Patent Application
20050076903
The present invention relates to a multi-functional fireplace apparatus.
Multifunctional fireplaces are known in the art. Such multifunctional fireplaces include both heating and air conditioning apparatuses.
It is difficult to repair complex multifunctional fireplaces since it is not simple for the common owner to gain access to the internal contents of these fireplaces.
Gas fireplaces are also well known in the art.
While a variety of conventional gas fireplaces can be used for heating, gas fired fireplaces having a rated input of more than 8.5 kW (30,000 BTU/h), have a decorative flame that produces radiant heat which renders the room in which they are installed uncomfortable. As such, it is preferable to limit these fireplaces to less than 7.0 kW (25,000 BTU/h).
Moreover, since the decorative flame of the fireplace is visible, when operated as a heat source, the fireplace's flame appears without warning following a request for heat by a thermostat. This may be cause for alarm by the dwelling occupant. Therefore, it is inconvenient to use the decorative flame as a source of heat.
There thus remains a need for an improved fireplace.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved fireplace.
More specifically in accordance with the present invention there is provided a fireplace comprising:
In an embodiment, the fluid conduit is mounted to a top portion of the firebox.
In an embodiment, the fluid conduit comprises a combustion-air conduit and a flue gas conduit.
In an embodiment, the housing comprises a combustion-air-conduit portion, the conduit portion being contiguous with the combustion-air conduit of the firebox when the firebox is mounted within the housing.
In an embodiment, the fireplace further comprises a conduit-connector for connecting the flue gas conduit together with the exhaust conduit when the firebox is mounted within the housing.
In an embodiment, the flue-gas and exhaust conduits comprise respective collars, the conduit-connector comprising flange portions being mountable to the respective collars.
In an embodiment, the housing comprises a combustion-air conduit portion, an auxiliary conduit-connector connecting the housing combustion-air conduit portion together with the firebox combustion-air conduit when the firebox is mounted within the housing
In an embodiment, the firebox combustion-air conduit surrounds the flue gas conduit, the housing combustion-air conduit portion surrounding the exhaust conduit.
In an embodiment, the fireplace further comprises a door providing access to the exhaust conduit and the fluid conduit.
In an embodiment, the door is positioned above the firebox.
In an embodiment, the door is a grid for allowing heat to exude therefrom.
In an embodiment, the firebox comprises rollers to be rolled in and out of the housing.
In an embodiment, the rollers are mounded to a bottom portion of the firebox.
In an embodiment, the firebox comprises guide members to be guided in and out of the housing.
In an embodiment, the guide members are mounded to a bottom portion of the firebox.
In an embodiment, the firebox is mounted to a sliding assembly for being slid in and out of the housing.
In an embodiment, the sliding assembly comprises a base member, a median member configured to be guided along the length of the base member, the firebox member comprising a stand being configured to be guided along the length of the median member.
In an embodiment, the firebox further comprises a burner.
In an embodiment, the burner is a gas burner.
In an alternative embodiment, the burner is an electric heating element.
In an embodiment, the burner is an ambience burner for producing a decorative flame.
In an embodiment, the ambience burner exudes only minimal heat for producing the decorative flame.
In an embodiment, the fireplace further comprises a secondary burner.
In an embodiment, the secondary burner is a gas burner.
In an alternative embodiment, the secondary burner is an electric heating element.
In an embodiment, the secondary burner is a heater burner for producing heat.
In an embodiment, the heater burner is independently modulated from the ambience burner.
In an embodiment, the firebox comprises a combustion chamber, the combustion chamber comprising the secondary burner, the secondary burner being a heater burner.
In an embodiment, the firebox defines a flame chamber, the flame chamber and the combustion chamber being separate, the flame chamber comprising the burner, the burner being an ambience burner for producing a decorative flame.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fireplace comprising:
In an embodiment, the ambience burner is a gas burner.
In an alternative embodiment, the ambience burner is an electric heating element.
In an embodiment, the heater burner is a gas burner.
In an alternative embodiment, the heater burner is an electric heating element.
In an embodiment, the ambience burner exudes only minimal heat in order to produce the ambience flame.
In an embodiment, the heater burner is independent of the ambience burner.
In an embodiment, both the ambience and heater burners are positioned within a chamber defined by the firebox.
