GB2331802A

GB2331802A - Gas burner

Info

Publication number: GB2331802A
Application number: GB9724929A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Baigue John Stephen Le; Baigue Stephen John Le
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-26
Filing date: 1997-11-26
Publication date: 1999-06-02
Also published as: GB9724929D0

Abstract

A solid fuel effect gas fire burner 10 comprises a chamber 12 of refractory material 14 having a single outlet 16 in the form of a slot (16 Fig.3) which extends substantially right across the chamber 12 and may have side excursions (22) on one or both sides of the slot. The chamber 12 is provided with a Venturi inlet 24 and has walls 28 of non-ceramic-fibre material soluble in body fluids, advantageous for reasons mentioned. Alternatively, the material (141) (Figure 7) is a solidified liquid material, at least 1mm thick, self-supporting or formed on a support. To improve the spread of the flame and/or as an additional safeguard against lightback, a combination (34), (Figure 8), comprises the burner (102) and an openwork cover 36 for the outlet 162. The cover 36 is of heat-conducting, perforated stainless steel or stainless steel gauze. Alternatively, the openwork cover (363), (Figure 9) is made up of separate macropieces (44) of ceramic material, not heat-conducting, maybe fired clay, each preferably globoid, preferably of larger diameter than the width 403 of slot (163). A single large outlet (165), (Fig.11) which is not a slot may have a cover (365) of globoids (445) of smaller diameter than the outlet (165) which are held in place by a wall (425) machined into a block (465). An openwork cover (36) comprising pieces (44) could be used in a combination with a burner arrangement comprising a plurality of outlets 16 in one burner or in a system comprising a plurality of burner modules (107, 108, 109) with manifolded gas supplies (607, 608, 609). A method of making the chamber 12 comprises providing a lower member (50 Fig.1), placing on it one or more side members 52, 54 defining or to support side walls 28 of the chamber 12, and placing on that an upper member (56 Fig.3). Alternatively, chamber walls (281 Fig.7), are provided by a material (141) supported on one or more of said members (501), (521, 541, 561).

Description

2331802 "Gas Fires"

Background

This invention relates to solid fuel effect gas fires, also known as decorative gas fires. These have a burner in which gas and primary air are mixed and the mixture fed to flames around one or more simulated solid fuel elements above the burner.

A problem with such fires is to improve the burning efficiency and the appearance of the flames. Such a fire has been proposed with a burner having a plurality of outlets and walls of ceramic-fibre material. This material is well-known and consists essentially of ceramic fibres of three microns diameter or less.

The Invention According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a solid fuel effect gas fire burner, having the features of claim 1. 71his provides the decided advantage of reducing considerably the resistance to gas flow and thereby improves the burning efficiency of the gas and the appearance of the flames. While the outlet could, for example, be circular, the features of claim 2 enable the outflow of gas to be well controlled. The features of claim 3, and preferably claim 4, especially in conjunction with the features of claim 5, and preferably claim 6, serve to prevent lightback. The features of claim 7 allow the maximum flow of gas. It is found that the features of claim 8 improve the mixing of gas with primary air in the burner chamber.

The present inventors consider that the ceramic-fibre material of the said proposed burner presents some resistance to the passage of gas past it. They also believes there to be a distinct manufacturing advantage in using a non-ceramic-fibre material. The features of claim 9 help to provide this advantage, especially if used in combination with the features of claims 10 and 11, and also can be used to-pr)V'ide walls with a surface that is more conducive to the ready flow past them of the gas, especially when using the further features of claim 12, with the features of claims 13 and more particularly 14 and 15 being able to facilitate the manufacture of the walls from this material, the whole preferably having the features of claim 16 for manufacturing convenience. Since the wall material starts as a liquid material, it can also be used to bond the fibre material of the support, e.g. if the latter were ceramic fibre to help said manufacturing advantage; but preferably the support is itself also of non-ceramic fibre material, and preferably soluble in body fluids, both features serving further to provide said manufacturing advantage.

