GB1113209A - Improvements in or relating to simulated fires - Google Patents

Abstract

1,113,209. Imitation solid fuel fires. BERRY'S ELECTRIC MAGICOAL Ltd. 20 Sept., 1966 [21 Sept., 1965; 31 Jan., 1966], Nos. 40198/65 and 4136/66. Heading F4W. In a gas or electric fire simulating solid fuel, the effect of dancing flames is obtained by means of coloured light bulbs 18 the light from which is reflected off a reflector element 20 which is of openwork construction and is rotated about a horizontal axis by an electric motor 32. The reflector element 20 comprises an even number of zig-zag reflector vanes 22 spaced from a central axis 24, and attached to discs 40 at the ends of the axis 24. The vanes may be bent transversely at angles not less than 120 degrees and may be given a slight helical twist about the axis (Fig. 5). The teeth of adjacent vanes are staggered (Fig. 6). The vanes may be formed from a single folded sheet by cutting out V-shaped pieces (Fig. 10, 11). A corrugated reflector (36, Fig. 3) which may be curved (Fig. 13) is placed behind the reflector element 20. The light is reflected on to a partially translucent screen which may simulate a coal, coke or log fire; the lamps may be coloured orange, red or blue as required, and a white bulb shining on to portions of the vanes painted or anodized blue may be used. Synthetic plastic lenses may be added to the vanes to concentrate the light. The screen is formed of transparent polyester resin which has a roughed or scoured surface to render it translucent. The reflector element may be rotated at variable speeds by means of a variable-speed friction drive (Fig. 12).