GB2191854A

GB2191854A - Simulated solid fuel gas fire

Info

Publication number: GB2191854A
Application number: GB8615514A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Peter Everton
Original assignee: IMP GAS CO Ltd
Current assignee: IMP GAS CO Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-25
Filing date: 1986-06-25
Publication date: 1987-12-23
Also published as: GB2191854B; GB8615514D0

Abstract

A gas fire 1 has an artificial coal or log effect 2 supported above a perforate sheet or mesh 4 overlying chamber 3. Three bars 5 retain the coal effect 2 against a steeply inclined back plate B. Coal effect 2 has a layer of coals 2a of ceramic material located above a tall, downwardly tapered layer of coals 2b made of metal. Coals 2b are of inverted cup shape. <IMAGE>

Description

1 GB2191854A 1

SPECIFICATION

Improvements in or relating to gas fires e This invention relates to improvements in or relating to gas fires and is more particularly concerned with decorative coal or log effects employed in gas fires in which a real flame moves or flickers, in use, in between the arti- ficial 'coals' or 'logs' (moving flame effect) in order to simulate a real coal or log fire; gas fires employing such a coal or log effect are hereinafter referred as being---ofthe type spe cified---.

Gas fires of the type specified are well 80 known and have been available for some time but, despite some considerable development in this field, it would still seem that the overall heat efficiency of such fires may be question- able in relation to other fires and it would appear that a good deal of available heat en ergy may not be utilized effectively in practice.

Additionally, such fires may not be as realistic as they might be and the artificial coal or log effect may have a tendency to deteriation, in 90 time, through normal use of the fire. Also the refractory material employed for the coal or log effect may make the overall cost of the gas fire more than need necessarily be the case.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas fire in which at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages is at least alle viated.

According to the present invention there is provided a gas fire of the type specified in which the coal or log effect is substantially of metal or radiant, non-ceramic material.

By the present invention it is possible that a more realistic natural fire simulation will be ob- 105 tained in that the coal effect may be such as to produce a deep 'orange' glow more remini scent of hot coals than the 'yellow' colour produced by a purely ceramic coal effect.

The coal or log effect may comprise a plu- 110 rality of loose, individual coals or logs, or indi vidually formed coals/logs which are then in terconnected, or the coal/log effect may com prise or include coals/log integrally formed.

Preferably, the coal or log effect comprises 115 a layer of ceramic coals/logs above a layer of metal or radiant non-ceramic material. Advan tageously, in this way the ceramic material will tend to reduce heat escaping upwardly from the metal or radiant, non-ceramic material encouraging the latter material to absorb heat and radiate this heat forwardly of the fire. Al ternatively, the coal or log effect may be wholly of metal or radiant, non-ceramic ma terial.

In one embodiment of the present invention the coal or log effect comprises a relatively tall layer of coal/logs of metal or radiant non ceramic material arranged one above the other; these coals/logs may rest on a steeply 130 inclined backplate (and be retained at the front of the fire by retaining bars) so that the layer is downwardly tapering towards a plenum chamber of the fire. Preferably, a wider layer of ceramic material is provided above the relatively tall layer to help reduce an upward flow of heat for reasons as previously explained.

The 'coals' or 'logs' themselves are, preferably, of hollow form with an opening on the underside thereof and may be generally of inverted cup shape. Advantageously, due to the hollow form of the coals/logs less mass will be provided encouraging better aeration of the fire to give a more realistic and lively flame effect than would seemingly be achievable with a purely ceramic coal/log effect. Additionally, the 'coals' or 'logs' may be provided with one or more apertures on an upper portion thereof to allow flames to pass up- wardly therethrough and thus increase aeration further.

The metal or non-ceramic logs may be of any suitable material, for example stainless steel, and may be formed conveniently by deforming or bending a sheet of stainless steel roughly into the shape of a coal/log. The precise shape of individual coals may vary, some may be almost spherical and others may taper upwardly and preferably, be provided with a large opening at the bottom thereof to trap flames therein to heat up the coal from the hollow inside. The coals/logs may be shot blasted to provide a more realistic black appearance when not exposed to flame, and such coals/logs are significantly less expensive to produce than ceramic coal or log effects known per se.

Advantageously, the metal or non-ceramic coals/logs are more durable than ceramic material and the problems associated therewith of sooty material deposits and crumbling should not arise.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided a fire, preferably a gas fire, comprising a coal or log effect, said coal or log effect being substantially of metal or radiant, non-ceramic material.

An embodiment of a gas fire in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying simplified digrammatic drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows a front view of a gas fire in which retaining bars are shown broken away for ease of illustration; Figure 2 shows a sectional side view of the fire, and Figure 3 shows an individual artificial coal.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a gas fire 1 which is of the type specified. The general form of the fire 1, apart from an artificial coal effect 2, is generally known per se and, therefore, is not discussed here in detail.

The fire 1 has a narrow plenum chamber 3, and the coal effect 2 comprises loose coals 2 GB2191854A 2 supported in known manner above a perforate sheet or mesh 4 overlying the chamber 3.

Three horizontal metal retaining bars 5 are ar ranged across the front of the fire 1 as shown best in Fig. 1, to retain the coal effect 70 2 in place against a steeply inclined backplate B (see Fig. 2).

