EP1445541B1 - Multifunctional fire - Google Patents

Abstract

The furnace has a combustion chamber with an opening for inlet of primary air and another opening for outflow of consumed gas. A frame (5) is placed in foreground and has three doors (6a, 6b, 6c) providing access to the chamber. The frame pivots with respect to the furnace on a horizontal or vertical axis. The door slides with respect to the frame vertically and/or horizontally and is retractable in a casing built in masonry.

Description

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a new multifunctional fireplace, type stove or insert, solid fuel, wood preferably, or gas.

State of the art

Many types of stoves, fireplaces, inserts or "cassettes", essentially wood, are known and exist in multiple embodiments that meet the tastes and requirements of the user.

Thus, these allow a wide range of possibilities from the hearth or real open fire to the traditional continuous operation stove, through the ceramic glass door insert or fire resistant glass, completely or partially embedded in the masonry .

The desired criteria may be functional such as the efficiency requirement (fireplace closed and possibly operating at idle, in continuous mode), the demand for forced air in the room where the fireplace is located (secondary air inlet and use of fans for example), the possibility of grilling or cooking (use in indoor barbecue mode or oven with warming compartment).

In addition, the insert or "cassette" with glass door, requires an external air intake that sweeps the inner face of the glass, to keep it clean.

This constraint prevents the use of the insert in continuous operation, at idle (requiring at least 8 hours of autonomy). The insert therefore does not make it possible to obtain very high efficiency operation, as in the solid-door stove, whose air supply is reduced to a minimum.

The criteria can also be purely aesthetic or related to the perception (game fire wood fire, characteristic smell, crackling embers).

Document DE 3527810 A proposes a fireplace combining several functionalities. This fireplace essentially comprises a heating body defining a combustion chamber, a grid surmounting an ash pan, a combustion air inlet and a flue gas discharge.

The heating body has a cylindrical wall resting on a base at its base and is connected at its upper part to the evacuation of fumes.

A front access opening to the combustion chamber is obtained because the vertical cylindrical wall does not cover the entire periphery of the chamber.

A drum-shaped shell, concentrically surrounding the vertical wall of the chamber and rotatable about its axis, is made up of several parts, a part being lined with a panel of a transparent material, for example glass, a second part is lined with a grid or lattice, or a perforated sheet serving as a spark arrester, and a third part is constituted by a sheet metal plate, while a fourth part consists only of an open frame giving access direct to the combustion chamber.

It can be said that this document describes a general principle but gives no indication of how to solve a number of disadvantages that will not fail to appear when using this type of fireplace. In particular, the various panels, in particular the glass part are fixedly mounted on the drum and therefore do not allow or allow difficulty in cleaning.

When a glass wall is used, it is observed in particular that it is quickly soiled by soot deposits. In principle, we can significantly reduce these deposits by providing an external air supply that sweeps the inner face of the glass. However, this is only feasible in combination with a good seal, which in particular is very difficult to obtain in a system comprising a mobile part displaceable in front of the fixed part limiting the combustion chamber.

Since no measure is provided to seal the moving parts with respect to the combustion chamber, this renders satisfactory operation in "continuous" mode practically impossible.

Finally, any seals between the movable part and the fixed part easily deteriorate during the movement of the moving part, when no precaution is provided to avoid friction of the movable part on the fixed part.

GB 667 570 A proposes two-part spark arresters for an open hearth, of arcuate form and of different types, which may be either retracted or rotated in front of the hearth. One of the screens may be a sheet and another may be formed by a grid, a lattice or the like.

Goals of the invention

The object of the present invention is to propose a fireplace designed in such a way that it makes it possible to remedy the disadvantages of the state of the art.

The invention is aimed in particular at a home multifunctional allowing the user to benefit from several distinct functionalities which are the heating with high efficiency, the visual approval equivalent to that procured by a traditional open fire and the use for grilling or cooking with the same apparatus.

The invention also aims to propose adequate measures to reduce soiling, at least of the glass part, by deposits of tar or soot.

These objects are achieved by the characteristics of the characterizing part of claim 1.

The present invention relates to a solid fuel combustion chamber, preferably wood or gas, consisting of a cast iron or steel sheet heater, comprising a combustion chamber provided with an opening for the entry of primary air, at least one opening for the evacuation of the consumed gases and an access opening to said combustion chamber, said hearth comprises one or more doors that can give access to said combustion chamber and that can be put in vis-à- screw of said access opening, by a rotational or translational movement of a movable support on which are articulated the door or doors, each door allowing the user to benefit from at least one clean feature of said home.

