CN1313771C

CN1313771C - Space heater

Info

Publication number: CN1313771C
Application number: CNB038041138A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 加里·布里斯托
Original assignee: Burley Appliances Ltd
Current assignee: Burley Appliances Ltd
Priority date: 2002-01-14
Filing date: 2003-01-09
Publication date: 2007-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-09
Also published as: GB0200656D0; EP1466125A1; WO2003058127A1; AU2003201995A1; CA2473311A1; CN1633573A; US20050063685A1

Abstract

A space heater comprises a housing (4) having a rear wall (8) and a front wall (10). Located forwardly of the front wall is a solid fuel effect means (12). Heating means is provided, in conventional manner. Suspended within the housing (4) by an upper support 30 is a flame effect means which in a preferred embodiment is in the form of a sheet of lightweight flexible material, the sheet being provided with elongate openings (20). Means (18) is provided to cause the sheet (14) to move, specifically by directing a flow of air upwardly against the material, to cause the material to billow. Light is directed from a light source (28) against the flame effect means, some light being reflected from the flame effect means directly through a translucent screen (24), some light passing through openings (20) of the sheet (14) onto a reflector (32), and being reflected from the reflector back through the sheet (14), and through the screen (24).

Description

Space heater

Technical field

The present invention relates to space heater, especially but and not exclusively relate to the equipment of the flame that is used to simulate solid fuel effect fire, give the impression of the flame that sends from the fuel that is burning.

Background technology

Conventional space heater, be known as the space heater of described type at this, light source and a screen of the flame effect device that comprise a housing, be arranged in the heater of this housing, the flame effect device, that are arranged in this housing is used for illuminating this housing, light emits from described housing by this screen.Usually, be provided with a device,, make described flame effect device in housing, move, and common described screen is translucent, make the visual effect that produces in described enclosure interior that diffusion take place slightly such as a fan or mechanical device.

In the past, utilized some kinds of schemes to come simulating flame in the space heater of described type.For example, a kind of equipment has been shown in GB-A-968568, wherein the flame effect device comprises near the reflectivity ribbon that is suspended in a large number the stove rear portion, light source is set at the place ahead of band, while, a translucent screen also was set at the place ahead of these bands, so that make and send and incided on the rear surface of screen, when watching this screen, give a kind of flame effect of people from the place ahead by the light after the ribbon reflection from described light source.

As the another one example, from GB-A-1186655, learn the place ahead that ribbon is suspended on light source, thereby make light directly be sent on the translucent screen between the band.

In our specification of European patent EP 0986722A, the flame effect device is the form of a sheet of translucent material, and such as crepe de Chine, it has a large amount of elongate slits that vertically extend, described material is arranged on light source and shields with optical mode between.A fan that is positioned at enclosure interior makes described material seethe, and described slit periodically opens a short distance, allows light directly to be sent on the screen, simulates a flame thus.

Summary of the invention

The inventor has realized that in the past, and main notice all concentrates on and makes more relatively light trickle down on screen, and to do like this be not to help very much to produce a kind of high-quality simulating flame.

On the contrary, according to the present invention, provide a kind of space heater at this, the flame effect device shines on the reflector to it is characterized in that passing movably from the light that light source sends, and reflection ray passes the flame effect device once more and shines on the screen.

Preferably, the flame effect device comprises a flexible material thin layer, and does not preferably have gloss usually, only produces a spot of reflection ray.For example, this flame effect device can be formed by a silk material thin layer, and such as crepe de Chine, preferably color is darker, such as peony, perhaps or even black.

Preferably, have opening on the flame effect device, and be provided with the device that makes that described flame effect device moves in housing, make described opening be moved thus.

Preferably, the opening that is arranged on the thin layer is elongate, and described material loosely is suspended on enclosure interior, makes under across air-flow that blows out on it or the effect at mechanical device " seething " to take place.This seething will make described slit open, and it will be appreciated that these openings along upward to advancing vertically, perhaps if desired, advance downwards.

The light that passes screen will be in four levels, and will be as described below:

A) material that passes the flame effect device from light source incides on the reflector and returns the material that passes the flame effect device from this reflector and incides light on the screen;

Bi) pass that opening on the material of flame effect device incides on the reflector and incide light on the screen from light source by described material;

Bii) material that passes the flame effect device incides on the reflector and incides light on the screen via described material;

C) directly reflex to light on the screen from the flame effect device;

D) pass that a described opening incides on the reflector and incide light on the screen to returning from light source by one the described opening or other opening from this reflector.

Usually, level a) and b) will remain on a poor efficiency level, and level c) only be enough to provide the bias light of a low-light level.

Be in level d) light will be step, but brightness is higher relatively, and the flame effect of a kind of " smoldering " is provided, and will obtain very high fidelity like this.

By changing the thickness and the color of the material that forms the flame effect device, and, can on very wide vision output area, form a kind of high-quality flame effect device by the width (thickness) that changes slit, color and the power and the fogging degree on screen of lamp.

As the substitute of using the flame effect device of being made by a flexible material thin layer, the flame effect device also can comprise a large amount of ribbons.

To the space heater as the preferred embodiment of the present invention be described in detail below, please refer to accompanying drawing these detailed descriptions are read, the preferred embodiment is used for as example the present invention being carried out diagram.

