U.S. patent application number 10/444419 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-11 for pellet furnace heating apparatus.
Invention is credited to Darbonne, Johnny R. SR..
Application Number | 20030226561 10/444419 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26947188 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030226561 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Darbonne, Johnny R. SR. |
December 11, 2003 |
Pellet furnace heating apparatus
Abstract
A pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel,
which pellet furnace heating apparatus in one embodiment includes
an enclosure which houses a furnace. A furnace air blower is
provided in air communication with the furnace for blowing the
burning fuel and increasing heat in the furnace. A hopper is
provided for containing the solid fuel, and a fuel delivery
mechanism connects the hopper and the furnace for delivering the
solid fuel to the furnace. In another embodiment, the pellet
furnace heating apparatus includes a burner having a pilot housing
and a combustion housing. A fuel delivery mechanism connects a
hopper containing the solid fuel with the combustion housing of the
burner for delivering the solid fuel to the burner. A furnace air
blower is provided in air communication with the pilot housing of
the burner for blowing the burning fuel and increasing the heat in
the burner.
Inventors: |
Darbonne, Johnny R. SR.;
(Lake Charles, LA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John M. Harrison
2139 E. Bert Kouns
Shreveport
LA
71105
US
|
Family ID: |
26947188 |
Appl. No.: |
10/444419 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10444419 |
May 23, 2003 |
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09951218 |
Sep 14, 2001 |
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60259249 |
Jan 3, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
126/501 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24B 1/199 20130101;
F24B 13/04 20130101; F24B 1/024 20130101; F23B 1/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/501 |
International
Class: |
F24B 001/199 |
Claims
1. A pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel,
said pellet furnace heating apparatus comprising: an enclosure; a
furnace provided in said enclosure; a furnace air blower provided
in air communication with said furnace; a hopper for containing the
solid fuel; and a fuel delivery mechanism connecting said hopper
and said furnace for delivering the solid fuel to said furnace.
2. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 1 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the
solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.
3. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 1 comprising at
least one hot air circulation blower provided in air communication
with said enclosure for circulating air in said enclosure.
4. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 3 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the
solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.
5. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 1 comprising at
least one grille opening provided in said enclosure and at least
one grille covering said at least one grille opening,
respectively.
6. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 5 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the
solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.
7. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 5 comprising at
least one hot air circulation blower provided in air communication
with said enclosure for circulating air in said enclosure.
8. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 7 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the
solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.
9. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 3 comprising a
plurality of baffles provided between said furnace and said
enclosure for facilitating heat exchange in said enclosure.
10. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 9 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the
solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.
11. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 9 comprising at
least one grille opening provided in said enclosure and at least
one grille covering said at least one grille opening,
respectively.
12. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 11 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the
solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.
13. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 1 comprising a
flue pipe extending from said furnace and said enclosure and a flue
pipe heat exchanger provided on said flue pipe for heating air
flowing through said flue pipe heat exchanger.
14. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 13 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the
solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.
15. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 13 comprising at
least one grille opening provided in said enclosure and at least
one grille covering said at least one grille opening,
respectively.
16. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 15 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the
solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.
17. A pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel,
said pellet furnace heating apparatus comprising: an enclosure; a
furnace provided in said enclosure; a furnace air blower provided
in air communication with said furnace; a hopper for containing the
solid fuel; a fuel delivery mechanism connecting said hopper and
said furnace for delivering the solid fuel to said furnace; and a
door recess provided in said enclosure and a door provided on said
enclosure for closing said door recess.
18. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 17 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the
solid feed from said auger feed tube into said furnace.
19. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 17 comprising
wheels provided on said enclosure for transporting said
enclosure.
20. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 19 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the
solid feed from said auger feed tube into said furnace.
21. A pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel,
said pellet furnace heating apparatus comprising: a hopper for
containing the solid fuel; a burner having a pilot housing and a
combustion housing provided on said pilot housing; a fuel delivery
mechanism connecting said hopper and said combustion housing of
said burner for delivering the solid fuel to said burner; and a
furnace air blower provided in air communication with said pilot
housing of said burner.
22. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 21 comprising a
burner housing substantially covering said combustion housing of
said burner for conveying heat from said burner.
23. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 21 comprising a
base and wherein said hopper and said burner are mounted on said
base.
24. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 23 comprising a
burner housing substantially covering said combustion housing of
said burner for conveying heat from said burner.
25. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 21 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said combustion housing of said
burner for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into
said combustion housing.
26. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 25 comprising a
burner housing substantially covering said combustion housing of
said burner for conveying heat from said burner.
27. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 25 comprising a
base and wherein said hopper and said burner are mounted on said
base.
28. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 27 comprising a
burner housing substantially covering said combustion housing of
said burner for conveying heat from said burner.
29. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 27 comprising a
pair of forklift openings provided in said base in spaced-apart
relationship to each other.
30. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 29 comprising a
burner housing substantially covering said combustion housing of
said burner for conveying heat from said burner.
31. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 22 comprising a
flue pipe steam generator provided in said burner housing for
generating and releasing steam.
32. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 31 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said combustion housing of said
burner for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into
said combustion housing.
33. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 32 comprising a
base and wherein said hopper, said burner and said burner housing
are mounted on said base.
34. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 33 comprising a
pair of forklift openings provided in said base in spaced-apart
relationship to each other.
35. A pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel,
said pellet furnace heating apparatus comprising: a hopper for
containing the solid fuel; a burner having a pilot housing and a
combustion housing provided on said pilot housing; a fuel delivery
mechanism connecting said hopper and said combustion housing of
said burner for delivering the solid fuel to said combustion
housing; a furnace air blower provided in air communication with
said pilot housing of said burner; a burner housing substantially
enclosing said combustion housing of said burner for conveying heat
from said burner; a cooker; and a hot air conduit establishing air
communication between said burner housing and said cooker for
conveying hot air from said burner housing to said cooker.
36. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 35 wherein said
hot air conduit comprises a substantially horizontal supporting
segment and a hot plate provided on said supporting segment.
37. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 35 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said combustion housing of said
burner for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into
said combustion housing.
38. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 37 wherein said
hot air conduit comprises a substantially horizontal supporting
segment and a hot plate provided on said supporting segment.
39. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 38 comprising a
base and wherein said hopper and said burner are mounted on said
base.
40. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 39 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said combustion housing of said
burner for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into
said combustion housing.
41. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 39 wherein said
hot air conduit comprises a substantially horizontal supporting
segment and a hot plate provided on said supporting segment.
42. The pellet furnace heating apparatus of claim 41 wherein said
fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an
auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided
in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said
hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube
connecting said auger feed tube to said combustion housing of said
burner for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into
said combustion housing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application No. 60/259,249, filed Jan. 3, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a heating apparatus operated by
combustible pellets and more particularly, to a pellet furnace
heating apparatus which utilizes combustible pelletized fuel such
as wood pellets, corn and the like, as fuel. In one embodiment, the
pellet furnace heating apparatus includes an enclosure and a
furnace provided in the enclosure. A furnace air blower is adapted
for blowing the burning fuel and increasing heat in the furnace. A
hopper containing the solid fuel is connected to the furnace by
means of a fuel delivery mechanism, which delivers the solid fuel
from the hopper to the furnace. In another embodiment, the pellet
furnace heating apparatus includes a burner having a combustion
housing provided on a pilot housing, and a fuel delivery mechanism
delivers solid fuel contained in a hopper to the combustion housing
of the burner. A furnace air blower increases the heat of the
burner by blowing air on the burning fuel.
[0004] Conventional fireplaces burn cords of wood to generate heat.
In mild southern winters, a house of approzimately 2600 square feet
in size uses about two cords of wood (the dimensions of a cord of
wood are 4'.times.4'.times.8'), which will maintain a comfortable
room temperature of approximately 72 degrees Fahrenheit at an
annual cost of about $480.00. In contrast, the pellet furnace
heating apparatus of this invention is capable of burning a smaller
quantity of wood (about 2000 lbs.) in the form of wood pellets to
maintain the same size house at a comparable temperature. The
quantity of fuel costs between the two systems represents about 2/3
in savings if a wood pellet system is used. Accordingly, the pellet
furnace heating apparatus of this invention will utilize
approximately a ton of wood pellets, which costs $165.00 per ton (a
2/3 savings over regular wood), during a typical southern winter,
and maintain an average room temperature of 72 degrees
Fahrenheit.
[0005] The efficiency of the pellet furnace heating apparatus is
due to a higher heat yield between a regular and a modified
fireplace. A conventional fireplace maintains an approximate
temperature of between 400 degrees to 500 degrees Fahrenheit in the
firebox, and about 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit leaves the firebox
through a 10" flue pipe. Thus, conventional fireplaces retain about
200 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 1/3 of the heat produced, to heat
a house. In contrast, the pellet furnace heating apparatus of this
invention is capable of retaining about 500 degrees Fahrenheit to
heat the house since the apparatus generates about 700 to 800
degrees Fahrenheit in the firebox and about 200 to 300 degrees
Fahrenheit leaves the firebox through the system's 4" exhaust pipe.
The reason behind the higher efficiency in the modified fireplace
is multifold. One is the fact that regular wood has more
impurities, such as water, which reduces the quantity of heat
produced, than wood pellets. Another reason is the design of the
firebox in the apparatus, which allows for a more efficient way to
burn the wood pellets. In addition, the apparatus of this invention
is a better heat exchanger than conventional fireplaces.
[0006] The pellet furnace heating apparatus of this invention has
many environmental advantages over conventional fireplaces. The
apparatus of the invention emits little, if any, smoke due to the
small quantity of water and impurities in the pellets. The
apparatus of this invention is characterized by an automatic
feeding system which can operate unattended for up to 24 hours or
longer. In contrast, conventional fireplaces require more frequent
attention or the fire will burn out and heat will thus be lost from
the room or rooms heated by the fire. Furthermore, the apparatus of
the invention generates few ashes and thus, reduces the amount of
time and effort in cleaning the firebox of the apparatus after use.
Conventional fireplaces generate approximately five gallons of
ashes after burning wood for twelve hours, in contrast with the
apparatus of this invention, which produces about a cup of ashes
which can be cleaned up using a household vacuum cleaner.
[0007] The corn-burning embodiment of the pellet furnace heating
apparatus is capable of generating approximately 1200 degrees to
1400 degrees Fahrenheit and emits no visible smoke, carbon monoxide
or ashes. If six pounds of corn are used per hour, the system is
capable of generating about 48,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per
hour. A bushel of corn, at a cost of $2.50, will generate
approximately 456,000 BTUs. The expense of operating a pellet
furnace heating apparatus of the invention, using corn, is much
more economical than a system which utilizes fossil fuels.
[0008] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0009] Various types of fireplaces, stoves and combinations thereof
are known in the art. Typical of the fireplace stove design is U.S.
Pat. No. 4,074,679, dated Feb. 21, 1978, to John F. Jensen. The
fireplace stove detailed in that patent includes an outer cabinet
fitted with a combustion enclosure or chamber and a grate forming a
clearance space, with an ash receptacle mounted in the lower end of
the combustion enclosure for burning a combustible fuel. An air end
is provided in the cabinet for emitting air to be heated into the
clearance space and an air outlet in the cabinet discharges heated
air from the clearance to a surrounding space. U.S. Pat. No.
4,185,612, dated Jan. 29, 1980, to Clifton F. Briner et al, details
a "Heat Circulating Fireplace". The fireplace includes a heat
exchanger which transfers heat from the combustion gases of the
fuel to an air flow circulated through the unit. Inlet and outlet
air ducts are provided on each side of the heat exchanger module to
conduct air to be heated into and away from the heat exchanger.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,315, dated Sep. 28, 1982, to Thomas A. Babbage,
includes a solid fuel boiler having a facia for radiant heat to
pass into a living room, while the flue hopper and ash pan are
accessible from another room or from outside the structure. U.S.
