X-vent

Abstract

A fireplace apparatus for a building includes a firebox, and a plenum arranged with an exterior surface of the firebox. A blower is arranged with the plenum to force air through the plenum and a plenum exhaust vent is configured to release the forced air from the plenum. A method of pre-heating air for a building fireplace includes selecting air admitted from inside the building through an interior inlet port into a manifold and through a plenum until the firebox reaches a selected temperature, and selecting air admitted from outside the building through an exterior inlet port into the manifold and through the plenum when the firebox reaches or exceeds the selected temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A building fireplace apparatus comprising:
 a firebox;   a plenum arranged with an exterior surface of the firebox;   a blower arranged with the plenum to force air through the plenum; and   a plenum exhaust vent to release the forced air from the plenum.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an interior inlet port configured to admit air to the plenum from inside the building; and 
 an exterior inlet port configured to admit air to the plenum from outside the building. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a manifold arranged to admit air from one of the interior and exterior inlet ports. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a selector arranged to operate the manifold to admit air from one of the interior and exterior inlet ports. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an exhaust flue arranged with the firebox to exhaust heated air and gases from the firebox. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the firebox further comprising an opening to admit air from inside the building to the firebox. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plenum is located on one or more sides of the firebox. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the plenum exhaust vent comprises a plurality of plenum exhaust vents arranged on one or more sides of the firebox opening. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the blower is operated by at least one of manually, a remote controller and a thermostat. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the selector is operated by at least one of manually, a remote controller and a thermostat. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the blower is powered by at least one of AC current and battery. 
     
     
         12 . A method of pre-heating air for a building fireplace comprises:
 heating a firebox in the fireplace using a fuel comprising at least one of wood, ethanol and gas;   admitting air to a plenum surrounding the firebox to be heated by the firebox; and   exhausting the heated air in the plenum into the building.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 selecting air admitted from inside the building through an interior inlet port into a manifold until the firebox reaches a selected temperature; and   selecting air admitted from outside the building through an exterior inlet port into the manifold when the firebox reaches or exceeds the selected temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selecting is provided by a selector to switch between admitting outside air and inside air. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising forcing the air from the manifold into the plenum with a blower, wherein the air in the plenum is heated by contact with an outer surface of the firebox. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising exhausting the air in the plenum through one or more exhaust vents into the building, wherein the exhaust vents are arranged around an opening of the firebox, the opening admitting air from the building into the firebox. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising controlling the blower with at least one of a manual controller, a remote control and a thermostat. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising controlling the selector with at least one of a manual switch, a remote control and a thermostat. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising powering the blower with at least one of AC current and battery. 
     
     
         20 . A building fireplace system comprising:
 means for burning combustible fuel;   means arranged around an exterior surface of the burning means to allow air to flow when in contact with the exterior surface;   means to force the air to flow when in contact with the exterior surface; and   means to expel the forced air into the building after contacting the exterior surface.