US3762391A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fireplace unit with controllable heat circulation
Assignee: Heatilator Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-15
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1991-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A fireplace unit of the heat-circulating type having means for selectively controlling the proportions of heated air circulated back into the room and vented to the outside through the chimney. The construction is such that protective cooling air continues to flow within the unit when the supply of room heating air is stopped, as well as when the normal inlet for the cooling air is inadvertently blocked. Also disclosed are means for optionally providing gravity or forced air flow, and for dividing the heating chamber into a plurality of compartments, each having separate control means for the recirculation or exhaust of heated air.
Inventors
- 👤 G Andrews
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:56
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24B; F24B1/00; F24B1/18; F24B1/185; F24B1/188; F24B1/1885
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A prefabricated fireplace structure of the heat-circulating type comprising, in combination: a. an open-front combustion chamber having a hearth floor, side and rear walls, and a flue for exhaust of combustion products; b. a heating chamber having inner side and rear walls, adjacent said combustion chamber side and rear walls, outer side and rear walls spaced from said inner walls and connected thereto by upper and lower walls, and a pair of front walls adjacent the sides of the open front of said combustion chamber; c. inlet means for admitting air into a lower portion of said heating chamber; d. outlet means for venting heated air from an upper portion of said heating chamber; e. said combustion chamber rear wall being spaced from said heating chamber inner rear wall, the latter including lower openings, through which a portion of the air passing between said inner and outer rear walls is vented out of said heating chamber to an enclosed space between said combustion chamber rear wall and said heating chamber inner rear wall, and upper openings, through which said portion of air passes from said enclosed space back into said heating chamber; and f. means for selectively directing said heated air either into said flue for exhaust with said combustion products or into an area to be heated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
A prefabricated fireplace structure of the heat-circulating type comprising, in combination: a. an open-front combustion chamber having a hearth floor, side and rear walls, and a flue for exhaust of combustion products; b. a heating chamber having inner side and rear walls, adjacent said combustion chamber side and rear walls, outer side and rear walls spaced from said inner walls and connected thereto by upper and lower walls, and a pair of front walls adjacent the sides of the open front of said combustion chamber; c. inlet means for admitting air into a lower portion of said heating chamber; d. outlet means for venting heated air from an upper portion of said heating chamber; e. said combustion chamber rear wall being spaced from said heating chamber inner rear wall, the latter including lower openings, through which a portion of the air passing between said inner and outer rear walls is vented out of said heating chamber to an enclosed space between said combustion chamber rear wall and said heating chamber inner rear wall, and upper openings, through which said portion of air passes from said enclosed space back into said heating chamber; and f. means for selectively directing said heated air either into said flue for exhaust with said combustion products or into an area to be heated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said heating chamber is divided by an interior, vertical partition between said inner and outer rear walls and said upper and lower walls into left and right compartments, each with its own independent inlet and outlet means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said heating chamber lower wall includes openings through which air may pass into or out of said heating chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
182 words
A prefabricated fireplace structure of the heat-circulating type comprising, in combination: a. an open-front combustion chamber having a hearth floor, side and rear walls, and a flue for exhaust of combustion products; b. a heating chamber having inner side and rear walls, adjacent said combustion chamber side and rear walls, outer side and rear walls spaced from said inner walls and connected thereto by upper and lower walls, and a pair of front walls adjacent the sides of the open front of said combustion chamber; c. inlet means for admitting air into a lower portion of said heating chamber; d. outlet means for venting heated air from an upper portion of said heating chamber; e. an inner hood above said combustion chamber for directing the combustion products to said flue; f. an outer housing enclosing said heating chamber in spaced relation to said outer side and rear walls, and said inner hOod, in spaced relation thereto; and g. means for selectively directing said heated air either into said flue for exhaust with said combustion products or into an area to be heated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
182 words
A prefabricated fireplace structure of the heat-circulating type comprising, in combination: a. an open-front combustion chamber having a hearth floor, side and rear walls, and a flue for exhaust of combustion products; b. a heating chamber having inner side and rear walls, adjacent said combustion chamber side and rear walls, outer side and rear walls spaced from said inner walls and connected thereto by upper and lower walls, and a pair of front walls adjacent the sides of the open front of said combustion chamber; c. inlet means for admitting air into a lower portion of said heating chamber; d. outlet means for venting heated air from an upper portion of said heating chamber; e. an inner hood above said combustion chamber for directing the combustion products to said flue; f. an outer housing enclosing said heating chamber in spaced relation to said outer side and rear walls, and said inner hOod, in spaced relation thereto; and g. means for selectively directing said heated air either into said flue for exhaust with said combustion products or into an area to be heated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention according to claim 4 wherein said outlet means comprise at least two openings in an upper portion of said heating chamber, one of which communicates with said area to be heated and the other of which vents air from said heating chamber to the space between said outer housing and said inner hood, the latter having openings to admit the air vented from said heating chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention according to claim 5 wherein said means for directing said heated air comprise a baffle within said heating chamber movable between a first position, wherein said heated air is directed by said baffle to said one opening, and a second position, wherein said heated air is directed to said second opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 6 and further including manually operable control means extending outside said heating chamber for moving said baffle between said first and second positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
