GB2026684A

GB2026684A - Imitation Solid Fuel Fires

Info

Publication number: GB2026684A
Application number: GB7831866A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: REGAL DOMESTIC APPLIANCES Ltd
Current assignee: REGAL DOMESTIC APPLIANCES Ltd
Priority date: 1978-08-01
Filing date: 1978-08-01
Publication date: 1980-02-06

Abstract

Flame effect means for use behind an illuminable fuel effect (6) comprises movable masking members (2), and a fixed screening member (5). As shown, the rotatable cylindrical masking members (2) are mounted about corresponding lamps (1) and have inclined or spiral slots (20) which co-operate with vertical slots or windows (50) in a fixed screen (5) to give a rising flame effect distributed substantially throughout the fuel effect (6). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flame Effect Means This invention relates to flame effect means for use behind an illuminable fuel effect in obtaining a realistic and moving simulation of burning solid fuel. Suchnfuel effects usually consist of a hollow translucent moulding in glass fibre and are formed and finished to provide an imitation of coal or logs. They may be used in grates or fire baskets simply to give a burning fuel simulation or may be incorporated in or with an electric fire or similar heater.

The object of the invention is to provide improved flame effect means whereby a moving flame effect can be provided more fully throughout the fuel effect, so that a more realistic simulation of burning fuel is given with a greater impression of warmth.

According to the invention flame effect means is characterised by relatively movable masking or screening members mounted or mountable in relation to one or more lamps and behind a fuel effect, said masking or screening members having co-operating light transmitting openings or portions whereby moving and/or intermittent light emission is obtainable therethrough from the lamp or lamps.

In a practical example of the invention, the construction and arrangement may be as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of the flame effect means in position of use, Figure 2 is a plan view, and Figure 3 is a front elevation of an alternative form of fixed screen or mask.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a duplicated arrangement of the flame effect means is shown arranged in relation to a pair of lamp bulbs 1 which latter are tinted red or other suitable colour to give a fire glow effect.

In the case of each lamp bulb 1, one of the screening or masking members is of cylindrical or skirt form at 2 about the bulb 1 and depending from a louvred heat rotor disc 3 pivoted for free rotation about a vertical axis over the bulb 1. A central cap 31 of the rotor disc is mounted on an upright pin 4 which is shown conveniently carried by the bulb 1 or by clip mounting 41 thereon, convectional air flow due to the heat of the bulb 1 when illuminated imparting rotation to the rotor 3 in the usual manner and likewise to the cylinder 2.

For the purpose of this invention the cylinder 2 is shown provided with spiral form slots 20 providing openings or windows for light emission from the bulb 1. Mounted in front of the cylinder 2 but behind the fuel effect 6 is a fixed screen or mask 5 provided with spaced apart vertical openings or windows 50.

On appropriate rotation of the cylinder 2, i.e. in a clockwise direction in the example shown, the effect given is that light emitted through each spiral slot 20 moves up the vertical opening or openings 50 of the fixed screen 5 as the slot 20 registers with said openings 50. This in turn gives a rising flame effect when seen through the fuel effect 6, i.e. through a considerable vertical extent of the latter and in addition to any flame effect given by the louvred slots 30 of the rotor 3.

Together with the same effect given by the cylinder 2 and fixed screen (or corresponding part of a continuous fixed screen 5) associated with the other bulb 1, the full flame effect is distributed substantially throughout the fuel effect 6 in a realistic manner and with an enhanced impression or illusion of warmth.

For free rotation of its rotor 3 each cylinder 2 should be of light weight, e.g. of thin light metal such as metal foil or of plastic material, whilst if desired, a continuous single spiral slot may be provided in the wall of the cylinder or one or more series of holes lying on a spiral path or paths. In a further alternative arrangement, the cylinder 2 may be of light transmitting material, i.e.

transparent or translucent, parts of which are appropriately masked, e.g. by opaque paint so that a spiral window effect is provided.

Similarly the fixed screen may consist of a panel of glass 55 (Figure 3), e.g. indistinct glass or of transparent or translucent plastic material striped with opaque paint at 56 or other masking so as to provide vertical windows 50.

Also within the scope of this invention and conversely to that described above, the or each rotatable cylinder 2 may be provided with vertical slots or windows co-operating with inclined slots or windows of the fixed screen 5.

