Draft Patents (Class 126/290)
  • Patent number: 8939141
    Abstract: An air flow modulating device comprising a flapper, a mount and a conduit. The conduit may be T-shaped and may be attached to an intake conduit of a sealed combustion condensing appliance, or other appliance having an air intake conduit, through a first portion of T-shaped conduit. The mount may be connected to a second portion of T-shaped conduit and the flapper may rotate between an open position and a closed position about an axle of the mount. The device operates to allow for a sealed combustion condensing appliance to immediately intake interior air when an exterior air source is obstructed, limited or reduced, or in response to changes in air pressure due to uncontrollable natural forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Gregory Krueger
  • Patent number: 8371286
    Abstract: A mechanical damper control can be used to regulate the temperature of a smoker, barbecue grill, or generally any stove chamber. The mechanical damper control includes a housing that can be coupled to an inlet or outlet of a stove chamber, either directly or using an adapter. A temperature responsive expandable member and a damper are coupled to each other, and to the housing. A damper adjustment can be manipulated to just close the damper at a point when the stove has reached a desired temperature. Further changes in the temperature of the stove chamber cause the expandable member to expand or contract, resulting in a corresponding opening or closing of the damper to maintain the stove chamber at a substantially constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventor: Michael McCown
  • Patent number: 8176911
    Abstract: A method to regulate overfire air passing through an overfire air duct and entering a flue gas stream in a combustion system including: directing overfire air into an inlet of the overfire air duct, passing the overfire air through the duct and discharging the overfire air into the flue gas stream in the combustion system; adjusting a flow rate of overfire air entering the inlet using a damper adjacent the inlet, and moving the damper parallel along an axis of the overfire air duct to increase and decrease the overfire air entering the inlet, wherein the damper has an open position at which the damper is extended out of the inlet and a closed position in which the damper is substantially in the inlet and blocking air entering the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Waltz, Quang H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7984709
    Abstract: A vent control for a grill. The vent control includes a panel and an actuator that is operatively connected to and which is able to move the panel so that it can control the draft of the grill. The operative connection between the panel and the apparatus includes interengagable teeth. The vent control is attached to a grill so that the panel is located adjacent a surface of the grill and the actuator protrudes through a hole in the grill and is manipulable by way of a control knob. In use, the panel is moved by the actuator so that it is able to regulate the draft of the grill. Preferably, the actuator includes a shaft that is provided with a drive member in the form of a toothed gear, while the panel includes a toothed rail or rack that is engagable with the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Vendor Development Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence P. Byrnes, Carlos E. Rodriguez, Han Yong Tang
  • Patent number: 7836878
    Abstract: An appliance heat isolation system for attachment to a vent hood has a mounting support with an upper mounting flange and a pair of curtain mounting rails that support the top side of a heat isolation curtain is disclosed. The curtain has front, back, right, left, top, and bottom sides. The upper mounting flange can be attached to the vent hood using screws, or chemically or mechanically adhered. There can be J-shaped channels at the ends of the inner and outer curtain mounting rails that the curtain mounting means engage. The curtain sides have flexible support members. The heat isolation curtain has an upper and lower panel of opaque washable fire resistant material and a middle panel of clear washable fire resistant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: Nazih S. Agha
  • Patent number: 7665458
    Abstract: A damper and overfire air duct in a combustion system having a combustion structure defining a flue gas passage, the damper and overfire air duct including: an inlet to the overfire air duct and an outlet to the duct discharging overfire air into the flue gas passage, and the damper aligned with an axis of the overfire air duct, and having an open position axially distal to the inlet and a closed position at least partially in the inlet and duct, wherein the damper is movable axially between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Waltz, Quang H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7472699
