Device and method for converting wood into thermal energy

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1.
A device for burning wood for the purpose of generating thermal energy, said device having a shell enclosing a front to back rectangular elongated chamber having a horizontal plate closing the top thereof, an elongated baffle secured to and forming a seal with the back and sides of said shell and dividing said chamber into a combustion chamber and an exhaust gas passage; the front and major portion of said baffle being parallel with said plate; the front end of said baffle being adjacent to and spaced from the front of said chamber to provide a restricted throat for movement of combustion gases from said combustion chamber into said passage and forming the only discharge opening for gases from said combustion chamber during normal firing mode; a horizontal perforate grate, an ash collecting chamber beneath said grate having means sealing it against entry of combustion air, means for introducing combustion air in controlled amounts into said combustion chamber, said means being the only inlet for combustion air for said combustion chamber and characterized in that it is elongated laterally of the combustion chamber and has a downwardly extending air passage having an elongated slot-like inlet port at the top and a downwardly opening outlet port at the bottom and a directional guide vane below and adjacent to said outlet curved to extend inwardly and discharge rearwardly, the inner end of said vane being parallel to and substantially in the same horizontal plane as to the top of said grate; said outlet port and said vane extending a major portion of the width of the combustion chamber for discharging rearwardly parallel to and substantially the full width of the grate a ribbon-like stream of air substantially at the surface of said grate; a damper for closing said inlet port, adjustable means for controlling the position of said damper.
2.
A device for burning wood as described in claim 1 wherein means are provided for shielding said inlet port against air currents in the adjacent ambient air, said means including a pair of forwardly projecting wings, one at each end of said damper and extending beyond both the top and bottom of said damper