167 words
A fireplace unit of the heat-circulating type comprising, in combination: a. an open-front combustion chamber having a hearth floor, side and rear walls, and a flue for exhaust of combustion products; b. an enclosed compartment adjacent at least a portion of said side and rear walls whereby air within said compartment is heated by heat from said combustion chamber; c. an inlet through which air enters said compartment; d. first and second outlets through either of which air heated within said compartment may be vented therefrom; e. means directing air from said first outlet into a space to be heated; f. means directing air from said second outlet out the flue with the combustion products from said combustion chamber; and g. cover means selectively movable between a first position blocking said first outlet to direct substantially all air heated within said compartment through said second outlet, and a second position blocking said second outlet to direct substantially all air heated within said compartment through said first outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
167 words
A fireplace unit of the heat-circulating type comprising, in combination: a. an open-front combustion chamber having a hearth floor, side and rear walls, and a flue for exhaust of combustion products; b. an enclosed compartment adjacent at least a portion of said side and rear walls whereby air within said compartment is heated by heat from said combustion chamber; c. an inlet through which air enters said compartment; d. first and second outlets through either of which air heated within said compartment may be vented therefrom; e. means directing air from said first outlet into a space to be heated; f. means directing air from said second outlet out the flue with the combustion products from said combustion chamber; and g. cover means selectively movable between a first position blocking said first outlet to direct substantially all air heated within said compartment through said second outlet, and a second position blocking said second outlet to direct substantially all air heated within said compartment through said first outlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 8 and further including alternate inlet means through which air may enter said compartment in the event of blockage of said inlet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein said alternate inlet means comprise one or more openings in a lower portion of said compartment and means for directing air under said hearth floor and through said openings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 8 wherein said cover means is moved between said first and second positions by manually engagable means on the exterior of the fireplace adjacent one of said side walls.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 8 wherein said compartment is divided by a vertical partition into left and right sections, each having an independent inlet and first and second outlets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention according to claim 8 wherein at least a portion of said compartment is divided by a horizontal partition into upper and lower sections, said inlet bieng in said lower section and both of said outlets being in said upper section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
160 words
A prefabricated fireplace structure of the heat-circulating type comprising, in combination: a. an open-front combustion chamber having a hearth floor, side and rear walls, and a flue for exhaust of combustion products; b. an enclosed compartment adjacent at least a portion of said side and rear walls whereby air within said compartment is heated by heat from said combustion chamber: c. inlet means for admitting external air into said heating compartment; d. outlet means for venting heated air from an upper portion of said heating compartment; e. means for selectively directing said heated air either into said flue for exhaust with said combustion products or into an area to be heated; and f. means defining a space intermediate of said heating comPartment and flue to prevent direct communication therebetween so that, whether heat from said compartment is directed into said flue or into an area to be heated, combustion products from said flue cannot fall or flow into said compartment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
160 words
A prefabricated fireplace structure of the heat-circulating type comprising, in combination: a. an open-front combustion chamber having a hearth floor, side and rear walls, and a flue for exhaust of combustion products; b. an enclosed compartment adjacent at least a portion of said side and rear walls whereby air within said compartment is heated by heat from said combustion chamber: c. inlet means for admitting external air into said heating compartment; d. outlet means for venting heated air from an upper portion of said heating compartment; e. means for selectively directing said heated air either into said flue for exhaust with said combustion products or into an area to be heated; and f. means defining a space intermediate of said heating comPartment and flue to prevent direct communication therebetween so that, whether heat from said compartment is directed into said flue or into an area to be heated, combustion products from said flue cannot fall or flow into said compartment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The invention according to claim 14 wherein said flue is enclosed within an inner hood, and an outer hood is provided in spaced relation thereto, and air from said compartment to be vented out said flue is directed into the space between said inner and outer hoods and enters said flue through louvered openings in said inner hood.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 15 wherein said outlet means includes at least two outlet openings communicating, respectively, with the space to be heated and with said flue through said louvered openings, and said directing means comprises a movable baffle for directing air flow through said outlet openings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |