Known as a speedway burner or (Chuffer) this unit is used to boil water for ablutions or kitchens and was in service with the New Zealand Army in the 1980 and 90s.
I have no information on this unit apart from the following:
Unit main body is dug into the ground up to half the units height.
Fuel tank is filled with 60 % diesel and 40 % kerosene and fits to main body via a flat iron spigot
Spigot also hold a conical hat with a hole in the centre for fuel pipe to go through, hat prevents rain water going into fuel combustion chamber
A 20 litre Stainless steel bucket is filled with water and placed in the large hole in the main body
stove pipes are fitted opposite the fuel chamber and reach to approximately 2 metres in height, may also have conical cover fitted for bad weather.
To light unit, tie a rag on to a piece of wire and soak with fuel, light it and hang it in the top of the chimney, light a second one and place it down the combustion chamber
Open filler cap or vent bung on top of fuel tank, ensure copper fuel pipe id directed over splash plate in combustion chamber.
Open fuel tap until fuel drizzles onto flaming rag, withdraw rag when flame is self sustaining, reduce fuel until a dripping is enough to keep unit in operation
When water is boiling or hot enough for use, ladel water out of bucket, do not remove bucket from main body, top up bucket as water is taken out and this will maintain heat well enough while fuel is burning.
To extinguish burner, turn fuel tap off, close vent bung or lid and remove fuel tank. Fire will continue to burn in main body until used up
Safety:
Do not look down combustion chamber when lighting unit (eye brows go missing)
Do not leave fuel tank on unit when not in use, any fuel leak will fill main body with fuel and fumes (and when lit will launch water bucket skywards)
Do not use petrol as a fuel as it is too hot
Do not remove bucket and carry it around as it will be covered in soot, use a ladel to remove and refill water
Clean all components weekly to remove soot layer and make unit more efficient
Ensure lid is kept on water bucket to prevent fuel, dust and soot getting in the water
Stove pipes and main body will be hot!
Questions I have are:
Does anyone know where these units were made
Are they British or US design
Who else used them
Does anyone have any parts for them , stove pipes, buckets, lids, caps, fuel tanks