GB2345960A

GB2345960A - Moulded imitation fuel for a simulated fule effect fire

Info

Publication number: GB2345960A
Application number: GB9825671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Alan Perry; Stanley John Rolls
Original assignee: S J ROLLS PLASTICS Ltd; Valor Ltd
Current assignee: S J ROLLS PLASTICS Ltd; Valor Ltd
Priority date: 1998-11-25
Filing date: 1998-11-25
Publication date: 2000-07-26
Also published as: GB9825671D0

Abstract

A plurality of moulded imitation fuel elements 1 are provided for a simulated fuel effect fire. Each fuel element 1 is cast using a flexible mould having a surface corresponding to a selected solid fuel such as coal or a log. The element 1 may be cast from a polyester resin or glass and may be coloured or clear. The element 1 may be transparent or translucent. The element may be painted black. A plurality of elements 1 may be randomly located on a support net 3 to form a fire bed for a simulated fuel effect fire. In a second embodiment a plurality of elements 1 may be placed upon a moulded simulated fire bed (15, Fig 2). The element may be secured by extending a projection on the element through an aperture (19, Fig 2) in the fire bed. A light source 11 is provided to illuminate the fire bed from below with the light passing through the elements 1. In manufacture the flexible mould is formed around a selected solid fuel, filled with liquid resin of glass, cured or allowed to cool and then removed from the mould.

Description

DESCRIPTION IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO A SIMULATED FUEL EFFECT The present invention relates to a simulated fuel effect.

More particularly the present invention relates to a simulated solid fuel effect eg. a simulated coal or log, for use in a simulated fuel bed, for example, for use in an electric space heater, said simulated coals and/or logs enhancing the realism of the electric space heater as a simulated fire.

In a known construction of a simulated solid fuel effect fire, a simulated coal bed is formed by a collection of glass cullet ie individual glass lumps produced as waste during glass production. The individual glass lumps can be varying shades of any colour, particularly amber and also red, to give an appearance tending towards that of glowing coals especially when the simulated fuel bed is lit from underneath. The effect of a real fire can be enhanced by including any one of the large number of flicker effect devices that are available, under the simulated fuel bed to cause the light or lights under the simulated fuel bed to produce a flickering light through the glass lumps ie. simulated coals, which gives the effect of burning coals thereby enhancing realism as the individual glass lumps are thus illuminated to continuously varying degrees.

However, such glass cullet, whilst being readily available has a number of problems. To explain the glass lumps are of individual, non repeatable shapes, with smooth surfaces which in no way resemble the surface of coal.

Thus accurate realism is definitely not a possibility. Also due to sharp edges and corners the glass lumps are not readily handleable.

An aim of the present invention is to provide simulated coals and/or logs which provide for enhanced realism in a simulated fuel bed.

According to the present invention there is provided a simulated fuel effect for use in a simulated fuel bed, said simulated fuel effect being cast out of a suitable material in a mould having a surface corresponding to at least part of the surface of a selected solid fuel, so that at least the major part of the surface of the simulated fuel effect is identical to the surface of said selected solid fuel.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the simulated fuel effect is a simulated coal cast from a polyester resin, and is at least translucent. The simulated coal is therefore realistic in its surface detail, has a repeatable shape and is readily handleable as is a piece of coal.

Preferably the polyester resin is amber in colour, though any desired relevant colour can of course be selected, with at least part of the simulated coal surface being lightly sprayed or brushed with black paint. Thus when illuminated from underneath the light passes through the simulated coal to illuminate the multi-faceted exterior surface of the simulated coal from within to give an enhanced ember effect. This ember effect can be further enhanced by including a flicker effect device or assembly to provide for continuously varying illumination of the simulated coal from underneath.

Alternatively, the polyester resin may be clear ie. not coloured, with the light of the flicker effect device being coloured to produce the desired coloured glow of a real fire.

To manufacture a simulated coal according to the present invention, a mould is first constructed e. g. a rubber mould, using at least part of the exterior surface of a piece of coal as a former. Having removed the piece of coal from the mould the mould can be used as and when required, to form simulated coals by pouring liquid resin, preferably a polyester resin, into the mould. On curing the resin solidifies into a lump of transparent or translucent resin with a flat face ie the previous liquid surface, and a continuous multi faceted surface corresponding to the surface of the piece of coal.

