US 8,844,513 B2Granted

Apparatus, system and method for heating a ventilation system

OwnerJohn Stock LaMunyon, IIIinventor

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Abstract

A device, system and method for heating fluid (air) in a flue to create a draw prior to combusting a fuel in a combustion device. The device, system and method includes a housing that may be integrated about the flue. The housing may include a heat exchanger that itself may include a heating source that may be in thermal communication with the flue and a temperature differentiation driver. The heat exchanger may operate to transfer heat energy from the heating source to a fluid constrained to a path created by the flue. The result is a pressure differential created within the flue to help draw the fluid out of the combustion device. The heat exchanger may be configured such that it may cause heat transfer to the heavier, more dense fluid contained within the ventilation system prior to combusting fuel in a combustion device, thereby causing the fluid to be relatively less dense thus creating a draw.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A device for heating fluid in a flue prior to combusting primary fuel in a primary combustion device, comprising:

a housing assembly configured for integration about the flue, said housing assembly comprising:
a main body portion having a hollow and cylindrical center portion having a first end and a second end, a first frustoconical portion disposed on the first of the cylindrical center portion, a second frustoconical portion disposed on the second end of the cynlindrical center portion, and a heat exchanger having a heating source thermal communication with the flue wherein said heating source includes a temperature differentiation driver;
a first sleeve member having a first end configured and adapted for receiving a free end of a flue and a second end having a frustoconical portion disposed thereon;
a second sleeve member having a first end configured and adapted for receiving a free end of a flue and a second end having a frustoconical portion disposed thereon;
an elongated tubular portion extending from the second end of the first sleeve member such that the elongated tubular portion is disposed within the frustoconical portion disposed on the second end of the first sleeve member;
wherein the heat exchanger transfers heat energy from the heating source to a fluid constrained to a path created by the flue, thereby producing a pressure differential within the flue whereby the fluid is drawn out of the combustion device;
wherein the first frustoconical portion of the main body portion is configured to be directly received into the frustoconical portion of the first sleeve member and over the elongated tubular portion;
wherein the second frustoconical portion of the main body portion is configured to be directly received into the frustoconical portion of the second sleeve member;
wherein the elongated tubular portion is located in-line with respect to the flue so as to be integrated as part of the flue and is also located above the combustion device within a range of about one inch to about forty-eight inches such that at a base of the flue there is a greater temperature than at an exit of the flue when the heat exchanger is in operation;
wherein the heating source is in direct contact with the elongated portion of the first sleeve member thereby causing continual conduction of heat energy directly from the heating source into the flue;
and
wherein the heat exchanger is configured such that it causes heat energy transfer to heavier, more dense fluid contained within the flue prior to combusting the primary fuel in the primary combustion device.

9 more elements

A system for heating fluid in a flue of a ventilation system prior to combusting primary fuel in a primary combustion device, comprising:

a combustion device comprising a chamber for combusting fuel;
a ventilation system connected to the combustion device and comprising a first flue portion and a second flue portion;
and
a housing assembly comprising:
a main body portion having a hollow and cylindrical center portion having a first end and a second end, a first frustoconical potion disposed on the first end of the cylindrical center portion a second frustoconical portion disposed on the second end of the cylindrical center portion, and a heat exchanger having a heating source in thermal communication with the flue wherein said heating source includes a temperature differentiation driver,
a first sleeve member having a first end configured and adapted for receiving a free end of the first flue portion and a second end having a frustoconical portion disposed thereon,
a second sleeve member having a first end configured and adapted for receiving a free end of the second fine portion and a second end having a frustoconical portion disposed thereon,
an elongated tabular portion extending from the second end of the first sleeve member such that the elongated tubular portion is disposed within the frustoconical portion disposed on the second end of the first sleeve member,
wherein the heat exchanger transfers heat member from the heating source to a fluid constrained to a path created by the flue, thereby a pressure differential within the flue whereby the fluid is drawn out of the combustion device,
wherein the first frustoconical portion of the main body portion is configured to be directly received into the frustoconical portion of the first sleeve member and over the elongated tubular portion,
wherein the second frustoconical portion of the main body portion is configured to be directly received into the frustoconical portions of the second sleeve member,
wherein the elongated tubular portion is located in-line with respect to the flue so as to be integrated as part of the flue and is also located above the combustion device within a range of about one inch to about forty-eight inches such that at a base of the flue there is a greater temperature than at an exist of the flue when the heat exchanger is in operation,
wherein the heating source is in direct contact with the elongated portion of the first sleeve member thereby causing continual conduction of heat energy directly from the heating source into the flue, and
wherein the heat exchanger is configured such that it causes heat energy transfer to heavier, more dense fluid contained within the flue prior to combusting the primary fuel in the primary combustion device.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.