Wood burning fireplace assembly with automatic igniter

Abstract

A fireplace assembly having a firebox, an igniter assembly coupled to the firebox and containing a heating element, a first portion of the igniter assembly extending through an aperture in a firebox wall, the igniter assembly having a first connector coupled to the heating element and coupleable to power source, and having a second connector coupleable to an air source and positioned to provide air flow through the igniter assembly over the heating element and into the firebox. A controller is operatively coupled to the igniter assembly and a temperature sensor. The controller controls operation of the heating element, the temperature sensor, and the air flow through the igniter assembly, and can activate and deactivate the igniter assembly based upon the temperature within the firebox.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A fireplace assembly for providing fire burning solid combustible fuel material, comprising:
 a firebox having walls that define an interior area;   an igniter assembly coupled to the firebox and containing a heating element, the igniter assembly having an ignition end extending through an aperture in one wall and being positioned in direct communication with the interior area, wherein the fuel material can be immediately adjacent to the ignition end, the igniter assembly having a rear portion exterior of the fire box, the rear portion having a first connector coupled to the heating element and coupleable to power source, and having a second connector coupleable to an air source and positioned to provide air flow over the heating element and out of the ignition end and into the firebox for impingement with the combustible fuel;   a temperature sensor connected to the igniter assembly and configured to monitor the temperature within the firebox; and   a controller operatively coupled to the igniter assembly and the temperature sensor, the controller controlling operation of the heating element, the temperature sensor, and the air flow through the igniter assembly, wherein the controller can activate and deactivate the igniter assembly based upon the temperature within the firebox as sensed by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         2 . A wood-burning fireplace assembly, comprising:
 a fireplace housing containing a firebox defined by a plurality of walls sealably interconnected to define an interior area configured to contain solid combustible fuel material for burning in the firebox;   An igniter assembly is coupled to the firebox and configured to ignite the solid combustible fuel within the interior area so as to start a fire in the interior area or to keep the fire going within the firebox, the igniter assembly includes a mounting assembly attached to one of the plurality of walls of the firebox, and an igniter is connected to and supported by the mounting assembly in a selected location and orientation relative to the interior area, the igniter having an ignition end that extends through an aperture in the one wall, such that the ignition end is located in direct communication with the interior area, a rear portion of the igniter is exterior of the fire box and mounted to the mounting assembly, the rear portion of the igniter has electrical connectors configured to couple the igniter to a power source, and the rear portion of the igniter has a nipple configured to attach to an air line coupled to an air source, and the air line is mounted to a support structure attached to the one wall of the firebox  16 , wherein the air supply is configured to blow air through the air line, through the nipple, and through the igniter so the air flows over the heating element upon activation of the igniter assembly, wherein the air flow passing over the heating element is directed out of the igniter's ignition end, thereby driving superheated air into the firebox and against the solid combustible fuel;   A controller operatively coupled to the igniter and the air supply, the controller being configured to control operation of the igniter assembly, the controller having a plurality of operation modes of the igniter assembly, and   A temperature sensor connected to the igniter assembly and coupled to the controller and configured to monitor the temperature within the firebox, wherein the controller can activate or deactivate the igniter based upon the temperature within the firebox as sensed by the temperature sensor.