Abstract: A pellet fuel burner, such as a cooking grill, has a fire box with a generally open top plane. A pellet burner unit is disposed in the fire box below the cooking surface. A pellet feeding device opens into the fire box and is disposed so as to feed pellets into the burner unit. A pressure box has an inlet supplied with combustion air at a positive pressure. A plurality of outlets are provided in the pressure box and disposed so as to create a turbulent combustion air flow in the pellet burner unit. The outlets may include a first outlet disposed above the burner unit and a second outlet disposed below the burner unit. The turbulent combustion air flow and supply of pellets, particularly corn kernels from the pellet feeding device allow for a continuous sustained combustion of the fuel in the pellet burner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pellet fuel burning heating unit for burning corn or wood pellets having a balanced pressure system having a four-way split combustion intake airstream. The invention includes a combustion air blower system for providing combustion air into a firebox containing a burner under positive pressure and at the same time providing a negative pressure to remove the combustion gases from the firebox. A pressure regulator and air splitter maintains a balance between the positive and negative pressure and adjusts the air flow into the firebox and out the exhaust. The exhaust is provided through a bank of exhaust tubes running from the top of the firebox to an exhaust manifold. The blower air moves into the pressure regulator and air splitter dividing the air flow such that a portion enters the heating unit exhaust manifold to produce a negative pressure and the remaining portion enters the heating unit burner under positive pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pellet fuel burning heating unit for burning corn or wood pellets having a balanced pressure system having a four-way split combustion intake airstream. The invention includes a combustion air blower system for providing combustion air into a firebox containing a burner under positive pressure and at the same time providing a negative pressure to remove the combustion gases from the firebox. A pressure regulator and air splitter maintains a balance between the positive and negative pressure and adjusts the air flow into the firebox and out the exhaust. The exhaust is provided through a bank of exhaust tubes running from the top of the firebox to an exhaust manifold. The blower air moves into the pressure regulator and air splitter dividing the air flow such that a portion enters the heating unit exhaust manifold to produce a negative pressure and the remaining portion enters the heating unit burner under positive pressure.

Abstract: A pellet fuel burning heating unit having a firebox with a burner therein connected to a combustion air duct, an exhaust pipe to remove combustion gases from the firebox, a blower to provide combustion air and a pressure regulator and air splitter to divide the air flow from the blower into the combustion air duct and into the exhaust pipe. The air flow into the combustion air duct creates a positive pressure in the burner and the air flow into the exhaust pipe creates a suction of the exhaust gases in the firebox.

Abstract: A solid fuel burning stove having a catalytic converter apparatus located above the stove combustion site. The apparatus includes a horizontal partition having a first opening in direct communication with the stove flue and a second opening adjacent catalytic elements. A by-pass damper is slideable on the partition to open and close the first opening. The by-pass damper is connected via a hollow rod to a handle located at the front of the stove. Exit ports are located in the hollow rod to provide supplemental heated air to the catalytic elements.

Abstract: The door handle of a heating unit is cooled by providing a duct traversing the interior of the handle from exterior of the firebox of the heating unit to the interior of the firebox. The induced flow cools the handle and provides cool air in the firebox to trap and maintain the hot gasses closer to the fire for a more complete combustion. An open, ellipsoid, spiral coil surrounds the grip of the handle.

Abstract: A fireplace screen having a transparent, air impermeable plate forming the front face held by a frame to two air permeable side faces. The top frame element is removably secured to allow removal of the plate.

Abstract: A forced air heating unit having a first U-shaped air channel with inlet vents adjacent the front, and a second U-shaped forced air channel interior said first forced air channel communicating with the first forced air channel via an opening in the common rear wall and having exit vents adjacent the front. A fan is mounted to the rear wall having the motor exterior the forced air channels with an impeller in the common rear wall opening. A conical deflector extends from the interior wall of the second forced air channel towards said rear wall opening. A refractory floor in the firebox includes front, side and rear vertical portions with top surfaces inclined towards the respective wall. The rear and side vertical portions exceed the height of a grate or andirons positioned on the refractory floor.

Abstract: A refractory floor for the firebox of a heating unit including front, side and rear vertical portions with top surfaces inclined towards the respective wall. The rear and side vertical portions exceed the height of a grate or andirons positioned on the refractory floor.

Abstract: A free-standing unit for heating air in a U-shaped channel surrounding a fire box having a pair of spaced vertical vents for directing the heated forced air to converge in front of the fire box opening to limit air flow towards said openings. Mesh in the vertical vents directs the forced air downward to be combined with the hot forced air from a bottom horizontal vent. A baffle plate depending from the top of the fire-box adjacent the flue port and an opening along the top of the doors ignite the gases adjacent the top and directs some gases back into the fire. By forcing heated air at a low level and drawing cool air from a high level, the air being heated is of a uniform temperature. A hood extending along the top edge of the fire box opening diverts exiting gases back into the fire box. A thermostatically controlled blower creates the forced air and cools the fire box walls.

Abstract: A free-standing unit for heating air in a U-shaped channel surrounding a fire box having a pair of spaced vertical vents for directing the heated forced air to converge in front of the fire box opening to limit air flow towards said openings. Mesh in the vertical vents directs the forced air downward to be combined with the hot forced air from a bottom horizontal vent. A baffle plate depending from the top of the fire-box adjacent the flue port and an opening along the top of the doors ignite the gases adjacent the top and directs some gases back into the fire. By forcing heated air at a low level and drawing cool air from a high level, the air being heated is of a uniform temperature. A hood extending along the top edge of the fire box opening diverts exiting gases back into the fire box. A thermostatically controlled blower creates the forced air and cools the fire box walls.

Abstract: A free-standing unit for heating air in a U-shaped channel surrounding a fire box having a pair of spaced vertical vents for directing the heated forced air to converge in front of the fire box opening to limit air flow towards said openings. Mesh in the vertical vents directs the forced air downward to be combined with the hot forced air from a bottom horizontal vent. A baffle plate depending from the top of the fire-box adjacent the flue port and an opening along the top of the doors ignite the gases adjacent the top and directs some gases back into the fire. By forcing heated air at a low level and drawing cool air from a high level, the air being heated is of a uniform temperature. A hood extending along the top edge of the fire box opening diverts exiting gases back into the fire box. A thermostatically controlled blower creates the forced air and cools the fire box walls.

Abstract: A fireplace support bracket having an upright, an adjustable slide having a greater inner effective diameter than the outer effective diameter of the upright, a locking surface extending down from the slide parallel to the upright, and a pin or aperture on the slide to receive a grate whose weight locks the locking surface against the upright in any selected position. The upright includes a pair of pins for mounting the bracket to the hinges of a fireplace.

Abstract: A screen having front, two side and bottom faces wherein the horizontal and vertical edges of the side faces form an angle greater than ninety degrees.

Abstract: A free-standing unit for heating air in a U-shaped channel surrounding a fire box having a pair of spaced vertical vents for directing the heated forced air to converge in front of the fire box opening to limit air flow towards said openings. Mesh in the vertical vents directs the forced air downward to be combined with the hot forced air from a bottom horizontal vent. A baffle plate depending from the top of the fire-box adjacent the flue port and an opening along the top of the doors ignite the gases adjacent the top and directs some gases back into the fire. By forcing heated air at a low level and drawing cool air from a high level, the air being heated is of a uniform temperature. A hood extending along the top edge of the fire box opening diverts exiting gases back into the fire box. A thermostatically controlled blower creates the forced air and cools the fire box walls.