Patent Publication Number: US-7594506-B2

Title: Stove with door opening mechanism

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to the provisional application entitled “Stove Door Opening Apparatus” filed on Sep. 26, 2005 having the Provisional Application No. 60/720,415. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Large stoves such as outdoor wood furnaces are built to hold a large amount of fuel so they can operate for a relatively long time period without re-fueling. To operate one of these large furnaces, a door of the furnace must be first opened by hand and the wood or other combustible fuel must then be thrown in the combustion chamber of the furnace or stove. Once all the fuel has been placed in the stove the door must be closed. Placing of the fuel in the stove can take a great amount of effort and time. For example, with stove furnaces that are adapted to except large logs as fuel, the person fueling the stove has to be relatively strong to be able to throw in all the logs needed to fuel the stove. The same is true for the furnaces adapted to except corn, corn stocks, wood pellets and the like. In these types of stoves the fuel must be shoveled into the fuel chamber of the stove once the door has been opened. 
     For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a stove with a door that provides easy access to a fuel chamber for loading of fuel. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summaries are made by way of example and not by way of limitation. They are merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the invention. 
     In one embodiment, a stove is provided. The stove includes a stove housing, a stove door, a sensing device and an activation mechanism. The stove housing forms a fuel chamber. The stove door is pivotally coupled to the stove housing to provide access to the fuel chamber. The sensing device is adapted to sense a condition that indicates fuel is about to be placed in the fuel chamber. The activation mechanism is adapted to open the stove door in response to the sensing device sensing a condition that indicates fuel is about to be placed in the fuel chamber. 
     In another embodiment, another stove is provided. The stove includes a stove housing, a stove door and an activation plate. The stove housing encases a fuel chamber. The stove door is adapted to allow access to the fuel chamber. Moreover, the activation plate is coupled to the door. The activation plate is adapted to open the stove door when a select amount of weight is placed on the activation plate. 
     In still yet another embodiment, another stove is provided. The stove includes a stove housing, a stove door, a base, an activation plate and at least one connection mechanism. The stove housing encases a fuel chamber. The stove door is pivotally coupled to allow access to the fuel chamber. The activation plate is pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the base and activation plate form a ramp. In addition, the at least one connection mechanism is pivotally coupled between the stove door and the activation plate, wherein the stove door opens when the activation plate is rotated in relation to the base via the at least one connection mechanism. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the description and the following Figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  being loaded with fuel; 
         FIG. 3  is a right side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is still another embodiment of the present invention. 
       In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a stove that has a stove door that opens to a fuel chamber without the operator having to use his or her arms when loading fuel into the fuel chamber. In one embodiment, the stove door opens when a select pressure or weight is asserted on an activation plate that is pivotally connected to the stove door. In another embodiment, the stove door is designed to be opened when a vehicles wheel or wheels are driven upon the activation plate. In another embodiment, the stove door is designed to be opened when a condition indicates that fuel is about to be loaded into the stove. These embodiments as well as other embodiments are described below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a side perspective view of a stove  100  of one of embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, stove  100  includes a stove housing  102 , a stove door  108  and an activation plate  104 . The stove door  108  is movably (or pivotally) attached to the stove housing  102  via pivot  125 A. The stove door  108  is further movably coupled to the activation plate  104  via an activation mechanism (or a connection mechanism) made up of a first connection rod  106 A and a second connection rod  114 A. As illustrated, the first connection rod  106 A has a first end pivotally coupled to the stove door  108  via pivot  120 A and a second end pivotally coupled to a first end of the second connection rod  114 A via pivot  122 A. A second end of the second connection rod  114 A is pivotally coupled to the activation plate  104  via pivot  126 A. Moreover, the second connection rod  114 A is pivotally coupled to the stove housing  102  via pivot  124 A. The activation plate  104  is positioned near the ground in this embodiment. The stove door  108  opens when a weight is placed on the activation plate  104 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an exhaust port  116  that allows for the escape of the combustion fumes. Further illustrated are traction apertures  103  in the activation plate  104 . The traction apertures  103  provide added traction when a vehicle, person or other object is engaging the activation plate  104 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a side perspective view of stove  100  being supplied with fuel is provided. As illustrated, a front end loader  200  having a bucket  202  filled with fuel  202  is driven upon the activation plate  104 . In response to the activation plate  104  being depressed, the activation mechanism causes the stove door to open. In particular, the movement of the activation plate  104  causes the second connection rod  114 A of the activation mechanism to pivot about pivot  124 A. This causes the first connection rod  106 A to rise thereby lifting the stove door  108  off of the stove housing  102 . Once the stove door  108  is opened, the bucket  202  containing the fuel  204  is rotated to dump the fuel  204  into a fuel chamber  230  of the stove  100 . Any type of combustible fuel can be used in the stove  100  such as wood logs, wood pellets, corn, corn stalks and the like. In one embodiment, a gasket  206  is used to provide an air tight seal between the stove door  108  and the stove housing  102  when the stove door  108  is closed. The gasket  206  is made of a material with a high resistance to combustibility. That is, the gasket material will not burn up or break down when exposed to the heat generated by the stove  100 . 
