GB2242739A

GB2242739A - Simulated solid fuel gas fires

Info

Publication number: GB2242739A
Application number: GB9113434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David James Izzard
Original assignee: GRATE GLOW FIRES
Current assignee: GRATE GLOW FIRES
Priority date: 1986-12-10
Filing date: 1991-06-21
Publication date: 1991-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2006-12-10
Also published as: GB2198835B; GB8629561D0; GB2242738B; GB2198835A; GB2242740A; GB2242739B; GB9113333D0; GB9113434D0; GB2242738A; GB2242740B; GB9113435D0

Abstract

A simulated solid fuel gas fire 10 has a radiant core 22 with a reflector 26 in front of and lower than the core 22 to reflect light 28 therefrom in order to give the illusion of added radiant area 32 to the fire, this area possibly being in front of the combustion area of the fire. One way to effect the illusion is with an optical baffle comprising one or more vertical grids 40, 48. The simulated fuel elements comprise one or more captive elements 40 retaining loose elements 38. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE "Simulated Solid Fuel Gas Fires" BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION This invention relates to simulated solid fuel gas fires. Such fires are usually set into a wall of a room. Safety considerations dictate that the combustion area should not project too far into the room. The usual limit is about 50mm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a simulated solid fuel gas fire as claimed in claim 1. This fire may have a radiant core with a reflector in front of and lower than the core to reflect light therefrom in order to give the illusion of added radiant area to the fire. The reflector may comprise a reflective surface which is mirror-like or pimped, which isr flat or curved, which is substantially horizontal, or angled to the horizontal about a lateral axis.

The added radiant area arises below the radiant core of the fire and may be adjustable in position if the reflector is adjustable, However, it is possible to deceive the eye and produce the illusion that the added radiant area is in front of the combustion area of the fire, e.g. in the region of the reflector. This may be done by using the pimpled reflective surface, or at least one simulated solid fuel element surmounting the reflector and disguising the origin of the visible part of the radiation (and possibly arranged to act as a retainer for loose simulated solid fuel of the fire), or an optical baffle associated with the reflector to divide up the unity of the image as viewed in the reflector into a multiplicity of parts. The optical baffle may comprise a vertical grid, which may be provided by a grid-form grate front in front of the reflector.Alternatively, at least part of the baffle may be at the reflector and may be provided by at least one simulated solid fuel element surmounting the reflector, and may comprise a vertical grid. The baffle may then have another part in front of the reflector, which may be provided by a grid-form grate front matching the grid at the reflector.

It will be apparent that such a fire can be located in situ in a wall surround, with said reflector extending over a region more than 50mm. in front of said wall surround. This will give the illusion of bringing the combustion area more than 50mm. into the room, while the actual combustion area does not extend beyond that 50mm. in front of the wall. The extension beyond that 50mm. may conveniently be a further 50 to 100mm. The eyes are deceived by the baffle or other means recited and the illusion is quite realistic.

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.l is a diagrammatic side elevation of a gas fire embodying the invention, in situ; Fig.2 is a front elevation of the simulated solid fuel element surmounting the reflector and acting as an optical baffle in the Fig.l embodiment; Fig.3 is an end elevation of the element shown in Fig.2 and corresponds to Fig.l; Fig.4 is an elevation corresponding to Fig.2 of a pair of simulated solid fuel elements alternative to that shown in Fig.2; Fig.5 is an end elevation of the Fig.4 elements and corresponds to Fig.3; Fig.6 is a front elevation of a mirror member of the fire suitable for use with the Fig.4 elements; and Fig.7 is a side elevation of the Fig.6 member corresponding to Fig.1.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly Figs.1, 2 and 3, a simulated solid fuel gas fire 10 comprises the usual hood 12, flue 14, back 16 and base 18. It has a burner portion 20 surmounted by a row of cavity means elements 22, as and for the purposes described in UK patent specification 2135767, in which there is reverberant heating and which provide the radiant core of the fire. There is a pilot burner 24 at the centre front of the fire. Either side of the pilot burner 24 there is a reflector 26 (arranged as seen in Fig.6) being in front of and lower than the core 22 to reflect light 28 therefrom along path 30.

If, as shown, the reflector comprises a reflective surface which is mirror-like and horizontal and flat, an image of core 22 is formed at position 32. If the reflective surface is pimpled, the eye perceives the core as being extended into the region of mirror 26 as well as back beyond that. If the reflective surface is angled to the horizontal, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.1, the backward extension of the radiant surface is raised somewhat above position 32.

