GB2503574A

GB2503574A - Stove having primary and secondary air inlets

Info

Publication number: GB2503574A
Application number: GB1309718.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Thurlow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-31
Filing date: 2013-05-31
Publication date: 2014-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 2033-05-31
Also published as: GB201309718D0; GB2503574B; GB201209713D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a stove for burning solid fuel. The stove 2 has a burning area 15 in which fuel is placed and burnt. A primary air inlet and at least one secondary air inlet 26 are provided, the secondary air inlet selectively introducing air in to the combustion chamber 15. A movement means, such as a motor controlled slidable shutter 60, is provided and may be moved to open or close the air inlet to control the flow of air. A control device 44 may be used to control the movement means. A remote control device 48 may be provided to send signals to the control device 44. The movement means may be controlled by an electric motor 52 and pinion gear 54 connected to a rack 58 of the shutter 60.

Description

Improvements to Air Flow Control for Stoves The invention to which this application relates is an improvement in the manner by which at least one air flow to a stove can be controlled and, in particular, a stove of the type which burns solid fuels such as wood or coal.

Stoves typically comprise a central burning area in which the fuel to be burned is placed and, at the top of said central area, is a flue through which fumes and smoke from the burning of the fuel passes so as to leave the building in which the stove is installed. The stove is also typically provided with primary and secondary air supply inlets. The primary air supply is typically introduced into the central burning area through one or more apertures located underneath or adjacent to the underside of the base of the central burning area in which the fuel is placed and the primary air supply is typically opened so as to maximize the supply of air to the fuel when the same is initially being lit.

Once the fuel is lit, and burning properly, then the primary air supply is typically reduced or closed. The secondary air supply, is typically provided Sc) as to allow adjustment of the same to be made so as, in turn, allow adj ustment of the intensity of the burning of the fuel so as to allow, in effect, user control of the heat which is generated.

Typically the secondary air supply can be provided to be one or more inlets provided at the top of the central area and to allow the secondary air flow to pass down across the front of the stove, typically defined b a glass fronted door, and pass into the central area. The greater the secondary air flow then the greater the intensity of the burning of the fuel.

Conventionally, the contro' of the secondary air flow is achieved through one or more manual adjustment means mounted on the stove outer wall which can be slid or rotated by the user in order to open or close the one or more inlets. While the manual operation of secondary air flow controls, is practical when the stove is not lit, it is found that when the stove is lit, the manual adjustment means heat up along with the stove which therefore provides a risk of burning to the user, or requires the user to use gloves or other implements in order to move the control means. This can be frustrating to the user and also potentially danger o LI 5.

The applicant, has designed a means of introducing a secondary flow of air into the stove by means of an inlet which is mounted at the rear of the stove and which allows air to pass into a chamber at the rear and then flow through the chamber and be guided by the same to be introduced into the central burning area at the top and adjacent to the front face of the central area.

This also allows air for use in the secondary air flow to be introduced from externally of the room in which the stove is installed and which, it is believed, provides greater control of the burning of the fuel.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a means whereby the control of the secondary air flow into the central burning area of the stove, can be controlled in an improved manner which is more convenient and safer for the user while, at same time, ensuring that the required control of the air flow can still be maintained.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a stove for the burning of fuel, said stove having a burning area in which fuel is placed and burnt, and at least one secondary air inlet into said area for selectively introducing air to allow the selective control of the burning of the fuel and wherein, at or connected to said inlet, there is provide a movement means which is movable to control the flow of air and wherein the control of the movement means is achieved via a control device which is in communication with the movement means.

In one embodiment, one or more control signals are generated for contr& of the movement means from a control device. In one embodiment the control device and/or movement means receive the control signals via a wireless communication system.

Typically, the one or more control signals are generated via a remote control device and are transmitted from the device to the control device using infra red, radio frequency or other suitable wireless communication means.

In one embodiment, the control device is mounted at a selected location in the room in which the stove is installed.

In one embodiment, the movement means for the air supply are mounted externally of the location at which the stove is installed and connected to the control device via a wired connection.

