GB2066945A

GB2066945A - Solid fuel effect gas fires

Info

Publication number: GB2066945A
Application number: GB8000569A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-01-08
Filing date: 1980-01-08
Publication date: 1981-07-15

Abstract

A base member (1) suitable for use as part of a solid fuel effect gas fire comprises an open topped tray for containing a quantity of refractory particulate material, a duct (2) extends upwardly from the tray and the bore of the duct is in communication with the underside of the tray and means (7) are provided for diverting air flowing beneath the tray into the duct. <IMAGE>

Description

horizontal with a space beneath the underside of the plate. Air flows beneath the plate and some of the air flows from the space into the bore 3 of the or each tube but much of the air passes directly beneath the plate and does not enter into the bore of the tube. To increase the quantity of air which enters into the tubes, means are provided in the underside of the plate to act as a diverter to increase the quantity of air which is diverted into the bore of the or each tube.

In Figure 1, two tubes are provided and, on the two sides and at the rear of the underside of the plate, a wall 4 is provided. This wall does not extend to the ground on which the base member is mounted because this would prevent the air from flowing beneath the plate 1. The wall 4 serves to direct some of the air flowing beneath the plate into the bores of the two tubes.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2, a separate air diverter is provided for each of the tubes. Each diverter 5 is of arcuate form and is positioned on the underside of the plate and to the rear and at each side of each tube. The diverters may be attached to the plate or may be pressed from the plane of the plate.

in the arrangement of Figure 3, the upstanding wall 6 is shown and each diverter is a sheet metal member 7 of part spherical form which is secured to the underside of the plate. The plate is mounted on feet 1' arranged conveniently at each corner.

The diverter may be provided integral with the tube. As shown in Figure 4, the lower end 8 of the tube 2 projects below the underside of the plate, the wall of the projecting portion 8 of the tube is split in the direction of the length of the tube at the front of the tube and the wall is opened out to provide a pair of tabs 9 which serve to divert air flowing beneath the plate from the front to the rear into the bore of the tube.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, not shown, the base member is in two parts each constituting the base of a separate tray. The trays are spaced apart to provide a duct between them through which air passes to the heart of the fire. By arranging for the base member of the rear one of the two trays to be lower than the base member of the front tray, the second tray acts as the diverter to increase the quantity of air which flows up the duct.

In all of the embodiments of the invention, the purpose of the air diverter(s) is to increase the quantity of air which flows up the or each tube into the "heart of the fire" to raise the temperature of the gas burnt in this region.

1. A base member suitable for use as part of a solid fuel effect gas fire comprising an open-topped tray for supporting a quantity of refractory particulate material, at least one duct projecting upwardly from the tray with the bore of the duct in communication with the underside of the tray and the underside of the tray being such as to direct, or being provided with means for directing, air flowing beneath the tray into the bore of the duct.

SPECIFICATION Solid fuel effect gas fires This invention relates to a base member suitable for use as part of a solid fuel effect gas fire.

In, such fires, a base member is provided for supporting a quantity of refractory particulate material. In use, gas is introduced into the particulate material and it percolates between the particles of this material to the upper surface thereof on which a plurality of refractory bodies, shaped and coloured to represent solid fuel, are arranged. The gas burns mainly with luminous flames which extend around the bodies.

To increase the efficiency of the fire and also make it look more realistic, it is known to provide at least one duct leading to spaces between the refractory bodies and through this duct air is supplied so that some of the gas in the spaces between the bodies burns with non-luminous flames.

According to the present invention, a base membey for supporting a quantity of refractory particulate material has at least one duct projecting upwardly from the base member with the bore of the duct in communication with the underside of the base member and the underside of the base member is such or is provided with means for directing air flowing beneath the base member upwardly into the bore of the duct.

With a base member according to the present invention, a proportion of the air which flows beneath the base member is diverted upwardly into the base of the or each duct thereby ensuring that, when the base member forms part of a solid fuel effect gas fire, a sufficient quantity of air is diverted into the or each duct to cause a non-luminous flame.

