Outdoor heater

Abstract

A heater may include a combustion chamber configured to burn pellets, the combustion chamber comprising a first barrier; a pellet hopper configured to contain the pellets, the pellet hopper comprising a second barrier; a ventilated chamber between the combustion chamber and the pellet hopper, the ventilated chamber being enclosed by: the first barrier; the second barrier; and one or more surfaces comprising one or more orifices allowing air to pass through the ventilated chamber; a flue for carrying heat from the combustion chamber; and a heat deflector disposed on the flue to deflect heat in a radial direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heater, comprising:
 a combustion chamber configured to burn pellets, the combustion chamber comprising a first barrier;   a pellet hopper configured to contain the pellets, the pellet hopper comprising a second barrier;   a ventilated chamber between the combustion chamber and the pellet hopper, the ventilated chamber being enclosed by:
 the first barrier; 
 the second barrier; and 
 one or more surfaces comprising one or more orifices allowing air to pass through the ventilated chamber; 
   a flue for carrying heat from the combustion chamber; and   a heat deflector disposed on the flue to deflect heat in a radial direction.   
     
     
         2 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the pellet hopper is positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber along a horizontal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilated chamber is fully enclosed. 
     
     
         4 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the first barrier and the second barrier are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the first barrier extends parallel to a vertical axis of the heater. 
     
     
         6 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the second barrier extends parallel to a vertical axis of the heater. 
     
     
         7 . The heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a chute extending between the pellet hopper and the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The heater of  claim 7 , wherein the chute extends through the ventilated chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The heater of  claim 7 , wherein the chute is angled relative to a horizontal axis of the heater. 
     
     
         10 . The heater of  claim 7 , further comprising a movable barrier within the pellet hopper configured to selectively allow one or more of the pellets within the pellet hopper to move along the chute from the pellet hopper to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the first barrier comprises one or more additional orifices configured to allow air to move from the ventilated chamber to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         12 . A pellet heater, comprising:
 a combustion chamber for burning pellets, the combustion chamber comprising a first barrier;   a pellet hopper configured to contain the pellets, the pellet hopper comprising a second barrier;   a chamber between the combustion chamber and the pellet hopper, the chamber being enclosed by:
 the first barrier; 
 the second barrier; and 
 one or more surfaces comprising one or more orifices allowing air to pass through the chamber; 
   a fire pot disposed at a lower portion within the combustion chamber, the fire pot comprising a fuel grate configured to:
 receive the pellets from the pellet hopper; and 
 support the pellets during combustion; 
   a chute extending from a lower portion of second barrier of the pellet hopper to the fire pot by which the pellets within the pellet hopper move to the fire pot;   a slidable ash grate disposed beneath the fire pot, the slidable ash grate configured to receive ashes from the fire pot and comprising a first handle configured to facilitate movement along a horizontal axis of the combustion chamber; and   a removeable ash pan disposed beneath the slidable ash grate, the grate configured to catch and store ashes from the slidable ash grate and comprising a second handle.   
     
     
         13 . The pellet heater of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel grate includes a first region and a second region, the first region being angled at a first angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the pellet heater and the second region being angled at a second angle with respect to the horizontal axis. 
     
     
         14 . A heater, comprising:
 a combustion chamber for burning pellets, the combustion chamber comprising a first barrier and defining a vertical axis and a horizontal axis;   a pellet hopper positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber along a horizontal axis and configured to contain the pellets, the pellet hopper comprising a second barrier; and   a ventilated chamber between the combustion chamber and the pellet hopper, the chamber being enclosed by:
 the first barrier; 
 the second barrier; and 
 one or more surfaces comprising one or more orifices allowing air to pass through the chamber. 
   
     
     
         15 . The heater of  claim 14 , wherein the pellet hopper is positioned such that a top surface of the pellet hopper is parallel to a top surface of the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The heater of  claim 14 , wherein the first barrier and the second barrier are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The heater of  claim 14 , further comprising a chute extending between the pellet hopper and the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The heater of  claim 17 , wherein the chute is an enclosed chute including a first opening at the pellet hopper and a second opening at the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The heater of  claim 17 , wherein the chute is angled relative to a horizontal axis of the heater. 
     
     
         20 . The heater of  claim 14 , wherein the first barrier comprises one or more additional orifices configured to allow air to move from the ventilated chamber to the combustion chamber.