Fireplace insert

Abstract

A fireplace insert comprising: a gas burner, a fuel/air control valve coupled to the gas burner, a blower coupled to the gas burner, and a controller coupled to the fuel/air control valve and the blower; wherein the controller controls at least one operational parameter of the fuel/air control valve and the blower to produce a flame pattern generated by the gas burner. A method of manufacturing is also provided.

1 . A fireplace insert, comprising:
 a gas burner;   a fuel/air control valve coupled to said gas burner;   a blower coupled to said gas burner; and   a controller coupled to said fuel/air control valve and said blower wherein said controller controls at least one operational parameter of said fuel/air control valve and said blower to produce a flame pattern generated by said gas burner.   
     
     
         2 . The fireplace insert as recited in  claim 1  wherein said gas burner has a geometric cross section. 
     
     
         3 . The fireplace insert as recited in  claim 2  wherein said gas burner is configured to provide a flame pattern that has a similar flame cross section to said geometric cross section. 
     
     
         4 . The fireplace insert as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one operational parameter of said fuel/air control valve and said blower is selected from the group consisting of:
 a fuel velocity; 
 an air velocity; 
 a fuel/air ratio; and 
 an equivalence ratio. 
 
     
     
         5 . The fireplace insert as recited in  claim 4  wherein said equivalence ratio is defined as (F/A) actual  divided by (F/A) stoichiometric . 
     
     
         6 . The fireplace insert as recited in  claim 1  wherein said fuel/air control valve is coupled to multiple burners. 
     
     
         7 . The fireplace insert as recited in  claim 1  wherein said gas burner is a first gas burner and said fireplace insert further comprising second and third gas burners coupled to said fuel/air controller. 
     
     
         8 . The fireplace insert as recited in  claim 1  wherein said gas burner, said fuel/air control valve, said blower, and said controller are a first gas burner, a first fuel/air control valve, a first blower, and a first controller, respectively; and wherein said first fuel/air control valve, and said first blower are coupled to said first gas burner and said first controller is coupled to said first fuel/air control valve, and said fireplace insert further comprising:
 a second gas burner; 
 a second fuel/air control valve coupled to said second gas burner; 
 a second blower coupled to said second gas burner; and 
 a second controller coupled to said second fuel/air control valve wherein said second controller controls at least one operation parameter of said second fuel/air control valve and said second blower to provide a second flame pattern generated by said second gas burner. 
 
     
     
         9 . The fireplace insert as recited in  claim 8  wherein said at least one operational parameter of said second fuel/air control valve and said second blower is selected from the group consisting of:
 a fuel velocity; 
 an air velocity; 
 a fuel/air ratio; and 
 an equivalence ratio. 
 
     
     
         10 . The fireplace insert as recited in  claim 8  wherein said first and second control valves are coupled to multiple burners. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a fireplace insert, comprising:
 providing a gas burner;   coupling a fuel/air control valve to said gas burner;   coupling a blower to said gas burner; and   coupling a controller to said fuel/air control valve and said blower wherein said controller controls at least one operational parameter of said fuel/air control valve and said blower to produce a flame pattern generated by said gas burner.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein providing includes providing a gas burner having a geometric cross section. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein providing includes providing a gas burner that has a similar flame cross section to said geometric cross section. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein coupling a controller includes coupling a controller wherein said at least one operational parameter of said fuel/air control valve and said blower is selected from the group consisting of:
 a fuel velocity; 
 an air velocity; 
 a fuel/air ratio; and 
 an equivalence ratio. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein said equivalence ratio is defined as (F/A) actual  divided by (F/A) stoichiometric . 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein coupling a fuel/air control valve includes coupling a fuel/air control valve wherein said fuel/air control valve is coupled to multiple burners. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said gas burner is a first gas burner and said method further comprising coupling second and third gas burners to said fuel/air controller. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said gas burner, said fuel/air control valve, said blower, and said controller are a first gas burner, a first fuel/air control valve, a first blower, and a first controller, respectively; and said method further comprising:
 providing a second gas burner; 
 coupling a second fuel/air control valve to said second gas burner; 
 coupling a second blower to said second gas burner; and 
 coupling a second controller to said second fuel/air control valve wherein said second controller controls at least one operation parameter of said second fuel/air control valve and said second blower to provide a second flame pattern generated by said second gas burner. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18  wherein said at least one operational parameter of said second fuel/air control valve and said second blower is selected from the group consisting of:
 a fuel velocity; 
 an air velocity; 
 a fuel/air ratio; and 
 an equivalence ratio. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 18  further comprising coupling said first and second control valves to multiple burners.