As an alternative to moulding simulated coals from coloured or clear resin eg. polyester resin, simulated logs or parts of logs eg. end sections, can be produced and used to enhance the realism of a simulated log fire.

Further, whilst reference is made hereabove to the simulated coals and/or logs or parts thereof, being case from a resin, preferably a polyester resin, the simulated coals and/or logs or parts thereof, may alternatively be cast from clear or coloured glass to the same effect.

In use, a simulated coal and/or log according to the present invention, may be used in a variety of advantageous ways. For example, a collection of such simulated coals and/or logs, may be located on a support such as a supported net through which light can pass. The simulated coals and/or logs would be randomly arranged as would real coals/logs in a real fuel bed, and when illuminated from beneath the coals and/or logs would give the appearance of glowing embers especially when a flicker effect device or assembly of any desired type, is arranged to continuously vary the illumination, preferably from underneath the simulated fuel bed.

In an alternative simulated fuel bed construction, a known plastic or glass reinforced plastic (GRP) moulded fuel bed of desired configuration, may be provided with spaced apart holes eg. round or irregularly shaped holes, over which simulated coals according to the present invention are located.

Again a flicker effect device or assembly will enhance the realism of the moulded fuel bed and the simulated coals according to the present invention.

Any simulated fuel bed incorporating the simulated coals and/or logs of the present invention may be coupled with a desired heat source e. g. electrical heating elements.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a representation of one embodiment of simulated fuel bed utilising simulated coals according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a representation of another embodiment of simulated fuel bed utilising simulated coals according to the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a representation of a still further embodiment of a simulated fuel bed utilising simulated coals according to the present invention.

A simulated coal 1 according to the present invention, is constructed by first making a flexible open-topped mould e. g. a rubber mould, from a piece of coal. The mould thus has an interior surface which is complimentary to the surface detail of a large part of the exterior surface of the piece of coal.

Liquid polyester resin, or any other suitable resin in liquid form, is then poured into the flexible mould and allowed to cure ie. solidify. The resin is amber in colour though any alternative colour as seen in a real fire can be of course utilised, or the resin can be clear an, in use, illuminated by a suitable coloured light. When the resin has cured and solidified it is removed from the mould as a lump of transparent or translucent resin with a flat surface corresponding to the liquid surface and a further surface corresponding to the multi-faceted detail of the piece of coal. At least part of the detailed further surface is then lightly brushed, or alternatively sprayed, with black paint to enhance the ember effect when illuminated from below so that light emanates from the lump of resin.

Alternatively a simulated log (not shown) can be produced by being cast from a suitable resin in a mould of a real log, or a part eg. one or more end or middle sections, can be produced by being cast from a suitable resin and then conjoined with other sections eg. ceramic sections, of the simulated log.

Further, as an alternative to casting the simulated coal or log (or part thereof) from, for example, a polyester resin, the simulated coal, log or part thereof, can be cast in a mould, from clear or suitably coloured glass.

Simulated coals 1 and/or logs according to the present invention, can be used in a variety of simulated fuel beds, three such simulated fuel beds using simulated coals, being illustrated in Figs. 1,2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

In Fig. 1 a collection of simulated coals 1 according to the present invention are laid randomly on a support in the form of an angled net 3 which is supported at the lower front edge 5 by a support 7 and at the upper rear edge 9 by a further support (not shown). Lamps 11 located below the net 3 illuminate the simulated coals 1 from below and a flicker effect assembly is provided in the form of rotatable flicker discs 13, rotated by the heat from the lamps 11, and located both above the respective lamps 11 and below the net 3 to continually vary the illumination of the simulated coals from below and thus further enhance the realism of the simulated fuel bed. Any other desired form of flicker effect assembly can of course be substituted.

In Fig. 2 a known simulated fuel bed 15 moulded from glass reinforced plastic (GRP), or alternatively a plastics material, is shown. This known moulded lumps or projections 17 simulating real coals, and is provided with a number of randomly located apertures 19 over each of which a simulated coal 1 according to the present invention is located, and secured if required. Beneath the simulated fuel bed, lamps (not shown) and a suitable flicker effect device or assembly (not shown), possibly the same as shown in Fig. 1 are located to illuminate the simulated fuel bed 15 and the simulated coals 1 according to the present invention, to thus enhance the realism of the construction.

