Liquid-Fuel Burner with Brick Member

Abstract

A liquid-fuel burner apparatus for a fireplace using a liquid fuel. The apparatus includes a fuel-containment housing having walls forming a housing upper edge, the fuel-containment housing being adapted for insertion of a porous, fuel-wicking brick member. The porosity of the brick member is sufficient to support a continuous flame at the upper burn surface with fuel present in the fuel-containment housing.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related generally to fireplace apparatus which utilize liquid fuel and, more specifically, which utilize a porous, fuel-wicking brick member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

So-called “ventless fireplaces,” i.e., fireplaces which burn gel or liquid fuel, exist in a variety of forms. Such fireplaces typically have several advantages over various more-traditional fireplaces in that ventless fireplaces cleanly burn their fuel, are often portable, and may not require installation. Typically, it is advantageous for a ventless fireplace to include some sort of mechanism to facilitate flame position control. It is to porous brick members and related control apparatus that this invention is primarily directed.

In the ventless fireplace field, there is a need for an improved refillable and adjustable burn apparatus for use in a variety of ventless fireplace applications. One such application is ventless fireplaces for walls (or a free-standing fireplace), as may be used in homes, apartments, porches or the like, or even outdoors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a liquid-fuel burner with a porous brick member for a fireplace for liquid fuel. The liquid-fuel burner of this invention includes a fuel-containment housing having walls forming a housing upper edge, the fuel-containment housing, the housing being adapted for insertion of a porous, fuel-wicking brick member therein. When the porous brick member is inserted in the housing, the brick member has a vertical dimension extending from a lower surface within the housing to an upper burn surface at or near the level of the housing upper edge. The porosity of the brick member is sufficient to support a continuous flame at the upper burn surface with fuel present in the fuel-containment housing. The liquid-fuel burner of this invention includes a cover over the housing, the cover having a main portion defining a flame aperture over the upper burn surface of the brick member and a shutter member movable with respect to the main portion for opening and closing the flame aperture.

In preferred embodiments, the flame aperture is elongate and the upper burn surface of the brick member is dimensioned to extend under and beyond the full length and width of the flame aperture and in contact with the main portion of the cover, thereby to facilitate flame size limitation and flame position control and to provide a flame as broad as the flame aperture.

Preferably, the fuel-containment housing is elongate. It is also preferred that the brick member itself be elongate and approximating the length of the (preferably rectangular) housing. The housing and brick member can also be square, round or a variety of other shapes and sizes. The porous brick member is preferably dimensioned such that liquid fuel contacts the lateral surfaces of the brick member.

In highly preferred embodiments, the porous brick member has lateral surfaces. The fuel-containment housing includes a bottom surface with brick-positioning members affixed thereto in positions to engage the lateral surfaces of the brick member. It is highly preferable that the cover include an undersurface having a brick-engaging lip affixed thereto to engage the lateral surfaces of the brick member, thereby to facilitate flame position control.

In preferred embodiments, the main portion of the cover includes a fuel opening for refilling the fuel-containment housing. It is also preferred that the fuel opening includes an externally-threaded removable closure and a tube with an upper edge affixed to and substantially flush with the main portion of the cover. Preferably the fuel opening also includes a lower edge within the housing. The tube being internally-threaded for engagement with the closure.

It is highly preferred that the housing be a secondary containment vessel free of apertures to facilitate containment of spilled fuel, an advantage given the typical uses of ventless fireplace apparatus. To facilitate this, the housing upper edge projects above the fuel opening to facilitate containment of possible fuel spillage during filling. Preferably the liquid-fuel burner apparatus uses a fuel such as isopropanol and ethanol in a liquid form.

