EP2129968B1 - Flueless fireplace for soot-free burning of fuel to create a wall shaped flame - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a flue-free chimney for the flue-free exhaust gas of a fire agent or fuel (= fuel), and the use of the fireplace for generating one-piece fire walls.
Fireplaces are devices that serve for heating. For some time, they have been used in particular because of their subtle - the eyes hardly incriminating - lighting and the flames game. The fireplace of the prior art consists of an enclosed by masonry or iron plates, completely in the wall or partially protruding from the same space in which burns the fuel or the fire on a grate. During the firing process, combustion gases, soot and particulate matter are produced, which essentially escape directly into the chimney. Since many chimneys are open fireplaces, the combustion gases, the soot and the fine dust penetrate into the direct and further surroundings of a chimney.
In the open fireplace, the fire is directly affected by heat radiation. The heating effect of open fireplaces is limited. However, such open fireplaces are very popular in mild climates, but increasingly also in design-influenced apartments in northern and central Europe, because of the sight the fire gives the impression of livability.

Closed fireplaces are a technical development of open fireplaces with a high efficiency, which is realized by convection or water. The firebox is enclosed with closed fireplaces by a refractory pane, preferably a glass, to the fireplace room. The air ducts of fresh air and flue gas are optimized in the closed fireplaces. In the case of water-bearing fireplace inserts, the double-walled side debris, the grate and the flue gas pockets in the combustion chamber are water-cooled, whereby the water can act as an energy source. The heated water is preferably passed through a heating network in living rooms and used there for heating or hot water. The traditional fireplaces consist of a ventilation grille, a cornice, tile and plastering material, the shelf, the base parts, the recirculating air opening, the undercounter, the fireplace insert, the sim part, tile and plaster lintel, the apron part, the insulation board and possibly the ornamental tiles.

In particular, the "retrofitting" of existing, for example, Neubauwohnraum with fireplaces is difficult because they often can not be connected to the required chimneys, as newer residential buildings these no longer have a sufficient number or not at all. For this reason, so-called decorative fireplaces, but also electric fireplaces were developed. Electric fireplaces have an electric fire with real flame effect. These fires should be of convincing aesthetics and offer the illusion of a real fire. Such chimneys However, due to their many disadvantages, consumers could not prevail because consumers want real flames with a pronounced flame pattern. To remedy these drawbacks, flue-free fireplaces with real flames but without the required chimney connection have been developed. Such chimneys are operated with either Brenngel or bioalcohol. Such chimneys burn with real flame, but do not need a chimney connection; but they have many disadvantages. Because the prior art chimneys have multiple consumables, they are not sufficiently safe for indoor use. It is technically not possible to generate one-piece flames in them, which also burn calm and wavy, especially if these flames should have a width of 50 cm or more, z. B. in assembled fireplaces up to 20 m flame width and more. Above all, the burning time is very limited even with large use of ethanol or methanol. It is also not possible to allow in the chimneys of the prior art, a controlled burning of the fire or the fuel material. Disadvantageously, the fireplace of the prior art heats up very much due to the fire, so that extensive fire protection regulations must be observed. After extinguishing the fire, it can not be re-ignited immediately, as there is no protection against the possible fuming or exploding of escaping flammable gases. The burning of the fire directly in the fuel tank disadvantageously heated the entire fuel so strong that this can be a danger after extinguishing, as the remaining fuel continues to emit strong, which in a renewed Igniting or sparking or the like can lead to an explosion or deflagration. This is even more so, as even in the cold state so much alcohol is continuously exhausted - especially by the large opening of the combustion chamber - that the risk of explosion or deflagration exists in this case.
There have also been attempts in the art with elongate shells comprising the combustibles to overcome the above drawbacks. The resulting flame image was unsatisfactory because many flames were generated side by side, moving fast and high, and thus did not meet the fire safety regulations. Furthermore, the fuel or the fuel was used up quickly and the shells warped very strong and were very hot. Due to the high temperatures, the fuel continued to burn heavily even after extinguishing the flames, creating a danger of deflagration.

