Multi-function remote control system for gas fireplace

• US 5,450,841 A
• Filed: 05/18/1993
• Issued: 09/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GMI Holdings Incorporated (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: GMI Holdings Incorporated (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Waggamon, Dennis W., Whitaker, Louis G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Carl D.
• Application Number:
  US08/063,286
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 126/512, 126/504, 126/536, 126/537, 126/538, 126/539, 236/51
• US Class Current: 126/512
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 1/005 using electrical or electromechanical means F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/08 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/38 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2227/22 Pilot burners
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2233/04 with variable speed
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/04 in stacks
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/14 electromagnetically operated
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/16 variable flow or proportional valves
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/18 Groups of two or more valves
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2241/02 Space-heating
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/10 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/006 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/122 on stoves

Abstract

A control unit remotely operates several different functions of a gas fireplace. The functions include ignition of a fire, control of flame height, blower control, and damper control. An RF or IR transmitter has several different switches corresponding to desired operations to be performed. Each switch or combination of switches sends different coded signals to a receiver in the control unit. The control unit operates a gas valve and an ignitor to start the fire in response to a start signal. The gas valve is further controlled to vary the height of the flame or extinguish the flame in response to corresponding signals. The blower, damper and other functions can be controlled in response to other signals.

Claims

1. A gas fireplace assembly, which comprises:

a decorative fireplace, comprising

a grate, and

a decorative log resting on the grate;

a supply for providing gas to the fireplace;

a burner connected to the supply adjacent to the log to produce a flame when ignited creating a simulated wood flame;

first valve means for starting and stopping gas flow to the fireplace;

an ignitor for igniting gas flowing to the fireplace from the valve means;

second valve means for controlling the height of the simulated wood frame in the fireplace;

a multi-speed blower for controlling flow of air drawn in to the fireplace and flow of air heated by the burner from the fireplace;

a controller operatively connected to the first valve means and the ignitor and connected to the second valve means and connected to the blower; and

a remote control system which comprises

a transmitter remote from the fireplace for generating first and second and third coded signals and for wireless transmitting of the coded signals, and

a receiver connected to the controller for wireless receipt of the first and second and third coded signals from the transmitter, the controller connected to the receiver, the controller responsive to the receipt of the first coded signal to operate the valve means to permit gas to flow into the fireplace and to operate the ignitor to ignite the gas, the controller responsive to the receipt of a second coded signal to adjust the height of the flame in the fireplace, the controller responsive to the receipt of the third coded signal to control the blower to regulate air flow to and from the fireplace.

2. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controller is also responsive to the receipt of the first coded signal to stop tile gas flow to the fireplace.

3. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flame sensor connected to the controller for sensing the presence of a flame ill the fireplace, the controller operating the valve means and the ignitor responsive to conditions sensed by tile flame sensor.

4. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the coded signals and the receiver receives the coded signals by radio frequency transmission.

5. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 1, wherein tile transmitter is all integrated, portable unit.

6. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of switches adapted to select a coded signal to be transmitted.

7. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of switches are pushbuttons.

8. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter also generates a fourth coded signal and the receiver receives the fourth coded signal, and wherein tile controller is responsive to the receipt of tile fourth coded signal to control an additional function of tile fireplace.

9. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 8, wherein the controller is responsive to the receipt of the first coded signal to start the gas flow to the fireplace, and the controller is responsive to the receipt of the fourth coded signal to stop the gas flow to the fireplace.

15. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of switches are pushbuttons.

10. A gas fireplace assembly, which comprises:

a decorative fireplace, comprising

a grate, and

a decorative log resting on the grate;

a supply for providing gas to the fireplace;

a burner connected to the supply adjacent to the log to produce a flame when ignited creating a simulated wood frame in the fireplace;

a first valve to start and stop gas flow to the fireplace;

an ignitor located in the fireplace to ignite gas in the fireplace;

a second valve to adjust the height of the flame in the fireplace;

a multi-speed blower for controlling flow of air drawn into the fireplace and flow of air heated by the burner from the fireplace;

a controller to control the first valve and the ignitor and the second valve and the blower; and

a remote control system which comprises

a receiver connected to the controller for receipt of first and second and third coded signals, the controller connected to the receiver and responsive to the receipt of the first coded signal to operate the valve to start or stop gas flow to the fireplace and to operate the ignitor to ignite the gas, the controller responsive to the receipt of a second coded signal to operate the second valve to adjust the height of the time, the controller responsive to the receipt of a third coded signal to control the blower to regulate air flow to and from the fireplace, and

a transmitter remote from the fireplace for generating first and second and third coded signals and for transmitting the coded signals by wireless means to the receiver.

11. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first coded signal comprises two different signals, one signal to start the flow of gas by the first valve and the other signal to stop the flow of gas by first valve.

12. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 10, wherein the transmitter transmits the coded signals and the receiver receives tile coded signals by radio frequency transmission.

13. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 10, wherein tile transmitter is an integrated, portable unit.

14. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 13, wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of switches adapted to select a coded signal to be transmitted.

16. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 10, wherein the transmitter also generates and transmits a fourth coded signal, and wherein the receiver is connected to the controller for receipt of the fourth coded signal and the controller is responsive to the receipt of the fourth coded signal to control an additional function of the fireplace.

17. A gas fireplace assembly according to claim 16, wherein the controller is responsive to the receipt of the first coded signal to start the gas flow to the fireplace, and the controller is responsive to the receipt of the fourth coded signal to stop the gas flow to the fireplace.

18. A gas fireplace assembly, comprising:

a decorative fireplace, comprising

a grate, and

a decorative log resting on the grate;

a supply for providing gas to the fireplace;

a burner connected to the supply adjacent to the log to produce a flame when ignited creating a simulated wood time;

first valve means for starting and stopping gas flow to the burner;

an ignitor for igniting gas flowing to the burner from the valve means;

second valve means for controlling the height of the flame;

a blower for controlling flow of air drawn into the fireplace and flow of air heated by the burner from the fireplace;

a motor-operated flue damper for opening and closing the exhaust flue from the fireplace,

a controller operatively connected to the first valve means and the ignitor and connected to the second valve means and connected to the blower and operatively connected to the flue damper; and

a remote control system which comprises

a transmitter remote from the fireplace for generating first and second and third and fourth coded signals and for wireless transmitting of the coded signals, and

a receiver connected to the controller for wireless receipt of the first and second and third and fourth coded signals from the transmitter, the controller connected to the receiver, the controller responsive to the receipt of the first coded signal to operate the valve means to permit gas to flow to the burner and to operate the ignitor to ignite the gas, the controller responsive to the receipt of a second coded signal to adjust the height of the time, the controller responsive to the receipt of the third coded signal to operate the blower to control air flow to and from the fireplace, the controller responsive to the receipt of the fourth coded signal to operate the flue damper to open and close the exhaust flue.

19. A gas fireplace assembly, which comprises:

a decorative fireplace, comprising

a grate, and

a decorative log resting on the grate;

a supply for providing gas to the fireplace;

a burner connected to the supply adjacent to the log to produce a flame when ignited creating a simulated wood flame;

a first valve to start and stop gas flow to the burner;

an ignitor located at the burner to ignite gas at the burner;

a second valve to adjust the height of the time;

a blower for controlling flow of air drawn to the fireplace and flow of air heated by the burner from the fireplace;

a motor-operated flue damper for opening and closing the exhaust flue from the fireplace;

a controller to control the first valve and the ignitor and the second valve and the blower; and

a remote control system which comprises

a receiver connected to the controller for receipt of first and second and third and fourth coded signals, the controller connected to the receiver and responsive to the receipt of the first coded signal to operate the valve to start or stop gas flow to the burner and to operate the ignitor to ignite the gas, the controller responsive to the receipt of a second coded signal to operate the second valve to adjust the height of the time, the controller responsive to the receipt of a third coded signal to operate the blower, the controller responsive to the receipt of a fourth coded signal to operate the flue damper to open and close the exhaust flue; and

a transmitter remote from the fireplace for generating first and second and third and fourth coded signals and for transmitting the coded signals by wireless means to the receiver.