Gas Hearth Improvements

Abstract

An improved gas fireplace hearth provides a controller and can perform new features. A pressure sensor may be provided to communicate to the controller to warn of a drop of inlet gas pressure to indicate a problem with gas service rather than the hearth. An ambient temperature sensor can provide an input to the controller for various features including a safety feature to shut off gas flow if the hearth becomes too hot. The hearth can be made more efficient by having the controller implement a zero voltage alternating current system to adjust the speed of the fan, flame height, lighting, BTU output or other feature.

Claims

1. A gas hearth comprising: at least a main burner; a controller; and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least a main burner sensing gas pressure and providing a signal to the controller; wherein when the controller detects a pressure at the pressure sensor is below a predetermined value, providing a signal directing an output to be displayed related to the low pressure situation.

2. The gas hearth of claim 1 wherein the output is displayed at a display connected to the hearth.

3. The gas hearth of claim 1 wherein the output is displayed remotely from the hearth on one of a computing device and a remote.

4. The gas hearth of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is connected to valve of the gas hearth.

5. The gas hearth of claim 4 wherein the pressure sensor is connected to a burner valve.

6. The gas hearth of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is connected to one of a pilot assembly and a manifold of the hearth.

7. The gas hearth of claim 1 further comprising an ambient temperature sensor connected to the hearth, said ambient temperature sensor providing a signal to the controller, said controller shutting off gas flow through the at least a main burner if ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature.

8. The gas hearth of claim 1 wherein controller employs zero voltage switching to control at least one of flame height, fan speed and lighting at the hearth.

9. The gas hearth of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor is displayed to a user.

10. A gas hearth comprising: at least a main burner; a controller; and an ambient sensor sensing gas pressure and providing a signal to the controller; wherein the ambient temperature sensor provides a signal to the controller, said controller shutting off gas flow through the at least a main burner if ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature.

11. The gas hearth of claim 10 further comprising a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the main burner; and

12. The gas hearth of claim 10 wherein the controller employs zero voltage switching to control at least one of flame height, fan speed and lighting at the hearth.

13. The gas hearth of claim 12 wherein the controller initially directs a maximum of one of gas flow through the main burner and fan speed for a predetermined period of time and then lowers the one of gas flow and fan speed at a zero voltage node of an AC input.

14. The gas hearth of claim 12 wherein the controller initially directs a change in lighting intensity at the hearth at a zero voltage node of an AC input.

15. The gas hearth of claim 12 wherein the controller delays the starting and stopping of one of a change in flame height and fan speed for a predetermined period of time as a delay.

16. The gas hearth of claim 15 wherein the delay of the controller ends at a zero voltage node of an AC input.

17. A gas hearth comprising: at least a main burner; and a controller; wherein controller employs zero voltage switching to assist in controlling at least one of BTU output, flame height, fan speed and lighting at the hearth, by adjusting an alternating voltage output as the voltage passes through the zero voltage node.

18. The gas hearth of claim 17 wherein the controller delays the starting and stopping of one of a change in flame height and fan speed for a predetermined period of time as a delay before the zero voltage node.

19. The gas hearth of claim 17 further comprising: an ambient sensor sensing gas pressure and providing a signal to the controller; and wherein the ambient temperature sensor provides a signal to the controller, said controller shutting off gas flow through the at least a main burner if ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature.

20. The gas hearth of claim 17 further comprising: a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least a main burner sensing gas pressure and providing a signal to the controller; and wherein when the controller detects a pressure at the pressure sensor is below a predetermined value, providing a signal directing an output to be displayed related to the low pressure situation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The particular features and advantages of the inventions with other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram representation of the present preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0020] FIG. 2 is a graph showing a comparison between zero voltage switching and phase control as it relates to alternating current voltage over time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a hearth 10 as would be located inside of a fireplace 12 principally for office or residential applications. Unlike prior art hearths 10, a controller 14 is preferably provided within the hearth 10 to assist in controlling various features of the hearth 10.

[0022] First, a sensor 16 may be present in some embodiments, such as a pressure sensor, to sense the incoming gas pressure from a gas supply 18 which could be propane or natural gas normally stored outside of the building containing the fireplace 12. The sensor 16 could take one of many embodiments such as an ability to detect the presence or absence of a least a predetermined pressure i.e., on/off, and provide a signal to the controller 14 which then can provide a display such as a warning light 20 or an indication from the controller 14 as would be explained in further detail below. By providing this early indication of a lack of gas pressure (or an improper pressure), then user of the hearth 10 would know that there is no gas being provided to the hearth 10 so that the user doesn't incorrectly assume that the hearth 10 has a malfunction. Instead, a service provider from the gas company could be called and not the manufacturer of the hearth 10 or a check of the premises could reveal a valve securing flow of gas to the hearth, etc. This can reduce if not eliminate many service calls to the hearth manufacturer. The sensor 16 may be integral to a valve such as main burner valve 22 or an auxiliary burner valve 24 with it being shown integral to the main burner valve 22 although it certainly could be a separate component such as along the manifold 26 as the gas supply is being provided to the various burners. Sensor 16 could be located at the gas inlet of the valve or at the gas valve inlet for at least some embodiments. Sensor 16 could also be located at or along the pilot assemblies 26,28 and associated manifold 30 for still other embodiments.

