IT202000020167A1 - MULTIPURPOSE EQUIPMENT FOR INDOOR OR OUTDOOR HEATING OR LIGHTING - Google Patents

Description

Description of the patent for an industrial invention entitled:

?MULTIPURPOSE INDOOR HEATING EQUIPMENT OR

EXTERIORS OR LIGHTING?

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates to a multipurpose indoor or outdoor heating or lighting equipment. In other words, the present invention relates to an apparatus capable of being alternatively used as heating apparatus for indoors and/or outdoors, or as lighting apparatus, according to requirements.

STATE OF THE ART

[002] Generally, a solid fuel heating appliance for interiors, such as for example a stove that can be fueled with pellets, biomass, wood in blocks or coal, comprises a containment structure in which a combustion chamber, a tank are respectively housed storage for the solid fuel and means for conveying the fuel into the combustion chamber, for example formed by a motorized loading auger.

[003] The combustion chamber usually houses a brazier inside which the fuel is deposited; the combustion air is drawn from an air intake located externally to the containment structure thanks to the action of first pumping means, such as for example a first bladed fan which can be operated by an electrically powered motor, and conveyed through a duct in correspondence with the brazier; here, by means of suitable ignition means, combustion is triggered, which generates burnt gases at high temperature.

[004] The gases then pass through a heat exchanger, located downstream of the combustion chamber, to exchange heat with the containment structure of the equipment, which in turn dissipates it, by radiation and/or natural convection, in the installation environment. The combustion fumes are evacuated through a suitable exhaust duct connected to the flue thanks to the action of said first pumping means.

[005] Heating appliances of the type described above are designed to effectively heat one or more environments and need to be connected to the electricity network, so as to be able to power the various electrical devices that allow them to function, and to the flue for fume evacuation; for these reasons, once installed in the desired environment, they cannot be removed and transported to different environments or outside.

[006] There are also heating devices for outdoors, commonly called ?mushrooms?; such equipment, much more? light and slim compared to indoor stoves, they serve to warm the air in the outdoor areas of public and private premises, to make the stay outdoors pleasant even in the colder months. cold.

[007] These appliances can be fueled by gaseous fuel, and therefore can only be used in external and open environments due to the exhaust gases produced, or electrically, so that they can also be used in internal areas, such as verandas, but they are bound to the positioning in the vicinity? of the connection with the electricity network, however requiring the preparation of unsightly electric connection cables which can be an obstacle to the movement of users.

[008] Furthermore, these appliances are generally used only during certain periods of the year, forcing those who own them to have large warehouses in which to store them when they are not in use.

[009] What is the main task of the present invention? that of proposing a multi-purpose appliance which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art, being able to act as a solid fuel heating appliance for heating external environments but which can be converted simply and quickly into a heating appliance for interiors or even into a lighting equipment according to the user?s needs, so as to make it usable effectively at any time of the year.

[0010] Within the scope of the present aim, an object of the present invention is that of creating a multi-purpose device that does not require a connection to the mains to function, in any of its configurations of use.

[0011] Another purpose of the present invention? to propose an easily transportable multipurpose equipment to allow maximum flexibility? of positioning.

[0012] Another object of the present invention consists in devising a multipurpose equipment which is robust and safe, as well as? simple and practical to use.

[0013] Another purpose of the present invention? that of obtaining a multi-purpose apparatus which can be obtained through the use of easily available means and components, and which can be made with the usual and well-known plants, machinery and equipment.

[0014] The aim and objects indicated above, and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a heating appliance for exteriors or interiors which can be converted into a lighting device as defined in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] Advantages and characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the following description, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

- figure 1 shows, with a front view, a multipurpose appliance according to the present invention in a first configuration of use, ie usable as a solid fuel heating appliance for outdoors;

- figure 2A shows the apparatus of figure 1 according to a longitudinal sectional view;

- figure 2B shows the apparatus of figure 1 according to a cross-sectional view;

- figure 3 ? an enlarged view of a detail of figure 2A;

figure 4 shows the apparatus of figure 1 according to a cross-sectional view, with the drawer for collecting the solid residues removed;

- figure 5 shows, in a top and side view, a first covering element of a multipurpose apparatus according to the present invention; - figure 6 shows, in a side view, a second cover element of a multipurpose apparatus according to the present invention, suitable for converting the apparatus into a second configuration of use, ie into a lighting apparatus;

- figure 7 shows a front view of a multipurpose appliance according to the present invention in a third configuration of use, ie usable as a heating appliance for interiors; And

- figure 8 shows, with a top and side view, a third covering element of a multipurpose appliance according to the present invention suitable for converting the appliance into the third configuration of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] With reference to the attached figures, there ? illustrated is a multipurpose heating or lighting apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

[0017] In the following description, terms such as ?above?, ?below?, ?upper?, ?lower?, ?top?, ?bottom? or the like refer to an apparatus according to the present invention in its normal working order, ie in use, as shown in the attached figures.