    Abstract: A damper regulator device for adjusting the orientation of a damper blade in an air transfer system, such as a duct, is disclosed. The regulator is coupled to an end portion, of a damper shaft, pivoting of a handle component of the regulator functioning to turn the shaft and hence the blade. The device is adjustable to accommodate damper shafts of different configurations and sizes without disassembly of the device by shifting the handle between one or another of a pair of slots disposed at disparate distances from the shaft. The shifting of the shaft between slots in effected by a channel extending between the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Duro Dyne Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen S. Martin, William J. Vasquez
  • Publication number: 20080283039
    Abstract: A damper and overfire air duct in a combustion system having a combustion structure defining a flue gas passage, the damper and overfire air duct including: an inlet to the overfire air duct and an outlet to the duct discharging overfire air into the flue gas passage, and the damper aligned with an axis of the overfire air duct, and having an open position axially distal to the inlet and a closed position at least partially in the inlet and duct, wherein the damper is movable axially between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Waltz, Quang H. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20080223355
    Abstract: There is provided a solid fuel stove having a burn chamber including at least one side wall and a firebox. The firebox is located a distance from the side wall. The firebox generates ash while burning solid fuel. At least one baffle contacts the firebox and the side wall. An amount of ash which escapes from the firebox is directed back to the firebox and the heat generated by the firebox will be readily concentrated because of the baffle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Western Tarheel Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: James Spencer
  • Patent number: 7373937
    Abstract: A draft control system and method can provide for automated control of the air drafting for heating systems. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary draft control system comprises at least one draft plate and a draft plate control system. Draft plate control system can comprise a control unit, one or more input devices, and one or more actuation systems. During operation, the control unit can receive a signal from an input device and use the actuation system to automatically adjust the amount of air intake by controlling movement of one or more draft plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: FPI Fireplace Products International Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert A. Little, George H. K. Lau, E. Wayne Thurber
  • Patent number: 6595199
    Abstract: A stove for solid fuel, with sensor controlled, motor driven adjustment means for respective different types of intake air and with a control unit which is programmable for selective control of the adjustment means in order to optimise the combustion under various operational conditions, in particular during a lighting up phase, an operative phase of high or low effect, a refiring phase, and a burn-out phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Morsø Jernstøberi A/S
    Inventors: Viggo Søren Andersen, Peter Pors Jessen Hansen
  • Publication number: 20010029943
    Abstract: A wood burning stove is provided. The combustion chamber in which the fire occurs has a baffle plate that is moveable to direct air flow through one of two different pathways from the combustion chamber to the chimney. When in a first position, the baffle plate forces the air and smoke to move through a first pathway; when in a second position, a by-pass pathway is opened, allowing air and smoke to move through a second pathway. The stove can have a door in the front wall, or the top wall, or both walls, to provide access to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Daniel S. Henry, Matthew Owings, Monte Jay Weaver, Brian L. Wallace
  • Patent number: 6145500
    Abstract: The heating device has a housing and a liquid containing compartment defined inside the housing. A heating chamber is disposed inside the housing and the compartment. A fire chamber is disposed inside the heating chamber that produces hot combustion gases. A separation channel is defined between an outer wall of the fire chamber and the outer wall of the heating chamber for conveying the air from the first air inlet into the heating chamber. The separation channel also creates an important insulation between the fire chamber and the compartment so that the combustion material in the fire chamber burns at a sufficiently high temperature to prevent the formation of tar accumulations on the inside walls of the various ducts. Also, the separation channel maintains a suitable temperature of the outer wall of the fire chamber to reduce the risk of cracking and to prolong the useful product life of the fire chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Sven-Erik Westerlund
  • Patent number: 6112741
