Variable-heat chafing-dish burners and methods of use

Abstract

Variable-heat chafing-dish burners and methods of use. One variable-heat chafing-dish burner embodiment has a reservoir with liquid fuel, into which a short wick and a long wick extend. Both wicks are lit initially, in order to provide initial high heat to bring chafing-dish water quickly to temperature. As fuel is consumed by the flames fed by both wicks, the fuel level within the reservoir drops. The short wick initial immersed length is set such that at the approximate time the chafing-dish water has been brought to temperature, the short wick is no longer immersed in fuel, and the flame it fed is extinguished due to fuel starvation. After the flame fed by the short wick is extinguished, only the flame fed by the long wick remains lit, thereby providing the lowered heat required to maintain the chafing-dish water at temperature. In this manner, a high initial heat is provided to bring chafing-dish water quickly to temperature, and lower heat is provided thereafter to save fuel. Alternate variable-heat chafing-dish burner embodiments are disclosed which provide different configuration snuffers, such as a hinged flame-snuffer and a rotating flame-snuffer, whereby one of two long wicks may be quickly and easily extinguished. Using these embodiments, the operator initially lights both long wicks, and then uses the provided snuffer to extinguish one flame when the chafing-dish water has been brought to temperature, thus leaving only one flame burning to maintain temperature. An additional embodiment is disclosed which provides a chafing dish with two long wicks, and caps sealing the wicks for transportation and storage, and a seal over a neck surrounding the wicks. In operation, a conventional snuffer or other handy implement may be used to extinguish a flame fed by one long wick, in order to provide reduced heat following the initial high heat supplied by flames fed by both long wicks.