Device to light fireplaces

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a device to light a fuel, for example pieces of wood, in a fireplace by means of the automatic kindling generated by sending a suitably heated flow of air to said fuel.

The device according to the invention is suitable to send, advantageously by remote control, a flow of hot air to the fuel until it generates a flame which then kindles the combustion.

The flow of hot air is produced, for example, by fan means which can be activated by remote control, for example by means of an electronic unit, or is activated by means of a telecontrol or a cell phone.

The invention further provides that a primary fuel of a fireplace, for example pieces of wood, is ignited from a distance by means of the kindling generated by igniting an easily flammable second fuel, for example pellets, fragments of wood, flammable blocks, or other easily kindled fuel, arranged in an adjacent position, advantageously below, the primary fuel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, lighting wood in a fireplace takes a long time and involves operating difficulties which, especially for the least expert, can lead to risks of burns and small accidents.

It is also well known that the flames from the fireplace take such a long time to heat the surrounding space that, from the moment the fire is lit, there is a prolonged waiting time before acceptable and comfortable conditions are obtained.

US-A-2.192.732, GB-A-2.241.323 and GB-A-2.062.824 all disclose methods and devices for igniting a solid fuel using a flow of hot air directed towards the fuel. However, GB'323 refers to a device for igniting coal in a boiler, GB'323 refers to a device for igniting coal located onto a grate, US'732 refers to a device for igniting a fuel by contact with a tubular sheath which surrounds an electric heater coil, or by direct contact with the coil. Moreover, none of these documents discloses a device for igniting a fuel in a fireplace in which a first fuel, like pieces of wood, is ignited by firstly igniting a second, or kindling, fuel of an easily-inflammable type with a flow of hot air. Further, these documents disclose devices which are removable and separate from the structure of the heaters and not embodied in the relative structures. These documents do not disclose neither to use some kind of remote controls to start automatically the ignition process.

The present Applicant is not aware of automated systems for lighting, also by remote control, the wood which are embodied in fireplaces of a traditional type and has devised and embodied this invention to overcome the shortcomings stated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other innovative characteristics of the invention.

The purpose of the invention is to achieve a device for lighting fuel in a fireplace by means of which it is possible to light the fire both from a place distant from the fireplace itself, and also at desired times and in a desired manner, so as to be able to start heating the surrounding space at a desired time before homecoming and prevent risks of accidents and operating difficulties. Another purpose is to achieve a remote lighting device embodied in fireplaces which is simple, economical, low in consumption and safe and reliable in functioning.

In accordance with these purposes, a device according to the invention to light fuel in a fireplace, comprises means able to selectively send, for a set time, a flow of suitably heated air to said fuel until it is ignited. The means to send the air are able to operate, in a first embodiment, by blowing the air, whereas according to a variant they operate by sucking in the air.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises means to contain a second fuel, which functions as a kindling element, arranged in a position adjacent to the primary fuel and associated with the means to introduce the heated air.

The kindling fuel is of a type which is easily flammable with heat, such as for example pellets, that is, chips made of pressed wood residue, while the primary fuel consists for example of wood pieces, logs or similar, to ensure a prolonged combustion.

It comes within the field of the invention that wood shavings, flammable blocks or otherwise, both natural and artificial, can be used as a second fuel for kindling.

The containing means comprise, for example, a brazier or similar, arranged in a position cooperating with the base of the fireplace and advantageously directly below the primary fuel. The latter, in turn, rests on its own containing means, such as for example a grill, a brazier, a tray or suchlike, which advantageously hold it raised above the kindling fuel.

In a preferential embodiment, the means to send air comprise a conduit embodied in the structure of the fireplace and associated with fan means, which take in air from the outside and send it towards the fuel, and heating means, for example an electric resistance, able to heat the air to a temperature sufficient to cause the kindling fuel to ignite, when the air is delivered towards it. According to the invention, the air is taken to a temperature of at least 250°C, advantageously 300-350°C.

The temperature to which the air to be sent to the fuel is taken depends on the type of fuel which has to be ignited. The time for which the fan means are activated also varies according to the type of fuel which has to be ignited.

According to a variant, the outlet end of the conduit comprises conveyor means, for example a nozzle or similar, directed towards the fuel to be ignited in order to suitably direct the flow of air and to improve the efficiency of ignition. According to another variant, the heating means are arranged in a position near the outlet of the conduit, so that the air hits the fuel substantially at its maximum temperature.

In a preferential embodiment, the heating means, for example an electric resistance, are arranged inside the conduit along the path of the flow of air. According to a variant, the heating means are located in suitable fashion outside and around the conduit, in order to obtain in any case an air temperature sufficient to ignite the fuel.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises remote control means suitable to selectively activate the ignition means, so as to be able to light the fireplace even from a distant place and in advance of the expected time of use.

In a first embodiment, the remote control means comprise an electronic unit including at least control means, such as keys, buttons or similar, to send the impulse to activate the ignition device and, in particular, to activate the fan means and the heating means, according to a pre-determined sequence and times.

