Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Variable secondary air intake device
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to solid fuel burning appliances
but more particularly to an variable secondary air intake device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Solid fuel burning appliances have two sources of air. A primary source
and a secondary source. The primary source controls the burn rate and
is arranged in such a way that the air is in contact with the wood and
helps the wood to burn as a solid. It is adjustable by the user.
[003] The secondary source is not in direct contact with the wood. It is
directed into the firebox, usually from the top part, just below the baffle.
It helps to burn the combustible gases before escaping to the chimney.
If those gases are not burned properly, they are a source of pollution but
also are wasted as a potential source of additional heat energy.
[004] Currently, in wood burning appliances, the secondary air is constant and
cannot be adjusted. The amount of secondary air required for proper
combustion varies with the amount of gas released in relation to the
temperature of the firebox, and as such, ideally, a variable amount of
secondary source air is best.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices
now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and
advantages which are:
[006] To provide for a secondary source of air that is variable, which
increases
the efficiency of the appliance and maximizes its burn time.
[007] In order to do so, the invention comprises a baffle member adapted to
be attached within an upper area of a fire chamber of the firebox. The
baffle member includes a top having a channel member hole
therethrough, side walls, a bottom having a plurality of small holes
therethrough, and a gas exit opening having side walls and extending
through the top and bottom.
15[008] A hollow chamber member adapted to be placed upon a top surface of
the baffle member, the hollow chamber member includes a top having a
channel member hole therethrough, and side walls extending downward
from the top and forming a chamber having a periphery that includes a
plurality of gas exit holes therethrough.
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[009] An elongated hollow channel member adapted to be placed within and
through the holes of the baffle member top, the hollow chamber member
top, and a hole within a top member of the firebox, to thereby allow
secondary air to pass therethrough and into the baffle member, and an
adjustable gate adapted to be attached upon a top end portion of the
channel member, the adjustable gate including a base portion having an
opening therethrough adapted to allow the secondary air to pass
therethrough and into the channel member.
[0010] The bimetal element begins to bend and push and pivot the cover
member and thereby gradually open the opening and allow an
increasing amount of secondary air to pass therethrough and into the
baffle member to thereby pass through the plurality of small holes in the
bottom thereof and into the fire chamber of the firebox as a secondary
air supply to thereby increase the burning rate of the material being
burned therein, and wherein flammable gases from the material being
burned are adapted to rise and pass through the gas exit opening of the
baffle member and into the hollow chamber of the hollow chamber
member where they are slowed down and spread to thereby allow for
their complete combustion before escaping through its gas exit holes
and then out through an exhaust hole within a top member of the firebox
and discharged through an exhaust pipe therefrom.
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[0011] The bimetal element comprises two differing elongated flat metallic
members connected to one another along adjacent surfaces.
[0012] The cover member of the adjustable gate is formed as an elongated
rectangular channel having two sides extending perpendicular to a base
portion, wherein the bimetal element resides within the channel, is
parallel to the two sides, and is adapted to push against either side of
the channel depending on the temperature of the fire chamber, such
that when the temperature of the fire chamber is increasing, the cover
member is gradually pushed and pivoted to an open position to allow
more secondary air therethrough, and when the temperature of the fire
chamber is decreasing, the cover member is gradually pushed and
pivoted to a closed position to decrease and eventually cut off the
amount of secondary air passing therethrough.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the hollow chamber forms an interior shape
IS having a rectangular volume.
[0014] The baffle member is formed in the shape of a rectangular volume, the
gas exit opening is formed in the shape of a rectangular volume, and the
small holes being arranged into a series of concentric circles.
[0015] The channel member hole of the baffle member, the channel member
hole of the hollow chamber member, and the channel member are
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formed having a similar rectangular cross section, and are aligned such
that the channel member can pass snugly therethrough.
[0016] The variable secondary air intake device works in combination with a
firebox.
5[0017] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof
that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will
form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0018] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0019] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,
upon
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
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designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that
the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0020] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference
should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter
which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
15BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] Fig. 1 Isometric view of the invention in context.
[0022] Fig. 2 Isometric view of the gate and opening.
[0023] Fig. 3 Exploded view of the invention.
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[0024] Fig. 4a-d Isometric, front, side cutaway, and top view, respectively,
of
the baffle.
[0025] Figs]. 5[a-b] Side and front cutaway view respectively, of the hollow
chamber.
5DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] A variable secondary air intake device (10) is comprised of an
adjustable
gate (12) covering an opening (20), a channel member (22), and a baffle
member (26).
[0027] The gate (12) varies the amount of secondary air entering a fire
chamber (14) by way of the channel member (22). The gate (12) is
comprised of a cover member (13), and a base portion (15). The gate
(12) is controlled by a bimetal element (16) which pushes the gate (12)
open as the increasing amount of heat bends the bimetal into pushing
the gate (12) open or closing it as the amount of heat decreases.
15[0028] The top part of a firebox (18) has the secondary air entering from
the
opening (20), through the channel member (22), and into the baffle
member (26) where the secondary air is preheated before entering the
fire chamber (14) through a plurality of small holes (28).
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[0029] When the fire is started, only primary air enters the fire chamber
(14). At
this stage there is no need for secondary air since the mass of wood is
cold and there aren't any flammable gases released. As the burning
progresses, the temperature rises and flammable gases are released,
the bimetal element (16) starts opening the adjustable gate (12)
gradually, allowing secondary air to enter the fire chamber (14), as
described hereinabove, and complete the combustion.
[0030] The products of combustion (gases) enter a hollow chamber member
(24), located just above the baffle member (26), through a gas exit
opening (30). In this hollow chamber (24), the gases are slowed down
and spread to allow for a complete combustion before the gases escape
through gas exit holes (32) located on the periphery of the hollow
chamber member (24). The exit holes (32) connect with a chimney (not
shown) as is known in the art.
15[0031] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of
the
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of
usage and operation will be provided.
[0032] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
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operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious
to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
5[0033] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to
limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents
may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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