document DE 1 451 384 describes a burner in which liquid fuel is transported through a plurality of wicks in an annular groove. Each wick is arranged in a wick tube. The object of the invention was therefore to provide a fireplace, which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art and allows a simple, safe and effective burning of fuel or fire products with long burning time and high security.
The object of the invention is achieved by a chimney comprising a stainless steel tub having a fire agent, which is operatively connected to fiber cords or fiberglass tape and wherein the firing agent is selected from the group comprising bioalcohol, Brenngel or ethanol or high-percentage alcohol, wherein in the sense alcoholic solution of the invention is more than 40%, more than 50%, more than 60%, more than 70%, in particular more than 80%, more preferably 90% and most preferably more than 95% or more than 97%, 98%, 99% alcohol. Actively connected in the sense of the invention means that the fiber cords or the fiberglass tape are able to transport the fire agent, for example alcohol, in such a way that at the location where the fire agent is ignited - preferably at the end of the wick, the on or at the firing surface is positioned - a substantially soot-free flame is formed, over which a safe and effective burning of the fire agent is possible. For this purpose, it may be preferable, for example, for the fiber cords to extend to the bottom of the stainless steel tub or to protrude only so deeply that they dip into or touch the firing means or are positioned in the vicinity of the firing means, such that the firebox is picked up is possible. In particular, if the fiber cords or the fiberglass not dive directly into the fire, but not, for example, just in this not protrude, would not speak within the meaning of the invention that fiber cords and fire means are connected - rather, in this case, the situation that Fiber cords or fiberglass tape are operatively connected to the fire agent. It is preferred that the fiber cords or the fiber wicks, the number determines the transport amount of ethanol or other fuels, transport the transported amount of fuel in a range, for example, in FIG. 3 is described as wick cover / fixation. This is preferably essentially one above the Tanks positioned gutter, in which the wick protrudes from the tank into the wick cover area. This area is part of the dome according to the invention. The upper part of the dome is preferably designed as an elongated trough in which ceramic fiber mats, for example, are preferably positioned, which receive the fuel material transported by the wicks so that the burning of a fire agent or fuel material is possible over these ceramic fiber mats. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, this range is in FIG. 3 Also referred to as Abbrennfläche.

The invention thus relates to a flue-free chimney according to claim 1. In a preferred embodiment, the flue-free chimney according to the invention comprises a stainless steel pan and a wick system comprising at least two domes having at least one wick, the domes forming at the end remote from the stainless steel pan a firing surface for the firing agent and the fire agent comprises alcohol and / or fuel gel.
In a preferred embodiment, the domes of the fireplace according to the invention are positioned in rows on the stainless steel pan with a distance of 5 to 150 mm between two domes. The mentioned preferred embodiments allow the formation of a uniform Flame image, which controlled, with high safety and long burning time and quiet burns.

The wick or wicks are in a dome, which is designed essentially as a tube, led into the Abbrennfläche (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 2 ).

As in the preferred embodiment according to FIG. 2 As can be seen, these domes are formed as a wick system comprising at least two domes, preferably at least 5, more preferably 5 to 20 domes comprising a wick system. This wick system may preferably be constructed so that there is a distance of 5 cm between the domes in particular.

By preferably 5 to 20, most preferably 10 to 20 dome, the above-mentioned wicks are guided so that they supply the glass fiber mat or the ceramic fiber mat, which is preferably incombustible, with firing means from the tank.

Preferably, the ceramic fiber mat covers the wicks. The wicks may be any fiber or other capillary material, including glass and metal fibers capable of transporting, for example by capillary action, a fire agent such as ethanol to the burning site or to the vicinity of the burn-off area. The term proximity in this case means that the wick is still led to the burning surface so far that an efficient and safe burning of the fire agent is possible.

