GB2128730A - Dry combustible burning space heater - Google Patents

Abstract

A kit of parts permits the adaptation of a known 205 litre steel drum into a fuel-burning space heater. A door assembly 4 has a frame fitting over an opening cut in one end wall of the drum, and a door is hinged on the frame and can be latched closed. The door has primary and secondary air entry openings which are adjustable in unison by a damper blade pivoted on the door. A flue outlet 17 is secured over a hole formed in the wrapper of the drum at the end remote from the door, and legs 16 are secured beneath the drum. For additional heat exchange, a second drum can be mounted above the first, with the flue of the first drum entering the second drum, and with a second flue outlet provided in the second drum. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dry combustible burning space heater This invention relatestotheconstructionoffuel- burning space heaters.

A common form ofcontainerfortheshipping and storage of liquids is the standard 205 litre steel drum having two plane end walls and a cylindrical wrapper, and with two bung openings formed in one end wall.

Such drums are readily available at low cost, and are frequently discarded as scrap after a single term of use when the contents have been emptied.

The object of the present invention is to provide methods for the construction of fuel-burning space heaters utilising one or more such drums, and heaters constructed in accordance with said methods, and kits of parts suitable for use in carrying out said methods.

According to a first aspect ofthe present invention, a method of constructing a fuel-burning space heater comprises the steps of forming a door opening in one end wall of a steel drum having two end walls and a wrapper, securing over said door opening a door assembly including a frame and a door movably mounted on the frame and adjustable air inlet means, forming in the drum wrapper remote from said one end wall a flue opening, securing over said flue opening a flue outlet, and securing to the drum wrapper leg means positioned such that the drum maystand thereon spaced above the ground with the flue outlet directed upwardly.

According to a second aspect ofthe invention, a method of converting a steel drum, having two end walls and a wrapper, into a fuel-burning space heater comprisesthestepsofforming a door opening in one end wall ofthe drum, securing over said door opening a door assemby including a frame and a door movably mounted on the frame and adjustable air inlet means, forming in the drum wrapper remote from said one end wall a flue opening, securing over said flue opening a flue outlet, and securing to the drum wrapper leg means positioned such thatthe drum may stand thereon spaced above the ground with the flue outlet directed upwardly.

According to a third aspect ofthe present invention, a method of assembling a fuel-bu rning space heater from (a) a steel drum having two end walls and a wrapper and (b) a kit including a door assembly having a frame and a door movably mounted on the frame and adjustable air inlet means, a flue outlet, and leg means, comprises the steps of forming a door opening in one end wall ofthe drum, securing the door assembly over said opening, forming a flue opening in the drum wrapper remote from said one end wall, securing the flue outlet overthe flue opening, and securing the leg means to the drum wrapper in such a position thatthe drum may stand thereon spaced above the ground with the flue outlet directed upwardly.

In orderto permitthe adding of a heat-exchangerto the heater,there may be carried outthefurthersteps offorming in the wrapper of a second such drum, adjacent a first end thereof, a first opening, and inserting therein the flue outlet ofthe first-mentioned drum, forming in the wrapper of said second drum, adjacent a second end thereof, a second opening and securing thereover a second flue outlet, and securing further leg means to said first drum and said second drum such thatthe second drum is positioned above and spaced from the first drum.

The drums in question normally include bung openings each with a bung therein, and in accordance with a further preferred step the pre-existing bungs are removed from the bung openings ofthe or each said drum and bung blanking means are secured over said openings.

In accordance with a further aspect ofthe invention, a fuel-burning space heater comprises a steel drum having two end walls and a wrapper, a door assembly secured over an opening in one said end wall, said door assembly including a frame, a door movably mounted on the frame, and adjustable air inlet means, a flue outlet secu red over a flue opening formed in the wrapper remote from said end wall, and leg means secured to the wrapper such that the drum may stand thereon spaced abovethegroundwiththeflue outlet directed upwardly.

