A chimney flue heater for selectively inducing an updraft within a chimney flue generally includes a body releasably hanging from a flue liner and a heating assembly to heat air and induce an updraft within the chimney flue. The body includes a hanger assembly having (i) a top member extending outwardly from an upper portion of the planar support and (ii) a side member extending downwardly from the top member and overlapping an outer surface of the flue liner. The planar support extends downwardly from the hanger assembly and along an inner surface of the flue liner. The heating assembly is mounted on the planar support opposite the hanger assembly. A method of using the chimney flue heater is also disclosed.

A chimney flue heater for selectively inducing an updraft within a chimney flue generally includes a body releasably hanging from a flue liner and a heating assembly to heat air and induce an updraft within the chimney flue. The body includes a hanger assembly having (i) a top member extending outwardly from an upper portion of the planar support and (ii) a side member extending downwardly from the top member and overlapping an outer surface of the flue liner. The planar support extends downwardly from the hanger assembly and along an inner surface of the flue liner. The heating assembly is mounted on the planar support opposite the hanger assembly. A method of using the chimney flue heater is also disclosed.

A portable draft inducer is adapted to assist a user in starting a fire in a fireplace and to prevent smoke from the newly ignited fire from entering an adjoining room when the fire is first started.

A portable draft inducer is adapted to assist a user in starting a fire in a fireplace and to prevent smoke from the newly ignited fire from entering an adjoining room when the fire is first started.

An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust conduit having an exhaust port fluidically coupled to ambient fluid and having an internal cross-sectional area and an engine cylinder fluidically coupled to the exhaust conduit. A fluidic amplifier is disposed within the exhaust conduit and is fluidically coupled to the engine cylinder. The amplifier is further fluidically coupled to a source of primary fluid and is configured to introduce the primary fluid and at least a portion of fluid from the engine cylinder to the exhaust port.

An exhaust handling system comprising: an exhaust pipe having an exhaust outlet, said exhaust outlet having a nozzle arranged to vent exhaust gas; at least one acceleration jet arranged to project an air flow at a velocity head greater than that of the vented exhaust gas; wherein the at least one acceleration jet and exhaust outlet are positioned to project the air flow so as to impinge on a path of said vented exhaust gas, and consequently transfer velocity head to the vented exhaust gas.

An apparatus includes a heat exchange member at least partially defining a passageway, and structure defining a first plurality of holes and a second plurality of holes. The first and second pluralities of holes provide fluid communication from the passageway to the exterior of the apparatus, i.e., to the atmosphere. A blower is operatively connected to the heat exchange member and configured to blow air into the passageway. The apparatus is configured such that, when the heat exchange member is sufficiently positioned with respect to a campfire, air exiting the first plurality of holes is directed downward and away from the campfire and air exiting the second plurality of holes has an upward velocity component.

A fuel-fired heating appliance comprises a fuel source, an air source, a chamber in which fuel and air mix, a burner downstream from the mixing chamber, an igniter proximate the burner, a heat exchanger, a blower and a flue pipe. An ambient air inlet may be defined by at least one of the outlet end of the blower and the flue pipe extending between the interior of the flue pipe and an area ambient to the flue pipe. A flow rate of combustion gas may be controlled to a level below a steady-state flow rate during appliance warm-up.

A fuel-fired heating appliance comprises a fuel source, an air source, a chamber in which fuel and air mix, a burner downstream from the mixing chamber, an igniter proximate the burner, a heat exchanger, a blower and a flue pipe. An ambient air inlet may be defined by at least one of the outlet end of the blower and the flue pipe extending between the interior of the flue pipe and an area ambient to the flue pipe. A flow rate of combustion gas may be controlled to a level below a steady-state flow rate during appliance warm-up.

A fuel-fired heating appliance comprises a fuel source, an air source, a chamber in which fuel and air mix, a burner downstream from the mixing chamber, an igniter proximate the burner, a heat exchanger, a blower and a flue pipe. An ambient air inlet may be defined by at least one of the outlet end of the blower and the flue pipe extending between the interior of the flue pipe and an area ambient to the flue pipe. A flow rate of combustion gas may be controlled to a level below a steady-state flow rate during appliance warm-up.