[0023] Additionally, the sensor 16 could provide a signal to the controller 14 advising of the specific pressure at the sensor 16 so as then be able to provide that information to a service personnel for further diagnostic capabilities or other uses for at least some embodiments.

[0024] Some embodiments of the hearth 10 may employ a ambient temperature sensor 34 preferably located internal to the hearth 10 (whether they have a pressure sensor 16 or not) and connected to the controller 14 if not extending therefrom. The temperature sensor 34 may be utilized to assist in modulating a speed of a fan such as circulation fan 36 to the controller 14 as will be described below if not also assist in controlling BTU output and/or the flame heights from the burners 38 and/or 40. The burner 38 may be a primary burner in the illustrated embodiment and the burner 40 may be an auxiliary burner. A burner 38,40 (and/or others) may modulate either an infinite number of flame heights or predetermined flame height such as high, medium, low, etc. Auxiliary burners 40 may operate similarly or differently. The ambient temperature sensor 34 may be utilized to turn the fan on or off depending on the temperature reading. The sensor 34 may also be utilized by the controller 14 for at least some embodiments to modulate the flame to be higher or lower based on the temperature reading such as a safety feature. The sensor 34 may also be utilized by the controller 14 to turn the flames off if a predetermined setting is reached which may or may not relate to the ambient room temperature or even the ambient temperature internal to the fireplace to potentially be a safety temperature or serve other purposes for at least some embodiments.

[0025] Finally, zero voltage switching as shown in FIG. 2 may be employed with some embodiments. Instead of phase control as is shown at the top of FIG. 2 when a load is applied along a non-zero value in voltage, the controller 14 may selectively apply a voltage at zero voltage switching opportunities. Specifically, a triac may be employed to directly control the voltage AC output to the fan 36 under various circumstances. For instance, when first turning the fan 36 on it may start at 100% for a first period of time and then regulate with zero voltage switching or otherwise to a reduced level. For the reduced levels of operation, the triac voltage switching preferably occurs at zero cross voltage switch over, thereby achieving the reduced level setting by missing line cycles and not voltage chopping in the middle of voltage sine waves. This feature may dramatically increase the efficiency of the fan 36. This feature potentially minimizes the electrical interference injected out the power lines in relation to a traditional dimming device with AC wire chopping. The fan 36 may also have a delayed start and/or delayed off to ensure that the air is warm before circulating and/or the system is secured there is no overheating such as from residential heating on stopping. Light 42 may be similarly adjusted if not the flame height from the burners 38,40 as well. Dramatic reduction of electrical energy usage could be required by the zero-voltage switching option.

[0026] In order to change or direct operation of the controller 14, it may be that remote communication through one or more devices is employed such as a Wi-Fi or router 50 which may communicate with a Bluetooth or other receiver 52 in communication with the controller 14. Various appliances such as Echo or Siri units such as illustrated as device 54, may permit verbal communication to control and/or provide other controls various speeds of the hearth 10 as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. A dedicated remote 56 could also be utilized to communicate directly with a receiver 52. A wall mounted switch 58 may communicate either wired or wirelessly with the controller 14 such as through wire 60 or wirelessly as illustrated. A smartphone or other computing device 60 may communicate through the Wi-Fi system 50, BLE or other system. A Wi-Fi Bluetooth hub 64 may be utilized with still other embodiments as would be understood by those or ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, a cell phone or other computing device 66 may communicate through the world wide web 68 to communicate with the router 50 for at least some embodiments.

[0027] Accordingly, displays such as to indicate a loss of gas pressure could be displayed on any of the various remote device such as cell phones 62,64, remote 56 or other displays. A verbal warning may be provided by a communicating system 54 or various alters provided. Other features of the hearth 10 may be communicated to displays or the various devices as well.

[0028] Operation of the hearth 10 may be at least assisted utilizing controlled or regulated by various remote systems illustrated. Specifically, a temperature setting could be set to be provided. A fan speed could be set, a flame height could be set, or other feature could be provided as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. A “smart” hearth 10 can be provided by the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or others a would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0029] Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will present themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.