Mcthimwuh 4.Andlamg 1.Meom?. , Eamo?Lrmbv Amthugcab
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
US005333601A United States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 5,333,601 [45] Date of Patent: Aug. 2, 1994 [54] MASONRY HEATER “Finnish Fireplace Construction Manual 1984”, Albert A. Barden, III, pp. 53-57. [75] Inventor: Kerry Hill, Wain?eet, Canada “Finnish Fireplaces, Heart of the Home”, A. Barden et al., pp. 33, 41, 51 and 101. [73] Assignees: Christy Brianna Hill; Andrea Kirsty Brochure by Hearth Warmers. Lee Hill, Wain?eet, Canada Brochure by Dietmeyer, Ward & Stroud, Inc. [21] Appl. No.: 27,493 Primary Examiner-Larry Jones Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Riches, McKenzie & Herbert [22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1993 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl.5 F24B 1/ 188 This invention relates to A contra-?ow masonry heater [52] 126/523; 126/500; comprising: a ?rebox having a front opening, an air 126/503; 126/8 intake communicating with a source of fresh air and an [58] Field of Search 126/523, 500, 502, 503 ’ upper flue outlet; at least one vertical contra-?ow heat 126/512, 8 exchange channel communicating between the flue [56] References Cited outlet and an exhaust port, the ?rebox and channel having walls of refractory material for mass absorption U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS of heat energy from a burning fuel and combustion wemaaf.wa hC mcmwaoasegml?o bP mdnm?s dmha,dmt rf wuwmmmmMm” 439.1R Bm@mweaH Unanrnm \e%@./m .Igoemdoe d616y dtgm?bm5 chmndPmh dmmdamwn dhmnpocf 2gQueen Edccv 3,,O,7,4,wfai enema mm“mEsBsP .ngmnmntnm Fmhedm?mQto amthugcab . .andlamg1 mtC.Va.Cd t‘‘ @eTT lme 68mm 4.4.4.5 cnummnmmm nn.comefum;o eamo?lormbV.mmeommm?. , mcthimwuh4 .mimamwmsm iniii; wtoommehc vmnamawewtmdmhooum IauOUeHue comko?emmméwmmdm mmmms_mung \nmmmmwuhh mnmagummw. \ mm- Lu‘-MN>m6 700803 .“moQ‘0 a ms.u1i \Q:, 1nI Ima . \“5wuwlumm1H. nBwooi711M\.I~l \.\I-l<|<lW22t i-Elr‘<»\.0» gdmmmme?o ‘ea-.15. <“.l?“ U.S. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 1 of 14 5,333,601 11 WA 1 '- \ \ \ \ \\ \ /\ /\ \/\ US. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 2 of 14 5,333,601 11 12 14 \23 U.S. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 3 of 14 US. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 4 of 14 5,333,601 F|G.5. 30 L’ F_ 5'1 6 271 - e 26X. US. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 5 of 14 5,333,601 FIG.9. FIGJO. US. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 6 of 14 5,333,601 ‘ F | 6 -1 1.K' US. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 7 of 14 5,333,601 <5:1 "I mm,“‘7 b Hmumm’ F | G I .1 2 . 102 H543‘. - FIGJ4. FIG-15. ‘ F's-16. US. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 8 of 14 5,333,601 US. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 11 of 14 5,333,601 ~ F|G.30. ...... u!!! WM?‘ I!!!“ ‘ i W! US. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 12 of 14 5,333,601 5 mu IIIWml. FIG.33. US. Patent Aug. 2, 1994 Sheet 14 of 14 5,333,601 37 35 36 39 || 39 160 I 101a FIG.38. I" ‘W5 " _. .; mum-mum_ __ I mm. H ~ ! - 1 40 \ ' J 40 39 107 38.1 F|G.39. 5,333,601 1 2 design there is a dangerous potential for non combusted MASONRY HEATER gas to accumulate in the upper regions of the contra ?ow masonry heater. As a result, such gas ?re contra FIELD OF THE INVENTION ?ow heaters must be operated with the doors open and The invention relates to masonry heaters, and in par may not include a chimney damper. Inef?cient burning ticular a thermostatically controlled gas ?red masonry of the gas fuel results, however the problem of accumu heater. lation of dangerous gases is avoided. A signi?cant dan ger still is presented by such an application since the BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION home owner may forget to leave the doors open or may Masonry heaters have been used at least since Roman instal a damper without knowing the inherent dangers times to provide radiant heat from a mass of masonry. A of such a modi?cation. conventional masonry heater includes a ?rebox and a The design of conventional masonry heaters also series of maze like channels through which the ?ue often requires that expansion gaskets be installed be gases escape to the chimney. The ?rebox and channels 15 tween various parts of the ?rebox and heat exchange have walls preferably made of refractory material channels due to the differential in temperature during which absorbs heat energy from the burning fuel and operation and relative expansion and contraction. Gas combustion gases. The primary advantage of a masonry kets and cracks in the masonry heater may be accept heater is that a relatively small amount of fuel may be able in a wood burning application, however the danger burned for a short period of time and the mass of the masonry heater absorbs a signi?cant portion of the heat 20 of carbon monoxide poisoning or explosive gases is energy from such a ?re. The masonry mass thereafter present when used in conjunction with a gas burner. radiates heat to the surrounding room over a long per Another disadvantage of conventional masonry heaters iod of time. is that they are of a size which requires the removal of A contra-?ow masonry heater conventionally has a an existing ?replace to install a masonry heater. This is central ?rebox with air intake and upper ?ue outlet. 