It is preferable that the liquid-fuel burner apparatus of this invention be dimensioned for removable use with a wall-unit or free-standing fireplace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment including the above-noted characteristics and features of the invention. The invention will be readily understood from the descriptions and drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid-fuel burner positioned in a wall-unit fireplace and having a brick member in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with the shutter fully open and having a directional arrow which indicates the movement of the shutter.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with the shutter fully open.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with the shutter partially open and having a directional arrow which indicates the movement of the shutter.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with the shutter closed and having a directional arrow which indicates the movement of the shutter.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1, showing among other things, the brick member, brick-positioning members and brick-engaging lip.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with the shutter open, showing among other things, fuel contacting the brick member.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with the shutter open.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with the shutter partially open, showing among other things, the brick member, brick-positioning members and brick-engaging lip.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with the shutter closed, showing among other things, the brick member, brick-positioning members and brick-engaging lip.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 showing use of a hooked tool for opening and closing the fuel opening.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a wall-unit fireplace with the liquid-fuel burner removed.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a free-standing fireplace with the liquid-fuel burner removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the figures, this invention is a liquid-fuel burner 10 with a porous brick member 12 for a fireplace 14 for liquid fuel 16. FIGS. 1 and 14 illustrate one such ventless fireplace, namely, a wall fireplace 14 in which liquid-fuel burner 10 is removably inserted in a space made to accommodate such apparatus. FIG. 15 illustrates that liquid-fuel burner can also be removably inserted into a free-standing fireplace 14.

The liquid-fuel burner 10 of this invention includes a fuel-containment housing 18 having walls 20 forming a housing upper edge 22 as seen in FIGS. 1-5. In some embodiments, a gasket member (not shown) may contact housing upper edge 22. The housing 18 is adapted for insertion of a porous, fuel-wicking brick member 12. Porous brick member 12 is inserted in housing 18, brick member 12 has a vertical dimension 24 extending from a lower surface 26 within housing 18 to an upper burn surface 28 at or near the level of the housing upper edge 22.

The porosity of brick member 12 is sufficient to support a continuous flame 30 at upper burn surface 28 with fuel 16 present in fuel-containment housing 18. Brick member 12 can be made of a variety of materials which are selected for certain features including open porosity and the ability/rate at which fuel 16 can be wicked. Mullite or other refractory materials with a similar open-wicking porosity are preferable for brick member 12.

Liquid-fuel burner 10 of this invention includes a cover 32 over housing 18 as seen in FIGS. 1-15. Cover 32 has a main portion 34 defining a flame aperture 36 over upper burn surface 28 of brick member 12 and a shutter member 38 movable with respect to the main portion 34 for opening and closing flame aperture 36. (In some embodiments, a gasket member (not shown) contacts main portion 34 of cover 32). Shutter member 38 is hinged to cover 32 as seen in FIGS. 2-5. A piano hinge or other type of hinge may be used for such purpose. FIGS. 2 and 4-5 illustrate the path shutter member 38 travels between an open to closed position and between a closed to open position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, flame aperture 36 is elongate and upper burn surface 28 of brick member 12 is dimensioned to extend under and beyond the full length and width of flame aperture 36 and in contact with the main portion 34 of cover 32. This facilitates flame 30 size limitation and flame 30 position control and provides a flame 30 as broad as the flame aperture 36. Brick member 12 can be dimensioned similar in shape to housing 18, however, this is not necessary. It is desirable (however, this is also not necessary) that there not be a gap between upper burn surface 28 or brick member 12 and cover 32.

As seen in FIGS. 1-6, fuel-containment housing 18 can be elongate. Fuel-containment housing 18 in alternate embodiments can be different shapes as seen in FIGS. 7-10.

Brick member 12 itself is preferably elongate and preferably approximates the length of the housing 18 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 11-12. It should be noted that housing 18 and brick member 12 can also be cylindrical, square, round or a variety of other shapes and sizes. In some embodiments housing 18 and brick member 12 are both round, in such embodiments cover 32 can be removably threaded onto and off of housing 18.

Porous brick member 12 is preferably dimensioned such that liquid fuel 16 contacts lateral surfaces 40 of brick member 12 as seen in FIG. 7. This allows brick member 12 to wick the liquid fuel 16 and thereby allow a continuous flame 30. FIG. 7 illustrates liquid fuel in housing 18 and also contacting brick member 12.

Porous brick member 12 has lateral surfaces 40 as shown in FIGS. 7-10. Fuel-containment housing 18 includes a bottom surface 42 with brick-positioning members 44 affixed thereto in positions to engage the lateral surfaces 40 of brick member 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 7-11. Cover 32 includes an undersurface 46 having a brick-engaging lip 48 affixed thereto to engage the lateral surfaces 40 of brick member 12, thereby to facilitate flame 30 position control as seen in FIGS. 6 and 12.

