DRAFT CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEATING SYSTEMS

• US 20080092872A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FPI Fireplace Products International, Ltd. (NIBE Industrier AB)
• Original Assignee: FPI Fireplace Products International, Ltd. (NIBE Industrier AB)
• Inventors: Little, Robert, Lau, George, Thurber, E.
• Application Number:
  US11/961,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20080092872A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/58
• CPC Class Codes: F23L 13/06 slidable only
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/38 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/06 at the air intake
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/10 power assisted, e.g. using electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 3/02 Regulating draught by direct pressure operation of single valves or dampers
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 3/042 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 3/06 by conjoint operation of two or more valves or dampers by power-assisted systems F23N3/08
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/003 using detectors sensitive to combustion gas properties F23N5/02, F23N5/18 - F23N5/26 take precedence

Abstract

A draft control system and method can provide for automated control of the air drafting for heating systems. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary draft control system comprises at least one draft plate and a draft plate control system. Draft plate control system can comprise a control unit, one or more input devices, and one or more actuation systems. During operation, the control unit can receive a signal from an input device and use the actuation system to automatically adjust the amount of air intake by controlling movement of one or more draft plates.

Claims

1. A draft control system configured for regulating heat within a heating system, said draft control system comprising:

a draft plate configured to control combustion airflow, said draft plate configured with an air opening for providing airflow into said heating system; and

a draft plate control system configured for automation of positional movement of said draft plate within said heating stove, said draft plate control system configured for receiving an input command signal and for actuating said draft plate to adjust said air opening.

2. The draft control system according to claim 1, wherein said draft plate control system comprises:

at least one input device configured for receiving an input command;

a control unit for assessing an input command signal from said at least one input device and for providing a control signal;

an actuation system configured for adjustment of said draft plate upon receiving said control signal.

3. The draft control system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one input device further comprises at least one sensor device configured in a closed control loop with said control unit to facilitate regulation of position of said draft plate.

4. The draft control system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one sensor device comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, an airflow sensor, a gas emission sensor, and a position sensor.

5. The draft control system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one input device comprises a remote control unit configured for receiving a plurality of input commands and providing a plurality of input command signals to said control unit.

6. The draft control system according to claim 2, wherein said control unit comprises a processor configured within an enclosure configured proximate to said heating system.

7. The draft control system according to claim 2, wherein said control unit is configured for control of a plurality of draft plates.

8. The draft control system according to claim 2, wherein said actuation system comprises:

at least one drive box configured to receive said control signal from said control unit;

at least one movement mechanism coupled to said at least one drive box; and

a linkage mechanism coupled between said at least one gear device and said draft plate.

9. The draft control system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one movement mechanism comprises at least one of gears, pulleys, sprockets and spools.

10. The draft control system according to claim 2, wherein said linkage system comprises at least one of cables, wires, chains and rods.

11. A draft plate control system configured for control of a draft plate within a heating system, said draft plate control system comprising:

at least one input device configured for receiving an input command;

a control unit configured for receiving a command signal from said at least one input device and for providing a control signal;

an actuation system configured for positional adjustment of the draft plate based on said control signal.

12. The draft plate control system according to claim 11, wherein said at least one input device further comprises a sensor device configured to facilitate positional regulation of said control unit.

13. The draft plate control system according to claim 12, wherein said at least one sensor device comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, an airflow sensor, a gas emissions sensor, and a position sensor.

14. The draft plate control system according to claim 11, wherein said at least one input device comprises a remote control unit configured for receiving a plurality of input commands and providing a plurality of input command signals to said control unit.

15. The draft plate control system according to claim 11, wherein said at least one input device comprises a local control pad configured for receiving a plurality of input commands and providing a plurality of input command signals to said control unit.

16. The draft plate control system according to claim 11, wherein said actuation system comprises:

a drive box configured to receive said control signal from said control unit;

at least one movement mechanism coupled to said drive box; and

a linkage mechanism coupled between said at least one movement mechanism and the draft plate.

