Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
AI~ DISTRIBUTING ~EVICE
Background of the Invention:
Draft-controlliny devices frequently are provided
for fireplaces. Some of those draft-controlling devices
include ports and air-throttling means which determine the
amount of air that can pass from those ports into the fire-
places.
Summary of the Present Invention:
The present invention provides an air dis-tributing
device for a fireplace that is equipped with an air conduit
which can conduct outside air to that fireplace; and that
air distributing device has a lower air-yuiding secti.on
which ~a) is adjacent the bottom of the fireplace opening,
(b) has an air inlet that is in communication with the alr
conduit to receive outside air, (c) has a plurality of a.ir
outlet ports, and td~. has an adjustable air--throttling means
to control the amount of outside air which can pass from
those air outlet ports into the fireplace. The air outlet
ports of that lower air-guiding section are positioned to
permit outside air, that successIvely passes throuyh the
air conduit and that lower air-guiding section and those
air outlet ports, t~ enter the lower area of th~e fireplace
to support the combustion of the fuel within that ~ireplace.
The air distributin~ device also has an uppe.r air-yuidiny
section which (a) ~s adjacent the top of the fireplace openiny,
(bl rec~ives outside air, (c) has a plurality of alr out~
let ports, and (d) which has an adjustable air-throttling
means to control the amount of outside air which can pass
from those air outlet por'cs into the fireplace. The air
outlet ports of that upper section are positioned to permit
1, `~
outside air, that successively passes through the air conduit
and that upper air-guiding section and those air ou-tlet ports,
to enter the upper area of the fireplace to serve as above-
fire air. It is, therefore, an object of the present inven
tion to provide an air distributing device, for a fireplace
that is equipped with an air conduit which can conduct out-
side air to that fireplacetwith a lower air-guiding section
adjacent the bottom of the flreplace opening, with an upper
air-guiding section adjacent the top of tha-t fireplace open-
ing, and with adjustahle air-throttling means that determine
the amount of outside air which can enter the lower area or
the upper area of the fireplace.
Other and further objects and advantages of the
present invention should become apparent from an examination
of the drawing and accompanying description.
In the drawing and accompanying descxiption, some
preferred embodimen~ of the present inven-tion ~reshown and
described but it is to be understood that the drawing and
accompanying description are for the purpose oE illustration
only and do not limit the invention and that the invention
will be defined by the appended claims.
Brief Description of the Drawing:
In the drawing, ~ig. 1 is a partially broken-away
perspective yiew of a fireplace and of part of a preferred
2~ embodiment of air distributing device which is made in
accordance with the principles and teachings of the present
invention,
~ ig. 2 is a sectional view, on a larger scale,
which is taken along the plane indicated by the line 2-2 in
Fig. 1,
Fiy. 3 is a sectional view, on a still larger
scale, which emphasizes the upper air-yuiding section of
the air distribu-ting device, and which is -taken along the
plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1,
Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view, on the scale
of Fig. 3, which is taken along the plane indicated by the
line 4-4 i~n Fig. 3,
Fig. 5 is a broken sectional view, on the scale
of Fig. 3, which is taken along the plane indicated by the
line 5-5 in Fig. 4,
Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on the scale of Fig.
3, which emphasizes the lower air-guiding section of the air
distributing device, and which is taken along the plane in-
dicated by -the line 2-2 in Fig. 1,
Fig.. 7 is a rear elevational view, on the scale
of Fig. 3, which is ta~.en along the plane indicated by the
line 7-7 in Fig. 6,
Fig. 8 is a sectional view, on the scale of Fig.
3, which is taken along the plane indicated by the line 8-8
in Fig. 7,
Fig. 9 is a vertical section throuqh the lower
right-hand portion of a second preferred embodiment oE a.ir
distributing device which is made in accordance with the
principles and teachin~s o the present invent10ll, ancl it
shows the air~throttlin~ member of that air dis-tributing
device in position to block the flow of outside air into
that air distributing device,
~ 3.
3~
Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the structure
shown in Fig. 9, but it shows the air-throt-tling member in
the position it occupies when it directs outside air into the
vertically~directed air-yuiding section of that air distribut-
S ing device, and
Fig. 11 is a partially broken-away, ve,rtical section
through the lower right-hand portion of a third preferred
embodiment of air distributirlg device which is made in accord-
ance with the principles and teachings of the present inven-
tion.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment:
Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 20generally denotes a fireplace which has a rectan~ular opening
2~, a back wall 29, and a damper 26. That fireplace is cli-
mentioned to accommodate a log bas~et 28 which ls shown withthree logs therein. The numeral 30 denotes a conduit or
passage which ex-tends to the exterior of the building of
which the fireplace is a part, as shown particularly by E~ig.
~. That conduit has a vertically-directed arm 32 which ex-
tends upwardly toward the level of the floor of the ~ireplace
3~.
20; and that arm is located inwardly of -the plane of the
wall of whic~ the fireplace 20 is a part. That arm can be
circular, rectangular or lrregular in plan view; but it
should have an area at least as great as that of a Eour-inch circle.
