Adjustable air bypass system for heating appliance

Abstract

An air bypass system for use with a heating appliance that includes an outer enclosure and a combustion chamber enclosure positioned within the outer enclosure. The bypass system includes a first opening providing an air passage between a source of air from a remote location and an air space defined between the outer enclosure and the combustion chamber enclosure. The bypass system also includes a second opening providing an air passage between a source of room air and the air space, and an actuating member configured for movement between a first position substantially covering the first opening wherein the second opening is open for air flow, and a second position substantially covering the second opening wherein the first opening is open for air flow.

1 . An air bypass system for use with a heating appliance that includes an outer enclosure and a combustion chamber enclosure positioned within the outer enclosure, the bypass system comprising: 
 a first opening providing an air passage between a source of air from a remote location and an air space defined between the outer enclosure and the combustion chamber enclosure;    a second opening providing an air passage between a source of room air and the air space;    an actuating member configured to control opening and closing of the first and second openings.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating member is movable between a first position covering the first opening wherein the second opening is open for air flow, and a second position substantially covering the second opening wherein the first opening is open for air flow.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing member having first and second air chambers, the first chamber including the first opening and a first inlet opening in fluid communication with the source of remote air, the second chamber including the second opening and a second inlet opening in fluid communication with the source of room air.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating member includes a cover member configured to shut off air flow through the first opening or the second opening, and an actuating arm coupled to the cover member to move the cover member.  
   
   
       5 . A method of controlling air flow in a heating appliance that includes an adjustable member, an outer enclosure, and a combustion chamber enclosure positioned within the outer enclosure, an air space being defined between the outer enclosure and the combustion chamber enclosure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first opening between the air space and a source of air from a remote location, and a second opening between the air space and a source of room air; and    moving the adjustable member to control air flow out of the first and second openings and into the air space between the outer enclosure and the combustion chamber enclosure.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the adjustable member includes a cover, and the moving step includes moving the cover between a first position wherein the first opening is substantially covered by the cover and the second opening is left open for the flow of remote air into the air space, and a second position wherein the second opening is substantially covered by the cover and the first opening is left open for the flow of room air into the air space  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the heating appliance further includes an air bypass system that includes a housing having first and second air chambers, the first air chamber including the first opening, and the second air chamber including the second opening, and the first chamber is in fluid communication with the remote air and the second chamber is in fluid communication with the room air.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising heating air in the air space by moving the air around the combustion chamber enclosure and exhausting the heated air out of the outer enclosure.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the moving step includes sliding the cover between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the moving step includes rotating the cover between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of positioning the air bypass system vertically below the combustion chamber enclosure.  
   
   
       12 . An air bypass system, comprising: 
 a housing member including first and second chambers, the first chamber including a first air inlet opening and a first air outlet opening and being in fluid communication with a source of air from a remote location, the second chamber including a second air inlet opening and a second air outlet opening and being in fluid communication with a source of local air; and    an adjustable cover movable between a first position substantially shutting off air flow through the first chamber wherein the second chamber is left open for the flow of remote air through the second air inlet and outlet openings, and a second position substantially shutting off air flow through the second chamber wherein the first chamber is left open for the flow of local air through the first air inlet and outlet openings.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising an adjusting arm coupled to the adjustable cover and configured to move the adjustable cover between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustable cover rotates between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustable cover moves laterally between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       16 . An air control system for controlling air available to a space around a heat source of a heating appliance, the system including a first air passage in fluid communication with a first source of air and the space, and a second air passage in fluid communication with a second source of air and the space, and including actuating means configured to control air flow through the first and second air passages.