Pat. No. 4,603,683 dated Aug. 5, 1986, to Richard D. Craver,
includes a fireplace insert which has a back wall and outwardly
diverging lateral walls to provide an access opening for fuel. The
insert is constructed of sheet metal and has a face plate to form a
closure over the access opening. Blowers move air through the
insert to exchange heat between the burning fuel and the air
stream. U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,682, dated May 14, 1991, to Payson,
details a "Pellet Stove Mantel" with integral hopper, which mantel
stores pelletized fuel in a continuous-feed hopper. The fuel may be
dispensed from the mantel feed storage area into a conventional
pellet-type furnace according to a selected flow rate. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,331,943, dated Jul. 26, 1994, to W. H. Ko, details a "Wood
Pellet Stove" which includes an enclosure, a burner, a heat
exchanger, a waste gas exhaust system, a feed system, a cleaning
apparatus and a control system. The burner includes a seat, a
container, a bottom portion, a top member, two first pillars, two
second pillars and an inlet pipe. The cleaning device includes
three scraper members and each of the scraper members includes a
scrape plate pipe rod and a hoop element. U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,855,
dated Oct. 28, 1997, to W. H. Ko, details an "Indoor Fireplace"
having a base, a feeding device, a combustion chamber and a
ventilation apparatus. The base includes a sliding plate provided
with a feed pipe provided in communication with the combustion
chamber. The ventilation apparatus includes an air drawing
apparatus, an air discharging apparatus and multiple air
circulation ducts.
[0010] It is an object of this invention to provide a new and
improved pellet furnace heating apparatus in various configurations
for a variety of heating applications.
[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a pellet
furnace heating apparatus which is capable of heating homes,
offices and other structures.
[0012] Still another object of this invention is to provide a
pellet furnace heating apparatus which is characterized by an
enclosure; a furnace provided in the enclosure; a furnace air
blower provided in air communication with the furnace; a hopper for
containing the solid fuel; and a fuel delivery mechanism connecting
the hopper and the furnace for delivering the solid fuel to the
furnace.
[0013] A still further object of the invention is to provide a
pellet furnace heating apparatus including a hopper for containing
the solid fuel; a burner having a pilot housing and a combustion
housing provided on the pilot housing; a fuel delivery mechanism
connecting the hopper and the combustion housing of the burner for
delivering the solid fuel to the burner; and a furnace air blower
provided in air communication with the pilot housing of the
burner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] These and other objects of the invention are provided in a
pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel, which
pellet furnace heating apparatus in one embodiment includes an
enclosure which houses a furnace. A furnace air blower is provided
in air communication with the furnace for blowing the burning fuel
and increasing heat in the furnace. A hopper is provided for
containing the solid fuel, and a fuel delivery mechanism connects
the hopper and the furnace for delivering the solid fuel to the
furnace. In another embodiment, the pellet furnace heating
apparatus includes a burner having a pilot housing and a combustion
housing. A fuel delivery mechanism connects a hopper containing the
solid fuel with the combustion housing of the burner for delivering
the solid fuel to the burner. A furnace air blower is provided in
air communication with the pilot housing of the burner for blowing
the burning fuel and increasing the heat in the burner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention will be better understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical fireplace with the
pellet furnace heating apparatus of this invention built therein
and designed to direct heat from the fireplace;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pellet furnace heating
apparatus and fireplace illustrated in FIG. 1, more particularly
illustrating ductwork connected to the pellet furnace heating
apparatus for distribution of heated air throughout a
structure;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of one embodiment of
the pellet furnace heating apparatus of this invention, more
particularly illustrating the apparatus enclosure, the furnace box,
burner chamber, burner plate, feed augers, air purge, heat
exchanger, blower compartments and typical grilles;
[0019] FIG. 3A is a perspective view, partially in section, of a
typical air purge system for preventing heat transmission to the
feed drop tube elements of the feed augers during operation of the
pellet furnace heating apparatus;
[0020] FIG. 3B is a sectional view, taken along line 3B-3B of the
air purge system illustrated in FIG. 3A;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially in section, more
particularly illustrating typical essential elements of the pellet
furnace heating apparatus and more particularly illustrating hopper
storage areas for the pellet fuel and the location of the feed
augers in the enclosure;
[0022] FIG. 4A is a perspective view, partially in section, of a
typical heat exchanger for mounting on the flue pipe of the pellet
furnace heating apparatus and minimizing heat loss through the flue
pipe;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the pellet furnace
heating apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, more particularly
illustrating the opposite side of the enclosure and a second hopper
storage of pellet fuel, along with a single hot air circulation
blower provided in the cabinet;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a top sectional view of the pellet furnace heating
apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, more particularly
illustrating hot air circulation blower discharge lines extending
from the hot air circulation blowers, and other details of the
apparatus;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a rear sectional view of the pellet furnace
heating apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, more particularly
illustrating a system of baffles for baffling air distributed
through the enclosure from the hot air circulation blowers into the
enclosure and/or ductwork provided in a structure;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a side sectional view, taken along section lines
8-8 in FIG. 7, of a typical furnace of the pellet furnace heating
apparatus of this invention, more particularly illustrating
baffles;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the pellet furnace
heating apparatus furnace illustrated in FIG. 8, further
illustrating the enclosed burner chamber and insulation, with the
baffles removed for brevity;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a typical burner chamber of
the portable pellet furnace heating apparatus illustrated in FIGS.
3-5 and 9, more particularly illustrating a typical furnace air
blower system for furnishing combustion air to the burner chamber
of the apparatus;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of the
pellet furnace heating apparatus burner chamber illustrated in FIG.