    Abstract: A multi-category gaseous fuel-fired heating apparatus having a combustion chamber, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, and an induced draft blower in fluid communication with the mixing chamber whereby combustion air is drawn into the combustion chamber for combustion of the gaseous fuel and the flue gases are drawn from the combustion chamber through the mixing chamber and exhausted into either a high temperature flue gas vent or a low temperature flue gas vent. The mixing chamber includes a dilution air inlet which, in a high temperature vent mode of operation of the heating apparatus is sealed off by an orifice plate disposed between the mixing chamber and the induced draft blower, and in a low temperature vent mode, the dilution air inlet is open and a larger blower inlet orifice is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: George H. Stickford, Terry Merriman, Sherwood Talbert, Allen Rutz, James H. Saunders, David A. Ball, Jan Yates
  • Patent number: 6053163
    Abstract: A stovepipe thermoelectric generator. The unit fits in a stovepipe of a coal or wood stove. At least one thermoelectric module is sandwiched between a hot side fin unit with fins extending into the flow of exhaust gases and a cold side fin unit with fins cooled by forced room air. A damper controls exhaust gas flow through a heat chamber, directing the exhaust gas through a generating side and a bypass side depending on a temperature indication. This prevents heat damage to the thermoelectric module. At least one fan is provided to force room air through cooling fins of the cold side fin unit An electric circuit is described for providing power for the fan and providing additional electric power for purposes such as charging a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Hi-Z Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Bass
  • Patent number: 6041771
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel apparatus and method for automatically and dynamically regulating the intake of air into the combustion chamber of a heating unit such as a wood burning stove, furnace, or fireplace to ensure even and efficient burning of fuel. More particularly, this invention pertains to a method and apparatus that uses negative gas pressure in the heating unit's flue, and no additional temperature or pressure sensors, to automatically and dynamically control a damper regulating intake of air into the combustion chamber in inverse relation to changes in negative flue gas pressure. This method and apparatus are especially useful in combination with a heating unit having two combustion chambers, one chamber for combustion of solid fuel and a second chamber for further combustion of exhaust gases and other byproducts from combustion in the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Cecil Joseph Hayes
  • Patent number: 5974952
    Abstract: Cooking apparatus includes apparatus to support food to be cooked. A housing surrounds a portion of the support apparatus and defines a portal through which food may be passed into the housing. A fireplace is disposed in the housing to support a fire that produces heated gas for cooking food. The fireplace may include a solid fuel burning grate to support solid fuel used as a flavor enhancing substance to the food being cooked with the grate having a body with apertures through which hot coal is discharged. A hot coal supporting device is disposed beneath the grate to receive the hot coals discharged from the solid fuel burning grate and has a body with apertures through which ash is discharged. An ash bin is disposed beneath the hot coal supporting device to receive the discharged ash. A heated gas passageway is provided in the housing to place the heated gas in fluid communication with an environment outside of a building in which the housing is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Renato Riccio
  • Patent number: 5941230
    Abstract: A gas appliance, flue assembly, or vent adapter including an adjustable flow regulator which regulates the proportions and volume of dilution air and combustion products into the vent is disclosed. The flow regulator can be adjusted to allow a given appliance to exhaust vent gases through a range of different venting systems constructed from a wide range of materials. The appliance installer may adjust the appliance vent gases for a particular pre-existing or installed vent. The flow regulator also provides flow resistance which helps prevent backdrafting and the free escape of dilution air (which may be heated room air in some instances) through the vent to the outside atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Allen L. Rutz, James H. Saunders, Sherwood G. Talbert
  • Patent number: 5669373
    Abstract: The invention concerns a thermostatic air flow controller. Such flow controllers may be specially useful for controlling the intake of air to a heating stove. The controller has a main air passage with a set of matching register plates which may open or close the passage according to the influence from a temperature sensing element, which is placed in a secondary air passage. The controller according to the invention has this temperature sensing element placed close to the register plates and between those plates and a heat shield which guards the temperature sensing element from the influence of the temperature in the air receiving vessel. This configuration admits a very compact construction which is specially useful for mounting the flow controller on the intake opening of a heating stove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventor: Bj.o slashed.rn Kamp Gulddal