In an embodiment, the firebox defines a flame-chamber including the ambience burner and comprises a separate combustion chamber including the heater burner.
In an embodiment, the ambience and heater burners are placed in tandem.
In an embodiment, the fireplace further compriese a combustion chamber including the heater-burner.
In an embodiment, the housing comprises a combustion chamber, the heater burner being positioned within the combustion chamber.
In an embodiment the fireplace further comprises a plurality of heater burners.
In an embodiment, the ambience burner and each of the heater burners are independently modulated from one another.
In an embodiment, the fireplace further comprises heat-conduits for the passage of heat produced by the heater burner.
In an embodiment, the heat-conduits are branched to a various rooms of a dwelling.
In an embodiment, the fireplace further comprises a ventilator for accelerating the flow of exuded heat.
In an embodiment, the ventilator is linked to a controller, a senor being positioned at a heat output and being linked to the controller, the controller receiving temperature data from the sensor and controlling the ventilator to accelerate the flow of heat accordingly so as to reach a temperature determined by the controller.
In an embodiment, the fireplace further comprises an air conditioner.
In an embodiment, the fireplace further comprises:
In an embodiment, the air bypass assembly comprises a shield moveable between open and closed positions, the shield providing for air produced by the air conditioner to flow through the air-output when in the open position thus bypassing the heat exchanger.
In an embodiment, the fireplace further comprises a ventilator for accelerating the flow of air produced by the air conditioner.
In an embodiment, the ambience and heater burners are independently modulated, the ambience burner exuding only minimal heat for producing an ambience flame thus providing for the conditioner to exude cool air when the ambience burner produces a flame.
In an embodiment, the air conditioner and the heater burner are linked to a controller.
In an embodiment, the controller comprises a thermostat for modulating the air-conditioner and the heater burner.
In an embodiment, the firebox is removable from the housing, the ambience burner being positioned within a chamber defined by the firebox, the heater burner being positioned within the housing.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a fireplace comprising:
In an embodiment, the multiple burner assembly comprises:
In an embodiment, the ambience burner further produces sufficient heat to be exuded by the fireplace so as to heat a dwelling.
In an embodiment, the ambience burner exudes only minimal heat to produce a visible flame within the firebox.
In an embodiment, the ambience and heater burners are independently modulated.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a fireplace comprising:
In an embodiment, there controller is linked to the ventilator and the heat-sensor via a link selected from the group consisting of: a wire linkage, remote linkage.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a fireplace comprising:
In accordance with a still yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multifunctional fireplace compring:
In accordance with still yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for modulating the temperature in a dwelling comprising:
In an embodiment, the temperature selecting switch is a thermostat.
In an embodiment, the burner assembly comprises a plurality of burners.
In an embodiment, the present invention uses a common housing to install the firebox, the furnace, the heat exchanger, the air conditioner, and the air exchanger.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides the capacity to modulate the burner of the hot air furnace and hence, offer comfort for the user.
In an embodiment, the present invention uses multiple burners in the same fireplace.
In an embodiment, the invention uses two gas burners. One burner is an ambience burner and is visible through the fireplace glass door. The other burner is a heating burner and is the principal burner of the hot air gas furnace. The two gas burners are placed within the apparatus; this configuration allows the two gas burners to use the same inlet conduit for fresh air needed for combustion, the same outlet or evacuation conduit of flue gases and the same gas supply conduit.
In an embodiment, the two gas burners are placed in tandem, one behind the other, within the fireplace apparatus. The foregoing simplifies the manufacturing of the present fireplace.
In an alternative embodiment, the burners are so positioned relative to each other in order to achieve the heating burner's effect of minimising the negative effects of the ambiance burner when used as a heating burner.
In an embodiment, two or more burners can be used to in and as well as outside the housing of the present fireplace.
In an embodiment, the present invention is capable of providing heating, air conditioning, assisted fresh air ventilation and a fireplace function to a dwelling.
In an embodiment, the present invention is convenient for certain types of dwellings for which integrated heating, ventilation and air conditioning are suitable; the foregoing functions are distributed throughout these types of dwellings by a network of conduits.
In an embodiment, the present invention uses fresh air ventilation with heat or energy recovery capacity, which provides for energy efficient stale air replacement.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a heated air distribution system for all rooms in a dwelling.
