GB2132339A - Solid fuel effect gas fire - Google Patents

Abstract

Gas is supplied by way of a perforated pipe 11 arranged in the base of a metal tray 10. The gas passes around the edges of a metal deflector plate 17 where it mixes with air from inlet channels 15. The gas is ignited above the plate 17 so as to heat refractory bars 19 and a cover 21 having an upper surface shaped to simulate solid fuel. Flames can pass through apertures in the cover 21 to enhance the effect. The fire has high thermal efficiency as substantially all the gas is ignited and the bars and cover glow red and store and re-radiate heat. Also no particular matter which might clog the gas outlets is employed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Solid fuel effect gas fire This invention relates to a heating appliance which burns gaseous fuel but which simulates a solid fuel fire, hereinafter referred to as a solid fuel effect gas fire.

A solid fuel effect gas fire is described in British Patent Specification No. 1541423 and such fires are available on the market. They are provided in a kit form to be assembled on site by a purchaser or specialist fitter. The kit usually comprises a tray or container base, a gas burner, particulate refractory material, such as sand or silica, and larger refractory bodies which are constructed to simulate lumps of coal or logs. When the fire is assembled the gas burner is positioned in the tray or base, connected up to an external gas supply which can be regulated, and covered by the particulate material. The larger refractory bodies are then randomly placed on the surface of the latter.When the gas supply is switched on gas percolates through the particulate material from outlets in the burner and is ignited at the surface thereof so that flames lick around the iarger refractory bodies to simulate a real coal or log fire.

Such fires have in general been found to be unsatisfactory both in providing adequate heat and in simulating a solid fuel fire because the particulate material tends to block many of the burner outlets and the larger refractory bodies which directly overlie the surface of the particulate material, block the exit and ignition of gas from the particulate material in those areas. This means that many of the larger bodies are only poorly heated and do not store and radiate heat, while jets of gas flame may appear from gaps between the bodies and do not give a realistic coal or log fire appearance.

Varying degrees of thermal efficiency are obtained from these fires due to the haphazard assembly of each fire, the final form of which is simply the result of a number of components lying on top of one another according to the requirements and ability of the fitter. Accordingly a number of adjustments may be required before the fire operates efficiently and to the satisfaction of the user. These adjustments besides being imprecise require a great deal of time and effort on behalf of the fitter since refinement or adjustment often requires the whole apparatus to be disassembled and reassembled due to the loose structure of the fire. The loose nature of the particulate material has also proved too messy and troublesome to users of these fires.

An object of the present invention is to provide a solid fuel effect gas fire which does not include loose particulate material and wherein all the components are fixed together in a predetermined construction so as to achieve maximum thermal efficiency, a realistic solid fuel fire appearance and to simplify installation of the fire and replacement of damaged parts.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a solid fuel effect gas fire comprising a perforated pipe arranged in the base of a metal tray or container and having one end projecting therefrom for connection to a gas supply, a deflector plate located in the tray or container a pre-determined distance above the pipe, a grid of refractory material located above the plate with a spacing therebetween and a unitary cover, also of refractory material, disposed above the grid and having a plurality of apertures to allow for passage of flames and an upper surface shaped to simulate solid fuel.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the solid fuel effect gas fire of the invention; Fig. 2 is an underside view of the cover (the upper surface of which simulates coal) of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic front view of the fire of Fig. 1 with the cover lifted off; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of the fire of Figs. 1 and 3 fully assembled; and Fig. 5 is a perspective front view of an alternative cover which simulates logs.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, a preferred embodiment of the fire of the invention comprises a cast iron tray or container 10 which is substantially rectangular in shape to fit most standard fire places. A pipe 11 of U-shaped configuration having perforations along its uppermost surface is fitted into the base of the tray 10. One end of this pipe 11 (not shown) extends through an aperture in the base of the tray 10 for connection to a gas supply. A small tap (not shown) may be located on the pipe 11 outside the tray 10 to regulate the flow of gas to the fire. The tray 10 is supported on four legs 20.

A shield 12, also of cast iron, is provided around the sides and rear of the tray 10. The shield 12 has opposing side walls 13 which slope from the rear to the front of the tray 10 and have lower flanges 1 4 extending to meet the sides of the tray 10 so as to provide air inlet channels 1 5.

The flanges 14 as well as the rear wall 16 of the shield 12 are welded to the tray 1 0.

A deflection plate 17, also of cast iron and substantially the same shape as the tray 10 but somewhat longer and narrower, is fitted a certain distance above the pipe 1 The plate 17 inclines downwards from the rear wall 1 6 of the shield 12 to the front of the tray 10 and is held thus by downwardly projecting lugs 1 8 on its periphery engaging into corresponding slots formed in the walls of the tray 10 and the shield 12.