  • Patent number: 5255665
    Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank defining a water chamber, a combustion chamber located beneath the water chamber, a flue extending through the water chamber, having a lower end communicating with the combustion chamber, and having an upper end, and a power vent blower assembly including a blower having an inlet and an outlet, and a conduit adapted to communicate with the ambient atmosphere of the water heater, the conduit including a first end communicating with the upper end of the flue, a second end communicating with the blower inlet, and structure for mixing gases from the flue with air from the ambient atmosphere of the water heater, the mixing structure including a first projection extending inwardly and in the direction of gas flow through the conduit on one side of the conduit, and a second projection extending inwardly and in the direction of gas flow through the conduit on the other side of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: AOS Holding Company
    Inventor: Bradley N. Windon
  • Patent number: 4941451
    Abstract: A heater for the burning of wood or other similar fuels in a fire box. The fire box has a door at the front, there being a primary air inlet to the fire box above the door. The fire box also has a secondary air inlet at the rear and a tertiary inlet at the top. The heater has a double skin so that all air for the secondary and tertiary inlets passes between the two skins so that it is pre-heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Inventor: Richard J. Gilham
  • Patent number: 4909235
    Abstract: A cooking stove useful for all types of cooking, having a semi-conical outer housing and an inverted semi-conical firebox inserted therein. The firebox has a set of openings in its periphery towards the bottom portion thereof which the covered by a ring having similar openings which can be rotated to allow air to flow into the firebox or to prevent the flow of air into the firebox. The housing also has openings which allows air to flow into the area between the housing and the firebox. The interior of the firebox contains a fuel rack upon which fuel such as charcoal briquets or the like may be placed and ignited. The stove can be covered with a grill upon which food may be cooked, or other utensils may be placed on the stove such as wok, a Dutch oven, a steamer, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Inventor: Richard Boetcker
  • Patent number: 4846144
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a cooking range, especially suitable for mobile homes, which utilizes gas burners, where the exhaust gas draft is held substantially constant and the exhaust duct temperature is kept below a critical temperature by providing temperature-regulated cool air openings on the exhaust gas duct. Reliable regulation is accomplished by closures controlled by bimetallic springs positioned in a swivelable manner in the cool air openings so as to act on the closure flaps, and the closure action further improved by restoring springs exerting pressure on the outside of the closures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Cramer GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunter Krohn, Dietmar Kaselow
  • Patent number: 4793322
    Abstract: A zero clearance fireplace of the type to be installed inside of a building against or near an outside wall is provided. The box shaped fireplace is provided with four substantially vertical walls, a top wall and a bottom wall. The bottom wall comprises an inner plenum and an outer plenum below the combustion chamber. The rear wall comprises an outer plenum connected to the bottom plenum of the bottom wall, a middle plenum connected to a source of fresh air and connected to the inner plenum of the bottom wall and an inner plenum which is connected to a horizontal exhaust pipe which is inserted through the outside wall and is connected to the combustion chamber through a baffle arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Inventors: Ronald J. Shimek, Daniel C. Shimek
  • Patent number: 4777932
    Abstract: A barometric damper includes a swingably mounted damper blade having a first adjustable counterweight assembly lying in a common plane with the damper blade and mounted for rotation therewith. The torque arm mass loading can be varied. A second adjustable counterweight assembly coupled to the damper shaft adjusts the static control point of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Regenerative Environmental Equipment Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney L. Pennington
  • Patent number: 4766876
    Abstract: A wood stove is described having a firebox with a baffle mounted therein that extends forward from a rear wall terminating in a forward edge spaced from a front wall. The wood stove has a front opening with a door thereon that includes a window enabling visual observation of the fire in the fuel combustion chamber. Air is emitted into the front wall and is directed downward in a thin laminar flow over the glass to wash the glass and to create a flow of air and gases downward along the front wall, rearward along the bottom wall, upward along the back wall and forward along the baffle in somewhat of a circular flow. The firebox is mounted on a pedestal with a primary air supply means drawing air through the hollow pedestal to an intake within the hollow pedestal for directing air through a channel to the back wall. The back wall includes a diffuser plate for directing air into the fuel combustion chamber to wash the fuel from the rear to assist in primary combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Aladdin Steel Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Henry, G. Michael Hoteling