In an embodiment, the present invention distributes cooled air from an air conditioning system.
In an embodiment of the present invention, heated air distribution can also be used to distribute fresh air in order to replace stale air, which is exhausted from the building. Hence, heat recovery or energy recovery ventilation system, improves the operative performance of the fireplace.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the appended drawings where like elements are referenced by like reference numerals and in which:
The present invention will be herein described with reference to the appended drawings so as to exemplify the invention and not limit its scope.
As will be discussed herein fireplace 10 may comprise a multifunctional fireplace including heating and air conditioning capabilities.
The fireplace 10 includes a housing 12, which is mountable within a wall structure 13, see
The housing 12 includes compartments for various components, which will be discussed herein.
As such and with reference to both
Turning back to
Turning now to
The firebox 14 includes a first burner 34 within chamber 30. This first burner element 34 is an ambience burner and hence, is responsible for the burning a decorative flame within chamber 30 that is visible through the transparent door 32. As mentioned before this burner may emulate the appearance of wood fire. The firebox 16 also includes a separate combustion chamber 36 on its rear side. Chamber 36 includes a second burner 38, which is heating burner 38. In this non-limiting embodiment the heating burner 38 is the principle burner of fireplace 10.
As such the furnace 16 is a multiple burner assembly including an ambience burner and a heating burner. In this particular embodiment, the multiple burner furnace 16 is a double burner assembly 16.
Of course in another embodiment, instead of a furnace burner 39 a heat pump (not illustrated) may be utilised.
As will be discussed herein, those having skill in the art can contemplate a greater number of burners within the context of the present invention.
As will also be discussed the burners maybe positioned at other suitable locations within fireplace 10.
A warm air outlet conduit 40 is positioned above the firebox 14 and includes an outlet grid 41 at the front of the fireplace 10. A fireplace cooling air inlet conduit 42 is positioned beneath the firebox 14. A return air inlet conduit 44 is positioned beneath the fireplace cooling air inlet 42.
The air exchanger/heat recovery assembly 24 is positioned in a suitable position, in this non-limiting example it is positioned behind the firebox 14. The air exchanger/heat recovery unit 24 includes conduit 46, which is an outdoor fresh air inlet, and conduit 48, which is a dwelling stale air inlet
It should be noted that the respective functions of conduits 46 and 48 are interchangeable.
The air conditioner assembly 22 is positioned in a suitable location within fireplace 10. In this non-limiting example, the air conditioner assembly is shown to be placed above the air exchanger and heat recovery assembly 24.
Again the ventilator 20 is positioned in any suitable location within fireplace 10. In this non-limiting example, the ventilator 20 is shown to be positioned above the air conditioner 22.
In this non-limiting example, the heat exchanger 18 for furnace 16 is positioned above the ventilator 20. This heat exchanger includes six side-by-side U-shaped tubes 19 (five tubes are clearly shown in
A flue gases connector 50 is positioned above the firebox 14 and leads to an exhaust conduit 52 that ends in a first manifold structure 54. The first manifold structure 54 leads to six short longitudinal extending hollow members 56 (see
A combustion air inlet aperture 65 is formed in cover 28 and surrounds the flue gas conduit 62 to reach both the firebox chamber 30 and the combustion chamber 36.
One or several bypass shutters 66 are so positioned as to force return air 78 through or around the heat exchanger 18 or the ventilator 20. In this non-limiting example, a bypass shutter 66 is shown to be placed above the heat exchanger assembly 18 and the ventilator 20. These bypass shutters serve to prevent air that will be made cold by the air conditioner to be heated by the fireplace when the decorative flame is lit only. Even though, when the heating burner 38 is not used and the ambience burner 34 is solely operated, the heat and flue gases exuded therefrom, even in minimal amounts and passing through the heat exchanger 18 may cause air surrounding this heat exchanger 18 to warm up. This would be counterproductive when operating the air conditioner 22. The bypass shutters when open (as shown in
A plenum 68 for cooled or heated air is positioned at the top portion of the apparatus 10 and terminates in an outlet 70.
