GB2135764A

GB2135764A - Air heating appliances

Info

Publication number: GB2135764A
Application number: GB08326794A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leif Kurt Gundersen
Original assignee: MASANTI SA
Current assignee: MASANTI SA
Priority date: 1983-03-01
Filing date: 1983-10-06
Publication date: 1984-09-05
Also published as: DK94284A; FI832836A0; NO832678L; IT1193143B; FI832836A; IT8353640V0; ES270590U; BE897390A; MC1543A1; SE8304095L; NL8302702A; LU84954A1; PT77150B; DE3327891A1; GB8326794D0; IT8367851A0; DK94284D0; SE8304095D0; PT77150A

Abstract

A fireplace comprises a hearth having a refractory brick floor (1) and a plurality of tubes (2) through which air to be heated passes and which extend under the refractory brick floor (1). Each tube (2) has an inlet below, and an outlet above, the hearth, and a fan (3) for draws air into some or all of the tubes (2) at the inlets thereof. A grill (4) protects the inlets of the tubes (2) and doors (5) are provided with adjustable combustion air inlets. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to heating appliances This invention relates to improvements in or relating to heating appliances, such as fireplaces.

Fireplaces, although a very old and well known form of heating, are still in vogue and, because of the feeling of comfort and cosiness they give, are far more popular than any other kind of heating.

Unfortunately, conventional fireplaces have the great disadvantage that they are less efficient than other types of heating appliance, because 90% or more of the heat of combustion is lost with the smoke.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating appliance, such as a fireplace, whereby the above disadvantage may be overcome or at least mitigated.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a fuel burning heating appliance which comprises means for heating air without introducing combustion products thereinto and means for directing the heated air into an area to be heated.

In a second aspect the invention provides a fireplace which comprises a hearth having a refractory brick floor and sheet metal side walls and around which extend a plurality of tubes, each having an inlet below the hearth and an outlet above the hearth, so that cold air enters each tube through the inlet thereof and hot air leaves each tube through the outlet thereof.

Thus, the present invention enables the provision of a completely new design of fireplace which has substantial advantages over conventional fireplaces by virtue of its rational design, its simplicity and efficiency.

The present invention further enables the provision of a fireplace which retains all the features of a conventional fireplace and can burn the same kinds of fuel, provides a substantial improvement in efficiency, thus ensuring better use of the fuel and a corresponding cost saving, can be used in existing installations and, because of its simple design, can be produced at relatively low unit cost and is therefore economically advantageous.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a fireplace in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the fireplace of Fig. 1, with doors of the fireplace in position, Figure 3 is a side view of the fireplace of Fig. 1, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fireplace of Fig. 1.

The fireplace is in the form of an enclosure bounded by a floor 1 of refractory brick and by sheet metal sides. A number of metal tubes 2 open at both ends extend around the fireplace so that cold air enters the bottom end and issues hot from the top end of each tube. The air is forced through all or some of the tubes by means of a fan 3, the air intake being protected by means of a grill 4. Doors 5 have knobs and a fastening or latching member or members 6, as well as adjustable air intakes 7 for the fire.

As can most clearly be seen in Fig. 4, the grill 4 is secured to the front of the fireplace, so as to cover the inlets of the tubes 2, by means of a plurality of screws or the like, and the tubes 2 extend under the refractory brick floor 1 (which is shown partially cut away) and upwardly behind the fire, so that the air therein is heated directly by the fire and by hot air and gases rising from the fire, as well as by heat retained in the refractory bricks.

The doors 5 are removable.

The fireplace can be manufactured in different shapes and materials and details thereof may be altered according to the desired appearance and use.

1. A fuel burning heating appliance which comprises means for heating air without introducing combustion products thereinto and means for directing the heated air into an area to be heated.

2. A heating appliance according to Claim 1, which is a heating appliance for burning solid fuel.

3. A heating appliance according to Claim 2, which is a fireplace.

4. A heating appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises air conduit means having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being disposed, in use, above the inlet.

5. A heating appliance according to Claim 4, wherein at least part of the air conduit means comprises a conductive material and wherein the said part of the air conduit means extends in the vicinity of a fuel burning zone.

6. A heating appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises means for assisting the movement of air to be heated.

7. A heating appliance according to Claim 6, wherein the assisting means comprises a fan.

8. A fireplace which comprises a hearth having a refractory brick floor and sheet metal side walls and around which extend a plurality of tubes each having an inlet below the hearth and an outlet above the hearth, so that cold air enters each tube through the inlet thereof and hot air leaves each tube through the outlet thereof.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to heating appliances This invention relates to improvements in or relating to heating appliances, such as fireplaces. Fireplaces, although a very old and well known form of heating, are still in vogue and, because of the feeling of comfort and cosiness they give, are far more popular than any other kind of heating. Unfortunately, conventional fireplaces have the great disadvantage that they are less efficient than other types of heating appliance, because 90% or more of the heat of combustion is lost with the smoke. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating appliance, such as a fireplace, whereby the above disadvantage may be overcome or at least mitigated. Accordingly, the present invention provides a fuel burning heating appliance which comprises means for heating air without introducing combustion products thereinto and means for directing the heated air into an area to be heated. In a second aspect the invention provides a fireplace which comprises a hearth having a refractory brick floor and sheet metal side walls and around which extend a plurality of tubes, each having an inlet below the hearth and an outlet above the hearth, so that cold air enters each tube through the inlet thereof and hot air leaves each tube through the outlet thereof. Thus, the present invention enables the provision of a completely new design of fireplace which has substantial advantages over conventional fireplaces by virtue of its rational design, its simplicity and efficiency. The present invention further enables the provision of a fireplace which retains all the features of a conventional fireplace and can burn the same kinds of fuel, provides a substantial improvement in efficiency, thus ensuring better use of the fuel and a corresponding cost saving, can be used in existing installations and, because of its simple design, can be produced at relatively low unit cost and is therefore economically advantageous. For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a fireplace in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the fireplace of Fig. 1, with doors of the fireplace in position, Figure 3 is a side view of the fireplace of Fig. 1, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fireplace of Fig. 1. The fireplace is in the form of an enclosure bounded by a floor 1 of refractory brick and by sheet metal sides. A number of metal tubes 2 open at both ends extend around the fireplace so that cold air enters the bottom end and issues hot from the top end of each tube. The air is forced through all or some of the tubes by means of a fan 3, the air intake being protected by means of a grill 4. Doors 5 have knobs and a fastening or latching member or members 6, as well as adjustable air intakes 7 for the fire. As can most clearly be seen in Fig. 4, the grill 4 is secured to the front of the fireplace, so as to cover the inlets of the tubes 2, by means of a plurality of screws or the like, and the tubes 2 extend under the refractory brick floor 1 (which is shown partially cut away) and upwardly behind the fire, so that the air therein is heated directly by the fire and by hot air and gases rising from the fire, as well as by heat retained in the refractory bricks. The doors 5 are removable. The fireplace can be manufactured in different shapes and materials and details thereof may be altered according to the desired appearance and use. CLAIMS

3. A heating appliance according to Claim 2, which is a fireplace.

9. A fireplace according to Claim 8, which further comprises a grill for protecting the tube inlets and a fan for forcing air to flow through one or more of the tubes.

10. A fireplace according to Claim 8 or 9, which further comprises doors having knobs and fastening or latching means and adjustable air intake means for the hearth.

11. A fireplace, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.