick 34 into the uel within the bowl 30 in the vicinity of the wick holder 33.

Within the portion 29 of the rotary body 7 an aperture 38 is provided for each wick 34 so that all wicks 34 are accessable from above and the flames 36 can extend to the upper side of the rotary body 7. Each aperture 38 is situated within a cylindrical shell 3~ of translucent material like glass which is arranged on the rotary body 7. In the shown embodiment the cylindrical shells are clamped into the desired position by means of tongues 40 bent up ~rom portion ~9. The apertures 41 resulting from the tongues 40 are used for admission of air so that air is supplied to the flames 36 as indicated by arrows 42.

J 1~0~5 Alternakive~y,~he cylindrical ~hell3 3~ can b~ inserted lnto deep drawn ~l~p~e~1o~ of the portion 29. Then, ,spec~al holes for supply~ng air are punche~ into the port~on 29 or produce~ .
in another wise.

A~ t.he outer periphery the rotary body 7 ls provided wi~h a vertically do~mwards extending flange 4~ on which~a marki~g ca~ ~e po~itioned which indicates how much the rotary body 7 ~ust extend abo~e the le~el o~ th0 ~uel 8 so that the wicks 34 are ~ree to be ignited~ If the ~lames ha~e be~n ~xtingui,shed by lowering the rotary body 7 lt is elevated again so -that the ~ark:lng on flange 43 i~ ~sible be~cre the fuel ~ sclidi~ies~

Xn ~i.gure 4 a slotted hole 44 i~ $o be recog~lzed ~rhich i.æ
pro~lded in po~tion 2g of the rot.ary body 7O This slotted hole -44 is provided ~or attaching and ad~usting a c,ounter balance .; ~ght 45. Se~eral cou~lter weights 45 are provlded o~ the ~irGum eO~ rotary body 7 to e~able to ad~ust ~he rotar~ ~Qdy 7 acGurately.ln horizontal poQlt~on so that all wiGk3 3~ ~x-tand e~enly abov~ the level vf the fuel 8.
~ , . . . . .
I~ the embodi~ent of figure 5 the ~ire bowl comprises o~ a ~ontainer 50 ~Jhich is at its top partly closed and which has an ind~ntation 51 lnto wbich a cylindrical shell 52 o.~ trans~
lucent material like gla~ is i~erted. Outside of the cylindrlcal ~he~l 52 the ~o.ntainer 52 is pro~ided with air hole~ 53. Withl~
th~ ~ontainer 50 o~l 54 ls provided as ~uel.

, -~c,. .~ -'-- } 1~0~
On the bottom of the cont~iner 50 a shanlc 55 is secured, ~nd to the point of s~ld shan~ the rotary body 57 is rota~ably ~u~ported vla warm air deflectors 56~ Near the periphery o~ the ro~ary body 57 the upper ends of wicks 58 are ~l)ed ~ithin that rotary body, whlch wiclcs comprise of an outer wire heliY~ 59 and a glass sticls 60 inserted ln~o ~he ~ire heli~. The wicks 58 extend to the vic~l~tyo the botto,n of ~he container 50 and thus ext~1deep into the oil 54 ~hi.ch l~as been lilled into the cont~-iiner. The upper ends o.~ tvhe lo wlcks are situatcd in a .~ixed distallcc ~bove the rota~ ody 57 so tha'~ all fla~es have the .Scs.t~(! s~ 'e a~ld ?.l'e suppl.ic(i wi~h air .~rom the ~ide -through alr holes 53~ The ~eflec'vol., 5v ~re ~ri~ing thc rotary bo~y 57.

In ~ re 8 one ~!iC]c 58 is s~lo~ in rnucn enlarge~ sc21ee The ~ire helix 59 ~hic.ll i.s ~l~e ou~er shell o;f. the wic~ c.an be reco~ni~ed as ~ell a.s ~he ~l~ss stiek 60 \~thlch ls t]le Cor~ of ~he ~Yicl- ~nd ~hicll is inserted :into ~he \.~lre he~.'x 59 ~t:~. C~l Il t:olCL';:l~CC` GI Se~rel'a.~ t,21'~ tDi~ C~.,rC:S SO th~t oi.~L ~
~igratc wi~hin ~l~ewiclc up -to the ~ e. For this p~r~ose ~roo~es Gould be pro~ided with in the glass ~tick 60 e~tending in its axi~l direction.

