GB2053443A - Heating air in incandescent gas fires - Google Patents

Abstract

A heating appliance comprises a solid fuel effect gas fire, a duct (9) for receiving hot products of combustion from the fire and a plurality of tubes (23) each of which has a portion within the duct (9) so that, in use, the tubes (23) and air flowing through the tubes are heated by the hot products of combustion. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heating appliance This invention relates to heating appliances comprising a solid fuel effect gas fire having provision for heating air by convection.

Solid fuel effect gas fires are known and they consist basically of a plurality of refractory bodies, shaped and coloured to simulate solid fuel, and arranged in a heap. Gas is distributed to the base of the pile of refractory bodies and is burnt in the spaces between the bodies. In my British patent specification number 1 541423 1 have described and claimed a solid fuel effect gas fire in which provision is made for introducing additional air to some of the spaces between the refractory bodies so that, in use, some of the gas supplied to the fire is burnt with luminous flames and, where additional air is supplied, the flames burn with hotter non-luminous flames thereby causing the fire to appear to be very realistic of a real solid fuel fire.

Considerable quantities of heat are generated by the burning gas in a solid fuel effect gas fire and generally only some 1 5% of it is radiated into the room in which the fire is installed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating appliance in which much of the heat from a solid fuel effect gas fire which would otherwise escape into the flue to which the fire is connected is utilised.

According to the present invention, a heating appliance comprises a solid fuel effect gas fire, a duct connectible to a flue, and a plurality of tubes each having a portion located within the duct with the bore of the tube in non-communication with the duct, the duct being arranged such that, in use, hot gaseous products of combustion from the fire flow through the duct and heat the tubes and air passing through the tubes.

Conveniently air is drawn into the tubes through the ends thereof which are at a lower level and, as the air passes up through the tubes, it is heated by the hot products of combustion from the fire which pass along the duct. The heated air leaves the ends of the tubes which are at a higher level and can be used to provide additional heating for the room in which the fire is installed.

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: Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a heating appliance in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a section on the line B-B of Figure 1.

A heating appliance includes a solid fuel effect gas fire comprising an open topped tray 1 containing a mass of particulate refractory material. Embedded in this material is means (not shown) by which gas is introduced into the mass of particulate material and through which it percolates to the upper surface. A plurality of bodies 3 of refractory material, shaped and coloured to simulate solid fuel such as coal and/or logs, are placed in a heap on the top of the tray. In the embodiment shown one or more air tubes 5 extend through the particulate material in the tray 1 to permit extra combustion air to flow from beneath the tray up through the tubes and into some of the spaces between the refractory bodies 3. A fender 7 is provided in front of the tray 1 to hide the tray and to improve the appearance of the fire.A duct 9 is defined in part by an insulated back plate 11 and a stainless steel reflector plate 1 3 positioned forwardly of the back plate. The reflector plate is spaced from the tray 1 to permit hot products of combustion from the fire, when it is in use, to flow beneath the plate into the duct 9 and the upper end of the duct is connectible to a flue 15. A- plurality ofopenings or slots 17 are provided in the reflector above the level of the refractory bodies heaped on the tray to permit further products of combustion to enter into the duct without greatly interfering with the desired flame patterns.

A chamber 21 is located at the base of the duct and from the chamber a plurality of tubes 23 extend upwardly through the duct and are terminated in a plate 24 which forms part of the hood or canopy of the fire. A further plate 25 is fitted over but spaced from the plate 24. The bore of each tube is in communication with the chamber 21 and the atmosphere by way of the opening in the plate 24, but it is not in communication with the interior of the duct 9.

Combustion air flows through the fender 7 to the underside of the tray 1 so that it can pass through the tubes 5 and around the side of the tray 1.

Convection air for room heating can pass through the fender into the air chamber 21 from where it flows through the tubes and out through the openings in the plate 24. Excess air from the room passes beneath the plate 24 into the duct and around the ends of the tubes and into the flue 15 to cool the products of combustion before they enter into the flue.

In use, gas supplied to the fire is ignited and some of it burns with luminous flames and, where additional air is supplied, the gas burns with nonluminous flames making the appearance of the fire very realistic. The hot products of combustion enter into the duct 9 and flow upwardly to the flue 1 5. These hot products of combustion heat the tubes present in the duct and, by convection, cool air enters into the chamber 21, flows along the tubes where it is heated and leaves the tubes through the openings in the plate 24.

This heated convected air is used to provide additional heat to the room in which the fire is installed.

In the arrangement shown in the figures, the tubes 23 extend along the duct but, in an alternative embodiment, a plurality of Pubes extend through the duct in a direction transverse to the length of the duct. These tubes each have one end behind the plate 11 and the other end in front of the plate 13 so that air passing through the tubes is heated by the hot products of combustion in the duct.

By the provision of an electrically operated fan, it could be arranged for air to flow into the tubes through the openings at the upper ends and to pass through the tubes in the reverse direction to the direction of flow of the products of combustion along the duct 9. The heated air is then blown from the lower ends of the tubes into the room. In this way, the amount of heat absorbed by the air from the products of combustion is increased.

Claims (6)

1. A heating appliance comprising a solid fuel effect gas fire, a duct connectible to a flue, and a plurality of tubes each having a portion located within the duct and with the bore of the tube in non-communication with the duct, the duct being arranged such that, in use, hot gaseous products of combustion from the fire flow through the duct and heat the tubes and air passing through the tubes.

2. A heating appliance as claimed in claim 1, in which a chamber is located in the duct, means are provided for introducing air from outside of the duct into the chamber and one end of each tube is in communication with the chamber.

3. A heating appliance as claimed in claim 2, in which the chamber is located at the base of the duct, each tube has one end at a lower level than the other and the lower end of each tube is in communication with the chamber.

4. A heating appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the duct is defined in part by a back plate of the appliance and a further plate positioned forwardly of the back plate.

5. A heating appliance as claimed in claim 4, in which the further plate has a plurality of apertures which permit the hot products of combustion to pass therethrough into the duct.

6. A heating appliance substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.