Stove Pipe Cleaning Device

Abstract

A stove pipe cleaning device is provided that includes a vacuum unit associated with a stove pipe of a wood burning stove. The vacuum unit also includes a damper that selectively closes the stove pipe wherein debris being cleaned from the interior of the stove pipe will land on the damper. The debris is suctioned from the stove pipe by way of a tube that is interconnected to the vacuum unit. Suction is preferably supplied by a vacuum generating device positioned outside the dwelling.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/293,815, filed Jan. 11, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to devices for cleaning the exhaust system, i.e., a stove pipe of a wood burning stove.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wood burning heating systems are generally comprised of a stove for burning fuel with an interconnected stove pipe that directs combustion gasses to an outdoor location. The fuel, such as wood, wood pellets, coal, etc., is placed within the stove and burned to produce heat. The air required for combustion is drawn from areas around the stove into the stove when blowing air across the open end of the stove pipe creates suction within the stove. The stove pipe includes a damper mechanism, which is commonly a hand-actuated butterfly valve, that selectively alters air flow through the stove pipe. That is, movement of the damper alters the size of the opening of the stove pipe and controls the amount of air that is drawn therethrough and, thus, combustion and the amount of heat generated. Products of combustion, i.e., soot and other items tend to build up on the internal surfaces of the stove pipe. These combustion byproducts are sometimes combustible and may ignite. Thus, it is recommended that wood burning stoves and their associated pipes be cleaned one or more times a year to avoid the possibility of a dangerous ignition.

Cleaning wood burning stoves generally entails accessing the top of the stove pipe or chimney and inserting a brush to remove any debris. Brushing causes the soot and other debris to fall down the stove pipe past the damper and into the stove. The stove must then be accessed to remove debris and other items. As one of skill in the art will appreciate, stove cleaning is messy wherein soot, ash, dust, and other debris will escape and soil the surrounding area regardless of the level of care exercised by the cleaner.

Thus, it is a long felt need to provide an apparatus for efficiently cleaning a wood burning stove that reduces the amount of ash, debris, or soot that enters the stove from the stove pipe. The following disclosure is directed to an apparatus for association with a stove pipe that vacuums the soot therefrom as opposed to allowing it to enter into the stove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a vacuum unit for permanent or selective interconnection to a wood burning stove or stove pipe thereof. The vacuum unit includes a tube that is associated with an interface located on an outer wall of a dwelling, for example. In operation, a vacuum is also associated with the wall interface and is used to suction the soot from the stove pipe as opposed to allowing it to fall into the stove.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a system for starting a stove. More specifically, often if the air flow over the open end of the stove pipe positioned outside of a dwelling is insufficient, the amount of oxygen drawn into the stove will be insufficient to allow combustion to begin. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention provides a fan for interconnection to the stove pipe that begins air flow through the stove pipe so that combustion can initiate. After combustion has begun, the fan is removed from the stove pipe.

The Summary of the Invention neither is intended nor should be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. Moreover, reference is made herein to “the present invention” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain devices of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail and summary of the invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and the limitation as to the scope of the invention is intended by either the inclusion of non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this summary of the invention. Additional aspects of the invention will become more readily apparent in the detailed description, particularly when taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated and in constant apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description and drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevation view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention that utilizes a fan to initiate combustion.

To assist in understanding of one embodiment of the present invention, the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein:

#   Components
2   Vacuum unit
6   Stove pipe
10  Stove
16  Vacuum tube
18  First end
20  Vacuum tube interface
22  Second end
26  Wall interface
30  Outer wall
34  Damper
38  Handle
42  Locking mechanism
46  Arcuate path
50  Vacuum
54  Starter device
58  Cord
62  Plug
66  First end
70  Second end
78  Heat shield
82  Bushing
86  Knob
90  Detent
94  Stop
98  Cover
102 Swing arm
106 Set screw

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for the understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a vacuum unit 2 of one embodiment of the present invention is shown associated with a stove pipe 6 of stove 10. A tube 14 is also provided that has a first end 18 interconnected to a tube interface 20 of the vacuum unit 2 and a second end 22 associated with a wall interface 26. The wall interface 26 is shown associated with an outer wall 30 of the dwelling, but could be directly interconnected to a vacuum system, such as a shop vac.