As mentioned above the firebox 14 is a moveable firebox and hence, may be moved in or removed from the fireplace 10 as shown in
Turning to
In the present non-limiting example illustrated herein, the removable connectors 82 and 94 are in the form of corresponding bands. For example, connector 94 comprises a large band 95 (shown in
As will be easily understood by the skilled artisan, the bands of connectors 82 and 94 may be locked together by a variety of mechanical means such as and without limitation fasteners, levers and the like.
In the example shown herein, the contiguous combustion air inlets 65 and 76 surround the contiguous flue gas conduits 52 and 74. In this regard, the corresponding pair of bands of connectors 82 and 94 are respectively sealed together as well as being sealed via a variety of sealing and locking means known in the art to the contiguous flue gas conduits 52 and 74 and the contiguous combustion air inlets 65 and 76 in order to create two sealed and separate channels so that combustion air and flue gasses do not mix.
Of course other suitable configurations for providing flue gasses to exit the firebox chamber 30 and combustion air to enter the firebox chamber 30 as well as the combustion chamber 36 may be contemplated by the skilled artisan.
Turning now to
With respect to
With respect to
With respect to
With reference to
With particular reference to
It should be noted that the door 107 in the illustrated example included grid 41 (see
It should also be noted that when removing the firebox 14 from housing 12 as explained above any gas joints and/or electrical wiring may also be disconnected or kept in place if flexible and/or extendable and/or long enough conduits' are used.
As shown in
Turning back to
Fresh combustion air, represented by arrow A, enters the fireplace 10 through the combustion air inlet 65 and flows towards the furnace 16. Since furnace 16 includes two burners 34 and 38 combustion air enters the firebox chamber 30 and the combustion chamber 36.
Cold air, represented by arrow B, enters the fireplace 10 through the fireplace cooling air inlet 42. This air B flows around firebox 30 and combustion chamber 36 and is returned to the dwelling, through the warm air outlet conduit 40 and out of the outlet grid 41 as heated air as represented by arrow C.
Return air, represented by arrows D, is recovered through the return air inlet 44 and flows towards the air conditioner assembly 22.
Cooled or heated air, represented by arrows E), exits the fireplace 10 from the air conditioner 22 through plenum 68, which terminates at outlet 70.
The skilled artisan will immediately appreciate from the present disclosure that the heat outlet/warm air outlet conduit 40 may be in fluid communication with a network of heat outlets (not illustrated) discharging heated fluid in various rooms or areas of a given dwelling for heating/warming thereof. Likewise, the cold air plenum 68 may also be in fluid communication with cool air outlets in various rooms or areas of a given dwelling in order to discharge cool air therein.
Returning to the multiple burner 16 which can include a furnace having two or more burners such as gas and/or electrical burners or a heat pump, the heating burner may be positioned elsewhere in or outside of the present fireplace. For example, the heating burner 38 can be positioned within a combustion chamber above the firebox 14. The combustion chamber 36 may be positioned outside the fireplace housing 12. In another embodiment, the heating burner 38 can be positioned next to the manifold 54 or even on the heat exchanger tubes 19. In one example three of the tubes 19 function to reactive heat from the firebox chamber 30 while the other three tubes 19 function to receive and exude heat from respective heating burners 38. A variety of ways of setting up the two or more burners can be contemplated within the scope of the invention.
In operation, the user adjusts the thermostat 118 to a desired temperature this data is then transmitted to the controller 116.
In the case where the user calls for heat, the controller 116 verifies if the ambience burner 34 is in operation or if it is producing the desired temperature. If not, the heating burner 38 will be turned on and the ventilator 20 will be put into operation. The sensor 114 at any heat outlet will detect the temperature. In the case where the ambience burner is not on and the desired temperature is not reached after a predetermined period, the controller 116 turns the ambience burner 34 on. In the case where the ambience burner is on the controller 116 will detect this and the ventilator 20 is put into operation in the same way, and after a predetermined period, if the desired temperature of the dwelling is not attained, the controller will turn the heating burner 38 on. Alternatively, the controller 116 after having received data from the heat sensor 114 that the desired temperature has not been reached after a predetermined period can augment the speed of the ventilator 20 so as to reach this desired temperature. Hence, there are various ways of raising the heat in a dwelling via the present invention.