The fireplace 20 and its opening 22, back wall
24, damper 26, log basket 28, conduit 30 and vertically-
directed arm 32 are of standard and usual design and ~re
not, per se, parts of the present invention. Further, the
present invention is not xestricted to use with ~ fireplace
which has the proportions and configurations of the fire--
place 20~ Instead, that invention can be dimensioned and
formed to be usable with any fireplace wh~ch has a conduit
that supplies outside air to that fireplace. The air di.s-
~ributing device of the present invention can be made in
different sizes to fit any desired rectangular fireplace
opening. In addition, if that air distributing device was
to be used with a fireplace opening which was not rectangular,
suitable baffles could be provided to bridge any spaces be-
tween the outer periphery o that air distributing device
and any non-linear po~tions of that fireplace opening.
T}le numeral 34 denotes a lower air-yuiding section
of the air distributing device which is provided by the pre~
sent invention; and that lower air-guiding section is shown
as an elongated channel wi-th inturned flanges. That channel
2~5 is mounted so it has an open bottom; and the inturned
flanges on ~hat bottom are short enough to provide a sub
stant~al air inlet 36 for t~at lower air-guiding section.
As indicated particularly by Eigs. 2 and 6-8~ the bottom of
the lower air-guiding section 34 is located within an elon-
gated recess in the floor of the fireplace. The bottom of
that recess will effectively close the major portion of
the length of the open bottom of the lower air-guiding
section 34; but the ~ertically-directed arm 32 of the air
conduit 30 will permit air from that conduit to enter that
lower air-guiding section. By using a channel as the lower
air-guiding section 34, and by disposing the bottom of that
lower air-guidinq section within an elongated recess .in the
floor of the fireplace which communicates with the verti-
cally-directed arm 32 of the conduit 30, the present inven~
tion enables the air distributing device to communicate with
that vertically-directed arm whether that verti.cally-directed
arm is in the center of the fireplace opening 22, is ~t one
or the other of the ends of that fireplace opening, or is
somewhere between that center and one of tho.se ends. In
doing so, the present inyention provides an air distributing
device which can be used with almost every fireplace which
has a conduit for outlet air that communicates with an elon-
gated recess in the floor of that fireplace.
The air distributing member of the present invention
also is usable with a fireplace which has an ou-tside air con-
duit but does not have an elongated recess in the floor of
that fireplace. In such a case, suitable stops cou:ld be
secured to the floor of the fireplace by cement, lag screws,
recessing or the like, and then the inner Eace of the lower
air-guiding section 3~ could be abutted against them. There-
after, a sealant, such as cement, a baffling strip or th~
like could be provided to seal the joint between the floor
of the fireplace and the outer wall of the lower air-guiding
section 34; and a further sealant could be provided to seal
the joint between that floor and the inner wall of that
lower air-guiding section. Consequently, the air distribu~ing
device of the present invention is usable with almost every
fireplace which has a conduit for outside alr.
The numeral 38 denotes air outlet ports which are
provided in the upper portion of the inner wall of the lower
air-guiding section 34O Those air outlet ports are shown as
being circular in elevation; but they could be given poly-
gonal, arcua-te or planar~arcuate configurations of any de-
sired kind. The numeral 40 denotes an ear which is formed
~y punching it out of the inner wall of the le~t hand
section 4~. The resulting opening, which is formed in
that inner wall by the punching operation, is denoted by the
numeral 42. The eax 40 is shown adjacent one end of the
lower air-guiding section 34; and a second ear 40, not shown,
will be provided adjacen~ the opposite end of that lowex aix-
guiding section.
The n~eral 4~ deno-tes the left-hand section of the
air distributing device; and, as indicated particularly by
Fig. S, that left-hand section is tubular, has a xectangular
cross secti.on, and has a closed top and a closed bottom. As
indicated particularly by Fig. 7, an opening 39 in the inner
face of that le~t-hand section, adjacent the lower end o~
that left-hand section,is welded to the left-hand end of
the lower air-guiding section 34. As a result, that opening
can receive outside air from the left-hand end of the lower
air-guiding section 34. Three openings 46, which are shown
particularly by Fig. 1, are provided in the front of the
left-hand section 44. One of those openings is close to
the upper end of that section, another of those openings is
close to the lower end of that section, and the remaining
opening is midway between those two openings. A~ least one
~fr~ 5
opening 46, not shown, is provided in the outer wall of the
lower air-guiding section 34.
The nu~eral 50 denotes an upper air-guiding section
for the air distributing device~ As shown particularly by ~iCJ.
4, an opening 51 in the inner face of the laft-hand section 44,
adjacent the upper end of that left-hand section, is secured,
as by weldinc3, to the left-hand end of the upper air-guidi.ng
section 50. As a result, that opening can supply outside air
from that left-hand section to that upper air-guiding section.
The numeral 48 denotes the right-hand section of the
air distributing device; and it is a mirror irnage of the left-
hand section 44. An opening, not shown, in the i.nner face of
that right-hand section, adjacent the lower end of th~t right-
hand section, is secured, as by welding, -to the right-hand
end of the lower air-guiding section 34. ~ further openinc3,
not shown, in the inner face of the right-hand section 48,
adjacent the upper end of that right-hand section, i5 secured,
as by welding, to the right-hand end of the upper a.ir-guiding
section 50. Those openings enable that right-hand section to
receive outside air from the lower air-guiding section clnd
guide it to that upper air-guiding section The front of the
right-hand section ~8 has three openings ~6, not shown,
therein which are comparable to the three openings ~6 ln the
front of the left-hand section 44. The upper ai.r-guiding
section has at least one opening 46, not shown, in the outer
wall thereof.