The features of claim 19 provide means which can be used to spread the flame and further to improve its appearance, while the features of claim 20 allow the cover to be used as a further safeguard against lightback. The features of claim 21 provide a long-lasting material in this particular situation. The features of claim 22 are found to give a remarkable improvement in the spreading of the gas and/or flames and consequent realism and also to contribute substantially to prevention of lightback. The invention extends to the combination of burner and cover and also to the gas fire which comprises the burner or combination.

Another aspect of the invention consists in a method as claimed in claim 28. This provides a particularly convenient method of making the burner mentioned above, the burner being able to have the features of claim 29 and/or 30, each being able to provide a better gas flow according to the particular design of fire, while the features of claim 31 can provide high accuracy in production of the relatively long slot mentioned above. The features of claims 332 and '333 can contribute to improved gas flow.

Further aspects of the invention consist in a burner made by the method as claimed in claim 36, a combination as claimed in claim 37, a modular fire as claimed in claim 38, a kit of parts for the same as claimed in claim 39, and a burner module as claimed in claim 40.

Particular Description

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of a lower member forming a baseboard of a burner embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view of side members of the burner chamber of the embodiment; Figure 3 is a similar view of an upper member of the embodiment; Figure 4 is a similar view showing the members of Figures 1, 2 and 3 superimposed and joined together to form the burner; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the same; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the burner incorporated in a gas fire; Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view along the line 7-7 of Figure 4, showing a solidified liquid material forming the chamber walls and provided on a support; Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the top portion of Figure 7, with a modification showing the positioning of a cover in combination with the burner in a further embodiment of the invention; Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Figure 7 of further embodiments; and Figure 11 is a plan view of a further embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, reference numerals with the same first two digits indicate items having the same or like functions.

A solid fuel effect gas fire burner 10 comprises a chamber 12 of refractory material 14 having a single outlet 16 in the form of a slot 16. Said slot 16 is 1 - 5mm wide, preferably 1.5 - 2.5mm wide, 5 - 20mm deep, preferably 6 - 15mm deep, and extends substantially right across the chamber 12, i.e. substantially across the whole width 18 of the chamber 12 when viewed from the front (of the fire 20 to which the burner 10 is adapted to be fitted). The slot 16 may have side excursions 22 on one or both sides of the slot, e.g. like the arms of a letter E or like the teeth of a comb.

It may be appropriate, as seen in Figure 3 3 in dotted lines, for the slot 16 only to have excursions 22 at its front side since the flame will be drawn back over the burner 10 by the action of the usual flue. The chamber 12 is provided with a Venturi inlet 24 having a bend 26 of more than 90'.

The walls 28 of the chamber 12 are of non-ceramic-fibre material 14. In the embodiments of Figures 1-6, this material 14 comprises a fibre material soluble in body fluids, advantageous for the reasons mentioned above. An example is known under the trade name SUPERWOOL made by Thermal Ceramics Limited, of Merseyside, England. In other embodiments, the material 14 is a solidified liquid material, at least 1mm thick. This may be self-standing or, as shown in the embodiments of Figures 7-10, formed on a support, e.g. built up as layers of material 141 on a support 32 of fibre material, e.g. said SUPERWOOL. An example of such material 141 is known under the trade name "Silicate Adhesive HT" made by UK Insulation Suppliers Limited of Barking, Essex, England. In these embodiments, substantially all the area (perhaps except in corner recesses 30 where the material 141 may be thicker) of this material 141 is 1 - 5mm thick, preferably 1 - 3. 5mm thick, more preferably 1 - 1.5mm thick.