[0018] In particular, said apparatus 1 essentially comprises a casing 2, essentially tubular in shape with for example a polygonal, circular or ovoid section, extending along an axis of development X-X which, when the apparatus is ? in use, it is essentially vertical.

[0019] Said casing 2 can possibly be made by joining at least one pair of identical half-shells coupled along sides parallel to said axis X-X, and ? advantageously subdivided into at least two compartments 3, 4, superimposed along said axis X-X and divided by a partition wall 5.

[0020] In particular, preferably, said enclosure 2 defines a first compartment 3, located below and laterally closed by one or more? containment walls, and a second compartment 4, located above and surrounded by side walls provided with openings, so that the inside of this second compartment 4 is in fluid communication with the outside. Advantageously, the side walls of said second compartment 4 can have a texture or a desired aesthetic finish, as for example shown in figure 1.

[0021] A support base 6 at least partially closes said first compartment 3 at the bottom; in particular, preferably, said casing 2 rests on said support base 6 in such a way as to define a circumferential slit 61 to allow air to enter inside said first compartment 3.

[0022] Preferably, support and sliding means 7 are advantageously provided on said support base 6, such as for example a pair of feet, preferably adjustable in height, and a pair of wheels which allow the support of the apparatus 2 and the its movement along a support surface P, such as the ground.

[0023] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, said apparatus 1? suitable for removably and alternatively housing heating means 100 and lighting means 200, and comprises at least one pair of interchangeable covering elements 8, 18, 28, which can be selectively positioned on the top? of said casing 2, and respectively associated or associable with said heating means 100 and said lighting means 200 in such a way as to give the apparatus 1 the desired function, as explained below in greater detail.

[0024] In particular, with reference to figures 1, 2A and 2B, there ? illustrated a multipurpose apparatus according to the present invention in a first operating configuration, in which ? usable as solid fuel heating equipment for outdoors.

[0025] Consequently, a first covering element 8 is positioned on the top? of said casing 2, inside which heating means 100 are housed.

[0026] Said heating means 100 can preferably be housed removably inside said first compartment 3; in particular, as can be better seen in figure 3, said heating means 100 advantageously comprise a natural draft pyrolytic burner 30, equipped with a tubular body preferably of cylindrical shape, arranged coaxial to said X-X axis and advantageously inserted concentrically in a jacket of containment 20, also formed by a tubular body, mounted integrally with said casing 2 in such a way as to define an annular space 32 between them.

[0027] Said burner 30 internally defines a combustion chamber 31 that is open at the top and intended to receive the fuel in blocks, and is advantageously resting at the bottom on a support body 33, in turn constrained to the support base 6 of the apparatus 1.

[0028] As can be better seen in figure 3, said support body 33 comprises a cavity collection chamber 33A communicating with said combustion chamber 31 and suitable for collecting the solid residues of pyrolytic combustion, which will descend therein by gravity; advantageously, said cavity? collector 33A ? accessible through a drawer 34 which can be extracted with respect to said casing 2 so as to facilitate the removal of solid residues (as shown in figure 4).

[0029] The entrance to the cavity? collector 33A ? advantageously controlled by a plate 35 provided with a plurality? of through holes, rotatably fixed to the side walls of the burner 30, for example by means of a pair of pins extending along the same transversal axis with respect to said axis X-X.

[0030] Said perforated plate 35 ? advantageously rotatable at least between a closed position, in which it lies on an orthogonal plane with respect to said X-X axis, limiting the access of solid residues to the underlying cavity collection chamber 33A but allowing air to enter the combustion chamber 31 through the through holes, and an open position, in which ? arranged on a different plane, allowing the passage of solid residues towards the cavity? collection 33A.

[0031] Furthermore, preferably, said support body 33 ? equipped with at least one perforated wall 34A, associated with a sliding plate which defines the width of the holes, so as to be able to regulate the entry of air into the combustion chamber 31 of the burner 30 and therefore establish its optimal draft.

[0032] According to an advantageous feature, said burner 30 comprises means for regulating the air flow 36, housed in the combustion chamber 31 and suitable for providing an optimal flow of air at or near the combustion chamber 31. of the core of the combustion, to allow the ignition and maintenance of the combustion.