Accordingly, the teaching according to the invention can also be understood as a combination invention in which several elements interact to achieve overall technical success, the elements interacting functionally, resulting in a surprising effect. The above-mentioned, structurally united by the invention elements work towards a common goal, ie they cooperate. They influence and complement each other and thus bring about the overall success of a surprisingly safe, effective and largely soot-free burning of a fire agent. This uniform technical success is based on the effects of the constructively connected elements, it is, so to speak, the staple of the combination. The prior art did not give the person of ordinary skill in the art any idea of having the elements according to the invention interact. It was completely surprising that the inventive combination of tank, wick and dome combination, and in addition wick cover and fixation and formation of a Abbrennfläche opens up the possibility burned controlled fire agents such as alcohol with a very long burning time, with a substantially one-piece looking flame arises, which burns safe and wavy. It was quite surprising that a wick system implemented via domes, with a glass mat or ceramic fiber mat so supplied with fire means that a controlled, long and safe burning in the form of a one-piece, wave-shaped, substantially quiet flame is made possible. It was not obvious to those skilled in the art that a system of at least two domes, preferably substantially five domes, more preferably 10 to 20 domes leads to this surprising effect.

Furthermore, it was completely surprising that the ceramic fiber mat or glass mat or glass wadding can be safely and efficiently supplied with fuel via a dome or wick system, if the individual domes have a distance of preferably 5 to 150 mm and the tank length of the stainless steel tub has a length of 30 to 20,000 mm. In this arrangement, the wick preferably does not burn away and thus is not a wear agent in this preferred embodiment.

It has surprisingly been found that a gutter width of 5 to 50 mm results in a one-piece flame, which burns particularly controlled and with a surprisingly long burning time.

The fireplace according to the invention has the advantage that with him a one-piece flame can be generated, which burns calm and wavy and controlled. Since the fireplace has no wearing parts, it guarantees a high level of safety. Due to the combination of stainless steel tub, fiberglass tape and bio-alcohol and / or Brenngel takes place surprisingly a very long burning time, with only low temperatures in the stainless steel tub, which may be preferably designed as a tank arise. The flame is designed in the fireplace according to the invention so that it can be easily deleted with a lid or commercial water sprayer / atomizer, the flame immediately - without explosion or risk of deflagration - is re-ignitable.

The stainless steel tub may be formed in a preferred embodiment as a dense tank with a positive or negative pressure opening. These stainless steel trays can be positioned variably in length so that 20 m long, uniformly acting flames can be produced. The heat released into the living space amounts to approx. 1 to 2 kW per l / h per stainless steel tub or tank. Advantageously, the tanks are designed so that they are still easy to transport even with a residual content.

When using fiber cords or fiber wicks can be determined by the exact number of individual fiber cords, which amount of fuel is transported as a fire, such as ethanol. The fiber cords are preferably covered in the region of the Abbrennfläche with glass fiber cords or mats, which are substantially 1 mm to 10 mm thick. This configuration of the glass fiber cords or the ceramic mats, a surprisingly good fixation of the cords and seal is achieved; Furthermore, this embodiment allows a particularly long burning time. Furthermore, fiber-braided glass fiber walls can also be used in the wick system. The said agents are preferably non-burning agents and can absorb and transport such amounts of bio-alcohol or fuel, so that a new and single flame image can be created. The resulting exhaust gases, which arise in the clean combustion, consist essentially only of water and carbon dioxide, so that the fireplaces invention can be placed in any room without smoke extraction. If a usual wick of woven textile material is used according to the prior art, no sufficient amounts of fuel or fire means are transported or this burns down completely, so that toxic gases. Furthermore, after the extinguishing and repeated lighting of the flame, there is a deflagration of escaping residual gases. With fiber-braided fiberglass ribbons and / or fiber cords as a wick in particular, the flame pattern can be increased or reduced almost arbitrarily with the shape remaining the same. In a further preferred embodiment sealing cords were used as a wick, which were previously known in the art only for sealing of furnace doors, such as the preferred for the cover and seal ceramic fiber mat, which is preferably used for thermal insulation. It was surprising that such sealing cords, especially if they are designed as a fiber-braided fiberglass tape and / or fiber cords, are used as a vertical wick and also absorb the required larger amounts of fuel, if the flame was ignited and not so large amounts in non-burning flame let the fuel or fuel degas that there is a risk of deflagration. The wick caused the flame to burn calmly, forming a one-piece fire wall, thus eliminating the danger of fires from adjacent materials. It could be further surprisingly found that the higher safety and the controlled burning was associated with a long burning time and the formation of dense tanks with an over or under pressure opening made possible. Since the fire burns quietly above the wick, lower temperatures are generated in the tank itself. After extinguishing the flame, this is immediately back ignitable without the risk of explosion or deflagration. The fireplace according to the invention is so well transportable even with residual tank contents and still has no wearing parts.

