Universally adjustable forced air fireplace heater

Claim 2

A heat exchanger for placement in the firebox of an existing fireplace and increasing the heat output thereof, comprising: a substantially vertical plenum located in the rear portion of said firebox, with a front surface approximately as wide as said firebox, a top surface having a plurality of forced air egress ports, and a forced air ingress port in the lower portion thereof; a forced air blower connected to said ingress port for driving ambient air into said plenum; a plurality of heat exchanger tubes, each tube having a first end connected to one of said plurality of egress ports and extending forwardly from said plenum across the throat of said fireplace with the second end thereof directing said forced air out of said tube and past the lintel of said fireplace and into the ambient; each said heat exchanger tube further comprising: a pivotal mounting of each said tubes on respective ones of said egress ports of said plenum, providing for angular motion of said tube about a substantially vertical axis; said forced air in said plenum being heated by conduction and radiation through said front surface of said plenum and said forced air being further heated in said heat exchanger tubes from the combustion gases in the throat of said fireplace, so as to enhance the heating efficiency of the fireplace; whereby said forced air may be directed out of said tube in a selected direction and access to the throat of the fireplace is permitted for adjustment of the damper or maintenance.

Claim 3

A heat exchanger for placement in the firebox of an existing fireplace and increasing the heat output thereof, comprising: a substantially vertical plenum located in the rear portion of said firebox, with a front surface approximately as wide as said firebox, a top surface having a plurality of forced air egress ports, and a forced air ingress port in the lower portion thereof; a forced air blower connected to said ingress port for driving ambient air into said plenum; a plurality of heat exchanger tubes, each tube having a first end connected to one of said plurality of egress ports and extending forwardly from said plenum across the throat of said fireplace with the second end thereof directing said forced air out of said tube and past the lintel of said fireplace and into the ambient; said plenum further comprising a nipple at each of said egress ports of said plenum; each of said heat exchanger tubes being pivotally mounted on said respective nipple, providing for angular motion of said tube about a substantially vertical axis; whereby said forced air in said plenum is heated by conduction and radiation through said front surface of said plenum and said forced air is further heated in said heat exchanger tubes from the combustion gases in the throat of said fireplace, so as to enhance the heating efficiency of the fireplace.

Claim 4

A heat exchanger for placement in the firebox of an existing fireplace and increasing the heat output thereof, comprising: a substantially vertical plenum located in the rear portion of said firebox, with a front surface approximately as wide as said firebox, a top surface having a plurality of forced air egress ports, and a forced air ingress port in the lower portion thereof; a forced air blower connected to said ingress port for driving ambient air into said plenum; a plurality of heat exchanger tubes, each tube having a first end connected to one of said plurality of egress ports and extending forwardly from said plenum across the throat of said fireplace with the second end thereof directing said forced air out of said tube and past the lintel of said fireplace and into the ambient; said plenum further comprising a nipple at each of said egress ports of said plenum; each of said heat exchanger tubes being pivotally mounted on said respective nipple, providing for angular motion of said tube about a substantially vertical axis; whereby said forced air in said plenum is heated by conduction and radiation through said front surface of said plenum and said forced air is further heated in said heat exchanger tubes from the combustion gases in the throat of said fireplace, so as to enhance the heating efficiency of the fireplace.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2, which further comprises: a frame means attached to the lintel of said fireplace, for supporting said second end of said tubes.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3, which further comprises: a perforated plate means slidably engaging said frame means to permit motion of the plate substantially in a horizontal direction parallel to said lintel; a sleeve means pivotally attached to said plate means and juxtaposed with said perforation therein, providing for angular motion of said sleeve means about a substantially vertical axis; said tube being coaxial with said sleeve means and in sliding engagement therewith; whereby said second end of said tube can be displaced in a substantially horizontal direction to selectively direct said forced air into the ambient.

Claim 7

A heat exchanger for placement in the firebox of an existing fireplace and increasing the heat output thereof, comprising: a substantially vertical plenum located in the rear portion of said firebox, with a front surface approximately as wide as said firebox, a top surface having a plurality of forced air egress ports, and a forced air ingress port in the lower portion thereof; a forced air blower connected to said ingress port for driving ambient air into said plenum; a plurality of heat exchanger tubes, each tube having a first end connected to one of said plurality of egress ports and extending forwardly from said plenum across the throat of said fireplace with the second end thereof directing said forced air out of said tube and past the lintel of said fireplace and into the ambient; a baffle means located within said plenum above said ingress port for directing said forced air against said front surface of said plenum; said plenum further comprising a plurality of nipples, one at each of said egress ports of said plenum; each of said heat exchanger tubes is pivotally mounted on a respective one of said nipples, providing for angular motion of said tube about a substantially vertical axis; whereby said forced air in said plenum is heated by conduction and radiation through said front surface of said plenum and said forced air is further heated in said heat exchanger tubes from the combustion gases in the throat of said fireplace, so as to enhance the heating efficiency of the fireplace.

