Oil heater

Abstract

An oil heater having a wick fed radiant burner which comprises a wick adjusting shaft rotatable in first and second directions about the longitudinal axis thereof; a wick holder for moving together therewith a wick between an extinguishing position and a maximum combustion position past a minimum combustion position in response to the rotation of the shaft; a ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft for displacement axially of the shaft; an actuating pin mounted on the shaft and angularly movable together with the shaft; an abutment bank provided on the wheel for defining the angular distance over which the pin moves, which angular distance corresponds to the distance of movement of the wick holder between the maximum combustion position and the extinguishing position; and a one-way stopper provided on the wheel and operable to permit the pin to pass thereover during the rotation of the shaft in the second direction, but to restrain the pin from passing thereover during the rotation of the shaft in the first direction thereby defining the minimum combustion position. The pin once restrained can be released from the stopper when the shaft is rotated in the first direction by the application of an external rotary force sufficient to cause the pin to displace the wheel against the biasing spring while permitting the pin to pass over the stopper.