Abstract: A free standing fireplace having a base, a fire pot mounted on the base, a fire pot housing ring encircling the fire pot, a substantially cylindrical combustion chamber vertically mounted on the ring, and a conical hood mounted on the combustion chamber. The hood has on its interior a substantially horizontally projecting, upwardly spiraling flange for imparting a circular motion to combustion fumes rising through the hood. The fire pot housing ring preferably contains two oppositely disposed air vents having openings facing in opposite directions, so that air drawn into the combustion chamber swirls in a circular motion in the same direction as the upwardly spiraling flange of the hood. A damper may be placed across the base of the hood between opposite portions of the flange for forcing the air into an upward spiraling motion, thereby allowing for greater heat absorbtion by the hood.

Abstract: An improved air intake system for a freestanding fireplace of the type having a tubular base secured to a floor support, a firepot mounted on the base, a substantially cylindrical firepot enclosure, and a conical hood having an internally mounted, upwardly spiraling, flange. The improvement includes an air conduit connecting the tubular base to an outside air source located below the floor support and a second conduit extending between the tubular base and the firepot enclosure, the second conduit terminating adjacent one edge of the firepot in a substantially horizontal direction to impart a circular motion to exiting air. Another conduit extending between the tubular base and the firepot enclosure, terminating adjacent an oppositely disposed edge of the firepot from the second conduit and terminating in a substantially horizontal direction opposite to that of the second conduit may be included.