GB2323435A

GB2323435A - An apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire

Info

Publication number: GB2323435A
Application number: GB9705637A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Richard Rogers
Original assignee: IMP FIRES Ltd
Current assignee: IMP FIRES Ltd
Priority date: 1997-03-19
Filing date: 1997-03-19
Publication date: 1998-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-19
Also published as: GB2323435B; GB9705637D0

Abstract

An apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire comprising an upwardly extending transparent and/or translucent screen means (2) viewable from the front of the apparatus, simulated flame effect means in the form of silk ribbons (8) for simulating flames located rearwardly of said screen means and viewable through said screen means, simulated fuel means (7) located rearwardly of said screen means (2) and viewable therethrough, and simulated and/or real fuel mans (14,15) located forwardly of said screen means, and a light source (6) for illuminating at least said simulated flame effect means and said simulated fuel means rearwardly of said screen means.

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR SIMULATING A SOLID FUEL FIRE The present invention relates to an apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire including means for simulating flames.

In GB 1186655 of H. Frost & Company Ltd an electric illumination device is disclosed in which air is continuously recirculated inside a substantially airtight compartment by an impeller driven by an electric motor so as to cause a row of flexible strips of reflective material to flutter and create a flame effect on a translucent front viewing screen and in which imitation solid-fuel means is located only in front thereof.

In GB 2230335 of Bitech Engineering an apparatus similar to that of GB 1186655 is disclosed except that the screen in between the simulated fuel means and the ribbonlike simulating flame effect means is capable of diffusely transmitting light reflected by the flame effect means and is also capable of reflecting light from the simulated fuel means so that the simulated flames appear to emanate between the simulated fuel means and an image of the latter means reflected in the screen means. In the Bitech patent the simulated solid fuel means is only located in front of the screen behind which the ribbon like simulated flame effect members are located within a sealed chamber and a separate forced air convection unit is provided in a space therebelow and separated from the compartment of the ribbon-like flame effect members by a partition.

In copending Application 9513154.6 (GB 2302730) , there is disclosed an electrical heating apparatus including means for simulating flames comprises a housing (1) defining an air throughflow passage including an air inlet, a first portion (2) containlng simulated flame effect means (8) and leading via another portion (12) to a forced air convection unit (3), and an outlet for heated air. A front side of said first portion is formed by screen means (5,7) having a non-reflecting front surface and said screen means is capable of diffusely transmitting light reflected by said flame effect means. Simulated fuel means (4) are located only on the front side of said screen means remote from said simulated flame effect means. A light source (9) illuminates said simulated flame effect means and said simulated fuel means. The simulated flame effect means comprise a slitted flexible sheet (8) of highly reflective material.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus simulating a solid fuel fire.

According to the present invention an apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire comprises an upwardly extending transparent and/or translucent screen means viewable from the front of the apparatus, simulated flame effect means for simulating flames located rearwardly of said screen means and viewable through said screen means, simulated fuel means located rearwardly of said screen means and viewable therethrough, and simulated and/or real fuel means located forwardly of said screen means, and a light source for illuminating at least said simulated flame effect means and said simulated fuel means rearwardly of said screen means.

Preferably the light source also illuminates said fuel means located forwardly of said screen means.

Preferably the rearwardly located simulated fuel means is at least partially translucent and preferably located beneath the simulated flame effect means.

Preferably said rearward simulated fuel means is inclined upwardly and away/rearwardly from the screen means.

The forwardly located simulated and/or real fuel means is preferably inclined so as not to be reflected in said screen means and/or said screen means is inclined or angled and/or has a non-reflective front surface such that said forward fuel means is/are not reflected in the front of the screen or not reflected to any significant extent as would give rise to the simulated flames appearing to emanate between any forwardly located simulated fuel means and an image thereof reflected in the screen means.

Preferably the screen is formed of a plastics material such as of nylon or Preferably the apparatus is an electrical heating apparatus and preferably will include a fan or forced air convection unit which will preferably also act to cause movement of said simulated flame effect means although it is envisaged a separate fan for such may be provided.

Preferably, the simulated and/or real fuel means located forwardly of said screen means comprises a support surface or region, preferably inclined downwardly from the screen, and on which real solid fuel, such as coal, may be positioned or positionable and possibly secured e.g. by adhesive. Preferably a front edge and/or a rear edge of the support region is formed as a retaining edge or rim and preferably with said edge in the form of simulated fuel to provide a good appearance. The material of the support means will preferably be translucent or transparent and lit from below by an electric light source to provide for a good burning effect.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a schematic cross section through an apparatus according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the solid fuel effect panels including the support panel for the real solid fuel coal to be located thereon.

The apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a housing 1 defining a support for a screen 2 which together therewith defines a rear compartment 3 and a front compartment 4. Light from two electric lamps 6 (only one shown) in the front compartment 4 shines into the rear compartment 3 and illuminates part 7 and ribbons 8.

