Smoke generating and dispensing apparatus and method

Claim 2

In an apparatus for generating and dispensing smoke produced by combustion of solid material, a housing having a smoke outlet, a hopper within which said material is a stored, gas flow means for conveying said material from the hopper to the outlet, gas permeable means for blocking flow of the material to the outlet, and burner means mounted in operative relation to the gas permeable means for combustion of the material accumulated upstream on the gas permeable means producing smoke displaced through the gas permeable means.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including sensor means for detecting buildup of pressure upstream of the gas permeable means reflecting a predetermined accumulation of the material on the gas permeable means.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 including selectively operable valve means for blocking outflow of the material from the hopper.

Claim 5

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 including return passage means for recirculating through the hopper, said valve means being operative to close the return passage means.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said gas flow means includes an air blower mounted downstream of the hopper.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 including comminuting means operated simultaneously with the gas flow means for preconditioning said material within the hopper.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 including return passage means for recirculating flow through the hopper, and selectively operable valve means for closing the return passage means.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 wherein said flow of air is restricted by the accumulation of material at said location, the restriction being reduced by the burning of the material.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein said circulation of the air through the storage zone is blocked during the discharge of the smoke therefrom.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 wherein the material is comminuted within the storage zone for reduction to particle size suitable for fluidization and conveyance by said flow of air.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11 wherein the material at said location is burned at a rate exceeding the rate of accumulation.

Claim 15

The method of claim 8 wherein the material is comminuted within the storage zone for reduction to particle size suitable for fluidization and conveyance by said flow of air.

Claim 16

The method of claim 8 wherein the material at said location is burned at a rate exceeding the rate of accumulation.

Claim 17

In an apparatus for generating and dispensing smoke produced by combustion of solid material, a housing having a smoke outlet, a hopper within which said material is stored, passage means extending through the housing for establishing fluid communication between the hopper and the smoke outlet, flow inducing means for conveying the material into the passage means, screening means mounted in the passage means for restricting flow therethrough, and burner means for effecting combustion of the material accumulated in the passage means at the screening means upstream relative to the smoke outlet, whereby the smoke produced by said combustion passes through the screening means for discharge downstream thereof from the outlet.

Claim 18

In an apparatus for generating and dispensing smoke produced by combustion of solid material, a housing having a smoke outlet, a hopper within which said material is stored, passage means extending through the housing for establishing fluid communication between the hopper and the smoke outlet, flow inducing means for conveying the material into the passage means, screening means mounted in the passage means for restricting flow therethrough, and burner means for effecting combustion of the material accumulated in the passage means at the screening means upstream relative to the smoke outlet, whereby the smoke produced by said combustion passes through the screening means for discharge downstream thereof from the outlet.

Claim 19

In the apparatus as defined in claim 15, means for detecting accumulation of a predetermined quantity of said material at the screening means.

Claim 20

In the apparatus as defined in claim 16, including means for initiating operation of the burner means in response to said detection of the predetermined accumulation of material at the screening means.