In a still further alternative arrangement, a pair of concentric cylinders may be mounted about the or each bulb 1 which cylinders may be arranged to be contra-rotational by appropriate formation of super-imposed heat rotors. Thus spiral slot formation in one cylinder may cooperate with vertical slot or window formation in the other, or the cylinders may respectively have slot or like formation of opposite hand and/or of different helix angle.

Alternatively or in addition to the co-operating slot or window formation for giving a rising flame effect, slot or window formation of the or each cylinder 2 and that of the fixed screening 5 may be arranged to move into and out of register so as to give a flashing or flickering effect. Thus vertical opening or window portion of the or each cylinder 2 may be arranged to move into and out of register with corresponding vertical openings or windows of the fixed screening 5.

Whereas the or each cylinder 2 can be conveniently driven by a heat rotor, if desired an arrangement of electric motor driven cylinder or cylinders may be employed.

Claims

1. Flame effect means characterised by relatively movable masking or screening members mounted or mountable in relation to one or more lamps and behind a fuel effect, said masking or screening members having co-operating light transmitting openings or portions whereby

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Flame Effect Means This invention relates to flame effect means for use behind an illuminable fuel effect in obtaining a realistic and moving simulation of burning solid fuel. Suchnfuel effects usually consist of a hollow translucent moulding in glass fibre and are formed and finished to provide an imitation of coal or logs. They may be used in grates or fire baskets simply to give a burning fuel simulation or may be incorporated in or with an electric fire or similar heater. The object of the invention is to provide improved flame effect means whereby a moving flame effect can be provided more fully throughout the fuel effect, so that a more realistic simulation of burning fuel is given with a greater impression of warmth. According to the invention flame effect means is characterised by relatively movable masking or screening members mounted or mountable in relation to one or more lamps and behind a fuel effect, said masking or screening members having co-operating light transmitting openings or portions whereby moving and/or intermittent light emission is obtainable therethrough from the lamp or lamps. In a practical example of the invention, the construction and arrangement may be as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of the flame effect means in position of use, Figure 2 is a plan view, and Figure 3 is a front elevation of an alternative form of fixed screen or mask. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a duplicated arrangement of the flame effect means is shown arranged in relation to a pair of lamp bulbs 1 which latter are tinted red or other suitable colour to give a fire glow effect. In the case of each lamp bulb 1, one of the screening or masking members is of cylindrical or skirt form at 2 about the bulb 1 and depending from a louvred heat rotor disc 3 pivoted for free rotation about a vertical axis over the bulb 1. A central cap 31 of the rotor disc is mounted on an upright pin 4 which is shown conveniently carried by the bulb 1 or by clip mounting 41 thereon, convectional air flow due to the heat of the bulb 1 when illuminated imparting rotation to the rotor 3 in the usual manner and likewise to the cylinder 2. For the purpose of this invention the cylinder 2 is shown provided with spiral form slots 20 providing openings or windows for light emission from the bulb 1. Mounted in front of the cylinder 2 but behind the fuel effect 6 is a fixed screen or mask 5 provided with spaced apart vertical openings or windows 50. On appropriate rotation of the cylinder 2, i.e. in a clockwise direction in the example shown, the effect given is that light emitted through each spiral slot 20 moves up the vertical opening or openings 50 of the fixed screen 5 as the slot 20 registers with said openings 50. This in turn gives a rising flame effect when seen through the fuel effect 6, i.e. through a considerable vertical extent of the latter and in addition to any flame effect given by the louvred slots 30 of the rotor 3. Together with the same effect given by the cylinder 2 and fixed screen (or corresponding part of a continuous fixed screen 5) associated with the other bulb 1, the full flame effect is distributed substantially throughout the fuel effect 6 in a realistic manner and with an enhanced impression or illusion of warmth. For free rotation of its rotor 3 each cylinder 2 should be of light weight, e.g. of thin light metal such as metal foil or of plastic material, whilst if desired, a continuous single spiral slot may be provided in the wall of the cylinder or one or more series of holes lying on a spiral path or paths. In a further alternative arrangement, the cylinder 2 may be of light transmitting material, i.e. transparent or translucent, parts of which are appropriately masked, e.g. by opaque paint so that a spiral window effect is provided. Similarly the fixed screen may consist of a panel of glass 55 (Figure 3), e.g. indistinct glass or of transparent or translucent plastic material striped with opaque paint at 56 or other masking so as to provide vertical windows 50. Also within the scope of this invention and conversely to that described above, the or each rotatable cylinder 2 may be provided with vertical slots or windows co-operating with inclined slots or windows of the fixed screen 5. In a still further alternative arrangement, a pair of concentric cylinders may be mounted about the or each bulb 1 which cylinders may be arranged to be contra-rotational by appropriate formation of super-imposed heat rotors. Thus spiral slot formation in one cylinder may cooperate with vertical slot or window formation in the other, or the cylinders may respectively have slot or like formation of opposite hand and/or of different helix angle. Alternatively or in addition to the co-operating slot or window formation for giving a rising flame effect, slot or window formation of the or each cylinder 2 and that of the fixed screening 5 may be arranged to move into and out of register so as to give a flashing or flickering effect. Thus vertical opening or window portion of the or each cylinder 2 may be arranged to move into and out of register with corresponding vertical openings or windows of the fixed screening 5. Whereas the or each cylinder 2 can be conveniently driven by a heat rotor, if desired an arrangement of electric motor driven cylinder or cylinders may be employed. Claims

