EP0090419A1 - Fuel element for open-fire places - Google Patents

Abstract

A fuel assembly for open fireplaces, such as fireplaces, is proposed which has a shell-like, elongated housing into which a fuel supply can be filled and refilled. In addition, at least one flat fuel body, such as a flat wick, is arranged in the housing, the lower part of which immerses in the fuel supply located in the housing, while its upper edge projects beyond the top of the housing in a height-adjustable manner. A chimney suitable for such fuel assemblies can be of lightweight construction and contains a filter in the form of an absorber in a fume hood, which cleans and regenerates the exhaust air rising from the fuel assemblies, in particular also frees it from suspended matter and removes unpleasant odors. Therefore, the fireplace does not need to have an external connection as in a fireplace.

Description

The invention relates to a novel fuel assembly for open fireplaces such as fireplaces. The invention further relates to a new type of fireplace which is suitable for such fuel elements.

Open fireplaces such as fireplaces are generally heated with wood. The heat generated during the burning of the wood requires chimneys with a relatively thick or heat-stable wall and in any case a connection to a chimney. Safety regulations must also be observed.

However, it is also known to simulate a burning chimney fire by means of lighting effects by means of electrical lighting. In this way, however, the conveniences of a log fire, in particular the appearance of open flames, cannot be caused, so that such artificial log fires are only useful in households and the like. In private homes but generally you put more emphasis on comfort. However, an open fireplace can often not be installed because the connection to a chimney is not possible and because if a fireplace is installed in a room that is too small, sparks can damage furniture, carpets and floors.

The invention has for its object to remedy this situation and to propose a fuel assembly for open fireplaces such as fireplaces, which burns with an open flame, but does not develop logs that burn off the peak temperatures, so that lighter and simpler fireplaces can also be installed in smaller rooms , which may not even require a connection to a chimney.

To achieve this object, a fuel element in the form of a firing log is proposed according to the invention, which has a shell-like elongated housing for receiving a refillable fuel supply, such as granular paraffin, wherein at least one flat fuel body, such as a flat wick, is arranged on the top of this housing, with its lower wick The end lies in the housing and is immersed in the fuel supply located there, while the upper end or the upper edge of the flash wick protrudes from the housing by a distance sufficient for an open flame to burn, that is, according to the invention, a kind of fuel element is proposed as the fuel element , which has at least one wick, which is soaked with a fuel, which is located in an indestructible housing. Solid fuels such as paraffin or also come as fuels liquid fuels like oil in question. The housing can take the form of a split log and be provided with a surface imitating a wooden bark. For example, it is made of metal and is therefore indestructible.

Furthermore, a chimney is proposed according to the invention, which consists of simple sheet metal parts and does not even have to contain a flue gas outlet, because when using the fuel elements or logs according to the invention, no great heat is generated and no smoke is produced.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The fuel assembly according to the invention is designed in the manner of a continuous light with one or more wicks. The wicks and in particular their material and their thickness are selected so that when considering the thermal conductivity of the material used, a sufficient gasification temperature for the fuel is always maintained at the burning edge of the wick. If the fuel is paraffin or the like, the wicks must also conduct sufficient heat into the housing of the fuel assembly to melt the paraffin in the area of the immersed wicks so that sufficient molten paraffin is always sucked in by the wicks. The thermal conductivity can be achieved, for example, by sheet metal embedded in the wick, the sheet metal also being able to contain openings in order to control the thermal conductivity.

The fuel element, which is designed in the form of an imitated log, is chewed in such a way that sufficient air circulation is guaranteed. The fresh air supply is preferably carried out from the ends of the fuel element on its surface, at its height. the top edge of the wicks lies. This results in a certain stabilization of the flames.

The fuel elements are expediently arranged in a row next to one another on the burning point in order to give the impression of a log fire burning several logs. The individual fuel elements are arranged at a sufficient distance from one another so that each fuel element can be swept by air on all sides from below. As a result, relatively calm flames are achieved.

The focal height of the individual flames can be adjusted, for example by means of an adjusting screw which pushes the wick in question more or less far out of the cover of the fuel assembly. However, the wicks can be supported on a beam, the height of which. after heating the fuel element and in particular the fuel supply is reduced, which can be erected with a bimetal spring.

