Fireplace grate

Abstract

A fireplace grate comprising a support for holding burning logs and the accompanying hot embers and ashes and including heat transfer structure for transferring heat generated by the logs and embers to the area immediately therebelow. The grate further includes air passageways located in the area below the support. The passageways having air outlets at the front of the grate for directing air into the room in which the fireplace is located and air inlets disposed at location remote from the air outlets for receiving air for passage through the passageways.

I claim: 
     
       1. A fireplace grate for holding logs in a fireplace located in a room of a building and having a back adapted to be disposed along the back of the fireplace and a front adapted to face the front of the fireplace, said grate comprising: a. support means for supporting burning logs and accompanying ashes and hot embers and for transferring heat to air passageway means disposed therebelow, said support means .[.having a lateral extent about the same as the length of logs to be supported and.]. comprising a support plate for supporting said ashes and hot embers;   b. a plurality of spaced heat transfer fins depending from said support plate into said air passageway means, said fins .[.extending from the back of said grate to the front of said grate to define.]. .Iadd.and said support plate being integrally formed from extruded aluminum and defining .Iaddend.separate air subpassageways;   c. air passageway means bounded at the top by said support plate .Iadd.and .Iaddend.bounded .[.on.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.the bottom by a second plate .[.generally co-extensive with.]. .Iadd.vertically spaced from .Iaddend.said support plate, and having air inlet means connected thereto .[.at the back of said grate.]. and having air outlet means near the front of said grate .[.extending across substantially the entire lateral extent of said support means;.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   d. fan means for forcing air into said air inlet means .[.,.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.through said air passageway means and   e. base means disposed beneath said air passageway means for supporting said grate in said fireplace with said air passageway means spaced above the floor of said fireplace and out said air outlet means into said room.[.;.]..   
     
     
       2. A fireplace grate according to claim 1 wherein: a. each fin is spaced laterally from the next adjacent fin to define one of said subpassageways therebetween.   
     
     
       3. A fireplace grate according to claim 2 wherein: a. each fin extends downwardly from the support plate for about 11/2 inches and is spaced from the next adjacent fin by about 1/2 inch.   
     
     
       4. A fireplace grate according to claim 3 wherein.[.: a..].the grate has a lateral extent of about 2 feet and a depth, as measured from its front to its back, of about 11/2 feet.[.; and b. said base means has a lateral extent of about 1 foot centrally of the grate, a depth, as measured from the back of the grate, of about 11/4 feet, and a height of about 4 inches.]..   
     
     
       5. A fireplace grate according to claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein: a. the support plate and the heat transfer fins are integrally constructed of extruded aluminum;   b. the support plate has a thickness of about 1/8 inch;   c. the fins are tapered in cross-section with a thickness at the support plate of about 1/8 inch and a thickness at their lower extent of about 1/16 inch; and   d. the second plate is constructed of sheet metal.   
     
     
       6. A fireplace grate according to claim 1 .[.wherein: a. said.]. .Iadd.further comprising .Iaddend.base means .[.includes.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.a walled enclosure depending from said second plate with openings in the front wall thereof in communication with the air inlet means at the back of the grate.   
     
     
       7. A fireplace grate according to claim 1 .[.wherein: a. said.]. .Iadd.further comprising .Iaddend.base means .[.includes.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.a walled enclosure depending from said second plate with an open bottom communicating with the air inlet means at the back of the grate and adapted to be located over the open ash trap in the floor of the fireplace and the associated conduit means leading to a source of air outside of said room.   
     
     
       8. A fireplace grate according to claim 7 wherein: a. said walled enclosure further includes knock-out holes in the front wall thereof to provide openings in communication with the air inlet means at the back of the grate as an alternative to the air source through the open bottom of the enclosure.   
     
     
       9. A fireplace grate according to claim 8 further comprising: a. an enclosed air manifold at the back of the grate and connected between the interior of said walled enclosure and the separate air subpassageways.   
     
     
       10. A fireplace grate according to claim 9 wherein: a. said fan means is disposed within said walled enclosure for forcing air from said other room, through said open trap, inlet means, manifold and subpassageways.   
     
     
       11. A fireplace grate according to claim 10 wherein: a. said fan has a blade diameter of 7 inches and a 30° pitch; and   b. the fan motor has a 0.3 amp, 115 volt electrical rating and a 2 watt output.   
     
     
       12. A fireplace grate according to claim 10 wherein: a. said fan means has a power capacity to force air into said air inlet means and through said air subpassageways at a rate greater than the rate of the fire supporting air flow into said fireplace from the room in which the fireplace is located to create a net positive air flow out of the air outlet means of the grate and into said room.   
     
     
       13. A fireplace grate according to claim 1 wherein: a. said support means includes spaced support rods disposed above the support plate and extending from the back of the grate to the front for supporting logs thereon at a position spaced above said support plate.   
     
     
       14. A fireplace grate according to claim 13 wherein: a. the support rods are spaced above the support plate by between about 11/2 and 21/2 inches.   
     
