Patent Publication Number: US-2022235939-A1

Title: Heating appliance

Description:
The present invention relates to a heating appliance, and, more particularly, to a heating appliance that can act as an outdoor heater or as an outdoor cooker. The heating appliance may thus be a cooking appliance. 
     An outdoor heating appliance has a fire-box with a fire door wherein the fire door is opened to place combustible fuel in the fire-box. The outdoor heating appliance also has a sealable top lid wherein the lid is opened and food placed on a grill above the fire-box is cooked directly by heat radiating from the fuel when it is combusting. When a person is using the heating appliance to cook food the heat radiating from the heating appliance may make it uncomfortable for the person to stand close to the grill. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating appliance to alleviate the above-mentioned problem. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a heating appliance comprising a main body having a fire-box with an opening for placing combustible fuel therein with which said heating appliance is used, a fire door for closing said opening, and a movable baffle, in which said baffle is placable in a first position in which it is disposed in a front part of said fire-box, it is behind said fire door, and it forms a shield for said combustible fuel. The heating appliance may include a food holding part above the fire-box, in which heat generated by the combustible fuel in use cooks food which is placed in or on the food holding part. Thus, a person cooking food in or on the food holding part is protected from heat from the fuel combusting by the baffle in the first position. The fire door may have a window. The window may comprise a pane. 
     The window may be translucent or transparent. The window may comprise glass. The baffle in the first position protects the window from fat/grease residue spitting from food cooking in or on the food holding part above. 
     The heating appliance may include a flue exhaust. The flue exhaust may be located above the fire-box. The flue exhaust may be above the food holding part. 
     The baffle may be movable between the first position and a second position. The baffle in the second position may be disposed in an upper or top part of the fire-box. The baffle may form a shield for combustible fuel beneath. The baffle may also be below the food holding part. When the baffle is in the second position at least some of the heat generated by the fuel combusting may be directed by the baffle through the window. A substantial amount of heat may be directed by the baffle through the window. The heat projected through the window by the baffle thus provides more heat in front of the heating appliance so that it can act as an outdoor or patio heater as well as an outdoor cooker. When the baffle is in the second position it blocks or contains fire from the combusting fuel creating a hotter fire when further fuel is added. The flue exhaust may be located substantially above the baffle when the baffle is in the second position. The baffle in the second position prevents flames from going directly up the flue exhaust. The baffle provides a tortuous route for products of combustion to travel as they have to pass in front of, and to each side of, the baffle before they exhaust through the flue exhaust. This enables the exhaust gases to dissipate much more of their heat before being vented through the flue exhaust, allowing for lower exhaust temperatures and providing greater efficiency. When the baffle is in the second position, the window may allow an attractive view of flames from combusting fuel to be seen. 
     The heating appliance may include at least one air inlet for supplying air to the inside of the fire-box for combusting the combustible fuel. The at least one air inlet may be located above the window. Air in the at least one air inlet may be heated by combusting fuel. The at least one air inlet may be located above the fire door or may be located in a top portion of the fire door. Thus, a flow of air past the window may be provided preventing the accumulation of soot and smoke stains on the window. When the baffle is in the second position it may deflect flames towards the front of the fire-box to engage and mix with air from the air inlet(s) which is drawn to the flames igniting volatiles and unburnt carbons or smoke emitting from the combusting fuel thus providing cleaner combustion and less impact on the environment. The heating appliance may include a control device for controlling supply of air through the at least one air inlet. 
     The heating appliance may include a lid to form a seal with the main body. The lid may be configured to cover the food holding part. The lid may include a thermometer. The thermometer enables the temperature inside the lid or in a top or upper part of the fire-box to be monitored to provide for optimum cooking performance when the lid is closed over the food holding part. The control device for controlling supply of air into the at least one air inlet can then be adjusted to control the cooking. The seal prevents ingress of air so that cooking temperature can be finitely controlled by the control device when the heating appliance is being used as a cooker. The seal preventing ingress of air also means that heat output can be finitely controlled when the heating appliance is being used as an outdoor heater. 
     The fire-box may be insulated. The insulation of the fire-box may comprise panels on the inside of the fire-box. The lid may be insulated. 
