Open hearth fireplace systems and methods

Abstract

A fireplace system having one or more elements that operate to reduce the energy of acoustic signals propagating through the fireplace system before they are broadcast from a firebox of the fireplace system into a room within which the fireplace system is located. In some examples, a powered exhaust evacuation system is coupled to the fireplace system and an acoustic attenuation element of the fireplace system operates to reduce the acoustic signal of the powered exhaust evacuation system as it propagates through the acoustic attenuation element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fireplace system comprising:
 a firebox including a combustion chamber configured for combusting a fuel to produce an exhaust;   a first exhaust port;   a second exhaust port;   a powered exhaust component configured to evacuate the exhaust from the combustion chamber, the powered exhaust component producing an acoustic signal during operation;   a sound attenuation element having an interior and being situated between the exhaust component and the combustion chamber such that the exhaust is evacuated from the combustion chamber by being drawn through the interior of the sound attenuation element from the first exhaust port to the second exhaust port; and   a baffle element situated within the interior region of the sound attenuation element such that the baffle element interrupts a direct flow path between the first and second exhaust ports, and such that the baffle element reduces the acoustic signal of the powered exhaust component at a hearth of the firebox.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the powered exhaust component generates an acoustic signal having a first sound intensity and wherein the acoustic attenuation element operates to reduce the energy of the acoustic signal such that the acoustic signal has a second, lower sound intensity when broadcast from the combustion chamber of the firebox. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second sound intensity is at least 1 dB lower than the first sound intensity. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second sound intensity is at least 30 dB lower than the first sound intensity. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the firebox includes an open hearth. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sound attenuation element includes a top, a bottom opposite the top, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a back, and a front opposite the back, the combination of which define the interior of the sound attenuation element. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the baffle element includes an aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein an aperture is defined between the baffle element and one or more of the top, bottom, first side, second side, back, and front of the sound attenuation element. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the baffle element extends between the back and the front of the sound attenuation element. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the baffle element extends between the first side and the second side of the sound attenuation element. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a plane of the first exhaust port is transverse to a plane of the second exhaust port. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a plane of the first exhaust port is normal to a plane of the second exhaust port. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle element is situated within the interior of the sound attenuation element such that a first portion of the baffle element obstructs the direct flow path between the first and second exhaust ports, and such that a first void is defined adjacent the first portion, wherein the first void facilitates evacuation of the exhaust around the baffle element. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first void is offset relative to the direct flow path between the first and second exhaust ports. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein a second void is defined adjacent the first portion such that the first portion is situated between the first and second voids, and wherein the first and second voids facilitate evacuation of the exhaust around the baffle element. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second voids are each offset relative to the direct flow path between the first and second exhaust ports. 
     
     
         17 . An acoustic attenuation apparatus for a firebox including a combustion chamber configured for combusting a fuel to produce an exhaust and a powered exhaust component for evacuating the exhaust from the combustion chamber, the acoustic attenuation apparatus comprising:
 a top, a bottom opposite the top, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a back, and a front opposite the back, the combination of which define a chamber;   a first exhaust port;   a second exhaust port; and   an baffle element positioned within the chamber between the first and second exhaust ports, such that the baffle element interrupts a direct flow path between the first and second exhaust ports and such that the baffle element is operable to reduce an acoustic signal of the powered exhaust component in fluid communication with the acoustic attenuation apparatus and a hearth of a firebox.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the hearth of the firebox is an open hearth. 
     
     
         19 . A method of reducing an acoustic signal of a powered exhaust component for evacuating an exhaust produced in a combustion chamber of a firebox, the method comprising:
 providing a firebox including an exhaust port and a combustion chamber configured for combusting a fuel to produce an exhaust;   providing a powered exhaust component configured to evacuate the exhaust from the combustion chamber, the powered exhaust component producing an acoustic signal during operation;   coupling a sound attenuation element to the firebox such that the sound attenuation element is in fluid communication with the exhaust port of the firebox and the powered exhaust component, and such that the exhaust is evacuated from the combustion chamber by being drawn through an interior of the sound attenuation element from the exhaust port to the powered exhaust component; and   situating a baffle element within the interior region of the sound attenuation element such that the baffle element interrupts a direct flow path between the exhaust port and the powered exhaust component, and such that the baffle element reduces the acoustic signal produced by the powered exhaust component when measured at a hearth of the firebox.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the hearth of the firebox is an open hearth.