Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to flammable fluid fuelled heaters
and, in particular, although not neceseaxily solely, gaa fuelled
heaters.
(ii,) Deacrinr on og the Pr p,r Art
Traditional flammable fluid fuelltd heaters such as gas
fuelled heaters comprise a combustion chamber into which the
flammqblQ fluid ie supplied and may be provided with an exhaust
into the room into which the heater is housed. Such #luelees
unite may bQ provided with catalytic converters forming a
secondary combustion chamber above the primary combustion chamber
to reduce the emiasions in the exhaust. However, in trying to
provide such units with an open front wall to provide an
unobstructed view of the flames in accordance with a conventional
fireplace, some difficulties might arise in minimi ing the size of
that catalytic converter duQ to the large open front area for the
drawing of air into the primary combustion unit increasing the
overall throughput of the heater. A catalytic convertez of
reduced sixe causes a obstruction to the flow of air through the
heater and this may lead to spilling of emissions directly from
the primary combustion out through the open front of the unit and
into the room into which the unit in housed. This can cause
problems with such emissions reaching levels that are either
unaafe or at least outside regulatory guidelines.
006493732123 PAt3E.002
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Another aspect of traditional fireplaces is attempts to provide a realistic
artificial log assembly in the combustion chamber. There may be a
preference for a primary combustion chamber and associated artificial log
assembly which attempts to provide a visually larger fire than is physically
present so that the overall size of the heater unit may be minimised by still
providing a relatively large apparent fire area. Such traditional technology
has
included the provision of a mirror behind the artificial log assembly and
primary combustion chamber. However, the reflected image in the mirror
does not always provide a realistic appearance if there is a visually apparent
division between the real image and the reflected image
The present invention provides a flammable fluid fuelled heater which
may overcome or minimise any one or more of these disadvantages or at
least provide the public with a useful choice.
Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention comprises a flammable fluid
fueled heater comprising:
a primary combustion chamber having an opening in at least one side
thereof for providing a view of a substantial portion of the primary
combustion
chamber;
a flammable fluid fuel supply to said primary combustion chamber to,
upon combustion, provide a substantial portion of yellow flame, wherein upon
combustion exhaust gases are generated;
a secondary combustion chamber in communication with the primary
combustion chamber for receiving exhaust gases generated in the primary
combustion chamber, the secondary combustion chamber comprising a
catalytic converter;
an exhaust port in communication with the secondary combustion
chamber for redirecting at least a portion of the exhaust gases received into
the secondary combustion chamber into a room where the heater is located;
CA 02186579 2006-04-13
4
and
an air circulating means for providing a stream of air across at least a
portion of said opening.
Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention comprises a flammable
fluid fueled heater comprising:
a primary combustion chamber having an opening in at least on side
thereof to provide a view of at least a substantial portion of said primary
combustion chamber;
a flammable fluid fuel supply to said primary combustion chamber to,
upon combustion, provide a substantial portion of yellow flame and generate
products of combustion;
a secondary combustion chamber in communication with the primary
combustion chamber for receiving products of combustion from the primary
combustion chamber said secondary combustion chamber comprising a
catalytic converter;
an air circulating means for assisting in the drawing of the products of
combustion through said secondary combustion chamber; and
an exhaust port in communication with the secondary combustion
chamber for receiving the products of combustion and exhausting at least a
portion of said products into a room where the heater is located.
The present invention also provides a flammable fluid fueled heater
comprising:
a housing having an opening;
a primary combustion chamber within the housing, the primary
combustion chamber having an opening in at least one side thereof aligned
with the housing opening providing a view of the combustion chamber from a
location external to the housing;
a flammable fluid fuel supply to said primary combustion chamber to,
upon combustion, provide a substantially yellow flame;
a secondary combustion chamber comprising,
CA 02186579 2006-04-13
an intake in communication with the primary combustion chamber for
receiving products of combustion from the primary combustion chamber,
a catalytic converter, and
an exhaust for exhausting the products of combustion;
5 a duct between the housing and the primary combustion chamber for
receiving air from a source external to the heater, the duct providing a flow
of
air over the exhaust; and
an air circulating means for increasing the circulation of air through
said duct for creating an air stream across the secondary combustion
chamber exhaust for increasing the throughput through the catalytic
converter.
