GB2181228A

GB2181228A - Simulated solid fuel gas fires

Info

Publication number: GB2181228A
Application number: GB08524841A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael James Daniels; Derek Francis Bedson
Original assignee: Valor Newhome Ltd
Current assignee: Valor Newhome Ltd
Priority date: 1985-10-09
Filing date: 1985-10-09
Publication date: 1987-04-15
Also published as: GB8524841D0

Abstract

A gas fire comprises an inclined simulated fuel bed (1) with a main burner (5) located at the lowermost edge of the fuel bed (1) and arranged to direct gas flames under the fuel bed (1), and a hollow, box-like radiant element (9), open at two facing sides 11, 13 arranged generally vertically adjacent the uppermost edge of the inclined fuel bed (1) so as to be heated by the combustion products flowing therethrough. The radiant element (9) thus radiates heat across the top of the simulated fuel bed (1) enhancing the radiant effect of the fire. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to gas fires The present invention relates to a gas fire.

In particular the present invention reiates to a gas fire of the type having a simulated fuel bedthrough which the gas flames can pass to present the visual effect of an actual fire. In such gas firesthefla, mes themselves provide an amount of heat. Additionally the flames heat the simulated fuel bed which then acts as a radiant heater. However the amount of heat radiated bytheflames and thesimulatedfuel bed is relatively small and the major amount of heat is provided by convection, air passing through channels in the fire and over a heat exchangerthrough which the hot gaseous products ofthe gas combustion, pass.

Thus such fires do not efficiently provide an amount of direct radiant heat, but tend to rather generally heat the ambient atmosphere. This does not satisfy consumer needs in especially cold spells of weather.

To increase the radiant heating effect of such visual effect fires it is known to provide two types of burner, one which can burn an aerated gas mix to maximise the heating effect ofthe flames, and the other to burn gas to produce the required wispy flame visual effect, such wispyflames having a lower radiant heat value.

However, such multiple burner arrangements still do not provide sufficient radiant heat to satisfy consumer needs.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a visual effect gas fire which provides an increased amount of radiant heat as compared to prior art visual effectgasfires.

According to the present invention there is prov idedavisualeffectgasfirecomprising an inclined simulated fuel bed with a main burner located at the lowermost edge of the fuel bed and arranged to direct gas flames underthe fuel bed, a radiant ele- ment being arranged adjacent the uppermost edge ofthe inclined fuel bed so as to be heated by the products of combustion and to radiate heat across the top of said simulated fuel bed.

In a preferred embodiment of the presentinven- tion two radiant elements are located side-by-side at the rear uppermost edge region of the simulated fuel bed, each radiant element being in the general form of a hollow rectangular boxwhich is open on two fac- ing sides, with the box arranged generally vertically so as to provide a fiow path for the combustion products through the element. The face of the box facing over the simulated fuel bed is provided with a series of apertures as per a conventional radiant element for a gas fire, and the rearface ofthe box has a large number of spikes on its inside surface to increase its surface area and thus its heat absorption capability.

Having passed through the radiant elements the combustion products are passed through a heatexchangerfor heating convection currents and then to aflue.

Preferably the main burner burns an aerated gas mix to maximise the heat output and a subsidiary gas burner is located adjacentthe main burnerto produce the visual effect wispy flames through the fuel bed.

The visual effect gas fire of the present invention thus provides an increased radiant heat capability produced in the main from the waste combustion products, whilst providing for the required visual effect.

The present invention will now be further descri bed, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure2 is an illustration of the radiant elements used in the embodiment of Figure 1.

The gasfire illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises an inclined simulated fuel bed (1) which is supported on ceramic support rods (3). A main burner (5) for burning an aerated gas mix, is located at the front lowermost edge of the fuel bed (1), and is arranged to direct flames along the pas sage (7) beneath the fuel bed (1). Atthe rear upper- most edge of the inclined fuel bed (1)two radiantelements (9) are located side-by-side, each radiant element (9) supporting a number of support rods (3).

Each radiant element (9) (see Figure 2) is generally in theform of a relativelyflat, rectangular boxwhich is hollow and which is open at two facing sides (11, 13). The box is arranged generallyverticallywith its open side (11) lowermost and adjacenttothe rear end of the passage (7). Thus hot combustion products pass from the passage (7) up through the radiant elements (9) and out through open side (13). The hot combustion products then pass through the heatex changer (15) to a flue (not shown). Each radiantelement (9) is thus heated by the hot combustion products and thus provides a source of radiant heat.To enhance the heat absorption capability of the radiant elements (9) the inside surface of the rear face of each radiant element is provided with a multiplicity of spikes (17) to increasethe available surfacearea.

Also to aid radiation a series of apertures (19), curved for aesthetic reasons, are provided on the front face (21).

To aid the visual effect a subsidiary gas burner (23) is also located at the front edge of the fuel bed to provide the required wispy flames. Preferably the gas fire control provides for wispy flames on the subsidiary burner (23) irrespective of the adjusted onposition ofthe main burner.

The present invention thus provides a visual-effect gas fire which provides for radiant heating from the radiant elements (9), in addition to such heating direct from the flames, and in addition to the usual convection heating.

