US2154939A - Fireplace furnace - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1939. F D. HOWE FIREPLACE FURNAC".

Filed June 20, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN OR. }77 Wk FIG.

April 18, 1939. D4 HOWE 2,154,939

FIREPLACE FURNACE Filed June 20, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

FIE. El

April 18, 1939. D, HOWE 2,154,939

FIREPLACE FURNACE Filed June 20, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 15955 FIEJE FIE-l7 I N VENTOR.

rm/q my Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 7 Claims.

This invention relates to furnaces of the flreplace type whereby a unitary construction is obtained which can be shop erected and installed as a complete, independent unit and in which numerous changes of exterior design can be easily made. It also includes features increasing efliciency and effectiveness.

Novel features are a framework to which the firebox is attached and by which it is supported and in which are provided recesses for decorative panels forming part of the casing of the hot air circulating passage. On this framework, or on the firebox, is mounted a frame carrying transparent material forming one wall of the firebox II and producing an open fire effect with the efficiency of a closed furnace. Two frameworks carrying the firebox between them will present two fireplace fronts in adjoining rooms.

The adjustable casing section for facilitating installation is also a novel feature.

In the drawings Fig. l is a front View of the framework with part of the casing.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line AYB' in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the firebox.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show methods of attaching side casings.

Fig. 6 shows an arrangement of front and side stack casings at front corners.

Figs. 7 and 8 show details of construction at hot air outlet.

Fig. 9 is a partial front view showing the 5 transparent panel and decorative panels.

Fig. 10 is a section on line G-H in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a section on line J--K in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 shows the frame for transparent material with hinges.

40 Fig. 13 shows, in section, a duplex construction.

Fig. 14 is a plan view in section showing the firebox extending through the framework and the glass panel frame hinged to the firebox.

45 Figs. l5, l6 and 17 are perspective views showing some of the forms which the exterior may be given.

The framework may take various forms to suit the general effect desired. A typical con- 50 struction, as shown, has end supports 2, 2, an upper cross member 3, a lower cross member 4, intermediate cross members 5 and 6 and vertical members I, 7. These members may be structural steel shapes as shown and are preferably 65 electrically welded into a unitary sub-assembly.

To complete the framework rear corner angles 3, 8 extend to the full height of the casing and are connected to the front section by members 9, 9 and l0, l0.

Members 9, 9 may be T sections having the 1 flange spaced apart from the connected members leaving a space to receive the side sheets of the casing. Angles H, H forming the front corners of the stack casing are preferably bolted to members 9, 9 to permit variations in casing type. ml They may be omitted as in Fig. 17 where the sheets are bent at the corners to form part of the front panel.

The back wall 38 of the casing may be attached to angles 8, 8 by round head rivets as -13 shown in Fig. 4 and the lower side sheet 32 flanged and perforated to register with the rivet heads when sprung over them to secure the casing sheet E5. The side casing may be extended to meet the room wall as in Figs. 5 and 11. The to stack casing front sheet 35 may be flanged as in Fig. 6 making, with angles H, I! a socket'for stack side casing l2.

Figs. '7 and 8 show this construction continued by wing pieces l3. Split tube l4 slipped over the 26 top of front sheet l5 makes a finish and radius member. The rear casing sheet 38 is continued in a forward curve to the outlet. The highest part of the casing must be below the ceiling to permit the furnace to be tipped into place and 30 an adjustable section I6 is used to close the gap.

The decorative panels can be given many forms. As shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 shallow pans 35 fit loosely in the recesses of the framework and tiles are cemented into these pans. 85 An angle I! or a curved angle It holds the upper edge of the panel and gravity and friction hold the lower edge permitting easy replacement. Other types of panel are shown in Figs. 14 and 1'7. 40

A gas burner 20 is indicated in Fig. 2 but the firebox 2| may be adapted to burn any kind of fuel. It is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 13 having flanges at the front by which it may be attached to the framework. The rear of the firebox is supported by fiat steel brackets 34 flexible in a horizontal direction and rigid vertically which are flanged for attachment to the casing rear sheet. This takes care of differential expansion of firebox and casing.