[0033] Said adjustment means 36 are preferably formed by at least one hollow tubular element, the outer walls of which are advantageously provided with a plurality of of through holes. According to a preferred embodiment, said adjustment means 36 are formed by a single tubular element, cylindrical in shape, inserted concentrically inside said burner 30 and extending along said X-X axis in an area between said perforated plate 35 and approximately half of the axial development of the burner 30 itself.

[0034] Preferably, said tubular element 36 ? constrained to the side walls of the burner 30 by means of suitable fixing means which keep it suspended in the combustion chamber 31, so that its presence does not hinder the revolving movement of said perforated plate 35 when ? is it necessary to empty the solid combustion residues into the cavity? collection.

[0035] Possibly, said adjustment means 36 can comprise several? of a tubular element; in this case, said tubular elements 36 are preferably arranged in adherence against the internal side walls of the burner 30.

[0036] According to an advantageous characteristic of the present invention, said burner 30? mounted in a tilting manner on said casing 2 to allow the user to easily load the fuel in blocks into the combustion chamber 31 or to proceed with the extraction of the burner 30 itself when necessary, for example for maintenance.

[0037] In particular, preferably, gripping means are provided on the casing 2, such as one or more gripping devices. handles, with which the user causes the burner 30 to tilt outwards; such a movement? advantageously guided by the sliding engagement of sliders integral with a top portion of the burner 30 within guideways suitably obtained on said casing 2, which also determine its limit positions.

[0038] Above, said burner 30 ? connected to a ring 37, preferably of the same diameter, equipped with a plurality? of radial openings which allow the passage of the air flow which crosses the interspace 32 existing between the external walls of the burner 30 and the containment jacket 20, and its mixing with the combustion gas produced in the combustion chamber 31.

[0039] The burner 30 ? advantageously associated with said first covering element 8 by means of a conveyor element 38, such as for example a ring nut, which can be inserted into an opening 51 obtained preferably centrally in the partition wall 5 of the apparatus 1 and which can be removably connected to a transfer duct 40, preferably cylindrical , extending coaxially to said X-X axis and suitable for passing through said second compartment 4 until it reaches said first covering element 8 mounted on the top? of casing 2 of equipment 1.

[0040] Said transfer duct 40 can be made of any material suitable for the passage of combustion fumes at high temperatures: it can? for example be made of metal. According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, said transfer duct 40 ? made of a transparent material, such as for example pyrex glass; this? last solution ? particularly appreciable from the aesthetic point of view why? allows the vision of the flame developed by the combustion through the partially open walls of the enclosure 2 in correspondence with the second compartment 4.

[0041] In particular, as shown in figure 5, said first covering element 8 comprises an essentially flat plate 8A, a coupling element 8B projecting from a first surface of said plate 8A, in use facing towards the inside of said second compartment 4, and removably connectable to a top portion of said transfer duct 40; said coupling element 8B ? advantageously endowed with a plurality? side openings 8C which allow the combustion fumes to escape.

[0042] The end? bottom of said transfer duct 40 ? advantageously resting on said partition wall 5 by means of special supports which prevent it from contacting said conveyor element 38: in fact, in this way further air is allowed to enter the transfer duct 40 which has the effect of keeping the fumes and possible combustion flame in the central part of the duct 40, thus preventing the internal surface of the same from blackening, and what? it is particularly important if said transfer duct 40 is made of transparent material.

[0043] When fully operational, the pyrolytic burner 30 reaches a temperature of about 400°C; however, thanks to its positioning inside the first compartment 3, the walls of said casing 2 do not reach very high temperatures. Possibly, a gripping element pu? be removably attachable to casing 2 to allow movement of equipment 1 even during combustion.

[0044] The operation of a multipurpose appliance according to the present invention in its first configuration of use, i.e. when it acts as an outdoor heating appliance, is the following: initially, the fuel in blocks is positioned inside the combustion chamber 31 of the pyrolytic burner 30 housed in the first compartment 3.

[0045] The combustion, triggered by known and conventional ignition means, heats the lateral containment walls of the body of the burner 30 and therefore the air in the interspace 32 begins to flow upwards, attracting more air which, from outside of the apparatus 1, penetrates it through the lower circumferential slit 61, creating the so-called ?chimney effect?.

[0046] Combustion air, on the other hand, is introduced into the combustion chamber 31 in an adjustable manner through the openings in the wall 34A of the support body 33 and the perforated plate 35 and, thanks to the presence of said adjustment means 36, able to reach the combustion core.

