With Air Flow Regulator Patents (Class 126/533)
  • Publication number: 20140311478
    Abstract: A power vented fireplace uses a single air inlet to pressurize a staging area from where air is distributed along a passageway between viewing panels to cool them as well as into the combustion chamber as a supply of combustion air. A partial restriction at an inlet to the passageway ensures that sufficient air is directed into the combustion chamber. The inlet to passageway may be adjustable to vary the extent of the restriction. Pressure differential switches may be used to ensure balanced operation of the fireplace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Lothar Dan Binzer
  • Patent number: 8333184
    Abstract: A fireplace including a body, a heating unit within the body, a duct within the body and in communication with the heating unit, an opening defined by a terminal end of the duct, an insert attached to the terminal end of the duct and arranged to dispel a heated air, and wherein the insert remains at a lower temperature than the duct during a heating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Heat Surge, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Gallo
  • Publication number: 20120031392
    Abstract: A heating apparatus can have a sealed combustion chamber, a burner, and various air channels to direct air into the sealed combustion chamber and to provide heated air to the desired area or environment such as an interior room. A channel can direct a flow of air along a face of the sealed combustion chamber to cool the face. The channel can be within or outside of the sealed combustion chamber. Alternatively, or in addition, the heating apparatus can be capable of operating as a direct vent device or as a vent free device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: David Deng
  • Publication number: 20100037886
    Abstract: An apparatus enhances the efficiency of a combustion heating device such as a fireplace by incorporating an ionic gas propulsion mechanism (e.g., a corona discharge device) to transport ambient air through a heat exchanger. A heat exchanger is configured to warm the ambient air using both heat energy produced by the combustion process and/or by byproducts of the combustion, e.g., exhaust gases. Air scrubber functions collect particulates present in the air including combustion byproducts such as ash and soot. An audio modulator may be used to vary the high voltage applied to electrodes of the corona discharge electrodes to vary air velocity in response to an audio or similar control signal to induce a vibratory motion to the air, i.e., sound, in forms such as music or simulated natural noise, and/or to cancel or attenuate undesirable sounds and noises, such as chimney sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Igor A. Krichtafovitch
  • Patent number: 7422011
    Abstract: A heating appliance includes an outer enclosure including a transparent front panel, a combustion chamber enclosure, and a variable speed blower. The combustion chamber enclosure is positioned within the outer enclosure and defines a combustion chamber wherein radiant heat is generated. The combustion chamber enclosure also includes a transparent front panel. The blower is configured to generate an adjustable airflow between the outer enclosure front panel and the combustion chamber enclosure front panel and to exhaust the airflow to a remote location. The airflow absorbs at least some of the radiant heat and varying a speed of the blower controls an amount of radiant heat transferred from the combustion chamber to a living space in which the heating appliance is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: HNI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bachinski, Gary Lee Butler, Robert S. Waddell, Dennis R. Maiello, Steven G. Smith, Paul J. Gross
  • Patent number: 6484714
    Abstract: An improved grate for burning solid fuel having a support for the fuel, a blower for transporting air through the support, a multiplicity of orifices jets uniformly distributed across the entire area of the grate and directed through the support generally upwardly to transport preheated air toward the lower surface of the solid fuel. A trough located immediately below the support, and in close proximity to the lower surface of the solid fuel, for collecting a layer of glowing coals and providing a combustion zone in troughs between the supports. Internal air transport tubes within the support provide passageways for air to flow from the blower out of the grate. A low thermal mass heat reflector may be used with the grate for absorbing radiant energy from the combustion zone and reradiating thermal energy over the fireplace grate and out of the fireplace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Richard D. Smith
  • Patent number: 5983890