  • Patent number: 4651709
    Abstract: A stove to burn solid fuels, said stove comprising a combustion chamber with a front (13) with a fuel charging aperture (14) therein and a door (3) with a transparent viewing panel (33) therein mounted over the aperture (14), a baffle (15) dividing the interior of the combustion chamber into a primary combustion zone (A) and a secondary combustion zone (B), a closeable port (16) in the baffle (15) connecting the primary and secondary combustion zones, a combustion gas discharge port (17) to atmosphere from the secondary combustion zone, a gas screen (24) in the gas path between the primary and secondary combustion zones, the gas screen being constructed from materials that will glow at a temperature below the ignition temperature of combustion gases, primary and secondary combustion air inlets (22 and 30) discharging into the combustion zone adjacent a top edge of the door panel (33) and the gas screen (24) respectively, manually resettable temperature actuated flow control means (34) regulating the amount of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: Hellmut Schnetker
  • Patent number: 4643165
    Abstract: A firebox for a wood stove provides primary, secondary, and tertiary supplies of combustion air to the firebox. The primary supply of air enters from the front of the firebox and establishes a combustion flow downwardly to the fire. Smoke containing particulates and gases then rises from the fire to a flue opening through the top of the firebox. The secondary supply of air is added to the flow of smoke as it rises to combust particulates and gases in the smoke. The tertiary supply of air is then added to the flow of smoke in surrounding relationship to the smoke flow as it passes through a restriction opening, further combusting the smoke. The primary, secondary, and tertiary supplies of air enter the firebox through primary, secondary, and tertiary inlet ports, the cross-sectional areas of the ports being in the ratio of 2 to 1 to 1 to regulate the flow of air inward. The secondary and tertiary air supplies are preheated before being added to the combustion flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Inventor: Joseph G. Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 4608961
    Abstract: A damper control is employed in the exhaust duct of a bakery oven to maintain constant air mass flow through the duct during a baking cycle to ensure even baking conditions. The damper control can include a pitot tube from which velocity pressure can be derived, and a pneumatic or electronic control loop to move an exhaust damper in the exhaust duct as necessary to keep the velocity pressure constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Lanham Machinery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Lanham, Jr., Stephen R. Smith
  • Patent number: 4582045
    Abstract: A wood or coal burning heater or stove employing a catalytic combustor in its combustion chamber having a primary air supply which feeds air to the fuel, and a secondary air supply which feeds air directly to the catalytic combustor by means of an air diffuser which sprays air evenly over the undersurface of the catalytic combustor. Combustion gases from the burning fuel in the combustion chamber pass through the catalytic combustor to a heat exchanger and then to an exhaust flue. The primary and secondary air supplies are simultaneously controlled so that maximum primary air and reduced secondary air are supplied when maximum heat is demanded, and reduced primary air and maximum secondary air are supplied when minimum heat is demanded. The ratio of primary to secondary air is precisely controlled to maximize overall heating efficiency consonant with high BTU output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Inventors: Warren G. Dorau, Colin C. Handeyside, Lynn N. Kramar
  • Patent number: 4580546
    Abstract: A catalytic stove comprised of a housing having a fuel burning chamber and an effluent chamber separated by a domed common wall. An air inlet port is located in the fuel burning chamber and draft air is introduced to burning fuel through an apertured thermal control unit which detects changes in stove temperature. A closure flap is rotatable across the aperture. The thermal control unit, the flap and the aperture cooperate to ensure that the effective area of the aperture changes by an amount approximately proportional to the square of the magnitude of any change in the stove temperature detected by the thermal control unit. Effluent from the fuel flows substantially directly and smoothly from the fuel to a finned holder at the top of the domed wall. The fins then create turbulence in the combustible gases emanating from the burning fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Condar Co.