Instead of arranging multiple fuel elements next to each other, a fuel element can also have wicks in several rows next to each other, between which air vents remain. The fuel supply can be accommodated in a common container in this case.

The fuel element according to the invention, in particular if it has wicks in several rows lying side by side, can also be used as a stove in a fireplace or as a camping stove, because the flame temperature is completely sufficient for cooking purposes. The arrangement of the wicks can be made in this case so that it corresponds to the circular base of a pot.

With the invention, it is possible to create fireplaces in a lightweight construction, because there are no peak temperatures like when burning wood. Rather, an even temperature control is guaranteed. The upper part of the fireplace can have a connection to the outside or to a chimney, but this is not necessary. For example, one can attach an absorber in the upper part of the fireplace, which contains activated carbon and / or diatomaceous earth or also has sheets coated with activated carbon. Such a filter can clean the air rising from the fuel assemblies according to the invention sufficiently so that air circulation within a closed space is possible without connection to the outside or to a chimney.

The absorber can also contain press elements or granules consisting of soda lime, which absorb carbon dioxide or ensure a conversion of the CO ₂ . These absorbers should have as large a surface as possible and therefore have a spherical shape, for example.

The chimney can be designed so that the room air for heating passes through a double rear wall of the chimney and does not come into contact with the exhaust gases of the fuel elements can. If the chimney has no connection to the outside or into a chimney, a heat utilization of practically 100% can be achieved.

A rack for a grill roaster or a pot can be placed in the fireplace.

If the individual fuel elements are each provided with a pin on the underside that can be inserted into a base, two parallel pieces, for example, form a grate on which several individual fuel elements are fastened, which can be individually adjusted to a limited extent so that they are not absolutely parallel lie to each other, but stand somewhat obliquely and thereby give the impression of randomly placed logs.

• Fig. 1 eine Draufsicht auf eine erste Ausführungsform des Brennelementes,
• Fig. 2 einen Längsschnitt des Brennelementes aus Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 einen Querschnitt des Brennelementes aus Biß. 1 ande 2,
• Fig. 4 eine Einzelheit des Brennelementes aus Fig. 1 bis 3 aus der die Lagerung eines Flachdochtes zu entnehmen ist,
• Fig. 5 eine Seitenansicht eines Flachdochtes, der in einem Brennelement gemäß Fig. 1 bis 4 benutzt werden kann,
• Fig. 6 eine Stirnansicht des Flachdochtes aus Fig. 5,
• Fig. 7 eine Draufsicht auf den Flachdocht aus Fig. 5 und 6,
• Fig. 8 eine Draufsicht auf eine zweite Ausführungsform des Brennelementes,
• Fig. 9 einen Querschnitt des Brennelementes nach Linie IX-IX aus Fig. 8,
• Fig.10 eine Vorderansicht eines Kamines für die Brennelemente gemäß Fig. 1 und Fig. 8,
• Fig.11 einen senkrechten Schnitt durch den Kamin aus Fig. 10,
• Fig.12 einen Längsschnitt eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Brennelementes mit daran angeformtem Kühlrippen-Rost,
• 'Fig.13 einen Querschnitt des Ausführungsbeispiels aus Fig. 12,
• Fig. 14 eine Draufsicht auf das Ausführungsbeispiel Fig. 14 eine Draufsicht auf das Ausführungsbeispiel aus Fig. 12 und 13,
• Fig. 15 eine Seitenansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform des Flachdochtes,
• Fig. 16 eine Draufsicht auf den Flachdocht aus Fig. 15 und
• Fig. 17 eine schaubildliche Ansicht eines schlotlosen Kamins für die Verwendung der erfindungsgemäßen Brennelemente.

In the drawing, exemplary embodiments of the fuel assembly according to the invention and a chimney suitable therefor are shown schematically, and that shows

