WOOD STOVE RADON REDUCTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A combination of a wood stove and radon collection system. A radon collection tube location in the basement of a building is connected via conduits leading into the combustion chamber of a wood stove. Means secure the radon collection outlet to the stove between the stove door and the stove main body. Metal strips extend across gaps formed between the stove door and stove main body when the outlet is in the installed position.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to the FIG. 1, there is shown in fragment a building 10 having a roof 11, an interior room 12, and basement 13. A wood stove 16 is positioned within room 12 and has a conventional outlet flue 17 extending through the roof 11 to allow the exhaust gases to escape the building. A radon collection system 18 is provided to collect radon gas from the basement by a perforated tube 19, in turn, connected by conduit 20 and tube 21 that extends between the stove door 22 and the main body 23 of stove 16 allowing the radon gas to enter the combustion chamber of the stove. A second conduit 24 extends through the roof 11 allowing gas collected by tube 19 to exit the building when valve 25 is positioned to allow the gas to flow from tube 19 through conduit 24 while blocking flow of gas into tube 20. Likewise, valve 25 has a second position blocking flow of gas from tube 19 through conduit 24 but allowing the gas to flow from tube 19 through conduit 20 to tube 21. An optional inlet tube 26 extends through the wall of the house to the external environment with a fan 27 provided to blow external air into the basement 13 thereby pressurizing the basement and forcing the radon from the building.

Wood stove 16 has a main body 23 positioned atop a base 28 spacing the main body of the stove above the floor. A combustion chamber 29 is formed within main body 23 with exhaust outlet 17 leading therefrom. Door 30 is pivotally mounted by conventional hinges 31 and 32 to the front 33 of the stove. The door may be pivoted from an open position (FIG. 2) through an intermediate position (FIG. 4) to a completely closed position overlapping opening 34 leading into combustion chamber 29. A handle 35 (FIG. 1) is provided on the exterior surface of door 30 to facilitate the opening and closing of the door.

Wall 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3) extends around opening 34 and projects outwardly from the forward facing surface 37 of the stove main body 33. Wall 36 has a lower portion 38 and an upper portion 39 extending across respectively the bottom and top of opening 34. Further, a pair of side portions 40 and 41 (FIG. 2) extend vertically along the opposite sides of opening 34. Portions 38 through 41 form a ledge 42 (FIG. 3) that extends around the opening. Side portion 40 includes a recess 43 formed therein to receive tube 21 connected to the radon collection system.

Tube 21 may be removed from recess 43 to allow door 30 to extend sealingly across opening 34 with the exception that air is allowed to flow through recess 43 into the combustion chamber. When tube 21 is not mounted within recess 43, it is stored in a vertical position in holder 45 mounted to the front surface 37 of the furnace main body. Holder 45 consists of a semi-circular recess 46 (FIG. 6) forming a pair of outwardly extending arms 47 and 48 between which tube 21 may be positioned. A magnet 49 is mounted or the front surface 37 of the stove and is positioned to magnetically hold the metallic tube 21 in place. Alternatively, a magnet may be mounted to tube 21 to secure the tube to holder 45. In such a case, magnet 49 is not necessary.

In order to position tube 21 to extend into the combustion chamber opening, tube 21 is grasped and pulled apart from holder 45. The end of tube 21 is then inserted through recess 43 and into the opening 34 allowing gases within the tube to enter the combustion chamber. Suitable magnets 50 are provided on the front surface 37 of the stove main body immediately adjacent recess 43 to magnetically and removably hold tube 21 in recess 43.

The external size of tube 21 is such that when installed within recess 43 it projects outwardly of the end or edge of wall 36. For example, the radius of recess 43 may be approximately one-half the diameter of tube 21 if a cylindrical tube is utilized thereby providing for the remaining half of the tube to project outwardly from wall 36. In such a case, stove door 30 will be prevented from closing in a completely sealed position relative to combustion chamber opening 34 creating a gap 51 that extends between the edge 52 (FIG. 5) of wall 36 and the inwardly facing surface of door 30. In order to limit air flow through gap 51, a plurality of aluminum sheets are removably mounted to extend from wall 36 across gap 51 and the sides of door 30. For example, a plurality of aluminum sheets 53 (FIG. 5) are fashioned to fit externally around wall 34 being secured in place by magnets 54 attaching the sheets the stove. The sheets then extend across gap 51 limiting the flow of air through the gap when the door has been moved to an intermediate position located between an open position depicted in FIG. 3 and the completely closed position when the tube 21 is removed from recess 43. Additional magnets may be used to secure aluminum strips 53 to sides 61 of the door. That is, magnets 54 may be used to secure strips 53 directly to the stove or directly to the door. Likewise, magnets 54 may be used to secure the metal strips 53 to both the stove and door with the object being to position and hold the metal strips across gap 51 when the door extends over opening 34 but spaced partially away from the stove main body forming gap 51 due to the presence of tube 21 in recess 43. Strips 53 may be extended on the outwardly facing surface of portions 38-40 to thereby reduce the flow of air via gap 51.

