Damper control device for outside applications

• US 6,915,799 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Effikal International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FLUE Sentinel Incorporated
• Inventors: Weiss, Cory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/730,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20040115578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 126/96, 126/512, 126/521, 126/531, 126/536, 431/20, 431/21, 454/16, 454/236
• US Class Current: 126/536
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/1895 flue-gas control dampers
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/122 on stoves

Abstract

A damper control device suitable for use in a fireplace comprises a flue, wherein products of combustion from the fireplace enter the flue, a damper positioned in a damper pipe which is connected to the flue, with the damper movable between open and closed positions, a motor having a shaft connected to the damper, and a control circuit which initiates combustion and which receives a damper signal which indicates whether the damper is in the open or closed position. In response to a request for heat, the control circuit initiates combustion after receiving the damper signal indicating that the damper is in the open position. The damper control device can also have a mounting ring extending generally perpendicularly form the damper pipe for connecting the damper pipe to the flue. For air-cooled flues, an adapter can be added to allow passage of air along the flue. A status module may be provided for operational or troubleshooting purposes.

Claims

1. A damper control device comprising, in combination:

a fireplace and a flue, wherein products of combustion from the fireplace enter the flue;

a damper positioned in a damper pipe operatively connected to the flue, wherein the damper is movable between a closed position where the damper pipe is blocked and an open position;

a motor having a rotatable shaft extending therefrom operatively connected to the damper; and

a control circuit which transmits a fireplace signal to open a gas valve to initiate combustion and to close a gas valve terminate combustion at the fireplace, and which receives a damper signal indicating whether the damper is in the closed position or the open position;

wherein when a fire is desired at the fireplace, the control circuit sends the fireplace signal to open the gas valve after receiving the damper signal indicating that the damper is in the open position; and

a status module comprising at least one indicator which indicates the status of whether the fireplace signal has been sent.

2. The damper control device of claim 1 wherein the fireplace is a gas fireplace and after the damper is in the open position the control circuit sends the fireplace signal to the fireplace to ignite gas at the gas fireplace.

3. The damper control device of claim 2 wherein the damper moves to the closed position at a predetermined time after the gas fireplace circuit has sent the fireplace signal to terminate combustion by shutting off the gas at the gas fireplace.

4. The damper control device of claim 1 wherein the damper is positioned near a top of the flue.

7. The damper control device of claim 1 wherein the control circuit sends a signal to hold the damper in the open position in response to predetermined criteria comprising at least one of heat, carbon dioxide concentration, and carbon monoxide concentration.

5. A damper control device comprising, in combination:

a fireplace and a flue, wherein products of combustion from the fireplace enter the flue;

a damper positioned in a damper pipe operatively connected to the flue, wherein the damper is movable between a closed position where the damper pipe is blocked and an open position;

a motor having a rotatable shaft extending therefrom operatively connected to the damper; and

a control circuit which transmits a fireplace signal to open a gas valve to initiate combustion and to close a gas valve terminate combustion at the fireplace, and which receives a damper signal indicating whether the damper is in the closed position or the open position;

wherein when a fire is desired at the fireplace, the control circuit sends the fireplace signal to open the gas valve after receiving the damper signal indicating that the damper is in the open position; and

a status module comprising a manually operated service switch to send a signal to hold the damper in the open position.

6. The damper control device of claim 5 wherein the status module has an indicator which indicates the status of one of:

whether the damper signal indicates the damper is in the open position or the closed position;

whether the fireplace signal has been sent; and

whether the damper control device has power.

8. A damper control device comprising, in combination:

a damper pipe adapted to be connected to a flue and receive products of combustion;

a damper positioned in the damper pipe and movable between a closed position and an open position;

a motor having a rotatable shaft extending therefrom operatively connected to the damper, wherein the motor is housed in a damper control box remote from the products of combustion;

a control circuit which controls the motor to rotate the shaft and in turn rotate the damper to the closed position and to the open position; and

a mounting member, wherein the mounting member is a plate extending generally perpendicularly from the damper pipe and is adapted to connect to a chimney.

9. The damper control device of claim 8 further comprising mounting brackets affixed to the mounting member and adapted to connect to the chimney.

10. The damper control device of claim 8 wherein a projection of the damper pipe extends past the mounting member and is adapted to enter the flue.

11. The damper control device of claim 8 wherein the shaft extends from the damper control box to the damper pipe and is at least partially enclosed by a shroud.

12. The damper control device of claim 11 wherein the shroud is provided with ventilating holes.

13. A damper control device comprising, in combination:

a damper pipe;

a damper positioned in the damper pipe and movable between a closed position and an open position;

a motor having a rotatable shaft extending therefrom operatively connected to the damper;

a control circuit which controls the motor to rotate the shaft and in turn rotate the damper to the closed position and to the open position; and

an adapter comprising an interior pipe and an exterior pipe connected to the interior pipe, with a first air passageway formed between the interior pipe and the exterior pipe and a second air passageway formed in the exterior pipe so that air can pass through the first and second air passageways and past the adapter;

wherein the interior pipe is connected to the damper pipe and adapted to be connected to an air-cooled flue.

14. The damper control device of claim 13 wherein the interior pipe is adapted to fit snugly inside the air-cooled flue.