• 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the fuel assembly,
• 2 shows a longitudinal section of the fuel assembly from FIG. 1,
• Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the fuel element from bite. 1 ande 2,
• 4 shows a detail of the fuel assembly from FIGS. 1 to 3 from which the storage of a flat wick can be seen,
• 5 is a side view of a flat wick that can be used in a fuel assembly according to FIGS. 1 to 4,
• 6 shows an end view of the flat wick from FIG. 5,
• 7 is a plan view of the flat wick from FIGS. 5 and 6,
• 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the fuel assembly,
• 9 shows a cross section of the fuel assembly according to line IX-IX from FIG. 8,
• 10 shows a front view of a fireplace for the fuel assemblies according to FIGS. 1 and 8,
• 11 shows a vertical section through the chimney from FIG. 10,
• 12 shows a longitudinal section of a further exemplary embodiment of the fuel assembly according to the invention with a cooling fin grate formed thereon,
• 13 shows a cross section of the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 12,
• 14 is a top view of the embodiment. FIG. 14 is a top view of the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13.
• 15 is a side view of another embodiment of the flat wick,
• 16 is a plan view of the flat wick from FIGS. 15 and
• 17 is a perspective view of a chimney without a chimney for the use of the fuel elements according to the invention.

The fuel assembly 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 has a housing 2 made of metal, preferably approximately semicircular in cross section, and a removable cover 3, which can be placed thereon and contains a longitudinal slot 4, through which three flat wicks 5 extend protrude from the inside of the housing 2 onto the top of the cover 3. The upper edge 5a serving as the burning edge can protrude to different extents from the slot 4 in order to regulate the height of the flames 6. A suitable embodiment for this is described in connection with FIG. 4.

In the housing 2 there is a fuel supply 7, into which the wicks 5 protrude. The fuel supply 7 can be refilled after removing the cover 3. For example, granular paraffin is filled in as a fuel supply.

At the ends of the housing 2 there is an air duct 8 or 9 leading from the bottom to the top, but covered by the cover 3, through which fresh air flows in according to the dash-dotted arrows 10 and 11. The fresh air therefore reaches the burning edge 5a of the individual wicks 5 approximately horizontally, so that the flames 6 burn quietly and practically do not flicker.

Both the housing 2 and the cover 3 can be formed from sheet metal. The wicks 5 lie with their lower end on a beam 12 which is mounted in the lower region of the housing 2 with limited height adjustment. The beam 12 is supported with its two ends on a bimetal spring 13, which normally presses the relevant end of the beam upwards against a tongue 14 projecting into the interior of the housing 2. However, if the fuel supply 7 in the housing 2 has reached a certain elevated temperature, namely when it has melted, the bimetallic spring 13 deforms such that it no longer presses the bar 12 against the tongue 14 and thus the bar 12 within the housing 2 sinks down. Accordingly, the upper burning edge 5a of each wick 5 is automatically lowered when a certain temperature is reached, so that the flame 6 burns more stably and cannot flicker.

Each wick 9 essentially consists, as is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, of a metal plate 15 and preferably a tube 16 made of glass wool fabric or other inorganic material which is pulled over it and does not burn. The thickness of the sheet 15 is based on the thermal conductivity of its material, so that on the one hand, a sufficient gasification temperature is always obtained at the burning edge 5a of the wicks 5 and, on the other hand, the wick also dissipates enough heat inwards to quickly melt the fuel supply 7. Sheet 15 may also include openings to control thermal conductivity. If the sheet 15 is made of iron, it has a thickness of, for example, 0.1 to 0.2 mm.

At the ends of the wick 5 there are fittings 17 and 18 made of sheet metal, which hold the hose 16 on the bracket 15.

Bei dies ser Ausführungsform brauchen die Flammen 6 also nicht ausgelöscht zu werden, um Arennstoff machzufüllen.While the fuel assembly 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has wicks 5 in a single row, the wicks 5 in the embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9 are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows, namely in a total of five rows. This fuel assembly 21 has a container 22 for receiving a fuel supply, which is equipped with a hinged lid 23, so at any time

In this embodiment, the flames 6 do not need to be extinguished in order to fill up with arsenic.

Five channels 24 are attached to one string of the container 22, each of which contains a longitudinal slot 25 on its top, through which one or more wicks 5 can protrude more or less. The wicks can be stored in a manner similar to that described in connection with FIG. 4. There is a free space 26 between the individual channels 24, so that fresh air can circulate around the channels 24 according to the arrows 27 and reach the individual flames 6 from below. The flames 6 therefore burn very stable and calm.

The channels 24 are filled with a fuel supply 7, which is always filled up by the fuel supply filled into the container 22.

The ends of the channels 24 opposite the container 22 are connected to one another in the exemplary embodiment shown via a transverse channel 28 in order to improve a balance of the liquid fuel such as liquid paraffins in the individual channels 24.

