Grate assembly for supporting combustible wood pellets

Abstract

A grate assembly is provided for at least partially supporting a pile of a plurality of combustible wood pellets. The grate assembly includes a plurality of elongate members positioned to at least partially support the pile of wood pellets. Each of the members has a body with a passage extending through the length of the body and a plurality of transverse holes in communication with the passage to permit movement of combustion gases through the pile during combustion of the wood pellets. The members are spaced apart from each other in a predetermined arrangement to permit movement of the combustion gases through the pile during combustion of the wood pellets. Also, the predetermined arrangement has at least two layers positioned adjacent to each other in a stacked relationship. Each layer has a plurality of members positioned transverse to the members of each layer adjacent thereto.

1 . A grate assembly for at least partially supporting a pile of a plurality of combustible wood pellets, the grate assembly comprising:
 a plurality of elongate members positioned to at least partially support the pile of wood pellets;   each said member comprising a body with a passage therethrough and a plurality of transverse holes in communication with the passage to permit movement of combustion gases through the pile during combustion of the wood pellets;   the members being spaced apart from each other in a predetermined arrangement to permit movement of the combustion gases through the pile during combustion of the wood pellets; and   said predetermined arrangement comprising at least two layers positioned adjacent to each other in a stacked relationship, each said layer comprising a plurality of said members positioned transverse to said members of said adjacent layer.   
   
   
       2 . A grate assembly according to  claim 1  in which the body of each said member comprises at least two planar segments connected at an apex thereof. 
   
   
       3 . A grate assembly according to  claim 2  in which each said member is positioned with the apex thereof oriented upwardly. 
   
   
       4 . A grate assembly according to  claim 2  in which each said layer is affixed to each said adjacent layer at at least one contact point. 
   
   
       5 . A grate assembly according to  claim 4  in which each said layer is affixed to each said adjacent layer by welding. 
   
   
       6 . A grate assembly according to  claim 2  in which the grate assembly is integrally formed.