GB2286456A

GB2286456A - Simulated solid fuel effect gas fires

Info

Publication number: GB2286456A
Application number: GB9402645A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Wright
Original assignee: LABGAS RES LAB Ltd
Current assignee: LABGAS RES LAB Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-11
Filing date: 1994-02-11
Publication date: 1995-08-16
Also published as: GB9402645D0

Abstract

A simulated fuel effect gas fire (10) comprises a base formed to be able to support simulated fuel material (16) thereon, and to receive a supply of flammable gas and channel it to one or more outlets (16) in the base. The base is formed of an upper tray (24) and a lower tray (26). The outlet(s) (18) are arranged as slots along a front side of the location for the material (16) on the base and also along at least part of a further side of said location extending from the front side towards the rear thereof, such that flame is provided along at least two sides of the simulated fuel. A bed of granular ceramic material (44) with ceramic coals (46) resting thereon is located on the upper tray (24). <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in or Relating to Fires The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to fires, and particularly but not exclusively to improvements in or relating to simulated fuel effect gas fires.

Conventional simulated fuel effect gas fires comprise ceramic coals or logs laid on a bed of sand, vermiculite or clay granules. Gas supplied to the fire is allowed to percolate through the bed to be ignited.

The flames then pass through the ceramic logs or coals to give the effect of a natural log or coal fire. Such fires often only produce an effect localised generally centrally in the fire with the edges of the fire devoid of any flame. Moreover, the gas/air mixture is difficult to control.

Another conventional design of simulated fuel effect fire provides a burner beneath the front of the fire. The gas exiting the burner is ignited, such that the flames pass up the front of the ceramic logs or coals. This often gives a relatively poor effect, with the back and sides of the fire having little or no flame.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided fire apparatus comprising a base formed to be able to support simulated fuel material thereon and to receive a supply of flammable fluid and channel said fluid to one or more outlets in the base, the outlet(s) being arranged along a front side of the location for said material on the base and also along at least part of a further side of said location extending from the front side towards the rear thereof.

Preferably the outlet or outlets is/are arranged along the front side and at least two further sides. The outlet(s) may also extend along part or all of the rear side. The outlet(s) may extend the whole way around said location.

Preferably the base comprises a floor and sides upstanding therefrom. Preferably one or more cavities are defined in at least two of the sides with one or more outlets communicating therewith. The or each outlet may be located at or near the upper edge of the respective sides. Preferably one or more cavities are provided in three or four of the sides with one or more outlets communicating therewith. One or more cavities may be provided in all of the sides with a corresponding outlet or outlets. Preferably the floor of the base is generally hollow, and defines a chamber which communicates with the or each cavity, and also the fluid supply. Preferably in use, the cavity or cavities is/are located in the front, and along each side of the apparatus, and may also be locted in the rear.

A layer of corrugated material, such as steel, may be located within the or each cavity to restrict the passage of fluid through the outlet(s).

The base may comprise an upper tray mounted in a spaced relation on a lower tray, said trays defining the chamber and the or each cavity therebetween. Spacing means may be located between the trays.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises a fluid inlet conduit connectable between a fluid supply and the chamber. The conduit may comprise control means to allow control of the fluid and desirably the component ratio of the fluid. The control means may comprise an aeration port through which air can enter the conduit to combine with gas from a supply to produce the desired fluid mixture, the entry of air being controllable by manipulation of a closure member over the port. The conduit may also decrease in size towards the chamber to accelerate the fluid into the chamber.

Preferably the simulated fuel material comprises synthetic coals and/or logs, perhaps ceramic coals and/or logs. The coals and/or logs may be mounted on a bed of non-flammable granular material on the base, such as sand or ceramic chips.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided fire apparatus comprising a base and simulated fuel material located thereon, the base being so formed to be able to receive a supply of flammable fluid and channel said fluid to one or more outlets in the base, the outlet(s) being arranged along a front side of the material and also along at least part of a further side of said material extending from the front side towards the rear thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section generally along the line I-I of Fig. 2, of fire apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the base of fire apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the base of Fig. 2 in place in a fireplace recess; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the base of fire apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a simulated fuel effect gas fire 10 comprises a base 12 formed to be able to support simulated fuel material, shown generally at 16, thereon, and to receive a supply of flammable fluid and channel said fluid to one or more outlets 18 in the base, the outlet(s) being arranged along a front side of the location for said material on the base and also along at least part of a further side of said location extending from the front side towards the rear thereof.

In more detail, the base 12 comprises an upper tray 24 and a lower tray 26. The upper tray 24 is substantially rectangular in plan, with a generally U-shaped cross-section with gently diverging side limbs, as shown in Fig. 1. An upwardly extending recess 28 is provided substantially in the centre of the upper tray 24.

The lower tray 26 is also substantially rectangular in plan, with a generally U-shaped cross-section with gently diverging side limbs. The lower tray has a generally central downwardly extending recess 30. The upper tray 24 is slightly smaller than the lower tray 26, to enable it to nest in the lower tray 26 as shown in Fig. 1. Spacing members 32 are provided on one or both of the trays 24,26, to space the trays 24,26 a predetermined distance apart when nested. The upwardly extending walls 34a,34b and 36a,36b of the upper and lower trays 24,26 respectively define between them cavities 14. In this particular embodiment, the cavities 14 extend along the front side F of the fire 10, and along the sides S1 and 52 to the rear R of the fire (Figs. 2 and 3) but not along the rear R.The upper edges 34c,34d,36c,36d of the trays 24,26 respectively define the outlets 18 as slots running along the length of the cavities 14.