10;
[0030] FIG. 12 is a top sectional view taken along section lines
12-12 in FIG. 11, of a typical shaped burner plate of the pellet
furnace heating apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, more
particularly illustrating an illustrative spacial orientation of
combustion openings;
[0031] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a portable pellet furnace
heating apparatus of this invention;
[0032] FIG. 14 is a side view of the portable pellet furnace
heating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 13, more particularly
illustrating a feed auger and blower system for automatically
feeding pelletized fuel and air, respectively, into the burner
chamber;
[0033] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
pellet furnace heating apparatus;
[0034] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a burner component of the
pellet furnace heating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 15;
[0035] FIG. 17 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the
burner illustrated in FIG. 16, more particularly illustrating
interior components of the burner;
[0036] FIG. 18 is an inverted, perspective view of a combustion
housing element of the burner illustrated in FIG. 16;
[0037] FIG. 19 is an exploded, perspective view of the burner;
[0038] FIG. 20 is a perspective view, partially in section, of an
alternative embodiment of the pellet furnace heating apparatus
illustrated in FIG. 15, more particularly illustrating a steam
generator mounted in the apparatus;
[0039] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the steam generator
illustrated in FIG. 20, removed from the apparatus for clarity;
[0040] FIG. 22 is a transverse sectional view, taken along section
lines 22-22 in FIG. 21, of the steam generator;
[0041] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a typical outdoor cooker,
with a pellet furnace heating apparatus (not illustrated) of this
invention connected to the cooker;
[0042] FIG. 24 is a front view of an air vent component on the
smoking chamber of the cooker illustrated in FIG. 23;
[0043] FIG. 25 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along
section lines 25-25 in FIG. 23, of the cooker;
[0044] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a pellet furnace heating
apparatus of this invention, connected to the cooker of FIG. 23 for
heating the cooker;
[0045] FIG. 27 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 27-27
in FIG. 26, of the pellet furnace heating apparatus and cooker
illustrated in FIG. 26;
[0046] FIG. 28 is a side perspective view of a portable embodiment
of the pellet furnace heating apparatus;
[0047] FIG. 29 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 29-29
in FIG. 28, of the pellet furnace heating apparatus;
[0048] FIG. 30 is a front perspective view of the pellet furnace
heating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 28;
[0049] FIG. 31 is an exploded, front perspective view of the pellet
furnace heating apparatus of FIG. 28, more particularly
illustrating mounting of an air vent housing at a selected height
on the apparatus; and
[0050] FIG. 32 is a front perspective view, partially in section,
of the pellet furnace heating apparatus, with the air vent housing
mounted in the uppermost position on the apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0051] Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, in one
embodiment of the invention, the pellet furnace heating apparatus
is generally illustrated by reference numeral 1 and can be included
in a fireplace 30, illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1 and typically
constructed of bricks 31. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pellet
furnace heating apparatus 1 includes an enclosure 2 having a pair
of pellet storage hoppers 3 at opposite ends thereof. Each pellet
storage hopper 3 is typically provided with a pellet access panel 4
for loading pellet fuel 6 (FIG. 1) into the pellet storage hopper
3. A blower compartment 8 is provided beneath each pellet storage
hopper 3 in the enclosure 2. A furnace 12 of the pellet furnace
heating apparatus 1 includes a furnace box 13, which is contained
in the enclosure 2 and fitted with insulation 14, and a burner
chamber 15 is seated in the center of the furnace box 13. Air is
introduced into the burner chamber 15 through a furnace air supply
line 18 that connects by means of a fitting 18a to a burner air
plenum 16a, provided in the burner chamber 15, and a valve 18b
serves to regulate the flow of air through the furnace air supply
line 18. A pair of feed augers 19, each having an auger feed tube
20 which angles upwardly from the corresponding pellet storage
hopper 3 and a feed drop tube 23 which extends dowwardly from each
auger feed tube 20, are mounted on the enclosure 2 for the purpose
of feeding pellet fuel 6 (FIG. 1) from the pellet storage hoppers
3, into a fire 11 in the burner chamber 15 as illustrated in FIG. 1
and as further hereinafter described. Air is circulated around the
furnace 12 as hereinafter described and is heated by the fire 11 in
the burner chamber 15. In one embodiment of the invention,
illustrated in FIG. 1, some of the heated air is blown from the
enclosure 2 through a pair of hot air ducts 43, then through
respective side grilles 34 into an enclosure or room which
accommodates the fireplace 30. In another embodiment of the
invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, some of the heated air is
blown from the enclosure through a pair of vertical hot air pipes
42 and a pair of respective extended hot air ducts 43a, for
purposes hereinafter described. In both embodiments, the remaining
air circulating around the furnace 12 may be blown from the
enclosure 2 through a grille opening 32a and a furnace box grille
32. The products of combustion of the pellet fuel are expelled
through a flue pipe 35 which extends from the burner chamber 15 and
through a chimney 46 (FIG. 2). A pair of blower compartment grilles
33 are designed to close each blower compartment 8. The pellet
access panels 4 are provided in the fireplace 30 for replenishing
the supply of pellet fuel 6 in the enclosure 2 behind the bricks
31, also as further hereinafter described.
[0052] Referring again to FIG. 2 of the drawings, in one embodiment
of the invention, the pair of extended hot air ducts 43a joined to
the respective hot air pipes 42 of the pellet furnace heating
apparatus 1 facilitate a flow of heated air throughout a structure
45 and distribution of the heated air into the various rooms of the
structure 45 through air registers 44. In the pellet furnace
heating apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 2, hot air may also be
ejected through the furnace box grille 32 for the purpose of
directly heating the room in which the fireplace 30 is located.
[0053] Referring to FIGS. 3-7 and 12 of the drawings, each of the
blower compartments 8 provided in the enclosure 2 on each side of
the furnace 12 houses a furnace air blower 9 that supplies air to
the burner chamber 15 through the furnace air supply line 18. A
pair of hot air circulation blowers 10 are provided in opposite
ones of the blower compartments 8 for circulating air through
corresponding hot air blower discharge lines 10a, around the
furnace box 13 and through either the furnace box grille 32, seated
in the furnace box opening 13a (FIG. 3), and the side grilles 34 as
illustrated in FIG. 1, or through the furnace box grille 32 and a
pair of extended hot air ducts 43a, as heretofore described with
respect to FIG. 2. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that the hot air pipes 42 are optional and are
normally only provided in the pellet furnace heating apparatus 1 as
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 for the purpose of connecting the
pellet furnace heating apparatus 1 to the extended hot air ducts
43a in a structure 45. Otherwise, the hot air pipes 42 can be
eliminated from the pellet furnace heating apparatus 1 and the
pellet furnace heating apparatus 1 operates as illustrated in FIG.
1 with direct heat and without connection to the extended hot air
ducts 43a.