[0047] The air which flows through the interspace 32 then passes through the openings of the ring 37 obtained above the burner 30, thus extracting the gas produced by the pyrolytic combustion which has developed in the combustion chamber 31; the combustion fumes then continue inside the conveyor element 38 and are introduced into the transfer duct 40 to exit from the apparatus 1 through the plurality of of openings 8C advantageously provided in the coupling element 8B of said first covering element 8.

[0048] The combustion fumes which pass through the transfer duct 40 advantageously allow an area surrounding the appliance 1 to be heated by radiation.

[0049] It should be noted that, advantageously, an outdoor heating appliance according to the present description does not require current-powered devices and means for its operation.

[0050] An apparatus 1 according to the present invention can be converted into a lighting fixture quickly and easily, simply by removing said first cover element 8 from the top? of the casing 2 and at least partially the heating means 100 associated or associable with it, and replacing it with a second covering element 18, which is associated or associable with lighting means 200.

[0051] In this way, said lighting means 200 are housed in the casing 2 to give the apparatus 1 a second operating configuration in which it acts as a lighting apparatus.

[0052] In particular, advantageously, said lighting means 200 comprise at least one light source 70, in particular preferably a LED light source, electric energy storage means 60, such as for example at least one battery, and a matrix of cells photovoltaic cells 90, preferably made of polycrystalline silicon or other material having the same characteristics, capable of converting the incident solar energy into electrical energy by means of the photovoltaic effect.

[0053] Said photovoltaic cells 90 can advantageously be connected, by means of suitable electrical connectors, to said at least one battery 60 which can in turn be connected to said at least one light source 70.

[0054] Said second covering element 18 comprises a flat plate 18A; advantageously, said lighting means 200 are mounted on said flat plate 18A. In particular, preferably, said at least one battery 60 and said at least one light source 70 are fixed on a first surface of said flat plate 18A, in use facing the inside of said second compartment 4, and said photovoltaic cells 90 are arranged in correspondence of a second surface of the flat plate 18A of said second cover element 18, in use facing the outside of the casing 2.

[0055] According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, said at least one battery 60 can instead be housed in the first compartment 3, in place of the pyrolytic burner 30; the latter can? in fact be extracted from the containment jacket 32, inside which it can? then the battery 60 can be positioned.

[0056] Advantageously, if the intensity? of solar radiation is accidentally insufficient during the day to charge said at least one battery 60, ? It is possible to remove the latter and proceed with its recharging in the conventional way by connecting it to the electricity grid.

[0057] Preferably, to convert said apparatus 1 into its second configuration of use, said transfer duct 40 is also removed together with said first covering element 8, so that the light produced by said at least one light source 70, advantageously mounted on said second covering element 18, is then directly diffused through the suitably partially open walls of the second compartment 4 in an area surrounding the apparatus 1. In this case, a closure element can be applied in correspondence with the hole 51 and on the conveyor element 38 to prevent the access of dust or dirt inside the first compartment 3.

[0058] Possibly, ? It is possible to mount a diffuser element, for example of tubular shape, suitable to be positioned in the second compartment 4 in place of the transfer duct 40. This diffuser element is? advantageously made of a transparent material which allows the diffusion of the light emitted by said at least one light source 70; for example, said duct pu? be made of opal polymer material.

[0059] The operation of a multipurpose apparatus according to the present invention in its second configuration of use, i.e. when it acts as a lighting apparatus? the following: during the day, the photovoltaic cells positioned on the second covering element 18 generate electric current starting from the solar radiation incident on them; this energy is stored in said at least one battery 60 to then be used, upon request by the user, to power said at least one light source 70 during the evening or night hours.

[0060] Finally, as shown in figure 7, according to a further advantageous characteristic of the present invention, said multipurpose apparatus 1 can comprising a third covering element 28, interchangeable with respect to said first and said second covering element 8, 18, which can be associated with said heating means 100 to convert the apparatus into a third configuration of use, in which ? usable as an indoor heating equipment.

[0061] As can be seen in figure 8, said third covering element 28 ? essentially similar to the first covering element 8 and also comprising a flat plate 28A and a coupling element 28B, projecting from a first surface of the flat plate 28A, facing in use towards the inside of said second compartment 4, and connectable on said discharge duct 40. Said coupling element 28B ? without openings and defines a through channel 28C which passes through the flat plate 28A and opens at a second surface of the same, in use facing externally to the casing 2, to allow the removable connection with the flue F of any room, residential or commercial. In this way, the combustion fumes coming from said heating means 100 are conveyed directly to the flue F passing through the transfer duct 40 and passing through the through channel 28C obtained on said third covering element 28.

