Solid fuel burning furnace

Claim 2

In heating apparatus for use in burning solid fuel of the type which after combustion leaves an ash residue and comprising a fuel chamber, a combustion chamber, means for introducing solid fuel into the fuel chamber, means for introducing air into the combustion chamber, exhaust means for venting exhaust gas from the combustion chamber, and a bed extending from said fuel chamber into said combustion chamber; the improvement wherein said bed includes a vibratory bowl having a generally circular bottom, and a helically-grooved side wall with a groove therein extending substantially from said bottom to a top edge of said wall; vibratory drive means for driving said bowl so that the ash residue resulting from said combustion is urged by vibration up said groove to the top edge of the bowl side wall; and said apparatus further includes means for conducting away from said furnace said ash that is driven to said top edge.

Claim 3

Heating apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical wall concentric with said vibratory bowl and having a lesser diameter than the latter, so that the interior of the cylindrical wall defines said fuel chamber and the exterior thereof defines said combustion chamber.

Claim 4

Heating apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising means cooperating with the top of said cylindrical wall substantially to close off said fuel chamber from said combustion chamber.

Claim 5

Heating apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said means cooperating with said cylindrical wall is perforated to permit vapors from fresh fuel in said fuel chamber to escape to said exhaust means, thereby permitting said fresh fuel to be pre-dried before being conveyed in said bowl to the combustion chamber.

Claim 6

A solid fuel burning furnace comprising a housing having a base and an exterior wall; a vibratory bed disposed at said base and having a bottom and an upstanding wall, said upstanding wall having a track disposed therein for vibratorily transporting ash residue from said fuel out of said bed; drive means for imparting a vibratory motion to said bed; fuel chamber means within said housing and having a lower position thereof defined by one portion of said bed, an interior wall extending upwardly from the bed, and a top; combustion chamber means defined by a remaining portion of said bed beyond said interior wall, and contained in a portion of said furnace thereabove between said interior wall and said exterior wall; means for introducing fuel into said fuel chamber means; means for injecting air into said combustion chamber means; flue means for venting exhaust gases from said combustion chamber means; and means coupled with said track of the vibratory bed for receiving said ash residue.

Claim 7

A solid fuel burning furnace comprising a housing having a base and an exterior wall; a vibratory bed disposed at said base and having a bottom and an upstanding wall, said upstanding wall having a track disposed therein for vibratorily transporting ash residue from said fuel out of said bed; drive means for imparting a vibratory motion to said bed; fuel chamber means within said housing and having a lower position thereof defined by one portion of said bed, an interior wall extending upwardly from the bed, and a top; combustion chamber means defined by a remaining portion of said bed beyond said interior wall, and contained in a portion of said furnace thereabove between said interior wall and said exterior wall; means for introducing fuel into said fuel chamber means; means for injecting air into said combustion chamber means; flue means for venting exhaust gases from said combustion chamber means; and means coupled with said track of the vibratory bed for receiving said ash residue.

Claim 8

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 5, wherein said vibratory bed includes a bowl, said upstanding wall thereof has a generally cylindrical shape, and said track is generally spiral.

Claim 9

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 6, wherein said bowl includes a conic member disposed at the center of said bed to urge fuel outward toward said combustion chamber means.

Claim 10

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 7, wherein said conic member has a hollow portion beneath it extending to an edge of said one portion of the bed, and said air injecting means includes a primary air conduit coupled to said hollow portion so that primary air may be forced beneath said conic member into said combustion chamber means.

Claim 11

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 6, wherein said drive means includes an electric drive unit disposed centrally on said bowl between the latter and said base.

Claim 12

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 9, further comprising resilient support members disposed between said bowl and said base, each said member being angularly disposed so that said bowl is torsionally thrusted by cooperation of said electric drive unit and said members.

Claim 13

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 6, wherein said bed includes screening means disposed away from the bottom of said bowl for supporting embers of the fuel as it burns, but permitting the ash residue thereof to drop through to said bottom.

Claim 14

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 11, wherein said screening means further extends upward coaxially with and away from said upstanding wall.

Claim 15

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 11 or claim 12, further comprising supporting means disposed on the portion of said bowl exterior to said fuel chamber means for supporting said screening means and for forming a dam for said ash residue so that a layer of ash is maintained at the bottom of said bowl to protect the latter from excessive heat.

Claim 16

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 5, wherein said fuel chamber means includes a cleaning access sleeve permitting access from outside said housing to said fuel chamber for inspection and cleaning thereof.

Claim 17

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 14, further including an access door for closing said access sleeve and interlock switch means associated with said access door permitting said furnace to be energized only if said door is closed.

Claim 18

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 5, wherein means for introducing fuel includes sensor means for sensing the depth of fresh fuel in said fuel chamber means, and permitting said means for introducing fuel to add new fuel only when such depth is below a predetermined level.

Claim 19

A solid fuel burning furnace according to claim 5, further comprising secondary air injecting means disposed in said combustion chamber means above said bed for introducing secondary air into the combusting fuel and primary air above said bed thereby to ensure more complete combustion.