     The food holding part may comprise a food receiving member. The food holding part may be rotatably connected to the main body and be rotatable between first and second food holding part positions, wherein when the food holding part is in the first food holding part position the food receiving member is higher above or higher in relation to the fire-box than when the food holding part is in the second food holding part position. This enables different sizes of cooking products to be accommodated. When the food receiving member is in the first food holding part position, this allows easy access to and the cooking of small portions of food such as skewered kebabs, sausages and chicken breasts. If a large portion of food needs to be cooked such as a joint of meat or a whole chicken or, say, a loaf of bread needs to be cooked then the food receiving member is rotated to the second food holding part position to provide a greater depth for receiving the large portion of food. This also helps protect the inside of the lid from touching the food. When the food holding part is in the first food holding part position the food receiving member may be substantially at the top of the main body. The food receiving member may comprise a grill. The grill may comprise a searing plate such as a cast iron searing plate for cooking steaks. The combusting fuel beneath the grill can smoke the food thereon. A pizza stone may be supported by the food receiving member when the food holding part is in its second position so allowing the easy baking of pizza. 
     The baffle may be removable from the heating appliance. 
     The main body may be substantially cylindrical in shape and have a substantially vertical longitudinal axis. 
     When the baffle is in the second position, the baffle may be disposed at least partially to one side of the opening. The baffle may be rotatable substantially about the longitudinal axis between the first position and the second position. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a heating appliance comprising a main body having a fire-box with an opening for placing combustible fuel therein with which said heating appliance is used, and a food holding part rotatably connected to said main body above said fire-box, in which heat generated by said combustible fuel in use cooks food with which said heating appliance is used which is placed in or on said food holding part, said food holding part being rotatable between first and second positions, wherein when said food holding part is in said first position said food receiving member is higher above said fire-box than when said food holding part is in said second position. 
    
    
     
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a heating appliance according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the heating appliance with a lid and a fire door of the heating appliance omitted; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric sectional view taken along lines A-A of  FIG. 1  with the lid, fire door, a food holder and part of an air duct of the heating appliance omitted and showing a baffle of the heating appliance in a first position; 
         FIG. 4  is sectional view taken along lines A-A of  FIG. 1  including the lid, fire door and food holder; 
         FIG. 5  is a detail of an air duct shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a detail of a portion of the baffle and a bearing; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the heating appliance similar to  FIG. 2  with the food holder in process of being rotated towards a second position, and a flue exhaust of the heating appliance omitted; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the heating appliance similar to  FIG. 7  with the food holder in the second position; 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric sectional view similar to  FIG. 3  and showing the baffle in a second position; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view from above of a modified heating appliance showing the baffle in a first position; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 10  and showing the baffle in a second position; 
         FIG. 12  is a side sectional view of part of another modified heating appliance; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of another modified heating appliance. 
     
    
    
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 6  of the accompanying drawings, a solid fuel heating appliance or stove  1  has a cylindrical shaped main body  2 , a fire door  3 , a movable baffle  4 , a rotatable food holder  5 , a lid  6  and a flue exhaust  7 . 
     The cylindrically shaped main body  2  has a vertical longitudinal axis  8 . The main body  2  comprises a fire-box  9  with an opening  10  at its front for placing combustible solid fuel  11 , such as charcoal or logs of wood, inside a chamber  12  of the fire-box  9 , and the flue exhaust  7  extends from a rear of the main body  2  above the fire-box  9 . The fire door  3  is used to close the opening  10  and the fire door  3  has a glass window  13 . The main body  2  has a recessed flange  14  around the opening  10  which is configured to receive the fire door  3  when the fire door  3  is closed. A seal  37  such as a rope seal, which may comprise fibre-glass, is used to seal a gap between the main body  2  and the fire door  3  when the fire door  3  is closed. The seal  37  is attached to the door  3  but it could be attached to the flange  14 . The main body  2  has an air inlet, conduit or duct  15  extending from just above the opening  10  and around the back of a top portion of the flange  14  to supply air to the fire-box chamber  12 . A flat member  16  including a series of slots  17  extends across the air duct  15  below an entrance  18  to the air duct  15  in the main body  2  and above the flange  14 . A valve member  19  is mounted on top of the flat member  16  and the valve member  19  also includes a series of slots  20  which correspond to the series of slots  17  of the flat member  16 . The valve member  19  has a handle  21  to enable the valve member  19  to be slid relative to the flat member  16  wherein the flow of air into the fire-box  9  is controlled in relation to how the valve member slots  20  are aligned with flat member slots  17 . A deflector  22  is located at the exit of the air duct  15  behind the flange  14  and at the top of the opening  10 . Panels, such as vermiculite insulating panels or ceramic clay panels, may be used to line the interior of at least the fire-box  9 . A top of the cylindrical main body  2  has a fibrous seal  23 , such as a glass-fibre seal, along its circumference. 