The upper air-guiding section 50 is shown as an
elongated tubular member which is rectangular in cross section.
The numeral 52 denotes air outlet ports in the bottom of that
upper air-guiding section. As shown particularly by ~ig. 5,
those air outlet ports are circular in configuration; bu-t
3~
they could be given polygonal, arcuate, or planar-arcuate
configu,xations of any desired kind. The numeral 54 denotes
an elongated slot which is provided in the bottom of the
upper air-yuiding section 50; and that slot has the long
axis thereo~ parallel to the long axis of ~t upper air-
guiding section.
The air outlet ports 38 in the lower air-guiding
section 34 preferably are distributed unifoxmly along the
major portion of the length of the i.nner wall of that lower
air-guiding section. Similarly, the air outlet ports 52
in the upper air-guiding section 50 preferably are distri-
buted uni~ormly along the major portion of the length of the
bottom of that upper air-guiding section. Howeve:r, i:E de-
sired, those outlet ports could be arranged in various gro~lp-
ings that were spaced apart any desired distances along thelengths of those air~guiding sections.
The n~er~l 56 denotes an air~throttling member
which has the ~orm of an elongated plate with a number of
openings 58 there.in. That air-throttling member will be pre--
itioned within the upper air-guiding section 50 before the
ends of that upper air-guiding section are secured, as by
welding, to the openings in the upper portions o~ the inner
faces of the left-hand and right-hand sections 44 and 48.
The openings 58 in the air-throttli.ng member 56 are dimen-
sioned and spaced so the portions of that air-throttling
member which are intermediate those openings can be moved
into register with the air outlet ports 52 to close those
ports. The openings 58 also are dimensioned and spaced so
they can be moved into partial registry with those air out-
let poxts, as sh~Jn in Figs. 4 and 5, or can be ved into full
registry with those air outlet ports. The air-throttling
member 56 is readily slidable, in a direction which is
parallel to the axis of the upper air-guiding section 50,
for a distance whicll is only slightly less than the length
of the elongated slot 54. The numeral 60 denotes an actuator
which is L-shaped in configuration, and which has the short
arm thereof extending upwardly through the elongated slot 54
and through an openiny in the air-throttling member 56.
That actuator preferably is fixedly secured to that air-
throttling member by having the upper end of the short armthereof welded to that air-throttling member.
When that actuator is at the left-hand end of the
slot 54, as that slot is viewed in Figs. 4 and 5, the portions
of that air-throttling member which are displaced from the open-
ings 58 will overlie and completely close the air outlet ports52. On the other hand, when that actuator is adjacent the
right-hand end of slot 54, the openings 58 will essentially
be in register with the air outlet ports 52, and hence will
permit substantial quantities of outside air to flow down-
wardly from the upper ~ir-guiding section 50 through ~hose
openings and then through those air outlet ports and into
the fireplace. A ~nob 62, which is shown as being spherical
but which could be given any desired functional or ornamen~al
configuration, is secured to the outer end of the lony arm
of the actuator 60.
The numeral 64 denotes an air-throttling member
which has the form of an elongated plate with a number of
openings 66 thereinO Those openings are dimensioned and
spaced so the portlons of that air-throttling member which
are displaced from those openings can be moved into register
~5 3L~;i
with the air outlet ports 38 to close those ports. The open-
ings 66 also are dimensioned and spaced so they can be moved
into partial registry with thosP air outle-t ports, as shown
in Fig. 7, or can be moved into full registry with those air
outlet ports. The air-throt-tling member 64 is re~dily slid-
able, in a direction which is parallel to the axis of ~he
lo~er air-guiding section 34, for a distance which is about
the same as the distance through which the air throttling
member 56 is slidable. The numeral 68 denotes an L-shaped
actuator which has the vertically-directed short arm thereof
secured, as by welding, to the inner face of the air-throttling
member 64. A knob 7~, which is shown as being spherical but
which could be given any desired functional or ornament~l con--
figuration, is secured to the outer end of the long arm of the
actuator G8.
~ he numeral 72 denotes a frame for glass doors~
That frame can be made in any desired manner; but it is econ-
omical to make that frame from four channels which are suit-
~bly secured together, as by welding, to clefine a rectangular
frame. The open sides of those channels confront, and are
largely closed by, the outer walls of the lower air ~uidincJ
section 34, of the side sections 44 and 48, ancl of the upper
air-guiding section 50. The peripheral dimensions oE that
frame will be essentially the same as the peripheral dimen-
sions of the fireplace opening, as indicated particularly byFigs. 1 and 2. Filling material, which can be cement or any
other suitable material, can be interposed between an angle
iron 73 at the upper portion of the fireplace opening 22 and
the upper surfaces of the upper air-guiding section 50 and of
frame 72~ Similar`filling material can be interposed between
the left-hand side of the fireplace opening 22 and the outer
10 .
