Automatic firewood feeding device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10612787-B2
Application number	US-201715744968-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2017
Priority date	Aug 15, 2016
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an automatic feeding device that can automatically feed a material to a target place. The device comprises a rack, at least one locking member which are attached onto the rack, and a controller. Each of the at least one locking members is configured to maintain a bundle of the material onto the rack in a locked state, and to release the bundle of the material from the rack in an unlocked state; and the controller is coupled to, and configured to control, each of the at least one locking member to be in the unlocked state based on a feeding command. The material can be firewood, and the target place can be a fire, and the device as such can further include a temperature sensor, disposed on the rack and coupled to the controller.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for automatically feeding a material to a target place, comprising:
a rack;
at least one locking member, attached onto the rack; and
a controller;
wherein:
each of the at least one locking members is configured to maintain a bundle of the material onto the rack in a locked state, and to release the bundle of the material from the rack in an unlocked state;
the controller is coupled to, and configured to control, each of the at least one locking member to be in the unlocked state based on a feeding command;
the material is firewood, and the target place is a fire;
the rack comprises at least one main support portion and at least one fastening portion;
the at least one main support portion stands on a ground and beside the fire;

each of the at least one fastening portion is mounted onto the at least one main support portion and is configured to fasten a bundle of firewood thereonto; and
one of the at least one locking member is attached onto each of the at least one fastening portion.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor, disposed on the rack and coupled to the controller, wherein:
the temperature sensor is configured to detect, and send to the controller, a temperature of air in a proximity of the fire; and
the controller is further configured to generate the feeding command if the temperature of the fire detected by the temperature sensor is smaller than or equal to a first temperature threshold value.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the first temperature threshold value is in a range of around 150° C.-250° C.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a timer, configured to trigger the controller to generate a feeding command at a preselected time interval.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one main support portion comprises two and more main support portions in parallel to one another; and
the at least one fastening portion is disposed between two adjacent main support portions.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein:
each of the at least one fastening portion comprises a crossbeam; and
each of the at least one locking member comprises a rope, attached to a crossbeam corresponding thereto, wherein the rope is configured:
to be wound around a bundle of firewood to thereby fasten the bundle of firewood on the crossbeam in the locked state; and
to be loosened to thereby release the bundle of firewood from the crossbeam in the unlocked state.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein each of the at least one locking member further comprises a rotary motor, wherein:
the rotary motor is coupled to the controller, and is configured to rotate in a first direction in the locked state and to rotate in a second direction in the unlocked state;
the rope is configured to have one end thereof mounted onto the crossbeam and another end thereof bound onto the crossbeam through a slipknot in the locked state, wherein the another end is wound around a rotating axis of the rotary motor such that:
rotation of the rotary motor in the first direction tightens the rope to thereby fasten the bundle of firewood on the crossbeam in the locked state; and
rotation of the rotary motor in the second direction pulls open the slipknot to thereby release the bundle of firewood from the crossbeam in the unlocked state.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein each the at least one locking member further comprises two electromagnets, wherein:
one of the two electromagnets is attached to one end of the rope, and another one of the two electromagnets is mounted onto the crossbeam;
the two electromagnets are coupled to the controller, and are configured:
to be charged to attract each other to thereby fasten the bundle of firewood on the crossbeam in the locked state; and
to be uncharged to lose attraction to each other to thereby release the bundle of firewood from the crossbeam in the unlocked state.

9. The device of claim 5 , wherein each of the at least one fastening portion comprises a support panel, wherein:
the support panel is hinged on, and have a hinge axis perpendicular to, two adjacent main support portions; and
the support panel is configured to be in a position fastening the bundle of firewood thereon in the locked state, and to rotate around the hinge axis in one direction to thereby release the bundle of firewood therefrom in the unlocked state.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein each of the at least one locking member comprises a rotary motor, wherein:
the rotary motor is attached to the support panel and is configured to rotate to thereby carry the support panel to rotate around the hinge axis thereof; and
the rotary motor is coupled to the controller and is configured to rotate in the one direction in the unlocked state.

11. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an alarming device, wherein:
the alarming device is coupled to the controller, and is configured to generate an alarm upon receiving an alarming command from the controller; and
the controller is further configured to generate an alarming command if the temperature of the fire detected by the temperature sensor is smaller than or equal to a second temperature threshold value.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the second temperature threshold value is in a range of around 45° C.-60° C.

13. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one guiding member, wherein:
each of the at least one guiding member is disposed between the fire and the rack such that one end thereof pointing to the rack is placed higher than another end thereof pointing to the fire; and
each of the at least one guiding member is configured to guide the bundle of firewood released from the rack to roll into the fire.

14. The device of claim 13 , further comprising at least one baffle board, wherein:
each of the at least one baffle board is disposed on a ground, in a guiding direction of one guiding member, and at a side of the fire opposing to the rack, and is configured to baffle the bundle of firewood rolling off the one guiding member to thereby prevent the bundle of firewood from falling off the fire.

15. A device for automatically feeding a material to a target place, comprising:
a rack;
at least one locking member, attached onto the rack; and
a controller;
wherein:
each of the at least one locking members is configured to maintain a bundle of the material onto the rack in a locked state, and to release the bundle of the material from the rack in an unlocked state;
the controller is coupled to, and configured to control, each of the at least one locking member to be in the unlocked state based on a feeding command; and

the material is firewood, and the target place is a fire;
the device further comprising at least one ancillary support bar, wherein:
each of the at least one ancillary support bar is disposed on a side of the rack opposing to the fire such that one end thereof attaching the rack is higher than another end thereof touching the ground; and
each of the at least one ancillary support bar is configured to support the rack.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one main support portion is configured to have an adjustable length.

17. The device of claim 5 , wherein:
the at least one main support portion comprises three and more main support portions in parallel to one another; and
the at least one fastening portion is disposed between every two adjacent main support portions,
wherein:
every two adjacent planes formed by each three adjacent main support

Assignees

• Boe Technology Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wang Chongshan
• Yang Qi

Classifications

• F23B50/02

  the fuel forming a column, stack or thick layer with the combustion zone at its bottom · CPC title

• F23K3/16 Primary

  Over-feed arrangements · CPC title

• F24B13/04 Primary

  Arrangements for feeding solid fuel, e.g. hoppers · CPC title