DUAL MODE OF OPERATION FIREPLACES FOR OPERATION IN VENTED OR UNVENTED MODE

摘要

A novel dual mode of operation gas fireplace ofthe type having a combustion chamber box and a heatexchanger is provided with a burner in the bottom of thecombustion chamber box which creates exhaust gasses to bepassed out of the combustion chamber box and into or throughthe heat exchanger portion of the fireplace mounted on topof or back of the combustion chamber box. The hot exhaustgasses leaving the combustion chamber box may be directedinto an exhaust stack or diverted directly into the room tobe heated by a blower motor which diverts hot exhaust gasproducts from the heat exchanger directly into a room areato be heated in a ventless mode of operation. When theblower motor which diverts the exhaust gasses into the roomis deactivated, the novel fireplace may be operated in avented mode of operation. The feature of the presentinvention is that the novel fireplace may be operated inboth the dual modes of operation simultaneously to achievegreater efficiencies than could be achieved by operating thefireplace in a vented mode of operation alone.