S~35
faces of the frame 72 and of the left-hand section 44. Further
filling material, not shown, can bc interposed between the
right-hand side of the fireplace opening 22 and the outer
faces of the right-hand section 48 and of the frame 72. Addi-
tional sealing material can be interposed between the floorof the fireplace and the surface of the bot-tom of the frame
72. Self~tapping metal screws 74 oan be passed rearwardly
through a number of openings in the front face of the frame
72 and seated within the openings 46 in the front walls of
the lower air-guiding section 34, of the left-hand section
~4, of the right-hand section 48, and of the upper air-guiding
section 50. Those screws will Eixedly secure the frame 72 to
the four sections of the air distributing device.
A horizontally-directed slot 76 is provided in the
15 front wall of the upper portion of the frame 72, as indicatcd
particularly by Figs. 1-5. The axis of slot 76 is parallel
to the long axis of the upper air-guiding section 50; and its
length is at least as great as the length of the elongated
slot 54 in the bottom of that upper air-guiding section. The
slot 76 is oriented relative to the slot 54 so the actuator
60 can be moved far enough through the slots 5~ and 76 to
shift the openings 58 in the air-throttling member 56 wholly
out of, or essentially into, register with the air outlet
ports 52 in the bottom of the upper air-guiding section 50.
A baffle plate 77, which moves with the actuator 60, will re-
sist any flow of air through the slot 76.
The numeral 78 denotes a horizontally-directed
slot in the front of the bottom portion of the frame 72; and
that slot is 5hown particularly by Fig. 6. The elongated
axis of that slot is parallel to the long axis of the lower
air-guiding section 3~; and the length of that slot is great
enough to permit the actuator 68 to move the openings 66 in
the air-throttling member 64 wholly out of, or essen-tially
into, register with the air ou-tlet ports 38 in the rear wall
of that lower air-guiding section~ A baffle plate 7~, which
moves with the actuator 68, will resist any flow of air through
the slot 78. The actuator 68 is wholly independent of the
actuator 60; and, as a result, the air-throttling member 64
can be moved while the air-throttling member ~6 is lef-t motion-
less, and vice versaO The air-t}lrot-tling member 56 will usu-
ally be in port-closing position whenever the air-throttling
member 64 is out of port-closin~ position~ Conversely, the
air-throttling member 64 will usually be in port-closing posi-
tion whenever the air~throttling member 56 is out of port-
closing position~
The numeral 80 denotes a glass door, of standard
and usual design, which is pivoted to the left-hand end, not
shown, of the frame 72. ~he numeral 82 denotes a glass door,
of standard and usual design, which is pivoted to ~he right-
hand portion of that frame. Those doors can be opened to
~0 permit the introduction of logs or of other combustible
material into the fireplace, and they also can be opene~cl to
remove ashes or to facil~tate the cleaning of the fireplace.
However, those doors should be kept closed whenever a fire
has been started in the ixeplace -- especially when a re-
duced pressure is likely to develop within the room, o~
which the fireplace is a part. That reduced pressure could
be due to the operation of an exhaust fan in the kitchen,
bathroom, or another room of the building, could be due to
the "stac~" effect of the building, to heavy winds or other
conditions.
12.
Whenever the fireplace is not in use, the damper
26 should be closed, the air-throttling member 64 should be
in its "closed" (left-hand) position in Fiy. 1 (right-hand
position in Fig. 7) to block all of the air outlet ports 38,
and the air-throttling member 56 should he in its "closed"
(right~hand) position in Fig. 1 (left-hand position in Fig.
5) to block all of the air outlet ports 52. Suitable "open"
and "closed" notations will be stamped into, imprinted on,
or otherwise caused to appear on the upper and lower por-tions
of the frame 72 adjacent the ends of the slots 76 and 78.
At such time, those air-throttling members will coact with
the re5t of the air di5tributing device to minimize any tend-
ency of air to pass inwardly through the conduit 30, to pass
upwardly through the vertically-directed arm 32, and then
to pass throuc3h that air distributing device into the fixe-
plac~ and up the chimney.
When a ire is to be started, the dampe~ 26 will be
op~ned, but the knob 62 and the actuator 6U will be left in their
"closed" (right-hand~ positions in Fig. 1 to keep the air outlet
ports 52 in the bottom of the upper air-guiding section 50 of
; ^` the air distributing device closed. If the chimney is cold,
and if the un-blocking of the air outlet ports 38 in the
lower air-guidillg section 34 would tend to cause the cold air
in ~he conduit 30 to draw ai`r downwardly fxom the fireplace,
tha knob 70 and the actuator 63 should be left in their
closed" ~left-hand~ positions in Fig. 1. On the other hand,
i~ the chimney is warm, or if khe un-blocking of the air out-
t port3 38 in the lower air-guiding section 34 would not
tend to cause the cold air ir~ the conduit 30 to draw air
~` 3~ downwardly from the fixepi~ceJ the knob 70 and the actua~or
8 should be shi~ted to their 'open" (right-hand) posiklons
13.
After a fire i5 s-tarted, the knob 62 and the actuator
60 will be permitted to remain ln their "closecl" (right-hand)
positions in Fig. 1. ilowever, the knob 70 and the actuator
68 will be moved to a position wherein the openings 66 in the
air-throttling member 64 will un-block enough of the areas
of the air outlet ports 38 to enable outside air from the
conduit 30 to support the fire That outside air will move
}nwardly through that conduit, upwardly through the arm 32,
along the lowex aix-guiding section 34 to the air outlet ports
38, and then through those air outlet ports into the fireplace.
