Control system and method for a solid fuel combustion appliance
AssigneeMaxitrol Company
InventorsMark Masen, Alex Manoulian, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control system for a solid fuel combustion appliance, e.g., a wood burning stove, includes a temperature sensor for sensing an output temperature of the appliance. A controller receives the output temperature and controls a damper associated with air flow through the stove to maintain a predetermined temperature. The system also includes a detector that senses certain conditions of the solid fuel, e.g., wood, that is burned by the stove. When additional fuel is added to the appliance, the system temporarily encourages initial combustion of the new fuel, before returning to maintaining the predetermined temperature.
Claims17
A control system for a solid fuel combustion appliance, the appliance including a housing defining a combustion chamber, the housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and an opening, each in fluidic communication with the combustion chamber, and an inlet damper movable between a plurality of positions for controlling airflow into the inlet, and a door operatively connected to the housing and positionable in a closed position to block the opening, said control system comprising:
- a drive mechanism operatively connected to the inlet damper for controlling the position of the inlet damper;
- an exhaust temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of air exhausted through the outlet;
- a switch coupled to the housing for providing a signal when the door opens or closes;
- and
- a controller in communication with said drive mechanism and said exhaust temperature sensor, and with said controller configured to receive the signal from said switch;
- said controller is configured to determine whether the door has been opened and reclosed based on the signals from the switch;
- said controller is configured to control said drive mechanism in an automatic mode to automatically position the inlet damper at a predetermined open position for a predetermined and limited period of time regardless of a predetermined temperature and as programmed in accordance with the automatic mode in response to said controller determining that the door has been opened and reclosed, and wherein said period of time is programmed to be within a range defined between 30 seconds and 2 minutes;
- and
- wherein after expiration of the period of time said controller is configured to control said drive mechanism in the automatic mode to automatically position the inlet damper to maintain the predetermined temperature of air exhausted through the outlet.
A solid fuel combustion appliance comprising:
- a housing defining a combustion chamber;
- said housing defining an inlet, and outlet, and an opening, each in fluidic communication with said combustion chamber;
- a door operatively connected to said housing and positionable in a closed position to block said opening;
- an inlet damper movable between a plurality of positions for controlling airflow into said inlet;
- a drive mechanism operatively connected to said inlet damper for controlling the position of said inlet damper;
- an exhaust temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of air exhausted through said outlet;
- a switch coupled to said housing for providing a signal when said door opens or closes;
- and
- a controller in communication with said drive mechanism and said exhaust temperature sensor, and with said controller configured to receive the signal from said switch;
- said controller is configured to determine whether the door has been opened and reclosed based on the signals from the switch;
- said controller is configured to control said drive mechanism in an automatic mode to automatically position the inlet damper at a predetermined open position for a predetermined and limited period of time regardless of a predetermined temperature and as programmed in accordance with the automatic mode in response to said controller determining that the door has been opened and reclosed, and wherein said period of time is programmed to be within a range defined between 30 seconds and 2 minutes;
- and
- wherein after expiration of the period of time said controller is configured to control said drive mechanism in the automatic mode to automatically position the inlet damper to maintain the predetermined temperature of air exhausted through the outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.