Where extra heat-exchange facility is desired, the heater may have a second drum having two end walls and a wrapper, the wrapper having adjacent a first end ofthe drum a first opening in which said flue outlet is inserted, the wrapper having adjacent a second end of the drum a second outlet over which a second flue outlet is secured, and further leg means secured to said first drum and to said second drum such that the second drum is positioned above and spaced from the first drum.

As the drums tend to be readily available on site, and especially in rural areas and developing countries, it is a particular advantage ofthe invention that a kit of parts may be manufactured and sold and transported relatively inexpensively to permit local construction of the heaters for use in, for example, greenhouses, nursery sheds, farms, outbuildings, barns, stables, livestock areas, churches, halls, stores, workshops, garages and the like.

In accordance with a still further aspect ofthe invention a kit of parts includes a door assembly having a frame and a door movably mounted on the frame and adjustable air inlet means, a flue outlet, and leg means, all for use in carrying outthe method outlined above for constructing a one-drum heater.

Whereatwo-drum heater is to be constructed, the kit may have a door assembly having a frame and a door movably mounted on the frame and adjustable air inlet means, first and second flue outlets, and first and second leg means.

In the kits of parts referred to above, the door may include primary and secondary air inlet openings, and have a damper blade movably mounted on the door for simultaneous equal adjustment of said openings.

Preferably, for ease of construction and maintenance,the door is mounted to the frame by lift-off hinges, and releasable latching means may be pro vided to between the door and the frame.

The kits of parts may include pairs of bung blanks for the purpose mentioned.

In orderthatthe nature ofthe invention may be readily ascertained, some embodiments of spaceheater and their manner of assembly, construction and use are hereinafter particularly described with reference to thefigures of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. lisa perspective view of a representative steel drum; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a kit of parts suitable forconversion of a single drum, orthe lower drum of a stacked two-drum heater; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a single drum heater ready for use; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a two-drum heater readyfor use; Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, to show the provision of a sand fire-bed within the drum; Fig. 6 is a schematicviewto show a possible manner of installation of a two-drum heater in a building.

Referring to figure 1 ofthe drawings, there is shown a conventional205 litre all-welded steel drumofthe kind which can be used in the single drum heater, or two such drums can be used in the construction ofthe stacked two-drum heater.

Figure 2 shows a kit of parts which can be used for the conversion ofthe drum offigure 1 into a single drum heater.

The drum 1 has the usual bung holes 2 and 3 on one end wall.

The kit contains a door assembly 4 comprising a frame 5 with bolt holes 6 and hinge parts 7, a door 8 with cooperating lift-off hinge parts 9, and a pivot latch 10 cooperatingwith a catch 11 on the frame 5. In the doorthere are provided primary and secondary air inlet openings 12 and 13 respectively separated bya bridging area having a pivot 14fora damper blade 15 which can be rotated to provide any desired degree of opening and closing of the inlet openings 12 and 13, to the same degree and in unison. The kitfurther comprisesfour legs 16 having holes in their end portions to receive bolts. Aflue outlet 17 has a curved base plate 18 with holes 19to receive bolts for attaching itto the drum, and a cylindrical short pipe 20 extends from the baseplate.Blanks 21 for closing off the usual bung openings ofthe drum are supplied as two pairs of different size. Bolts, nuts and washers are supplied as necessary.

A kit suitable for conversion oftwo such drums to a two-drum stacked heater would comprise, in addition, anotherflue outlet 17, four more legs 16, four more bung blanks 21, and further bolts, nuts and washers.

Fig. 3 shows a completed single drum heater. One end wall 22 ofthe drum 1 has been cut away centrally to provide a square opening over which the frameS of the door assembly 4 has been fitted and secured by bolts and nuts. The wall 22 is the onewithoutthe bung openings. Each bung opening in the other end wall (notshown) is treated by firstly removing the usual die-castbung and then assembling overthe opening a pair ofthe bung blanks 21 connected by bolts, nuts and washers.

In thefirst circumferential cylindrical section 1 a of the drum, remote from the doorassembly4, a circular hole is cut, with a diameter corresponding substantially with that of the pipe 20 oftheflue outlet 17, and the latter is then attached in place by means of bolts, nuts and washers.

