Claims
- 1. A fireplace for combusting fuel comprising:
- a combustion chamber whereat the fuel is combusted and products of combustion are created, said combustion chamber comprising an opening through which combustion air is introduced;
- a flue positioned in a first direction from said combustion chamber for exhausting the products of combustion; and
- a ceramic fiber duct, positioned directly above said combustion chamber and below said flue, for promoting additional combusting of unburned products of combustion, said ceramic fiber duct comprising a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and at least one internal passageway connecting said inlet and said outlet and defining a flow path for the products of combustion, wherein along at least a portion of its length said internal passageway is defined by surfaces consisting of ceramic fiber in direct contact with the products of combustion, and wherein at least a segment of said at least one internal passageway is arranged such that said flow path defined thereby is oriented at an angle from said first direction, said ceramic fiber duct comprising a lower baffle defining at least a portion of the bottom of said at least one internal passageway, and wherein said duct is positioned above said combustion chamber such that said lower baffle is exposed within said combustion chamber to be heated by the products of combustion.
- 2. A fireplace for combusting fuel comprising:
- a combustion chamber whereat the fuel is combusted and products of combustion are created, said combustion chamber comprising an opening through which combustion air is introduced;
- a flue positioned in a first direction from said combustion chamber for exhausting the products of combustion; and
- a ceramic fiber duct positioned intermediate said combustion chamber and said flue, for promoting additional combusting of unburned products of combustion, said ceramic fiber duct comprising a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and at least one internal passageway connecting said inlet and said outlet and defining a flow path for the products of combustion, wherein along at least a portion of its length said internal passageway is defined by surfaces consisting of ceramic fiber in direct contact with the product of combustion, and wherein at least a segment of said at least one internal passageway is arranged such that said flow path defined thereby is oriented at an angle from said first direction, said ceramic fiber duct comprising a lower baffle defining at least a portion of the bottom of said at least one internal passageway, wherein said duct is positioned above said combustion chamber, wherein said combustion chamber comprises a top wall and opposing side walls, and wherein said lower baffle protrudes into said combustion chamber below said top wall and between said opposing side walls.
- 3. The fireplace of claim 2 wherein said ceramic fiber duct comprises an upper baffle in spaced apart relationship with said lower baffle, said upper baffle defining at least a portion of the top of said at least one internal passageway.
- 4. A fireplace for combusting fuel comprising:
- a combustion chamber whereat the fuel is combusted and products of combustion are created, said combustion chamber comprising an opening through which combustion air is introduced;
- a flue positioned for exhausting the products of combustion; and
- a ceramic fiber duct, positioned intermediate said combustion chamber and said flue, for promoting additional combusting of unburned products of combustion, said ceramic fiber duct comprising a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and at least one internal passageway connecting said inlet and said outlet and defining a flow path for the products of combustion, said combustion chamber comprising a back portion and a front portion, wherein said front portion is disposed forward of said back portion whereby said front portion is intermediate said combustion chamber back portion and an interior of a room in which the fireplace is located when installed, the fireplace further comprising a second ceramic fiber duct for removing products of combustion from the front portion of said combustion chamber, said second ceramic fiber duct positioned forward of said at least one internal passageway.
- 5. A fireplace for combusting fuel comprising:
- a combustion chamber whereat the fuel is combusted and products of combustion are created, said combustion chamber comprising an opening through which combustion air is introduced;
- a flue positioned for exhausting the products of combustion;
- a low density ceramic duct positioned intermediate said combustion chamber and said flue, said ceramic duct comprising a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and at least one circuitous passageway connecting said inlet and said outlet for extending the exhaust travel path of the products of combustion between said combustion chamber and said flue to promote additional combusting of unburned products of combustion, wherein said duct comprises a lower baffle, an upper baffle, and sides respectively defining at least a portion of the bottom surface, top surface and side surfaces of said at least one passageway, and wherein along at least a segment of said at least one passageway said lower baffle and said sides each comprise ceramic in direct contact with the products of combustion, said lower baffle is positioned above said combustion chamber, wherein said lower baffle comprises an arcuate forward region defining an upward bend in said at least one circuitous passageway.
