Self-cleaning burner for solid fuels

Abstract

A self-cleaning burner (1) for solid fuels, which comprises a combustion brazier (2) associated with automatic and mechanical means for its cleaning, the combustion brazier (2) being associated with a containment brazier (3) which is defined, laterally, by at least one lateral delimitation surface (4) and, below, by at least one lower closing body (5), means also being provided for feeding solid fuel to the containment brazier (3), characterized in that the lower closing body (5) comprises an actuation shaft (11) which extends about a longitudinal axis (100) which in use is substantially horizontal, the actuation shaft (11) being associated with a plurality of longitudinal lateral containment walls (12) which are arranged angularly spaced apart about the longitudinal axis (100), there being means for movement on command of the actuation shaft (11) about the longitudinal axis (100) between angular work positions, in each angular work position a pair of adjacent lateral containment walls (12) being directed upward in order to define, at least partly, the containment brazier (3), and at least one containment wall being directed downward in order to allow the ash and the combustion residues to fall into a collection tray (14) arranged below the lower closing body (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a self-cleaning burner for solid fuels.

[0002] Generally burners, and in particular the burners used in stoves fueled by pellets, mixed wood / pellets, maize, discards from oily seeds, macerated walnut shells, macerated biomass but also manure in general, have a combustion brazier which defines a receptacle for the fuel to be burned.

[0003] The containment brazier and the combustion brazier are defined inside this receptacle. In order to ensure an ideal combustion, devices are usually present for feeding oxygen-rich air into the combustion brazier and, therefore, into the receptacle.

[0004] In the devices most often used to ensure a correct flow of air inside the combustion chamber, the combustion brazier has a plurality of openings or slots for the supply of air into the containment brazier.

[0005] Through such openings an air flow is fed (by way of forced supply devices or providing for a partial vacuum inside the brazier) which is such as to enable the combustion to be optimized.

[0006] Although burners of the type described above are now widespread, they are however not devoid of drawbacks.

[0007] In fact, the openings and the windows provided in the combustion brazier must be of dimensions that are such as to ensure a sufficient air flow inside the brazier. However, their dimensions on the one hand need to ensure the fuel is kept inside the receptacle and, on the other hand, need to allow the ash, or some of the ash, to fall into a collection compartment located below the combustion brazier.

[0008] In burners on the market today, the dimensions are such as to ensure a sufficient air flow, but they do not always allow the efficient evacuation of ash and combustion residues which, as a consequence, are deposited on the bottom of the combustion brazier.

[0009] This results in, first of all, the need to intervene manually, with the burner doused, on the combustion brazier to remove the ash.

[0010] Furthermore, it is clear that the ash and combustion residues deposited on the bottom of the combustion brazier very often obstruct the openings, at least partially, as a consequence preventing some of the air from entering the receptacle to feed the combustion process in an optimal manner.

[0011] The aim of the present invention is to provide a burner for fossil fuels that is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above-mentioned aspects.

[0012] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to make available a burner for fossil fuels that makes it possible to burn various types of fossil fuel without the user needing to concern themselves with cleaning the combustion brazier.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a burner for fossil fuels that is highly reliable, easy to implement and at low cost.

[0014] This aim and these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a burner for fossil fuels according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

[0015] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the burner for solid fuels according to the invention, which are illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical plane of a stove with a self-cleaning burner according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged-scale view of the burner; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the burner according to the invention.

[0016] With reference to the figures, the self-cleaning burner for solid fuels according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a combustion brazier 2 associated with automatic and mechanical means for cleaning.

[0017] The combustion brazier 2 is associated with a containment brazier (or receptacle) 3 which is defined, laterally, by at least one lateral delimitation surface 4 and, below, by at least one lower closing body 5.

[0018] The burner 1 further comprises conventional means for feeding 20 of a solid fuel 21 to the containment receptacle 3.

[0019] According to the present invention, the lower closing body 5 comprises an actuation shaft 11 which extends about a longitudinal axis 100 which, during use, is substantially horizontal.

[0020] The actuation shaft 11 is associated with a plurality of longitudinal lateral containment walls 12, which are arranged angularly spaced apart about the longitudinal axis 100.

[0021] Preferably, there are means for movement on command (constituted for example by a motor 13) of the actuation shaft 11 about the longitudinal axis 100 between angular work positions.