Further aspects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled
in the art upon reading the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with reference to the following
drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view through one possible
embodiment of the apparatus; and
Figure 2 shows a front elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred forms of the invention may be seen with reference to the
figures in which a flammable fluid fuelled heater 1 having a primary
combustion chamber 2 is provided. The primary combustion chamber is
provided with a flammable fluid fuel supply 3 to provide a flammable fluid
such
as liquidified petroleum gas or compressed natural gas or other such fuels for
combustion in the primary combustion chamber.
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An outer housin9 4 may be providad to hous4 the apparatus
and, in at least this preferred form of the invention, the primary
combustion chamber 2 and outer housing 4 are provided with an
opening 5 providing an unobstructed view of a subatAntial portion
of the primary coenbuetion chamber 2 and, in particular, that
region in which combustion is occurring.
To provide a viaually aesthetic fire, the fuel supply through
the inlet 3 and the combustion characteristics within the primary
combuation chamber 2 are such ao to provide a flame having a
substantially yellow appearance. To achieve this, the primary
combustion chamber 2 must be depleted of vxygem content and this
requires strict control over the inlet of oxygenated air into the
primary combustion chamber 2 as well as the mixture of the fuel
provided through the inlet 3.
The yellow flame characteristic providing a more
aeathetically pleasing fireplace, also requires some incomplete
combuation of the fuel in the primary combustion chamber. The
emissions from'such aesthetically pleasing flames are higher than
a comparable heater a,esembly which is configured to burn with a
substantially clean blue flame. Therefore, there is some risk
that spillage of the products of the primary combustion through
the open front 5 may lead to the room in which the heater is
housed, having raised levels of carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide.
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Although it ia perhaps possibla to reduce such spillage
through increasing the throughput through the apparatus 1 such
that the large opening 5into the primary combustion chamber 2 has
sufficient draught to inhibit the exiting of the products of
primary combustion through that opening, such a throughput leads
to difficulty in achieving the yellow flames while still operating
efficient3.y. Further, a large throughput requires a larger
= catalytic converter to accommodate the air flow. Also this
increased throughput will have a cooling effect on a catalyst
which ittcreases the difficulty in achieving light off temperature.
The present invention provides an air circulating means 6
which may be of any convenient type to create an airstream or
draught ", in thia preferred form, ia provided as a fan. The
circulating means 6 is provided to create a stream of air 7 which
projects acroQS the opening S. Such an air,stream both reduces the
effective size of the opening 5 for air inlet which improves the
ability to deplete the oxygeri within the primary combustion
chamber ao well as inhibiting the spillage of the products of
combustion adjacent the upper edge of the opening S. This is
particularly the case when the airstream 7 is provided to project
downwardly from an upper edge of the opening 5 as indicated in
Figure 1.
In additioa, this form of the invention also providers a
deflector a running across the airstream to deflect some of the
aizstream back into the primary combustion chamber 2 which further
SEP 26 196 0Qr@1 006493732123 PACiE.007
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helps to reduce spillage of products from the primary combust3.on
as designated by arrow 9.
Again in the preferred form, the heating apparatus I may be
provided as a flueless unit as indicated or, a unit in which at
least a portion of the exhaust from the heater is directed into
the room in which the heater 1 is housed. To improve the standard
of those emissions, a secondary combustion chamber 10 which
includes or comprises a catalytic converter may be provided. in
this manner, the products of primary combustion may b~ drawn
through the catalytic converter 10 and through an exhaust port 11
into the room in which the heater Is houaed and be relatively low
in uncombustad bydrocarbons such as carbon monoxide and other
pollutanta. With the air inlet being provided at leaat partially
by the open front 5, not only are the products of the primary
combustion chamber furthsr combusted to improve the exhaust
quality but other odoura in the room such as cooking odoure may be
removed through the catalytic converter 10.
Ca.talytic'converters for such apparatus are relatively
expensive and, therefore, the size of the catalytic converter
required can become an important factor in providing a cost
efficient heater. The minimieation of the aize of the catalytic
converter will also decrease the throughput capable from the
catalytic converter 10. It is normal in such units for the
catalytic converter 10 to provide the greatest reatriction to flow
in the entire apparatus and this tends to increase any potential
SEP 26 '96 0Q:e1 006493732123 PACE.608
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problems with spillage of productc directly from the primary
combustion chamber.
