The way to use fire grate

The present invention addresses this problem of inefficient use of available combustible material by providing a fire grate which traps volatilized products and reburns them in order to allow the slow burning log to burn for an extended period. Accordingly, the present invention is a fire grate comprising:

a support framework including a inperforate base plate, a rear backing plate and end plates;

combustible material positioning and sensing means;

means to trap and reburn volatile products; and

air delivery means to supply fresh air directly to said means to trap and reburn volatile products.
Fireplace grates are essential for a fireplace to make the fire more efficient by keeping all the wood together. There are different styles and types of travelling grate . The selection of a grate depends on several factors, including how often you use your fireplace. There are also stylistic considerations. Some fireplace grates are more ornately designed than others, so the grate you select should fit in with the décor of the room.
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the present invention and;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the fire grates is generally designated by the numeral 10. Imperforate base plate 6 is supported by two pairs of U-shaped cast legs 4. Fasteners 8 extend through base plate 6 and through an upper flange in legs 4 to rigidly connect these components together. Base plate 6 is a rectangular shape formed into a regular undulating surface by peaks and valleys running parallel to the shorter sides of the rectangular shape. L-shaped end plates 12 are attached at each of the shorter edges of base plate 6. Rear backing plate 14 spans the distance between end supports 12 along one of longer sides of base plate 6. The lower edge of rear backing plate 14 is shaped to match the undulating surface of base plate 6 so that rear backing plate 14 and base plate 6 interlock together. End plates 12, rear backing plate 14 and base plate 6 which can be cast as a single stucture in a conventional manner form the support framework of the fire grate.

To use the fire grate:
1.Narrow down your choice of suitable fireplace grates that fit in with your fire burning habits and the décor of your room. People who burn fires frequently should get a fireplace grate with thicker bars. Grates with thinner bars can be selected by people who seldom burn fires.
2.Decide on the design of the fireplace grate. Note that fireplace grate bars have ends that curl up. This is to keep firewood in place, so select the curl that will work with the size of logs you will be burning.
3.Pick out your fireplace grate and install it in your fireplace. The grate should be 3 to 5 inches above the floor of the fireplace and roughly centered in the fireplace. Moving the grate farther back in the fireplace may help prevent smoke from entering the room but could result in a fire that burns less efficiently.
4.Put wood on your fireplace grate and start your fire. As the fire burns, burned pieces of wood and ash will fall through the grate to the fireplace floor. Partially burned wood can be placed back on the grate, but the ash should be cleaned out of the fireplace in between fires.
5.Clean your fireplace grate by using a fireplace brush. The travelling grate can be removed from the fireplace and scrubbed with a detergent if a more thorough cleaning is desired.

Combustible material 3 is then lighted by conventional means and allowed to burn. During burning of artificial slow burning log, constituents of the log that are not combusted but volatilized by the heat of the fire will be trapped on mesh screen 25 as they drift upwardly. This trapping of the volatilized constituents is accomplished by physical filtering of the fire exhaust gases through fine wire mesh 25, and condensation of the constituents on the relatively cooler wire mesh. As these filtered and condensed constituents are trapped on fine mesh 25, they are reburned by the heat of the fire. This reburning process is assisted by fresh air being continuously supplied to mesh screen 25 along the lower edge of frame member 20 through opening 49. Air in cavity 43 heated by the fire rises naturally through opening 49, and replacement air enter cavity 43 through lower passageways 42 underneath base plate 6.

As the fire consumes the artificial log and it shrinks in size, L-shaped members 47 and 48 resting on the log's upper surface move downwardly in slots 37 and 38 causing frame member 20 and mesh screen 25 to move downwardly also, so that mesh screen 25 is always the optimal distance above combustible material 3 to perform its trapping and reburning function.

In testing a prototype model of the present invention, it was found that by trapping and reburing the volatilized constituents of an artificial slow burning log, the expected burn life can be increased by about 50% to 80%.

The grate manufacturer provides support for the log on several sides and this acts to prevent the log breaking into smaller pieces. Smaller pieces burn more quickly. The inperforate base plate means that the ashes are kept in the grate, which makes disposal of the ashes easy and reduces cleaning of the fireplace. The solid surfaces at the back and base of the log reduce air supply and extend the burning time.

source:bloggum

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