The greater the extent to which the areas of the air outlet por~s 38
are uncovered, the faster the logs or other fuel will burn;
and the lesser the extent to which the areasof those openings
are uncovered, the slower the logs or other fuel will burn.
The glass doors 80 and 82 can be left open or can be closed,
as desired by the user. ~lowever, if those doors are closed,
a reduced pressure in the room, of which the fireplace is a
part, will be unable to draw carbon monoxide or any other pro-
ducts o~ combustion into the room. Also, no sparks c~n escape
from the fireplace to ignite a rug or any other combu~tible
object. In addition, very little of the warm air in the
room will be drawn up the chimney.
During the late hours of the night and the e~rly
hours of the morning, or during any other period of tlme in
which slow combustion of the logs or other fuel is desired,
the actuator 68 and the knob 70 should be shifted to their
"closed" (left-handj positions in Fig. 1 to cause the air-
throttling member 64 to block the air outlet ports 380
The actuator 60 and the knob 62 should be shifted to their
"open" (left-handj positions in Fig. 1 to dispose the openings
58 in the air-throttling member 56 in essential regis~ry with
the air outlet ports 52. At such time/ air will move inwardly
1~ .
through the conduit 30, upwardly through the arm 3Z, through
the lower air-guiding section ~4 to the side sections 44 and
48, upwardly through those side sections, through the upper
air-guiding section 50, through the openings 58 to the air
outlet ports 52, and then through those air outlet ports
into the fireplace. That air will be introduced into that
fireplace at a level which is above the logs or other fuel;
and hence it will pass up the chimney. That air will be
helpful in minimizin~ the deposit of any solid products of
combustion on the interior of the chimney and on portions of
the fireplace.
By setting the knob 62 and the actuator 60 in their
closed (right-hand) positions in Fig. 1, and by appropriate
setting of the knob 70 and actuator 68 in partially-open or
in "open" (.right-hand) position in Fig. 1, it is possible
to assure safe and full combustion of the logs or other fuel
at the desired rate. Subsequently, by setting the knob 70
and actuator 68 in their "closed" (left-hand) positions in
Fig~ 1, and by settin~ the knob 62 and the actuator 60 i.n
their "open" (left-hand~ positions in FigO 1, it is possi.ble
to permit the logs or other fuel to burn at a "slow fixe"
rate and to mini~ize the deposit of any solid products of
combustion on the interior of the chimney and on portions
of the fireplace.
The sides and rear wall of the fireplace are shown
as being formed f~om bricks or ceramic blocks. If desired,
those side walls and that rear wall could be the metal walls
of a pre-formed fireplace which is intended to heat air that
passes along the exterior surfaces of those metal walls. In
fact, the air distributing device of the present invention is
usable, either directly or by the use of appropriate baffling,
15.
with almost every conceivable form of fireplace in use today.
Fig. 5 shows the ri~ht-hand opening 58 in the air~
throttling member 56 close to the right-hand end of that air-
throttling member; and such an arrangement is practical. How-
ever, in most installations, the endmost openings in thatair-throttling member will have all portions thereof dis-
placed at least two inches inwardly from the ends of that
air~throttlin~ member. Similarly, in most installations, the
endmost openings 66 in the air-throttling member 64 will have
all portions thereof displaced at least two inches inwardly
from the ends of that air-throttling member.
The ear 40 in Fig. 7, and the corresponding ear 40
adjacent the other end of the lower air-guiding section 34,
will hold the air-throttling member 64 immediately adj~cent
the inner wall of that lower air-guiding section. As a result,
although that air-throttling member will be movable relative
to that inner wall, it will be close enough to that inner wall
to keep outside air from being drawn through the air outlet
ports 38 whenever that air-throttling member i5 in the "closed"
(left-hand) position in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 shows the right-llancl
end of the air-throttling member 6~ closin~ ~he openiny 42
which was formed in the inner wall of the left-hand section
44 when the ear 40 was formed. That right-hand end will close
that opening in all moved positions of that air throttling
member. Similarly, the left-hand end of the air-throttling
member 64 will close the opening 42 adjacent the other end of
the lower air-guidin~ section 34. As a result, thosa open-
ings will not constitute undesired air outlet ports.
The air-throttling member 56 will rest upon the
upper face of the bottom of the upper air-guiding section 50;
and hence, although that upper air-guiding section will be
16.
___ ~_
3~
mova~le relative to -that upper face, it will be close enou~h
to that upper face to keep outside air from being drawn
through the air outlet ports 52 whenever that air-throttling
member is in the "closed" (right~hand) position in Flg. 1.
Also, that air-throttling member will effectively prevent
l~ss of outside air throuc3h the slot 54, regardless o~ the
positions in which that air-throttling member is set.
The knob 62 is lar~er than the height of slot 76,
and the knob 70 is larger than the height of slot 78, as in-
I0 dicatecl hy Figs. 1 and 2. Consequently, those knobs will notbe securecl to the actuators 60 and 68, respectively, until
the frame 72 has been secured to the sections 34, 44, 48
and 50 oE the air distributing device.