The wiclcs 58 are screw~d lnto small aper~.ures 61 o~ the rotary body 57, and their he~ht can ~c a~usted by turning th~m arourld the lon~itudin~1 axis since the wire helix 59 operatesll~e the thread of ~ ~cre~ to ~e s~rew~ lnto sheet ; motal.
~i B

`` J ~.6~035 In the wicks 34 and 58 heat is only sl(;~ly conducted through the outer wire helix, the pitches thereof do not touch one another, since a long path is necessary so that the carbura-tion is not interrupted and thus the flame cannot extinguish.
Therefore, heat is mainly conducted through the core of the wicks.

In the embodiment of figure 6 the fire bowl 70 inserted into the aperture 3 of a table top 2 is similar to the fire bowl shown in figures 1 and 2 and can be arranged below a box-like cover 71 which is capable of being swung openO The bowl-like container 72 is supported on the table top 2 by means of adjusting screws 73 so that it can be adjusted in the desired exact position if the table top 2 is not exactly horizontal.
The container 72 is in the desired correct position if on its circumference all flames 36 burn evenlya The rotary body 74 is provided like in the embodiment of - figures 1 and 2 with cylindrical shells 39 o~ translucent material and underneath arranged wicks 34 which are arranged on two concentric circular lines. However, the wicks 34 are clamped into narrow rings 75 by means of tongues bent from the side walls of said rings, the rings heing made of sheet metal and are thus attached to the underside of the rotary body 74 that they are immersed into the fuel 8 within the container 72. Since only two relatively narrow rings 75 are immersed into the fuel 8, the rotary body 74 can begin to rotate already relatively soon after ignition of the wicks 34 if the fuel 8 i5 for instance paraffin or similar material.
_ g _ 36~
which ls ~t room temp~rature ~olid" because onl~J a rela~re~J
small amount. of ~uel must be so~tene~d for allowlng the rot~ry bod~t to rotate.

In the centre of the rotary body 74 a cap 76 is provided there~
o~l and in the centre o~ sa~d cap a hu~ 77 is a~ached as bearing for the rotary bodyO In the outer t~all 78 of said cap 76 one or more solar cells 79 are pro~ided and the surface 80 o~ said cells which shall reoeive ~ght is directed to the wicks 349 ~
so l:.hat light ~itted ~rom the îlames 36 is recei.~re~ ~y ~.he io ~olar cell.s 79 t;h~lS producing an elec~ric current which is fed to an electric motor 82 arran~;ed withi~l tha cap 76 ~nc.exneath a 50ulld absorhin~ plate ~310 A worm ~ is arr~nged on khe dr:lving sha~t oi~ that electr.ic mo-t,or 82 wh.ich meshes wi~h a wori~ ~gear 84 whi~h ~s arrarlged o~ a shank 85 supporl;ing the rotar.~y bo~r 74 like a slipping clutchwi~ha certain ~riction so that n.ormall~
the wQrm~gear 8~ is stationary ancl the worm 83 with the elec~ric mot~r 82 a:~d thu~ also the rotary body 74 runs aroundO The electric current produced by the solar ce:Lls 79 'IB ~U$fi~i.
to pro~rid~ ~he drive energy whiGh rotates th~ rotary bo~ly 7 . 20 as soon as the heat ~rom the flaraes ~6 conclucted th:rough l;he w~ks 34 downwards has molten the fuel around the rings 75~
The electr~c motor 82 runs substantially noiseless so that for the observer it ls not simply recogni~eabl~ why the rotary boày 74 rota~es.

~ ~603~
Shank 85 is fiY~ed to the other end o~ a threaded spindle 86 ~hich spindle ls screw~d into an in~ernal threaded bushing 87 which bushing is attached to the oentre of container 7Z. To the lower end of the threaded splndle 86 a ~le~ible sha~t 88 ls attached~ the other end o~ tha~ sha~t being co~lec-ted wi.th a:teiescopically extensible ad~usting shaft 89 which is horizontally supported undernea-th container 72. 2he handle ~0 of that adjusting shaft can be gripped from the outside to r ' ena~le the adjustment o~ the heig~ of the rotary body 74.
.~ .
~ . .
To enable tha~ the rotary body 74 is easil~ rotatable~ a ball 91 is fixed within the hub 77 and the en~ire rotar-r body 74 is ~upported with that ball o~ the uppe~ end o~ shank 850 Ball is arranged $~ a cylindrical bore of hub 77 whioh has only a ~lightly larger diameter than shank ~5 so that the rotary b3d~
74 is secured against tilting~ Such security is especially o.~
importance for flat rotary bodies of the k~nd sho~n in flgure 6 to avoid that wax withholds do~rn ~o one side ~h~ rot~ry body 74 when it is lifted ~rom the container or durin~ normal operation, .