[0054] A shaped burner plate 16 is mounted in the burner chamber
15, typically by welding and the burner plate 16 is provided with
multiple air openings 17 of selected size, number and spacing, as
further illustrated in FIG. 12. In one embodiment of the invention,
air openings 17 are provided in the burner plate 16 and the air
openings 17 are arranged in a staggered configuration, as further
illustrated in FIG. 12 and as further hereinafter described.
Accordingly, air which is introduced into the burner chamber 15
beneath the burner plate 16 through the furnace air supply line 18
to the burner air plenum 16a by operating the furnace air blower 9,
supports the combustion of pellet fuel 6 which is dispensed onto
the burner plate 16 from the feed drop tube elbows 24 of the feed
drop tube 23 elements of the feed augers 19. As illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 5, the pellet fuel 6 is stored in the pair of pellet
storage hoppers 3 on a fuel support 7 in the interior of opposite
ends of the enclosure 2, and the pair of auger feed tubes 20 of
corresponding feed augers 19 extend through the enclosure 2 into
the pellet storage hoppers 3, and terminate at an auger motor 22.
An auger 21 is provided in each of the auger feed tubes 20, and the
tops of the auger feed tubes 20 terminate in a tube end plate 20a,
attached to the auger feed tube 20, by means of end plate bolts 20b
for servicing or replacing the auger 21. The pair of feed drop
tubes 23 of the respective feed augers 19 are attached to the upper
ends of the respective auger feed tubes 20 and extend downwardly
through the enclosure 2 to the burner chamber 15, as heretofore
described. Accordingly, operation of the auger motors 22 causes
each of the augers 21 in the respective auger feed tubes 20 to turn
and to lift the pellet fuel 6 that contact the respective augers 21
through a feed tube access opening 20c in each auger feed tube 20,
upwardly, for spilling over into the respective feed drop tubes 23.
The pellet fuel 6 then drops by gravity through each feed drop tube
23 and through an air purge 25, which may be provided on each of
the feed drop tubes 23, into the burner chamber 15 and onto the
burner plate 16, through the feed drop elbows 24. It will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that the rate of feed of
pellet fuel 6 to the burner chamber 15 and burner plate 16 can be
controlled by the rate of rotation of each of the augers 21 in the
feed augers 19. Accordingly, the auger motors 22 are designed to
operate at various speeds and appropriate wiring (not illustrated)
known to those skilled in the art may be connected to the auger
motors 22 for this purpose.
[0055] As further illustrated in FIGS. 3, 3a and 3b, the air purge
25 is characterized by a purge pipe 26 that inserts concentrically
over each feed drop tube 23 on each of the feed augers 19 and the
inside diameter of the purge pipe 26 is larger than the outside
diameter of the feed drop tube 23, to create an annulus 28 which is
blocked at both ends by an annulus seal 29 (FIG. 3B). A purge air
feed line 27 terminates at one end in the purge pipe 26 as further
illustrated in FIG. 3B and the opposite end of the purge air feed
line 27 is connected to the furnace air supply line 18 which is, in
turn, connected to the discharge of the furnace air blower 9, as
heretofore described. Accordingly, referring again to FIG. 3B, the
pellet fuel 6 flows by gravity downwardly through the drop tube
bore 23a of the feed drop tube 23 to prevent a flow of heat that
would normally travel upwardly from the furnace 12 through the feed
drop tubes 23. The heat is impeded in this upward flow by the
reverse flow of air from the purged air feed line 27, through the
annulus 28 and the purge opening 28a in the feed drop tube 23,
between the annulus seals 29.
[0056] Referring again to FIGS. 3-7 of the drawings, the pellet
fuel 6 is introduced for storage into the pellet storage hoppers 3,
located in opposite sides of the enclosure 2 and closed by a hopper
top 3a, typically by means of pellet access panels 4, typically
attached to the front portion of the enclosure 2 by means of pellet
access panel hinges 5.
[0057] Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 4a of the drawings, in
another embodiment of the invention a flue pipe heat exchanger 36
is mounted in the flue pipe 35 and as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the
hot gases from the burner chamber 15 and furnace 12 circulate on
the shell side of the flue pipe heat exchanger 36, while air is
introduced into the tube side of the flue pipe heat exchanger 36 by
means of an inlet air line 40, attached to one of two end plates 37
that close the ends of the flue pipe heat exchanger 36. Tubes 38
may be provided longitudinally in the flue pipe heat exchanger 36
and receive the air from the inlet air line 40, and heat is
exchanged between the upward-flowing hot combustion gases in the
flue pipe 35 and the air in 39 flowing inside the tubes 38. The
heated air out 39b exits the flue pipe heat exchanger 36 through
the opposite end plate 37 and may directed into a structure or into
a hot air duct 43, as illustrated in phantom.
[0058] Referring to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings, the furnace
12 and burner chamber 15 of the pellet furnace heating apparatus of
this invention are more particularly illustrated, with side air
baffles 49 and rear air baffles 50 provided in the furnace 12, for
the circulation of air to be heated by combustion of pellet fuel
(not illustrated) in the burner chamber 15. The feed drop tube
elements 23 of a feed auger 19 (not illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9)
are further illustrated for supplying pellet fuel from a source to
the burner chamber 15. As described above, the flue pipe 35 is
designed to receive combustion gases from the pellet fuel burned in
the burner chamber 15, which gases exit the burner chamber 15 at
about 800.degree. F. through burner chamber vents 15a, illustrated
in FIG. 9, circulate through an air circulation opening 12a between
the insulation 14 and the inside surface of the enclosure 2. As
further illustrated in FIG. 8, the side air baffles 49 and rear air
baffles 50 are designed to project from the furnace 12 in various
configurations in order to facilitate a flow of air around and over
the baffles and effect optimum heat transfer between the hot
furnace 12 and the air, as heretofore described with respect to
FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings. The temperature of the pellet fuel 6
consumed in the burner chamber 15 is elevated by introduction of
air into the burner chamber 15 through the furnace air supply line
18 and the fittings 18a, as heretofore described with respect to
the pellet furnace heating apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. The
heat output of the furnace 12 is controlled by the rate of flow of
pellet fuel 6 through the feed drop tubes 23 into the burner
chamber 15 and by the flow rate of air through the race air supply
line 18, into the burner chamber 15.