With valve 25 positioned to allow gas flow from tube 18 into conduit 20 and not conduit 24, any radon within basement 13 is allowed to flow into perforated tube 19 and then into the combustion chamber of the stove when tube 21 is mounted to recess 43. By turning on fan 27 forcing external air to flow into the basement via conduit 26, the basement may be purged of radon gas. Tube 21 forms an air spout for collection of air including radon gas within the basement and directing same via opening 34 into the combustion chamber.

Combustion within the stove causes the gas within the combustion chamber to be hotter than gas within tube 20 thereby drawing up air and radon from the basement through tube 19 and eventually out of flue 17. After valve 25 is closed to tube 20 and opened to tube 24, spout 21 is removed from recess 43, the draft is broken and radon will not flow up to stove 16. No cap is needed to extend across recess 43. Valve 25 is in a position blocking flow into conduit 20 while allowing gas flow from tube 18 to conduit 24.

Many variations are contemplated and included in the present invention. For example, the drawing depicts a building have a basement; however, the radon collection system may also be used where the building does not have a basement. In such a case, the radon collection tube may be positioned beneath the slap supporting the building.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. A wood stove for reducing radon gas comprising: a stove main body forming a wood combustion chamber with an opening for inserting wood therein;a stove door pivotally mounted to said stove main body adjacent said opening and movable from a first position whereat said door is away from said opening so wood may be inserted through said opening into said wood combustion chamber to a second position whereat said door extends over said opening but is spaced partially away from said stove main body forming gaps therebetween;an air spout mounted to said stove main body at said opening, said air spout having a proximal end extending into said opening and a distal end; and,a first conduit connected to said distal end of said air spout and extending away therefrom to collect radon gas.

2. The stove of claim 1 and further comprising: metal strips at said opening and extending over said gaps to limit air flow trough said gaps,

3. The stove of claim 1 and further comprising: holding means removably securing said spout to said stove main body.

4. The stove of claim 3 wherein said holding means includes a magnet.

5. The stove of claim 1 and further comprising: a second conduit extending from said first conduit; and,a valve associated with said first conduit and said second conduit to direct gas flow through said first conduit and said second conduit.

6. The stove of claim 1 wherein: said stove main body includes a recess at said opening to receive said spout when extended into said opening.

7. The stove of claim 1 and further comprising: metal strips mounted to said stove and extending over said gaps to limit air flow through said gaps; and,magnets removably securing said strips and said spout to said stove when said spout is removed from said opening.

8. The stove of claim 7 and further comprising: a second conduit extending from said first conduit; and,a valve associated with said first conduit and said second conduit to direct gas flow through said first conduit and said second conduit.

9. A heating system for a building comprising: a wood stove with a combustion chamber and an opening leading to said chamber to insert wood therein, said stove located in said building and including a flue extending from said stove to exteriorly of said building;a door movably mounted to said stove and movable from a first position uncovering said opening to allow wood to be inserted into said chamber to a second position extending across said opening;a radon collecting conduit within said building, said conduit having a first branch and a second branch connected together with said first branch opening into said combustion chamber at said opening and said second branch leading to exteriorly of said building; and,a valve associated with said conduit to direct gas through said first branch and through said second branch.

10. The heating system of claim 9 wherein: said door when in said second position is partially spaced apart from said wood stove creating gaps between said door and stove at said opening.

11. The heating system of claim 10 and further comprising: a plurality of strips mounted to said stove and extending across said gaps when said door is in said second position limiting gas flow through said gaps.

12. The heating system of claim 11 and further comprising: magnets removably holding said strips and said conduit to said stove when extending into said opening.

13. The heating system of claim 12 and further comprising; a second conduit leading from exteriorly of said building into said building to allow outside air to enter said building.

14. A stove for reducing radon gas in a building comprising: a stove main body for heating a building and having a combustion chamber and an opening leading into said chamber;a door hingedly mounted to said main body and swingable from a first position uncovering said opening to a second position extending across said opening; and,a radon collecting tube having a proximal end opening into said chamber at said opening and a distal end opening into said building wherein gas within said chamber is hotter than gas within said tube to draw radon gas from said tube into said chamber.

15. The stove of claim 14 wherein: said tube is removably mounted to said stove at said opening.

16. The stove of claim 15 and further comprising: holding means for removably holding said tube at said opening and also for holding said tube adjacent said stove when removed from said opening to store same.

17. The stove of claim 16 wherein said holding means includes magnets.