To improve the spread of the flame and/or as an additional safeguard against lightback, a combination 34, Figure 8, comprises the burner 102 and an openwork cover 36 for the outlet 162, which cover 36 is of heat-conducting, perforated stainless steel, preferably with the perforations being circular holes 38 of about the same diameter as the width 40 of the outlet slot 162. Alternatively, the cover 36 could be of stainless steel gauze. The cover 36 is loosely placed in a channel 42 machined into the top of the support 32 above the slot 162, so that it fits to the slot 161 Another possibility is for the openwork cover 363), Figure 9, to be made up of separate pieces 44 of ceramic material, maybe fired clay, each preferably globoid, preferably of larger diameter than the width 403 of slot 1633. (They could be of smaller diameter if the channel 423 is suitably sized and shaped, e.g. ripple-walled, to crowd them together in a manner akin to that shown in Figure 1 l.) The pieces 44 can be located in a channel 423 machined in a block 46, positioned as shown in dashed lines in Figure 5, in a single row if the globoids 44 are of nearly the same diameter as the width of channel 423, or in multiple rows of globoids 444, Figure 10, if of much smaller diameter than the width 764 of channel 424. Channel 423 may be completely straight-sided so that it conforms only approximately to the slot 163, extending over the whole of slot 163) although this slot 163) has a kink 48 to pass around oxypilot 49. Figure 11 shows how a single large outlet 165 which is not a slot may have a cover 365 of globoids 445 of smaller diameter than the outlet 165 which are held in place by a wall 425 machined into a block 465. In contrast to e.g. flakes, - 6 these pieces 44 are macropleces, by which is meant that they are big enough not to fall through the outlet 163; e.g. each one having a greater minimum overall diameter than the width 403 of the outlet 1633 if this is a straight-sided slot, regardless of the channel 423; and e.g. for a circular outlet 165 of a diameter D, somewhat less than the diameter D, of retaining wall 425 the pieces 445 should have a diameter 'V' given by:

d = D/(1 + 1/(sin (-')60'/2n))) where D is between (but not equal to) D, and D, and "n" is the number of identical spherical macropieces 445. The cover 363, 364, comprising macropieces 44, 444, is found to have the effect of spreading the outlet gas mixture and/or flames below the simulated solid fuel elements 51 to make the flames more realistic and also to contribute to prevention of lightback, even without being conducting as is a metal.

It will be seen that in each case the cover _336, 3363, _3364, 365 fits to the outlet 162, 163, 164, 165 so as to conform approximately to the extent thereof. This is in contrast to the usual solid fuel elements 51 which are arranged over the whole of the burner 10 and do not conform to the outlet 16. The cover.336, 363, 364, 365 also fits to the outlet 162, 16-33, 164, 165 in that it is closer to the outlet 162, 163, 164, 165 than the elements 51 can be. The cover 36, 3633, 364, 365 may have either or both of these properties of fitting since each one alone gives improved spread of the flames and help against lightback.

An openwork cover 36 comprising separate pieces 44 could be used in a combination with (fitted to, as described above,) a burner arrangement comprising a plurality of outlets 16 in one burner or otherwise. For example, in a modular system, Figure 12, a burrier arrangement 106 may comprise a plurality of burrier modules 107, 108, 109 and so on, e.g. module 107 being a starter module of width 150mm, and modules 108, 109 being add-on modules of unit width 30mm, each with a single outlet 167, 168, 169. The gas supply 60 could then be manifolded into supplies 607, 608, 609. This would allow fires for fitting to different grate widths to be made from a minimum of different parts.

In use, a solid fuel effect gas fire 20 comprises said burner 10 or combination 34.

A method of making such a solid fuel effect gas fire burner 10 comprises making a chamber 12 of refractory material 14 having a single outlet 16, by providing a lower member 50, placing on it one or more side members 52, 54 defining or to support side walls 28 of the chamber 12, and placing on that an upper member 56. The members 50, 52, 54, 56 define the side walls 28 of the chamber 12. These members 50, 52, 54, 56 and block 46 are made from board, and are joined together, e.g. using a known refractory glue. Said outlet 16 may already be provided in member 56, but preferably the method further comprises the step of providing said outlet 16 in said upper member 56, or in a said side member 52, by machining after the members are joined together. The method may comprise the step of providing walls 281 of the chamber 121 by means of a solidified liquid material 141 supported on one or more of said members 501, 521, 541, 561, and providing said outlet 161 by machining through said material 141.

