GB2205939A

GB2205939A - Electric space heaters

Info

Publication number: GB2205939A
Application number: GB08714514A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arthur Chesworth; Anthony Halewood
Original assignee: BERRY MAGIOCAL Ltd
Current assignee: BERRY MAGIOCAL Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-20
Filing date: 1987-06-20
Publication date: 1988-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-20
Also published as: GB2205940A; GB2205939B; GB2205940B; GB8809210D0; GB8714514D0

Abstract

An electrically-powered radiant heater has at least one coiled resistance wire heating element mounted on a base (14). Spaced above the element(s) is a fuel simulation (17) formed of separate lumps of glass or ceramic simulating coke which hide the major portion of the element(s). When heated, the fuel simulation glows to present the appearance of burning fuel, and radiates heat. There may be irregular gaps between the lumps, through which the glowing element(s) can be glimpsed. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRIC HEATERS.

This invention relates to electric radiant heaters of the kind in which resistance elements are electrically energized to become heated.

Normally the heat is directly radiated into a space being heated from the elements, the elements thus being visible.

The invention has for an object the provision of an electric radiant heater which presents more closely the appearance of a fire burning solid fuel.

The invention provides an electrically-powered radiant heater comprising one or more electrical heating elements located to heat fuel simulation means which then radiate heat, the major part of the heating elements not being exposed to view.

The fuel simulation means may be such as to glow when heated by the heating elements. The fuel simulation means may comprise heat resistant glass or ceramic simulating individual pieces or heaped arrangements of coke.

The heating elements may be coiled resistance wire. A heat resistant base member may have the heating elements located thereon and the fuel simulation means located spaced above it.

There may be electrical illumination means for enhancing the effect of burning solid fuel. There may be a pathway for air to pass over the elements and be heated thereby and then directed into the space being heated. The air movement may be convected or fan assisted.

Since the electrical heating elements are either not seen or only seen in minor parts which are insignificant in relation to the fuel simulation, the appearance presented by the heater is closer to that of a solid fuel burning fire.

A specific embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side section through an electric fire, Figure 2 is a plan view of a base member of the fire of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a side view of the base member of Figure 2 with a decorative component.

An electric fire as shown in Figure 1 comprises a housing (11) having an ornamental canopy (12) and a support (13) shaped to hold the operative parts of the fire. A base member (14) of fireclay or other heat resistant material has grooves in its upper surface in which electric elements (15) lie. These elements may be one or more lengths of coiled resistance wire which glow red when electric current is passed through them.

Spaced above the base member is an open mesh screen (16) on which rests a heat conducting and radiating fuel simulation (17).

In use, the elements (15) heat the fuel simulation (17) which radiates, transferring the heat to the room in which the fire is situated. The fuel simulation in one arrangement comprises separate lumps of ceramic simulating coke, which glow when heated and present a very realistic simulation of a burning bed of coke. The glowing elements (15) are either not visible through the simulated coke or sufficiently hidden by the simulated coke to be insignificant in the overall appearance of the fire. There may, however, be irregular gaps between the pieces of "coke" through which glimpses of the glow from the elements can be seen in addition to the glowing "coke" itself.

The base member is of trapezium shape, as shown in Figure 1, and the heater wires follow a serpentine path in the grooves. As seen in Figure 1, the base member is tilted forward to present an upwardly sloping array to the viewer.

In an alternative arrangement, the screen (16) is formed of heat resistant glass. This allows heat to be conducted to the fuel simulation and also allows the red glow from the heater wires to be seen between the "coke" pieces.

To enhance the glowing effect, additional illumination may be provided by an electric lamp or lamps (not shown). These may be mounted in the housing (11) either beneath the fuel simulation or on one or more sides thereof. The support (13) and base member (14) may have holes allowing light to pass through.

Pieces of heat-resisting glass coloured red or orange and means of varying continuously the intensity of the illumination may be used for greater realism. The lamp or lamps may be of the flickering type or a spinner may produce a flickering effect. There may be coloured windows at the front cf the base member simulating the olo' of a fire through fire bars.

The housing may also have fan means (not shown) driving air over the element or elements and/or the heated fuel simulation to be heated thereby and add to the radiated heat. Alternatively, there may be airways providing for convection heating and baffles directing the heated air into the room being heated. There may be a separate heating element providing or enhancing the convection heating.

The heat output of the fire may be between 2-3 kilowatts. As shown in Figure 2, there is a single continuous heating element, but there may in other arrangements be two or more separately-operable elements. Switch means (not shown) mounted on housing (11) allow the elements to be operated, and also allow for manual control of the illumination and fan (if provided).

Although the fuel simulation shown is of separate pieces of coke, it will be understood that other fuel, e.g. logs, could be similarly simulated.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electrically-powered radiant heater comprising one or more electrical heating elements located to heat fuel simulation means which then radiate heat, the major part of the heating elements not being exposed to view.

2. A radiant heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel simulation means is such as to glow when heated by the heating elements.

3. A radiant heater as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said fuel simulation means comprises heat resistant glass or ceramic simulating individual pieces of fuel.

4. A radiant heater as claimed in claim 3, wherein the individual pieces have irregular gaps through which glimpses of the heating elements can be seen.

5. A radiant heater as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heating element is a coiled resistance wire located on a base member with the fuel simulation means located spaced above it.

6. A radiant heater as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein there is electrical illumination means for enhancing the effect of burning solid fuel.

7. A radiant heater as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein there is a pathway for air to pass over the heating element or elements and be heated thereby and then directed into the space being heated.

8. A radiant heater as claimed in claim 7, wherein there is a fan for assisting movement of air along said pathway.

9. A radiant heater as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, comprising also another heating element in a convection air heating pathway.

10. A radiant heater substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.