Patent Application
20060185665
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to heating appliances, and more particularly relates to heating appliances for use in a sauna.
2. Related Art
Saunas originated centuries ago as Finnish steam baths. Steam for the steam bath is provided by water thrown on stones that are heated by a sauna heater. Original sauna heaters used burning wood or other fibrous articles to heat the stones. Today saunas are generally known as a dry heat bath, wherein steam can be generated in the room by applying water on heated objects such as artificial rocks that are heated by a gas or electric sauna heater.
Sauna heaters are an important part of the sauna. Sauna heaters generate heat sufficient to warm the sauna room to a desired temperature; typically over 110° F. Sauna heaters include a source of heat (e.g., an electric heating element or a gas or wood burning combustion device) and a bed of rocks or other heat emanating members positioned above and in contact with the source of heat. Although sauna heaters are often positioned as a center of attention in the sauna due to their important function, sauna heaters are not usually designed for aesthetics. Sauna heaters are most often designed with safety and heat generating efficiency as a primary objective. A sauna heater that provides aesthetics as well as safety and efficient heat generation would be an important advance in the art.
The present invention generally relates to heating appliances, and more particularly relates to sauna heating appliances. One aspect of the invention relates to a fireplace that includes an outer enclosure, a plenum, and a housing. The combustion chamber enclosure is positioned within the outer enclosure and defines a combustion chamber wherein heat is generated. The plenum is defined between the outer enclosure and the combustion chamber enclosure. The plenum includes an inlet and an outlet for the circulation of room air through the plenum to heat the room air. The housing is positioned in contact with a panel of the combustion chamber enclosure and is configured to house a plurality of heat retaining members. An opening into the housing is accessible through the outer enclosure for accessing the heat retaining members. The fireplace is configured to pass heat generated in the combustion chamber through the housing to the heat retaining members and into a living space.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a fireplace that includes a combustion chamber enclosure and a housing. The combustion chamber enclosure defines a combustion chamber wherein combustion occurs to generate heat. The combustion chamber enclosure includes a top panel and a front panel through which the combustion chamber is viewable. The housing is configured to hold at least one heat retaining member and includes a bottom panel that defines a portion of the top panel of the combustion chamber enclosure.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a fireplace that includes a combustion chamber enclosure, a burner, and a housing. The combustion chamber enclosure defines a combustion chamber and includes at least one panel for viewing the combustion chamber. The burner is positioned within the combustion chamber and is configured to produce a flame that generates heat and is viewable through the at least one panel. The housing is configured to hold at least one heat retaining member and includes a panel that is at least partially exposed within the combustion chamber.
A still further aspect of the invention relates to a sauna that includes an enclosure including at least one wall, a fireplace, and a heat exchanging housing. The fireplace is positioned at least partially within the enclosure and includes a combustion chamber enclosure wherein a flame is generated for the production of heat. The combustion chamber enclosure includes at least one panel through which the flame is viewable. The heat exchanging housing coupled to a top panel of the combustion chamber enclosure, the housing including a plurality of panels that define a storage space sized to receive a plurality of heat retaining objects, the housing being configured to absorb heat generated in the combustion chamber and radiate the absorbed heat within the enclosure.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a heat exchanging assembly configured for use with a fireplace. The assembly includes a heat emanating member configured to absorb heat from the fireplace and radiate heat into a dwelling space, and a housing sized to retain the heat emanating member. The housing includes at least one panel configured for exposure to a heat source positioned within the fireplace. The at least one panel includes at least one heat exchanging fin configured for exposure to the heat source.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sauna fireplace. The fireplace includes an outer enclosure, a combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber, and a heat exchanging assembly. The heat exchanging assembly defines a housing within which heat retaining objects may be positioned. The method includes providing the combustion chamber enclosure with at least one panel through which the combustion chamber is viewable, positioning the combustion chamber enclosure within the outer enclosure wherein the at least one panel is exposed for viewing, and securing the heating exchanging assembly to a top panel of the combustion chamber enclosure with the heating exchanging assembly at least partially exposed outside of the outer enclosure to provide access to the heat retaining objects positioned within the housing.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. Figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplified embodiments of the invention. While certain embodiments will be illustrated and described, the invention is not limited to use in such embodiments.
The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in the invention and in connection with accompanying drawings, in which:
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present invention generally relates to heating appliances, and more particularly relates to heat generating appliances configured for use in a sauna. An example sauna heating appliance that is shown and described herein is a fireplace that has been modified to include features relevant to use in a sauna.