From Fig. 8 it can be seen that the wicks 5 are arranged offset from one another such that they lie approximately on a circular area, the size of which corresponds to the base of a saucepan. The fuel element 21 can therefore also be used for cooking, roasting and the like, for example.

10 and 11, a chimney 31 is shown, which can be used in connection with the fuel elements described above and does not require a connection to a chimney. Nevertheless, the chimney is of lightweight construction because the fuel elements 1 and 21 do not develop excessive heat.

The chimney 31 has a box-like focal point 32, on the bottom 33 of which there is a remnant formed from wood pieces 34 or similar objects arranged in parallel, which serves to support a number of fuel elements 1. As shown in FIG. 11, each of these fuel assemblies 1 has a vertical pin 35 at one end, which is inserted into one of the pieces of wood 34. The fuel element 1 can be pivoted about this pin 35, so that a sufficient distance between adjacent fuel elements 1 is ensured, but they do not have to run absolutely parallel to one another.

A mobile box 36 is provided under the floor 33 of the burning point 32, which serves, for example, to hold fuel.

The rear wall 37 of the fireplace 31 is double-walled, as shown in FIG. 11, so that it forms an air shaft 38 through which room air can flow from bottom to top in accordance with the arrows 39, in order to be heated up.

A thin-walled hood 40 is attached above the focal point 32, in which sheets coated with activated carbon, one above the other and offset from one another, are attached in several rows. The heated air rising from the individual fuel assemblies or whose flames 6 flows around these sheets 41 in accordance with the predies 42 shown in FIG. 11. The upper end 43 of the hood 40 is at least partially open, so that the bottom 42 corresponds to the arrows 42 rising air from the hood 40 can escape after it is swept over the sheets 41 forming an absorber.

FIGS. 12 to 14 schematically show a further exemplary embodiment of the fuel element according to the invention in a cross section, a longitudinal section and a top view.

In this embodiment, the fuel assembly 51 has a box-shaped, elongated housing 52 which is rectangular in cross-section and which is cast in one piece with metal ribs 53, which form a grate, for example aluminum. Although only one box-like housing 52 is shown in the drawing, a plurality of housings 52 are preferably arranged next to one another and possibly also offset from one another on the grate formed by the ribs 53 and can accordingly be inserted as a unit in a chimney or removed therefrom as a unit will. Accordingly, fuel such as paraffin 54 can be conveniently refilled into the box-shaped housing 52.

Each housing 52 is provided with a removable cover 55, which is formed, for example, from sheet metal and rests with its ends 56 under resilient prestress against the end walls 57 of the box-shaped housing 52 in question. As a result, the cover 55 is held in the desired position.

As shown in FIG. 12, the cover 55 lies with its side walls 58 against upstanding webs 59 of the ribs 53 so that there are openings 60 between the side walls of each housing 52 and the cover 55 through which fresh air can flow in, as shown by dashed arrows 61 is indicated.

The cover 55 contains in its upper side a longitudinally extending slot 62 through which the flat wicks 63 protrude from the housing 52. On the end walls 57 of the housing 52 there is in each case a raised web 64 as a centering lug, against the two sides of which the longitudinal edges of the slot 62 of the cover 55 lie when it is attached to the housing 52 in question in its operating position.

Paraffin 54.On the inside of the end walls 57 of each housing 52 there is in each case a raised shoulder 65. The two shoulders 65 serve as supports for a holder 66 of the flat wick 63. The flat wick 63 in this embodiment of the fuel element are therefore at a certain distance 67 above the floor the housing 52 held so that the heat generated by the flames 68 can not get directly into the floor and thus the wall of the housing 52, but only directly into that

Paraffin 54.

