Gas log fireplace system

Claim 2

A gas burning fireplace system for a wood burning fireplace having a central firebox area partially surrounded by walls, said walls extending upwardly to form a flue and a chimney, said central firebox area further including an inner hearth and an opening extending into the interior of a building, said system comprising: an automatic damper, disposed within said flue and having means for automatically opening said flue when said central firebox area is ignited and means for automatically closing said flue when said central firebox area is not ignited, said automatic damper thereby enhancing the flow of exhaust from said fireplace and up said flue; a gas burning system retrofitted into said central firebox area, and including: a gas inlet conduit; a gas manifold having at least one outlet hole, connected to said gas inlet conduit; a pilot light operatively connected to said gas manifold; a first electrically actuated gas flow valve operatively connected to said gas inlet conduit, to control the flow of gas to said gas manifold; a second electrically actuated gas flow valve operatively connected to said gas inlet conduit and to said pilot light, to control the flow of gas to said pilot light; an electronic ignitor operatively connected to said pilot light and said first and second electrically actuated valves; and switch means, operatively connected to said electronic ignitor, whereby said first and second electrically actuated valves are opened, causing gas to flow through said gas inlet conduit, into said gas manifold to be ignited and released out said at least one outlet hole; and means for detecting the carbon monoxide level within said interior of a building, disposed outside said fireplace, operatively connected to said electronic ignitor and having means to automatically terminate gas flow and ignition within said gas burning system in response to a predetermined carbon monoxide level within said interior of a building.

Claim 3

The gas burning fireplace system according to claim 1 further including: a temperature actuated switch means, operatively connected to said first and second electrically actuated valves, whereby said first and second electrically actuated valves are closed and the flow of gas within said gas burning system terminated in response to a predetermined temperature within said fireplace.

Claim 4

The gas burning fireplace system according to claim 1 further including: a plurality of simulated log members; and means for arranging said log members above said gas manifold to prevent a gas flame extending upward from said at least one outlet hole in said gas manifold from impinging said log members.

Claim 5

The gas burning fireplace system of claim 1 wherein said automatic damper further comprises a damper housing, conforming to the shape of said flue, to facilitate the retrofit of said automatic damper and to lessen heat loss up said flue.

Claim 6

The gas burning fireplace system of claim 1 further including: an hearth opening shield mounted across the upper edge of said fireplace opening to facilitate the drawing off of by-products of gas combustion.

Claim 7

A gas burning fireplace system for a wood burning fireplace having a central firebox area partially surrounded by walls, said walls extending upwardly to form a flue and a chimney, said central firebox area further including an inner hearth and an opening extending into the interior of a building said system comprising: an automatic damper, disposed within said flue and having means for automatically opening said flue when said central firebox area is ignited and means for automatically closing said flue when said central firebox area is not ignited, said automatic damper thereby enhancing the flow of exhaust from said fireplace and up said flue; a hanger apparatus, for retrofitting said automatic damper into said flue, comprised of a downwardly extending surface having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends bent in opposing directions to form lips, whereby said hanger is inserted into and affixed to said flue thereby forming a shelf to hold said automatic damper; and a gas burning system retrofitted into said central firebox area, and including: a gas inlet conduit; a gas manifold having at least one outlet hole, connected to said gas inlet conduit; a pilot light operatively connected to said gas manifold; a first electrically actuated gas flow valve operatively connected to said gas inlet conduit and to said pilot light, to control the flow of gas to said pilot light; an electronic ignitor operatively connected to said pilot light and said first and second electrically actuated valves; and switch means operatively connected to said electronic ignitor whereby said first and second electrically actuated valves are opened, causing gas to flow through said gas inlet conduit, into said gas manifold to be ignited and released out said at least one outlet hole.

Claim 8

A gas burning fireplace system for a wood burning fireplace having a central firebox area partially surrounded by walls, said walls extending upwardly to form a flue and a chimney, said central firebox area further including an inner hearth and an opening extending into the interior of a building said system comprising: an automatic damper, disposed within said flue and having means for automatically opening said flue when said central firebox area is ignited and means for automatically closing said flue when said central firebox area is not ignited, said automatic damper thereby enhancing the flow of exhaust from said fireplace and up said flue; a hanger apparatus, for retrofitting said automatic damper into said flue, comprised of a downwardly extending surface having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends bent in opposing directions to form lips, whereby said hanger is inserted into and affixed to said flue thereby forming a shelf to hold said automatic damper; and a gas burning system retrofitted into said central firebox area, and including: a gas inlet conduit; a gas manifold having at least one outlet hole, connected to said gas inlet conduit; a pilot light operatively connected to said gas manifold; a first electrically actuated gas flow valve operatively connected to said gas inlet conduit and to said pilot light, to control the flow of gas to said pilot light; an electronic ignitor operatively connected to said pilot light and said first and second electrically actuated valves; and switch means operatively connected to said electronic ignitor whereby said first and second electrically actuated valves are opened, causing gas to flow through said gas inlet conduit, into said gas manifold to be ignited and released out said at least one outlet hole.

