Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02714320 2011-02-08
FURNACE PROTECTOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, generally, to Furnace Protectors. More
specifically,
the invention relates to Furnace Protectors that are purposed to be used to
protect
selected components of a furnace.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Furnaces, in particular oil furnaces, have many parts and associated
components
that require protection from moving articles. This is because damage to such
parts
or components may lead to an environmentally unfriendly situation, such as an
oil
spill. Some parts may include the oil filter, carburettor, motor and
electrical
components. An associated component may include an oil barrel which may be
attached to a furnace. tWoday's society for FurnaCe r PIrU toCC_t_lUrr_S
auC1%A1UU to 1 IICIC is a need III Ud~/ J I Furnace
that can be mounted to a furnace assembly or an affiliated region wherein
sensitive components can be protected. The prior art has attempted to address
this need.
For example, Chinese Patent Application No. 2806464Y discloses a furnace
protective device for coke furnaces comprising a door frame and protective
plates
for burning chamber, checker chamber and chute zone. The protective device has
a reasonable structure, high strength, and provides good sealing effect and
protection for the furnace body.
Canadian Patent No. 1,105,976 discloses an electric heater assembly, having
electric resistance heating elements and refractory structure for supporting
the
electric resistance elements. The refractory structure includes flanges that
serve
as shielding for the heating elements from material which may fall from above
in
the furnace.
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CA 02714320 2011-02-08
United States Patent No. 4,085,726 discloses an arrangement for protection
against damage to electric motor lead wires during servicing of furnace
components within the furnace cabinet. The invention contemplates the
provision
of an electrical junction box mounted on blower support plate and of a channel
shaped raceway provided with means for holding the electrical leads along the
channel.
Chinese Patent Application No. 201268676Y discloses a cover block for coke
oven brace grooves. The cover blocks are connected and laid on the brace
grooves so as to discharge the water deposited on the furnace top to prevent
it
from leaking into the furnace brace grooves.
Chinese Patent Application No. 2205534Y discloses a protector for working in
front of a metallurgical furnace comprising three truckles, upstanding
protective
wall, armrest handles and other means to satisfy various needs of working in
front
of c a metallurgical furnace.
The prior art as of yet does not envisage or indeed teach a Furnace Protector
that:
1. Provides protection of furnace parts and associated components that
require protection from moving articles, while providing access to these
parts / components;
2. Provides protection of furnace parts and associated components that
require protection from moving articles, while providing visibility to these
parts / components;
3. Provides a mountable means for protection.
A furnace protector according to the present invention may be constructed to
provide some protection for all of the elements of the furnace motor, not
simply
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electrical connections or other single or limited elements as in the prior
art. It is a
construction which is an easily removable or adjustable device suited to a
wide
range of applications, and is not limited in use to industrial size
applications. It
provides better protection than the prior art. Unlike the greater part of the
prior art
it is useful in personal/residential, commercial or industrial environments.
The optimal permanent mounting of the invention inhibits the possibility that
the
protector can itself cause damage through movement after being hit by a moving
object.
The furnace protector according to the present invention may in general be
normally less weighty than the prior art and more convenient to install by a
prudent individual of average ability and with diligent and purposeful
application.
The present invention was conceived and developed having regard to the known
prior art and with the purpose of providing an improvement in the art of
Furnace
Protectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the present invention is to provide Furnace Protectors that
addresses some of the deficiencies as found in the prior art.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a Furnace
Protector comprising, a caged frame shaped and dimensioned to provide
protection for at least one selected furnace component, and a means for
mounting
the caged frame into a position suitable to protect at least one selected
furnace
component.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
Furnace
Protector as described above wherein the frame is partially open providing
access
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for a selected furnace component to enjoy protection from damage by use of the
present invention.
Preferably, the frame is caged with wire mesh.
Preferably, the Furnace Protector further comprises a means for accessing the
at
least one furnace component.
Preferably, the means for accessing the at least one furnace component
comprises a hinged door.
Another aspect of the present invention is a furnace protector as described
herein
in which a portion of the frame can be opened to facilitate access to the
working
parts without having to dismantle the entire installation.
