Air Flow Path Between Exterior Surface Of Heat Exchanger And Facing Building Surface Patents (Class 126/528)
  • Patent number: 9488375
    Abstract: An adjustable circulating chamber for a fireplace insert having a rear wall including two linear sets of perforations forming two bendable side walls, and adapted such that the chamber can be adjusted to fit within fireplace inserts of differing dimensions and a top member including a linear set of perforations forming a flange portion thereon. The flange portion is adapted to be adjustably attached to the rear wall to thereby provide means to vary the height of the top member with respect to the rear wall. The top member further includes an oval-shaped opening therethrough and an adjustable flange member slidably mounted thereto and over the oval-shaped opening and having a circular opening therethrough, such that the oval-shaped opening and the adjustable flange member working together are adapted to receive, adjust, and fit fireplace flue pipes of differing dimensions to the fireplace insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Emmanuel Marcakis
  • Patent number: 7967008
    Abstract: A fireplace system having a fireplace cavity and a secondary combustion assembly disposed adjacent to a rear wall of the fireplace cavity. The secondary combustion assembly includes a plurality of combustion chambers configured to facilitate secondary combustion. A plurality of inlets are disposed in the rear wall of the fireplace cavity. One or more of the plurality of inlets are configured to provide fluid communication between the fireplace cavity and a respective one of the plurality of combustion chambers. An exhaust gas collection chamber is in fluid communication with at least the secondary combustion assembly. The exhaust gas collection chamber includes a vent configured to release exhaust gas into a chimney. An ambient air bypass aperture is disposed in a top baffle of the fireplace cavity. The ambient air bypass aperture is configured to divert at least a portion of ambient air entering the fireplace cavity into the exhaust gas collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Incendia IP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Ferguson, Derik K. Andors
  • Patent number: 6848441
    Abstract: A fireplace including a combustion chamber enclosure with an opening and an inner pane positioned to at least partially cover the opening of the combustion chamber. An outer pane is spaced apart from the inner pane, the outer pane and the inner pane creating a space through which air moves, the air cooling the outer pane. A blower may be provided to move the air through the space. The outer pane may be angled with respect to the inner pane to enhance air movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: HON Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bachinski, Gary Lee Butler, Emadeddin Y. Tanbour, Thomas Alfred Early, Timothy Wayne Johnson, David Charles Lyons, Robb Edward Bennett
  • Patent number: 6769426
    Abstract: A fireplace for concurrent use inside and outside of a structure includes a combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber, an inside opening, and an outside opening, wherein the combustion chamber is viewable from the inside of the structure through the inside opening and from the outside of the structure through the outside opening. The fireplace also includes a combustion air plenum system coupled to the combustion chamber enclosure to supply fresh air from the outside to the combustion chamber and an exhaust opening defined by the combustion chamber enclosure for exhausting exhaust air from the combustion chamber to the outside of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: HON Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Jane Catherine Fier, David Charles Lyons, Robb Edward Bennett
  • Patent number: 6601579
    Abstract: A fireplace for concurrent use inside and outside of a structure includes a combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber, an inside opening, and an outside opening, wherein the combustion chamber is viewable from the inside of the structure through the inside opening and from the outside of the structure through the outside opening. The fireplace also includes a combustion air plenum system coupled to the combustion chamber enclosure to supply fresh air from the outside to the combustion chamber and an exhaust opening defined by the combustion chamber enclosure for exhausting exhaust air from the combustion chamber to the outside of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: HON Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Jane Catherine Fier, David Charles Lyons, Robb Edward Bennett
  • Patent number: 6026805
    Abstract: A vent-free, gas fireplace for providing heat, light, and an aesthetic view includes an outer shell arranged with a top panel, front panel, rear panel, and left and right side panels and a combustion chamber positioned within the outer shell so as to define a plurality of air chambers. The combustion chamber is arranged with a primary combustion portion for initial combustion of the gas which is supplied to the fireplace and a secondary combustion portion which includes a catalytic converter and which is designed to bum the emissions from the primary combustion portion. The plurality of air chambers defined between the outer shell and combustion chamber include a rear chamber and a top chamber and positioned within the top chamber is a heat shield which defines an interior volume. The interior volume of the heat shield is in flow communication with the rear chamber so as to direct air through the heat shield and out into the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Monessen Hearth Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy J. Burch, Daniel E. Newman, Soong Jack Chow
  • Patent number: 5915375
    Abstract: A direct vent gas fireplace has a combustion air duct extending down the back wall, between the housing back wall and the fireplace back wall. It is located laterally between two cooling air ducts that lead from the cool air zones at the bottom outer corners of the housing to a cooling air plenum inside the top of the housing. Inside the cooling air plenum and the cooling air ducts are a room air plenum and room air circulating space for the circulation of room air to be heated. This provides a compact construction with adequate wall cooling without the need for additional thermal insulation. The top of the unit is oriented at an angle less than 45.degree., preferably 23.2.degree. to horizontal so that the exhaust and vent pipes can be arranged in a top vent or a back vent arrangement without the pipes projecting beyond the back of the fireplace unit in the top vent arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: R-Co Inc.