    Inventor: Stockton G. Barnett
  • Patent number: 4556044
    Abstract: A stove for burning wood, coal and other fuels comprised of flammable solids that among other things produce one or more flammable gases when heating or burning. The preferred form of the stove has three modes of operation--a rapid burning mode, a normal or medium burning mode and a banked mode. The user makes a preliminary decision as to whether the stove is to be operated in its normal mode or banked mode. Thereafter, controlled by temperature responsive means, the stove moves itself fully automatically back and forth from the rapid burning mode to whichever one of the other two modes of operation has been preselected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Inventors: Gerald H. Barsness, Richard A. Kleine
  • Patent number: 4510917
    Abstract: A downdraft furnace comprises a combustion component associated with a heat exchange component. The combustion component includes a fuel chamber, a primary combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber operatively interconnected by a constricting throat opening. Log support structure is provided to carry split logs and at an angle of approximately thirty degrees from the horizontal. The support structure and the logs define a primary air flow passage directed toward the throat opening through which primary air flow is directed at the bottom portions of the fuel segments. The inlet includes closure means to restrict and vertically vary slightly the path of primary air flow. Passage means are provided to introduce secondary air directly at the throat opening. The inlet includes closure means to restrict and vertically slightly vary the path of primary air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Inventor: Paul Runquist
  • Patent number: 4502464
    Abstract: This invention is for a stove having a cylindrical body with holes circumferentially disposed on the sides thereof and which holes gradually increase in number and in size towards the top thereof. The cylindrical body has an open top and a bottom wall and supported by legs at the bottom thereof. Disposed within the cylindrical body and spaced from the bottom wall are vertically spaced apart plates, the upper of said plates being perforated and both plates are connected to a central downwardly extending short cylinder communicating with the space above the bottom wall which has primary inlet openings with an adjustable rotatable plate for opening said primary inlet opening. Resting on the short cylinder is the vertical cylindrical screen, and at the top of said cylindrical body is a cover which has a flame opening defined by a short upwardly and downwardly protruding short cylinder. At the bottom of said cover is suspended a fuel top shield with a central opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Inventor: Alberto A. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 4485800
    Abstract: A firebox for a stove is defined by top, bottom, side and end walls and employs a loading door in one of the end walls. A main draft opening associated with an adjustable damper control is provided adjacent the lower portion of the firebox and an auxiliary draft opening associated with an adjustable damper control is provided adjacent the top portion of the firebox. In a preferred arrangement the main and auxiliary draft openings are disposed adjacent one of the end walls. Also, in a preferred arrangement, the auxiliary draft opening is disposed upwardly within at least the upper one-third of the firebox. The particular structure of the stove facilitates good combustion for heating but at the same time provides an efficient shut-down condition that will maintain a small holding fire without causing creosote to build up in the flue. The main draft opening is associated with a movable door arranged to be forced open in the event of pressure being developed in the firebox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Inventor: Robert L. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 4474165
    Abstract: An improved cooking oven having two flat surfaces covered by an enclosure. One of the flat surfaces serves as a base on which the enclosure rests and on which both fuel to be burned and food to be cooked are placed. The second of the flat surfaces, which is substantially parallel to and positioned above the flat surface that acts as the base, serves as a baffle to control the flow of combustion products from the burning fuel through the enclosure and as an additional cooking surface. Three openings in the wall of the enclosure are provided; two of which are used for passage of food and fuel therethrough. The third opening serves as a flue and provides a path through which combustion products from the burning fuel escape from the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Inventor: Robert T. Richardson
  • Patent number: 4461275
    Abstract: A thermostatically actuated arrangement for controlling opening and closing movement of the damper of a wood burning stove includes a duct arrangement extending through the combustion chamber of the stove between an air intake end opening through the stove housing at a location in the lower portion thereof and a discharge end opening through the stove housing at a location upwardly spaced from the intake end, for passage of ambient air through the duct arrangement for radiant heating thereof during burning of wood in the stove to create a continuous convective flow of heated air from the intake end to the discharge end, and a sensitive bimetallic spring disposed to receive the convective air flow from the duct arrangement at its discharge end and operably associated with the damper of the stove for actuating opening and closing movements thereof in response to decreases and increases in the temperature of the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Inventor: Charles D. Lucas
  • Patent number: 4461242
    Abstract: The wood burning water heating means of the present invention utilizes a firebox having a grate adjacent the lower end and a flue opening positioned downward from the upper end thereof. The flue extends into the firebox so as to deflect rising hot gases prior to their exit through the flue opening. A main draft opening provides communication of air below the grate to provide oxygen for the fire. A secondary draft opening is provided above the grate for introducing air in such a manner that oxygen will be provided immediately below the flue to facilitate combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Assignee: Northern Leader, Inc.