1. Flame effect means characterised by relatively movable masking or screening members mounted or mountable in relation to one or more lamps and behind a fuel effect, said masking or screening members having co-operating light transmitting openings or portions whereby moving and/or intermittent light emission is obtainable therethrough from the lamp or lamps.

2. Flame effect means according to claim 1 wherein one or more masking or screening members is or are movable or rotatable in relation to at least one fixed masking or screening member for said co-operation of their light transmitting openings or portions.

3. Flame effect means according to claim 1 wherein the masking or screening members are movable or rotatable in opposite directions relative to one another.

4. Flame effect means according to any of the preceding claims wherein the or each movable masking or screening member consists of a cylindrical or skirt form member mountable for rotation about a lamp for co-operation of light transmitting openings or portions thereof with those of a further masking or screening member or members.

5. Flame effect means according to claims 3 and 4 wherein rotatable cylindrical or skirt form masking or screening members are concentrically arranged and mounted for contra-rotation for said co-operation of their light transmitting opening or portions.

6. Flame effect means according to any of the preceding claims wherein the light transmitting openings or portions of at least one masking or screening member are directed in an inclined or spiral manner for co-operation with light transmitting openings or portions of further masking or screening member or members for causing light emission therefrom simulating a rising flame effect.

7. Flame effect means according to claim 6 wherein the light transmitting openings or portions of inclined or spiral direction in at least one masking or screening member co-operate with light transmitting openings or portions of a further masking or screening member or members, which latter light transmitting openings or portions are directed in a substantially vertical manner or in an inclined or spiral manner of opposite hand to those of the first mentioned light transmitting openings or portions.

8. Flame effect means according to claims 2, 4 and 7 or claims 2, 4 and 8 wherein the or each rotatable masking or screening member of cylindrical or skirt form is provided with inclined or spirally directed light transmitting openings or portions which co-operate with substantially vertical light transmitting openings or portions of a fixed masking or screening member for light emission therefrom simulating a rising flame effect on rotation of the or each cylindrical or skirt form masking or screening member,

9. Flame effect means according to any of the preceding claims wherein the light tramsmitting openings or portions of the relatively movable masking or screening members are arranged or also arranged to move into and out of register in order to cause light emission therefrom giving a flashing or flickering flame effect.

10. Flame effect means according to any of the preceding claims wherein the light transmitting openings in one or more of the masking or screening members consist of slots or a series of holes therethrough.

11. Flame effect means according to any of the preceding claims wherein the light transmitting portions of one or more of the masking or screening members consist of portions of light transmitting material.

12. Flame effect means according to claim 11 wherein the light transmitting portions of one or more of the masking or screening members are provided by partly masked light transmitting material of the latter so as to provide unmasked window portions of said material.

13. Flame effect means according to any of claims 2 to 12 wherein the or each rotatable masking or screening member is provided with heat rotor means rotatable by convectional airflow from the lamp or lamps when illuminated in order to impart rotation to the or each masking or screening member.

14. Flame effect means substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.