The pimpled surface provides the illusion that part of the added radiant area is in front of the combustion area of the fire.

This combustion area of the fire extends from the back 16 of the fire forward to the front 34 of the fire which is some 50mm. in front of the line of the wall 36 surrounding the fire, and includes the simulated solid fuel elements 38.

The simulated solid fuel element 40 surmounts the reflector 26 and, as seen in Fig.1, acts as a retainer for the loose simulated solid fuel elements 38 of the fire. It also acts as part of an optical baffle associated with the reflector. This part of the baffle, provided by the simulated solid fuel element 40, is located at the reflector 26 and comprises a vertical grid formed of portions 42 alternated with gaps 44, apart from a larger gap 46 at the centre to accommodate the pilot burner area.

While the baffle provided by the grid of element 40 may be sufficient itself to give the required illusion, the effect is enhanced by having another part of the optical baffle in front of the reflector.

This other part is provided by a grid-form grate front 48 matching the grid of element 40. It has gaps at the shaded portions 50 which are opposite the gaps 44 when the grate front 48 is correctly positioned.

Referring more particularly to Figs.4 to 7, another embodiment oft the invention comprises a flat mirror structure 52 having an upstanding centre portion 54 to accommodate the pilot burner area, end angled brackets 56 supporting channel section pieces 58 adapted to accommodate simulated solid fuel elements 60 so that these hang clear of the reflectors 26 and, by virtue of the angled bottom shape 62 (Fig.5) of elements 60, the latter facilitate viewing of the whole depth of reflectors 26 and allow maximum light from core 22 to reach reflectors 26. In some designs, this may be sufficient as it stands to produce a required illusion of added radiant area to the fire, the elements 60 to some extent deceiving the eye and hence acting as an optical baffle.

More usually, a grid-form fire grate 48 will be in front of the fire, as described above, and this will constitute part or all of the required optical baffle. Any of the further features mentioned above with regard to the embodiments described with reference to Figs.1 to 3 can of course be employed with the embodiments described above with reference to Figs.4 to 7.

Simulated solid fuel gas fires often comprise a number of loose solid fuel elements which are piled, or placed somewhat haphazardly, within a fairly small area at the centre of the fire. Various devices are used to retain the elements in position, e.g. a solid bar. This imposes severe limitations on the size of the area which can be occupied by the simulated solid fuel.

It will be seen from the illustrated embodiments that there is provided a simulated solid fuel gas fire comprising simulated solid fuel elements of which the majority are loose and a relatively small proportion is captive and comprises one or more simulated solid fuel elements located to retain or help retain the loose elements. The captive element/s may be fixed in position or may be held loose so thatr it can move about somewhat while still being captive or (e.g. as with captive element 40, Figs.1 to 3, or captive elements 60, Figs.4 to 7) may be located firmly in position though not actually fixed. The captive element/s may be along one or more edges of the combustion area of the fire (e.g. at the front of the fire, e.g. as seen in Figs.1, 2 or Fig.6) and may be used with one or more other retaining members, e.g. interspersed with the captive elements. Such a fire may not have the aforementioned reflector and associated features.

Reference is made to the disclosure (including claims) of copending patent applications No. 8629585 and 8629586 (Serial No. 2198836 and 2198837 respectively), lodged on the same day as the present application, features of either or both of which can usefully be combined with the present invention and embodiments, in view of which the disclosure thereof is hereby imported into the present specification.

Claims

1. A simulated solid fuel gas fire comprising simulated solid fuel elements of which the majority are loose and a relatively small proportion is captive and comprises one or more simulated solid fuel elements located to retain or help retain the loose elements.

2. A fire as claimed in claim 1, comprising one or more of said captive elements at the front of the fire.

3. A fire as claimed in claim 2, comprising one of said captive elements extending along substantially the whole of the front of that region of the fire which comprises the loose elements.

4. A fire as claimed in claim 2, comprising two of said captive elements extending along substantially the whole of respective halvesr of the front of that region of the fire which comprises said loose elements.

5. A fire as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the, or one or more of the, front element or elements are located above a reflector with at least one gap between these elements and the reflector to allow light from a radiant core of the fire to be viewed from in front of the fire via the reflector.

6. A fire as claimed in claim 5, in which at least one said front element is recessed at the bottom to provide at least one said gap.

7. A fire as claimed in claim 6, in which at least one said front element has a comb-like form at the bottom to provide a multiplicity of said gaps.