In the first and third circumferential sections of the drum there are formed holes to receive further bolts, with nuts and washers, for the attachment of respective legs 16, 16, the positioning being such thatthe drum is above the ground and the pipe 20 is substantially vertical.

In use, to ensure maximum life of the drum asa firebox, and to bring the fire upto aboutthe level ofthe primary and secondary air inlet openings 12 and 13, a layer of sand 22 (see figure 5) is placed in the lower part of the drum, to a level of say about one inch below the lower edge of the door. Aflue 23 is connected to the flue outlet 17 (see figure 6).

Referring now to figure4there is shown a completedtwo-drum stacked heater. The lower drum 1 is prepared in exactly the manner described hereinabove in relation to fig. 3. Additionally, a second drum 24 is prepared as follows: The usual bung openings (not seen in this figu re) are closed offin the manner described. A pair of legs 1 6a is secured, in inverted position, onto the lower drum 1 by bolts with nuts and washers. The upper drum 24 is rested on those legs 1 6a positioned bytheflueoutlet ofthe lower drum.

Priorto assembly in this manner, the upper drum 24 has afirst round hole cut in its first end section 24ato receive the pipe 20 ofthe lower drum, and a second hole cut in its second end section 24band a second similarflue outlet 17 issecuredoverthathole.

In use, a layer of sand would be inserted in the lower drum, in the manner described, and a flue 23 would be engaged onto the pipe 20 of the flue outlet of the upper drum, as clearly seen in figure 6.

Figure 6 shows a possible manner of installation of the two-drum heater in a building. The heater is stood by its legs 16 on a suitable fireprooffloor25, e.g.

concrete, and is suitably spaced from the walls 26, preferably with interpolation of an asbestos sheet 27 on the innerface ofthe wall. The flue 23 extends to a distance above the apex 28 ofthe roof 29 to give most efficient operation. Where theflue 23 passes through the internal ceilings 30,the material of the ceiling is out away to leave a gap abouttheflue, and an asbestos sheet31 is added asa surround. Wherethe flue 23 passes through the outer roofing 32 there is provided a flashing 33, and a storm collar34, and at both the upper and lower positions there is provided a packing offireproof insulation 35. A rain cap 36 is provided on the upper end ofthe flue 23.

The space heaters described herein with reference to figures 3 and 4 can be assembled from standard 205 litre all-welded steel drums which are very commonly available in all countries in quantity, and are frequentlytreated as scrap material afteronlya single trip with contents. The kit for conversion ofthedrum(s) involves a relatively small quantity of material which is readily available, and such cutting and assembly work as needs to be done can be carried out with simple hand tools.

In the single drum heater offigure 3, the drum acts as bothfirebox and heat exchanger, whereas in the two-drum heater of figure 4, the lower drum acts as the firebox and a heat exchanger, and the upper drum acts as a further heat exchanger.

In the two-drum heater of figure 4, the positioning of the inlet and outlet openings at opposite ends of the upper drum ensures that the hot combustion gases traverse the drum form end to end to given maximum heat exchange.

In the single and two-drum heaters the positioning of the flue outlet ofthe single (or lower) drum at the end of that drum remote from the air inlet openings 12 and 13 ensures that the air passes fully through and overthe fire bed on the sand layer 22.

The heaters can be run on a wide variety of preferably dry combustible materials, such as woodchips, sawdust, peat, newspapers, cardboard, straw, hay, deep litter bed, broken ash breeze blocks, logs, and pallet wood. Byway of example, with a flue outlet of 6 inches diameter and a draught area (openings 12 and 13) of 18 square inches, the single drum heater may have a maximum rated output of 152,000 B.T.U./Hr, and the two-drum heater may have a maximum rated output of 243,000 B.T.U./Hr.