Above the deflection plate 1 7 six rods or bars 1 9 of a refractory material, such as ceramic or concrete, extend between the side walls 1 3 of the shield 12. The rods or bars 19 are parallel to each other and at a fixed spacing above the plate 17 and they effectively form a grid. The ends of the rods or bars 19 are held in recesses in the side walls 13.

A unitary cover 21 moulded from a refractory material and having an upper surface 22 shaped and coloured to simulate coal is positioned above the grid provided by the bars or rods 19. This is held in an inclined position by a number of projections 24 around the edge of the cover keying into corresponding recesses on the upper edge of the shield 12. The cover 21 has a large number of fairly evenly spaced apertures 23 which are visible on its flat lower surface, as shown in Fig. 2.

It must be emphasised that aithough the cover 21, the bars or rods 19 and the plate 17 are easily detachable, the fire is intended to be supplied as a completely assembled product, as described, and not in kit form.

When the fire is installed and connected to a gas supply which is switched on, gas flows upwardly from the perforated pipe 11 to the deflector plate 1 7. The gas hits the plate 1 7 and is forced to travel around the edges of the plate 17 between the plate edges and the side walls of the tray 10 and the shield 1 2 where it mixes with air drawn in through the channels 1 5 (often assisted by a draught or suction provided by a chimney located above the fire). The gas is ignited above the plate 1 7 and provides a sheet of flame over the upper surface of the plate 17 which heats the refractory bars or rods 19 and the cover 21 causing them eventually to glow red and reradiate stored heat. The flames may also pass through the apertures 23 in the cover 21 when the gas supply is high.The flames and the power 21 which looks like coal and glows red in its thinnest regions very effectively simulate a real coal fire.

The preconstructed unit as described has many distinct advantages over the already known kit form of solid fuel effect gas fire. The fire of the invention is constructed so as to achieve the greatest thermal efficiency possible and eliminates the dependence on the ability of the fitter to achieve this. Also, any adjustment, repairs or replacements are easily executed due to the removably secured components of the fire. The two most important features are the absence of a messy and ineffective layer of particulate material and the fact that the gas is allowed to reach the upper surface of the plate for ignition, the heat energy of the flames serving to heat both the grid and the cover which store and re-radiate said heat with maximum efficiency.Also, of course, the grid and cover are evenly heated and when the gas supply is high flames from the apertures 23 are evenly arranged over the upper surface 22 of the cover 21.

The invention is not, of course, limited to the exact details of the above-described embodiment and many variations are possible with the scope of the claims. In particular, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the upper surface of the cover may be formed to simulate logs. Also the shield is not an essential feature and the tray or container may be constructed differently and may itself be formed with a high rear wall and sloping side walls. The plate, the grid and the cover may be secured in position in the tray or shield in a different manner to that described. For example they may be held by nuts and bolts rather than lugs or projections engaging into corresponding slots or recesses.

Moreover, in another embodiment a plurality of fixing pegs may extend upwardly from the base of the container or tray and the remaining components have apertures cut therein to correspond to the position of the pegs which pass therethrough, spacers being provided to maintain the component at the required distance apart.

Claims (10)

1. A solid fuel effect gas fire comprising a perforated pipe arranged in the base of a metal tray or container and having one end projecting therefrom for connection to a gas supply, a deflector plate located in the tray or container a pre-determined distance above the pipe, a grid of refractory material located above the plate with a spacing therebetween and a unitary cover, also of refractory material, disposed above the grid and having a plurality of apertures to allow for passage of flames and an upper surface shaped to simulate solid fuel.

2. A solid fuel effect gas fire as claimed in claim 1 further including a metal shield extending around the sides and rear of the tray or container.

3. A solid fuel effect gas fire as claimed in claim 2 wherein the shield at the sides of the tray or container inclines downwardly from the rear towards the front of the tray or container.

4. A solid fuel effect gas fire as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein ducts or channels are provided to permit air to enter the fire adjacent the edges of the deflector plate.

5. A solid fuel effect gas fire as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the shield is attached to the tray or container in such a manner as to provide channels for air entry along the sides of the tray or container.

6. A solid fuel effect gas fire as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the grid and/or the cover are held in predetermined position by engaging slots, recesses or shoulders in the tray or container or in the shield.

7. A solid fuel effect gas fire as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the deflector plate is held in position by having lugs which engage slots, recesses or shoulders in the tray or container.

8. A solid fuel effect gas fire as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tray or container i's held above a supporting surface by legs.

9. A solid fuel effect gas fire as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tray or container and the deflector plate are formed of cast iron.

10. A solid fuel effect gas fire substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.