Additional pellet feeder for pellet stove

Abstract

The invention relates to a supplementary pellet feed device (12) for a pellet stove (10), characterized in that it comprises at least one reservoir (24) which is adapted to contain pellets, a coupling sleeve (52) which extends from the outlet mouth of the reservoir (24), to a lower section intended to be in communication with an inlet orifice (64) of a pellet stove (10), said inlet orifice (64) being connected to a pellet storage tank (22) of said stove (10), and a valve (36) which equips the reservoir (24) and which is mounted to move between a closed position in which the pellets are retained in the reservoir (24) and an open position in which the pellets can flow by gravity to feed the storage tank (22) of the stove (10).

Description

Field of invention

[0001] This patent application relates to the field of pellet stoves and more particularly to a complementary pellet feed device for pellet stoves. State of the art

[0002] A pellet stove, also called a pellet stove, is a heating method that works by burning compressed wood pellets to produce heat.

[0003] Typically, a pellet stove has a pellet storage bin, a firebox and means of evacuating fumes to an extraction duct.

[0004] An auger drives the pellets from the storage bin to the firebox to feed the firebox with pellets.

[0005] The pellets are then burned in the firebox to produce heat which is dissipated by the stove.

[0006] During the heating phase, the pellets automatically feed the fireplace according to the desired power, and the heat is diffused into the room by natural or forced convection.

[0007] Such a pellet stove is for example described and represented in document EP2354654A1.

[0008] Pellet stoves have many advantages, such as high operating efficiency and the ability to regulate the heating temperature by programming.

[0009] However, the autonomy of a pellet stove is limited to its pellet storage capacity, this capacity depending on the volume of the storage bin integrated into the stove.

[0010] For example, a pellet stove that consumes five kilograms of pellets per day and whose storage bin has a capacity of fifteen kilograms can operate for a maximum of three days.

[0011] After this period, an intervention will be necessary to refill the storage bin with pellets. Statement of the invention

[0012] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned above, in particular by increasing the operating time of the pellet stove and reducing the frequency of operations for filling the pellet storage bin.

[0013] This objective, as well as others which will become apparent upon reading the following description, is achieved with a complementary pellet feed device for a pellet stove, characterized in that it comprises at least: a tank which is adapted to contain pellets and which comprises an upper inlet mouth provided for filling the tank with pellets, and a lower outlet mouth provided for the flow of pellets by gravity, a coupling sleeve which extends from a first upper section mounted on the outlet mouth of the tank, to a second lower section provided to be in communication with an inlet of a pellet stove, said inlet being connected to a pellet storage bin of said stove, a valve which is movably mounted on the outlet mouth of the tank, between a closed position in which the pellets are retained in the tank and an open position in which the pellets can flow through the outlet mouth by gravity to feed the storage bin of the stove,and it comprises at least one upper tank and one lower tank which are superimposed and arranged so as to allow the flow of granules from the upper tank to the lower tank.

[0014] Thus, the present invention provides an additional pellet storage tank which allows to increase the heating time of the stove and allows to increase the pellet storage capacity of the feeder.

[0015] According to other optional features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: the coupling sleeve comprises a sole which is intended to be placed on an upper face of the stove, opposite the inlet of the stove, to allow the flow of pellets by gravity from the tank to the pellet storage bin of the stove. The assembly formed by the tank and the sleeve can be easily moved and mounted on the stove, which facilitates the filling of the tank when the latter is empty; the feed device comprises a seal which is mounted on the lower section of the sleeve to ensure the seal between the sleeve and the stove. This feature makes it possible to limit the risks of smoke escaping between the stove and the feed device; the coupling sleeve is removably mounted on the tank.This characteristic makes it possible in particular to facilitate the superposition of several tanks; the tank is equipped with two gripping handles which are provided to facilitate the handling of the tank; the tank has a funnel shape provided to facilitate the flow of granules by gravity; the feeding device comprises a removable cover which covers the inlet mouth of the tank; the feeding device comprises a removable covering hood which encloses the assembly formed by the tank and the sleeve.