1. Avisual effect gas fire comprising an inclined simulated fuel bed with a main burner located atthe lowermost edge of the fuel bed and arranged to direct gas flames underthe fuel bed, a radiant element being arranged adjacent to the uppermost edge ofthe inclined fuel bed so as to be heated bythe products of combustion and to radiate heat across the top of said simulated fuel bed.

2. A gas fire as claimed in claim 1, in which two radiant elements are located side-by-side at the rear

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to gas fires The present invention relates to a gas fire. In particular the present invention reiates to a gas fire of the type having a simulated fuel bedthrough which the gas flames can pass to present the visual effect of an actual fire. In such gas firesthefla, mes themselves provide an amount of heat. Additionally the flames heat the simulated fuel bed which then acts as a radiant heater. However the amount of heat radiated bytheflames and thesimulatedfuel bed is relatively small and the major amount of heat is provided by convection, air passing through channels in the fire and over a heat exchangerthrough which the hot gaseous products ofthe gas combustion, pass. Thus such fires do not efficiently provide an amount of direct radiant heat, but tend to rather generally heat the ambient atmosphere. This does not satisfy consumer needs in especially cold spells of weather. To increase the radiant heating effect of such visual effect fires it is known to provide two types of burner, one which can burn an aerated gas mix to maximise the heating effect ofthe flames, and the other to burn gas to produce the required wispy flame visual effect, such wispyflames having a lower radiant heat value. However, such multiple burner arrangements still do not provide sufficient radiant heat to satisfy consumer needs. The aim of the present invention is to provide a visual effect gas fire which provides an increased amount of radiant heat as compared to prior art visual effectgasfires. According to the present invention there is prov idedavisualeffectgasfirecomprising an inclined simulated fuel bed with a main burner located at the lowermost edge of the fuel bed and arranged to direct gas flames underthe fuel bed, a radiant ele- ment being arranged adjacent the uppermost edge ofthe inclined fuel bed so as to be heated by the products of combustion and to radiate heat across the top of said simulated fuel bed. In a preferred embodiment of the presentinven- tion two radiant elements are located side-by-side at the rear uppermost edge region of the simulated fuel bed, each radiant element being in the general form of a hollow rectangular boxwhich is open on two fac- ing sides, with the box arranged generally vertically so as to provide a fiow path for the combustion products through the element. The face of the box facing over the simulated fuel bed is provided with a series of apertures as per a conventional radiant element for a gas fire, and the rearface ofthe box has a large number of spikes on its inside surface to increase its surface area and thus its heat absorption capability. Having passed through the radiant elements the combustion products are passed through a heatexchangerfor heating convection currents and then to aflue. Preferably the main burner burns an aerated gas mix to maximise the heat output and a subsidiary gas burner is located adjacentthe main burnerto produce the visual effect wispy flames through the fuel bed. The visual effect gas fire of the present invention thus provides an increased radiant heat capability produced in the main from the waste combustion products, whilst providing for the required visual effect. The present invention will now be further descri bed, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure2 is an illustration of the radiant elements used in the embodiment of Figure 1. The gasfire illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises an inclined simulated fuel bed (1) which is supported on ceramic support rods (3). A main burner (5) for burning an aerated gas mix, is located at the front lowermost edge of the fuel bed (1), and is arranged to direct flames along the pas sage (7) beneath the fuel bed (1). Atthe rear upper- most edge of the inclined fuel bed (1)two radiantelements (9) are located side-by-side, each radiant element (9) supporting a number of support rods (3). Each radiant element (9) (see Figure 2) is generally in theform of a relativelyflat, rectangular boxwhich is hollow and which is open at two facing sides (11, 13). The box is arranged generallyverticallywith its open side (11) lowermost and adjacenttothe rear end of the passage (7). Thus hot combustion products pass from the passage (7) up through the radiant elements (9) and out through open side (13). The hot combustion products then pass through the heatex changer (15) to a flue (not shown). Each radiantelement (9) is thus heated by the hot combustion products and thus provides a source of radiant heat.To enhance the heat absorption capability of the radiant elements (9) the inside surface of the rear face of each radiant element is provided with a multiplicity of spikes (17) to increasethe available surfacearea. Also to aid radiation a series of apertures (19), curved for aesthetic reasons, are provided on the front face (21). To aid the visual effect a subsidiary gas burner (23) is also located at the front edge of the fuel bed to provide the required wispy flames. Preferably the gas fire control provides for wispy flames on the subsidiary burner (23) irrespective of the adjusted onposition ofthe main burner. The present invention thus provides a visual-effect gas fire which provides for radiant heating from the radiant elements (9), in addition to such heating direct from the flames, and in addition to the usual convection heating. CLAIMS

2. A gas fire as claimed in claim 1, in which two radiant elements are located side-by-side at the rear uppermost edge region of the simulated fuel bed.

3. Agasfire as claimed in claim 1 orclaim 2, in which the or each radiant element is in the general form of a hollow substantially rectangular box which is open on two facing sides, the box being arranged generally vertically so as to provide a flow path for the combustion products through the box between said open sides.

4. Agasfire as claimed in claim 3, in which the faceofthe boxfacing overthesimulatedfuel bed is provided with a series of apertures.

5. Agas fire as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the face of the box to the rear of the fire is provided with a number of spikes on the surface inside the box.

5. A gas fire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a subsidiary neat gas burner is located adjacenttothe main burnerto produce the visual effect wispy flames through the simulated fuel bed.

6. A visual effect gas fire constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.