FIREPLACE INSERT
A fireplace insert comprising: a gas burner, a fuel/air control valve coupled to the gas burner, a blower coupled to the gas burner, and a controller coupled to the fuel/air control valve and the blower; wherein the controller controls at least one operational parameter of the fuel/air control valve and the blower to produce a flame pattern generated by the gas burner. A method of manufacturing is also provided.
1 . A fireplace insert, comprising:
a gas burner;
a fuel/air control valve coupled to said gas burner;
a blower coupled to said gas burner; and
a controller coupled to said fuel/air control valve and said blower wherein said controller controls at least one operational parameter of said fuel/air control valve and said blower to produce a flame pattern generated by said gas burner.
2 . The fireplace insert as recited in claim 1 wherein said gas burner has a geometric cross section.
3 . The fireplace insert as recited in claim 2 wherein said gas burner is configured to provide a flame pattern that has a similar flame cross section to said geometric cross section.
4 . The fireplace insert as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one operational parameter of said fuel/air control valve and said blower is selected from the group consisting of:
a fuel velocity;
an air velocity;
a fuel/air ratio; and
an equivalence ratio.
5 . The fireplace insert as recited in claim 4 wherein said equivalence ratio is defined as (F/A) actual divided by (F/A) stoichiometric .
6 . The fireplace insert as recited in claim 1 wherein said fuel/air control valve is coupled to multiple burners.
7 . The fireplace insert as recited in claim 1 wherein said gas burner is a first gas burner and said fireplace insert further comprising second and third gas burners coupled to said fuel/air controller.
8 . The fireplace insert as recited in claim 1 wherein said gas burner, said fuel/air control valve, said blower, and said controller are a first gas burner, a first fuel/air control valve, a first blower, and a first controller, respectively; and wherein said first fuel/air control valve, and said first blower are coupled to said first gas burner and said first controller is coupled to said first fuel/air control valve, and said fireplace insert further comprising:
a second gas burner;
a second fuel/air control valve coupled to said second gas burner;
a second blower coupled to said second gas burner; and
a second controller coupled to said second fuel/air control valve wherein said second controller controls at least one operation parameter of said second fuel/air control valve and said second blower to provide a second flame pattern generated by said second gas burner.
9 . The fireplace insert as recited in claim 8 wherein said at least one operational parameter of said second fuel/air control valve and said second blower is selected from the group consisting of:
a fuel velocity;
an air velocity;
a fuel/air ratio; and
an equivalence ratio.
10 . The fireplace insert as recited in claim 8 wherein said first and second control valves are coupled to multiple burners.
11 . A method of manufacturing a fireplace insert, comprising:
providing a gas burner;
coupling a fuel/air control valve to said gas burner;
coupling a blower to said gas burner; and
coupling a controller to said fuel/air control valve and said blower wherein said controller controls at least one operational parameter of said fuel/air control valve and said blower to produce a flame pattern generated by said gas burner.
12 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein providing includes providing a gas burner having a geometric cross section.
13 . The method as recited in claim 12 wherein providing includes providing a gas burner that has a similar flame cross section to said geometric cross section.
14 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein coupling a controller includes coupling a controller wherein said at least one operational parameter of said fuel/air control valve and said blower is selected from the group consisting of:
a fuel velocity;
an air velocity;
a fuel/air ratio; and
an equivalence ratio.
15 . The method as recited in claim 14 wherein said equivalence ratio is defined as (F/A) actual divided by (F/A) stoichiometric .
16 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein coupling a fuel/air control valve includes coupling a fuel/air control valve wherein said fuel/air control valve is coupled to multiple burners.
17 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said gas burner is a first gas burner and said method further comprising coupling second and third gas burners to said fuel/air controller.
18 . The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said gas burner, said fuel/air control valve, said blower, and said controller are a first gas burner, a first fuel/air control valve, a first blower, and a first controller, respectively; and said method further comprising:
providing a second gas burner;
coupling a second fuel/air control valve to said second gas burner;
coupling a second blower to said second gas burner; and
coupling a second controller to said second fuel/air control valve wherein said second controller controls at least one operation parameter of said second fuel/air control valve and said second blower to provide a second flame pattern generated by said second gas burner.
19 . The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said at least one operational parameter of said second fuel/air control valve and said second blower is selected from the group consisting of:
a fuel velocity;
an air velocity;
a fuel/air ratio; and
an equivalence ratio.
20 . The method as recited in claim 18 further comprising coupling said first and second control valves to multiple burners.