Air filtration and sterilization system for a fireplace

• US 6,736,133 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hon. Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Butler, Gary Lee, Bachinski, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Basichas, Alfred
• Application Number:
  US10/119,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20030188736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 126/507, 126/521, 126/533
• US Class Current: 126/521
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/185 with air-handling means, heat exchange means, or additional provisions for convection heating with additional provisions for heating water F24B1/183; component parts or accessories having air-handling means, heat exchange means, or additional provisions for convection heating F24B1/191; Controlling combustion

Abstract

An air filtration and sterilization system for removing airborne contaminants from air circulated through an air plenum system of a fireplace. Air filtration systems may include particulate, chemical, and ion filtration systems to filter the air. Air sterilization may include ultraviolet, ozone, germicidal coating, and channeled system of ducts systems to sterilize the air. Systems may be used individually or in combination. In addition, optional components, including a warning sensor for indicating when to replace a filter, an automatic initiation sensor for activating and stopping filtration and sterilization, and an air enhancement system for introducing desirable materials into the air, may be provided.

Claims

1. A fireplace comprising:

a combustion chamber enclosure having at least top, bottom and rear panels and defining a combustion chamber for the combustion of fuel;

an outer enclosure including a plurality of panels that define an inner volume sized to receive the combustion chamber enclosure, the plurality of panels being positioned relative to the combustion chamber enclosure to form a plenum system defining an air passage around at least the top, bottom and rear panels of the combustion chamber enclosure, the air passage having an air intake below the bottom panel of the combustion chamber enclosure and an air exhaust above the combustion chamber enclosure;

a first air filtration system disposed within the plenum system and including a filter; and

a blower disposed within the plenum system to draw room air into the air passage through the air inlet and force air out of the air passage through the air exhaust, wherein the blower causes the room air to pass through the filter to remove airborne contaminants from the room air.

2. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the first air filtration system further includes a carbon filter positioned within the air passage.

3. The fireplace of claim 1, further including a second air filtration system disposed within the plenum system.

4. The fireplace of claim 3, wherein the second air filtration system includes an ion generator.

5. The fireplace of claim 3, wherein the first air filtration system is positioned at the air intake and the second air filtration system is positioned at the air exhaust.

6. The fireplace of claim 1, further comprising means for sterilizing the room air.

7. The fireplace of claim 1, further comprising means for warning an end of useful life for the filter.

8. A fireplace including an air filtration system, the fireplace comprising:

an enclosure defining a combustion chamber and including an outer surface;

a plenum system defining an air passage that extends round at least a portion of the enclosure outer surface, the plenum system including a lower plenum positioned below die combustion chamber in fluid communication with a room air intake, and an upper plenum positioned above the combustion chamber in fluid communication with a room air exhaust, the upper and lower plenums being in fluid communication with each other through the air passage;

a first filtration system disposed within the lower plenum adjacent the room air intake;

a second filtration system disposed within the upper plenum adjacent the room air exhaust; and

a blower disposed within the plenum system to move room air through the air passage, wherein the blower causes the room air to pass through the first and second filtration systems, and wherein the first and second filtration systems remove airborne contaminants from the air.

9. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the first filtration system includes a HEPA filter.

10. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the first filtration system includes carbon to remove airborne contaminants.

11. The fireplace of claim 8, further comprising a grill covering the room air intake defined by the plenum system, wherein the first filtration system is positioned adjacent the grill.

12. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the second filtration system includes an ion generator.

13. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the plenum system includes a channeled system of passages positioned above the enclosure to slow a flow of the air and allow heat to be transferred from the enclosure to the air flowing through the channeled system of passages, thereby sterilizing the air.

14. The fireplace of claim 8, further comprising means for sterilizing the air.

15. A fireplace including an air sterilization system, the fireplace comprising:

an enclosure defining a combustion chamber and including an outer surface;

a plenum system defining an air passage that extends around at least a portion of the enclosure outer surface, the plenum system including a lower plenum positioned below the combustion chamber in fluid communication with a room air intake, and an upper plenum positioned above the combustion chamber in fluid communication with a room air exhaust, the upper and lower plenums being in fluid communication with each other through the air passage;

a blower disposed within the plenum system to move room air through the air passage; and

an air sterilization system disposed within the air passage for sterilizing the air passing through the air passage.

16. The fireplace of claim 15, wherein the upper plenum defines a channeled system of passages, wherein the channeled system of passages slows the air as the air moves through the channeled system of passages, thereby hearing the air and sterilizing airborne contaminants contained in the air.

17. The fireplace of claim 15, wherein the air sterilization system includes an ultraviolet system disposed within the plenum system to sterilize the air in the air passage.

18. The fireplace of claim 15, further including means for filtering the air in the air passage.

19. The fireplace of claim 15, further comprising an automatic initiation sensor for automatically activating the air sterilization system.

20. A fireplace including an air filtration system and an air sterilization system, the fireplace comprising:

a combustion chamber enclosure having at least top, bottom and rear panels and defining a combustion chamber forte combustion of fuel;

an outer enclosure including a plurality of panels that define an inner volume sized to receive the combustion chamber enclosure, the plurality of panels being positioned relative to the combustion chamber enclosure to form a plenum system defining an air passage around at least the top, bottom and rear panels of the combustion chamber enclosure, the air passage having an air intake below the bottom panel of the combustion chamber enclosure and an air exhaust above the combustion chamber enclosure;

filtering means positioned in the plenum system and configured for filtering air circulated through the air passage; and

sterilizing means positioned in the plenum system and configured for sterilizing the air circulated through the air passage.