Additional pellet feed system for pellet stoves

Abstract

The invention relates to a supplementary pellet feeding device (12) for a pellet stove (10), characterized in that it comprises at least one reservoir (24) adapted to hold pellets, a coupling sleeve (52) extending from the outlet of the reservoir (24) to a lower section designed to communicate with an inlet port (64) of a pellet stove (10), said inlet port (64) being connected to a pellet storage bin (22) of said stove (10), and a valve (36) fitted to the reservoir (24) and movably mounted 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 bin (22) of the stove (10). (Fig. 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Supplementary pellet feeding device for pellet stoves Scope of the invention

[0001] The present patent application relates to the field of pellet stoves and more particularly to an additional pellet feeding device for pellet stoves. State of the art

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

[0003] Typically, a pellet stove includes a pellet storage bin, a firebox and means for venting fumes to an extraction duct.

[0004] A screw conveys the pellets from the storage bin to the combustion chamber to supply the combustion chamber 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 firebox 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 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 which 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. Description of the invention

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

[0013] This objective, as well as others which will become apparent from the following description, is achieved with a supplementary pellet feeding device for a pellet stove, characterized in that it comprises at least: • a reservoir that is adapted to hold pellets and includes an upper inlet for filling the reservoir with pellets, and a lower outlet for the flow of pellets by gravity, • a coupling sleeve extending from a first upper section mounted on the outlet of the tank, to a second lower section intended to be in communication with an inlet port of a pellet stove, said inlet port being connected to a pellet storage bin of said stove, • a valve that is movable on the outlet of the hopper, between a closed position in which the pellets are retained in the hopper and an open position in which the pellets can flow through the outlet by gravity to feed the stove's storage bin, and • it includes at least one upper reservoir and one lower reservoir which are superimposed and arranged so as to allow the flow of granules from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir.

[0014] Thus, the present invention provides an additional pellet storage tank which increases the heating time of the stove and increases the pellet storage capacity of the feeding device.

[0015] According to other optional features of the invention, taken alone or in combination:

[0016] - the coupling sleeve includes a base which is intended to be placed on the upper surface of the stove, opposite the stove's inlet opening, to allow the pellets to flow by gravity from the hopper to the stove's pellet storage bin. The assembly formed by the hopper and the sleeve can be easily moved and mounted on the stove, which facilitates refilling the hopper when it is empty;

[0017] - the feeding device includes a sealing gasket which is mounted on the lower section of the sleeve to ensure a seal between the sleeve and the stove. This feature helps to limit the risk of smoke escaping between the stove and the supply device;

[0018] - the coupling sleeve is removably mounted on the tank. This This characteristic notably allows for the superposition of several tanks;

[0019] - the tank is equipped with two gripping handles which are intended to facilitate handling of the tank;

[0020] - the reservoir has a funnel shape designed to promote the flow of granules by gravity;

[0021] - the feeding device includes a removable cover which caps the inlet of the tank;

[0022] - the power supply device includes a removable cover which encloses the assembly formed by the reservoir and the sleeve.

[0023] The invention also relates to a pellet stove equipped with an additional pellet feeding device of the type described above. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0025] [Fig-1] is a schematic sectional view illustrating a pellet stove equipped of a pellet feeding device, according to the invention;

[0026] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the power supply device of [Fig.1];

[0027] [Fig.3] is a front view of the feeding device of the [Fig.1];

[0028] [Fig.4] is a sectional view along axis 4-4 of [Fig.3], which illustrates the flap of the pellet feeding device in closed position;

[0029] [Fig.5] is a sectional view along axis 4-4 of [Fig.3], which illustrates the flap of the pellet feeding device in open position;

[0030] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the pellet stove in [Fig.1];

[0031] [Fig.7] is a sectional view illustrating the feeding device comprising two pellet storage tanks.

[0032] In the description and claims, the expressions "upper", "lower" and "bottom", "top" shall be adopted without limitation with reference to the upper and lower parts respectively of [Fig.1].

[0033] Throughout all these figures, identical or similar elements are identified by identical or similar reference signs.

[0034] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0035] Figure [Fig.1] schematically represents a pellet stove 10 which is equipped with a supplementary pellet feeding device 12, according to the invention.

[0036] The pellet stove 10 comprises a body 14 which contains a firebox 16 in which pellets 18 are burned to produce heat.

[0037] For this purpose, the firebox 16 is supplied with pellets 18 by means of an auger 20 which draws the pellets 18 from an internal storage bin 22 of the pellet stove 10.

[0038] Also, the combustion fumes are evacuated through an evacuation duct 21 provided for this purpose.

[0039] The pellet feeding device 12 is a device which is complementary to the internal storage bin 22 of the stove 10 and which allows the pellet storage capacity of the stove 10 to be increased, in order to increase the operating time of the stove 10.

[0040] For this purpose, with reference to figures 2 to 4, the feeding device 12 includes a reservoir 24 which is adapted to hold granules.

[0041] In the present embodiment of the invention, the reservoir 24 offers a capacity of fifteen kilograms of granules.

[0042] According to [Fig.4], the reservoir 24 has an upper part 26 which includes an inlet mouth 28 provided for filling the reservoir 24 with granules.

[0043] The inlet 28 is capped by a removable cover 30.

[0044] Also, the reservoir 24 has a lower part 32 which forms an outlet mouth 34.

[0045] The lower part 32 of the reservoir 24 has a funnel shape designed to promote the flow of granules by gravity through the outlet mouth 34.

[0046] Also, the tank 24 is equipped with a valve 36 which is arranged on the outlet mouth 34 of the tank 24.

[0047] The valve 36 includes 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.

[0048] The rod 38 successively comprises a first external free end 40 equipped with a button 42, an intermediate section 44 which carries a sealing disc 46 and a second free end 48 which is pivotally mounted in a housing 50 formed by the outlet mouth 34.

[0049] The disc 46, visible in [Fig.5], has a circular shape complementary to the shape of the outlet mouth 34 of the reservoir 24.

[0050] The flap 36 is capable of being pivoted by actuation of the button 42 provided for this purpose, between a closed position illustrated in [Fig.4], in which the pellets contained in the reservoir 24 are retained in the reservoir 24, and an open position illustrated in [Fig.5], in which the pellets contained in the reservoir 24 flow through the outlet 34 by gravity, to feed the storage bin 22 of the stove 10.

[0051] In addition, the feeding device 12 includes a coupling sleeve 52 which extends from a first upper section 54 to a second lower section 56.

[0052] 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.

[0053] With reference to figures 2 and 4, the upper edge of the upper section 54 of the sleeve 52 forms two opposing notches 58 which are provided for the passage of the rod 38 of the valve 36.

[0054] Also, the upper section 54 of the sleeve 52 is in contact with 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.

[0055] With reference to [Fig.1], the sleeve 52 includes a lower base 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.

[0056] The inlet port 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 reservoir 24 to the storage bin 22.

[0057] Thus, the reservoir 24 can be easily removed from the stove 10 to be filled with pellets when it is empty.

[0058] To this end, to facilitate the handling of the reservoir 24, the latter is equipped with two gripping handles 70 visible in [Fig.2].

[0059] In addition, the base 60 of the sleeve 52 is equipped with a sealing gasket 66 intended to ensure a 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.

[0060] As can be seen in figures 1 and 6, the assembly formed by the reservoir 24 and the sleeve 52 is hidden under a removable cover 68 which is placed on the upper face 62 of the stove 10.

[0061] 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.

[0062] In an example illustrated in [Fig.7], the feeding device 12 comprises an upper reservoir 24 and a lower reservoir 24 which are superimposed and nested one inside the other, and which are arranged to allow the flow of granules from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir.

[0063] Such a configuration is made possible by the complementary shape of the reservoirs 24 and in particular by the funnel shape of the lower part 32 of each reservoir 24.

[0064] It should be noted that only the lower reservoir is equipped with its sleeve 52, while the upper reservoir is not.

[0065] Naturally, the invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A supplementary pellet feeding device (12) for a pellet stove (10), characterized in that it comprises at least: - a reservoir (24) adapted to hold pellets and comprising an upper inlet (28) for filling the reservoir (24) with pellets, and a lower outlet (34) for gravity discharge of the pellets; - a coupling sleeve (52) extending from a first upper section (54) mounted on the outlet (34) of the reservoir (24) to a second lower section (56) designed to communicate with an inlet (64) of a pellet stove (10), said inlet (64) being connected to a pellet storage bin (22) of said stove (10); and - a valve (36) movablely mounted on the outlet (34) of the reservoir (24),between a closed position in which the pellets are retained in the reservoir (24) and an open position in which the pellets can flow through the outlet (34) by gravity to feed the storage bin (22) of the stove (10), and in that it comprises at least one upper reservoir (24) and one lower reservoir (24) which are superimposed and which are arranged so as to allow the flow of pellets from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir.

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Pellet stove (10) equipped with an additional pellet feeding device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.