Claim 9

A gas burning fireplace system for a wood burning fireplace having a central firebox area partially surrounded by walls, said walls extending upwardly to form a flue and a chimney, said central firebox area further including an inner hearth and an opening extending into the interior of a building, said system comprising: an automatic damper, disposed within said flue and having means for automatically opening said flue when said central firebox area is ignited and means for automatically closing said flue when said central firebox area is not ignited, said automatic damper thereby enhancing the flow of exhaust from said fireplace and up said flue; a gas burning system retrofitted into said central firebox area, and including: a gas inlet conduit; a gas manifold having at least one outlet hole, connected to said gas inlet conduit; a pilot light operatively connected to said gas manifold; a first electrically actuated gas flow valve operatively connected to said gas inlet conduit, to control the flow of gas to said gas manifold; a second electrically actuated gas flow valve operatively connected to said gas inlet conduit and to said pilot light, to control the flow of gas to said pilot light; an electronic ignitor operatively connected to said pilot light and said first and second electrically actuated valves; and switch means operatively connected to said electronic ignitor whereby said first and second electrically actuated valves are opened, causing gas to flow through said gas inlet conduit, into said gas manifold to be ignited and released out said at least one outlet hole; and means for detecting the carbon monoxide level within said interior of a building, disposed outside said fireplace, operatively connected to said electronic ignitor and having means to automatically terminate gas flow and ignition within said gas burning system in response to a predetermined carbon monoxide level within said interior of a building; a temperature actuated switch means, operatively connected to said first and second electrically actuated valves, whereby said first and second electrically actuated valves are closed and the flow of gas within said gas burning system terminated in response to a predetermined temperature within said fireplace; a back draft diverter element mounted on one of said walls of said central firebox area, opposite said opening and substantially underneath said flue; an adjustable mixer orifice located between said gas inlet conduit and said gas manifold for adjustably admitting air into said gas manifold; a plurality of simulated log members; and means for arranging said log members above said gas manifold such that a gas flame extending upwardly from said at least one outlet hole does not impinge upon said log members.

Claim 10

A gas burning fireplace system for a wood burning fireplace having a central firebox area partially surrounded by walls, said walls extending upwardly to form a flue and a chimney, said central firebox area further including an inner hearth and an opening extending into the interior of a building, said system comprising: an automatic damper, disposed within said flue and having means for automatically opening said flue when said central firebox area is ignited and means for automatically closing said flue when said central firebox area is not ignited, said automatic damper thereby enhancing the flow of exhaust from said fireplace and up said flue; a gas burning system retrofitted into said central firebox area, and including: a gas inlet conduit; a gas manifold having at least one outlet hole, connected to said gas inlet conduit; a pilot light operatively connected to said gas manifold; a first electrically actuated gas flow valve operatively connected to said gas inlet conduit, to control the flow of gas to said gas manifold; a second electrically actuated gas flow valve operatively connected to said gas inlet conduit and to said pilot light, to control the flow of gas to said pilot light; an electronic ignitor operatively connected to said pilot light and said first and second electrically actuated valves; and switch means operatively connected to said electronic ignitor whereby said first and second electrically actuated valves are opened, causing gas to flow through said gas inlet conduit, into said gas manifold to be ignited and released out said at least one outlet hole; and means for detecting the carbon monoxide level within said interior of a building, disposed outside said fireplace, operatively connected to said electronic ignitor and having means to automatically terminate gas flow and ignition within said gas burning system in response to a predetermined carbon monoxide level within said interior of a building; a temperature actuated switch means, operatively connected to said first and second electrically actuated valves, whereby said first and second electrically actuated valves are closed and the flow of gas within said gas burning system terminated in response to a predetermined temperature within said fireplace; a back draft diverter element mounted on one of said walls of said central firebox area, opposite said opening and substantially underneath said flue; an adjustable mixer orifice located between said gas inlet conduit and said gas manifold for adjustably admitting air into said gas manifold; a plurality of simulated log members; and means for arranging said log members above said gas manifold such that a gas flame extending upwardly from said at least one outlet hole does not impinge upon said log members.

Claim 11

The gas burning fireplace system of claim 7 wherein said automatic damper further comprises a damper housing, conforming to the shape of said flue, to facilitate the retrofit of said automatic damper and to lessen heat loss up said flue.

Claim 12

The gas burning fireplace system of claim 7, further including: an hearth opening shield mounted across the upper edge of said fireplace opening to facilitate the drawing off of by products of gas combustion.