In this instance the gas fire stimulates a real coal fire but, of course, where a log fire stim ulation is required an artificial log effect (not shown) may replace the coal effect 2.

The coal effect 2 comprises a relatively wide (see Fig. 2) layer of individual 'coals' 2a of a first type located above a relatively tall, narrow, downwardly tapered layer of individual 80 coals' 2b of a second type. The coals 2a may be made of a ceramic, refractory material and generally of a type known per se. The coals 2b are made of metal, for example stainless steel grade 316, and a typical one of 85 these coals 21 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2. The coal 21 is made from a sheet of metal which is bent around or deformed into the rough shape of a coal. The coal 21 is hollow and opens out toward the underside U and could be described as generally of inverted cup shape. All the coals 2b are of generally similar form. As shown in Fig. 2 the coal 21 tapers upwardly and a large opening is pro- vided at the underside U to trap flames therein to heat up the coal relatively quickly from the underside so that the coal will glow a deep red-orange and radiate heat Apertures may be provided in the coal 21 to allow flames to pass upwardly therethrough. The coal 21 is shot blasted in order to provide a roughened, black appearance.

In use of the fire 1, moving flames will be produced in known manner which will flicker around the coals 2b heating them up until they glow a deep red-orange to simulate burning coals/logs. Additionally, the flames will pass to the ceramic coals 2a to produce yellow flames and the combined effect is thought to be more realistic of a coal/log fire than other designs, as well as being more efficient.

It is believed, more particularly in view of the inherent difference in the heat exchange characteristics of the gas fire in accordance with the present invention, that a much more efficient and cheaper fire may be produced in a relatively simple manner. In experiments carried out on prototypes the heat generated has been so great that the aluminium bars retain- ing metal coals in place have melted so that wrought iron retaining bars are preferred. Further, chosen dispositions of the metal or radiant, non- ceramic material and dimensions thereof coupled with the optional provision of ceramic material on the top allow a gas fire to be produced which will, advantageously, trap heat and radiate most of the generated heat forwardly of the fire.

Individual features of the gas fire of the pre- sent invention, functions, method or combina- tions thereof may be patentably inventive, for example, the artificial coals themselves, and the terminology used throughout this specification should not be construed as being unduly limiting. It is to be understood that the use of any particular term herein may extend to the use of any reasonable generally equivalent term and/or generic term where sensible.

It is also to be understood that the scope of the present invention extends to any gas fire which utilises a metal or radiant, non-ceramic coal or log effect to advantage (for example, for reasons of cost or for a more realistic natural fire sumulation or for greater efficiency and so on) whether or not ceramic coals/logs are also employed.

Claims

1. A gas fire of the type specified in which the coal or log effect is substantially of metal or radiant, non-ceramic material.

2. A gas fire as claimed in claim 1 in which the coal or log effect comprises a plurality of loose, individual coals or logs, or individually formed coals/logs which are then interconnected.

3. A gas fire as claimed in claim 1 in which the coal or log effect comprises or includes coals/logs integrally formed.

4. A gas fire as claimed in any one of the preceding in which the coal or log effect com prises a layer of ceramic coals/logs above a layer of metal or radiant non-ceramic material.

5. A gas fire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the coal or log effect is wholly of metal or radiant, non-ceramic material.

6. A gas fire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the coal or log ef- fect comprises a relatively tall layer of coals/logs of metal or radiant non-ceramic material arranged one above the other.

7. A gas fire as claimed in claim 6 in which said layer of coals/logs rest on a steeply inclined backplate (and are retained at the front of the fire by retaining bars) so that the layer is downwardly tapering towards a plenum chamber of the fire.

8. A gas fire as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 in which a wider layer of ceramic material is provided above the relatively tall layer.

9. A gas fire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the 'coals' or 'logs' themselves are of hollow form with an open- ing on the underside thereof.

10. A gas fire as claimed in claim

11 in which the coals or logs are generally of inverted cup shape. 125 11. A gas fire as claimed in claim 10 in which the 'coals' or 'logs' are provided with one or more apertures on an upper portion thereof to allow flames to pass upwardly therethrough. 130

12. A gas fire as claimed in any one of 3 GB2191854A 3 the preceding claims in which the metal or non-ceramic coals or logs are of stainless steel.

13. A gas fire as claimed in claim 12 in which the logs or coals are formed by deforming or bending a sheet of stainless steel roughly into the shape of a coal/s or log/s.

14. A gas fire as claimed in anyone of claims 10 to 13 in which individual coals/logs are almost spherical and/or tapered upwardly.

15. A gas fire as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14 in which the coals/logs have a large opening at the bottom thereof to trap flames therein to heat up the coal/log from the hollow inside.

16. A gas fire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the coals/logs are shot blasted to provide a black appearance when not exposed to flame.

17. A gas fire substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A gas fire as claimed in claim 1 in which the coal or log effect comprises a plu- rality of individual coals substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A fire, preferably a gas fire, comprising a coal or log effect, being substantially or metal or radiant, non-ceramic material.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd, Dd 8991685, 1987. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 'I AY, from which copies may be obtained.

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