Preferably, it is provided that a position of the movable support discovers the access opening and that at least one other position of the support brings in front of the access opening a door which can be glazed, full, or furnished a trellis or similar element serving as a spark arrester.

The term "door" should be understood broadly as a movable panel hinged by hinges, hinges or hinges to close the access opening.

Advantageously, to ensure at least the functionalities that make it necessary to seal, that is to say in the case of the shutter, whether by a glass door or a door provided with a sheet, seals Sealing are provided on the one hand between the body of the combustion chamber and the movable support and on the other hand between the doors and the movable support.

In order to avoid damaging the seal between the mobile support and the combustion chamber during the displacement of the mobile support, it is provided that the movable support is guided to move away from the chamber during rotation or translation and is applied with interposing the seal thereon when it is stopped in an operative position bringing a door to the access opening.

The rotational or translational movement is carried out by any appropriate means, for example by displacement on a raceway by means of rollers or ball bearings integral with said movable support.

According to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, the furnace comprises a heating body which is cylindrical and a support movable on a circular raceway, equipped with doors that can be brought sequentially in front of said access opening by sliding.

Advantageously, the mobile support is a concentric drum with a cylindrical heating body and a radius greater than that of said heating body.

Particularly advantageously, the drum comprises two or three doors in the form of a circular arc, each door being subtended by an angle at the center of 120 °.

According to one embodiment the hearth is of the insert type in a masonry, the doors are brought sequentially in front of said access opening by displacement (sliding or rolling) of the movable support on at least one guide or a straight rail.

If the mobile support according to the second illustrative embodiment of the invention is planar, at least one door not located in front of the access opening to the heating body is advantageously retracted in a housing provided for this purpose in the masonry.

Two variants are possible for this second embodiment, each of which provides specific advantages.

According to the first variant, the sliding movement with respect to the access opening is carried out vertically (from top to bottom and from bottom to top) and, according to a second embodiment, the movement is carried out horizontally, from left to right and vice versa.

It is provided in these two variants, at least one closed position of the access opening which is constituted by a glass door. In addition and preferably, another closing position may, in particular in the version of a horizontal sliding movement, be constituted by a sealing plate or a spark arrester. In either case, the door is more articulated on a hinge (hinges), itself horizontal or vertical.

The solution that seems most logical to achieve this type of home with at least a dual functionality, that is to say the direct access to the combustion chamber without clogging and a total or partial closure with the aid of a glazed part, consists in providing a frame serving as a frame in front of the access opening and to mount externally, in the foreground, the door forming swinging or tilting depending on whether the hinge or the hinges are arranged vertically or horizontally. The sliding movement with respect to the access opening causes, in this case, said frame (frame) and the door, by a suitable slide system mounted on the frame.

Aesthetically, this solution is not happy. Indeed, the retraction of the frame leaving, at least in the open position, appear the combustion chamber without any siding or framing.

This disadvantage can be avoided according to the invention and particular advantages can be obtained when the frame is in the foreground and is mounted on a hinge or hinges secured to the home, while the glass door slides, vertically and / or horizontally with respect to said frame.

The sliding can be achieved using telescopic slides, wheels or by any other means ensuring both the movement and guidance of the sliding door.

In the case of vertical sliding, a cable-pulley and counterweight system can be used to facilitate movement.

To facilitate access to the mechanism, the cleaning of the inner face of the sliding door and for technical or practical reasons, it is the bearing frame (and not the door) which pivots (including possible mechanisms) around a horizontal or vertical axis.

The sliding door and its frame (or box) carrier, can be made in various shapes and proportions based on the configurations shown.

The sliding door may be solid, glazed or recessed (partially or totally) and in all the motion configurations described previously.

Because the frame (or box) carrier is placed in the foreground with respect to the sliding door, the movement of the door does not cause a change in the "physiognomy" of the home and this, mainly in the case where the door is glazed. When glazed, the sliding door may be devoid of a metal frame, at least on its lower side, so that a partial displacement can be envisaged without creating a visual obstacle on the background (flames); this possibility to partially raise the glazed part is particularly important insofar as it makes it possible to remedy most problems of repression, without altering the vision of the flames in the hearth.

A device is provided so that in the raised position (partial or total), the seal of the door remains applied over its entire length.

Brief description of the drawings

Only Figures 14 to 20 and 22 form part of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show perspective views of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, in the form of a cylindrical drum stove.

Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of a drum, with its doors (open).

Figure 4 shows a front view of a drum, with its doors (closed).

Figure 5 illustrates a sectional view of a combustion chamber body and a drum as well as seals in the case of a closed door.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of Figure 5 illustrating the articulation of a door and the locking of the neighboring door.

Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 5 in the case of an open door.

Figure 8 is an overall view similar to Figure 5 illustrating the drum guide and support bearings and the boss and escapements to ensure the rotation of the drum without friction on the joints.

Figures 9 and 10 are details of two parts shown in Figure 8.

Figure 11 shows a schematic front view of a cassette with several sliding doors.

Figures 12 and 13 schematically illustrate the two variants of a door that slides vertically and horizontally in a frame.

FIGS. 14 to 21 illustrate, for these two variants, the possible movements of the frame in which the door slides, respectively on a horizontal and vertical axis.

Figure 22 shows a sectional view of a combustion chamber body and a sliding door vertically or horizontally, as illustrated for example in Figures 12 and 13.

Identical reference marks are used in the different figures for identical or similar constituent elements.

Detailed description of the invention

The principle underlying the present invention is to associate a specific functionality to a particular door. It should be noted that the frame of the door is standard, but it is if necessary the opening which will be provided with specific characteristics.

We can imagine the types of doors following: vitroceramic door with fixed or retractable glass, ceramic glass door with hinged tilt glass, ceramic glass door with fixed partial glass, solid sheet metal door, door with opening, spark arrestor grille, etc.

The idea is each time to bring before an opening in the heating body a specific door or leave the access opening open.

The available doors (at least two, ideally three) are arranged on a drum concentric with a cylindrical heating body and radius smaller than that of the drum.

Figures 1 and 2 show a fireplace in the apparent form of a fireplace or stove cylindrical.

The fireplace comprises a conventional heating body 1 made of sheet steel or cast iron. This defines a combustion chamber, possibly covered with insulating fittings of refractory material. An opening is provided for the injection of primary air at the base of the flames, via a register that allows to adjust the flow. Under the combustion chamber is an ash pan 2 large capacity. The connection to the chimney is provided via openings 3, preferably circular, located on the upper part of the heating body, either at the rear or on the top of it. The heating body is finally provided with an opening 4 (FIG. 2) allowing access and vision inside the latter, at the level of the combustion chamber.

The heating body is provided on its outer periphery of a concentric drum 5 of sheet steel or cast iron, provided with three doors 6, articulated on the support 5, each arranged in an arc corresponding to a central angle of 120 °. The dimensions of each door are such that each of them can close, preferably completely, the corresponding opening 4 formed in the heating body. Figures 3 and 4 show a support 5 in the form of a drum provided with three doors 6, including a solid door. Depending on the case, the latter comprises an opening or may be limited to a single sealed cylindrical wall.

Examples of possible doors are an entirely vitroceramic glass door, a door, possibly partially glazed, having an opening allowing the passage of air from the outside towards the inside, as well as that of dishes or a grill of barbecue, or a full door.

Figures 3 and 4 show in particular the drum 5 isolated and provided with three doors: a solid door 6A, a fully glazed door 6B and a door 6C which can be partially glazed or provided with a spark arrester.

Each door can be placed opposite the opening made in the heating body by manual rotation of its support around its axis which is also the axis of symmetry of revolution of the cylindrical heating body. The contact surface between the drum and the heating body is a race 7. The bearings, for example three in number (not shown), are arranged on the drum.

FIG. 5 indicates that the heating body 1 is filled over most of its periphery with an insulating refractory material 21 which is of course interrupted at the level of the access opening 4.

At its ends, the sheet of the body of heating, on both sides of the opening 4, is shaped to receive a seal 23 interposed between the heating body 1 and the drum 5 extending over the entire periphery of the opening 4.

On the drum 5 are mounted three doors 6. Each door is mounted on a hinge shown schematically by the reference 25 and is provided with a locking device shown schematically by the reference 27.

A second seal 29 is interposed between the drum 5 and each door 6 which extends over the entire periphery of the door 6 and that it equips.

As shown in Figure 7, the door 6 is articulated on the rotary drum 5 to allow access to the opening 4 of the combustion chamber.

In the overview of FIG. 8 and the detailed views of FIGS. 9 and 10, the rail constituting the raceway 7, the horizontal guide bearing 32 and the support bearing 33 provided to ensure the movement of rotation of the drum 5.

Cover pieces 30 and 31 are provided to protect the seals and mechanisms (Figure 5).