     The baffle  4  has a curved shape to conform to the cylindrical shape of the main body  2 . The baffle  4  has a pair of side protrusions  24  for being received by bearings  25  extending inwardly from a main inside surface  36  of the main body  2  to enable the baffle  4  to rotate about the bearings  25 . Each baffle bearing  25  includes a U-shaped recess  26  for receiving the corresponding baffle side protrusion  24  so that the baffle  4  can be simply lifted up to become disengaged from the bearings  25 . 
     The food holder  5  has a cylindrical shape and has a circular plate  27  comprising a grill  28  for receiving food. A side wall  29  extends downwards from the circumference of the plate  27  and the side wall  29  has a pair of protrusions  30  for being received by bearings  31  extending inwardly from the main inside surface  36  of the main body  2 , the bearings  31  being located just beneath the top of the main body  2 . The food holder protrusions  30  enable the food holder  5  to rotate about the bearings  31 . Each food holder bearing  31  includes a U-shaped recess  32  for receiving the corresponding food holder protrusion  30  so that the food holder  5  can be simply lifted out of the main body  2 . 
     The lid  6  is dome shaped and is insulated. The lid  6  is on top of the main body  2  and is connected to the rear of the main body  2  by a hinged connection  33 . The lid  6  has a handle  34  at its front so that the lid  6  can be lifted open. When the lid  6  is closed it forms a seal with the fibrous seal  23  on the top of the main body  2 , covering the food holder  5 . The lid  6  includes a thermometer  35 , such as a dial thermometer, so that the temperature inside the lid  6  can be read. Alternatively, the thermometer may be fitted in a top or upper portion of the fire-box. 
     When the heating appliance  1  is to be used as an outdoor cooker, the baffle  12  is placed in the position shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 4  (a “second position” to be described later). Combustible fuel  11 , such as charcoal, is placed on the base of the fire-box chamber  12  and lit. The baffle  4  is then placed in a first position shown in solid line in  FIG. 4  in a front part of the fire-box  9  wherein a front of a top portion of the baffle  4  rests against the back of the air duct  15 . The fire door  3  is closed and the baffle  4  is disposed behind the closed fire door  3 . Food is placed on the grill  28  and the lid  6  is placed over the food holder  5 . A rim of the lid  6  engages the glass-fibre seal  23  on top of the main body  2  to form a seal with the main body  2 . A flow of air is supplied to the fire-box chamber  12  via the air duct  15  to enable the combustible fuel  11  to burn or combust. Air from the air duct  15  is directed by the deflector  22  so that it drops down behind the fire door  3  to prevent soot/tar and smoke stains from building up on the inside of the glass window  13 . The air enters a combustion zone just above the fire of the burning fuel  11  from below the baffle  4  and products of combustion pass through the flue exhaust  7 . The food on the grill  28  is consequently cooked directly by heat radiating from the fuel  11  beneath being combusted and is smoked. Food may be cooked at a temperature in the range of 100° C. to 285° C. The baffle  4  in the first position provides a shield to heat radiating from the combusting fuel  11 . The thermometer  35  can be checked to see the temperature of where the food is being cooked and the position of the valve member  19  can be adjusted if need be to control the supply of air into the chamber  12  and hence control the cooking. 