As used herein, the term “combustion chamber enclosure” can be any structure that at least partially surrounds that portion of the fireplace or heating appliance in which combustion or heat generation occurs. A combustion chamber enclosure typically includes a plurality of panels that define a combustion chamber for the combustion of fuel or generation of heat using other means. The term “sauna” will be understood to mean a heat bath and may include a sauna housing or sauna room that defines an enclosed space, and a sauna heater for the generation of heat within the enclosed space.
While the example embodiments of the present invention provided below are described in conjunction with example fireplaces, the present invention is equally applicable to other fireplaces such as, for example, a direct vent, a universal vent, a B-vent, a horizontal/vertical-vent, a dual direct vent, and a multisided unit having two or three glass panels as combustion chamber side panels. Although the present invention may be particularly useful for an open front fireplace, as described below, may principles of the present invention may be applied to closed front fireplaces, stoves, furnaces, and similar heat generating appliances.
Referring now to
Fireplace 10 provides an aesthetically pleasing, relatively efficient structure for generating heat within a sauna housing. Safety of the structure can be improved with a variety of features including, for example, a hot product warning sensor as described in U.S. 2003/0201896-A1, a glass cooling configuration as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,441, an exhaust removal system as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/769,557 entitled EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR OPEN FRONT FIREPLACE and filed on Jan. 30, 2004, and a proximity warning system as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,860, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Fireplace assembly 10 includes an outer enclosure 12, a combustion chamber enclosure 14, a heat transfer assembly 16, a valve assembly 18, a burner assembly 20 (see
The combustion chamber enclosure 14 includes front and back panels 42, 44, first and second side panels 46, 48, and top and bottom panels 50, 52. The panels 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, and 52 define a combustion chamber 58 wherein heat is generated by any desired means, such as, for example, the burner assembly 20 described in further detail below.
The front panel 42 defines an opening that may be covered with a transparent or translucent pane (e.g., a glass pane) that provides viewing into the combustion chamber 58. At least a portion of the opening in the front panel 42 is viewable through the front panel 30 of the outer enclosure 12. The top panel 50 defines a top opening 54 (see
In other embodiments, various panels of the combustion chamber enclosure 14 and outer enclosure 12 may be configured to permit viewing within the combustion chamber 58. In one example embodiment, the combustion chamber enclosure includes three or more panels provided with openings sized to provide viewing into the combustion chamber, such as the PIER-TVFL fireplace made by Heat & Glow of Lakeville, Minn.
The relative position between the combustion chamber enclosure 14 and the outer enclosure 12 defines a plenum 96 (see
The heat transfer assembly 16 includes a housing 60, a grate 62, a sealing member 64, and drain channels 66, 68. The housing 60 is defined by a plurality of side panels 70, 72, 74, 76 and a bottom panel 78. The bottom panel 78 includes a plurality of heat transfer members 80 that extend downward from the housing 60 and are exposed within the combustion chamber 58. The heat transfer members 80 improve heat transfer efficiency of heat generated within the combustion chamber 58 to the housing 60 because of the additional exposed surface area provided by the heat transfer members 80.
The housing 60 defines a volume or space within which the plurality of heat retaining member 69 may be positioned. The heat retaining members 69 may comprise any desired material and using any desired forming techniques such as those described in pending U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0049575 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,941,237; 5,996,575; and 6,170,481, which are incorporated herein by reference. One example natural rock product well suited for use as the heat retaining members 69 are Olivine black granite imported from Finland. Other materials that may be used for the heat retaining members 69 or the housing 60 include granite, marble, steel, and other materials that preferably resist failure when a relatively cool liquid is applied to the material when the material is heated.
The heat retaining members 69 are preferably configured with a material composition that resists failure of the material when a cool liquid such as water is poured upon the heat retaining members when they are in the heated state. When the fireplace assembly 10 is used as a sauna fireplace when the heat retaining members 69 absorb heat transferred from the combustion chamber 58, through the heat transfer members 80 to the housing 60 and into the heat retaining members 69, and the heat retaining members 69 emanate heat into a living space such as within a space defined by a sauna housing. When a user of the sauna housing desires to increase the humidity within the living space defined by the sauna housing, the user may apply a liquid such as water to the heat retaining members, which typically immediately evaporates the liquid. The housing 60 may be provided with drain openings 82, 84 that are in fluid communication with the drain channels 66, 68 to direct excess amounts of the liquid applied to the heat retaining members out of the housing 60.