In one embodiment, the movement means comprise a shutter which is slidably moveable with respect to an aperture leading to or mounted in the air flow means such that the movement of the shutter between open and closed positions and positions inbetween, with respect to the aperture, allows selective control of the flow of air into the inlet of the stove.

In one embodiment, the movement means include an electric motor mounted to rotate a pinion wheel which is engaged with a rack mounted on the shutter.

In an alternative embodiment, the shutter is engaged by a pulley which is moved by rotation of an electric motor.

There is therefore provided in accordance with the invention, a means to allow for the remote control of an air flow into a stove, typically the secondary air flow, to thereby allow the selective control of the burning of fuel therein.

Tn a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a stove, said stove having an area in which fuel to be burnt is located, said stove including at least one inlet for the selective introduction of secondary air into the said area to allow the control of burning and wherein movement means which allow the selective control of the air flow are operable by a user at a location remote from the stove.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a control means for the control of an air flow into a stove, said control means comprising a remote control device for the transmission of signals via a wireless communications system, a control device for receiving said signals and processing the same to generate control signals to allow selective operation of movement means to cause the movement of the same with respect to an aperture located at or in the air flow so at to allow the selective control of air flow there through.

In yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a movement means for use in a stove, said movement means comprising a shutter which is slidably moveable with respect to an aperture leading to or mounted in an air flow means, such that the movement of the shutter between open and closed positions and positions inbetween, with respect to the aperture, allows selective control of a flow of air into an inlet of a stove.

S

A specific embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein Figure 1 illustrates a stove in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a side elevation of the stove system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 illustrates the movement means in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to figure 1, there is illustrated a stove 2 of the type which is provided to burn solid fuel such as coal or wood.

The stove comprises a base 4, a front wall 6 which typically is at least partially defined by a glass window 8, side walls 10, 12, and a top wall 14 including a flue 16 which allows smoke and other fumes to leave a central burning area 15 which is defined by the walls. The central bLirning area 15 receives the fuel 17 which is to be burnt therein.

Typically, in order to allow the initial lighting of the fuel, there is provided a means to allow a primary airflow to be introduced into the bottom of the central burning area as indicated by arrow 20 in figure 2. Once the fuel is lit then it is typically the case that the primary air flow will be reduced by manual operation of control means and thereafter not adjusted. A secondary air flow is introduced by arrow 22 and in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the secondary air flow passes along a chamber 24 at the rear of the stove, with the chamber extending across the top of the burning area as indicated to an inlet 26 into the central burning area 15 to allow the secondary air flow to be introduced towards the front 6 of the central burning area 15 as indicated by arrows 28. In this case, the air is received via a pipe 30 from a location 32 which is on the external face of the wall 34 of the building in which the stove is installed and the stove 2 is located adjacent the opposing internal face of the wall 34 such that the same is located in the room which is to be heated. It is believed that the introduction of air from externally of the premises rather than using air in the room in which the stove is located, improves the control and operation of the stove but it should be appreciated that the invention as herein defined may be used in the control of air which is from the interior in other embodiments.

There is also provided the ability to introduce a tertiary airflow from the chamber 24 and into the central burning if required as illustrated in Figure 2.

The movement means are located, in this arrangement, in a housing 42 located at the external face of the wall 34 and at the inlet to the pipe 30 in order to allow the control of the amount of air which can enter the pipe at any given time an, in particular, allow the control of the secondary air flow into the bLirning area. Typically, the movement means are connected to a control device 44 by wire connection 46 and the control device 44 is located in the room so as to receive wireless control signals which are generated from a remote control device 48 with actuator buttons or touch screen which can be operated by the user in the room. This therefore allows the control device to receive the remote control signals, process the same and in turn send a control signal along the wire connection, to the movement means in order to allow a suitable adjustment of the movement means in order to control the flow of air which is entering the pipe. For example, if the user wishes to increase the burning of the fuel, then they will send via remote control device, a signal indicating that the movement means should be adjusted to allow a greater air flow to pass through the pipe.