Claims (17)

1. A method of constructing a fuel-burning space heater comprising the steps of: (i) forming a door opening in one end wall of a steeFdrum having two end walls and a wrapper, (ii) securing oversaiddooropening adoorassembly including a frame, a door movably mounted on the frame, and adjustable air inlet means, (iii) forming in the drum wrapper, remote from said one end wall, a flue opening, (iv) securing over said flue opening a flue outlet, (v) securing to the drum wrapper leg means positioned such thatthe drum may stand thereon spaced above the ground with the flue outlet directed upwardly.

2. A method of converting a steel drum, having two end walls and a wrapper, into a fuel-burning space heater comprising the steps of: (i) forming a door opening in one end wall ofthe drum, (ii) securing over said door opening a door assembly including a frame, a door movably mounted on the frame, and adjustable air inlet means, (iii) forming in the drum wrapper, remotefrom said one end wall, a flue opening, (iv) securing over said flue opening a flue outlet, (v) securing to the drum wrapper leg means positioned such that the drum may stand thereon spaced above the ground with the flue outlet directed upwardly.

3. The method of assembling a fuel-burning space heaterfrom (a) a steel drum having two end walls and a wrapper and (b) a kit including a door assembly having a frame and a door movably mounted on the frame and adjustable air inlet means, a flue outlet, and leg means, said method comprising the steps of: (i) forming a door opening in one end wall ofthe drum, (ii) securing the door assembly over said opening, (iii) formingaflueopening inthedrumwrapper remote from said one end wall, (iv) securing the flue outlet overtheflue opening, and (v) securing the leg means to the drum wrapper in such a position thatthe drum may stand thereon spaced above the ground with the flue outlet directed upwardly.

4. The method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 including, for the purpose of adding a heat-exchanger to the heater, the further steps of: (i) forming in the wrapper of a second such drum, adjacent a first end thereof, a first opening and inserting therein the flue outlet ofthe first-mentioned drum, (ii) forming in the wrapper of said second drum, adjacent a second end thereof, a second opening and securing thereover a second flue outlet, (iii) securing further leg means to said first drum and said second drum such that the second drum is positioned above and spaced from the first drum.

5. The method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, including thefurtherstep of removing pre-existing bungs from bung openings ofthe or each said drum and securing bung blanking meansoversaidopen- ings

6. The method of producing a fuel-burning space heater substantially as described herein with refer enceto the figures of the accompanying drawings.

7. Fuel-burning space heaters produced by the method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Afuel-burning space heatercomprisingasteel drum having two end walls and a wrapper, a door assembly secured over an opening in one said end wall, said door assembly including a frame, a door movably mounted on the frame, and adjustable air inlet means, a flue outlet secured over a flue opening formed in the wrapper remote from said end wall, and leg means secured to the wrapper such that the drum may stand thereon spaced above the ground with the flue outlet directed upwardly.

9. Afuel-burning space heater, as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a second drum having two end walls and a wrapper, the wrapper having adjacent a firstend ofthe drum afirst opening in which said flue outlet is inserted, the wrapper having adjacent a second end of the drum a second outlet overwhich a second flue outlet is secured, and further leg means secured to said first drum and to said second drum such thatthe second drum is positioned above and spaced from the first drum.

10. Fuel-burning space heaters substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. For use in carrying outthe method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, a kit of parts including: (i) a door assembly having a frame and a door movably mounted on the frame and adjustable air inlet means, (ii) a flue outlet, and (iii) leg means.

12. For use in carrying out the method claimed in claim 4, a kit of parts including: (i) a door assembly having a frame and a door movably mounted on the frame and adjustable air inlet means, (ii) first and second flue outlets, (iii) first and second leg means.

13. The kit of parts claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the door includes primary and secondary air inlet openings, and a damper blade movably mounted on the doorforsimultaneous equal adjustment of said openings.

14. The kit of parts claimed in anyone of claims 11 to 13 wherein the door is mounted to the frame by lift-off hinges.

15. The kit of parts claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 including releasable latching means acting between the door and the frame.

16. The kit of parts claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15 further including pairs of bung blanks.

17. The kit of parts claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.