In a preferred embodiment, the fireplace according to the invention is a closed, elongated, substantially rectangular pan, which has openings at its upper cover - preferably around 10 mm with a distance of preferably 50 mm - on which the dome preferably with Abbrennfläche separated from the tank sitting. The separation surprisingly prevents the temperature transfer to the tank. The preferred distance is 3 cm. In the preferred tubes, which are attached tightly to the tank and to the firing surface, the fiber wicks extend. The fuel is transported from the tank into the small burn-off area. Stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat, so the part of the dome that connects the tank and the fuel surface is made with a low surface area. Thus, the hot surface transfers only low temperatures to the tank. In the burning surface, the wicking fibers are fixed by covering with a ceramic fiber or mat and the dome is sealed. As a result, emerging gases can no longer escape uncontrollably and the flame does not burn into the tank.

It was surprising that this constructive arrangement prevents uncontrolled leakage of the resulting gases. It was not known to the person skilled in the art that this embodiment of the invention prevents the flame from burning into the tank.

In the unlit, so-called cold state only a saturation of the wick takes place and the exhaust gas is reduced to a harmless minimum. If the fireplace is not working - d. H. if no flame is burning, therefore, hardly any gaseous bio-alcohol or any other fuel is released into the environment. In contrast to the known chimneys, not so much gaseous fuel diffuses into the immediate environment of the chimney that deflagration can occur. The o. G. So the minimum of the exhaust gas refers to an amount that is below what would be required for a deflagration. This amount may vary depending on the chimney, fuel used, temperature, humidity or oxygen content of the environment.

The bioalcohol according to the invention is preferably about 99% highly filtered agar-alcohol or commercial high-percentage ethanol (98%) for a particularly realistic flame play. The alcohol, in particular bioalcohol, is preferably mixed with a minimum amount of bittering agent in order to render it unsuitable for consumption. The bioalcohol may be, for example, pure ethanol.

The fireplace according to the invention may be designed so that it can be introduced into an elongated, horizontal recess of a room wall. In this case, the fireplace according to the invention would preferably have only an extension of a few, for example, 10 cm in width as well as in height, with a certain safety distance above the flame or the flames must be considered. Of course it is also possible, the To design the fireplace so that it is the size of a classic fireplace with a height and a width of 1 to 2 m or more.
The invention also relates to the use of the fireplace for the flammable burning of a fuel. It further relates to the use of the fireplace to generate a safe flame image, preferably of one-piece fire walls.

• Abkehr vom technisch Üblichen
• neue Aufgabenstellung
• Vorliegen eines seit langem ungelösten dringenden Bedürfnisses für die Lösung des mit der Erfindung gelösten Problems
• bisheriges vergebliches Bemühen der Fachwelt
• die Einfachheit der Lösung spricht für erfinderische Tätigkeit, insbesondere da sie kompliziertere Lehren ersetzt
• Entwicklung der wissenschaftlichen Technik ging in eine andere Richtung
• entwicklungsstraffende Leistung
• Fehlvorstellungen der Fachwelt über die Lösung des entsprechenden Problems (Vorurteil)
• technischer Fortschritt, wie z. B.: Verbesserung, Leistungssteigerung, Verbilligung, Ersparnis an Zeit, Material, Arbeitsstufen, Kosten oder schwer beschaffbaren Rohstoffen, erhöhte Zuverlässigkeit, Beseitigung von Fehlern, Qualitätshebung, Wartungsfreiheit, größere Effektivität, höhere Ausbeute, Vermehrung der technischen Möglichkeiten, Bereitstellung eines weiteren Mittels, Eröffnung eines zweiten Weges, Eröffnung eines neuen Gebietes, erstmalige Lösung einer Aufgabe, Reservemittel, Alternativen, Möglichkeit der Rationalisierung, Automatisierung oder Miniaturisierung
• glücklicher Griff, da aus einer Vielzahl von Möglichkeiten eine bestimmte gewählt wurde, deren Ergebnis nicht vorausgesagt werden konnte, daher handelt es sich um ein patentwürdigen glücklichen Griff
• Irrtum in Entgegenhaltungen
• junges Gebiet der Technik
• Kombinationserfindung, d.h. mehrere bekannte Elemente werden zu einer Kombination zusammengeführt, die einen überraschenden Effekt aufweist
• Lizenzvergabe
• Lob der Fachwelt und
• wirtschaftlicher Erfolg.