Alternatively, if the burning of the fuel is to be reduced then a remote control signal will be sent to the control device which in turn will send a signal to the movement means to cause the same to move to restrict the amount of air which can enter the pipe and hence enter the stove as a secondary air supply.

An embodiment of movement means in accordance with the invention is shown in figure 3. The movement means in this case comprise an electric motor 52 which is connected to rotate a pinion wheel 54 with teeth 56 thereon which are engaged with a rack 58 which is located on a shutter 60. The shutter is located to be slidingly movable with respect to an aperture 64 and the aperture lies over the inlet into the pipe and therefore acts as a means to control the flow of air which can enter the pipe. Thus it will be appreciated that rotation of the pinion wheel in a first direction will cause the shutter to be slidingly moved in direction 68 and hence increasingly restrict the air flow which passes into the pipe and rotation of the pinion wheel in the opposing direction will cause the shutter to move in the direction 70 which causes the aperture to be increased in size and therefore increases the flow of air into the pipe and thus allows the subsequent control of the burning of the stove to be a chic re d.

In all cases therefore it will be appreciated that the adjustment can be made by the user without having to touch the stove itself and hence avoid the risk of injury and also to provide greater convenience to the user when adjusting the control of the heat which is to be generated.

Claims

CI. A I PA S 1. A stove for the burning of fuel, said stove having a burning area in which fuel is placed and burnt; a primary air inlet; and at least one secondary air inlet into said area for selectively introducing air to allow the selective control of the burning of the fuel and wherein, at or connected to said secondary inlet, there is provided a movement means which is movable to control the flow of air and wherein the control of the movement means is achieved via a control device which is in communication with the movement means.
2. A stove according to claim 1, wherein one or more control signals are generated for control of the movement means from a control device.
3. A stove according to claim 2, wherein the control device and/or movement means receives the control signals via a wireless communication system.
4. A stove according to claim 3, wherein the one or more control signals are generated via a remote control device and are transmitted from the device to the control device using infra red, radio frequency or other suitable wireless communication means.
5. A stove according to claim 2, wherein the control device is mounted at a selected location in the room in which the stove is installed.
6. A stove according to claim 2, wherein the movement means for the air supply are mounted externally of the location at which the stove is installed and connected to the control device via a wired connection.
7. A stove according to claim 1, wherein the movement means comprise a shutter which is slidably moveable with respect to an aperture leading to or mounted in the air flow means, such that the movement of the shutter between open and closed positions and positions inbetween, with respect to the aperture, allows selective control of the flow of air into the in'et of the stove.
8. A stove according to claim 7, wherein the movement means includes an electric motor mounted to rotate a pinion wheel which is engaged with a rack mounted on the shutter.
9. A stove according to claim 7, wherein the shutter is engaged by a pulley which is moved by rotation of an electric motor.
10. A stove, said stove having an area in which fuel to be burnt is located, said stove including at least one inlet for the selective introduction of secondary air into the said area to allow the control of burning and wherein movement means which allow the selective control of the air flow are operable by a user at a location remote from the stove.
11. A stove according to claim 10, wherein the movement means comprise a shutter which is slidably moveable with respect to an aperture leading to or mounted in the air flow means, such that the movement of the shutter between open and closed positions and positions inbetween, with respect to the aperture, allows selective control of the flow of air into the inlet of the stove.
12. A stove according to claim 11, wherein the movement means includes an electric motor mounted to rotate a pinion wheel which is engaged with a rack mounted on the shutter.
13. A stove according to claim Ii, wherein the shutter is engaged by a pulley which is moved by rotation of an electric motor.
14. A control means for the control of an air flow into a stove, said control means comprising a remote control device for the transmission of signals via a wir&ess communications system, a control device for receiving said signals and processing the same to generate control signals to allow selective operation of movement means to cause the movement of the same with respect to an aperture located at or in the air flow so at to allow the s&ective control of air flow there through.
15. A movement means for use in a stove, said movement means comprising a shutter which is slidably moveable with respect to an aperture leading to or mounted in an air flow means, sLich that the movement of the shLltter between open and closed positions and positions inbetween, with respect to the aperture, allows selective control of a flow of air into an inlet of a stove.