The rear compartment is partially divided into upper and lower parts by an inclined rear fuel effect part 7 above which silk ribbons 8 are suspended and may flutter in the air flow from a fan 9 located in the lower part 3' and which circulates air within the compartment 3, 3'. A baffle or partition 10 is provided to guide/deflect the flows for a good circulation. Passageways (not shown) permit flow between the upper and lower parts of the compartment 3.

The screen 2 may be translucent or preferably transparent and will preferably have a non-reflective front surface.

The front compartment 4 has an insert 11 provided which at least defines the upper wall 12 of compartment 4 and the upper wall 12 is transparent and/or translucent and preferably coloured such as orange to represent fire or hot surfaces.

The upper wall 12 defines a downwardly inclined central support surface 13 for real fuel such as coal which may be placed thereon and retained by a shaped front and rear upstanding portion or rim 14 and 15 in the shape of simulated fuel means such as coal, which rests on said surface which is illuminated from below.

Thus, the preferred embodiment comprises an electric fire (1) with real flame effect wherein the simulated fuel means (7,14,15) located rearwardly and forwardly of the plastics screen 2, comprises two plastic laminate fuel effect panels 7,13 separated by said screen.

Realistic flame effect is provided by the use of a fan and silk material 8 cut in the shape of flames. The fuel effect parts (7,14,15) are manufactured to represent real coals and lit from underneath with the two light bulbs 6.

The plastics screen 2 is subject to a process to reduce the transparency of the screen.

Thus a first plastic laminate fuel effect member (11,13,14,15) is positioned (as in the drawings) in front of the plastics screen 2 and a second plastic laminate fuel effect member 7 is positioned on the other or rear side of the screen. Electric fan 9 is positioned below the second fuel effect member 3 and the silk flame effect means 8 are suspended on pegs 9' above the fan 9.

The visual effect created is the appearance of real flames burning through the coals, coupled with the combination of the screen 2 and the front fuel effect members, this gives a three dimensional appearance of a fire fuel bed with flames appearing to emanate from within the fuel effect. The fuel effect means 11 of plastics moulded member laminate positioned in front of the screen 2 is designed to incorporate real coal (not shown) . The member or laminate has a ledge 15 at the front (formed in the shape of coals) to retain loose real coal. At the rear of the fuel effect laminate or member is a further lip 14 again designed in the shape of real coal. The rear lip (coal) is shaped in such a way that it matches up with coal shapes of the rear fuel effect member 7 and thus gives the impression of a continuous fuel effect bed through the screen.

According to the invention a fuel effect is provided which creates the impression of real flames emanating through the fuel effect means without the use of reflection.

Also there is provided a unique method of retaining the real coal supplied with the product. The design incorporates an edge to hold real coal in place, moulded into the front into the plastic laminate fuel effect and being formed in such a way that it resembles real coal, thus giving the appearance of a real fuel bed.

Furthermore there is provided use of the plastics screen which is preferably semi transparent with the rear surface (?) screen printed in a way that defracts some of the light and does not allow a clear view of the rear fuel effect means and flames.

A separate heating means (not shown) such as an electric fan heater or radiator or other is provided.

The rear fuel effect member 7 may be integral with insert 11 or separate therefrom

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire comprising an upwardly extending transparent and/or translucent screen means viewable from the front of the apparatus, simulated flame effect means for simulating flames located rearwardly of said screen means and viewable through said screen means, simulated fuel means located rearwardly of saic screen means and viewable therethrough, and simulated and/or real fuel means located forwardly of said screen means, and a light source for illuminating at least said simulated flame effect means and said simulated fuel means rearwardly of said screen means.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the light source also illum,nates said fuel means located forwardly of said screen means.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the rearwardly located simulated fuel means is at least partially translucent.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the rearwardly located simulated fuel means is located beneath the simulated flame effect means.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which said reward simulated fuel means is inclined upwardly and awii,-'rearwardly from the screen means.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the forwardly located simulated and/or real fuel means is inclined so as not to be reflected in said screen means and/or sad screen means is inclined or angled and/or has a non-refle~ive front surface such that said forward fuel means is/are not reflected in the front of the screen or not reflected to any significant extent as would give rise to the simulated flames appearing to emanate between any forwardly located simulated fuel means and an image thereof reflected in the screen means.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the screen is formed of a plastics material such as of nylon.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, in which the apparatus is an electrical heating apparatus and includes a fan or forced air convection unit.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which movement of said simulated flame effect means is caused by said fan or forced air unit or a separate fan for such is provided.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, in which the simulated and/or real fuel means located forwardly of said screen means includes a support surface or region (preferably inclined downwardly from the screen) and on which real solid fuel, such as coal, may be positioned or positionable.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which a front edge and/or a rear edge of the support region is formed as a retaining edge or rim.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, Il which said edge is in the form of simulated fuel.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12, in which the material of the support is translucent or transparent and lit from below by an electric light source to provide for a good effect of burning.
14. An apparatus for simulating a real solid fuel fire substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.