In the embodlment o~ figure 7 . ring-like co~tainer 92 is s~milar a~ in the embodim~nt 3~ ~igure 5 a device to be placed on a table and has a shell 93 of translucent material .llke . . glass wh.~ch tapers to its upper end. ~ the outer uall of .- the container 92 several longitudlnal apertures 94 are provided for air supply and which can also be used as handles~ Mear the .

1 166~3~
oentre of the containe~ 92 comprislng of shee-t metal are arranged ~derneath the rotary body 95, which comprises also of ~heet metal 9 seYeral radial extendlng apertures 96 and above them within the rotary bod~ 95 radially extendlng ~per tures 98 so that air can be supplied ~rom bélow through the ~per~ures 94~ 96 and 98. Heated air escapesfrom the upper ends of the cyllndrical shells ~9 and rlses w~thi~ the shell 93 D
I~ the narrowed neck 97 of ~hell 93 the ~elocity of flo~r o~
the rising air ls lncreased so that a suction effect is obtai~ed and fresh air is aspirated through the apertures 94 in a la~ger amount as needed ~or combustioll. The aspira-t.ed fresh air i5 de~lected by inclined deflector sheets 99 arra~.~ed on one lateral side o~ each aperture 96 and impinges ~here-~ter in the opposite directio~ lnclined deflector sheets lO0whlch are arrangend an one side Q~ each aperture 9~ so that the ~ir is twice deflected. Thus, a moment of rotatlon is exerted onto the rotary body 9~, the directio~ o~ that moment - depending~ from the inclination direction of the deflector sheet~ 100. The rotary body 95 i~ rotated by mea~s of this 0 momerlt of r ~ation.
. . .
While part o~ the aspirated fresh air directly rises and leaves ~he shell 93 through the narrow neck 97 ~hereo~9 another part of the fre~h air ~lows through apertures 41 ~igure 4) provided i~ ~he upper side o~ a ring-like extension 201 o~ the rotary body ~5 outside of the cylindrical shells 3~ to the underside o~ th~ extension 201 and thus practically draft-free to the ~lames 36 so that the ~lames burn evenly and ~uiet without ~lic~e~ing. The ri~g-like extension 201 whlch is ~ecured to th~ p r~phery o~ the rotary body 95 has ~n'J-like cross sectlo~

" ~ ~L6603~;

Both legs 202 and 203 thereof immerse into the uel 8 so that no secondary air is supplied to the flames 36.

It can be taken from figure 7 that the apertures 96 and 98 are arranged in horizontal portions 204 and 205 of the con-tainer 92 and the rotary body 95, respectively.

For supporting the rotary body g5 a hollow cylindrical hub 206 is arranged in its centre, the upper end 207 thereof being closed. In that closed end 207 a ball 208 of hardened material is inserted which is pressed into a recess 209 so that it cannot be lost. The ball 208 lies in a spherical indentation 210 at the upper end of the vertical arranged shank 95 the radius of that indentation being larger than that of ball 208. Thus, the rotary body 95 is always centered with respect to shank 85. The contact area between rotary body 95 and shank 85 is limited to the punctiform contact area between ball 208 and indentation 210 so that only small frictional losses act against the moment of rotation exerted onto the rotary body 95. As can be seen from figure 10 r the outer diameter of shank 85 is much smaller than the inside diameter ` 20 of the hollow hub 206 so that no further contact between hub 6 and shank 85 is possible which could retard rotation.

