GB2182431A

GB2182431A - Gas fire

Info

Publication number: GB2182431A
Application number: GB08604078A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terrance David Rogers; Peter Alan Busby
Original assignee: Cannon Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Cannon Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1985-06-10
Filing date: 1986-02-19
Publication date: 1987-05-13
Also published as: GB2182431B; AU5848486A; IE861502L; GB8604078D0; IE57215B1; AU585024B2; GB8514622D0

Abstract

A free-flame gas fire is provided with at least one simulated solid fuel element which is hollow and which is fed with gas so that, in use, flames issue from a series of orifices (16) in the element. An additional burner may be provided for directing flames onto refractory elements supported above an electric lamp and an associated spinner, (Fig. 1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Gas fire This invention relates to what are generally referred to as free-flame gas fires, that is to say fires of the kind in which flames produced by a combustible gas pass between refractory elements shaped to simulate solid fuel such as logs or coal, so as to give the effect of a real fire. Such elements usually have a relatively low thermal conductivity, as compared with metal, so that regions that are highly heated by the gas flames tend to glow, thereby adding to the realistic effect; the elements commonly being formed of a refractory ceramic material.

In accordance with the present invention at least one of the refractory elements of such a free-flame gas fire is hollow, and is formed with one or more series of orifices such that when gas is admitted into the element in use flames issue from the orifices.

By suitably positioning the orifices a highly realistic solid fuel effect is obtained. Furthermore it has been found that the amount of soot produced with such an arrangement, compared with known free-flame gas fires is appreciably reduced, and this is believed to be due to the local heating of the element by the flames in the vicinity of the orifices resulting in a more complete combustion of the gas.

However an additional burner may be arranged to direct flames onto the elements, and/or onto the upper surface of a refractory base on which the elements are supported.

The base in the latter case may be provided with a plurality of spaced openings, an electric lamp being disposed beneath the base so that when it is energised light from the lamp passes through the openings so as to illuminate the simulated fuel elements from below, as described in co-pending patent application No. 8501071.

Preferably the orifices in the fuel element or elements are disposed so that they are not normally seen from the front of the fire, being disposed at the rear of the respective element or being formed in a part of the element which is hidden from view by another element or another part of the element.

It will be understood that the invention includes within its scope hollow refractory elements having the appearance of solid fuel provided with one or more series of orifices through which flames are arranged to emerge for use in a free-flame gas fire as above described.

One free-flame gas fire in accordance with the invention, and a simulated fuel element for use therein, will now be described by way of example with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a transverse section through the fire in diagrammatic form, Figure 2 represents a plan view of part of the fire, Figures 3 and 4 represent a front view and a plan view of one of the elements of the fire, and Figure 5 represents part of the element looking in the direction V of Fig. 4.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the fire comprises a heat exchanger 1 located behind an enclosed fire box 2, the front wall of which is provided by a sheet 5 of heat resistant glass, sealed around its edge to the casing 11 of the fire.

At the rear of the fire box 2 there is located a ceramic back brick 3 and, to the front of this, an inclined ceramic base brick 4 over which flames from a burner 6, extending along the front of the fire box, are arranged to be directed, in use of the fire, so as to make the irreguiar upper surface of the base brick glow.

Positioned on top of the base brick 4 are additional ceramic log-effect elements 7 located so that there are apertures between them through which the flames emerge to give the effect of a real log-burning fire.

The products of combustion from both burners 6, 7 pass upwards within the fire box 2 and are directed from there through the heat exchanger 1 and an outlet duct 12 into a flue, as indicated by the arrows. The heat exchanger 1 is located within a vertical passage 13 communicating at its lower end with an air inlet (not shown) and at its upper end with an air outlet (also not shown) so that, in use, air is drawn upwards through the passage by convection, as a result of the heating effect of the heat exchanger 1, and then, heated on its passage through the heat exchanger, is discharged back into the room in which the fire is located.

A ''Fire-glow'' type lamp 8 is disposed centrally beneath the base brick 4, and the latter is provided with a series of holes 14, so that, when the lamp is energised, light passes through the holes in the base brick 4 and illuminates the inside of the fire box 2, as well as the underside of the ceramic log-effect elements 7, giving the effect of the fire being alight.

To add to the realism, a spinner 15 of known kind is located above the lamp as shown, in order to give a flickering effect.

To avoid the passage of air through the ceramic base brick 4 a sheet of borosilicate clear giass 9 extends across the underside of the base brick.

Such a fire as so far described forms the subject of co-pending patent application No.

8501071. In accordance with the present invention, the central one of the log-effect elements (shown as 7') is hollow and has a tubular stub 14 acting as a venturi sealed through one end, and when the element is placed in its appropriate position on the base 4 the stub fits over an injector 15 which is arranged to be connected in use to the gas supply. Series of orifices are formed in the wall of the element 7' as shown at 16 and 17 in Figs. 3 to 5 the orifices having a diameter of approximately 1.6mm.

In use of the fire flames will issue from these orifices 16, 17, giving a more realistic log-burning effect. Furthermore the flames will produce a local relatively intense heating of the parts of the element 7' around the orifices; it is believed that this results in a more efficient burning of the gaseous fuel leading to a reduction in the formation of soot.

It will be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to fires having a coal-effect, an element simulating one or more lumps of coal being provided with orifices in the manner of the log element 7' above described and being connected to the gas supply in use so that flames issue from the orifices in use of the fire.

Moreover the invention is not restricted to use with gas fires of the construction illustrated, but can be applied to other constructions of other free-flame fires.

Claims

1. A free-fiame gas fire in which at least one of the refractory elements is hollow, and is formed with one or more series of orifices such that when gas if admitted into the element in use flames issue from the orifices.

2. A free-flame gas fire according to Claim 1 wherein an additional burner is arranged to direct flames onto the elements.

3. A free-flame gas fire according to Claim 1 wherein an additional burner is arranged to direct flames onto the upper surface of a refractory base on which the elements are supported.

4. A free-flame gas fire according to Claim 3 wherein the base is provided with a plurality of spaced openings and an electric lamp is disposed beneath the base so that when the lamp is energized, light from the lamp passes through the openings so as to illuminate the simulated fuel elements from below.

5. A free-flame gas fire according to any preceding claim wherein the orifices in the element or elements are disposed so that they are not normally seen from the front of the fire.

6. A free-flame gas fire according to Claim 5 wherein the orifices in the fuel element or elements are disposed at the rear of the respective element, or are formed in a part of the element which is hidden from view by another element or another part of the same element.

7. A refractory element simuiating solid fuel for a free-flame gas fire according to any preceding claim, which element is hollow and is provided with one or more series of orifices through which flames are arranged to emerge in use of the fire.

8. A free-flame gas fire substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.