17. The draft plate control system according to claim 16, wherein said linkage system comprises at least one of cables, wires, chains and rods.

18. The draft plate control system according to claim 11, wherein said draft plate control system further comprises a manual override system.

19. The draft plate control system according to claim 16, wherein said draft plate control system further comprises a manual override device, and said actuation system comprises a second linkage system coupled between said manual override device and a second movement mechanism coupled through a first linkage system to said draft plate.

20. The draft plate control system according to claim 11, wherein said draft plate control system further comprises an output device coupled to said control unit.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein receiving an input command comprises receiving said input command in an input device and providing an input command signal to a control unit.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein assessing said input command comprises assessing within said control unit and determining whether adjustment in position of said draft plate is needed.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said control unit is regulating position of said draft plate.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said control unit is receiving information from a feedback device configured within a closed-feedback loop.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein said actuating said draft plate comprises providing a control signal from said control unit to an actuation system linked to said draft plate.

21. A draft control method for controlling the airflow within a combustion heating system, wherein said method comprises:

receiving an input command corresponding to a heating parameter;

assessing said input command to determine whether adjustment in position of a draft plate is needed; and

adjusting said draft plate to a new position consistent with said heating parameter.

27. The method according to claim 21, wherein said method further comprises transmitting said input command from a remote control unit to an input device within a draft plate control system.

28. A heating stove for providing heat to an area, said heating stove comprising:

a firebox configured for combustion of fuel to generate heat;

at least one draft plate configured for adjusting an amount of airflow into said firebox; and

a draft plate control system configured for automated adjustment of said draft plate within said heating stove, said draft plate control system configured for receiving an input command signal and for actuating said draft plate to adjust said air opening based on said input command signal.

29. The heating stove according to claim 28, wherein said draft plate control system comprises:

at least one input device configured for receiving an input command;

a control unit for assessing an input command signal from said at least one input device and for providing a control signal;

an actuation system configured for adjustment of said draft plate upon receiving said control signal.

30. The heating stove according to claim 29, wherein said at least one input device further comprises at least one sensor device configured to facilitate regulation of position of said draft plate.

31. The heating stove according to claim 30, wherein said at least one sensor device comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, an airflow sensor, a gas emission sensor, and a position sensor.

32. The heating stove according to claim 29, wherein said at least one input device comprises a remote control unit configured for receiving a plurality of input commands and for providing a plurality of input command signals to said control unit.

33. The heating stove according to claim 29, wherein said control unit comprises a processor configured within an enclosure configured beneath an exhaust fume of the heating stove, said control unit is configured for control of a plurality of draft plates within said heating stove.

34. The heating stove according to claim 29, wherein said actuation system comprises:

at least one drive mechanism configured to receive said control signal from said control unit;

at least one movement mechanism coupled to said at least one drive box; and

a linkage mechanism coupled between said at least one gear device and said draft plate.

35. The heating stove according to claim 34, wherein said at least one movement mechanism comprises at least one of gears, pulleys, sprockets and spools.

36. The heating stove according to claim 34, wherein said linkage mechanism comprises at least one of cables, wires, chains and rods.

37. The heating stove according to claim 28, wherein said heating stove comprises a plurality of draft plates, each of said plurality of draft plates configured for automated adjustment from said draft plate control system without the need for an automatic level adjustment.

38. The heating stove according to claim 28, wherein said heating stove comprises a separate manual override system that can be disengaged from said at least one draft plate.

39. A method for draft control within a heating stove, said method comprising:

receiving a command requesting an adjustment to a heating parameter within said heating stove;

assessing whether an adjustment to at least one draft plate position is needed to meet said condition; and

automatically adjusting said at least one draft plate to achieve said heating parameter.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein said automatically adjusting comprises regulating position of said at least one draft plate through a closed-feedback loop.