IES86443B2 - A front panel for a fireplace insert appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a front panel (3) for a fireplace insert appliance (1) comprising an inner panel (4) and an outer panel(5) whereby inlet means (9) for channelling ambient air (A) into the appliance (1) is provided between the inner panel (4) and the outer panel (5). The inlet means (9) is provided as a gap or spacing between the inner panel (4) and the outer panel (5). The provision of an inlet means (9) provides a thermal break which reduces the conduction of heat from the inner panel (4) to the outer panel (5) which could potentially radiate onto drapes, furniture and other combustibles in proximity to the appliance, thereby reducing the chance of such combustibles being heated to flashpoint and causing a fire. The ambient air 'A’ flowing through the inlet means (9) is pre-heated as it flows through the cavities of the appliance (1), thereby lowering the temperature of the front panel (3) which reduces clearances to combustibles. <Figure 1>

Description

A FRONT PANEL FOR A FIREPLACE INSERT APPLIANCE The present invention relates to a front panel and fireplace insert appliance comprising such a front panel.

Open fireplaces which burn solid fuel are still used extensively io heat rooms, such as living rooms in houses and other domestic dwellings, However, an open fireplace is very inefficient for burning solid fuel as most of the heat generated goes up the chimney. Ii is estimated that up to approximately 40m3 of hot air per hour escapes up the chimney which of course means that 40m3 of cold air per hour from ihe room has to replace that hot air. As well as being inefficient this also generates draughts of air within the room being heated.

To overcome these problems, many companies supply fire fronts which are fixed to the front of the fireplace. When fitted initially and property sealed, they will give an improved performance. However, these fire fronts are prone to leaking due to the breakdown of the sealing material, such as a rope seal and/or inconsistencies in the surface of the fireplace surround or fireback. Such leaks as well as obviously increasing the consumption of air by the fire can, in certain circumstances such as a down draught in a chimney, and lead to the escape of carbon monoxide and other gases into the room where people are located which u nf ortu n atel y may h a ve fata I co nseq u ences.

Fireplace insert appliances overcome these problems by providing a fireback unit for insertion into an existing fireplace and a front panel which is adapted to engage with and sea! the fireback unit to prevent against the possibility of flue gases leaking into room.

However, a problem exists in that heat conducted by a front panel may radiate to nearby combustibles, such as curtains or furniture, and heat them to flashpoint, which clearly presents a serious fire hazard.

The present invention seeks to alleviate the disadvantages associated with the prior art.

S 8 6443 The present invention provides a front panel for a fireplace insert appliance comprising inlet means for ambient air, the inlet means operable to channel ambient air into the appliance to cool at least a portion of the front panel.

The movement of air through the inlet means into ihe appliance cools the front panel thereof so that a very close clearance to combustibles may be achieved.

In a further embodiment, the front panel comprises an inner panel and an outer panel, whereby the outer panel extends around at least a portion of the inner panef, and the iniet means comprises a gap between the inner panef and the outer panel.

The provision of a gap provides a thermal break which reduces the conduction of heat from the inner panel to the outer panel which couid potentially radiate onto drapes, furniture and other combustibles in proximity to the appliance, thereby reducing the chance of such com b u sti bles bei π g heated to fI ashpoi nt a nd ca u si n g a fire.

Preferably, the gap extends fully around the outer perimeter of the inner panel.

Preferably, the inner panel comprises an opening which is closable by an appliance door. Ξ0 In a further embodiment, the ambient air flowing through the gap passes through channel means of the fireplace appliance such that it flows into the appliance and against the inner panel and door.

Preferably, the inner panel is secured to the outer panel by connectors, such as lugs or screws.

In a further embodiment, the invention relates to a fireplace insert appliance comprising a front panel as described above.

The present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings in which are shown one embodiment of a fire front for a fireplace insert appliance in accordance with the present invention. in the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a front panel and fireplace insert appliance in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing air flow through the front panel of Figure 1; Figure 5 is perspective view with a section ofthe front panel cut away to show air flow in the appliance of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side sectional diagrammatic of the air flow in the appliance of Figure 1, and Figure 7 shows the fireplace insert appliance of Figure 1 in situ in a fire place, Referring now to the drawings, a fireplace insert appliance is indicated generally by reference numeral 1 and includes a fire back unit 2 and a front panel according to the present invention, indicated generally by the reference numerai 3.