In particular examples, width 40 of slot 16 is 2mm, width 18 of chamber 12 is 30Omm, the thickness 62, 68 of members 50, 56 is 6mm, the thickness 64, 66 of members 52, 54 and block 46 is 15mm, the thickness of material 141 is Imm, the width 72 of channel 42 is 5mm and its depth 74 is 1.5mm, and the width 76 of channels 423, 424 is 15mm. The globoids could be of different shapes and sizes like -8 pebbles but preferably are substantially spherical balls 44 of diameter 12mm and 444 of diameter 6mm in respective channels 423, 424.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged and the invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive combination thus formed.

Claims

1.

A solid fuel effect gas fire burner, cit it comprises a chamber of refractory material having a single outlet.

A burner as claimed in claim 1, cit said outlet is in the form of a slot. A burner as claimed in claim 2, cit said slot is 1 - 5mm wide. A burner as claimed in claim 3, cit said slot is 1.5 - 2.5mm wide. A burner as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, cit said slot is 5 - 20mm deep.

6. A burner as claimed in claim 5, cit said slot is 6 - 15mm deep.

7. A burner as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, cit said slot extends substantially across the whole width of the chamber.

8. A burner as claimed in any one of claims I to 7, cit the chamber is provided with a Venturi inlet having a bend of greater than 90'.

9. A bumer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, cit the walls of the chamber are of non-ceramic-fibre material.

10. A burner as claimed in claim 9, cit said material comprises a fibre material.

A burner as claimed in claim 10, cit said fibre material is soluble in body 11.

fluids.

12.

material.

A burner as claimed in claim 9, cit said material is a solidified liquid 13. A burner as claimed in claim 12, cit said material is at least lmm thick.

14. A burner as claimed in claim 13), cit substantially all the area of said material is 1 - 5mm thick.

15. A burner as claimed in claim 13, cit substantially all the area of said material is 1 - 1.5mm thick.

16. A burner as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, cit said material is formed on a support of fibre material.

17. A burner, substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.

18. A burner, substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A combination, cit it comprises a burner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18 and an openwork cover for the outlet.

20. A combination as claimed in claim 19, cit the cover is a heatconducting cover.

steel.

21. A combination as claimed in claim 20, cit the cover is of perforated stainless 22. A combination as claimed in claim 19 or 20, cit the cover comprises separate macropieces adapted to spread the outlet gas mixture and/or flames below the simulated solid fuel elements.

23. A combination of burner and cover, substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.

24. A combination of bumer and cover, substantially according to any embodiment hereiribefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. A solid fuel effect gas fire, cit it comprises a burner or combination as claimed in any one of claims I to 233.

26. A solid fuel effect gas fire, substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.

27. A solid fuel effect gas fire, substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. A method of making a solid fuel effect gas fire burner, cit it comprises making a chamber of refractory material having a single outlet, by providing a lower member, placing on it one or more side members defining or to support side walls of the chamber, and placing on that an upper member.

29. A method as claimed in claim 27, cit it comprises the step of providing said outlet in said upper member.

30. A method as claimed in claim 27, cit it comprises the step of providing said outlet in a said side member.

31. A method as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 29, cit it comprises the step of providing said outlet by machining.

32. A method as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 30, cit it comprises the step of providing walls of the chamber by means of a material formed and supported on one or more of said members.

33. A method as claimed in claim 31, cit it comprises the step of providing said outlet by machining through said wall material.

34. A method of making a solid fuel effect gas fire burner, substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.

35. A method of making a solid fuel effect gas fire burner, substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

36. A solid fuel effect gas fire burner, cit it is made by a method as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 34.

- 12 37. A combination, cit it comprises a solid fuel effect gas fire burner having an outlet, and an openwork cover for the outlet comprising separate macropieces adapted to spread the outlet gas mixture and/or flames below the simulated solid fuel elements.

38. A solid fuel effect gas fire, cit it comprises a plurality of burner modules fitted together to extend the width of the fire.

39. A kit of parts, cit it is adapted to make a fire as claimed in claim 37.

40. A burner module, cit it is adapted to fit to at least one other burner module to extend the width of a fire comprising the modules.