In Fig. 3, a heater 21 is shown with a shaped simulated fuel bed 23, behind which lamps (not shown) and a suitable flicker effect device or assembly (not shown), possibly the same as shown in Fig. 1, are located. The shaped simulated fuel bed 23 is constructed as in Fig. 2, from moulded GRP, or alternatively moulded from a plastics material, with moulded projections 25 of dark coloration simulating real coals. Also apertures 27 are provided over which simulated coals 1 according to the present invention are located and secured if necessary. The use of the simulated coals 1 of the present invention enhances the realism of the simulated fuel bed.

The apertures 19 and 27 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings are irregular in shape to generally correspond with the irregular shape of the simulated coals 1. However, alternatively round apertures (not shown), at least for ease of manufacture, can be used.

Further, to secure the simulated coals on the simulated fuel beds and to enhance the effect produced, each simulated coal can be provided with a depending projection (not shown) made of the same material as the simulated coal, which projection extends through an aperture 19; 27 in the simulated fuel bed. The projection thus physically secures the simulated coal on the fuel bed, and also enhances the collection of light from underneath the fuel bed, to thus enhance illumination and the glowing ember effect. These projections can have any desired configuration eg. they could be cylindrical or tapered for preferred use with round apertures in the simulated fuel bed.

Each of three fuel bed constructions illustrated in Figs. 1,2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, can be coupled with a suitable source of heat e. g. electrical heat elements, for heating the surrounding space.

Whilst the above description and accompanying drawings refer to simulated coals according to the present invention, simulated logs according to the present invention can be used in similar manner to the simulated coals of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and the above description, or in combination with simulated coals according to the present invention.

The present invention thus provides a simple, readily handleable, realistic simulated fuel effect eg. a simulated coal or log, or part thereof, for use, preferably with illumination, on a simulated fuel bed of, for example, an electric heater for heating open spaces in, for example, private dwellings.

Claims

1. A simulated solid fuel effect for use in a simulated fuel bed, said simulated fuel effect being cast out of a suitable material in a mould having a surface corresponding to at least part of the surface of a selected solid fuel, so at least the major part of the surface of the simulated fuel effect is identical to the surface of the selected solid fuel.

2. A fuel effect as claimed in claim 1, in which the simulated solid fuel effect is cast from a polyester resin.

3. A fuel effect as claimed in claim 1, in which the simulated solid fuel effect is cast from glass.

4. A fuel effect as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the suitable material from which the simulated fuel effect is cast, is clear or coloured.

5. A fuel effect as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the suitable material from which the simulated fuel effect is cast, is translucent or transparent.

6. A fuel effect as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which at least part of the surface of the simulated fuel effect is painted.

7. A fuel effect as claimed in claim 6, in which the paint is black.

8. A fuel effect as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is formed as a simulated coal or log.

9. A collection of fuel effects as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, located on a support to form at least part of a simulated solid fuel effect bed.

10. A collection as claimed in claim 9, in which the support is a net and there are a plurality of randomly juxtaposed fuel effects located on the net to form at least part of a simulated solid fuel effect bed.

11. A collection as claimed in claim 9, in which the support is a moulded simulated fuel bed, with a number of fuel effects located thereon at spaced apart predetermined locations.

12. A collection as claimed in claim 11, in which each fuel effect extends through a hole provided in the moulded simulated fuel bed.

13. A collection as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, in which a light source is located below the simulated fuel bed to, in use, illuminate the simulated fuel bed from underneath.

14. A collection as claimed in claim 13, in which the light passes through the simulated solid fuel effects to enhance their realism.

15. A method of manufacturing a simulated solid fuel effect for use in a simulated fuel bed, comprising the steps of :- a) forming a flexible mould around a fuel element and removing the fuel element; b) pouring liquid resin or molten glass into the flexible mould; c) allowing the resin to cure or glass to cool, to form a solid entity; d) removing the moulded simulated solid fuel effect from the flexible mould.

16. A simulated solid fuel effect for use in a simulated fuel bed, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of manufacturing a simulated solid fuel effect for use in a simulated fuel bed, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.