[0062] In conclusion, from the foregoing it is clear that the present invention achieves the aims and advantages initially foreseen. Yup ? in fact, a multi-purpose appliance has been created that can function as a solid fuel heating appliance for heating outdoor environments but which can be easily and quickly converted into an indoor heating appliance and also into a lighting appliance as needed of the user, in such a way as to make it usable effectively at any time of the year.

[0063] Advantageously, a multipurpose apparatus 1 according to the present invention does not require connection to the electrical network to operate any of its usage configurations, thus allowing maximum flexibility? of use and positioning.

[0064] A multipurpose apparatus according to the present invention? moreover, it is simple and practical to use, featuring a series of manufacturing details designed to assist the user in all practical and functional aspects.

[0065] It should also be noted that a multipurpose appliance according to the present invention in its configuration of use as an outdoor heating appliance is also very safe: in fact, in the event that it should accidentally tip over during operation of the burner 30, the pyrolytic combustion will come automatically inhibited, allowing the lump fuel to be rapidly consumed through normal flame combustion with a very limited duration.

[0066] Finally, the pyrolytic combustion which develops in the burner 30 when said multipurpose appliance acts as an outdoor heating appliance generates a flame almost completely free from harmful emissions, making the appliance particularly appreciable also from an environmental point of view.

[0067] Of course the present invention ? susceptible to numerous applications, modifications or variations without with what? exit the scope of protection, as defined by the attached claims.

[0068] Furthermore, the materials and equipment used for the realization of the present invention, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the individual components, may be the most? suitable according to specific needs.

Claims (10)

Patent claims for industrial invention entitled: ?INDOOR OR OUTDOOR MULTIPURPOSE HEATING OR LIGHTING EQUIPMENT? CLAIMS 1. Multipurpose heating or lighting apparatus (1) comprising a hollow casing (2) suitable for removably and alternatively housing heating means (100) and lighting means (200), and at least a first and a second covering element ( 8, 18) interchangeable, selectively positioned on the top? of said casing (2), said heating means (100) being associated or associable with said first covering element (8) and said lighting means (200) being associated or associable with said second covering element (18). 2. Multipurpose apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein said casing (2) extends along an axis of development (X-X) and defines inside it at least a first compartment (3) and a second compartment (4) superimposed along said axis of development (X-X) and separated by a partition wall (5), said envelope (2) being configured in such a way as to have side walls closed in correspondence with said first compartment (3) and partially open in correspondence with said second compartment (4). 3. Multipurpose apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein said heating means (100) comprise a pyrolytic burner (30) which can be removably housed in said first compartment (3) and which can be associated with said first covering element (8) by means of a conveyor element (38), suitable to be inserted in a hole (51) obtained on said partition wall (5), and a transfer duct (40) extending through said second compartment (4). 4. Multipurpose apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein said pyrolytic burner (30) comprises a body defining a combustion chamber (31) adapted to receive the fuel, said burner (30) being removably housed concentrically in a jacket of containment (32) integral with said casing (2) which surrounds it in such a way as to define between them an annular gap (32) for the passage of air. 5. Multi-purpose apparatus (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said burner (30) rests at the bottom on a support body (33) comprising a cavity? collector (33A) suitable for collecting the solid combustion residues and accessible through a removable drawer (34). 6. Multipurpose apparatus (1) according to claim 5, wherein the entrance to the cavity is collector (33A) from the combustion chamber (31) ? advantageously controlled by a plate (35) equipped with a plurality? of through holes and fixed to the side walls of the burner (30) in a rotatable manner to be movable at least between a closed position and an open position. 7. Multipurpose apparatus (1) according to any one of claims from 3 to 6, wherein said first covering element (8) comprises a flat plate (8A) and a coupling element (8B), projecting from a first surface of said flat plate (8A), said coupling element (8B) being equipped with a plurality of through openings (8C) and suitable for grafting onto a portion of the end? top of said transfer duct (40). 8. Multipurpose apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein air flow regulation means (36) are inserted in said combustion chamber (31), said regulation means (36) comprising at least one tubular body provided with perforated side walls to allow the air to penetrate up to a central area of said combustion chamber (31). 9. Multipurpose apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lighting means (200) comprise at least one light source (70), electric energy storage means (60) and a photovoltaic cell array (90 ). 10. Multipurpose apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a third covering element (28) formed by a flat plate (28A), a coupling element (28B) which protrudes from a first surface of said plate ( 28A) to engage said transfer duct (40) and defining a through channel (28C) which opens onto a second surface of said plate (28A) to allow connection with a flue.