As another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a furnace
protector,
comprising: a substantially parallelepiped shaped frame to at least partially
surround at least one furnace component; meshing means affixed to the frame
for
filling at least one side of the frame; and mounting means for rigidly
affixing the
frame to a furnace or a floor; wherein at least one side of the frame is
unmeshed
for providing the at least one furnace component an opening to be surrounded
by
the furnace protector.
As another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a furnace
protector,
comprising: a frame adapted to at least partially surround at least one
furnace
component and defining a plurality of sides; meshing means affixed to the
frame
for filling at least one side of the frame; and mounting means for rigidly
affixing the
frame to a furnace or a floor; wherein at least one side of the frame is
unmeshed
for providing the at least on furnace component an opening to be surrounded by
the furnace protector.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be further described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention
encasing components of an oil filter; and
Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the present
invention encasing components of an oil barrel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS
A better understanding of the present invention and its advantages will become
apparent to those skilled in this art form the following detailed description,
wherein
there is described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by
way
of illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention.
As will
be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious
respects,
all without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly,
the
description should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as
restrictive.
As shown in Figure 1, the furnace protector 1 preferably comprises a cage
framed
2 that is preferably made of Y2 inch angle iron and closed in with 1 inch
square
iron mesh on three lateral sides and the top. Optionally, the bottom may also
be
closed in with iron mesh. The use of a mesh-type cover that cages the frame
provides visibility to component(s) 3 surrounded by the cage. Preferably the
top
comprises a hinged door 7 to provide access to the components surrounded by
the cage. The furnace protector may be of variety of shapes and sizes,
however,
it is preferred that adapted to a size appropriate to encase at least one
component
3 of the Furnace for which it is intended for. Figure 1 illustrates an
embodiment
that is rectangular in shape, however this should not be considered limiting.
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The present invention is intended to protect furnace components such as
carburettors, oil filters and the electrical components for all oil furnaces
from being
damaged accidentally with moving hard objects. It is therefore constructed
and/or
adapted to a size appropriate to encase at least one component of the Furnace
for which it is intended for.
The present invention further comprises a means for mounting the caged frame
in
a position suitable to protect the component(s). For example, the caged frame
may be secured to the floor and/or to the furnace with bolts and nuts,
however,
are not limited to such means. The frame may comprise tabs 4 whereby the bolts
can go through. Bolts or other fasteners may be used to run through the angle
iron. The present invention may also comprise leg members that may be used to
stabilize the furnace protector upon mounting. The leg members may be bolted
the ground. Optionally, the leg members may extend out in a substantially
horizontal manner whereby they may be fastened to a structure such as a wall.
Other means for mounting the caged frame in a position suitable to protect the
component(s) may be possible. In some embodiments the present invention may
be bolted to the floor via bolt and tabs 4.
In operation, the furnace protector is positioned in a region wherein it
encases a
furnace component that needs protection and is then secured to the floor
and/or
to the furnace with a mounting means. Legs 5 may also be used to facilitate
stabilization of the furnace protector when mounted. Optionally, the
installation
of the present invention is effected by a trained technician, whereby the
installation may have to be inspected by an outside regulatory body.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the furnace protector 1 is
intended and adapted for an associated component such as an oil barrel 6 which
may be attached to a furnace. This embodiment is illustrated in Figure 2. The
present invention may be intended to protect components such as shut-off
valves
and oil filters from being damaged accidentally with moving hard objects. It
is
therefore adapted to a size appropriate to encase at least one component of
the
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Furnace for which it is intended for. Other embodiments may be adapted for
protection of exposed mechanical and electrical components of fuel feeding
part
such as oil-fired hot water heaters.
The furnace protector can be readily adapted to the protection of any exposed
mechanical device, particularly one with an external fuel feed.
While one (or more) embodiment(s) of this invention has (have) been
illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident to those
skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing from the essence of this invention. All such modifications or
variations
are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by
the
claims appended hereto.
Furthermore, the features and elements of the embodiments described and
illustrated may be combined providing other embodiments of the present
invention.
The present invention is useful in a residential setting as compared to other
developments more suited toward an industrial setting. It is useful for
protecting
exposed components of a furnace such as oil couplings and environmentally
hazardous connections and components. It is also possible to be used for the
protection for larger commercial heating devices. The present invention's
simple
design facilitates its use over a wide range of applications.
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