The front faces of the air-guiding sections 34, 44,
48 and 50 of the air distributing device are planar ~nd smooth,
and hence make it possible to provide a relatively air-tight
enga~ement between those front faces and the rear surface of
th~ Erame 72. As a result, the air distributiny device not
onl~y serves to support the frame 72 but also helps prevent -the
~o escape of air between ikself and that frame. In addition, the
air dlstributiny device performs at least two furtileL- furlc~
t:iOllS; namèly, bloc~in~ heat that otherwise would be radiated
onto the rear surace of the frame 72, and absorbing heat from
l:hat frame. In doing so, the air distributin~ device keeps
thc temper~lt-lL-e of frame 72 low enough so that frame cannot
burn a person's hand.
Specifically, as indicated by Fig. 5, the air~guiding
sections 44 and 48 will keep radiated heat from reaching any
parts of the rear surfaces of the vertically-directed porkions
of frame 72; and, as indicated by Fig. 2, the air-guiding sec-
tions 34 and 50 will keep radiated heat from reachiny most
parts of the .rear surfaces of the horizontally-directed por-
ti.ons of that frame. By keeping the major portion of the
rear surface of the frame 72 free from radiated hea-t, the air-
distributing device limits the level to which the temperature
of that frame can rise. The air distributing device also
limits the level to which -that temperature can rise by absorb-
ing heat from that frame. The outside air which flows through
the lower air-guiding section 34 to the air outlet ports 38
will keep that air-guiding section cool, and will thereby en-
able the air distributing device to absorb heat from the Erame72. Where the outside air flows through the air guiding sec-
tion 34 to the air-guiding sections 44 and 48, and then flows
upwardly to and through the upper air-guiding section 50 to the
air outlet ports 52, that outside air will ena~le the air
distxibuting device to absorb even more heat from that frame.
~ y serving as a barrier to most of the radiated heat
which otherwise would directly reach the frame 72, the air
distributing device reduces the total amount of heat received
by that frame. Also, by being ~ept cool by the outside air
which flows through the air-guiding sections thereof, and by
being secured in heat-exchanging relation to the frame 72,
the ~ir distributing device cools that frame. The overall
result is that the air dis-tributing device keeps the tempera-
ture of frame 72 well below the level at which a person's hand
could be burned.
As indicated particularly by Pig. 6, inner wall
of the lower air-guiding section 34 will act as a curb Por
ashes. As a result, the hearth or floor in front of that
air-guiding section can be kept quite free of ashes.
Where the air distributing device oP the present
invention is to be incorporated into a fireplace as that fire-
place is being built, that air distributing device will perPorm
18.
$~
an additional i-unction. Specifically, that air distributing
device will serve as a jamb, head and sill for bricks which
are laid by the brick layer or for the stones which are set
by -tlle stone mason. In serving as a jamb, head and sill, the
air distributing device speeds up the buildincJ of ~he fire-
place, and also proyides a desirably close relationship be-
tween itself and the sides and top of the fireplace opening.
The spaced air outlet ports 52 and the air-
throttlinc3 member 56 provide a desirable way of controlling
the amount of above-~ire air which can be supplied -to the fire-
place. If desired, however, other air-metering arrangements
could be used. For example, an elongated alot could be pro-
vided in the air-guidiny section 50; and an imperforate,
elongated air-throttling member could be moved transversely
of that slot to vary the amount of above-fire air which could
be supplied to the ~ireplace. Similarly, the spaced air ou-t-
let ports 33 and the air-throttling rnember 64 provide a de-
sirable way of controlling the amount of combus-tion~support-
ing air which can be sup~lied to the fireplace. If desirecl,
however, other air-metering arrangements could be used. E'or
e~clmple, an elon~ated slot could be provided in the air-
guidin~ section 3~, and an imperforate, elongated air-
t.hrottling member could be moved transversely of that slot
to vary the amount of combustion-supporting air which could
be supplied to the fireplace. Also, outlet ports could be
provided in the air-guiding sections 34 and 50 which had
hillged closures therefo~. Actuators for those closures
could then be used to selectively dispose those hinged clo~
sures in fully-closed, fully-open or intermediate positions
to provide desired amounts of combustion-supporting air,
19 .
desired amounts of over-fire air, an~l desired ratios of
combustion supporting and ov~r-fire air. The part.icular
form and location of air outlet ports and the particula.r
form and manner of operation of air-throt-tling members
can be varied as aesired, as long as they permit selec-tive
supplying of combustion-supporting air ancl over-fire airO
Referring par-ti.cularly to Figs. 9 and 10, the num-
eral 90 denotes the vertically-directed arm of a passaye, not
shown, which extends to the exterior of t}le building in which
the air distributlncJ device of Figs. 9 and 10 is mounted.
That passage can be identical to the passage 30 of Fiq. 2;
but the arm 90 should have a hori~ontal length tha-t is twice
the vertical dimension of that passage -- so the area of that
arm is at least twice the area of a vertical section throuqh
that passage. The numeral ~2 denotes the bottom horizon-tally-
directed air-guiding section of the air distributing device o:E
Figs. 9 and 10; and that air-guiding section is a rectangular
tube in cross section. An opening 9~ is provided in the
bottom of that section in register with the upwardly~directed
.20 arm 90; and that openin~ and that arrn should have widths t}lat
are equal to the width of the passage for outside air while
having horizontal leng-ths that are twice the height of that
passage. The numexal 9G denotes an elongated, hori~ontal
outlet port which extends throughout a large portion of the
length of the inner wall of the air-guiding section 92. If
desired, that outlet port could be formed as a number of
closely-spaced, horizontally-aligned slots~ could be made
trapezoidal in form so its height tapered from right t~ left,
or could be given any other desired configuration. That
outlet port differs from the yarious outlet ports in
20.
