Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

Katsuyoshi Kumazawa

Minoru Komori

Kazuo Saito

Toshio Ohtsuki

A self-heating type catalytic combustion apparatus and method for igniting catalyst mass effectively within a short period of time and under a clean state and for realizing pleasant heating and having a long life-span of catalyst mass. The self-heating type catalytic combustion apparatus includes: a conductive self-heating type catalyst mass having electrodes for supplying power source to the catalyst mass; electrically energizing system for energizing electrically the catalyst mass; reaction gas supply member for supplying reaction gas comprising fuel and air to the catalyst mass; temperature detection circuit for detecting temperature of the catalyst mass; and control circuit by which the electrically energizing means are so controlled at the time of ignition that the catalyst mass is preheated to a predetermined temperature and the reaction gas supply member is so controlled that the reaction gas is supplied to the catalyst after a temperature detected by the temperature detection means reaches to the predetermined preheating temperature.

Catalytic combustion apparatus and method

Large numbers of vent holes are respectively formed in inner and outer flame cylinders defining an annular combustion chamber to supply air thereto. A total opening area of the vent holes formed in the outer flame cylinder is greater than that of the vent holes formed in the inner flame cylinder. As a result, the heat capacity of the outer flame cylinder is smaller than that of the inner flame cylinder. During combustion, the outer flame cylinder is heated to red-hot. A plurality of projections are formed on the outer wall surface of the inner flame cylinder to allow complete combustion of a fuel vapor.

Space heater

A wick temperature control unit is provided for controlling the temperature of a wick having the lower end portion dipped in a fuel tank for storing liquid fuel and the upper end portion inserted in a combustion chamber through a narrow path. The wick soaks up the liquid fuel by capillary action in the combustion chamber and evaporates the liquid fuel therein. The wick temperature control unit holds the temperature of the upper end portion of the wick in accordance with a given heating power state, thereby contributing to widen a heating power adjustment range.

Growing community of inventors

Yamato, Japan

Katsuyoshi Kumazawa