In the present invention, an air duct 12 may be provided in
~ communication with the aeoondary combustion chamber or catalytic
converter 10 and the exhaust port 11 eo as to creata an aixatre+am
across the outlet from the secondary combustion chamber 10. The
duct 12 is also in communication with the air circulating means 6
to create the airstream and the flow of this airstream across the
exit from the catalytic eonvarter and provides the draft through
the catalytic convexter to improve overall throughput. Not only
may such an arrangement improve the performance of the catalytic
converter but alao xeduce the restriction that the converter
provides in the apparatus and therefore decreasing the quantity of
circulating products from the primary combustion as indicated by
arrow 9.
The ducting 12 may also provide a number of other function$
such as providing a fxe6h cooler airstream within the housing 4 to
reduce the temperatures of the outer panels of the overall
apparatua 1 forming the housing 4. Furthermore, should it be
desired, the housing 4 and ducting 12 may be provided with an
inlet 14 for connection to a vent to an area external to the room
in which the heater is housed such as to the outside of a
building. Such an inlet 14 allows ventilation of the room in
conjunction with the heater apparatus 1.
SEP 26 '96 00:01 008493732123 PAGE.009
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Altarnatively or additionally, the i,nlet for tha ducting 12
may be in the baso of the heater below the primary combustion
chamber 2 such as the inlet 15.
The air circulating maans 6 may be provided in a number of
forms and aloo in a number of positions. In the preferred
apparatus ao shown in figure 1, the air circulating means 6 may be
pxovidad anywhere on communication with the ducting 12 to direct
the airstream as suggested. This include9 the positioning in a
region beneath the primary combustion chamber 2 auch as between
the inleCa 15 and 14,
It ahould also be noted that the inlet 14 for connection to
an external source of air may be provided ae an adjustable inlet
so that the proportion of air drawn from an external source and
the proportion of air drawn through an i.nlet such as inlet is from
within the room can be balanced. This adjuatment may be through
the form of a baffle plate or similar which can adjust the size of
the opening 14. This adjustment may be provided during
manufacture and set to a suitable level or allow some manual or
controlled adjustment.
In addition or alternatively to the baffle plate or similar
control over the vent, the air circulating means 6 may be provided
in the form of a variable speed fan to increase draft through the
ducting 12 to increase the drawing of air from the outside. Of
course, in a preferred form, it may be desirable to provide
separate air circulating meana 6 with at leaat one of these air
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cxrculating means being primarily to draw air through the inlet 14
from an external source. This additional air circulating means or
other form of control over the inlet 14 may be linked to a heater
control system (not ahown) to allow variation in the inlet air.
In aoms territories, regulatory requirements eet down levels
for ventilation in a room in which such a heater is housed. The
air drawn thxough the inlet 34 from an external source may be
measured through the inclusion of a suitable air flow sensor to
ensure that the adequate ventilation I.avels are being met. This
provideo'a verifiable control over the air coming into the room in
which the heater is housed which w,i11 force air from within that
room out through any available exit. Should the inlet air fall
below a minimum limit, the heater can attempt to compensate by
increasing the tan spoad, si,ze of the inlet vent or, if necessary,
turn the unit off rather than continue to operate below a minimum
level. This may involve a link into the gas supply to shut off
the unit if the ventilation requirements are not being met.
The contrdl over this inlet air from an external source can
also provide other benefits. In a controlled heater which may
involve a thermostatic contxol or similar, the quantity of gas
being supplied to the unit may be adjusted to control the heat
output from the heater. For example, a heating appliance may have
a maximum capacity of 25MJ. Once the thermostatic or other
controller suggaato that the heater should reduce its output, t,hig
may be controlled through control of the quantity of gas supplied
into the unit. However, as this gas supp7.y continues to reduce,
SEP 26 '96 00002 006493732123 PAGE.011
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the flame height on the unit may also be effected. Once the gas
consumption falls below, for example, half its maximum level, it
may be decided that the flame height is now insufficient to
provide a visually aesthetic appearance. In circumstances where
gas qonsumption is of prime importance, such a reduction in flame
height may be of no great concerz'n,. However, if the visual
appearanap of the fire is considered more impoxtant, it may be
deeirabla to make the unit operate less efficiently so as to
inereaae the flame height.
one manner of achieving this can be by again increasing the
air flow from outside of the room in which the heater is housed.
This increase of inlet air will effectively dump heated air within
the room out through any available means. This dumping of heated
air withizi the room allows the unit to continue to operate with a
higher gaa flow and greater heat output and hence higher visible
flame.
Of course, control of the unit may also alter air flow
through the unit and gas consumption as other variables related to
the efficiency of the heater, heat autput and flame height.