[0022] In each work position, a pair of adjacent lateral containment walls 12 is directed upward in order to define, at least partly, the containment brazier 3, and at least one containment wall 12 is directed downward in order to allow the ash and the combustion residues to fall into a collection tray 14 arranged below the lower closing body 5.

[0023] Preferably, the actuation shaft 11 is associated with a plurality of lateral containment walls 12, so that the passage between the various work positions is determined by rotation of the actuation shaft 11 by a presettable angle.

[0024] Conveniently, the pair of adjacent lateral containment walls 12 directed upward cooperates with the at least one lateral delimitation surface 4 to define the containment brazier 3, and in particular its lateral containment portion.

[0025] Advantageously, the at least one lateral delimitation surface 4 has supply openings for air to feed the combustion brazier 2.

[0026] According to a particularly important aspect of the present invention, the lateral containment walls 12 have a respective delimitation body which is seamless.

[0027] Basically, the lateral containment walls 12 do not have through openings and slots.

[0028] Conveniently, the lateral containment walls 12 are polygonal in shape, and specifically rectangular.

[0029] The at least one lateral containment surface 4 can have different shape structures. For example, its transverse cross-section (taken along a horizontal plane) can be flat, or it can be circular or elliptical.

[0030] The burner 1 further comprises conventional means for ignition of the fuel.

[0031] Conveniently, the burner 1 comprises a control and actuation unit, which is configured to control means for movement on command (constituted for example by the motor 13) of the actuation shaft 11 and the means for feeding 20 the fuel 21.

[0032] The control and actuation unit is, in particular, adapted to cut the supply of the fuel to the containment receptacle 3 in advance of the rotation of the lower closing body 5.

[0033] Preferably, the advance time period can be preset and adjusted, including as a function of the type of fuel or of the operating characteristics of the burner.

[0034] The operation of the burner according to the invention is evident from the foregoing description.

[0035] In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing a burner for fossil fuels wherein the cleaning operations are completely automated and can be executed even during the operation of the stove.

[0036] In particular, the solution adopted, in addition to being extremely simple from the point of view of construction, makes it possible to perform the cleaning of the containment brazier 3 with the burner, specifically the stove or the insert, in operation and continuously.

[0037] The invention thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0038] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0039] The disclosures in Utility Model Application No. 202024000000405 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0040] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A self-cleaning burner (1) for solid fuels, which comprises a combustion brazier (2) associated with automatic and mechanical means for cleaning, said combustion brazier (2) being associated with a containment brazier (3) which is defined, laterally, by at least one lateral delimitation surface (4) and, below, by at least one lower closing body (5), means also being provided for feeding solid fuel to said containment brazier (3), characterized in that said lower closing body (5) comprises an actuation shaft (11) which extends about a longitudinal axis (100) which in use is substantially horizontal, said actuation shaft (11) being associated with a plurality of longitudinal lateral containment walls (12) which are arranged angularly spaced apart about said longitudinal axis (100), there being means for movement on command of said actuation shaft (11) about said longitudinal axis (100) between angular work positions, in each work position a pair of adjacent lateral containment walls (12) being directed upward in order to define, at least partly, said containment brazier (3), and at least one containment wall being directed downward in order to allow the ash and the combustion residues (3) to fall into a collection tray (14) arranged below said lower closing body (5).

2. The burner (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said pair of adjacent lateral containment walls (12) directed upward cooperates with said at least one lateral delimitation surface (4) so as to define said containment brazier (3).

3. The burner (1) according to claims claim 1, characterized in that said at least one lateral delimitation surface has supply openings for air to feed said combustion brazier (2).

4. The burner (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lateral containment walls (12) have a respective delimitation body (12a) which is seamless.

5. The burner (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a control and actuation unit configured to command said means for movement on command of said actuation shaft (11) and means for feeding (20) the fuel (21).

6. The burner (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control and actuation unit is adapted to cut the supply of the fuel (21) to said containment brazier (3) in advance of the rotation of said lower closing body (5).

7. The burner (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lapse of time in advance can be preset and adjusted, including as a function of the type of fuel or of the operating characteristics of said burner (1).

8. The burner (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the automatic cleaning of the containment brazier (3) occurs during the operation of said burner (1) so as to allow continuous operation.

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