The vertically outer flange 203 of the rotary body g5 which is immersing several millimetres into the fuel 8 can be pro~
vided with recesses 104 extending from the lower rim thereof which 603~
~nd ~sproxim~tely in th~ plane of level o~ ~u~l 8 and ~hall e~ble that hot fuel can flow along its surface and can thus circulate so tha~ fuel (paraffln or wax) will quickly be l~qulfied w~thln the entire cont~iner. The~e recesses 104 are arran~ed be~ween suocessiYe wicka 34 so that the flow ha~ no negatlve lnfl~ence on the wick~ and the flames.

.
From ~igure 9 can be ~een that each wick 58 comp~i~es within the wire helix 59 at lea5t three glass s~lcks 101 between which a copper ~Jire 102 can be arranged which holds the three glass sticks 101 apart ~om oneanother so ~hat within the wicks 58 su~i,ient space i9 pro~ided to ~hi~h the wax or other fuel can arise~ The copper wire 102 provides a llmited he~t conduct.io~
a~d should not ha~ a too lar~e d~ameter.

Instead o~ thr~e glass stlcks 101 also more than three glnss sticks can be provided within the wick. Also, it i3 posslbl~
to pro~ide copper wires 102 between the several glass sticks or ~ot. The number and size of the copper wires 102 .~ provided ~or heat conduction depe~ds 021 the other parts o~
the wic~s.

. .

- , ~ 4 _ .

~........... .
;

1 ~803~
As shown in Fig. 7 the shell 93 is suppo~ted on the ~ontain~r 92 thus that an air gap 220 o~ 2 to 5 mm height is provided bet~reen the container and the shell. To this end, sh~ll 93 is at its lower rim provided with several dol~rwardly extending tongues 221, which contact the upper portion of container 92~

Figs. 11 and 12 show that the wick 222 in a special embodiment ha~ an outer shell 223 comprising of helically wound metal wire 224, which ~s ~or i~stance made of aluminium~nickel steel, and which at the upper end 225 o~ the wick 222 extends spirally to the ce~ter line of said wick so that a cen-tral opening 2~6 o~ reduced diameter is provided. Between the turns o~ the wire 224 there is le~t sufficient space 227 so tha-t ~uel can flow from the center to the outer surface of shell 223.

In the center of shell 22~ a V-shape folded glass ~ibre bundle 228 is arranged, the folde~ apex 229 thereof being si-tuated near the upper end 225 of shell 223. This glass fibre bundle 228 i~
easily to be inserted into the shel:L 223 and has the e~fect to ensure flow of fluid fueL to the flame zone.

In the lower portion of shell 223 a ring~like collar 230 .is attached to its outer surface for limiting the flame zone, i.e.
~or avoiding that the wicks 222 can be inserted to deep into ring 75 supporting the wicks.

Collar 230 will in a~y event limit the flame zone si~ce ~t precludes that the ~lame is burning also below ~ald collar.
Collar 2~0 preferably ~s made of copper or other material ha~in~ good heat conductivit~J, 1660~5 Even though ther~ is provided spa~,e Z27 het~een l;he inclividual tur~ of the helically wou~d metal wire 224 such space is relati~ely narrow. Preferably, th~ entire wick 221 ls impregnated with non-burnable substances like for lnstance ~ater glass t,o improv~ their life.

To give the user an indication how much he has to lift the ro-tary body 95 above the level of the liquid fuel 8, an audible and/or sensible indlcating means is provided which, as shwon in Fig. 13, can comprise of a cam 231 ~ixed onto shaft 88 or shaft 89 wh~ch cam coopera-tes with a notch 232 ~ixed to the container 92. During ea~h revolution or complete rotation of said shaft cam 231 has to pass notch 23Z so that an audible or at least sensi~le signal is produced which gives an indication to the user with relation to lifting the rotary body. For in-stance, when the user has turned handle 90 ~or three ~omplete rotations -to lower the rotary body 95 for co~pletely extinguishing all flames he knows that h~ has now to turn the handle 90 in the opposite dlrec-tion for the same nu~ber of revolution3 to return the rotary body 95 in its operational position.

