Individual Fireplace Combustion Floor Access for Air Box Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing individual fireplaces with grates for solid fuel combustion are difficult to maintain due to the need for additional maintenance hatches, complicating the design and visual appearance.

Innovation Solution

A single fireplace design with a combustion chamber floor that opens to access an air guiding box, allowing maintenance without additional hatches, and includes control devices for primary and secondary combustion air, with a removable floor element and fluid-tight separation, enabling easy access and maintenance of internal components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an additional maintenance hatch is added to access the air duct box, then accessibility for maintenance work is improved, but device complexity and visual appearance are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility for maintenance workVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The combustion chamber floor is designed to serve dual purposes: it acts as the base of the combustion chamber during operation and as an access door to the air duct box during maintenance. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate maintenance hatches, reducing device complexity while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the combustion chamber floor with the air duct box access door into a single component. By combining these two previously separate elements, the design eliminates additional maintenance hatches and simplifies the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If control devices are installed in the air duct box, then combustion air control functionality is improved, but accessibility for maintenance is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion air control functionalityVSAvoidaccessibility for maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The combustion chamber floor serves as both the operational base and the maintenance access door. When opened, it provides direct access to the air duct box where control devices are installed, ensuring that enhanced functionality does not compromise maintenance accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The removable floor elements act as intermediaries that can be taken away to provide access to the air duct box. This allows control devices to be installed in the air duct box while maintaining ease of access through the floor opening mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the combustion chamber floor is made removable, then accessibility to air duct box is improved, but structural integrity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility to air duct boxVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The combustion chamber floor is segmented into a fixed portion and removable floor elements. This segmentation allows parts of the floor to be removed for access to the air duct box while the remaining fixed portions maintain the structural integrity of the combustion chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the combustion chamber floor have different properties: the fixed portions provide structural strength and support, while the removable floor elements provide access functionality. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between accessibility and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Simplifies maintenance by eliminating the need for additional hatches, improves design aesthetics, and ensures easy access and efficient control of combustion air volumes, enhancing overall usability and accessibility.

Implementation Method 1

During combustion, the fuel is first gasified into fuel gas at high temperatures by adding primary combustion air containing oxygen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGasification:

Implementation Method 2

The fuel gas is then further oxidized as a mixed gas together with secondary combustion air containing additional oxygen, thus producing exhaust gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP4092323B1Individual burner with a combustion chamber base
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 ULRICH BRUNNER OFEN UND HEIZTECHN FUR GUSS UND STAHLKONSTRUKTIONEN MBH
  • EP4092323B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4092323B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4092323B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a single fireplace for burning fuel, such as firewood, with a combustion chamber for receiving the fuel, which is bounded at the bottom by a combustion chamber floor, and an air supply device for supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber, wherein the air supply device is designed with an air supply box which is arranged under the combustion chamber floor, and the combustion chamber floor is designed to be opened from the combustion chamber in order to allow access to the air supply box.