FIGS. 4-5 and 11-12 illustrate that main portion 34 of cover 32 includes a fuel opening 50 for refilling fuel-containment housing 18. Fuel opening 50 includes an externally-threaded removable closure 52 and a tube 54 with an upper edge 56 affixed to and substantially flush with the main portion 34 of cover 32 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 11-12.

Hooked hand tool 60, as shown in FIG. 13, can be used to open and close fuel opening 50 by removing and replacing closure 52, for easy fuel refilling. Preferably, fuel opening 50 also includes a lower edge 58 within housing 18. Tube 54 is internally-threaded for engagement with closure 52.

In preferred embodiments of this invention, hand tool 60 (shown in FIG. 13) facilitates hand-free operation and adjustment, thereby avoiding concerns about hand contact with hot objects. Tool 60 can also be used for scrapping possible residue off of housing 18 after use. Tool 60 can be manufactured in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and does not necessarily need to have a hooked shape.

As seen best in FIGS. 2-5, housing 18 also is a secondary containment vessel free of apertures to facilitate containment of spilled fuel, an advantage given the typical uses of ventless fireplace apparatus. To facilitate this, housing upper edge 22 projects above fuel opening 50 to facilitate containment of possible fuel spillage during filling. Housing 18 can have housing walls 20 which project upward and above the surface of cover 32. Housing upper edge 22 can also be shaped to have a lip 62 which hangs over housing walls 20 as seen in FIGS. 3-5 and 8-10. In alternate embodiments, lip 62 is not present as seen in FIGS. 2, 6-7 and 12.

Many types of liquid fuel 16 can be used for liquid-fuel apparatus 10. It is preferable that liquid-fuel burner apparatus 10 uses a fuel such as isopropanol and ethanol in a liquid form.

The apparatus 10 of this invention is preferably fabricated of metal, such as stainless steel or the like. Fabrication is primarily by welding, as is well-known in the art of ventless fireplaces. A wide variety of dimensioning is also possible, although it is highly preferred that the relatively large capacity of the housing 18 and the relatively small size of the flame aperture 36 be such as to provide a long burning time, i.e., a long time before the need arises to replenish the fuel in the fuel-containment housing 18.

While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A liquid-fuel burner apparatus comprising:

a fuel-containment housing having walls forming a housing upper edge, the fuel-containment housing being adapted for insertion of a porous, fuel-wicking brick member therein;

the porous brick member, when inserted in the housing, having a vertical dimension extending from a lower surface within the housing to an upper burn surface at or near the level of the housing upper edge, the porosity of the brick member being sufficient to support a continuous flame at the upper burn surface with fuel present in the fuel-containment housing; and

a cover over the housing, the cover having a main portion defining a flame aperture over the upper burn surface of the brick member and a shutter member movable with respect to the main portion for opening and closing the flame aperture.

2. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flame aperture is elongate and the upper burn surface of the brick member is dimensioned to extend under and beyond the full length and width of the flame aperture and in contact with the main portion of the cover, thereby to facilitate flame size limitation and flame position control and to provide a flame as broad as the flame aperture.

3. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 2 wherein the fuel-containment housing is elongate.

4. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shutter member is hinged to the main portion of the cover.

5. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the porous brick member has lateral surfaces;

the fuel-containment housing includes a bottom surface with brick-positioning members affixed thereto in positions to engage the lateral surfaces of the brick member; and

the cover includes an undersurface having a brick-engaging lip affixed thereto to engage the lateral surfaces of the brick member, thereby to facilitate flame position control.

6. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 5 wherein the porous brick member is dimensioned such that liquid fuel contacts the lateral surfaces of the brick member.

7. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main portion of the cover includes a fuel opening for refilling the fuel-containment housing.

8. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fuel opening includes:

an externally-threaded removable closure; and

a tube with an upper edge affixed to and substantially flush with the main portion of the cover and a lower edge within the housing, the tube being internally-threaded for engagement with the closure.

9. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 7 wherein the housing upper edge projects above the fuel opening thereby to facilitate containment of fuel spillage during filling.

10. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fuel is selected from the group consisting of isopropanol and ethanol in a liquid form.

11. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 1 wherein the liquid-fuel burner apparatus is dimensioned for removable use with a wall-unit fireplace.