The tube interface 20 is positioned above a damper 34, which is generally a butterfly valve. Although shown as part of the vacuum unit 2, one of skill in the art will appreciate that an existing damper can be used in conjunction with the tube interface 20 without departing from the scope of the invention. The angular position of the damper is controlled by a handle 38 that travels in an arcuate path 46. A locking mechanism 42 is used to fix the angular position of the damper 34. More specifically, the locking mechanism 42 is used to lock the damper 34 either in an opened position, a closed position, or a position between the open position and the closed position. The locking mechanism 42 of one embodiment of the present invention is a wing nut lock.

To clean the stove pipe 6, the damper handle 38 is moved to a closed position that closes the stove pipe 6. The portion of stove pipe that is positioned outside the dwelling is accessed via a ladder and a brush is used to clear debris from the stove pipe interior. The debris falls down the stove pipe 6 and lands on the closed damper 34. A vacuum 50, which may be positioned outside the dwelling and interconnected to the wall interface 26, is turned on. The pressure drop caused by the vacuum 50 suctions the debris through the tube 14. Thus, less debris finds its way to the stove 10. As one of skill in the art will appreciate, the amount of debris present in the stove 10 is directly related to the potential mess made. It should also be appreciated that the vacuum 50 may be located in the dwelling wherein the vacuum is interconnected directly to the vacuum unit 2 or the tube 14.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the tube 14 may be used to interconnect directly to the stove 10 to pull soot and debris therefrom as well, thereby substantially alleviating the need for shoveling soot, ash, and debris from the stove 10. The wall interface 26 may interconnect to a shop vac, for example, or may be directly associated with a centralized vacuum system of a dwelling.

The vacuum unit 2 of one embodiment of the present invention is retrofittable. More specifically, the stove pipe 6 of an existing stove may be cut in two places approximate to the size of the vacuum unit 2. The vacuum unit 2 is then interconnected to the two existing sections of stove pipe by way of a weld, bolts, or any other common metal interconnection technique.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a vacuum unit 2 of another embodiment of the present invention for interconnection to a stove pipe 6 is shown. The vacuum unit 2 has a first end 66 and a second end 70 wherein the second end 70 is positioned adjacent to the top portion of the stove. The vacuum unit may include a heat shield 78.

The damper 34 is interconnected to the sidewalls of the vacuum unit via bushings 82. Rotation of the damper 38 is provided by a knob 86 that is associated with a movable detent 90 An exterior surface of the vacuum unit 2 has a plurality of detent stops 94 that receive the detent 86 to fix the angular position of the damper. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the detent 90 may be spring-loaded to facilitate removal from one stop and placement into another.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a vacuum port cover 98 is rotatably interconnected to the tube interface 20 via a swing arm 102. A set screw 106 or other mechanism may be used to hold the vacuum port cover 98 in place. In operation, the set screw 106 is removed or loosened which allows the vacuum port cover 98 to rotate away from the tube interface 20. Next, the tube is interconnected to the tube interface 20 and to the vacuum system, similar to that described with respect to FIG. 1. The damper 34 is then moved via the knob 86 to a closed position to close the stove pipe. Once a vacuum is created by the interconnected vacuum and the soot and other debris positioned within the stove pipe 6 are removed.

FIG. 6 shows a starter device 54 for interconnection to a stove pipe 6. More specifically, a starter device 54 that employs a low CFM (cubic feet per minute) fan is interconnected to the stove pipe and is used to draw air into the stove pipe 6 from the area surrounding the stove 10, which begins or facilitates combustion. An electrically-powered fan is contemplated that is selectively interconnectable to the stove pipe 6 via a cord 58 and plug 62.

If used with the vacuum unit described above, one would remove the tube or a cover that is associated with the vacuum unit and interconnect the starter device 54. Once the starter device 54 is turned on, air flow within the stove pipe 6 begins. After combustion is evident, the starter device 54 is removed from the stove pipe 6 and the cover or tube for cleaning is interconnected to the stove pipe 6. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the starter device may be integrated directly into the stove pipe.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those of skill in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention as set forth in the following claims. Further, the inventions described herein are capable of other embodiments being practiced or being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” in variations thereof is meant to be encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

Claims

1. A system for cleaning a wood burning stove comprising:

a vacuum unit associated with a stove pipe, said vacuum unit including a tube interface;

a tube having a first end interconnected to said tube interface of said vacuum unit and a second end associated with a wall interface that is associated with a wall of a dwelling, said wall interface also adapted to receive a vacuum cleaner; and

wherein said vacuum unit is also associated with a damper wherein when said damper is in a closed position, debris from the stove pipe is prevented from entering a stove such that initiation of said vacuum will cause a pressure drop in said tube to suction the debris from the stove pipe.