     In  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the food holder  5  is positioned so that the circular plate  27  is flush with the top of the main body  2  of the heating appliance  1 . If a large portion of food is to be cooked then the food holder  5  is rotated through 180° (see  FIG. 7 ) so that the circular plate  27  is below the top of the main body  2  (see  FIG. 8 ) providing a greater depth for receiving the food. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 9 , when the heating appliance  1  is to be used as an outdoor heater, the lid  6  is kept closed to prevent heat escaping from the top of the heating appliance  1  and to enable heat output to be controlled. The baffle  4  is rotated to the second position (shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 4 ) wherein the baffle  4  is in a top part of the fire-box  9  and below the food holder  5  and the flue exhaust  7 . The fire door  3  is opened to provide space for the baffle  4  to rotate. The baffle  4  is tilted slightly rearward to the horizontal and a rear of the baffle  4  rests against a rear of the fire-box chamber  12 . The baffle  4  may be made of steel and may be weighted so as to be easily rotated between the first position and the second position. Combustible fuel  11 , such as wood, is placed on the base of the fire-box chamber  12  and lit. Heat from the burning fuel  11  is directed by the baffle  4  through the window  13  of the door  3  to warm the area in front of the heating appliance  1 . Flames from the combusting fuel are deflected by the baffle  4  towards the front of the fire-box  9  to engage and mix with air from the air duct  15  wherein the air in the air duct  15  is heated by heat radiating from the combusting fuel  11 . This preheated air from the air duct  15  is drawn to the flames igniting volatiles and unburnt carbons emitting from the combusting fuel causing secondary combustion. This may take place at temperatures in the range of 600° C. to 700° C. Air from the air duct  15  is directed by the deflector  22  so that it drops down behind the fire door  3  to prevent soot/tar and smoke stains from building up on the inside of the glass window  13 . 
     Products of combustion have a tortuous route to the flue exhaust  7  as they have to pass in front of a gap between the baffle  4  and the air duct  15 , and to each side of the baffle  4 . Alternatively, the baffle  4  may be simply removed from the fire-box  9  when the heating appliance  1  is to be used as an outdoor heater. 
     An extension piece (not shown) may be attached to the end of the flue exhaust  7  to raise its height. 
     In a modification, the air inlet or duct is located in a top portion of the fire door of the heating appliance instead of above the opening. The heating appliance may also include a second air inlet or duct below the fire door. In another modification, the flue exhaust may be in the lid. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  both illustrate a section through a modified heating appliance  50 . A base of an inside of a fire-box  51  has a track  52  curved relative to a longitudinal axis  53  of the heating appliance  50 . The track  52  runs behind a fire-box opening  54  and to one side of the opening  54 . A baffle  55  comprising a curved plate is configured to be slid along the curved track  52  about the longitudinal axis  53  between a first positon and a second position. When the baffle  55  is in the first position the baffle  55  provides a shield to heat radiating from fuel combusting in the fire-box  51  and when the baffle  55  is in the second position the baffle  55  is to one side of the opening  54  enabling access to a chamber  56  of the fire-box  51 . 
     In another modification illustrated in  FIG. 12 , a grill  61  is supported by an annular recess  62  in a top of a main body  63  of a heating appliance  60 . The grill  61  has a baffle  64  attached to it that extends downward behind a closed fire door  65 . When the heating appliance  60  is to be used as an outdoor heater the grill  61  with the attached baffle  64  is simply lifted out of the main body  63 . 
     In another modification illustrated in  FIG. 13 , a heating appliance  70  is supported by a cylindrical column  71  extending from a stand  72 . A lower part of a rear of the heating appliance  70  is attached by a bracket  73  to the cylindrical column  71  and an upper part of the rear of the heating appliance  70  is attached to the cylindrical column  71  by a flue exhaust  74  of the heating appliance  70  wherein a distal upright portion  75  of the flue exhaust  74  forms an upper part of the cylindrical column  71 . 
     Whilst particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. The main body of the heating appliance may have a cuboid shape or any other suitable shape. The baffle may have any suitable shape and may comprise a substantially rectangular plate. 
     The heating appliance may include a grate at the base of the fire-box and an ashpan beneath.