A projection 35 (FIG. 9) is provided at the rear of the combustion chamber and the exhausts 37 (FIG. 10) on either side of the opening 4 so that during the movement of displacement (rotation) of the drum intended to bring a door 6 in front of the access opening 4, the seal 23 is not compressed on the frame of the drum. When a door 6 arrives in the operational position (facing the opening 4), the effect of the boss 35 and the escapements 37 has the effect of rearwardly offsetting the drum 5 with respect to the cylindrical combustion chamber 1 and thus compressing the seal 23, by pressing said drum on the chamber, at the two angular positions where the exhausts 37 are located. In this locked position, the tightness of the combustion chamber is ensured. When a door 6 is unlocked and the drum 5 is rotated, the drum and the chamber again have the same axis of symmetry of revolution, this axis also passing through the center of the circular raceway 7.

FIG. 11 represents an embodiment in the form of a planar mobile support frame 15, comprising three doors. The doors shown in the figure are given by way of example, many other possibilities that may correspond to the present invention. There is therefore here a glass door 11, a partially glazed door 12 and a solid door 13. The movable support frame 15 is free to move linearly in a recess 16 of the masonry 10. The movable support frame is provided with bearings (not shown) and slides on rails constituting the raceway 17. The length of the recess is such that each door can be placed vis-à-vis the opening made in the masonry and which corresponds to the position of the opening made in the heating body 14.

In this example, the fully glazed door 11 allows the user to benefit from the aesthetic effect and ambiance with a suitable performance. The partially glazed door 12 further increases this effect of the "open fire" type, the partial opening allowing the increase of the draft while preventing the backflow of the fumes. In addition, use of barbecue type is possible with this type of door. Finally, the full door 13 allows use at very high efficiency, possibly continuously. It is thus possible to combine, in this embodiment, several functionalities that are not compatible with a single type of door.

It can therefore be a linear embodiment, the doors can be operated on a guide or a rectilinear rail. This solution is particularly applicable to the case of an insert or fireplace insert, the unused door (s) being retracted in a housing provided at the masonry, possibly on either side of the hearth.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the possible movement of the door on its support frame and Figures 14 to 20 pivotal movements of this frame on a horizontal axis (Figures 14 and 15) and on a vertical axis (Figures 16 and 17) in the case of a linear configuration. When a non-linear arrangement is adopted, such as partially circular (Figures 18 and 19) or prismatic (Figure 20), the number of possible movements is illustrated in the respective figures.

In FIG. 22, corresponding to a movement of the horizontal or vertical door 6 (FIGS. 12 and 13), the door is shown in its sealed locked position in front of the opening 4. Take for example the case of horizontal movement. To move the door, it first performs a first shift to the right (a few centimeters), the seal 23 continues to rub on the fixed part. Once in the exhaust 37, the seal 23 is released. The door can then be moved horizontally on the raceway. Similar reasoning applies to the vertical motion device.

The case illustrated in FIG. 21 is that in which the sliding door moves horizontally, the carrier frame (or box) being designed to allow the transfer of the sliding door of a carrier frame to another which is juxtaposed with it. Several frames (or boxes) carriers could be juxtaposed so as to combine, within a single device, several modes of operation.

Claims (9)

1. Solid-fuel furnace, preferably a wood-burning furnace or a gas-fired furnace, of the type that can be embedded in a brickwork (10), comprising a supporting frame and lining at the front, provided with an access to the combustion chamber of the furnace, characterised

   ■ in that a door (11) is mounted and can slide relative to the supporting frame (15), vertically and/or horizontally, and can be retracted into a housing (16) provided to that end in the brickwork (10), means that are mounted on the supporting frame (15) ensuring both the movement and the guiding, by sliding or rolling on a guide or a rail, of the sliding door (11), and

   ■ in that the supporting frame (15) is mounted and can pivot relative to the furnace around a horizontal or vertical axis.
2. Furnace according to Claim 1, characterised in that the frame (15) is mounted on a butt hinge, on hinge plates or on hinge pins attached to the furnace.
3. Furnace according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the moving and guiding means comprise telescopic slides or roller bearings or rollers.
4. Furnace according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that, in the case of a vertical sliding of the door, said moving and guiding means comprise a system of cables-pulley and counterweight.
5. Furnace according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the moving and guiding means are pivoting with the lining frame, which facilitates access to it.
6. Furnace according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the sliding door (11) is solid or hollow, at least partially, or even lined with a means such as a mesh acting as fireguard.
7. Furnace according to Claim 6, characterised in that the door (11) is glazed and preferably devoid of any metal frame or other, at least on its lower side, a partial shift of the door incurring no visual obstacle relative to a background comprising for example flames.
8. Furnace according to Claim 4, characterised in that it comprises means so that, in the raised position of the door, an airtight seal of the door (11) remains applied over its entire length.
9. Furnace according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the supporting and lining frame (15) and the door (11) have a configuration that is linear, partially circular or prismatic.

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