The grate 62 may provide a surface upon which the heat retaining members 69 can rest while providing a spacing between the bottom panel 78 and the heat retaining members 69. This spacing may be useful if an object is to separate the heat retaining members 69 from any excess liquid present along the bottom panel 78 within the housing 60. Other embodiments may not include a grate member 62 if it is preferred, for example, to provide direct physical contact between the heat retaining member 69 and the bottom panel 78. Such direct physical contact may improve, in some circumstances, the heat transfer efficiency to the heat retaining members 69.
The combustion chamber enclosure 14 and the heat transfer assembly 16 are configured such that the heat transfer assembly defines at least a portion of a top panel or uppermost surface of the combustion chamber enclosure that defines the combustion chamber 58. By exposing a portion of the housing 60 within the combustion chamber 58, there is a more direct transfer of the heat generated within the combustion chamber to the heat transfer assembly 16. In other embodiments, the top panel 50 of the combustion chamber enclosure 14 may have a top opening 54 with a smaller size than shown in the Figures, or no opening at all such that only a relatively small or no portion of the housing 60 is exposed within the combustion chamber 58. In such a configuration (not shown) the housing 60 would preferably maintain physical contact with the top panel 50 so that heat transfer would occur by conduction between the top panel 50 and the bottom panel 78 of the housing 60.
In still further embodiments, the heat transfer assembly 16 may be positioned adjacent to or exposed through other panels of the combustion chamber enclosure 14 such as, for example, the back, first and second sides, or bottom panels 44, 46, 48, 52, respectively. Essentially, there is little restriction as to where the heat transfer assembly 16 may be positioned relative to the combustion chamber enclosure 14 or to how or where portions of the heat transfer assembly 16 may be exposed within the combustion chamber 58.
As noted above, it is most desirable for the heat retaining member 69 to be exposed through the outer enclosure 12. Therefore, if the heat transfer assembly 16 is positioned at other panels of the combustion chamber enclosure 14 beside the top panel 50, the outer enclosure panels may be configured with alternative openings sufficient to provide access to the heat retaining member 69 positioned within the housing 60.
The valve assembly 18 is shown exposed through the front panel 30 of the outer enclosure 12. The valve assembly 18 controls gas flow to the burner assembly 20 (see
In other embodiments, different heat generating members may be used in place of a burner assembly 20. For example, the heat generating member may be an electric element that is combined with a simulated flame member. Controls for such an electric heating element may replace the valve assembly 18 within the plenum 96.
Referring now to
The fireplace 10 is shown in
The fireplace assembly 10 provides a source of heat and an aesthetically pleasing fire display within the sauna enclosure 100. The fire display provided by the fireplace assembly 10 can provide a soothing and relaxing atmosphere for users residing within the sauna enclosure 100.
Referring now to
The outer enclosure 212 includes front and back panels 230, 232, first and second side panels 234, 236, a bottom panel 240, and a top panel that is removed for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the features positioned within the outer enclosure 212. The outer enclosure 212 defines a volume or space within which the combustion chamber enclosure 214 may be positioned. The front and back panels 230, 234 each define an opening through which the combustion chamber enclosure 214 is viewable. The fireplace assembly 200 is especially useful for positioning within a wall of a building structure so as to be exposed on opposing sides of the wall structure. By providing viewing through both the front and back panels 230, 232, the interior of the combustion chamber enclosure can be viewable from either side of the wall structure.
The top panel (not shown) of the outer enclosure 212 preferably defines an opening at least large enough to expose a portion, if not all, of the interior volume defined by the heat transfer assembly 216.
The combustion chamber enclosure 214 includes front and back panels 242, 244, first and second side panels 246, 248, and top and bottom panels 250, 252 that together define a combustion chamber 258 wherein heat is generated for heating the heat transfer assembly 216. The front and back panels 242, 244 each define an opening that provides viewing into the combustion chamber 258. The openings defined by the front and back panels 242, 244 may each be at least partially covered by a transparent or translucent pane of material such as glass or other heat resistant material. The front and back panels 242, 244 are at least partially viewable through the openings defined in the front and back panels 230, 232 of the outer enclosure 212.
The top panel 250 defines a top opening 254 through which at least a portion of the heat transfer assembly 216 may be exposed within the combustion chamber 258. The outer enclosure 212 and combustion chamber enclosure 214 may include other openings (not shown) that provide venting via a venting assembly (not shown) that provides combustion air to the combustion chamber 258 and/or exhaust combustion gases from the combustion chamber 258. In embodiments wherein heat is generated using a source of heat that does not require combustion air for the ventilation of exhaust gases (e.g., electric heat or hydrogen combustion), a ventilation system may not be required.