[0016] The invention also relates to a pellet stove equipped with a supplementary pellet feed device of the type described above. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a schematic sectional view illustrating a pellet stove equipped with a pellet feed device, according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] is a perspective view of the feed device of the figure 1 ; [ Fig. 3 ] is a front view of the feed device of the figure 1 ; [ Fig. 4 ] is a sectional view along axis 4-4 of the figure 3 , which illustrates the pellet feeder valve in the closed position; [ Fig. 5 ] is a sectional view along axis 4-4 of the figure 3 , which illustrates the pellet feeder valve in the open position; [ Fig. 6 ] is a perspective view of the pellet stove of the figure 1 ; [ Fig. 7 ] is a sectional view illustrating the feeding device having two pellet storage tanks.

[0018] In the description and claims, the expressions "upper", "lower" and "bottom", "top" will be adopted without limitation with reference to the upper part and the lower part respectively of the figure 1 .

[0019] Throughout these figures, identical or similar elements are identified by identical or similar reference signs. Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0020] We have represented schematically in the figure 1 a pellet stove 10 which is equipped with an additional pellet feed device 12, according to the invention.

[0021] The pellet stove 10 comprises a body 14 which contains a hearth 16 in which pellets 18 are burned to produce heat.

[0022] For this purpose, the hearth 16 is supplied with pellets 18 by means of an endless screw 20 which draws the pellets 18 from an internal storage tank 22 of the pellet stove 10.

[0023] Also, the combustion fumes are evacuated through an evacuation duct 21 provided for this purpose.

[0024] The pellet feed device 12 is a device which is complementary to the internal storage bin 22 of the stove 10 and which makes it possible to increase the pellet storage capacity of the stove 10, to increase the operating time of the stove 10.

[0025] For this purpose, with reference to the figures 2 to 4 , the feeding device 12 comprises a reservoir 24 which is adapted to contain pellets.

[0026] In the present exemplary embodiment of the invention, the tank 24 offers a capacity of fifteen kilograms of granules.

[0027] According to the figure 4 , the tank 24 has an upper part 26 which comprises an inlet mouth 28 provided for filling the tank 24 with granules.

[0028] The inlet mouth 28 is covered by a removable cover 30.

[0029] Also, the reservoir 24 has a lower part 32 which forms an outlet mouth 34.

[0030] The lower part 32 of the tank 24 has a funnel shape intended to promote the flow of the granules by gravity through the outlet mouth 34.

[0031] Also, the tank 24 is equipped with a valve 36 which is arranged on the outlet mouth 34 of the tank 24.

[0032] The valve 36 comprises an actuating rod 38 which extends radially along an axis A and which is mounted to rotate freely around the axis A on the outlet mouth 34.

[0033] The rod 38 successively comprises a first external free end 40 equipped with a button 42, an intermediate section 44 which carries a closing disc 46 and a second free end 48 which is pivotally mounted in a housing 50 formed by the outlet mouth 34.

[0034] Disc 46, visible at the Figure 5, has a circular shape complementary to the shape of the outlet mouth 34 of the reservoir 24.

[0035] The valve 36 is capable of being pivoted by actuating the button 42 provided for this purpose, between a closed position illustrated in figure 4 , wherein the pellets contained in the reservoir 24 are retained in the reservoir 24, and an open position shown in Figure 5 , in which the pellets contained in the tank 24 flow through the outlet mouth 34 by gravity, to feed the storage tank 22 of the stove 10.

[0036] In addition, the feeder 12 comprises a coupling sleeve 52 which extends from a first upper section 54 to a second lower section 56.

[0037] The upper section 54 of the sleeve 52 has a cylindrical shape which is fitted onto the outlet mouth 34 of the reservoir 24, in a removable manner.

[0038] In reference to the figures 2 And 4 , the upper edge of the upper section 54 of the sleeve 52 forms two opposite notches 58 which are provided for the passage of the rod 38 of the valve 36.

