Abstract: A gas fueled direct vent fireplace has a firebox within an outer casing, the firebox having a mounting plate above the floor of the casing for mounting burner support brackets, a pilot light assembly, a gas valve and control assembly, and other conventional elements for controlling the burner. The mounting plate includes an explosion blow-out valve plate and a vacuum release plate which are spring biased to close respective ports. The valve plate opens when the gas pressure within the firebox is excessive, and the vacuum release plate opens if the release of pressure from the firebox causes the firebox to become subatmospheric. The firebox has a frontal opening which is closed by a glass access door having an extrusion at upper and lower edges and side edge protectors. The extrusions have portions which face the interior of the firebox to be grasped by latches mounted on the firebox to tightly secure the glass access door to the firebox.

Abstract: When a boiler plant (100), which is equipped with an air plenum (104), is in operation, during the startup phase the admission pressure in this air plenum (104) is lowered in terms of time and amount via a blowoff device (106) with respect to combustion air (7) and startup air (105) made available from this air plenum (104). The air coefficient to the burner is consequently reduced. This ensures that, by means of such a near-stoichiometric fuel/air mixture, favorable ignition conditions are provided in the burner and the pollutant emissions during the startup phase are greatly reduced.

Abstract: A low profile, high efficiency, fireplace boiler wherein a burner tray supports a number of gas fired burners and artificial logs within a hearth area of the firebox and about which logs the gas and flames are distributed. Combustion air is drawn from a conduit that surrounds an exhaust conduit at a chimney and circulated via a distributing manifold to the space beneath the burner tray, where it mixes with the fuel. Additional secondary air is directed from ports at intersecting levels of the tray to create flickering. Heated exhaust gasses are directed by a baffle to contact exposed walls of a liquid filled heat exchanger formed into the top and rear walls of the firebox and to pass through the bottoms of a number of vertical plenums mounted within the heat exchanger behind the baffle. A spring biased explosion door is provided beneath the burner tray. Liquid is circulated through the heat exchanger to distribution conduits arrayed about the premises.

Abstract: A gas-fired fireplace comprises an enclosure having a forwardly facing glass panel. The panel is pivotably secured to the enclosure along a lower edge of the panel. The upper edge of the panel is normally spring biased against the enclosure by a latch mechanism. By this arrangement an explosion within the fireplace combustion chamber will cause the panel to pivotably open and relieve the pressure within the chamber. The panel can also be readily removed without tools if it is necessary to gain access to the inside of the fireplace.

Abstract: An explosion dampener fits with a pressure relief opening in a gas fireplace. The explosion dampener comprises a fireplace mounting bracket, a lever arm pivotally secured to the mounting bracket and an opening sealing member which is secured by a floating connection to the lever arm. The floating connection between the sealing member and the lever arm promotes a sealing fit of the sealing member over the pressure relief opening in the gas fireplace.

Abstract: A direct ventilation gas fireplace having co-linear air intake pipe and gas outlet pipe. The pipes are separated from each other so that the fluid flowing in one pipe does not come in contact with the other pipe. The gas outlet pipe may comprise a safety release valve that allows any excess pressure, in case of explosion, to exit through a lateral spring-actuated door into an enclosure closed around the combustion chamber. This safety release valve allows to build fireplaces having pipes longer than the usual length allowed for respecting specific safety tests in case of gas explosion.

Abstract: A safety door for a furnace or like apparatus is operable to open under the force of a hydraulic cylinder when the pressure under the furnace exceeds a predetermined upper limit corresponding to an abnormally high pressure caused by an explosion within the furnace or like apparatus. The safety door thereby prevents the furnace from being permanently damaged by an explosion.

Abstract: A vent cap for a heat treating furnace provides bidirectional pressure relief. The cap is weighted and balanced over the furnace vent such that the vent is closed as long as the furnace has a slightly positive internal pressure. If the internal pressure exceeds a preselected upper limit the cap opens the vent to relieve the overpressure. The vent cap has a controlled inlet which opens to equalize the pressure differential if the internal pressure falls below a preselected lower limit below the ambient pressure outside the furnace. Such controlled equalization prevents the formation of undesirable combustible mixtures of air and treating gas in the furnace.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for collection of gases and particulates which arise during the feeding of an electric furnace, especially in the manufacture of phosphorus. The collection system for the gases and particulates includes novel explosion panels which are employed in an enclosure that contains the gases and particulates, and the use of such panels also in the ductwork and filter units that conveys and treats the gases and particulates from the enclosure. A further treating system also prevents moisture in the gases and particulates from clogging the filters used to separate the particulates from the gases. Also described is a novel furnace feeding system that can be used in cooperation with the gas and particulate collection system.

Abstract: An explosion venting device for metallurgical furnace enclosures consists of a plurality of panels adapted for restrictive movement relative to the roof and sidewalls of the enclosure and cover openings therein. The panels absorb the shock blast of an explosion occurring within the housing by lifting outwardly from the housing walls. Being restrictively movably mounted, the blast force may be vented in any desired direction. When the explosive force ceases, the panels will return to their rest position against the housing.

Abstract: Damage due to implosions occurring within the furnace chambers of balance draft vapor generators is prevented by the provision in the downstream combustion gas duct of one or more openings that are closed during normal operation by doors which are automatically released upon the occurrence of an inordinately high negative fluid pressure atmosphere in the furnace. The doors, when released, operate to obstruct the flow of combustion gas out of the furnace chamber and thereby, in association with operation of the forced draft fan, overcome the excessive negative pressure in the furnace chamber. Also, the exposure of the induced draft fan to outside air upon release of the door prevents the fan from producing an inordinate negative pressure adjacent the door that would otherwise tend to close the door and also detrimentally affect the furnace pressure.