The front panel 3 comprises an inner panel 4 and an outer panel 5. The paneis 4, 5 each comprise a pair of side sections 6 spaced apart by a top section 7. The sections 6, 7 for each panel 4, 5 may be cast in one piece so that the inner panel 4 and the outer panel 5 are each integrally formed castings. It will however be appreciated that side and top sections of the panels 4, 5 may also separately formed and then connected together, and that therefore reference to the panels 4, 5 being integrally formed castings should not be limiting on the invention4 The panels 4, 5 together form a front casing for the fireback unit 2 and the outer panel 5 extends around an outer perimeter of the inner panel 4. The inner panel 4 extends or projects forward out of the outer panel 5 and is tapered from a back section, which is seals to the fireback unit, to a front face, which has an opening closable by an appliance door 8.

The front panel 3 further comprises an inlet means in the form of a gap 9 between the inner panel 4 and the outer panel 5. The gap 9 is operable to channel ambient air into the appliance 1 to cooi the inner panel 4. The distance between the panels 4, 5 forming the gap 9 may be set as required or as desired, although a distance in the range of 2mm to 10mm, and preferably about 5mm is envisaged, although this should not be seen as iimiting on the invention.

The flow of ambient air through the gap 9 and into the appliance 1 is shown in Figures 4 to 6. Ambient air passes through the gap 9, as shown by the directional arrows Ά'. This air is then channelled into the appliance 1 and flows against the inner panel 4 to thereby cool the panel 4. As the ambient air Ά' flows through the gap 9 it is pre-heated as it flows through the cavities of the front assembly lowering front assembly temperatures which reduces clearances to combustibles. This air continues to flow into the various inlets to the combustion chamber of the appliance serving as preheated, primary, secondary and window air. A flue outlet 12 is also shown. The air received through the gap 9 is used for a number of different purposes, including cooling air, primary air, secondary air and window wash air. The flow of air Ά’ provided by the gap 9 further provides a pre-heated air chamber which assists combustion within the appliance 1.

It wiil be understand that the appliance 1 may be adapted for use with a central heating system to capture heat from the gases flowing through and out of in the appliance 1.

A control knob 13 is provided which is operable to move an air cover plate 14 between an open position in which air passing through the gap 9 flows through apertures 15 in the plate 14 and into the appliance, and a closed position to prevent air passing through the apertures . in this way the flow of air through the gap 9 into the appliance may be regulated as required or as desired.

The inner panel 4 is secured to the outer panel 5 by connectors, such as lugs or screws, which extend between the panels 4, 5 The present invention further relates to a fireplace insert appliance comprising a front panel as described above. An in-situ arrangement of the appiiance 1 in a fire place is shown in Figure 7.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A Front panel (3) for a fireplace insert appiiance (1) comprising a first member ¢4) and a second member (5), whereby inlet means ¢9) for channelling ambient air (A) into the 5 appliance (1) is provided between the first member (4) and the second member (5), each of the members (4 and 5} comprising one or more constructional elements, the inlet means (9) is provided as a gap or spacing between the first member (4) and the second member (5), the first member (4) and the second member (5} each comprise a pair of side 10 constructional elements (6) and a top section (7) extending between and interconnecting the side constructional elements (6), the side constructional elements ¢6) and a top section (7) of the second member (5) are arranged to border or extend around at least a portion of the corresponding side constructional elements ¢6) and top section (7) of the first member (4), 15 the second member (5) at least partially overlaps with the first member ¢4), and the inlet means (9) is defined between the overlapping side constructional elements (6} and top section ¢7} of the first and second members (4, 5}, the iniet means (9) is operable to channel ambient air (A) into the appliance (1) via apertures (15) rn a cover member (14) of the appliance (1) and 20 the inlet means (9) is operable to channel ambient air (A) into the appliance (1) via openings (18) in or adjacent a thermostat (19) of the appliance (1).

2. A front panel (3) as claimed in Claim 1, in which the inlet means (9) is operable to channel ambient air (A) into the appliance (1) through openings (20) in or adjacent an ash 25 grate (21) of the appliance (1) and in which ambient air (A) channelled into the appliance (1) via the inlet means (9) flows against the front panel (3) and/or door (8) of the appiiance (1).

3. A front panel (3) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which ambient air 30 (A) channelled into the appliance (1) via the iniet means (9) flows to a combustion chamber of the appliance (1) and provides a pre-heated air chamber which assists combustion within the appliance (1), in which the first member (4} is secured to the second member (5) by connectors, such as lugs or screws and in which the first member (4) includes an opening (17) between the side sections (6) and top section ¢7} of the inner panel, the opening being closable by a door (8) coupled to the 5 first member (4).

4. A front panel (3) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first member (4) further comprises a mounting surface (16) for an appliance door (8) and in which the first member is a first panel member ¢4), the second member is a second 10 panel member (5) and the side constructional elements are side legs (6) with the panels (4, 5) being arranged in such a manner that a gap (9) between the panels extends along a portion of the outer perimeter of the inner panel (4).

5. A fireplace insert appliance (1) comprising a front panel ¢3) as claimed in any one of 15 theprecedingclaims.