[0039] Also, the upper section 54 of the sleeve 52 is in abutment against a peripheral annular collar 55 which is integral with the reservoir 24, and which allows the reservoir 24 to rest upright on the sleeve 52.

[0040] In reference to the figure 1 , the sleeve 52 comprises a lower sole 60 which is intended to be placed on an upper face 62 of the stove 10, opposite an inlet orifice 64 of the stove 10.

[0041] The inlet 64 of the stove 10 is connected to the pellet storage bin 22 of the stove 10, to allow the flow of pellets by gravity from the tank 24, to the storage bin 22.

[0042] Thus, the tank 24 can be easily removed from the stove 10 to be filled with pellets when it is empty.

[0043] For this purpose, to facilitate the handling of the tank 24, the latter is equipped with two gripping handles 70 visible at the figure 2 .

[0044] In addition, the sole 60 of the sleeve 52 is equipped with a seal 66 provided to ensure the seal between the sleeve 52 and the upper face 62 of the stove 10, to prevent the escape of any combustion fumes through the inlet orifice 64.

[0045] As can be seen in the figures 1 And 6 , the assembly formed by the tank 24 and the sleeve 52 is hidden under a removable covering cover 68 which is placed on the upper face 62 of the stove 10.

[0046] Advantageously, it is possible to increase the pellet storage capacity offered by the feeding device 12 according to the invention, by stacking several tanks 24.

[0047] In an example illustrated in the figure 7 , the feeding device 12 comprises an upper reservoir 24 and a lower reservoir 24 which are superimposed and nested within each other, and which are arranged so as to allow the flow of granules from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir.

[0048] Such a configuration is permitted by the complementary shape of the reservoirs 24 and in particular by the funnel shape of the lower part 32 of each reservoir 24.

[0049] It should be noted that only the lower tank is equipped with its sleeve 52 while the upper tank is without it.

[0050] Naturally, the invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that those skilled in the art are able to carry out different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Additional pellet feed device (12) for pellet stove (10), characterized in thatit comprises at least: - a tank (24) which is adapted to contain pellets and which comprises an upper inlet mouth (28) provided for filling the tank (24) with pellets, and a lower outlet mouth (34) provided for the flow of pellets by gravity, - a coupling sleeve (52) which extends from a first upper section (54) mounted on the outlet mouth (34) of the tank (24), to a second lower section (56) provided to be in communication with an inlet orifice (64) of a pellet stove (10), said inlet orifice (64) being connected to a storage tank (22) for pellets of said stove (10), and - a valve (36) which is movably mounted on the outlet mouth (34) of the tank (24),between a closed position in which the pellets are retained in the tank (24) and an open position in which the pellets can flow through the outlet mouth (34) by gravity to feed the storage bin (22) of the stove (10), and, in that it comprises at least one upper tank (24) and one lower tank (24) which are superimposed and which are arranged so as to allow the flow of granules from the upper tank to the lower tank.

2. Pellet feeding device (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling sleeve (52) comprises a sole (60) which is intended to be placed on an upper face (62) of the stove (10), opposite the inlet orifice (64) of the stove (10), to allow the flow of pellets by gravity from the tank (24) to the pellet storage bin (22) of the stove (10).

3. Pellet feed device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a sealing gasket (66) which is mounted on the lower section (56) of the sleeve (52) to ensure sealing between the sleeve (52) and the stove (10).

4. Pellet feed device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling sleeve (52) is removably mounted on the tank (24).

5. Pellet feed device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank (24) is equipped with two gripping handles (70) which are provided to facilitate handling of the tank (24).

6. Pellet feed device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank (24) has a funnel shape designed to promote the flow of granules by gravity.

7. Pellet feed device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a removable cover (30) which covers the inlet mouth (28) of the tank (24).

8. Pellet feed device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a removable covering cover (68) which encloses the assembly formed by the reservoir (24) and the sleeve (52).

9. Pellet stove (10) equipped with a complementary pellet feed device (12) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

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