In Fig. 14 an other embodiment is shown which enables to extinguish the ~lame~ by dipping the wicks into the fluid ~uel 8 so ~hat they immerse until the flames are extin~uished. The rotary body then returns in its original a~d operational posi-tion. To this end, the rotary body 95 is supported on a hellcal compression spring 23~ which extends between a collar 234 fixed onto sha~k 85 and a bushing ~3~the horl~on~al portion 204 o~
container 92. Bushing 235 is provided with a flange 236 wh~ch is pres~ed against the lowe~ s~de of hor~zontal portion 20k ~ 16BV35 by means o~ a nut 237 screwed onto the extern~lly thre~ded shank por~i.on 238 of bushing 235. On -the other hand, collar ~34 is provided with a cylindrical extension 239 which ends be~ow flange 236 of bushing 235, and is provided with a spring washer 240 which allows the ex-tension 239 to be moved in a do~nward direction while it prevents that extension 239 is mo~ed above the level shown in Fig. 14. Thus, spring washer 240 is a stop means defining the highest position of rotary body g5 which is the nor~al operational position. When the flames should be extinguished9 rotary body 95 can be lowered by exerting a pressure~ the upper end 207 of the cylindrical hub 206 so that shank 95 is move~downwardly again~t the tension of ~e helical spring 233. Ro~ary body 95 will return into lts - normal operational position when the pressure onto hu~ 206 is released since the ~orce of spring 233 i8 sufficient to press spring washer 240 against flange 236. Pre~erably, spring 2~3 is biased with a minimum force to usually hold rotary body 95 in its elevated operational position.

In Fig. 1~ is~hown that on the upper surface of the ring-shap~d wick holder 75 a scraper s`heet 241 is arranged which contains openings through which the individual wicks 222 extend. Thi~
scraper sheet 241 is a thin ring made of light-weighted material llke aluminium and is loosely laid onto the wick holder. There-fore, when the rotary body g5 is quickly dipped into the fluld fuel 8 for extinguishing the flames 36, the scraper sheet 241 tends to swim on the surface of the fuel ~, so that a certaln r~lative movement between the wicks 222 and the scraper sheet 241 is effected. Thus ? residuals like carbon deposlts are l~6~5 remo~ed from the sur~ace of the w$ckS so that th~ wick~ ~re alwa-~s automatical]y cleaned when the ~lames are extingulshed~

The scraper sheet 241 is also suitable ~or ~acilitati~g ignition of ths wicks 222 since especially at low circum~e~ential temperaturei~ the i~urface of the not yet fluid fuel 8 like para~in is quickly heated so that already during the first burning phase sufficient fuel is fluidized and can flow to the wicks and through them to the flames.

On the other hand, the gap 220 has the advantage that steadily cool Qir is flowing over the sur~ace of the hea-ted and ~luidi~ed ~uel 8 so that the surface will be cooled and the device will not be over heated. This is especially of interest ~or fire bowls having a large number of wicks since in such fire bow~ a large amount of heat is developped.
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By means of a controlling device having a bi-me-tal control the elevation of the rotary body can be adjusted thus that -the flames do not generate to much heat.

As Fig. 15 also shows a heat isolation in ~orm o~ a cylindrical ring 242 of heat isolating material is arranged be-~ween the rotary body 95 and its ring-like extension 201. Thus, heat transfer from exteni~ion 201 to rotary body ~5 is reduced so tha~
most of the heat generated by the ~lames 36 will stay in the surroundings o~ the flames and will relative ~ast fiuidiæe ~uel 8 in the surroundings of extension 201 which immerses ~nto the fuel 8 so that the rotational movement of the rotary body 95 ls obtalned relativel~ fast.

Claims (31)

Claims:

1. A fire bowl, comprising:
a bowl-like container for holding a fuel that is liquid at normal operating temperatures at least at its upper sur-face, said container having an open upper end;
a rotary body;
means for rotatably supporting said rotary body at the open upper end of the container at a vertical position that is independent of the fuel level in the container;
a plurality of non-consumable wicks, each having an upper end and a lower end, for support by said rotary body with said lower ends of said wicks extending into said container; and a plurality of shells of translucent material each having an open upper end and an open lower end, said shells being supportable by said rotary body at positions thereon such that the upper end of each wick is associated with a separate shell.

2. A fire bowl according to claim 1 wherein the means for rotatably supporting the rotatable body includes means for adjusting said vertical position of the rotary body.

3. A fire bowl according to Claim 1 wherein the rotary body comprises deflectors located adjacent the upper ends of said shells so that warm air rising from said shells contacts said deflectors to cause rotation of said rotary body.