     As discussed above, the stove door  108  remains closed when no pressure is asserted on the activation plate  104 . In particular, the weight of the door  108  keeps the door  108  closed and the activation plate  104  in a non-activated position when a weight exceeding a select amount is not on the activation plate  104 . The amount of weight needed to open the door  108  can be adjusted by changing the weight of the stove door  108  or the weight of the activation plate  104  in this embodiment. Hence, a stove door could be selected that was heavy enough so that a child could not open the door by stepping on the activation plate  104  but could be opened by an adult. Hence, this embodiment is not limited to a specific vehicle, object or person to open the stove door  108  but by a specific weight placed on the activation plate  104 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a right side view of the stove  100 . As illustrated, in this embodiment, a second activation mechanism comprising first connection rod  106 B and second connection rod  114 B is also used on the opposite side as the first activation mechanism. A first end of first connection rod  106 B is pivotally coupled to the stove door  108  via pivot  120 B and a second end of first connection rod  106 B is pivotally connected to a first end of second connecting rod  114 B by pivot  122 B. A second end of second connection rod  114 B is pivotally connected to the activation plate via pivot  126 B. Moreover, second connection rod  114 B is pivotally connected to the stove housing  102  via pivot  124 B. As further illustrated in this embodiment, the activation plate  104  is pivotally coupled to a base  306  via pivot  304 B. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the pivot could be a hinge or any type of connection that allows rotation and that the terms “pivot” and pivotally connected” refer generally to any type of connection that allows rotation. The activation plate  104  and base  306  form a ramp in this embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  also illustrates an auxiliary hand crank  302  that is movably connected to a secondary connection rod  303  to manually open the stove door  108 . This allows for an alternative method of opening the stove door  108 . It can also be used if the other mechanism provided to open the stove door  108  becomes inoperable. In one embodiment, a gear  307  of the hand crank  302  is engaged with receiving notches (not shown) on a surface  305  of the secondary connection rod  303  to move the secondary connection rod  303 . 
     A left side view of an embodiment of stove  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As illustrated, the activation plate  104  is pivotally connected to the base  306  via pivot connection  304 A. Also illustrated in  FIG. 4  is a control panel  401  that controls operations of the stove  100 . The control panel  104  in this embodiment includes a fire box entrance door  402 , a damper control  404 , a controller  406 , water controls  410  and a fan  408 . Among other functions, the fire box entrance  402  allows for the removal of ash and the like. The fan  408  and the damper control  104  are used to control the intensity of the burn in the fire chamber  230 . The controller  406  is electrically connected to the various devices, such as the fan  408  and damper control  404  to provide power and control the devices. In one embodiment, water controls  410  allows for a circulation of water or a mixture that includes water to pass through the stove housing  102 . This allows for heated water or mixture that includes water to be used as a source of heat. 