oder Gewirke mit einer darin angeordneten und in der Zeichnung nicht näher gezeigten Metallplatte. Um den Kern herum ist eine aus Metall bestehende Hülle 70 angeordnet, die, wie insbesondere Fig. 16 zeigt, aus zwei gewellten Blechen besteht, die dementsprechend senkrecht verlaufende Rippen 71 haben, welche lediglich in Linienkontakt mit dem Kern 69 stehen, so daß die Wärmeableitung des brennenden Dochtes nicht zu stark ist. Die beiden gewellten Bleche der Hülle 70 sind an den Enden durch aus Aluminiumblech bestehende Klammern 72 untereinander verbunden und am Kern 69 befestigt.15 and 16 is a side view and a top view of one of the flat wicks 63 depicting the flat wick

or knitted fabrics with a metal plate arranged therein and not shown in the drawing. Arranged around the core is a sheath 70 made of metal which, as shown in particular in FIG. 16, consists of two corrugated sheets which accordingly have vertically extending ribs 71 which are only in line contact with the core 69 so that the heat dissipation of the burning wick is not too strong. The two corrugated sheets of the sheath 70 are connected to one another at the ends by clips 72 made of aluminum sheet and fastened to the core 69.

Approximately halfway up and in the middle of the sheath 70, a circular hole 73 is provided on each side thereof, which is important for the first burning time of the wick 63, so that enough liquid paraffin to the core in the first ten to fifteen minutes of the burning time 69 of the wick so that it burns properly.

The core 69 of the flat wick 63 protrudes above and below a certain distance from the casing 70, this distance corresponding to the focal height of the wick. The heat emanating from the flame 68 is rapidly dissipated downward via the metal sheath 70 and liquefies the paraffin 54 around the flat wick 63 in question, so that it rises at the core 69 and can supply the flame 68 with sufficient fuel.

The ribs 53 of the grate also serve for cooling purposes, the radiation surface of the rib system should therefore be in the correct ratio to the number of flames 68 the flames are not too hot and therefore not too high. To ignite the wicks 63 and also to refill paraffin 54, the grate with the housings 52 located thereon is pulled out of the chimney and can then be pushed back into the combustion chamber of the chimney.

17 shows a chimney 74 without chimney, in the combustion chamber 75 of which a grate 76 comprising the fuel elements 51 and the ribs 53 connecting them is arranged. This chimney has a cylindrical housing 77 with a cover-like attachment 78, in which a filter made of porous rock 79 is arranged, which can be seen in the drawing through side openings 80. The foot 81 is provided with a drawer 82 in which paraffin can be stored for refilling.

17, the combustion chamber 75 is shown open toward the front. But you can also provide the opening with a door, not shown, for example made of transparent material.

Claims (10)

1. Fuel element for open burning points such as fireplaces, characterized in that a refillable fuel supply (7; 54) and at least one flat fuel body such as a flat wick (5; 63) is arranged in a shell-like elongated housing (2; 24; 52). 2. Fuel element according to claim 1, characterized in that the fuel body (5; 63) from a on the top of the housing (2; 24; 52) in a removable cover (3; 55) located slot (4; 25; 62) protrude and at the ends of the housing (2; 52) vertical shafts (8, 9) or on the sides in the longitudinal direction, downwardly open slots (60) are provided for air supply. 3. Fuel element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fuel body (5; 63) is supported with its lower edge on a beam-like carrier (12; 66) which is limitedly adjustable in height in the housing (2; 24) or on supports (65) located in the housing (52). 4. Fuel element according to claim 3, characterized in that the carrier (12) is supported with its ends in each case on a bimetal spring (13) which press it against stops (14) in the housing (2; 24). 5. Fuel element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has a plurality of parallel (26) mutually spaced channels (24) for receiving fuel elements (5), the channels having at least one end to a refillable container (22) for a fuel supply and are connected at the other end to a transverse channel (28). 6. Fuel element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the housing (52) is integrally formed with a rib (53) having a grate (76) made of metal such as aluminum. 7. Fuel element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each fuel body (5; 63) has a core (15; 69) made of sheet metal and a coating, for example from a woven or knitted tube, the threads of which are made of inorganic material like glass wool, has and is preferably provided with a corrugated sheath (70) made of metal, from which the wick core (69) protrudes at least upwards by the focal height. 8. The fuel assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the casing (70) contains an opening (73) approximately in the middle on that side of the wick core (69). 9. fireplace for using the fuel elements according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a hood (40; 78) having an absorber (41) or filter (79) for cleaning the fuel elements (1; 51 ) contains rising exhaust air. 10. Chimney according to claim 9, characterized in that the absorber consists, for example, of a plurality of plates coated with activated carbon (41) or of granular porous, non-combustible rock (79) such as lava and, if appropriate, soda-lime in its upper region is located, the C0 ₂ absorbs or converts to carbonate.

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