- 6. The fireplace of claim 5 wherein said lower baffle transversely extends at least a portion of the width of said combustion chamber, and wherein said ceramic duct comprises a plurality of longitudinal divider plates horizontally spaced apart along an upper surface of said lower baffle, said divider plates defining the sides of a plurality of circuitous passageways.
- 7. A fireplace for combusting fuel comprising:
- a combustion chamber whereat the fuel is combusted and products of combustion are created, said combustion chamber comprising an opening through which combustion air is introduce;
- a flue positioned for exhausting the products of combustion;
- a low density ceramic duct positioned intermediate said combustion chamber and said flue said ceramic duct comprising a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and at least one circuitous passageway connecting said inlet and said outlet for extending the exhaust travel path of the products of combustion between said combustion chamber and said flue to promote additional combusting of unburned products of combustion, wherein said duct comprises a lower baffle, an upper baffle, and sides respectively defining at least a portion of the bottom surface, top surface and side surfaces of said at least one passageway, and wherein along at least a segment of said at least one passageway said lower baffle and said sides each comprise ceramic in direct contact with the products of combustion, said combustion chamber comprises a back portion and a front portion, wherein said front portion is disposed forward of said back portion whereby said front portion is intermediate said combustion chamber back portion and an interior of a room in which the fireplace is located when installed, the fireplace further comprising a second ceramic duct for removing products of combustion from the front portion of said combustion chamber, said second ceramic duct positioned forward of said at least one circuitous passageway.
- 8. A fireplace for combusting fuel comprising:
- a combustion chamber whereat the fuel is combusted and products of combustion are created, said combustion chamber further comprising an opening through which combustion air is introduced and a width having a central portion and lateral portions, wherein the products of combustion generally have a different heat content at the central width portion than at the lateral width portions;
- a flue positioned in a first direction from said combustion chamber for exhausting the products of combustion;
- a ceramic duct, positioned intermediate said combustion chamber and said flue, for extending the exhaust travel path of the products of combustion to promote additional combusting of unburned products of combustion, said ceramic duct comprising a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and a plurality of horizontally spaced and longitudinally extending passageway connecting said inlet and said outlet and segregating the products of combustion, wherein said passageways are separated by generally vertically arranged divider plates comprising ceramic, wherein at least a segment of each of said passageways is oriented at an angle from said first direction, whereby the products of combustion from the central width portion of said combustion chamber enter at least one of said passageways and are thereby segregated from the products of combustion from the lateral width portions of said combustion chamber that enter other of said passageways, said combustion chamber comprising a back portion and a front portion, wherein said front portion is disposed forward of said back portion whereby said front portion is intermediate said combustion chamber back portion and an interior of a room in which the fireplace is located when installed, the fireplace further comprising a second ceramic duct for removing products of combustion from the front portion of said combustion chamber, said second ceramic duct positioned forward of said plurality of horizontally spaced and longitudinally extending passageways.
- 9. A fireplace for combusting fuel comprising:
- a combustion chamber whereat the fuel is combusted and products of combustion are created, said combustion chamber further comprising an opening through which combustion air is introduced, wherein said combustion chamber further comprises a back portion and a front portion, wherein said front portion is disposed forward of said back portion whereby said front portion is intermediate said combustion chamber back portion and an interior of a room in which the fireplace is located when installed;
- a flue positioned for exhausting the products of combustion;
- a first duct, positioned intermediate said combustion chamber and said flue, for removing products of combustion from the back portion of said combustion chamber, said first duct comprising a ceramic construction and a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and a passageway connecting said inlet and said outlet;
- a second duct, disposed forward of said ceramic first duct and positioned intermediate said combustion chamber and said flue, for removing products of combustion from the front portion of said combustion chamber, said second duct comprising a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and a passageway connecting said inlet and said outlet; and
- a venturi passageway disposed intermediate said second duct and said flue along the combustion products flow path, said venturi passageway comprising an entry aperture within a low pressure region at an upstream end through which combustion products and room air are introduced, wherein said entry aperture is positioned proximate said second duct products of combustion outlet such that products of combustion are drawn through said second duct passageway and into said venturi passageway.