       FIG. 4 , also illustrates switch  420  that is in communication with the second connection rod  114 A. In particular, when the second connection rod  114 A is rotated, switch  420  is activated. Switch  420  is further in communication with the controller  406 . In response to the switch indicating the stove door  108  is opening, the controller  406  adjusts at least one of the damper  404  and the fan  408  to reduce the rate of combustion in the fuel chamber. Moreover, in response to the switch  420  indicating the stove door is closed, the controller  406  adjusts at least one of the damper  404  and the fan  408  to increase the rate of combustion in the fuel chamber. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , another embodiment of a stove  500  of the present invention is provided. As illustrated, this embodiment includes stove housing  502 , a holding bin  504 , a stove door  506  and an activation plate  508 . The stove door  506  in this embodiment encloses the holding bin  504  when in a closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated, the stove door  506  is pivotally connected to the holding bin  504  via pivot  520 . The stove door  506  is further connected to the activation plate  508  via first connection rods  514 A and  514 B. In regards to the view illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a second connection rod  516  connects the first connection rod  514 A to the activation plate  508 . In particular, a first end of the first connection rod  514 A is pivotally connected to the stove door  506  via pivot  522  and a second end of the first connection rod  514 A is pivotally connected to a first end of the second connection rod  516  via pivot  524 . A second end of the second connection rod  516  is pivotally connected to the activation plate  508  via pivot  528 . In addition, the second connection rod  516  is pivotally connected to a base  510  via pivot  526 . A similar connection mechanism that includes first connection rod  514 B is provided on the other side of the stove  500 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 5  is an exhaust port  512  to exhaust combustion fumes. 
       FIG. 6 , illustrates the stove door  506  of stove  500  being opened. As illustrated, in this embodiment a holding plate  602  that is coupled to the stove door  506  is designed to cover an opening  604  between the holding bin  504  and a fire chamber  606  when the stove door  506  is fully opened. This helps prevent fire and ashes from escaping from the fire chamber  606  when the door  506  is opened. Once the door is opened, the fuel is placed in the holding bin  504 . The fuel is held in the holding bin  504  by the holding plate  620  until the stove cover  506  is closed. In particular, as the stove door  506  closes, the fuel is released from the holding bin  504  into the fire chamber  606 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 6 , is a control panel  607  which includes a fire box entrance  608 , a damper control  610 , a fan  614 , controller  612  and water control  616 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , another embodiment of a stove  700  is provided. In this embodiment, the stove door  506  is opened from the holding bin  504  by a lifting device  704 . The activation mechanism includes lifting device  704  and a connecting rod  702  that is pivotally connected to the stove door  506  via pivot  708 . The lifting device  704  is designed to selectively move the connection rod  702  up and down. In one embodiment, the activation mechanism includes a lifting device  704  that is an electromechanical device, including but not limited to a solenoid, to accomplish the up and down movement of the connection rod  702 . In another embodiment, the activation mechanism includes a lifting device  704  that is a hydraulic system to accomplish the up and down movement of the connection rod  702 . Although, the lifting device  704  in this embodiment is shown as being coupled to a base  710 , other embodiments envision other placements, which include but are not limited to, a direct connection to the stove housing. 
     The lifting device  704  is activated when it receives an activation signal from a sensing device such as sensor  706 . The sensor  706  provides a signal when the sensor  706  senses a condition that indicates fuel is about to be added to the stove  700 . Different types of sensors are contemplated. For example, a weight sensor could be used. In another embodiment, a motion sensor is used. In other embodiments, a sensor that is designed to detect a designated signal is used. For example, the signal may be a signal from a remote garage door opener that has its signal programmed to be detected by the sensor  706  or the like. Moreover, in one embodiment a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag system is used such that when an active or passive RFID tag is detected near the sensor  706  the activation signal is generated to activated the lifting device  704 . In these embodiments, the lifting device  704  will only be activated to open the stove door  506  upon receiving an activation signal from the sensor  706 . In this manner only authorized user will be able to open the stove door  506 . 
     In one embodiment, the sensor  706  communicates with the lifting device  704  with a transmitter  707  in the sensor  706  and a receiver in the lifting device  704 . In one embodiment, the transmitter  707  is hard wired to the receiver  705 . In another device the transmitter  707  is wirelessly in communication with the receiver  705 . In another, embodiment, the controller  612  includes a receiver  611  that is in communication with the lifting mechanism  704 . In this embodiment, when an activation signal has been detected, the controller  612  adjusts the dampening control  610  and the fan  614  to reduce the combustion rate in the fire chamber  606  to reduce the possibility of flames escaping from the stove  700  when the door is opening. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.