The outer enclosure 212 is preferably sized larger than the combustion chamber enclosure 214 so as to provide a plenum 296 between the enclosures 212, 214 (see
The heat transfer assembly 216 includes a housing 260 defined by a plurality of side panels 270, 272, 274, 276, and a bottom panel 278. A plurality of heat transfer members 280 are positioned along an outward facing surface of the bottom panel 278. The heat transfer members 280 are preferably exposed within the combustion chamber 258 as shown in
As described above, the heat retaining members 269 may comprise a material composition that is especially useful for absorbing and emanating heat and resisting failure when a relatively cool liquid is applied to the heat retaining members when they are in a heated state. Such properties for the heat retaining members 269 are especially useful when the fireplace 200 is used as a sauna fireplace to provide heat and a desired quantity of humidity within an enclosed space defined by a sauna enclosure as described further below with reference to
As described with reference to the fireplace 10, the heat transfer assembly 216 may be positioned at any location around the combustion chamber enclosure 214. Further, the heat transfer assembly 216 may or may not be exposed within the combustion chamber 258. Further, although members 280 are shown extending from the bottom panel 278 of the housing 260, other heat transfer enhancing structures besides fins shaped heat transfer members may be used for improving the transfer of heat from the combustion chamber 258 to the heat transfer assembly 216. For example, spherical, conical, and other shapes may be used for the heat transfer members. The heat transfer members may be configured as, for example, rods, ribs, plates, fins, etc. The inner volume of the housing 60 wherein the heat retaining members 269 are positioned is preferably exposed through one of the panels of the outer enclosure 212 for access by a user of the fireplace 200.
The fireplace assembly 200 may be used within a sauna enclosure such as the enclosure 300 shown in
The fireplace 200 is shown in
Thus, the fireplace assembly 200 when used in connection with the sauna enclosure 300 provides heating and an aesthetically pleasing fire display within the sauna enclosure while also providing an aesthetically pleasing fire display from a position outside of the sauna enclosure. Heat generated by the fireplace assembly 200 may be directed to the space outside of the sauna enclosure.
The heat transfer assembly 216 may further include a hydronic heating member 286 (see
The liquid heated within the hydronic heating member 286 may be channeled or otherwise directed to a remote location wherein heat is removed from the liquid and used for any desired purpose such as, for example, a hot water heater, a floor surface, or into heated air of a furnace system. Some examples uses for heat removed from the liquid are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/800,142 entitled FIREPLACE HYDRONIC HEATING and filed on Mar. 12, 2004, which patent application is incorporated herein by reference. Example uses for heat removed from the liquid include heating water for an indoor or outdoor hot tub, whirlpool, swimming pool, hot water heater or central heating system. The hydronic heating system may be a closed loop system wherein the fluid flowing through the hydronic heating system remains isolated from other liquids. The hydronic system may also be an opened loop system wherein the fluid flowing through the hydronic heating system is water that is used, for example, in the example hot tub, whirlpool, etc., mentioned above.
In other embodiments, a hydronic heating member in the form of, for example, a conduit, may be embedded within a panel or other structure of the fireplace. Embedding the hydronic member may be advantageous for at least the reason of reducing condensation on the hydronic heating member.
The example sauna housings 100, 300 described above represent closed rooms wherein a sauna condition exists. Some types of saunas may require a certain amount of fresh air intake into the sauna room for proper ventilation. In one example, a fresh air intake into the sauna is provided through a portion of the related fireplace 10, 200. Moving relatively cool fresh air below the combustion chamber of the fireplace or otherwise in contact with controls of the fireplace may be advantageous for at least some of the fireplace controls.
The fireplaces 10, 200 described above may be modified to include an automated steam generating system. The fireplaces 10, 200 typically produce steam only when a user manually applies water to the members 69, 269. In other embodiments, a water/liquid delivery system may be used to deliver water to the members 69, 269 at a desired rate and at a predetermined timing. For example, a water conduit with a valve may be added to the fireplaces 10, 200 with an end of the conduit being positioned near the heat transfer assembly 16, 216. The valve may be turned on so that a constant drip or stream of water is applied to the members 69, 269 or otherwise within the housing 60, 260, wherein the water is evaporated into steam. In some embodiments, the valve may be controlled automatically using a control system that is set by a user to create a predetermined humidity condition or apply water for a predetermined time period at a certain rate. In this way, the sauna 100, 300 could function more like a steam room than a dry heat sauna room.
The fireplace assemblies and sauna enclosures described above may be described in further detail with reference to various methods of manufacturing, assembly, and use. An example method of manufacturing a sauna fireplace that includes an outer enclosure, a combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber, and a heat exchanging assembly described with reference to