Flammaba.e fluid fuelled heaters 1 such as shown in the
prevsnt invention are also often provided with an artificial log
assembly within the primary combustion chamber 2 so as to give the
appearance of a wood fire place. Any attempts to minimise the
size of the overall heatex 7, lead to sorne compromise being made in
SEP 26 '96 00:02 006493732123 PAG6.012
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the size of the fire and the artificial log assembly such as the
artificial log assembly 16 compriaing artificial logs 17.
In an attempt to provide a larger visual appearance to the
fire, at least one portion of the primary combuation chamber 2 may
be provided with a reflective surface such as the back wall 18.
In thia preferred form of the invention, the primary combuati,on
chamber 2 ie also provided with side walls 19 and 20 which are
also provided as reflective surfaces to give a reflected image of
the log aaaelNbly l6 and flames 21.
The problem with such reflective surfaces is often the
appearance of two separate or distinet fires being the artificial
log aeeeMbly 15 and flames 21 and the reflected image of both.
There is an apparent discontinuity between the two images. In the
present preferred embodiment, artificial logs 17 are provided to
abut the roflactive surfaces to provide an apparent continuity of
the log into the reflective surface.
Refsrring'to tha rear base log 22 of the aaoembly 16, it can
be seen that the upper edge 23 of this log is provided to abut the
reflective back wall 18. As such the base log 22 is provided as a
half round log in the artificial log assembly 16. Upon being
abutted to the reflective aurface 18, the reflective surface 18
provides a continuity to this log to give the appearance of a full
round log when the real and reflected images of the base log 22
are varied. The base log 22 is provided having a longitudinal
axis substantially paxallal to the rear wall le.
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Similarly, additional loga 24 may be provided which abut the
rear wall ie such that thQ longitudinal axis of the loga 24 is
substantially transverse to the plane of the rear wa11 18, in
this manner, the length of the log 24 appears to be extended in
the reflective image and again providing some continuity into the
reflected image.
In this preferred form where aide walls 19 and 20 are also
provided with reflective surfaces, the logs abutting those
surfacQa rzuch as the front log 17 abut the side wall 20
substantially perpendicular to the plane of that reflective
surface to provide some continuity into the reflective surtace-
In this pxefRrred form, at least a portion of the flames 21
will be provided intermediate of the loga perpendicular to the
rear wall lA such as logs 24 and the side walls 19 and 20 so as
not to provide a gap in the flames in the primary combustion
chamber and shown in thQ reflective surface of the side walls 19
and 20.
Another feature of the artificial log assembly 16 in this
preferred form is that the logs such as log 17 across the heater I
may be provided with a discontinuity such as a burnt out portion
25. Such artificial log aesemblies are often constructed from
ceramic fibre logs and these may have substantial variations in
shrinkage in production. Therefore, the provision of logs across
the heating apparatus 1 to accurately abut against both the side
wall,i 19 and 20 can be exceedingly difficult. The provision of
SEP 26 186 00s02 006493732123 PRGE.014
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the burnt out portion 16 allows the transverse log such as log 17
to be providRd with an apparent naturally occurring reason for not
extending entirely acros~ the fire and creating the potential for
gaps against the side walls 19 and 20 should a tight abutment
against both be unable to be achieved.
The provision of the rQflected extension of tha Xoga 17,24,
etc., may lead to the selection of loqs having diameters larger
than chosen for a normal aaaemb7,y. The diameters are chosen in
keeping with those that appear natural for a fixe a4 provided by
both the real and reflective images combined and in keeping with
the greater apparent length of the logs=
Thus it can be seen that at least the preferred form of thia
invention provides a heating apparatus I which may provide an open
front S and yet provide some inhibition to the spil],age of gases
from the primary combustion chamber 2,
In addition, the heater 1 providee an artificial log assembly
having reflective surfaces around the perimeter of the primary
combustion chamber and the artificial log assembly having logis
abutting the reflective surfaces ae as to provide the appearance
of continuity into the reflective surfaces.
14'here in the foregoing description reference has been made to
specific components or integers of the invention having
equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if
individually set forth.
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Although this invention hes been descri.bed by way of exmmple
and with reference to possible embodimenta thereof it ia to be
understood thst modifications or improvements may be made thereto
without departing from the scope of the invention.
26 September 1996
CSPSC27S33
SEP 26 '96 00;03 006493732123 PAGE.016
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