- 10. The fireplace of claim 9 wherein said fireplace further comprises a combustion chamber housing including a top shell member, and a plenum disposed between said top shell member and said combustion chamber and through which room air passes, said plenum comprising an air outlet forward of said entry aperture, wherein said entry aperture is positioned proximate said air outlet such that air is drawn rearwardly therefrom and into said venturi passageway.
- 11. A fireplace for combusting fuel comprising:
- a combustion chamber whereat the fuel is combusted and products of combustion are created, said combustion chamber comprising an opening through which combustion air is introduced, wherein said combustion chamber comprises a back portion and a front portion, wherein said front portion is disposed forward of said back portion whereby said front portion is intermediate said combustion chamber back portion and an interior of a room in which the fireplace is located when installed;
- a flue positioned for exhausting the products of combustion;
- a ceramic fiber duct, positioned intermediate said combustion chamber and said flue, for promoting additional combusting of unburned products of combustion, said ceramic fiber duct comprising a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and at least one internal passageway connecting said inlet and said outlet and defining a flow path for the products of combustion; and
- a second ceramic fiber duct for removing products of combustion from the front portion of said combustion chamber, said second ceramic fiber duct positioned forward of said at least one internal passageway.
- 12. A fireplace for combusting fuel comprising:
- a combustion chamber whereat the fuel is combusted and products of combustion are created, said combustion chamber comprising an opening through which combustion air is introduced, wherein said combustion chamber comprises a back portion and a front portion, wherein said front portion is disposed forward of said back portion whereby said front portion is intermediate said combustion chamber back portion and an interior of a room in which the fireplace is located when installed;
- a flue positioned for exhausting the products of combustion;
- a low density ceramic duct, positioned intermediate said combustion chamber and said flue, for extending the exhaust travel path of the products of combustion to promote additional combusting of unburned products of combustion, said ceramic duct comprising a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and at least one circuitous passageway connecting said inlet and said outlet; and
- a second ceramic duct for removing products of combustion from the front portion of said combustion chamber, said second ceramic duct positioned forward of said at least one circuitous passageway.
- 13. A fireplace for combusting fuel comprising:
- a combustion chamber whereat the fuel is combusted and products of combustion are created, said combustion chamber further comprising an opening through which combustion air is introduced and a width having a central portion and lateral portions, wherein the products of combustion generally have a different heat content at the central width portion than at the lateral width portions, wherein said combustion chamber comprises a back portion and a front portion, wherein said front portion is disposed forward of said back portion whereby said front portion is intermediate said combustion chamber back portion and an interior of a room in which the fireplace is located when installed;
- a flue positioned for exhausting the products of combustion;
- a ceramic duct, positioned intermediate said combustion chamber and said flue, for extending the exhaust travel path of the products of combustion to promote additional combusting of unburned products of combustion, said ceramic duct comprising a products of combustion inlet, a products of combustion outlet, and a plurality of horizontally spaced and longitudinally extending passageways connecting said inlet and said outlet and segregating the products of combustion, whereby the products of combustion from the central width portion of said combustion chamber enter at least one of said passageways and are thereby segregated from the products of combustion from the lateral width portions of said combustion chamber that enter other of said passageways; and
- a second ceramic duct for removing products of combustion from the front portion of said combustion chamber, said second ceramic duct positioned forward of said plurality of horizontally spaced and longitudinally extending passageways.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/202,785, filed Feb. 28, 1994 abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3705153 |
Sep 1988 |
DEX |
4204752 |
Aug 1993 |
DEX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
202785 |
Feb 1994 |
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