[0059] Referring now to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings, the
burner chamber 15 is detailed, with a pair of the feed drops tubes
23 provided with feed drop tube elbows 24, for directing pellet
fuel 6 (illustrated in FIG. 11) onto the perforated burner plate
16. The burner plate 16 may be provided with a burner plate bend
16b that defines an upper burner plate 16c and a smaller lower
burner plate 16d. It has been found by experimentation that the
upper burner plate 16c should be larger than the lower burner plate
16d. However, the upper burner plate 16c can be the same size as or
smaller than the lower burner plate 16d. Furthermore, the upper
burner plate 16c typically contains 124 openings 17, staggered as
indicated in FIG. 12, while the lower burner plate 16d typically
contains 63 openings 17, also staggered as illustrated in FIG. 12.
However, it is understood that any desired number of openings 17
can be provided in the upper burner plate 16c and the lower burner
plate 16d depending upon the desired heating characteristics of the
burner plate 16. As described with respect to the pellet furnace
heating apparatus 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, a furnace air blower
9 serves to supply air to the burner chamber 15 through the furnace
air supply line 18 and fittings 18a attached to the burner air
plenum 16a.
[0060] Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings, a portable
pellet furnace heating apparatus 51 is illustrated and has a vent
housing 58 mounted on an enclosure 2 and multiple hot air vents 57
provided on the vent housing 58. The enclosure 2 is further
provided with a hinged or fixed pellet access panel 4 for loading
pellet fuel (not illustrated) into the enclosure 2, and a feed
auger 19 (illustrated in phantom in FIG. 14) is provided in the
enclosure 2 and extends upwardly into the vent housing 58 for
transferring the stored pellet fuel from the enclosure 2, through
the feed drop tube 23 and into the burner chamber 15 at a
controlled rate, as heretofore described. The flue pipe 35 extends
from the burner chamber 15 in order to release the hot combustion
gases from the burner chamber 15. A furnace air blower 9 is also
illustrated in phantom and is connected to the burner chamber 15
(illustrated in phantom in FIG. 14), by means of a furnace air
supply line 18, also illustrated in phantom, for supplying air to
the burner chamber 15 and increasing the heat of combustion of the
pellet fuel, as heretofore described. A door 54 is hinged the
enclosure 2 by means of door hinges 55 and includes a door handle
56 for accessing the burner plate 16 in the burner chamber 15. A
door recess 54a may be provided in the enclosure 2 to recess the
door 54 at least partially into the enclosure 2 and further seal
the burner chamber 15 during operation of the portable pellet
furnace heating apparatus 51. Portability of the portable pellet
furnace heating apparatus 51 is provided by means of rollers 53,
mounted on roller brackets 53a as further illustrated in FIGS. 13
and 14.
[0061] Referring next to FIGS. 15-19 of the drawings, in another
embodiment of the invention the pellet furnace heating apparatus is
generally illustrated by reference numeral 101 and is particularly
suitable for burning corn kernels (not illustrated). In one
embodiment, the pellet furnace heating apparatus 101 includes a
base 107, on which is mounted a housing 106 provided with an upper,
pellet storage hopper 102, having a fuel support 7, and a lower,
blower compartment 105 which contains a burner air blower 115. The
interior of the pellet storage hopper 102 is typically accessed by
raising a hopper lid 103 on the pellet storage hopper 102, to
facilitate placing corn kernels (not illustrated) or other pellet
fuel into the pellet storage hopper 102. Alternatively, the pellet
storage hopper 102 may be fitted with a pellet access panel 4 (FIG.
13) to achieve the purpose. An upward-standing burner housing 108
having an upper housing opening 108a is provided on the base 107,
and the burner base 122 of a burner 121 rests on the base 107
inside a burner opening 109 of the burner housing 108. As
illustrated in FIGS. 16-19, the burner base 122 of the burner 121
typically supports a pilot housing 123 having a pilot housing
interior 124 (FIG. 17). A pilot valve 125 inside the pilot housing
interior 124 is connected to a burner fuel source (not illustrated)
through a fuel line 127 which extends from the pilot housing
interior 124 of the pilot housing 123. A combustion housing 130,
having a combustion housing interior 132 the bottom of which is
typically fitted with a dish-shaped or concave combustion dish 131,
is mounted on the pilot housing 123 and provided with multiple
flame openings 131a arranged in a selected pattern and spacing. As
illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 19, in one embodiment the combustion
dish 131 is fitted with a flare plate 128 disposed directly above
the bottom of the combustion dish 131, for purposes hereinafter
described. In another embodiment (not illustrated) of the pellet
furnace heating apparatus 101, the base 107 is omitted and the
housing 106, the burner base 122 of the burner 121, and the burner
housing 108 are supported on the ground or other supporting surface
(not illustrated).
[0062] As further illustrated in FIG. 15, the burner air blower 115
in the blower compartment 105 of the housing 106 is connected to
the pilot housing interior 124 of the burner 121 by means of a
burner air supply line 116, through a fitting 118 and a fitting
nipple 119 extending from the pilot housing 123. The burner air
supply line 116 is typically fitted with an air flow control valve
117 for controlling the flow rate of air through the burner air
supply line 116 as hereinafter described. As illustrated in FIG.
17, a flame guard 129 is typically provided on the pilot valve 125
to shield a flame 120, issuing from the pilot valve 125, from air
flowing into the pilot housing interior 124 through the fitting
nipple 119 of the burner air supply line 116. An auger feed tube 20
of a feed auger 19 angles upwardly from inside the pellet storage
hopper 102 and is fitted with a feed drop tube 23, typically having
an air purge 25 fitted with a purge air feed line 27, for
delivering by gravity the corn kernels or other feed (not
illustrated) from the auger feed tube 20 into the combustion dish
131 of the combustion housing 130 at a controlled rate, as
heretofore described. One or multiple pellet deflector plates 133
may be provided in the combustion housing interior 132 to ensure
deposit of the pellet fuel into the middle of the combustion dish
131 from the feed drop tube 113.