According to a variant, the electronic unit is equipped with a programmable timer by means of which a time and/or a date can be set for the automatic ignition of the fireplace, by activating the fan means and the heating means for the time needed to cause the flame of the fuel to be kindled.

According to another variant, the remote control means comprise means to transmit radio and/or infra-red signals, such as for example a cell phone or a telecontrol, able to send activation impulses to a control unit which, according to said impulses, activates the fan and heating means to kindle the flame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

• fig. 1 is a front view of a fireplace comprising an ignition device according to the invention;
• fig. 2 is an enlarged and part section of a fireplace comprising an ignition device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERENTIAL EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, a device 10 for the remote ignition of a fuel 11, such as for example pieces of wood, is embodied in a fireplace 12 comprising a combustion chamber defined at the bottom by a bottom wall 26. On the bottom wall 26 there is a cavity 15 in which a plate 14 is inserted to collect the ashes of combustion.

The following description illustrates the case wherein the wood 11 is ignited by means of a kindling fuel, or secondary fuel, which in this case consists of pellets 25. However, the teaching of the invention can be transferred, substantially in the same way, to the case where ignition occurs by means by means of ignition of a kindling fuel, both natural and artificial, other than the pellet 25.

In the case shown here, above the collection plate 14 there is a reticular tray 18 supporting a brazier 23 for pellets 25, advantageously small size. Above the brazier 23 there is a grill 24 on which the pieces of wood 11, or other fuel able to ensure prolonged combustion, is positioned. The grill 24 rests on the bottom wall 26 of the fireplace 12 in such a manner as to position the pieces of wood 11 in a position adjacent and above the brazier 23 containing the pellets 25.

The ignition device 10 comprises a conduit 28 able to allow the selective introduction of comburent air to the pellets 25 contained in the brazier 23. In this case, and only to give an example, the upper end of the conduit 28 comprises a beak or nozzle 30 bent forwards towards the brazier 23 to convey the comburent air directly into the latter.

It comes within the field of the invention that the nozzle 30 is not included and that the conduit 28 opens directly into the combustion chamber of the fireplace 12, directing the air, for example from below, towards the pellets 25.

The lower end of the conduit 28 is associated with a fan 32, which sucks in air from the outside and blows it, through the conduit 28, towards the brazier 23. It comes within the field of the invention that the air, instead of being blown by the fan 32, is sucked in by a fan and made to pass through the fuel to be ignited.

The conduit 28 is also provided inside with an ohmic resistance 36 which can be selectively activated to instantaneously heat the air passing through and take it to a temperature, for example at least 250°C, such as to ignite the pellet 25, which in turn kindles the combustion of the pieces of wood 11. The ohmic resistance 36 is advantageously arranged near the outlet of the conduit 28, so as to exploit to the utmost the heating generated by the resistance 36 and prevent the air temperature from being reduced before coming into contact with the pellet 25. This allows to reduce the power needed to feed the resistance 36, and also the activation time both of the fan 32 and the resistance 36 itself.

The ohmic resistance 36 and the fan 32 can be selectively activated, in this case, by means of a control unit 44.

The device 10 also comprises an electronic unit 46 (fig. 1), for example of the programmable type, and connected to the control unit 44 to activate the ignition of the fan 32 and of the resistance 36. The electronic unit 46 in turn comprises a programmable microprocessor provided at least with an electronic timer, not shown in the drawings, and a control panel 50, provided with a keyboard 51 and a display 54. A timetable for the ignition of the fireplace 12, and possibly the duration of the time for which the ohmic resistance 36 and the fan 32 are activated, can be memorized in the timer, so as to ensure a safe ignition of the pellets 25 and kindling of the wood 11.

According to a variant, the control unit 44 is able to be activated directly by means of a manual actuation key 56, located on the electronic unit 46, to send an on-off command to the ignition device 10 according to a pre-set sequence and times. According to another variant, in the combustion chamber 16 there is a temperature sensor 58 (fig. 2) connected to the control unit 44 and able to detect that the combustion of the pieces of wood 11 has been started, in order to send a command to the electronic unit 46 to automatically de-activate the fan 32 and the resistance 36.

According to another variant which is not shown here, there is an optical-type sensor in the combustion chamber 16 which detects the presence of the flame and sends a command to de-activate the fan 32 and the resistance 36 to the electronic unit 46.

It comes within the field of the invention that other types of suitable sensors can be used to detect the presence of the flame and the consequent de-activation of the ignition device 10.

In a further variant, the device 10 comprises remote activation means, consisting of a telecontrol 60 able to send an ignition signal to the control unit 46 to activate the functioning of the fan 32 and of the resistance 36. The unit 46, in this case, is provided with an antenna 61 to receive the signal sent by the telecontrol 60.

According to another variant, the remote control means comprise a cell phone 62, or other similar transmission apparatus, able to send an ignition signal to the unit 46, to activate the fan 32 and the resistance 36 and hence to ignite the fireplace 12 from a distance and when necessary. The unit 46 can be provided, in this case, either with an interface connection via cable to communicate with the cell phone 62, or with its own communication system.

Modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the device 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.