Fireplace firewood retainer assembly with air deflector, fireplace incorporating the same and method of reducing particulate emissions in a wood burning fireplace

Abstract

A firewood retainer assembly and a fireplace incorporating the same are provided. The assembly includes a grate for supporting firewood at a level above a floor of a fireplace combustion chamber. The grate includes a first end opposite a second end such that a width of said grate is defined between these ends. The assembly also includes a deflector positioned adjacent the grate for deflecting air entering said combustion chamber below the level. A method of burning firewood is also provided which results in reduced particulate emissions. The method requires the deflection of air used for combustion below the firewood, heating the air with embers located below the firewood, and using the heated air for combustion.

1 . A firewood retainer assembly comprising;
 a grate for supporting firewood at a level above a floor of a fireplace combustion chamber, said grate comprising a first end opposite a second end; and   a deflector positioned adjacent the grate for deflecting air entering said combustion chamber below said level.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said deflector extends beyond the first end in a direction away from the second end and extends beyond the second end in a direction away from the first end. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said deflector comprises a first surface opposite a second surface and a thickness there between, wherein the first surface faces away from said grate and said second surface faces said grate, and wherein said first surface is angled relative to a vertical plane for deflecting said air below said level. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as recited in  claim 3  wherein said deflector first surface comprises a vertex and extends from opposite directions of said vertex in directions having a component directed toward the grate. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein the deflector first surface comprises opposite end portions, wherein each of said end portions extends in a direction opposite the other end portion and in a direction having a component toward the grate. 
     
     
         6 . A wood burning fireplace comprising:
 a combustion chamber comprising an opening for receiving air for combustion;   a grate in the combustion chamber;   at least one piece of firewood supported by the grate a level above a floor of the combustion chamber; and   a deflector between the grate and said opening for deflecting air entering said opening below said level.   
     
     
         7 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 6  wherein the deflector comprises a top end opposite a bottom end, wherein the top end is further from the floor than the bottom end, wherein a height of said deflector is defined between said top and bottom ends, wherein said at least one piece of firewood supported on said grate extends to a height level, wherein said top end extends to at least the same height level as said piece of firewood. 
     
     
         8 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 7  wherein the combustion chamber comprises a first side wall opposite a second side wall, wherein said deflector comprises a main portion, a first end portion extending from the main portion and a second end portion extending from the main portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the first end portion extends beyond the grate toward the first side wall and wherein the second end portion extends beyond the grate toward the second sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 8  wherein said deflector comprises an outer surface opposite an inner surface and a thickness there between, wherein the outer surface faces away from said grate and said inner surface faces said grate, wherein said combustion chamber comprises a rear wall opposite said opening and wherein the outer surface in angled whereby the top end is further from the rear wall than the bottom end. 
     
     
         10 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 9  wherein the outer surface comprises a vertex whereby the outer surface extends from opposite directions from said vertex toward the opposite side walls and toward the rear wall. 
     
     
         11 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 10  wherein said first end portion extends at an angle relative to the main portion and in a direction toward the rear wall, and wherein the second end portion extends at an angle relative to the main portion and in a direction toward the rear wall. 
     
     
         12 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 11  wherein the first end portion extends to a location adjacent the first side wall and wherein the second end portion extends to a location adjacent the second side wall. 
     
     
         13 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 11  wherein said at least one piece of firewood comprises a first end opposite a second end and a length there between, wherein said deflector extends beyond said at least one piece of firewood first end and away from said at least one piece of firewood and in an opposite direction beyond said at least one piece of firewood second end and away from said at least one piece of firewood. 
     
     
         14 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 11  wherein the grate comprises a first side facing the first side wall and a second side facing the second side wall wherein a first space is defined having a first width bounded by said grate first side and said first side wall and a second space having a second width bounded by said grate second side and said second side wall, wherein said deflector first end portion extends along a majority of said first width and wherein said deflector second end portion extends along a majority of said second width. 
     
     
         15 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 11  wherein the first end portion occupies substantially the entire first width and wherein the second end portion occupies substantially the entire second width. 
     
     
         16 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 11  wherein the bottom end is positioned to be at a height of least 2 inches from the floor. 
     
     
         17 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 11  wherein the bottom end is positioned to be at a height of about 1 inch to about 4 inches from the floor. 
     
     
         18 . A method of burning firewood in a wood burning fireplace having the firewood supported on a grate in a combustion chamber having a floor and an opening, the method comprising:
 burning said firewood creating a combustion;   providing air through the opening;   guiding using a guiding surface at least part of the air entering through the opening to an area above the floor and below the grate;   heating said guided air by embers on said floor; and   using said heated air in said combustion.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18  wherein burning said firewood generates particulate emissions, and wherein said guiding comprises guiding a sufficient amount of said air for reducing said particulate emissions to levels not greater than 3.41 grams per kilogram of firewood burned. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein said guiding comprises guiding a sufficient amount of said air for reducing said particulate emissions to levels not greater than 3.2 grams per kilogram of firewood burned. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein said guiding comprises guiding a sufficient amount of said air for reducing said particulate emissions to levels not greater than 2.69 grams per kilogram of firewood burned. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein said guiding comprises guiding a sufficient amount of said air for reducing said particulate emissions to levels in the range of 3.41 to 2.69 grams per kilogram of firewood burned. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein said guiding comprises guiding a sufficient amount of said air for reducing said particulate emissions to levels less than 50% of levels without said guiding. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein said guiding comprises guiding a sufficient amount of said air for reducing said particulate emissions to levels not greater than 45% of levels without said guiding. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein said guiding comprises guiding a sufficient amount of said air for reducing said particulate emissions to levels not greater than 38% of levels without said guiding. 
     
     
         26 . A firewood retainer assembly comprising;
 a grate for supporting firewood at a level above a floor of a fireplace combustion chamber, said grate comprising a first end opposite a second end; and   a deflector positioned for deflecting a sufficient amount of air entering said combustion chamber below said level for limiting particulate emissions generated by burning of said firewood to a desired level.   
     
     
         27 . The assembly as recited in  claim 26  wherein said desired level is not greater than 3.41 grams per kilogram of firewood burned. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly as recited in  claim 26  wherein said desired level is not greater than 3.2 grams per kilogram of firewood burned. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly as recited in  claim 26  wherein said desired level is not greater than 2.69 grams per kilogram of firewood burned. 
     
     
         30 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 6  wherein said fireplace produce particulate emissions not greater than not greater than 3.41 grams per kilogram of firewood burned. 
     
     
         31 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 6  wherein said fireplace produce particulate emissions not greater than not greater than 3.2 grams per kilogram of firewood burned. 
     
     
         32 . The fireplace as recited in  claim 6  wherein said fireplace produce particulate emissions not greater than not greater than 2.69 grams per kilogram of firewood burned.