    Inventor: Russell E. Reyher
  • Patent number: 5906197
    Abstract: A vent free gas fireplace comprises a housing and a firebox within the housing spaced-apart from the housing walls to provide top, bottom, rear and side plenums. The side plenums are divided into upper and lower side plenums. Room air enters the lower side plenum and passes into the rear plenum, the combustion chamber and the upper side plenum. Exhaust gases pass from the combustion chamber through a catalytic converter and into the top plenum. The hot exhaust gases are combined with room air from the rear plenum and pass into the upper side plenums, combining with additional room air, and then out into the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Superior Fireplace Company
    Inventors: J. Timothy French, John R. Kelly, John M. Simonen, Samir E. Barudi
  • Patent number: 5738084
    Abstract: An unvented patio fireplace comprises a fireplace housing that has a front panel configured like an in room fireplace, and which fireplace housing is mounted onto a pedestal and base support for movement along a surface. The base support includes wheels and casters as desired for providing mobility. The base also supports a self contained fuel supply for supplying gas to a burner in the fireplace housing. Burner controls include an oxygen depletion sensor so that the unit can be unvented, and tilt sensors that will sense when the fireplace is tilted a selected amount to shut off the gas supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Hussong Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Dudley D. Hussong
  • Patent number: 5701882
    Abstract: A fireplace having a low density ceramic fiber duct with a first duct portion which promotes secondary combustion of unburned products of combustion and a second duct portion which removes products of combustion from the front of the combustion chamber. The ceramic fiber duct is positioned within the fireplace at a location along the flow path of the products of combustion that is intermediate the fireplace combustion chamber and flue. The first ceramic fiber duct portion includes a number of horizontally spaced and longitudinally extending circuitous, internal passageways which define the flow path as well as segregate the products of combustion. Due to their ceramic fiber construction, the passageways heat up quickly to promote secondary combustion of combustion products therein soon after fire ignition. In addition, the passageways are structured such that the combustion products must cover an extended exhaust path, which lengthens their stay within the heated passageways and promotes secondary combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: The Majestic Products Company
    Inventor: Mark R. Champion
  • Patent number: 5617842
    Abstract: A fireplace with a cooling air passageway within the fireplace housing that maintains the forward portion of the housing top wall cool during operation. The fireplace includes a combustion chamber, a flue, and an outer housing that encloses the combustion chamber. Plenums formed between the walls of the outer housing and the combustion chamber walls are used to circulate room air to keep the housing cool. Disposed within a forward portion of the upper plenum above the combustion chamber is a passageway constricting baffle. The baffle constricts the cross-sectional area of the upper plenum through which the cooling air flows and forces the cooling air flow upwardly against the underside of the housing outer top wall, thereby cooling this portion of the housing which typically is difficult to keep cool. The fireplace also includes a baffle which directs cooling air outlet from the upper plenum to a venturi passageway in communication with the flue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: The Majestic Products Company
    Inventor: Mark R. Champion
  • Patent number: 5485830
    Abstract: A gas fireplace assembly for connection to a venting system comprises an outer shell for installation in the interior space of a building with the venting system extending into the outer shell. A fireplace unit is insertable within the shell that includes a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber includes a removable platform supporting a burner unit to be secured within the combustion chamber. The existing venting system is connected to the combustion chamber. The foregoing arrangement permits easy conversion of the fireplace assembly to different styles of decorative burner units or from a decorative gas burner to an efficient heating fireplace system and vice versa in a simple and economical manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Inventor: Lothar Binzer
  • Patent number: 5339797
    Abstract: A fireplace having a bottom wall, inner top wall, two side walls and rear wall defines a combustion chamber having a front opening. An outer top wall is disposed above the inner top wall. The outer top wall and the inner top wall are disposed in spaced apart relationship relative to each other and define an air flow channel therebetween having an inlet. The outer top wall is an upper exterior surface of the fireplace and includes a first nozzle member. The inner top wall is an upper interior surface of the combustion chamber and includes a second nozzle member. A chimney flue is attached to the outer top wall. The first and second nozzle members are in fluid communication with the chimney flue and define a converging nozzle therebetween inducing a flow of cooling air in the air flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Majco Building Specialties, L.P.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Maitland
  • Patent number: 5313932