The duplex fire construction of Fig. 13 has the firebox attached to the framework at two fronts. Fig. 14 shows the firebox projecting through the framework and having the glass door 36 hinged to the firebox.

The stack 22, preferably rectangular and welded gas tight, may have its back wall curved forward at the top and projected beyond the front wall to join with the curved deflector 23 which extends the full width of the opening and is joined at its ends to the framework through wing pieces I3 thus establishing and maintaining the stack and framework in fixed unitary relation. The combination of curved surfaces guides the air to a downwardly directed outflow, avoiding blackening the ceiling and reducing stratification of air in the room.

Diagonal fins 24 guide the ascending air in a spiral and break up Stratification. Inside the stack are baffles 25 flanged for stiffness and spaced apart from the stack walls except at points of attachment. This construction induces turbulence and spreads the gas travel over the heating surface with no dead pockets or down currents.

A vent 26 is provided at any convenient point.

The transparent material, preferably pyrex or other heat proof glass, is best applied in strips with light metal channels binding the edges to hold the pieces in case of breakage. The fire will not break it.

It is evident that my invention produces a fireplace which can be shipped assembled or knocked down in easily assembled units and upon the skeleton framework a variety of casings may be mounted and easily interchanged, meeting a wide range of customer demand.

I claim:

1. In a fireplace furnace, a unitary structure comprising a framework, a casing member attached to said framework, a firebox attached to said framework and having supporting means upon said casing member, said supporting means being flexible horizontally and rigid vertically.

2. In a fireplace furnace, a firebox having a wall of transparent material, a stack extension of said firebox, a framework supporting said firebox and stack extension and defining therewith an air circulating passage partly surrounding said firebox and completely surrounding said stack and casing members applied to said framework to enclose said air passage.

3. In a fireplace furnace, a firebox having a front enclosed by transparent material, a stack extension of said firebox, a framework supporting said firebox and stack, and defining an air passage partly surrounding said firebox and completely surrounding said stack, the front part of that part of the framework and casing surrounding the stack being offset rearwardly from the front of the firebox.

4. In a fireplace furnace, a firebox having two transparent enclosing surfaces, a stack extension of said firebox, a unitary, skeleton framework entirely supporting said firebox and stack and joined thereto in unitary attachment, casing members mounted upon said framework and enclosing an air passage between said casing and said firebox and entirely surrounding the stack and an air inlet at the bottom and an outlet for heated air at the top of said air passage.

5. In a fireplace furnace, a framework havin openings and pockets or receptacles to receive panels forming a fireplace front, rear corner members 8,'side members 9 and I joining rear corner members: 1}- to the front framework, front corner members I I joined to members 9 at a point intermediate the ends thereof, all the aforesaid members being joined in a unitary framework, a firebox and stack extension thereof supported by said framework and casing members mounted upon said framework and producing the effect and appearance of a fireplace.

6. In a fireplace furnace, a framework having openings and pockets or receptacles to receive panels forming a fireplace front, a second framework in opposed, spaced relation to the aforesaid framework, a firebox having two open sides and two closed sides entirely supported upon both said frameworks and joined thereto in unitary relation, a stack extension of said firebox, a casing surrounding said stack in spaced relation thereto to provide an air circulating passage casing members in spaced relation to the closed sides of said firebox and forming therewith an air passage joining with said air passage around said stack and an air inlet at the bottom and an outlet for heated air at the top of the combined passage.

7. In a fireplace furnace, a firebox having a stack extension, a casing structure surroundin said stack in spaced relation thereto, an opening at the ,top of said casing for exit of heated air, a curved member 23, concave toward said opening and attached to said stack and, at each end, to said casing structure, the rear wall of said stack being curved forwardly and extended to form with member 23 a streamlined guide for the air.

FRANK D. HOWE.

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