Claim 8

A heat exchanger for placement in the firebox of an existing fireplace and increasing the heat output thereof, comprising: a substantially vertical plenum located in the rear portion of said firebox, with a front surface approximately as wide as said firebox, a top surface having a plurality of forced air egress ports, and a forced air ingress port in the lower portion thereof; a forced air blower connected to said ingress port for driving ambient air into said plenum; a plurality of heat exchanger tubes, each tube having a first end connected to one of said plurality of egress ports and extending forwardly from said plenum across the throat of said fireplace with the second end thereof directing said forced air out of said tube and past the lintel of said fireplace and into the ambient; a baffle means located within said plenum above said ingress port for directing said forced air against said front surface of said plenum; said plenum further comprising a plurality of nipples, one at each of said egress ports of said plenum; each of said heat exchanger tubes is pivotally mounted on a respective one of said nipples, providing for angular motion of said tube about a substantially vertical axis; whereby said forced air in said plenum is heated by conduction and radiation through said front surface of said plenum and said forced air is further heated in said heat exchanger tubes from the combustion gases in the throat of said fireplace, so as to enhance the heating efficiency of the fireplace.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5, which further comprises: an adjustable frame means attached to the lintel of said fireplace, for supporting said second end of said tubes.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6, which further comprises: a perforated plate means slidably engaging said frame means to permit motion of the plate substantially in a horizontal direction parallel to said lintel; a sleeve means pivotally attached to said plate means and juxtaposed with said perforation therein, providing for angular motion of said sleeve means about a substantially vertical axis; said tube being coaxial with said sleeve means and in sliding engagement therewith; whereby said second end of said tube can be displaced in a substantially horizontal direction to selectively direct said forced air into the ambient.

Claim 11

A heat exchanger for placement in the firebox of an existing fireplace and increasing the heat output thereof, comprising: a substantially vertical plenum located in the rear portion of said firebox, with a front surface approximately as wide as said firebox, a top surface having a plurality of forced air egress ports, and a forced air ingress port in the lower portion thereof; a forced air blower connected to said ingress port for driving ambient air into said plenum; a plurality of heat exchanger tubes, each tube having a first end connected to one of said plurality of egress ports and extending forwardly from said plenum across the throat of said fireplace with the second end thereof directing said forced air out of said tube and past the lintel of said fireplace and into the ambient; an air chamber fastened beneath the lintel of the fireplace; said air chamber having a rearward face with a perforation therein; said second end of said heat exchanger tube engaging said perforation of said air chamber; said air chamber further comprising: a first chamber portion having an open end; a second chamber portion in slidable engagement with said first chamber portion through said open end; said air chamber being laterally adjustable so as to fit under the lintels of various sized fireplaces; whereby said forced air in said plenum is heated by conduction and radiation through said front surface of said plenum and said forced air is further heated in said heat exchanger tubes from the combustion gases in the throat of said fireplace, so as to enhance the heating efficiency of the fireplace.

Claim 12

A heat exchanger for placement in the firebox of an existing fireplace and increasing the heat output thereof, comprising: a substantially vertical plenum located in the rear portion of said firebox, with a front surface approximately as wide as said firebox, a top surface having a plurality of forced air egress ports, and a forced air ingress port in the lower portion thereof; a forced air blower connected to said ingress port for driving ambient air into said plenum; a plurality of heat exchanger tubes, each tube having a first end connected to one of said plurality of egress ports and extending forwardly from said plenum across the throat of said fireplace with the second end thereof directing said forced air out of said tube and past the lintel of said fireplace and into the ambient; an air chamber fastened beneath the lintel of the fireplace; said air chamber having a rearward face with a perforation therein; said second end of said heat exchanger tube engaging said perforation of said air chamber; said air chamber further comprising: a first chamber portion having an open end; a second chamber portion in slidable engagement with said first chamber portion through said open end; said air chamber being laterally adjustable so as to fit under the lintels of various sized fireplaces; whereby said forced air in said plenum is heated by conduction and radiation through said front surface of said plenum and said forced air is further heated in said heat exchanger tubes from the combustion gases in the throat of said fireplace, so as to enhance the heating efficiency of the fireplace.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said air chamber further comprises: said air chamber having a rearward side with a plurality of perforations therein, equally spaced in the lateral direction.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said heat exchanger tube further comprises: an adjustable sleeve in slidable engagement with said second end of said heat exchanger tube for engagement with one of said perforations in said air chamber; whereby said heat exchanger tube can be selectively, angularly displaced about a substantially vertical axis at said forced air egress port and said sleeve creates a seal with said air chamber.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 which further comprises: a clamping disc means in engagement with one of said perforations not in engagement with said sliding sleeve on said heat exchanger tube; whereby the escape of air from said air chamber is blocked by said clamping disc means.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 which further comprises: each of said plurality of heat exchanger tubes having a sleeve slidably engaging said second end of said tube and in engagement with one of said perforations in said air chamber; each of said perforations in said air chamber not in engagement with an adjustable sleeve means, having a clamping disc means in engagement therewith; whereby the distribution of air flow produced by the apparatus may be adjusted.