Fire pit with infrared emitter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10684020-B2
Application number	US-201716317398-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2017
Priority date	Jul 14, 2016
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a multi-heat source fire pit apparatus. The fire pit apparatus is configured to provide ambient heating with both convection heat transfer and radiation heat transfer. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus comprises an infrared emitter for generating infrared radiation. The multi-heat source fire pit comprises a shielding member between a heat source for the convection heat transfer and another heat source for radiation heat transfer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-heat source fire pit apparatus comprising:
a fire pit housing configured to produce ambient heating, the fire pit housing comprising a planar member with lateral side members extending vertically from the planar member, the planar member defining opposing first and second lateral ends in a first direction and a proximal end and an opposing distal end in a direction transverse to the first direction, the planar member with the lateral side members forming a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the second compartment is configured to receive a fuel tank;
an infrared (IR) emitter positioned in the first compartment and configured to emit IR radiation; and
a burner assembly positioned within the planar member and configured to produce an open flame by combusting fuel received from the fuel tank,
wherein the lateral side members are positioned proximate the IR emitter, and
wherein the lateral side members include one or more apertures structured to allow propagation of IR radiation emitted from the IR emitter.

2. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the burner assembly provides convection heat transfer and/or conduction heat transfer.

3. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fire pit housing comprises a first shielding member configured to at least partially shield the burner assembly from IR radiation emitted by the IR emitter.

4. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first shielding member comprises a reflective coating on a surface proximate to the IR emitter, wherein the reflective coating is structured to reflect incident IR radiation from the IR emitter into the fuel tank.

5. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the fire pit housing comprises a third shielding member that is arranged opposite the first shielding member, and
wherein the third shielding member is structured to inhibit IR radiation emitted by the IR emitter from propagating therethrough.

6. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the IR emitter is structured to produce a first ambient temperature at a predetermined location at a first distance away from the multi-heat source fire pit apparatus; and
the first ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a second ambient temperature produced by convection heat transfer from the burner assembly at the predetermined location.

7. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the IR emitter comprises a filament and a concave trough.

8. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the IR emitter is configured to convert electrical energy into IR radiation.

9. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the IR emitter is configured to convert energy from fuel in the fuel tank into IR radiation.

10. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fire pit housing is structured to inhibit propagation of IR radiation from the IR emitter along first, second and third inhibiting directions, wherein the third inhibiting direction is approximately 180 degrees relative to the first inhibiting direction and the second inhibiting direction is approximately 90 degrees relative to the first and third inhibiting directions.

11. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fire pit housing comprises a second shielding member between the infrared (IR) emitter and the fuel tank, wherein the second shielding member located between the first and second compartment is structured to inhibit IR radiation emitted by the IR emitter from propagating therethrough.

12. A multi-heat source fire pit apparatus comprising:
a fire pit housing configured to produce ambient heating, the fire pit housing comprising a planar member with lateral side members extending vertically from the planar member, the planar member with the lateral side members forming a compartment configured to receive a fuel tank;
an infrared (IR) emitter positioned in the compartment with the fuel tank, the IR emitter configured to emit IR radiation; and
a burner assembly positioned above at least a portion of the compartment, the burner assembly being structured to produce an open flame by combusting fuel received from the fuel tank,
wherein the fire pit housing comprises a first shielding member between the burner assembly and the compartment,
wherein the first shielding member is configured to at least partially shield the burner assembly from IR radiation emitted by the IR emitter,
wherein the lateral side members are positioned proximate to the IR emitter, and
wherein the lateral side members include one or more apertures structured to allow propagation of IR radiation emitted from the IR emitter.

13. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the burner assembly provides convection heat transfer and/or conduction heat transfer.

14. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first shielding member between the burner assembly and the compartment comprises a reflective coating on a surface proximate to the IR emitter, and
wherein the reflective coating is configured to reflect incident IR radiation from the IR emitter into the compartment.

15. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:
the IR emitter is configured to produce a first ambient temperature at a predetermined location at a first distance away from the multi-heat source fire pit apparatus; and
the first ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a second ambient temperature produced by convection heat transfer from the burner assembly at the predetermined location.

16. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the IR emitter comprises a filament and a concave trough.

17. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the IR emitter is configured to convert electrical energy into IR radiation.

18. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the IR emitter is configured to convert energy from fuel in the fuel tank into IR radiation.

19. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the fire pit housing is configured to inhibit propagation of IR radiation from the IR emitter along first, second and third inhibiting directions, and
wherein the third inhibiting direction is approximately 180 degrees relative to the first inhibiting direction and the second inhibiting direction is approximately 90 degrees relative to the first and third inhibiting directions.

20. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the fire pit housing comprises a second shielding member located between the IR emitter and the fuel tank to inhibit IR radiation emitted by the IR emitter from propagating therethrough to a vicinity of the fuel tank.

21. The multi-heat source fire pit apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the fire pit housing comprises a third shielding member that is arranged opposite the first shielding member, wherein the third shielding member is configured to inhibit IR radiation emitted by the IR emitter from propagating therethrough.

22. A fire pit apparatus comprising:
a fire pit housing configured to produce ambient heating, the fire pit housing comprising a planar member having lateral side members configured to form at least one compartment, configured to receive a fuel tank;
an infrared (IR) emitter positioned in the at least one compartm

Assignees

• Mr Bar B Q Products Llc

Inventors

• Dobias Scott F

Classifications

• F24C7/105

  Stoves · CPC title

• F24C1/14

  Radiation heating stoves and ranges, with additional provision for convection heating · CPC title

• F24C7/043

  Stoves · CPC title

• F24C1/04 Primary

  simultaneously · CPC title

• F24C7/046

  Ranges · CPC title