Abstract: A wood burning stove having a catalytic converter for achieving greatly increased combustion efficiency, said stove having damper means for insuring that all combustion gases from the primary combustion chamber pass through said converter before reaching the stove's exhaust duct when the damper is in one position, and manual control means for moving the damper to a second position wherein the combustion gases bypass said converter and pass directly to said exhaust duct, it being necessary to move said damper to its second position before the door of said stove can be opened. Said damper has a controlled leakage factor whereby if the converter becomes clogged when the damper is in its first position, combustion gases will be permitted to pass to said exhaust duct. In one operational mode, the stove may be used to burn coal.

Abstract: A wood burning stove having a primary combustion chamber and a secondary chamber having a catalytic converter therein is disclosed. Primary air is introduced to said primary chamber and secondary air is introduced to said secondary chamber utilizing completely separate and independent control means, with the draft means for said primary and secondary air both being located below the fuel (wood) support level. Means are provided for preheating both the secondary air and the catalytic converter.