     
       15. A fireplace grate according to claim 13, wherein: a. said fan means has a flow capacity for forcing air from said air inlet means and through said air subpassageways at a rate which permits complete burning of the hot embers falling from the burning logs onto the support plate and which insulates the .[.internal area of the base means from the high heat of the fire of the burning logs.]. .Iadd.area beyond said second plate.Iaddend..   
     
     
       16. A fireplace grate according to claim 13 wherein: a. the support plate has an upper smooth surface on which the burning embers and ashes collect.   
     
     
       17. A fireplace grate according to claim 16 further comprising: a. a front vertical barrier plate extending laterally across the support plate adjacent the front thereof for containing ashes on the support plate.   
     
     
       18. A fireplace grate according to claim 17 wherein: a. said barrier plate is about 3 inches in height and located about 2 inches from the front of the grate.   
     
     
       19. A fireplace grate according to claim 18 further comprising: a. rear vertical barrier plate extending laterally across the support plate at the rear thereof for containing ashes on the support plate.   
     
     
       20. A fireplace grate according to claim 19 wherein: a. said spaced rods extend between said vertical barrier plates with the ends of the rods connected to the plates.   
     
     
       21. A fireplace grate according to claim 20 wherein: a. the support rods are spaced above the support plate midway between the barrier plates by about 11/2 inches and at the barrier plates by about 21/2 inches. .Iadd. 22. A fireplace grate for holding logs in a fireplace located in a room of a building and having a back adapted to be disposed along the back of the fireplace and a front adapted to face the front of the fireplace, said grate comprising:   a. support means for supporting burning logs and accompanying ashes and hot embers and for transferring heat to air passageway means disposed therebelow, said support means comprising a support plate for supporting said ashes and hot embers;   b. a plurality of spaced heat transfer fins depending from said support plate into said air passageway means, said fins and said support plate being integrally formed from extruded aluminum and defining separate air subpassageways;   c. air passageway means bounded at the top by said support plate and bounded at the bottom by a second plate vertically spaced from said support plate, and having air inlet means connected thereto at the back of said grate and having air outlet means near the front of said grate;   d. fan means for forcing air into said air inlet means, through said air passageway means and out said air outlet means into said room; and   e. said fan means being constructed and arranged to force air between said fins and said plates at a rate sufficient to preclude overheating the area beyond said second plate and said fins. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. A fireplace grate for holding logs in a fireplace located in a room of a building and having a back adapted to be disposed along the back of the fireplace and a front adapted to face the front of the fireplace, said grate comprising:   a. support means for supporting burning logs and accompanying ashes and hot embers and for transferring heat to air passageway means disposed therebelow, said support means comprising a support plate for supporting said ashes and hot embers;   b. a plurality of spaced heat transfer fins depending from said support plate into said air passageway means, said fins and said support plate being integrally formed from extruded aluminum and defining separate air subpassageways;   c. air passageway means bounded at the top by said support plate and bounded at the bottom by a second plate vertically spaced from said support plate, and having air inlet means connected thereto at the back of said grate and having air outlet means near the front of said grate;   d. fan means for forcing air into said air inlet means, through said air passageway means and out said air outlet means into said room; and   e. said fan means being constructed and arranged to move air between said fins and said plates at such a rate as to not overcool or overheat said   
     
     
        fins and said support plate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24.  A fireplace grate for holding logs in a fireplace located in a room of a building and having a back adapted to be disposed along the back of the fireplace and a front adapted to face the front of the fireplace, said grate comprising: a. support means for supporting burning logs and accompanying ashes and hot embers and for transferring heat to air passageway means disposed therebelow, said support means comprising a support plate for supporting said ashes and hot embers;   b. a plurality of spaced heat transfer fins depending from said support plate into said air passageway means, said fins and said support plate being integrally formed from extruded aluminum and defining separate air subpassageways;   c. air passageway means bounded at the top by said support plate and bounded at the bottom by a second plate vertically spaced from said support plate, and having air inlet means connected thereto at the back of said grate and having air outlet means near the front of said grate;   d. air circulating means for moving air into said air inlet means, through said air passageway means and out said air outlet means into said room; and   e. said air-circulating means being constructed and arranged to move air between said fins and said plates at a rate sufficient to preclude overheating the area beyond said second plate and said fins.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd. 25.  A fireplace grate for holding logs in a fireplace located in a room of a building and having a back adapted to be disposed along the back of the fireplace and a front adapted to face the front of the fireplace, said grate comprising: a. support means for supporting burning logs and accompanying ashes and hot embers and for transferring heat to air passageway means disposed therebelow, said support means comprising a support plate for supporting said ashes and hot embers;   b. a plurality of spaced heat transfer fins depending from said support plate into said air passageway means, said fins and said support plate being integrally formed from extruded aluminum and defining separate air subpassageways;   c. air passageway means bounded at the top by said support plate, bounded on the bottom by a second plate vertically spaced from said support plate, and having air inlet means connected thereto at the back of said grate and having air outlet means near the front of said grate;   d. fan means for forcing air into said air inlet means, through said air passageway means and out said air outlet means into said room; and   e. said fan means being constructed and arranged to force air between said fins and said plates in sufficient volume and at sufficient velocity to preclude overheating the area beyond said second plate and said fins and to prevent the sagging of said fins and of said support plate from the heat of the burning logs and hot embers supported thereby. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
        6.  In a fireplace grate of the type which supports logs in a fireplace located in a room of a building and having a back adapted to be disposed along the back of the fireplace and a front adapted to face the front of the fireplace, the improvement which comprises: a. a support plate including a plurality of spaced heat transfer fins depending from said support plate into air passageway means disposed below said support plate, said fins and said support plate being integrally formed from extruded aluminum and extending from the back of said grate to the front of said grate to define separate air subpassageways;   b. air passageway means bounded at the top by said support plate, bounded on the bottom by a second plate, and having air inlet means connected thereto at the back of said grate and having air outlet means near the front of said grate; and   c. fan means for forcing air into said air inlet means, through said air passageway means and out said air outlet means into said room at sufficient rate to preclude overheating the area beyond said support plate   
     