[0063] In typical operation of the pellet furnace heating apparatus
101, the corn kernels or other pellet fuel is delivered at a
controlled rate through the auger feed tube 20 of the feed auger 19
and onto the combustion dish 131 of the burner 121 through the feed
drop tube 23, and the flare plate 128 typically spreads the flame
120 generated by the pilot valve 125 outwardly to the flame
openings 131a in the combustion dish 131. As the corn kernels or
pellet fuel burns in the combustion housing interior 132, air
flowing from the burner air blower 115 and into the pilot housing
interior 124 through the burner air supply line 116 increases the
heat of combustion of the pellet fuel in the combustion housing
interior 132, as heretofore described. The heat generated by the
burning corn kernels or pellet fuel in the combustion dish 131
escapes from the combustion housing interior 132 and burner housing
108 through the housing opening 108a of the burner housing 108.
Referring again to FIG. 19 of the drawings, while the combustion
housing 130 may be removably mounted on the pilot housing 123 by
engaging combustion housing threads 130a with pilot housing threads
123a, it is understood that the combustion housing 130 may be
removably or fixedly mounted on the pilot housing 123 by any
suitable techniques known to those skilled in the art.
[0064] Referring next to FIGS. 20-22 of the drawings, in another
embodiment of the pellet furnace heating apparatus generally
illustrated by reference numeral 134, the pellet furnace heating
apparatus 101 heretofore described with respect to FIGS. 15-19 is
fitted with a flue pipe steam generator 135 for generating steam,
as hereinafter described. Accordingly, the burner housing 108 of
the pellet furnace heating apparatus 134 is provided with a top
plate 143 for supporting an upper, steam housing 138 of the flue
pipe steam generator 135. As illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22,
multiple, peripheral steam tubes 137 and a central steam tube 142
connect the steam housing 138 of the flue pipe steam generator 135
to a lower, water reservoir 136 which, as illustrated in FIG. 20,
is disposed just above the combustion housing 130 of the burner
121. A water conduit 139, typically fitted with one or multiple
water flow control valves 140, is connected to a water source (not
illustrated) and extends from fluid communication with the steam
housing 138. A steam conduit 141 further extends from the steam
housing 138 for conveying steam from the steam housing 138 to a
steam turbine (not illustrated) or other destination for use of the
steam, in operation of the pellet furnace heating apparatus 134 as
hereinafter described. Accordingly, in typical operation the water
reservoir 136 of the flue pipe steam generator 135 is initially
filled with water through the water conduit 139, by opening the
water flow control valve or valves 140. This facilitates flow of
water from the water conduit 139, through the steam housing 138,
steam tubes 137 and central steam tube 142 and into the water
reservoir 136. Upon subsequent operation of the burner 121, the
water contained in the water reservoir 136 is heated to a boil, and
steam rises upwardly from the water reservoir 136, through the
steam tubes 137 and central steam tube 142 and steam housing 138,
and through the steam conduit 141 to a steam turbine (not
illustrated) or other destination for use of the steam The water
reservoir 136 is filled with an additional supply of water, as
needed, by operation of the water flow control valves 140 on the
water conduit 139, as heretofore described.
[0065] In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a
cooker 75 is illustrated in FIGS. 23-27 of the drawings and a
pellet furnace heating apparatus 101 heretofore described with
respect to FIGS. 15-19 delivers cooking heat to the cooker 75. The
cooker 75 includes a typically cylindrical outer drum 76 and a
cylindrical inner drum 77, provided inside the outer drum 76 to
create a drum annulus 78 of selected size. A pair of annulus vents
79 are mounted on the outer drum 76 to facilitate removal of
combustion gases from the drum annulus 78, as hereinafter
described. The inner drum 77 defines a cooking chamber 80 which is
fitted with a cooking chamber vent 81. In one embodiment, multiple
rotisserie racks 82 are mounted on a motor shaft 73 which extends
between a pair of rotatable rotisserie wheels 82a at opposite ends
of the cooking chamber 80, and the motor shaft 73 is engaged by a
rotisserie motor 72 which is mounted on one end of the cooker 75,
as further illustrated in FIG. 25, and rotates the motor shaft 73
and the rotisserie racks 82 in the cooking chamber 80. In another
embodiment (not illustrated), one or multiple food support racks
(not illustrated) are mounted in the cooking chamber 80 in
conventional fashion. A cooker frame 83 supports the outer drum 76
and the inner drum 77, as well as a smoking chamber 88, as further
illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 25. The cooker frame 83 includes grip
arms 84 projecting from one end thereof, and a cooker door 85 is
fitted to the outer drum 76 and covers an opening that extends
through the inner drum 77 and accesses the cooking chamber 80 as it
mounts on a cooker door hinge 87, as illustrated in FIG. 23. A
cooker door handle 86 facilitates opening and closing of the cooker
door 85 on the cooker door hinge 87.
[0066] The smoking chamber 88 is fitted with a smoking chamber door
89, hinged to the smoking chamber 88 by means of a smoking chamber
door hinge 89a and fitted with a smoking chamber door handle 90,
for accessing the interior of the smoking chamber 88. An air vent
91 is provided in one end of the smoking chamber 88 to allow a
selected flow of air to enter the smoking chamber 88. The air vent
91 (FIG. 24) includes air vent openings 92 and corresponding
rotating air vent shutters 93 attached to a shutter pin 94 and
pivotally mounted on a pivot bolt 100, to facilitate opening and
closing the air vent openings 92 by manipulating the shutter pin 94
and rotating the air vent shutters 93 on the pivot bolt 100 to
align with or clear the air vent openings 92 and provide more or
less smoking action inside the smoking chamber 88. An accessory
platform 95 may also be provided on the cooker frame 83, and the
cooker 75 may be made portable by the addition of wheels 96 mounted
to a wheel axle 97. A smoking chamber vent 98 communicates between
the interior of the smoking chamber 88 and the cooking chamber 80
of the inner drum 77, to facilitate a flow of smoke from burning
fuel such as mesquite wood, hickory or the like, in the smoking
chamber 88, through the smoking chamber vent 98 into the cooking
chamber 80 to smoke the food 99 resting on the rotisserie rack or
racks 82. This smoke exits the cooking chamber 80 through the
cooking chamber vent 81.
