Gas log fireplace system
OwnerThomas M. DePalmainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas-fired, simulated log fireplace insert incorporating an automatic flue damper for controlling the operational state of a chimney vent (open/closed) in response to gas combustion, an externally mounted carbon monoxide detector for terminating or inhibiting gas combustion in response to an unsafe level of detected carbon monoxide and a temperature actuated switch, disposed within the firebox area of the fireplace proximate the flue, for terminating gas combustion in response to excessive fireplace temperatures caused by a malfunctioning damper.
Claims9
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 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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.