     
        and depending fins. .Iaddend..Iadd. 27.  In a fireplace grate of the type which supports logs in a fireplace located in a room of a building and having a back adapted to be disposed along the back of the fireplace and a front adapted to face the front of the fireplace, the improvement which comprises: a. a support plate including a plurality of spaced heat transfer fins depending from said support plate into air passageway means disposed below said support plate, said fins and said support plate being integrally formed from extruded aluminum and extending from the back of said grate to the front of said grate to define separate air subpassageways;   b. air passageway means bounded at the top by said support plate, bounded on the bottom by a second plate, and having air inlet means connected thereto at the back of said grate and having air outlet means near the front of said grate; and   c. fan means for forcing air into said air inlet means, through said air passageway means and out said air outlet means into said room, said fan means being constructed and arranged to force air between said fins and said plates in sufficient volume and at sufficient velocity to preclude overheating the area beyond said second plate and said fins and to prevent the sagging of said fins and of said support plate from the heat of the   
     
     
        burning logs and hot embers supported thereby. .Iaddend..Iadd. 28.  A system for increasing the heating efficiency of a fireplace fire which comprises: a. air passageway means having air inlet and outlet means and being bounded by spaced first and second plate means, said first plate means defining a heat transfer structure and being formed of extruded aluminum having a plurality of closely spaced fin means integrally formed therewith and extending toward said second plate means to divide said air passageway means into a plurality of separate air subpassageways, said heat transfer structure being positioned intermediate said fire and said second plate; and   b. means for forcing an air circulation between said air passageway means inlet and outlet means at sufficient rate to preclude overheating of the area beyond said heat transfer structure. .Iaddend..Iadd. 29. A system for increasing the heating efficiency of a fireplace fire which comprises:   a. heat transfer structure defining air passageway means having air inlet and outlet means and being formed of extruded aluminum;   b. said heat transfer structure being comprised of first plate means and a plurality of extruded closely spaced fin means integrally formed therewith and extending outwardly from one side thereof from a point adjacent said air inlet means to a point adjacent said air outlet means;   c. second plate means spaced from said first plate means and cooperatively defining an air passageway with said first plate means, some of said fin means being disposed within said air passageway and defining a plurality of air subpassageways between said first and second plate means;   d. said heat transfer structure being constructed and arranged to be positioned adjacent the fire and intermediate the fire and said second plate means; and   e. means for circulating air into said air inlet means through said air subpassageways and out of said air outlet means at a rate sufficient to preclude overheating said heat transfer structure and the area beyond said   
     
     
        second plate means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 30.  The system of claim 29 wherein said fin means extend from said first plate means about 11/2 inches toward said second plate means and are spaced from the next adjacent fin means by about 1/2 inch. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 31. The system of claim 29 wherein first plate means has a thickness of about 1/8 inch with said fin means being tapered in cross-section from a thickness of about 1/8 inch adjacent the first plate to a thickness of about 1/16 inch. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. The system of claim 29 wherein said second plate means is formed of sheet metal. .Iaddend..Iadd. 33. A system for increasing the heating efficiency of a fireplace fire which comprises: a. heat transfer structure formed of extruded aluminum;   b. said heat transfer structure being comprised of plate means and a plurality of extruded closely spaced fin means integrally formed therewith of extruded aluminum and extending outwardly from one side thereof;   c. second plate means spaced from said first plate means and cooperatively defining therewith an air passageway therebetween, said air passageway having air inlet and outlet means;   d. said fin means extending between said first and second plate means within said air passageway from said air inlet means to said air outlet means and defining a plurality of air subpassageways with said first and second plate means;   e. said heat transfer structure being constructed and arranged to be positioned adjacent the fire and intermediate the fire and said second plate means; and   f. means for circulating air into said air inlet means, through said air subpassageways and out said air outlet means at a rate sufficient to preclude overheating said heat transfer structure and the area beyond said second plate means. .Iaddend.