    Abstract: A fireplace has a manifold positioned between a combustion chamber and a flue. The manifold has a pair of inlets to supply dilution air to the flue, one extending from a front face of the fireplace, and the other from a rearward location. A baffle extends across the outlet of the manifold to prevent direct communication between the combustion chamber and flue. The inlet at the front face enables the flow of dilution air to be checked with the fireplace installed without having to accomodate the full flow of dilution air. The baffle prevents downdrafts from adversely affecting the combustion in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: 729819 Ontario Limited
    Inventors: Heinz H. Rieger, Colin Adamson
  • Patent number: 5263471
    Abstract: A high efficiency clean burning fireplace for burning solid fuels at pyrolytic temperatures is provided with refractory walls maintained about 1100.degree. Fahrenheit at different burning rates. A top wall of the combustion chamber includes an exhaust stack and a primary air heat exchanger having an exhaust manifold for discharging primary preheated combustion air down and across the inside surface of glass panels in the doors of the fireplace. A secondary air heat exchanger is mounted below the primary air heat exchanger and separated therefrom by a top refractory panel in the combustion chamber. The secondary air heat exchanger exhaust manifold is in the combustion chamber and discharges secondary combustion air across the top of the combustion chamber and into the primary combustion air creating a high turbulence and complete burning of the secondary production of combustion while heating the refractory walls above a pyrolytic temperature at different burning rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Inventors: Ronald J. Shimek, Daniel C. Shimek, James F. Wolf
  • Patent number: 5224650
    Abstract: A fireplace furnace heating system for a structure having a firebox for combustion of fuel, preferably coal. A heating unit is disposed proximately to, and preferably surrounds the firebox. Conduits carry interior air from remote locations to the heating unit. The heating unit is preferably a multi-walled, chambered structure to define numerous air passageways. Air delivered from the conduits to the heating unit must travel through the air passageways. The proximate disposition of the heating unit to the firebox heats the heating unit and the air travelling therethrough. The heating unit has vents for returning the heated air to the interior of the structure. A blower is included for forcible moving the air through the heating unit and back to the interior. Conduits are also provided for supplying fresh air from the exterior to the firebox to fully combust fuel in the firebox. A motorized blower is included to forcibly move the combustion air. Also included is a tempering tank for storing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: David Gozikowski
  • Patent number: 5191877
    Abstract: An insertable gas conversion unit for insertion into existing wood burning fireplaces comprises an insertable gas fireplace conversion unit having a fire box combustion chamber and a gas burner mounted therein. The combustion chamber is covered with a decorative glass door. The conversion unit comprises a first coupling unit which is connected to the chimney of the exhaust outlet of the existing fireplace and further comprises a second coupling unit which is connected to the exhaust gas outlet of said fire box of said conversion unit. Said first and second coupling units telescopically fit one into the other during the assembly and insertion of the gas fireplace unit in the existing wood burning fireplace so as to provide a gas fireplace conversion of a wood burning fireplace without requiring any custom fitting or parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Inventors: Ronald J. Shimek, Daniel C. Shimek
  • Patent number: 5076254
    Abstract: A zero clearance fireplace of the type adapted to be installed against an outside wall of an interior space or room to be heated is provided with six walls which comprise four substantially vertical walls, a top wall and a bottom wall at least two of said vertical walls having airtight glass side walls connected to the frame structure of the fireplace. The bottom wall, the vertical side wall and the top wall are provided with plenum structures which are inner connected to form a heat exchanger. The rear wall is provided with a vertical inner plenum in which outside fresh air is introduced and conducted into a bottom inner plenum below the combustion chamber of the fireplace to provide fresh outside air to the gas burner system in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Inventors: Ronald J. Shimek, Daniel C. Shimek, James F. Wolf
  • Patent number: 5016609
    Abstract: A zero clearance fireplace of the type adapted to be installed against an outside wall of an interior space or room to be heated is provided with six walls which comprise four substantially vertical walls, a top wall and a bottom wall at least two of said vertical walls having airtight glass side walls connected to the frame structure of the fireplace. The bottom wall, the vertical side wall and the top wall are provided with plenum structures which are inner connected to form a heat exchanger. The rear wall is provided with a vertical inner plenum in which outside fresh air is introduced and conducted into a bottom inner plenum below the combustion chamber of the fireplace to provide fresh outside air to the gas burner system in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventors: Ronald J. Shimek, Daniel C. Shimek, James F. Wolf