When either burner is 34 or 38 is inactive and the other burner 34 and 38 is active it is preferable to prevent the circulation of combustion air A through the inactive burner 34 order to prevent the cooling thereof, which will entail a reduction of the efficiency multiple burner assembly 16. To this end, motorized shield shutters (not shown) are used on either the combustion air conduit branch of each burner 34 and 38 leading to the firebox chamber 30 and to the combustion chamber 26 respectively. These shield shutters may also be used on the smoke/flue gas conduit branch of each burner 34 and 38 before they meet. In accordance with one embodiment, in order to permit the use of a gas pilot for the ambience burner 34, a standard open shield shutter is used which needs to be electrically fed in order to close. In effect, since the use of a gas pilot permits the ambience gas burner 34 to work even if there is an electrical blackout, it is necessary to ensure that neither the inlet of combustion air nor the outlet of flue gases are hampered by the shield shutter.
Of course, the above only occurs when both burners are mounted to the firebox 14 (in chambers 30 and 66) and not when the heating burner 38 is mounted elsewhere as exemplified above.
In an embodiment, when the burners 34 and 36 are gas pilot burners in this way the multiple burner assembly 16 may function even when the electrical current is cut-off.
The configuration of the burners 34 and 38 in accordance with the present invention permits compact installation. Use of multiple burners such as burners 34 and 38 provides for a hot air furnace assembly 16 with a modulating capability. Using a heating burner 38 eliminates discomfort associated with high power ambience burners 34 as well as with unexpected flames in conventional decorative gas fireplaces.
The flue gas conduit (including members 52, 54 and 56) permits smoke to flow from the fireplace assembly 14 towards the heat exchanger 18 where the flue gases will serve to heat the air in the dwelling before being exhausted through members 60, 58 et 62.
In an embodiment, the gas firebox 14 and the hot air gas furnace 16 use a direct-vent evacuation system. A direct-vent system refers to a system where the intake of combustion air A and the discharge of flue gases are both gravity-dependent and both join the exterior of the dwelling or building by way of a common terminal or other like outlet.
It should be noted that it is within the scope of the present invention to evacuate air and gas by a variety of means known to one having skill in the art.
In an embodiment, the intake of fresh air for the ventilation system 20 with energy recovery 24 occurs at a predetermined distance from the common terminal of the aforementioned direct-vent.
The evacuation terminal aperture of vitiated air can be positioned with the terminal of the direct-vent but two different conduits should be used to direct the vitiated air from the fireplace 10 to the common outlet in order to prevent the vitiated air flow from disturbing the combustion process.
Cooled or heated air E is distributed by the apparatus 10 through the air plenum 68 and into the dwelling by a network of conduits (not shown) and is returned, as shown by arrow D, to the apparatus 10 through the return air conduit 44 at the front or facade of the fireplace 14 so as to flow to the air conditioner 22.
Two types of conduit networks can be used: a low pressure/low speed type; and a high pressure/high speed type as well.
The fireplace 10 utilizes one or many ventilators 20 capable of variable speeds, which can be under the control, or not of the temperature of the heated air or any other measurement. Variable speed ventilation having a sufficient capacity provides for the fireplace 10 to easily adapt to the two-conduit system for distributing air in the building and/or dwelling.
In the case where the user will manually control the thermostat in order to cool a room or the dwelling, this signal will be transmitted to the controller 116 which will shut off the heating burner 38 and turn the air conditioner 22 on to the desired cooling temperature. A switch (not shown) may be provided to keep the ambience burner 34 on for decorative purposes while the air condition 22 is in operation.
Air conditioning is assured by an air conditioner system 22 having separate components, where the air exchanger assembly 24 permits cooling of the air and is mounted within the housing 12 and the rest of the machinery (not shown) is mounted on the exterior of the building.
It is possible to use a heat pump instead of air conditioning. A heat pump provides the possibility of air conditioning or cooling of the air as well as heating of air to a certain minimal external temperature where after heating by gas combustion will be used.
In a non-limiting example the heating capacity required for the present apparatus is 14.5 kW and more (50,000 BTU/h).
In a non-limiting example the ambience burner 34 is of about 7 kW.
In a non-limiting the heating burner 38 is about 8 kW and is the principal burner of the hot air furnace 16.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practised in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit, scope and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60489114 | Jul 2003 | US |