25 not a particular dif?culty with the construction of a Vertical contra-?ow heat exchange channels communi new home, however the market potential of masonry cate with the ?ue outlet at the top of the ?rebox and heaters is signi?cantly restricted by its inability to be direct the combustion gases downward in the channels adapted to retro ?t in a conventional ?replace. to be exhausted through an exhaust port at a lower SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION level. A contra-?ow masonry heater is preferred since a 30 larger portion of the heat energy may be absorbed by The invention overcomes the disadvantages of the the masonry mass. The heat of combustion is high prior art in a novel manner in the provision of a contra enough to avoid the buildup of creasole and other com ?ow masonry heater which can be adapted to burn bustible products in the channels. wood fuel or to include a gas burner. A down draft In Europe, masonry heaters have been convention 35 hood is provided to prevent down draft in the chimney ally built where a wood burning ?replace is desired. from exhausting carbon dioxide and fuel gas into the The size of the masonry heaters is relatively large and dwelling. Such a down draft hood prevents the serious they are often located in the center of a home to provide problem of back?ow through the air intake. radiant heating throughout the dwelling. The contra-?ow masonry heater of the invention In North America, conventionally an open hearth includes burner control means which operate with a ?replace has been used, however, in recent years due to thermostat in contact with a masonry core. Depending the inefficiencies of such ?replaces, their use has been upon the temperature setting of the thermostat and the discouraged. A conventional ?replace is very inef?cient temperature of the core after burning of the fuel and in that it draws room air for combustion and although heat absorption, the burner control means may be stim radiant heat is felt in the immediate vicinity of the ?re 45 place, in total the heat output of many ?replaces is ulated to ignite the burner ?ame, extinguish the ?ame, negative. In other words, the draft caused by the opera or vary the quantity of gas supplied to the burner to tion of the ?replace exhausts warm air from the dwell achieve the desired room temperature. As described ing and draws in cold air through doorways, windows above, conventional gas ?red masonry heaters have not been thermostatically controlled since for safety reasons and other openings of the dwelling. In modern home 50 construction, insulation and vapor barriers are continu they are required to be operated with the doors open ously provided to substantially increase the heating and cannot include a damper. ef?ciency of the dwelling. A ?replace in such a dwell The relief port of the down draft hood exhausts into ing represents a major source of heat loss, however, the same dwelling space from which the intake air is since many members of the purchasing public still desire 55 drawn. Temperature sensor means are located within a wood burning ?replace in their homes, the level of the relief port and communicate with the burner control energy efficiency is less than optimal in modern con means. When a temperature higher than a prescribed struction. When a gas burning insert is placed in a con value is sensed by the temperature sensor, it stimulates ventional ?replace, the heat ef?ciency is not substan the burner control means to extinguish the burner. Such tially higher than when wood is burned in a conven a rise in temperature would occur when down draft tional ?replace. As a result, such gas inserts are largely through the chimney forces ?ue gases down the chim decorative and are not a practical source of heat for a ney and through the relief port. Without such a relief dwelling despite the quantity of gas burned in such port or down draft hood, the ?ue gases would be forced applications. back into the masonry heater and possibly backwards Attempts have been made to combine the ef?ciency 65 into the dwelling area through the intake port.