[0067] The cooker 75 is connected to the burner housing 108 of the
pellet furnace heating apparatus 101 by means of a hot air conduit
165, one end of which is typically connected to a top plate 169 on
the upper end of the burner housing 108 and the other end of which
communicates with the drum annulus 78 at the bottom of the cooker
75, as illustrated in FIG. 27. In one embodiment of the invention,
a horizontal supporting segment 165a is provided in the hot air
conduit 165, and a hot plate 166, adapted for supporting a pan 168
or other cooking vessel, as further illustrated in FIG. 27, is
welded or otherwise fixedly or removably mounted on the upper
surface of the supporting segment 165a, and an upward-standing
flange 167 may be provided along the perimeter of the hot plate
166. In another embodiment of the invention, the hot plate 166 and
flange 167 are omitted, and a hot air conduit 165 of any desired
configuration connects the burner housing 108 of the pellet furnace
heating apparatus 101 to the cooker 75. In application, the corn
kernels or pellet fuel (not illustrated), delivered to the
combustion housing 130 of the burner 121 from the pellet storage
compartment 104 of the pellet storage hopper 102 through the auger
feed tube 20 and feed drop tube 23 of the feed auger 19, are burned
in the burner 121, generating a fire 11 which creates heat of
sufficient intensity to cook the food 99 inside the cooker 75 as
the hot combustion gases flow from the burner housing 108, through
the hot air conduit 165 and into the drum annulus 78 of the cooker
75. Smoke, heat and other products of combustion flow from the drum
annulus 78 and through the annulus vents 79 of the cooker 75.
Simultaneously, heat from the supporting segment 165a of the hot
air conduit 165 is conducted by the hot plate 166, which heats the
pan 168 and contents thereof. The rotisserie racks 82, supporting
the food 99 inside the cooking chamber 80 of the cooker 75, can be
rotated around the rotisserie shaft 73 inside the cooking chamber
80 by operation of the rotisserie motor 72, as desired.
[0068] Referring next to FIGS. 28-32 of the drawings, in still
another embodiment the pellet furnace heating apparatus of this
invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral 145 and
includes a housing 106 which contains a pellet storage hopper 102,
typically fitted with a hopper lid 103 or alternatively, a pellet
access panel 4 (FIG. 13), and a bottom blower compartment 105 which
contains a burner air blower 115, as heretofore described with
respect to the pellet furnace heating apparatus 101 in FIGS. 15-19.
The housing 106 is mounted along with an enclosure 148 on a base
146 typically provided with a pair of spaced-apart forklift
openings 146a, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.
As illustrated in FIG. 29, the enclosure 148 houses a burner
chamber 149 and a blower chamber 160, separated by a partition 152
having a partition opening 152a which establishes communication
between the burner chamber 149 and the blower chamber 160. An air
flow opening 150, selectively closed by a hinged door 151, is
provided in a rear enclosure panel 153 of the burner chamber 149 of
the pellet furnace heating apparatus 145. A burner 121, such as
that heretofore described with respect to FIGS. 15-19, rests on the
base 146 inside the burner chamber 149. Multiple closure panels 154
and a vent housing support panel 157 are mounted on the enclosure
148 typically by means of multiple bolts 158 threaded into
respective bolt openings 159 in the enclosure 148, which closure
panels 154 in combination with a vent housing support panel 157
close the blower chamber 160 of the enclosure 148. An air vent
housing 155, having a selected configuration and typically fitted
with multiple air vents 156, is mounted along with one or multiple
air distribution blowers 147 on the vent housing support panel 157,
which vent housing support panel 157 and air vent housing 155 can
be removably mounted at selected heights on the enclosure 148 for
purposes hereinafter described. In operation of the pellet furnace
heating apparatus 145, as illustrated in FIG. 29, combustion of
corn kernels or pellet fuel (not illustrated) in the burner 121
causes hot combustion gases to rise upwardly from the burner 121
into the burner chamber 149, such that air drawn into the burner
chamber 149 through the air flow opening 150 thereof is heated and
flows through the partition opening 152a in the partition 152, as
indicated by the arrows. The heated air is then drawn into the air
distribution blower or blowers 147 on the vent housing support
panel 157, and the air distribution blower or blowers 147 blow the
air through the air vents 156 of the air distribution blower or
blowers 147. It will be appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 31
that the vent housing support panel 157 and any one of the closure
panels 154 can be removed and interchanged in position on the
enclosure 148 to facilitate mounting the air vent housing 155 at a
selected height on the enclosure 148, as needed. Accordingly, the
pellet furnace heating apparatus 145 is particularly suitable for
heating the interior of poultry houses in cold weather, since the
pellet furnace heating apparatus 145 can be moved from one location
to another in the poultry house by extending the parallel
horizontal supports (not illustrated) of a forklift into the
respective forklift openings 146a in the base 146, and lifting and
moving the pellet furnace heating apparatus 145 using the forklift.
Moreover, the air vent housing 155 can be initially mounted at the
lowermost position on the enclosure 148 when the poultry (not
illustrated) are small, and gradually and progressively mounted in
the higher positions on the enclosure 148 in the manner heretofore
described as the poultry grow larger in size.
[0069] It will be appreciated from a consideration of the various
embodiments of the pellet furnace heating apparatus of this
invention that the pellet furnace heating apparatus can be utilized
in a variety of ways for many different applications involving
heating. Accordingly, while the pellet furnace heating apparatus 1
illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 is a typical application for homes,
offices and other structures, the application can be varied in such
aspects as whether or not heated air is to be vented directly into
the room in which the apparatus is located or into ductwork which
extends throughout the structure. Furthermore, the pellet furnace
heating apparatus can be constructed in various sizes, depending
upon the size of the room or area to be heated and the number of
people to be warmed. Additionally, the portable embodiments of the
pellet furnace heating apparatus can be moved to any desired
location and can be built to any desired size for the same
purpose.
[0070] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described above, it will be recognized and understood that various
modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims
are intended to cover all such modifications which may fill within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0071] Having described my invention with the particularity set
forth above, what is claimed is:
* * * * *