GB2323160A - Coal or log effect fire - Google Patents

Abstract

A coal or log effect fire in which an artificial coal or log body mounted on a support is heated by flames from a fuel burner. Parts of the body 7 which are heated to incandescent temperatures radiate light to simulate the glow of a real fire. Portions 8 of the surface of the coal or log body are reflective to light radiated from incandescent portions of the coal or log body so as to increase the apparent area of the coal or log body which is incandescent.

Description

COAL EFFECT FIRE The present invention relates to a coal effect fire in which an artificial coal body is heated by burning a fuel to a temperature at which at least parts of the body are incandescent. The incandescent coal body provides an effect similar to that of a glowing solid fuel fire.

In a conventional coal effect fire, the artificial coal body may be moulded in one or more parts or formed from an irregular assembly of juxtaposed separate components. The body is fabricated from heat resistant materials such as ceramic which readily becomes incandescent when heated and which can withstand repeated heating and cooling cycles. The body is placed above a burner so as to be exposed to flames issuing from the burner.

In many known fires, not all of the body is exposed to flames as to do so would consume too much fuel. Thus the burner is generally located adjacent the side of the coal body nearest to the front of the fire, that is the side or sides of the fire from which in use it is to be viewed. This maximises the apparent effect of heating the body for a given rate of fuel supply. It is still necessary however to maintain a fuel supply rate sufficient to heat a substantial proportion of the coal body to incandescent temperatures.

Generally in known fires a portion of the body which is nearest to the front of the fire is not directly exposed to flames from the burner, even if the burner is located adjacent the front of the fire. This is the case as it is desirable to reduce the possibility of flames being directed outwards from the front of the fire in a potentially dangerous manner. As a result, it is difficult to simulate an open-fronted fire cven using high fuel supply rates, as lower portions of the front of the coal body cannot be heated to incandescent temperatures. It will be appreciated that in a real open-fronted fire, in which a coalbed is retained by for example spaced-apart fender bars, the full depth of the coalbed glows.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the problems outlined above.

According to the present invention, there is provided a coal effect fire comprising a fuel burner and an artificial coal body mounted on a support such that in use flames from the burner heat parts of the body to incandescent temperatures, wherein at least portions of the coal body have a surface which is reflective to radiation from incandescent parts of the body.

When a fire in accordance with the invention is heated such that portions of the coal body become incandescent, light from incandescent portions of the body is reflected away from the fire by the reflective surface giving the impression that those portions of the coal body from which light is reflected are themselves incandescent. Thus to a viewer it appears that much more of the coal body is glowing than is in fact the case.

Thus for a given rate of fuel supply the realism of the coal effect can be improved, or regions of the coal body which cannot be heated may appear to be incandescent.

The coal body may be in the form of a ceramic material which is cast, moulded or otherwise formed to a suitable surface configuration. The reflective surface may be formed by applying a layer of glaze to the ceramic. The reflective laycr mar be applied to parts of the coal body located at the front of the fire. For example the reflective surface may be applied to a ceramic component defining upardly extending projections, glaze being applied to the surface of the component between the projections. Further coal body dcfining elements of ceramic material may be located above the glazed portions so that when those further components are heated to incandescent temperatures light from incandescent parts of the coal body is reflected to the viewer from the reflective surfaces. As a result, the apparent incandescent area of the coalbed is increased. Given the reflective areas are at a relatively low level of the coal body, a fender may be placed in front of the reflective surfaces so that a glow will be visible through the fender. This enhances the simulated appearance of a glowing "grate bottom" as seen in a real coal fire.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric view of a front portion of an artificial coal body of the fire of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the component illustrated in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated fire comprises a fender (shown only in Figure 2) comprising a series of vertically extending spaced-apart bars 1 interconnected by a pair of horizontally extending bars 2. The fender is located in front of a coal body component 3 which in turn is located in front of an elongate burner 4 which in turn is located in front of an underbed tray structure 5. The component 3 forms a lower front part of coal body 6 which is built up by placing an assembly of ceramic components above the component 3, the burner 4, and underbed 5 and extends reanvardly from the component 3.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the component 3 comprises a series of four projections 7 extending upwardly from an elongate body, the surface of the body between the projection 7 being provided with a layer of glaze 8. The glaze 8 forms a highly reflective surface which is located at a relatively low position relative to the fender shown in Figure 2.

In use, flames from the burner heat the coal body 6 such that portions of that body become incandescent. Light from incandescent portions of the body radiates away from the coal body and some of that light will be directed towards the reflective surfaces 8. As a result it will appear that the reflective surfaces 8 of the component 3 are themselves incandescent. This apparent incandescence at a low level within the coal body enhances the simulated effect of the fire and in particular makes it possible to simulate a glowing "grate bottom" as seen in a real coal fire.

It will be appreciated that the present invention can be used on liquid petroleum gas and natural gas fires and is suitable for both pre-cast flues and conventional chimneys. It is equally applicable to inset, outset and any live flame effect fires, for example log effect fires as well as coal effect fires.

Although in the described embodiment only portions of a front component of the coal body are provided with a reflective surface, it will be appreciated that a reflective surface may be applied to any components of the artificial coal body so as to increase the apparent incandescent area of the coal body.

Claims (5)

1. A coal effect fire comprising a fuel burner and an artificial coal body mounted on a support such that in use flames from the burner heat parts of the body to incandescent temperatures, wherein the surface of at least portions of the coal body is reflective to radiation from incandescent parts of the body.

2. A coal effect fire according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is glazed.

3. A coal effect fire according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reflective surface is formed on portions of the body adjacent a side of the fire from which in use the fire is viewed.

4. A coal effect fire according to claim 3, wherein the said side of the fire comprises upwardly extending projections and the reflective surfaces are formed on portions of the body between the projections.

5. A coal effect fire substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.