It is to be appreciated that the trays 24,26 can be any suitable shape in plan view, for example circular, oval, square, hexagonal etc. such that the term sides should be construed accordingly for such shapes.

The recesses 28,30 define a chamber 38 in the base 12, which connects a gas supply to the cavities 14. A supply conduit 40 preferably channels the gas from the supply into the chamber 38. The conduit preferably decreases in internal cross-section towards the chamber 38, to accelerate the supplied gas by a venturi effect.

The conduit 40 also comprises an aeration port 42 of conventional design, to allow control of the gas/air mixture entering the fire 10.

A bed of granular ceramic material 44 is located in the upper tray 24, with an arrangement of ceramic coals 46 resting thereon.

In use, a gas supply is provided to the fire 10, with the aeration port 42 set to give the desired gas/air mixture. This mixture enters the chamber 38 and subsequently the three cavities 14 as shown schematically by the arrows in Fig. 1. The gas/air mixture exits the outlets 18 along the upper edges of the three sides 14 to be lit by ignition means (not shown). The fire 10 therefore has flames along the whole length of three of its four sides, which flicker amongst the coals to give an enhanced effect which simulates the burning of real coals. The flames will usually be drawn through the coals by convection.

Fig. 3 shows the fire 10 in position in a fireplace recess 50. The rear R of the fire is located at the back of the recess 50 out of view, such that the provision of flames around the three sides 14 is appropriate for that application, ensuring that all visible areas of the fire comprise flames.

Some fires are located centrally in a room and not located in a recess. Fig. 4 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a fire 110 according to the present invention, intended for such use. The construction of the fire 110 is similar to that of fire 10, but a cavity is also provided on the fourth side, such that a flame is provided around the whole periphery of the fire 110.

A corrugated steel ribbon 54 is provided in each cavity 114 to act to restrict the flow of gas exiting the outlets 118. This ribbon 54 is used to control the burning of the gas, and it is to be appreciated that it can be incorporated into the first embodiment in the same way.

It is further to be appreciated that ceramic logs or other simulated fuels can be used on the fire.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, the trays can be of any shape, such as triangular, hexagonal, oval, circular etc.

Moreover, the outlets can be other than a continual slot, such as a series of holes or smaller slots.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Fire apparatus comprising a base formed to be able to support simulated fuel material thereon and to receive a supply of flammable fluid and channel said fluid to one or more outlets in the base, the outlet(s) being arranged along a front side of the location for said material on the base and also along at least part of a further side of said location extending from the front side towards the rear thereof.

2. Fire apparatus according to claim 1, in which the outlet or outlets is/are arranged along the front side and at least two further sides.

3. Fire apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the outlet(s) also extend along part or all of the rear side.

4. Fire apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the outlet(s) extend the whole way around said location.

5. Fire apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the base comprises a floor and sides upstanding therefrom.

6. Fire apparatus according to claim 5, in which one or more cavities are defined in at least two of the sides with one or more outlets communicating therewith.

7. Fire apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which the or each outlet is located at or near the upper edge of the respective sides.

8. Fire apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7, in which one or more cavities are provided in three or four sides with one or more outlets communicating therewith.

9. Fire apparatus according to claim 6, 7 or 8, in which one or more cavities is provided in all of the sides with a corresponding outlet or outlets.

10. Fire apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 9, in which the floor of the base is generally hollow, and defines a chamber which communicates with the or each cavity, and also the fluid supply.

11. Fire apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 10, in which the cavity or cavities is/are located in the front, and along each generally rearwardly extending side of the apparatus.

12. Fire apparatus according to claim 11, in which a cavity is also located in the rear.

13. Fire apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 12, in which a layer of corrugated material may be located within the or each cavity to restrict the passage of fluid through the outlet(s).

14. Fire apparatus according to claim 13, in which the material is steel.

15. Fire apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 14, in which the base comprises an upper tray mounted in a spaced relation on a lower tray, said trays defining the chamber and the or each cavity therebetween.

16. Fire apparatus according to claim 15, in which spacing means is located between the trays.

17. Fire apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 16, in which the apparatus comprises a fluid inlet conduit connectable between a fluid supply and the chamber.

18. Fire apparatus according to claim 17, in which the conduit comprises control means to allow control of the fluid.

19. Fire apparatus according to claim 18, in which the control means allows control of the component ratio of the fluid.

20. Fire apparatus according to any of claims 18 or 19, in which the control means comprises an aeration port through which air can enter the conduit to combine with gas from a supply to produce the desired fluid mixture, the entry of air being controllable by manipulation of a closure member over the port.

21. Fire apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 20, in which the conduit decreases in size towards the chamber to accelerate the fluid into the chamber.

22. Fire apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the simulated fuel material comprises synthetic coals and/or logs.

23. Fire apparatus according to claim 22, in which the simulated fuel material comprises ceramic coals and/or logs.

24. Fire apparatus according to claim 22 or claim 23, in which the coals and/or logs are mounted on a bed of non-flammable granular material on the base.

25. Fire apparatus according to claim 24, in which the granular material comprises sand and/or ceramic chips.

26. Fire apparatus comprising a base and simulated fuel material located thereon, the base being so formed to be able to receive a supply of flammable fluid and channel said fluid to one or more outlets in the base, the outlet(s) being arranged along a front side of the material and also along at least part of a further side of said material extending from the front side towards the rear thereof.

27. Fire apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. Fire apparatus with simulated fuel material thereon substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

29. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.