By increasing the flow of air through the or each duct, the temperature of the fire in the vicinity of the upper end of the or each tube is increased thus increasing the efficiency of the fire.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are plan views from beneath of base members in accordance with two alternative embodiments of the invention, and Figures 3 and 4 are sectional side elevations of base members in accordance with two further embodiments of the invention.

In each embodiment of the invention, a base member for supporting a quantity of refractory particulate material, such as sand, has a base plate 1 for supporting the particulate material. Awall upstands from the upper surface of the plate. The plate is conveniently of sheet metal. At least one duct in the form of a tube 2 projects upwardly from the base plate and the base 3 of the tube is in communication with the underside of the base plate. The height of the or each tube on the upperside of the base plate is such as to extend to at least the upper surface of the particulate refractory material supported on the base plate.

In use, the base plate 1 is mounted substantially

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. horizontal with a space beneath the underside of the plate. Air flows beneath the plate and some of the air flows from the space into the bore 3 of the or each tube but much of the air passes directly beneath the plate and does not enter into the bore of the tube. To increase the quantity of air which enters into the tubes, means are provided in the underside of the plate to act as a diverter to increase the quantity of air which is diverted into the bore of the or each tube. In Figure 1, two tubes are provided and, on the two sides and at the rear of the underside of the plate, a wall 4 is provided. This wall does not extend to the ground on which the base member is mounted because this would prevent the air from flowing beneath the plate 1. The wall 4 serves to direct some of the air flowing beneath the plate into the bores of the two tubes. In the arrangement shown in Figure 2, a separate air diverter is provided for each of the tubes. Each diverter 5 is of arcuate form and is positioned on the underside of the plate and to the rear and at each side of each tube. The diverters may be attached to the plate or may be pressed from the plane of the plate. in the arrangement of Figure 3, the upstanding wall 6 is shown and each diverter is a sheet metal member 7 of part spherical form which is secured to the underside of the plate. The plate is mounted on feet 1' arranged conveniently at each corner. The diverter may be provided integral with the tube. As shown in Figure 4, the lower end 8 of the tube 2 projects below the underside of the plate, the wall of the projecting portion 8 of the tube is split in the direction of the length of the tube at the front of the tube and the wall is opened out to provide a pair of tabs 9 which serve to divert air flowing beneath the plate from the front to the rear into the bore of the tube. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, not shown, the base member is in two parts each constituting the base of a separate tray. The trays are spaced apart to provide a duct between them through which air passes to the heart of the fire. By arranging for the base member of the rear one of the two trays to be lower than the base member of the front tray, the second tray acts as the diverter to increase the quantity of air which flows up the duct. In all of the embodiments of the invention, the purpose of the air diverter(s) is to increase the quantity of air which flows up the or each tube into the "heart of the fire" to raise the temperature of the gas burnt in this region. CLAIMS

In use, the base plate 1 is mounted substantially

2. A base member as claimed in claim 1, in which the tray comprises a base plate having a wall upstanding therefrom to retain the refractory particulate material on the base plate and means for supporting the base plate such that the underside thereof is above ground level.

3. A base member as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a wall extends downwardly from the underside of part of the plate, said wall constituting said air directing means.

4. A base member as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the tray has a front and a back and the or each duct has an air diverter positioned on the underside of the tray between the bore of the duct and the back of the tray.

5. A base member as claimed in claim 4, in which the or each diverter is integral with the tray.

6. A base member as claimed in claim 4, in which the or each diverter is of part spherical form and is secured to the underside of the tray.

7. A base member as claimed in claim 4, in which the or each duct is a tube projecting through the tray and with the part of the tube beneath the tray being opened out to form said air diverter.

8. A solid fuel effect gas fire in which the tray is in two units and the duct is between the two units, the rear unit being lowerthan the front unit to act as the diverting means.

9. A base member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A solid fuel effect gas fire having a base member as claimed in any preceding claim.