4. A fire bowl according to claim 2 wherein the means for supporting the rotary body comprises a vertically movable shaft selected from a needle supporting the body on an upper point thereof and a shank supporting the body via a ball retained at the top of the shank.

5. A fire bowl according to claim 4 wherein the lower end of the shaft rests on a cam disk which is rotatable about a horizontal axis for adjusting the vertical position of the shaft.

6. A fire bowl according to claim 4 wherein the lower end of the shank rests on a threaded spindle which is vertically adjustable by means of a flexible shaft.

7. A fire bowl according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said cam disk or said flexible shaft is connected with a shaft that can be rotated by hand, which hand-rotatable shaft is provided with a friction brake to prevent rotation thereof except by hand.

8. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one aperture for admitting air is provided at a location selected from an upper side of said rotary body and said container, while said wicks are arranged in wick holders attached to the underside of said rotary body.

9. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein tongues are punched out of the rotary body and bent against the individual shells to hold them on the rotary body.

10. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 8, wherein the wicks are arranged in means selected from a ring-shaped bowl which is elevated in its center area and which is provided for receiv-ing the wick holders, and individual profiled rings made of heat conductive material, which are perforated and are adapted in their thickness to the wicks.

11. A fire bowl as claimed in claim l, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the rotary body has on its outer periphery a vertic-ally downwardly extending flange.

12. A fire bowl as claimed in claim l, wherein the rotary body is adjustably connected via means selected from a spring and an elastical intermediate layer with a hub for its support, and the container is supported by set screws on a table top.

13. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary body has at least one solar cell directed against the wicks and contains an electric motor, fed from the solar cells, said motor having on its driving shaft a worm which meshes with a worm gear which is drivingly connected by a slipping clutch with said means supporting the rotary body.

14. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein radially adjustable counter balance weights are arranged on the rotary body.

15. A fire bowl as claimed in claim l, wherein the rotary body comprises, on its outer periphery, a flange extending downwards and immersing into said fuel, when present, said flange having at its bottom edge small recesses through which fuel can flow.

16. A fire bowl as claimed in claim l, wherein the wicks contain heat conductive insertions with an exactly balanced total cross-sectional area for a limited heat conduction.

17. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein each wick comprises an outer shell formed by a wire helix and a core of one or more glass-sticks wherein between the shell and the core and between the individual glass-sticks free space is provided so that the liquid fuel can migrate upwards and copper wires can be inserted.

18. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary body comprises apertures with deflector sheets for the flow of aspirated fresh air, and wherein a shell with a narrow upper neck is placed on the container.

19. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 18, wherein the apertures of the rotary body are arranged on a concentric circle, and wherein the container comprises apertures with deflectors arranged below said first mentioned apertures, wherein the last mentioned deflectors are inclined opposite to the first mentioned deflectors.

20. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary body is supported on a vertical axis, which contains at its upper end a spherical indentation, in which a ball is placed as a pivot bearing, which ball is connected with a hub of the rotary body.

21. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein each wick has an outer shell comprising helically wound metal wire, and a core comprising a V-shape folded glass fibre bundle, the folded apex of said bundle being situated near the upper end of the metal wire helix which extends spirally to the centre line of said wick.

22. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 21, wherein the metal wire is made of chromium-nickel steel.

23. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 21, wherein, on the outer surface of the shell comprising metal wire, a ring-like collar is provided for limiting the flame zone, said collar comprising a heat-conductive metal.

24. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1 or 21, wherein each wick is impregnated with a non-burnable substance.

25. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1, provided with an indicating means to determine the positioning level of the rotary body which is necessary for starting the operation of the fire bowl.

26. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 25, wherein a shaft for adjusting the rotary body is provided with a cam which cooperates per complete rotation of the shaft with at least one fixed notch for generating an audible or sensible signal.

27. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1 or claim 6, wherein the rotary body is supported on a compression spring so that it can be dipped temporarily into the liquid fuel for extinguishing the flames.

28. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 4, wherein a scraper sheet is loosely arranged on the upper side of the ring-shaped wick holder.

29. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 28, wherein the scraper sheet is a thin ring made of light-weight material.

30. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein, between the rotary body and its ring-like extensions, heat insulation is provided.

31. A fire bowl as claimed in claim 18, wherein the shell is supported at a distance of about 2 to about 5 mm above the container.