3~
Figs. 4-8 in not having an air-throttling member immediately
adjacent it. An elongated narrow slot 98 is provided in
the upper surface of the air-guiciiny section 92; and the
numeral 100 denotes a stationary baffle which spans the dis-
tance from the rear wall to the front wall of that air-guiding
section. As shown par-ticularly by Figs. 9 and 10, the bottom
of that baffle is located approximately midway between the
opposite ends of the opening 94; and tha-t baffle coacts with
the top of the air-guiding section 92 to sub-tend an angle of
about forty-five degrees.
The numeral 102 clenotes a ver-tically-directed air-
guiding section which has an opening 103 in the lower portion
of the left-hand wall thereof. The right-hand end of the air-
guiding section 92 is suitably secured, as by welds, to that
opening. The air-guiding section 102 extends upwardly toward
the top of the fireplace opening; and it will be suitably
secured, as by welds, to a horizontally-directed upper air-
cJuiding section, not shown. That upper air--guiding seetion
will be tubular, and it will have an elongated outlet port
which is comparable to the elongated outlet port 96. Ilowevel-,
that upper air-guiding section will not have an opening like
the opening 9'1, it will not have a slot like the slot 98, clnd it
will not have a baffle like the baEfle 100. The outlet port
96 and the corresponding outlet port in the upper air-guidincJ
section will open into the fireplace.
Unlike the air distributing device of Figs. 1-~,
the air distributing device of Figs. 9 and 10 will have only
one vertically-directed air guiding section. As a result,
the air-guiding section 102 must have a horizontal cross-
section which is large enough to enable it to s~pply allof the outside air which must be supplied to the upper ~ir-
guiding section that is connected to the upper end thereof.
The numeral 104 denotes a plate~like alr-throttling
member which is disposed within and which rests upon the
bottoms of the air-guidinc3 sections 92 and 102. An opening
106 is provided in the right~hand portion of that air-throttling
member; and the area of that openiny is about the same as one-
half of the hori~ontal area of the vertically-directed arm 90.
The numeral 108 denotes an L-shaped actuator whi.ch has a ver~
tically-directed portion that is secured to the left-hand part
of the air-throttling member 104 and that extends upwardly
through the elongated slo-t g8. That actuator has a :forwardly-
extending horizontal portion which will extend throuc3h a frame,
not shown, l.ike the frame 72, that will be secured to the front
of the air distrlbuting device. A ~nob, which is similar to
either of the knobs 6~ and 70, will be secured to the forward
end of the horizontally-directed arm of actuator 108.
During all periods of time when the fireplace is not
in use, the air-throttling member 104 should be in the posi-
tion shown by Fig. 9. As long as that air-throttling member
is in that position, the imperforate left-hand half of that
~o member will be in register with, and will block, the open.i.r~
9~ and the upwardl~-directed arm 90. As a result~ outside a.ir
will not be permitted to be drawn into the aix dist:ributincJ
device.
Whenever combustion-suppor-ting air is c~esired, the
~S actuator 108will be moved to the left-hand elid of the slot 98 to move
the opening 106 in the air-throttling member 104 to a position
where it is between the bottom edge of baffle 100 and the
left-hand edge of opening 94. At such time, the right-hand
portion of that air-throttl ng member will span the portion
of the opening g4 which is intermediate that bottom edge and
the right-hand end of that opening. As a result, ou-tside air
3~
will be able to pass inwardly through the passa~e, upwardly
through the arm 90, through the lef~-hand half o~ the open--
ing 9~, through the air-guiding section 92, and to and through
the outlet port 96. Some small amounts of air also coulcl pass
through the slot ~ into the fireplace. The outside air which
passes through the outlet port 96, and the small amount of air
which passes through the slot 98, will fully support the com-
bustion of any logs or other fuel in the fireplace.
Whenever it .is desirable to provide over-fi.re air,
the air-throttling member 104 will be set in the position shown
by Fig. 10. At such time, the opening 106 will be in register
with the right-hand half of the opening 94; and the left-hand
half of that opening will be blocked by the imperforate left-
hand portion of that air-thL-ottling member. Suitable markings
will be provided on the frame, which is similar to -the frame
72, to indicate when the air-throttling member 104 is in its
"full fire" position or its "hold fire" position.
The air-throttling member 10~ can be set in a mul.ti-
tude of specifically-differen-t positions -to provide variolls
ratios of combustion-supporting and over-fire air. I~`or e~-
ample, if -that air-throttling member were to be set sc) the
opening 106 therein had the mid-point thereoE in regiSter
with the bottom ed~e of the baffle ]00, equal amounts of air
could be drawn through the bottom air-guiding section 92 and
the upper air-guiding section, not shown. The closer the
air-throttling member 104 was moved from that mid position
toward its left-hand position, the greater would ~e the ratio
between the air passing into the bottom air-guiding section
and the air passing into the upper air-guiding section.