    Abstract: A fireplace adapted to heat multiple heating zones of a building, controlled by a control circuit which adjusts the heat input to the fireplace, airflow through the fireplace and ducting of the airflow to the various zones individually in response to a call for heat by thermostats in the zones. The fireplace may also be adapted to provide cooled or circulated air to the zones and may also serve to provide heating to the zones in the event of an electrical power outage. The fireplace is provided with a cabinet having ducts through which air is conveyed by use of a fan to a tube-type heat exchanger, the heat exchanger also in communication with the hot flue gases exiting the combustion chamber of the fireplace. The air heated by the heat exchanger is conveyed to a multitude of fireplace outlets, each of which is provided with a damper which regulates the airflow through the outlet to one of the zones to be heated, depending on whether that zone calls for heat through its thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Canadian Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Martin Thomas, Sydney Richard Barkhouse, John Charles Kenzie Overall, Dick D. Gepilano, James Karl Georgieff, Heinz H. Rieger
  • Patent number: 5979437
    Abstract: Air control apparatus for a fireplace prevents or inhibits the buildup of soot and dirt on the inside surface of the glass doors of the fireplace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: H. Alfred Eberhardt
  • Patent number: 5673682
    Abstract: An rotating air fireplace comprising a pedestal section, a fire enclosure, a truncated conical hood, and an adjustable baffle assembly. Adjusting the position of the baffle alters the inlet and outlet annular vortex and the size and intensity of the fire. Air is drawn into the fire chamber through an air inlet means located along the top end of the cylindrical fire enclosure. An air directing means is aligned with the air inlet means to impart a downward tangential flow through the fire enclosure that keeps the glass fire enclosure cool and clean. A free standing wood holding means rests on the pedestal section and is centered within the fire enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Inventor: Harold W. Hannebaum
  • Patent number: 4928667
    Abstract: A gas fire space heater which can be an insert for an existing fireplace or a free standing unit is described. The device consists of a gas burner with radiants disposed within a housing. The products of combustion are collected in a first plenum, directed through a concertina heat exchanger into a second plenum, and from the second plenum up a flue. Air to be heated is collected by a blower and circulated countercurrently to the products of combustion through the heat exchanger, around the housing, and into the space to be heated. Air to be heated is supplied to the blower from an outside vent, and an inside vent. The outside vent is controlled by a one-way suction damper and the inside vent is controlled by a manual damper. The two vents form a T at the fan inlet and control of the manual damper then controls the amount outside and inside air supplied to the blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Tri Fire Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventor: William S. Shaw
  • Patent number: 4807589
    Abstract: A draft operated fireplace insert may be used to circulate heated air from one room to another or from the exterior of a building into the interior. The fireplace insert is fitted so that a set of louvers are located over a ventilated ash pit of the fireplace, permitting air to be selectively introduced into the combustion zone of the fireplace. Air is circulated through a channel extending beneath a floor plate and behind a rear plate of the fireplace insert. Alternately, air is drawn through fuel-supporting hollow andirons extending beween the floor plate and the rear plate. A vertically shiftable damper plate controls the flow of air through the channel and the andirons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Inventor: Willard D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4793322
    Abstract: A zero clearance fireplace of the type to be installed inside of a building against or near an outside wall is provided. The box shaped fireplace is provided with four substantially vertical walls, a top wall and a bottom wall. The bottom wall comprises an inner plenum and an outer plenum below the combustion chamber. The rear wall comprises an outer plenum connected to the bottom plenum of the bottom wall, a middle plenum connected to a source of fresh air and connected to the inner plenum of the bottom wall and an inner plenum which is connected to a horizontal exhaust pipe which is inserted through the outside wall and is connected to the combustion chamber through a baffle arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Inventors: Ronald J. Shimek, Daniel C. Shimek
  • Patent number: 4787365
    Abstract: A double walled fireplace insert is shown with an inner firebox and an outer shell to provide convection air channels between the parallel walls of the inner and outer units. A front panel is integral with the outer shell, and it covers the front of the insert. This front panel has room air intake vents that open into the said air channels, and warmed air outlet vents that open into the room to be heated by this fireplace. There is a circulating fan positioned within the convection air channels for governing the air movement through the said channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventor: Dwight E. Coleman