    Inventor: Milton W. Black
  • Patent number: 4457294
    Abstract: A control regulates the rate of flow of combustion air flowing into an airtight stove or furnace10 containing a fire. A control element 15 or 45 is arranged in communication with the air inflow stream and moves in response to the velocity of the flowing air. The control element 15 or 45 moves to constrict the area of the inflow stream as air velocity increases and to open the area of the inflow stream as air velocity diminishes. Springs 25 and 26 or 60-62 bias the control element toward a maximum opening, and the spring bias is non-linear to provide increasing resistance to movement as the control element approaches a closed position. The spring bias system is preferably adjustable to vary the air inflow rate that is otherwise kept steady by the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Inventor: Edward H. Cumpston
  • Patent number: 4455995
    Abstract: A circulating air wood burning heating stove/fireplace combination has a combustion chamber that is in the form of a shell defined by inner walls of the stove and a rearwardly disposed air outlet manifold. Spaced outer auxiliary back and top walls and the corresponding shell walls form therebetween air passages through which ambient air is recirculated into the room over the manifold. The manifold is provided with a plurality of spaced heat conductive metal strips disposed about its periphery. Several manifold embodiments include one or more finned air heating conduits which extend therethrough. A blower fan or pair of blower fans are used to circulate air through the air passages and in heat transfer relationship to the manifold. A valve, damper, and linkage control arrangement regulate the heat output and may be used upon starting of the fire to clear a column of cold air from the flue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Inventor: Matthew W. Homolik
  • Patent number: 4434781
    Abstract: A barbecue grill unit which includes thermally actuated dampers and insulated walls to conserve heat during its operation. The dampers are of the laminated bimetallic type which progressively open in direct proportion to the heat generated by burner. This limits the amount of air entering the grill which must be heated yet affords efficient combustion. A vent in the back wall of the cover also maximizes heat usage before the heated air is expelled from the grill unit. Preferably, the barbecue grill unit is of the gas-burning type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Inventor: Walter Koziol
  • Patent number: 4434782
    Abstract: A combination furnace including a solid fuel burning section and an electrically powered heating section. The two sections are disposed within an upright, insulated casing. A heat exchanger is provided above a fire box which constitutes the fuel-burning section. Dampers control the flow of combustion air to the fire box and the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Inventor: Joseph P. Traeger
  • Patent number: 4432335
    Abstract: A stove apparatus which is designed to achieve relatively complete combustion of solid fuel such as wood or coal. A combustion chamber is defined by a connected wall housing and includes a primary flue opening at an upper rear portion thereof. Primary combustion air enters into the forward portion of the combustion chamber and the resultant combustion gases are deflected from normally passing to the chimney via the primary exit flue by means of a downwardly extending baffle which creates an increased temperature exit zone adjacent thereto. A device for introducing secondary combustion directly into said exit zone is provided so as to insure more complete combustion and reduce the amount of tars, i.e., creosote, produced in the combustion process. In addition, an unique device for regulating the amount and the combustion chamber is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Inventor: Peter Kilham
  • Patent number: 4430985
    Abstract: A charcoal cooker comprising a vessel having a lid providing for access to the interior of the vessel, a removable rack for supporting food during a cooking operation, a fire box adjustably disposed within the vessel and spaced below the rack for supplying heat during the cooking operation, and thermostatically actuated valves provided for the vessel and responsive to the internal temperatures in the cooker for alternately opening and closing to automatically maintain a preselected temperature within the vessel during an entire cooking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Inventor: Robert C. Huneycutt
  • Patent number: 4426992