Contrariwise, the further that air-throttling member was moved
from tnat mid position toward its right-hand position, the
smaller would be the ratio between the air passing to the
bottom air-guiding section 92 and the air moving to the
upper air-guiding section.
Referring particularly to Fig. 11, the numerctl 11~
S denotes a vertically~directed arm which extends upwardly from
a passage for outside air. That arm and that passage can be
sim~lar to the arm 32 and the passage 30 of Fig. 2. The
numeral 116 denotes the bottom horizontally-directed air-
guiding section of the air distributing device of Fig. 11;
and that air-guiding section is tubular in vertical section.
~n elongated outlet port 118 is provided in the inner wall
of that section. If desired, that elongated out]et porr could
be made as a number oc spaced horizontally-aligned slots,
could be made trapezoidal in form so it tapered from right to
left, or could be given any other desired form.
The numeral 120 denotes a vertically-directed air-
guiding section which has an open bottom 122 and which has an
opening 123 in the lower portion of the left-hand wall thereoE.
The right-hand end o~ the bottom air-guiding section 116 is
secured, as by welds, to the opening 123. The numeral 12~
denotes a sem;-circular slot which is dominantly ln tlle frollt
wall of the vertically-directed air-guiding section 120 bu-t
which extends a short distance in-to~the front wall of the hori-
zontally-directed ai~-guiding section 116. The cjeometric
~5 center of that slot is close to the junction between the upper
edge of the air-guiding sec-tion 116 and the upper edge of the
opening 123 in the air-guiding section 120.
The numeral 126 denotes a T-shaped air-throttling
member which is disposable within either or both of the air-
guiding sections 116 and 120. The numeral 127 denotes an
axis of rotation for that air-throttling member; and that
2~.
.3~
axis can be established by ears a-t the opposite edges of the
end of the stem of that air-throttling member, by an elongated
rod which is welded to the end of that stem, or by any other
mechanical arrangemen-t. Tha-t T-shaped air--throttling member
has a threaded stud 128 on the forward edge of the stem thereof
and that stud extends forwardly through -the semi-circular slot
124. ~ setting nut 130 is threaded onto that stud; and that
nut can be tightened against the front face of air-guiding
section 116 or 120 to lock the air-throttling member 120 against
movement.
~uring all periods of -~ime when the fireplace is not
in use, the ~ir-thr~ttling member 126 should be in the solid
line position shown by Fig. 11. As long as that air-throttllng
member is in that posi-tion, the transverse portion of that
member will e~tend from the left-hand edge of the opening 1?2
in the bottom of the air~guiding section 120 to the right-hand
wall of that air-guiding section to completely block the flow
of outsi.~e air Erom the upwardly-directed arm 11~ into either
of the aix-guiding sections 116 or 120.
Whenever combus-tion-supporting air is desired, the
set~iny nut 130 will be loosened, the air-throttling n~ember 126
will be rotated in the counterclockwise direction fro~ its
solid-line position to its upper dotted-line position, and then
that nut will be tightened. ~t such time, outsiae air can flow
from the upwardly-directed arm 114 through the opening 122,
through the bottom of the air-guiding section 120 into the air-
guiding section 116, and then outwardly through the ou~let por-t
118 into the fireplace. That outsiae air will fully support
the combustion of the logs or other fuel in the fireplaceO
The transverse portion of the air-throttling member will fully
prevent the flow o, outside air up to the upper air-guiding
section.
25.
Whenever it is desirable to provide over-fire air,
the setting nut 130 will be 1006ened, the air throttling
member 126 will be rotated in the clockwise direction to the
lower dotted-line position, and then that nut will be tight-
ened. At such time, the transverse portion of that memberwill have the right-hand end thereof adjacent the left-hand
edge of the opening 122 and will have the left-hand portion
thereof adjacent the top of the air-guiding section 116.
Outside air will then be drawn upwardly throuyh the arm 114,
1~ throuyh the opening 122, through the air-guiding section 120
to the upper ~ir~guiding section, and then to the outlet port
which corresponds to the outlet port 118.
The solid-line position and the two dotted line posi-
tions for the air-throttling member 126 will be the positions
in which that air-throttlins member will usually be disposecl.
}Iowever, that air-throttling member could be disposed in an
infinite number of positions which are intermediate those two
dotted-line positions; and that air-throttling member could
provide varying ratios of combustion-supporting and over-fire
air in those various positions.
The structure of Figs. 1-8 is preferred because it
can be used with fireplaces in which the upwardly-clirec~ed
arm 32 is located anywhere between the opposite sides oE that
fireplace. In contrast, the air distributing device of
Figs. 9 and 10 requires the upwarclly-di.rected arm 90 to be
spaced just a short distance to the left of the righ~-hand
edge of the fi.-eplace opening; and the air distributing
device of Fig. 11 requires the upwardly~directed arm 119 to
be located adjacent the right-hand edge of the firepl~ce
opening.
26.
3~
Whereas the drawing and accompanying description
have shown and described some prefer.red embocliments of -the
present invention, it should be apparent to those s~illed
in the art that various changes m~y be made in the form of
the invention without affectin~ the scope thereof.
