Gas fired heating appliance with safety release door mechanism

Abstract

A gas fired heating appliance comprising a chassis, a firebox having an interior cavity having a gas burner and an opening communicating the interior of the firebox with an environment external to the appliance, a door for enclosing the opening, and at least one track member. The track member has a retracted position and an elongated extended position, and also has a first end secured to the chassis or the firebox and a second end engaging the door. When in its retracted position the track member positions the door to enclose and seal the opening. When in its extended position the track member retains the door in a position outwardly off-set from the firebox adjacent the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas fired heating appliance comprising:
 a chassis;   a firebox having an interior cavity having a gas burner, said firebox including an opening communicating the interior of the firebox with an environment external to the appliance;   a door for enclosing the opening; and   at least one track member, said track member having a retracted position and an elongated extended position, said track member having a first end secured to said chassis or said firebox and a second end engaging said door, when in said retracted position said track member positioning said door to enclose and seal said opening, when in said extended position said track member retaining said door in a position outwardly off-set from the firebox adjacent said opening.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 1  including one or more latches that when engaged with said door releasably secure said door about the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said door, when retained outwardly off-set from the firebox by said track member, is generally parallel to the adjacent face of the appliance. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said door includes a frame, said frame generally rectangular having two side portions, a top portion and a bottom portion, said appliance including two track members, with one track member engaging each side portion of said frame. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said door includes a frame, said frame generally rectangular having two side portions, a top portion and a bottom portion, said appliance including two track members, with one track member engaging each of the top and bottom portions of the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said second ends of said track members include hooks that receive complimentary shaped pins on said frame, said pins releasably receivable within said hooks to effectively hang said door from said second ends of said track members. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said frame includes mounts for a decorative feature, displacement of said door to said outwardly off-set position causing a corresponding displacement of said decorative feature. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said decorative feature comprises a decorative door or screen. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said track member comprises telescoping inner and outer rails and a stopper preventing separation of said inner and outer rails when said track member is moved to said extended position. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said track member includes one or more friction inducers to retard movement of said track member to said extended position. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said friction inducers are one or more springs. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said one or more latches disengage said door upon the pressure within said firebox exceeding a predetermined value, thereby permitting said track members to move to said extended position such that said door no longer encloses said opening and permitting a dissipation of internal pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said track member comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         14 . A gas fired heating appliance comprising:
 a chassis;   a firebox having an open front enclosed by a door, the door including a viewing window and a frame;   a gas burner; and   one or more track members, said track members having a retracted position and an elongated extended position, said track members having first ends secured to said chassis or said firebox and second ends engaging said frame of said door, when in said retracted position said track members positioning said door so as to enclose said front of said firebox, when in said extended position said track members retaining said door in a position outwardly off-set from said firebox, said track members movable from said retracted position toward said extended position through the application of firebox pressure, elevated beyond a pre-determined value, to said door.   
     
     
         15 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 14  further including one or more latches engageable with said frame to releasably secure said door about the front of the firebox. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said track members are pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said track members include one or more friction inducers to retard movement of said track members to said extended position. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said one or more friction inducers are one or more springs. 
     
     
         19 . A gas fired heating appliance comprising:
 a chassis;   a firebox having a pressure release openings therein;   a door associated with said pressure release opening, said door having a closed position wherein it effectively seals said pressure release opening to prevent or limit the flow of gases through said pressure release opening, said door having a displaced position wherein gases from within said firebox are allowed to flow through said pressure release opening;   one or more track members associated with said door, said track members having a retracted position and an extended position, said track members having a first end secured to said chassis or said firebox and a second end engaging said door, when in said retracted position said track members positioning said door such that said door encloses said pressure release opening, when in said extended position said track members retaining said door in a position outwardly off-set from said firebox, said track members comprising two or more telescoping members that telescope when said track members are moved between said retracted and said elongated positions; and   biasing means to bias said track members to said retracted position.   
     
     
         20 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said pressure release opening is positioned in the back, top, bottom or side surfaces of said firebox. 
     
     
         21 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said door is generally rectangular and said appliance includes two track members, one track member engaging a first side of said rectangular door and the other track member engaging an opposite second side of said rectangular door. 
     
     
         22 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said biasing means comprises one or more springs, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, or belleville washers. 
     
     
         23 . The appliance as claimed in  claims 19  having a single track member engaging said door, said track member comprising a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder body and a cylinder rod, said cylinder rod including a lateral support member extending outwardly from opposite sides of said rod at approximately 90 degrees, said cylinder body mounted to said firebox and said door mounted to said lateral support member. 
     
     
         24 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said second ends of said track members include hooks that receive complimentary shaped pins on said door, said pins releasably receivable within said hooks to effectively hang said door from said second ends of said track members. 
     
     
         25 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 24  wherein said door encloses an open front of said firebox and includes mounts for a decorative feature, displacement of said door to said outwardly off-set position causing a corresponding displacement of said decorative feature.