    Abstract: A free standing stove is provided which includes a firebox for initiating the combustion of fuel, and a secondary combustion chamber for continuing the combustion. A first conduit is provided for conveying air through a draft inlet damper and into the firebox. A second conduit is provided for conveying air into the secondary combustion chamber. A third conduit conveys the gasses of combustion from the secondary combustion chamber and out of the stove. A fourth conduit may also be included which would be mounted in thermal contact with the third conduit, the fourth conduit including a lower end and an upper end and being adapted to receive ambient air in its lower end and warm the air prior to discharging it out of the upper end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Inventor: Donald S. Martenson
  • Patent number: 4409956
    Abstract: A thermostat for a stove is disclosed. The thermal control unit is contained in a housing which has an aperture formed therein and includes a thermal control unit for detecting changes in the temperature of the stove. A flap is secured to the housing and is rotatable across the aperture so as to cover the aperture to any desired degree. The thermal control unit controls the position of the flap to control the effective area of the aperture, thereby to control the amount of air supplied to the stove. The thermal control unit, the flap and the aperture cooperate to ensure that the effective area of the aperture changes by an amount approximately proportional to the square of the magnitude of any change in the stove temperature detected by the thermal control unit. The thermal control unit may preferably comprise a bimetallic coil or a liquid expansion thermometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Inventor: Stockton G. Barnett
  • Patent number: 4407265
    Abstract: A wood stove has primary and secondary air regulator doors at the bottom and top, respectively, of the stove door each rotating about the axis of a tightening knob in the center of the door opposite a baffle plate that defines with the door inside an air channel open at the top and bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Energy Harvesters Corporation
    Inventor: Paul E. Brefka
  • Patent number: 4387700
    Abstract: A stove having automatic chimney air flow compensation for reductions in air flow to its combustion chamber is disclosed. An increase or decrease in compensatory air flow is dependent upon the movement of ganged dampers. The amount of compensatory chimney air flow is dependent upon the size and/or position of apertures and blocking portions formed respectively in the ganged dampers. The dampers can be configured, as appropriate, and thereby tuned, to be particularly responsive to local conditions.The stove is provided with a conduit positioned to provide a source of fresh air. The conduit is clamped to the stove to heat the air flowing therein and thereby prevent exhaust gas condensation and creosote buildup when it rises in and from the chimney.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Inventor: Merritt J. Eggleston
  • Patent number: 4385620
    Abstract: The wood burning heating means of the present invention utilizes a firebox having a grate adjacent the lower end and a flue opening adjacent the upper end thereof. A baffle is positioned immediately below the flue opening in such a manner as to deflect rising hot gases prior to their exit through the flue opening. A main draft opening provides communicaton of air below the grate to provide oxygen for the fire. A secondary draft opening is provided above the grate for introducing air in such a manner that oxygen will be provided immediately below the baffle to facilitate combustion of the gases which have accumulated adjacent the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1983
    Inventor: Milton W. Black
  • Patent number: RE37389
    Abstract: A gas appliance, flue assembly, or vent adapter including an adjustable flow regulator which regulates the proportions and volume of dilution air and combustion products into the vent is disclosed. The flow regulator can be adjusted to allow a given appliance to exhaust vent gases through a range of different venting systems constructed from a wide range of materials. The appliance installer may adjust the appliance vent gases for a particular pre-existing or installed vent. The flow regulator also provides flow resistance which helps prevent backdrafting and the free escape of dilution air (which may be heated room air in some instances) through the vent to the outside atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Allen L. Rutz, James H. Saunders, Sherwood G. Talbert