Automatic doors for a fireplace

Abstract

A heating generating appliance including an opening device configured to automatically open doors of the appliance. The opening device functions based on user input or can be controlled automatically via the appliance controls to open and/or close the doors of the appliance as desired.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An automatic door opening device suited for moving a heating appliance door, the device comprising: 
 an actuating member coupled to the appliance door; and    a motor operably coupled to the actuating member and movable in response to a control signal to move the actuating member;    whereby moving the actuating member moves the appliance door.    
     
     
         2 . The opening device of  claim 1 , further comprising a base member, wherein the actuating member and the motor are mounted to the base member.  
     
     
         3 . The opening device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating member is a rotatable post.  
     
     
         4 . The opening device of  claim 3 , further comprising an actuating arm coupled between the actuating member and the appliance door.  
     
     
         5 . The opening device of  claim 4 , wherein the actuating arm includes first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the actuating member and the second end having an engagement member extending there from, the engagement member being configured to slidably engage the appliance door.  
     
     
         6 . A door opening device adapted and configured for opening and closing a heating appliance door, the device comprising an actuating assembly coupled to the heating appliance door and movable in response to a control signal to move the heating appliance door between an opened position and a closed position.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating assembly includes an actuating arm coupled to the fireplace door and a power actuated device coupled to the actuating arm, the power actuated device being actuated in response to the control signal.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the power actuated device is an electric motor.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the power actuated device is a linear actuator or a rotary actuator.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating assembly maintains sliding engagement with the fireplace door.  
     
     
         11 . A heating appliance assembly, comprising: 
 a combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber for the generation of heat;    a door coupled to the combustion chamber enclosure and configured to control access into the combustion chamber; and    a door opening device coupled between the door and the combustion chamber enclosure and configured to be actuated in response to a control signal to move the door between a closed position and an open position.    
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the assembly includes second door opening devices coupled to respective first and second doors, the first and second doors configured for individual actuation in response to a control signal to move the respective first and second doors between closed and opened positions.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller having a user interface and being configured for actuation by a user to generate the control signal.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a programmable controller adapted and configured to automatically generate the control signal according to a pre-programmed software program.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the door opening device includes an actuating arm coupled to the door and an actuator coupled to the actuating arm, the actuator being configured for actuation in response to the control signal to move the actuating arm thereby moving the door.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a rotatable shaft and a base, the rotatable shaft being coupled between the actuating arm and the actuator, and the base being mounted to the combustion chamber enclosure and supporting at least the actuator.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the actuating arm includes an engagement structure formed on an end thereof, the engagement structure being configured to slidably engage the door.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a heat recovery system configured to remove substantially all heated air and combustion gases from the combustion chamber assembly.  
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the heat recovery system is activated when the door is in an open position.  
     
     
         20 . A method of opening an access panel into a combustion chamber enclosure of a heating appliance with an opening device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 mounting the access panel to the combustion chamber enclosure; and    coupling the opening device between the access panel and the combustion chamber enclosure, the opening device including an actuating device configured to move the access panel between closed and opened positions in response to a control signal.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the opening device includes an actuating arm and an actuator, and coupling the opening device includes coupling the actuating arm to the access panel, coupling the actuator to the combustion chamber enclosure, and coupling the actuating arm and access panel to each other.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the opening device includes a motor and actuating the opening device with a control signal includes applying a voltage to the motor.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of generating the control signal with a controller.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the controller is configured to be operable by a user or automatically operable in response to a pre-programmed software program.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the heating appliance includes at least two access panels and at least one open device coupled to each access panel.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising providing the control signal from a controller and activating the controller from a user interface.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the user interface communicates with the controller using a communication medium selected from the group consisting of a wired connection, ultrasound, infrared, radio frequency, cellular, and satellite communication.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising activating a heat recovery system when the access panel is in the open position.