The teaching according to the application is characterized in particular in its preferred embodiments by the following features:

• Departure from the technical usual
• new task
• There is a long-standing unresolved pressing need for solving the problem solved by the invention
• previous futile effort of the experts
• the simplicity of the solution speaks for inventive step, especially as it replaces more complicated teachings
• Development of scientific technology went in a different direction
• development-firming achievement
• Misconceptions of the experts about the solution of the corresponding problem (prejudice)
• technical progress, such as B .: improvement, increase in performance, cheapening, saving time, material, work stages, costs or difficult-to-procure raw materials, increased reliability, elimination of errors, quality improvement, maintenance-free, greater effectiveness, higher yield, increase the technical possibilities, providing a further means, Opening a second path, opening a new territory, solving a task for the first time, reserve resources, alternatives, possibility of rationalization, automation or miniaturization
• Lucky grip, because of a variety of options was chosen a particular, the result of which could not be predicted, so it is a patentable lucky grip
• Mistake in citations
• young field of engineering
• Combination invention, ie several known elements are combined to form a combination that has a surprising effect
• licensing
• Praise the professional world and
• economic success.

In particular, the advantageous embodiments of the invention have at least one or more of the advantages mentioned.

In the following, the fireplace according to the invention will be explained in more detail by way of example, without being limited to this example.

The example is based on three figures ( Fig. 1 . 2 and 3 ) explained.

Legend:

• Fig. 1 :
  • Shows a fireplace or burner according to the invention in section. The tank fills the entire lower area and is up to max. 80% with the fuel, such as ethanol, filled (see wavy line). The wicks are in the tank. The wick is made of glass or ceramic fiber and is covered at the top over the entire Abbrennfläche with a non-combustible Faserdocht or a mat and serves to seal the dome and to fix the wick.
• Fig. 2 :
  • Shows the burner or chimney in side view. The wick system is preferably located in the center of the tank. Into the dome the wick is introduced.
• Fig. 3 :
  • Shows the front view of the burner. In the lower area you can see the tank. The upper part is the Dom shaft which is attached. Put on the tank you can see the filler neck with a fuel cap. In the tank cap is a hole of 1 mm for pressure equalization.

Claims (6)

1. A flueless fireplace for soot-free burning of a fuel, wherein the fireplace comprises a stainless steel tub, a wick system consisting of at least two domes comprising a wick, wherein a gutter-shaped burning surface is positioned at the end of the dome facing away from the stainless steel tub and at least one wick is guided through a respective dome, wherein the wick protrudes into the stainless steel tub in such a manner that it can absorb the fuel and leads through the dome into the gutter-shaped burning surface, characterized in that the wicks in the gutter-shaped burning surface are covered by a ceramic fiber mat or glass fiber cords.
2. The flueless fireplace according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fireplace comprises a stainless steel tub and a wick system consisting of at least one dome comprising a wick, wherein the domes form a burning surface for the fuel on the end facing away from the stainless steel tub, and the fuel comprises alcohol and/or fuel gel.
3. The flueless fireplace according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the domes are positioned in a row on the stainless steel tub with a spacing of from 5 to 150 mm between two domes.
4. A use of the fireplace according to any one of claims 1 to 3 for burning a fuel substantially without deflagration.
5. The use according to the preceding claim for generating a secure flame shape.
6. The use according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flame pattern is at least 1 cm long, preferably 50 cm to 20 m long.

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