CA1148048A

CA1148048A - Apparatus to reduce winter air infiltration into a single family oil heated residence

Info

Publication number: CA1148048A
Application number: CA000371177A
Authority: CA
Inventors: John D. Lambert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-02-18
Filing date: 1981-02-18
Publication date: 1983-06-14

Abstract

Abstract: -In single family house oil heating, it is common to recommend caulking of exterior cracks to minimise air infiltration or "air change". More recently, in attempts to improve furnace efficiency, stack dampers have been proposed, but have various disadvantages including illegality in many jurisdictions.
In this invention, the oil burner (air inlet) is enclosed by a duct, at the side or end of which a damper hangs freely in a closed position. When the burner is not in operation, the enclosure and damper minimises the volume of air drawn through the burner etc, from within the house by chimney draft. When the burner is operating, the damper is opened by suction from the burner fan, permitting normal combustion air to enter the burner.

Description

Specification: -1) This invention relates to an apparatus to reduce winterair infiltration into a single family residence containing oil burner~, the apparatus being a damper controlling air flow into an oil burner of the common types which incorporate a fan for combustion airO
; 2) Previous attempts to prevent warm air escaping the house have included stack dampers which close off a chimney when the burner is not operating. Stack dampers for oil-fired apparatus are relatively expensive, involve complex electrical and mechanical controls9 run hot, can become caked with soot, require expert installation and maintenance, and carry possible fatal risks of malfunction.
3) The inventive idea which this apparatus embodies of contr~lling such air flow using the natural physical laws of air flow and gravity overcomes all these problems.
` In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, Figo 1 is a sectional elevation~, ., ...~
Figo 2 is a side elevationO
, .
The cylindrical duct 1 is attached to the oil burner air inlet by circular strap 2 at the left of Fig. 1. Cylinder 1 is closed at one end by installation of circular plate 3 held in place by circ llar strap 20 Plate 3 incorporates a hole in which plate 4 is suspended vertically by three wire hangers 5 or by other suitable means9 eO gO a pivotO Plate 4 freely swings and stays open to the approximate position shown in Figo 1 when the burner is operating, and returns to and remains in the vertical positlon when the burner is stopped~
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Claims

Claims: -The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are, and I claim:-

1) An enclosure for use with an oil burner incorporating a fan to provide combustion air from within a residence, said burner having an air inlets, said enclosure comprising:
extension means sealingly engaging and surrounding said air inlet; and a door means comprising a suitable barrier to free air access which minimises natural air flow in the absence of any combustion requirement, but permits free flow of combustion air when required, said door means being opened by air flow generated by the operation of said burner and being closed by gravity acting only on said door means when said oil burner is not operating.

2) The enclosure of Claim 1 wherein said extension means further comprises a generally cylindrical body clampingly engaging said burner at one end thereof; and a cover plate located at the other end thereof, remote from said burner, said door means being located therein.

3) The enclosure of Claims 1 and 2 wherein said door means is comprised of a flap having an upper edge, wherein said flap generally fills an aperture located in said cover plate, said flap being connected to said plate along or close to said upper edge thereby being closed by gravity.

... 2

4) The enclosure of Claim 1 wherein said extension means is formed integrally with said burner.