Multi-fuel forced air furnace

Claim 2

A multi-fuel heating furnace comprising, an insulating enclosure having spaced vertical walls and a base, a heat generator mounted within said enclosure in spaced relation to the vertical walls having a combustion chamber therein, a grate assembly supported within the heat generator below the combustion chamber for supporting solid fuel, fluid fuel burner means mounted on the enclosure for igniting the solid fuel on the grate assembly, heat exchanger means mounted within the enclosure above the heat generator for conducting air in heat transfer relation to combustion products from the heat generator, and blower means connected to the enclosure for inducing a forced inflow of air to the heat exchanger means.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 including ducted means formed in the enclosure for conducting the air from the blower means in heat exchange relation to the combustion chamber of the heat generator.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said ducted means includes an inlet opening formed in one of the vertical walls communicating with said blower means below the combustion chamber, vertical passages formed about the heat generator within the enclosure, and converging passage means extending from said inlet opening below the combustion chamber toward one of said vertical passages for effecting substantially uniform heat exchange through the vertical passages.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3 including a residue collector, support means mounted in spaced relation above the base to form converging passage means and to removably hold the residue collector in operative alignment below the grate assembly.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 including separate access means mounted on the enclosure through which the solid fuel is loaded into the combustion chamber and the residue collector removed, respectively.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 wherein said one of the vertical passages is formed between the heat generator and one of the vertical walls remote from the blower means, the fluid fuel burner means and the access means being mounted on said one of the vertical walls.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 wherein said heat exchanger means includes at least two horizontal conduits through which the combustion products are conducted in reverse directions transversely of the vertical passages.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 7 wherein said grate assembly includes at least two separable sections, and releasable coupling means for holding the separable sections in planar relation to each other while permitting uncoupling in response to upward pivotal displacement of the sections relative to each other.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 1 including a residue collector, support means mounted in spaced relation above the base to removably hold the residue collector in operative alignment below the grate assembly.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 9 including separate access means mounted on the enclosure through which the solid fuel is loaded into the combustion chamber and the residue collector removed, respectively.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 10 wherein said fluid fuel burner means includes a firing tube projecting from the enclosure into the combustion chamber.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 11 including separate access means mounted on the enclosure above and below the fluid fuel burner means through which the solid fuel is loaded into the combustion chamber and the residue collector removed, respectively.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 9 including separate access means mounted on the enclosure above and below the fluid fuel burner means through which the solid fuel is loaded into the combustion chamber and the residue collector removed, respectively.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 1 wherein said grate assembly includes at least two separable sections, and releasable coupling means for holding the separable sections in planar relation to each other while permitting uncoupling in response to upward pivotal displacement of the sections relative to each other.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 11 wherein said fluid fuel burner means includes a firing tube projecting from the enclosure into the combustion chamber.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 1 including a residue collector positioned within the enclosure below the grate assembly, and separate access means mounted on the enclosure through which the solid fuel is loaded into the combustion chamber and the residue collector removed, respectively.

Claim 18

The combination claim 16 wherein said burner means is mounted on the enclosure vertically between said separate access means and includes a firing tube projecting into the combustion chamber from which a flame issues across the grate assembly toward the blower means.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 1 including an access door mounted on the enclosure through which the solid fuel is loaded onto the grate assembly, and adjustable means mounted on the door for conducting a regulated inflow of secondary air into the combustion chamber to enhance complete combustion of the solid fuel.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 18 wherein said solid fuel includes wood.

Claim 21

A heating furnace comprising, an insulating enclosure having spaced vertical walls and a base, a heat generator mounted within said enclosure in spaced relation to the vertical walls to form vertical passages thereabout, heat exchanger means mounted within the enclosure above the heat generator for conducting air in heat transfer relation to combustion products from the heat generator, blower means connected to the enclosure for inducing a forced inflow of air to the heat exchanger means, and ducted means formed in the enclosure for conducting the air from the blower means through said vertical passages in heat exchange relation to the heat generator, said ducted means including inlet means formed in one of the vertical walls and opening into one of said vertical passages for discharging air from said blower means below the heat generator, said vertical passages being formed about the heat generator within the enclosure in transverse relation to said discharge of air through the inlet means, and converging passage means extending transversely of said vertical passages from said inlet means below the heat generator for conducting air into another of said vertical passages remotely spaced from the blower means to effect substantially uniform heat exchange through the vertical passages.

Claim 22

A heating furnace comprising, an insulating enclosure having spaced vertical walls and a base, a heat generator mounted within said enclosure in spaced relation to the vertical walls to form vertical passages thereabout, heat exchanger means mounted within the enclosure above the heat generator for conducting air in heat transfer relation to combustion products from the heat generator, blower means connected to the enclosure for inducing a forced inflow of air to the heat exchanger means, and ducted means formed in the enclosure for conducting the air from the blower means through said vertical passages in heat exchange relation to the heat generator, said ducted means including inlet means formed in one of the vertical walls and opening into one of said vertical passages for discharging air from said blower means below the heat generator, said vertical passages being formed about the heat generator within the enclosure in transverse relation to said discharge of air through the inlet means, and converging passage means extending transversely of said vertical passages from said inlet means below the heat generator for conducting air into another of said vertical passages remotely spaced from the blower means to effect substantially uniform heat exchange through the vertical passages.

Claim 23

The combination of claim 20 wherein said heat exchanger means includes at least two horizontal conduits through which the combustion products are conducted in reverse directions transversely of the vertical passages.