Pellet furnace heating apparatus

Abstract

A pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel, which pellet furnace heating apparatus in one embodiment includes an enclosure which houses a furnace. A furnace air blower is provided in air communication with the furnace for blowing the burning fuel and increasing heat in the furnace. A hopper is provided for containing the solid fuel, and a fuel delivery mechanism connects the hopper and the furnace for delivering the solid fuel to the furnace. In another embodiment, the pellet furnace heating apparatus includes a burner having a pilot housing and a combustion housing. A fuel delivery mechanism connects a hopper containing the solid fuel with the combustion housing of the burner for delivering the solid fuel to the burner. A furnace air blower is provided in air communication with the pilot housing of the burner for blowing the burning fuel and increasing the heat in the burner.

1 . A pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel, said pellet furnace heating apparatus comprising: 
 an enclosure;    a furnace provided in said enclosure;    a furnace air blower provided in air communication with said furnace;    a hopper for containing the solid fuel; and    a fuel delivery mechanism connecting said hopper and said furnace for delivering the solid fuel to said furnace.    
     
     
         2 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.  
     
     
         3 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 1  comprising at least one hot air circulation blower provided in air communication with said enclosure for circulating air in said enclosure.  
     
     
         4 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.  
     
     
         5 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 1  comprising at least one grille opening provided in said enclosure and at least one grille covering said at least one grille opening, respectively.  
     
     
         6 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.  
     
     
         7 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 5  comprising at least one hot air circulation blower provided in air communication with said enclosure for circulating air in said enclosure.  
     
     
         8 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.  
     
     
         9 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 3  comprising a plurality of baffles provided between said furnace and said enclosure for facilitating heat exchange in said enclosure.  
     
     
         10 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.  
     
     
         11 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 9  comprising at least one grille opening provided in said enclosure and at least one grille covering said at least one grille opening, respectively.  
     
     
         12 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.  
     
     
         13 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a flue pipe extending from said furnace and said enclosure and a flue pipe heat exchanger provided on said flue pipe for heating air flowing through said flue pipe heat exchanger.  
     
     
         14 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.  
     
     
         15 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 13  comprising at least one grille opening provided in said enclosure and at least one grille covering said at least one grille opening, respectively.  
     
     
         16 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the solid fuel from said auger feed tube into said furnace.  
     
     
         17 . A pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel, said pellet furnace heating apparatus comprising: 
 an enclosure;    a furnace provided in said enclosure;    a furnace air blower provided in air communication with said furnace;    a hopper for containing the solid fuel;    a fuel delivery mechanism connecting said hopper and said furnace for delivering the solid fuel to said furnace; and    a door recess provided in said enclosure and a door provided on said enclosure for closing said door recess.    
     
     
         18 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into said furnace.  
     
     
         19 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 17  comprising wheels provided on said enclosure for transporting said enclosure.  
     
     
         20 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said furnace for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into said furnace.  
     
     
         21 . A pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel, said pellet furnace heating apparatus comprising: 
 a hopper for containing the solid fuel;    a burner having a pilot housing and a combustion housing provided on said pilot housing;    a fuel delivery mechanism connecting said hopper and said combustion housing of said burner for delivering the solid fuel to said burner; and    a furnace air blower provided in air communication with said pilot housing of said burner.    
     
     
         22 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 21  comprising a burner housing substantially covering said combustion housing of said burner for conveying heat from said burner.  
     
     
         23 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 21  comprising a base and wherein said hopper and said burner are mounted on said base.  
     
     
         24 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 23  comprising a burner housing substantially covering said combustion housing of said burner for conveying heat from said burner.  
     
     
         25 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said combustion housing of said burner for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into said combustion housing.  
     
     
         26 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 25  comprising a burner housing substantially covering said combustion housing of said burner for conveying heat from said burner.  
     
     
         27 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 25  comprising a base and wherein said hopper and said burner are mounted on said base.  
     
     
         28 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 27  comprising a burner housing substantially covering said combustion housing of said burner for conveying heat from said burner.  
     
     
         29 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 27  comprising a pair of forklift openings provided in said base in spaced-apart relationship to each other.  
     
     
         30 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 29  comprising a burner housing substantially covering said combustion housing of said burner for conveying heat from said burner.  
     
     
         31 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 22  comprising a flue pipe steam generator provided in said burner housing for generating and releasing steam.  
     
     
         32 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said combustion housing of said burner for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into said combustion housing.  
     
     
         33 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 32  comprising a base and wherein said hopper, said burner and said burner housing are mounted on said base.  
     
     
         34 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 33  comprising a pair of forklift openings provided in said base in spaced-apart relationship to each other.  
     
     
         35 . A pellet furnace heating apparatus for burning a solid fuel, said pellet furnace heating apparatus comprising: 
 a hopper for containing the solid fuel;    a burner having a pilot housing and a combustion housing provided on said pilot housing;    a fuel delivery mechanism connecting said hopper and said combustion housing of said burner for delivering the solid fuel to said combustion housing;    a furnace air blower provided in air communication with said pilot housing of said burner;    a burner housing substantially enclosing said combustion housing of said burner for conveying heat from said burner;    a cooker; and    a hot air conduit establishing air communication between said burner housing and said cooker for conveying hot air from said burner housing to said cooker.    
     
     
         36 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 35  wherein said hot air conduit comprises a substantially horizontal supporting segment and a hot plate provided on said supporting segment.  
     
     
         37 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 35  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said combustion housing of said burner for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into said combustion housing.  
     
     
         38 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 37  wherein said hot air conduit comprises a substantially horizontal supporting segment and a hot plate provided on said supporting segment.  
     
     
         39 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 38  comprising a base and wherein said hopper and said burner are mounted on said base.  
     
     
         40 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 39  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said combustion housing of said burner for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into said combustion housing.  
     
     
         41 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 39  wherein said hot air conduit comprises a substantially horizontal supporting segment and a hot plate provided on said supporting segment.  
     
     
         42 . The pellet furnace heating apparatus of  claim 41  wherein said fuel delivery mechanism comprises at least one feed auger having an auger feed tube communicating with said hopper; an auger provided in said auger feed tube for conveying the solid fuel from said hopper through said auger feed tube; and a feed drop tube connecting said auger feed tube to said combustion housing of said burner for dropping the solid feed from said auger feed tube into said combustion housing.