Device for controlling the supply of combustion air to a combustion chamber

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for controlling the supply of combustion air to a combustion chamber for solid fuel, the device including a housing having a chamber and having a first end and a second end, a piston arrangement being movable arranged inside the chamber between a first position and a second position, the piston arrangement including a gasket arrangement, an adjustable valve arrangement for providing a fluid communication between the chamber and the exterior of the chamber and being configured for providing a flow of a gas to the chamber, and an elastic force inducing arrangement. The piston arrangement is configured for being moved towards the first end of the housing to the first position, thereby forcing gas inside the chamber out of the chamber through an outlet, and the elastic force inducing arrangement is connected to the piston arrangement and is configured for forcing the piston arrangement from the first position towards the second position. The adjustable valve arrangement is configured for providing gas to the chamber during the movement of the piston arrangement from the first position towards the second position, and the elastic force inducing arrangement is arranged exterior to the chamber. The invention moreover relates to a burning stove or fireplace including such a device.

1 . A device for controlling the supply of combustion air to a combustion chamber for solid fuel, said device comprising
 a housing comprising a chamber and having a first end and a second end,   a piston arrangement being movable arranged inside said chamber between a first position and a second position, said piston arrangement comprising a gasket arrangement,   an adjustable valve arrangement for providing a fluid communication between said chamber and the exterior of said chamber and being configured for providing a flow of a gas to said chamber, and   an elastic force inducing arrangement,   wherein said piston arrangement is configured for being moved towards the first end of said housing to said first position, thereby forcing gas inside said chamber out of the chamber through an outlet,   wherein said elastic force inducing arrangement is connected to said piston arrangement and is configured for forcing said piston arrangement from said first position towards said second position,   wherein said adjustable valve arrangement is configured for providing gas to said chamber during said movement of the piston arrangement from said first position towards the second position, and   wherein said elastic force inducing arrangement is arranged exterior to said chamber.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said elastic force inducing arrangement comprises an elastic material, such as a spring, which is configured for being loaded with potential energy during the movement of the piston towards the first position, and wherein said potential energy provides a force on the piston arrangement so as to force the piston arrangement from the first position towards the second position. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said outlet is provided by a one way valve of said device. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 3 , wherein said gasket arrangement provides said one way valve by means of a substantially annular gasket configured as a one way valve so as to allow the gas of said chamber to flow between the inner surface of the wall of the housing and the gasket arrangement to the exterior of said chamber during the movement of the piston arrangement towards the first position so that the gas inside said chamber is forced out of the chamber through the outlet. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said piston arrangement comprises a rod extending in a direction away from said chamber, and wherein said force inducing arrangement comprises a spring extending around said rod between said housing and a free end of said rod. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein said spring is retained around said rod by means of a retaining part connected to said rod, preferably at the free end at said rod, and wherein said retaining part is releasable connected to said rod by means of a locking arrangement, thereby allowing exchange of said flexible force inducing arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to,  claim 6 , wherein said locking arrangement is configured for allowing a relative linear movement of said retaining part along the rod towards the housing when the retaining part is connected to the rod, preferably so that the retaining part can pivot on the rod, and wherein said spring is configured for pressing the retaining part in a direction towards the free end of the rod. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable valve arrangement is arranged in a wall of the housing at the first end of the housing, preferably in a first end wall of the housing, and wherein said force inducing arrangement is arranged at the opposite end of the device. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve arrangement comprises an opening with a conical wall and an adjustable part such as a screw extending into said opening, wherein the flow of gas to said chamber provided by said valve arrangement is configured for flowing between the adjustable part and the conical wall from the exterior of the chamber. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the piston arrangement from the first position to the second position is adjustable by the valve arrangement, and wherein the valve arrangement is configured to be adjusted to a first setting where the movement takes below 20 min, and a second setting of said valve arrangement so that the movement takes more than 20 minutes. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is made from a heat resistant material so that the device is mechanically resistant to temperatures above 50° C., and wherein at least said housing and preferably also said piston arrangement is made from a heat resistant polymer such as polycarbonat and/or a Polyoxymethylene. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the housing is be below 300 mm, and wherein the length of said housing is above 20 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is suitable for being arranged in a stove, fireplace or the like comprising said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         14 . A burning stove or fireplace, wherein said burning stove or fireplace comprises a device according to  claim 1 , said burning stove or fireplace comprising a combustion chamber and at least one damper, wherein said device is connected to said damper to control the supply of combustion air to said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         15 . A burning stove or fireplace according to  claim 14 , wherein said burning stove or fireplace comprises at least two of said devices, and wherein said devices are arranged to control at least two different dampers of the stove or fireplace during the combustion of solid fuel in the combustion chamber.,
 wherein a first of said dampers is configured to be controlled by a first device so as to provide combustion air to the combustion chamber within the first 20 min of said combustion at the bottom of said combustion chamber, and wherein a second of said dampers is controlled by a second device so as to be closed for at least the first 20 min of the combustion, and provide air to the combustion chamber at a later time during said combustion.