Description of drawings

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cutaway view as the electric fire of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view, shows the operation principle of electric fire; And

Fig. 3 is a zoomed-in view, shows the formation of on the flame effect device " opening ".

The specific embodiment

Space heater as the preferred embodiment of the present invention is an electric fire, comprises a housing 4, and this housing 4 has a bottom 6 and a rear wall 8.In the place ahead of antetheca 10, the imitated thing 12 of a coal that is illuminated can be set in a usual manner.Also be provided with the heater (not shown) in a usual manner.

In the inside of housing 4, the flexible material thin layer 14 of a lightweight is by suspended from upper support 13, such as crepe de Chine, this thin layer near the bottom of housing by below fixture 16 loosely be fixed up.

Below fixture 16 be attached with a fan 18, this fan 18 is configured to upwards penetrate one air-flow to material 14, make material 14 along one upward to seething, and if desired, the bottom of described thin layer can be fixed on the rear wall of blower-casting.

As from Fig. 2, seeing, thin layer 14 is provided with a large amount of slit 20, these slits 20 extend on most of height of thin layer 14, and be in substantially parallel relationship to the side of thin layer 14, in a preferred embodiment, suppose and on the width of housing 4, be provided with 16 such slits equably.

A translucent screen 24 extends upwardly to a upper closure member 21, and this screen 24 is made by perspex or glass easily.

Inside at housing 4, front surface near thin layer 14 is provided with a light source 28, this light source 28 is configured to penetrate light to the front surface of thin layer 14, and this light source has also formed a lighting device that is used for the imitated thing 12 of solid fuel (charcoal or coal) simultaneously easily.

Under the influence of the air-flow that upwards penetrates across thin layer 14, described slit forms opening 21 (referring to Fig. 3), and along with thin layer 14 seethes under described airflow influence, these openings cardinal principles are along upward to being moved.But described air-flow also can penetrate downwards alternatively, makes opening 21 be moved along downward direction.The light part of directive thin layer 14 is passed this material itself, and is unrestrained to a reflector 32 overall triangular in shape that is installed on the housing rear wall 8, passes thin layer 14 forward and passes screen 24 from the light that reflects here.

The light of some directive thin layer 14 also will pass described opening itself along a direction of crossing this thin layer 14, and simultaneously some light will pass the opening that is formed by slit 20 crossing on the both direction of described light.Passing screen 24 displays and thus by back a kind of light that the observer saw of this space heater, will be along with lighted region 30 moves up on screen, dissipate apace and open, because coming from the light of light source 28 seldom can incide on the top of reflector 32, and rely on the shape of reflector itself, simulate the flame that flickers.

To will mainly produce in the brightness of shielding observed bias light on 24 by the light of returning to pass screen from the front surface reflection of material 14.Certainly, the closeness general of bias light is partly determined by the color of thin layer 14 materials, and if desired, can strengthen, bias light be made a small amount of contribution thereby make utilization reflect and pass material 14 light own from reflector 32 by reducing thickness.

Have been found that at material 14 to form by the crepe de Chine of black and light source 28 is configured to launch under the situation of white light, can produce the flame effect of a kind of " smoldering ".Selectively,, utilize an orange lamp simultaneously, can produce a kind of warmer effect as light source 28 by utilizing wine-colored crepe de Chine.

As the substitute of using a crepe de Chine thin layer 14, the flame effect device can be formed by a large amount of ribbons, these ribbons are suspended between reflector and the light source in such a way, promptly can make light shine on these ribbons from light source 28, some light is directly reflected from ribbon passes screen, other light passes ribbon and is reflected by reflector 32, makes the light of trickling down on screen have different levels thus.Described ribbon can be made by trnaslucent materials, such as crepe de Chine, but can have the partial reflection ability.

In this manual, " comprise " meaning be " comprise or by ... form ".

In description in front, appended claim or the accompanying drawing with their concrete form or with the device that is used to carry out disclosed function, be used to realize the feature that the formal representation of disclosed result's method or technology comes out, as required, can be independently or with any compound mode, be used to implement the present invention with various forms.

Claims

1. space heater, comprise: a housing (6) and be arranged in the movably flame effect device of this housing, be used for illuminating this light source (28) of flame effect device movably at described housing, with a screen (24), light emits from described housing by this screen (24), it is characterized in that: the light that sends from light source (28) shines on the reflector (32) by flame effect device (14) movably, and reflection ray passes movably once more, and flame effect device (14) shines on the screen (24).

2. space heater according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described flame effect device comprises a flexible material thin layer (14).

3. space heater according to claim 2 is characterized in that: described flexible material thin layer is formed by a silk material thin layer.

4. according to claim 2 or 3 described space heaters, it is characterized in that: described flexible material thin layer is a crepe de Chine.

5. space heater according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described flame effect device has opening (21).

6. space heater according to claim 5 is characterized in that: described opening is elongate.

7. space heater according to claim 1 is characterized in that: the material that forms described flame effect device loosely is suspended within the described housing, and is provided with and makes these materials carry out the device of " seething ".

8. space heater according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described flame effect device comprises ribbon, and is provided with the device that makes that these ribbons are moved.

9. flame effect device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: the light that passes described screen is in many levels.