Air filtration and sterilization system for a fireplace

• US 7,168,427 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Bachinski, Thomas J., Butler, Gary Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Basichas; Alfred
• Application Number:
  US10/848,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20050011512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 126/521.O, 126/507.X, 126/533, 126/500
• 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 including an air filter, the 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 enclosure to form a plenum defining an air passage that extends around an outer surface of at least the top, bottom and rear panels of the combustion chamber enclosure, the air passage having an air intake into the air passage and an air exhaust out of the air passage; and

a filter disposed within the air passage below the combustion chamber to limit the exposure of the filter to heat generated in the combustion chamber;

wherein the fireplace is configured for the flow of intake air into the air passage through the air inlet thereby causing the intake air to pass through the filter to remove airborne contaminants from the intake air, and is configured for exhausting the filtered intake air out of the air passage through the air exhaust.

2. The fireplace of claim 1, further comprising a blower configured to draw intake air into the air passage and force intake air out of the air passage.

3. The fireplace of claim 1, further comprising a sterilizer configured to sterilize the intake air in the air passage.

4. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the air passage is positioned outside of the combustion chamber.

5. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein air passage is configured and arranged to isolate air passing through the air passage from passing through the combustion chamber.

6. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber enclosure further includes a front panel, the front panel configured to prevent the flow of air into or out of the air passage from passing into the combustion chamber.

7. A method of filtering air using a heating appliance, the heating appliance including a combustion chamber enclosure, an outer enclosure, a filter, and an air plenum having an air intake and an air exhaust, the method comprising the steps of:

disposing the combustion chamber enclosure at least partially within the outer enclosure;

arranging the plenum between the combustion chamber enclosure and the outer enclosure with the air intake positioned vertically below the combustion chamber enclosure and the air exhaust positioned vertically above the combustion chamber enclosure;

disposing the filter within the plenum, the filter disposed on a heat shield placed between the combustion chamber and the filter to protect the filter from heat generated in the combustion chamber; and

drawing intake air into the plenum through the air intake, passing the intake air only through the plenum, and exhausting the intake air out of the plenum through the exhaust outlet, whereby the intake air is filtered by the filter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the heating appliance further includes a blower, and the method further comprises drawing in and exhausting intake air with the blower.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the heating appliance further includes an air sterilizer, and the method further includes positioning the air sterilizer within the plenum and sterilizing the intake air.

10. A method of filtering air in a heating appliance, the heating appliance including a combustion chamber enclosure, an outer enclosure, an air plenum, and a filter, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the combustion chamber enclosure at least partially within the outer enclosure;

positioning the plenum in its entirety between the combustion chamber enclosure and the outer enclosure;

positioning the filter within the plenum and spaced vertically below the combustion chamber to limit the exposure of the filter to heat generated in the combustion chamber;

drawing air into the plenum as intake air; and

moving the intake air through the filter thereby filtering the intake air.

11. A fireplace including an air filter, the fireplace comprising:

a combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber for the combustion of fuel;

an outer enclosure defining an inner volume sized to receive the combustion chamber enclosure;

a plenum disposed in its entirety between the combustion chamber enclosure and the outer enclosure and defining an airflow path; and

a filter disposed within the plenum at a position along the airflow path between inlet and outlets to the plenum, wherein the inlet and outlets to the plenum are fluidly separated from the combustion chamber;

a heat shield placed between the combustion chamber and the filter, wherein the heat shield protects the filter from heat generated in the combustion chamber;

wherein the fireplace is configured to draw air into the plenum as intake air, move intake air through the filter to filter the intake air, and exhaust the filtered air out of the plenum.

12. The fireplace of claim 11, further comprising a front panel mounted to a vertically oriented front surface of the combustion chamber enclosure, wherein the front panel comprises a transparent material that provides viewing into the combustion chamber, and the front panel prevent fluids within the combustion chamber from entering into the plenum.

13. A heating appliance, 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 enclosure to form a plenum 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 into the plenum that is positioned vertically below the bottom panel and an air exhaust out of the plenum that is positioned vertically above the top panel;

a sterilization system disposed within the air passage; and

a blower disposed in the plenum below the bottom panel, the blower being configured to draw intake air into the air passage through the air intake and force air out of the air passage through the air exhaust;

wherein when air moving through the air passage from the air inlet to the air exhaust passes through the sterilization system, the sterilization system incapacitates airborne contaminants in the air.

14. The fireplace of claim 13 further comprising a secondary air path disposed within the plenum, the secondary air path comprising at least one air duct wherein air is drawn into the at least one air duct by at least one blower, the sterilization system disposed within the at least one air duct.