GB2350182A

GB2350182A - Flame effect electric fire

Info

Publication number: GB2350182A
Application number: GB0011110A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Bloodworth
Original assignee: Be Modern Ltd
Current assignee: Be Modern Ltd
Priority date: 1999-05-17
Filing date: 2000-05-08
Publication date: 2000-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-08
Also published as: GB9911435D0; GB0011110D0; GB2350182B

Abstract

A flame effect electric fire is provided and comprises a translucent screen 20 , reflector means 8 and a light source 6. In use light is directed at the reflector means 8 and reflected onto the back of the translucent screen 20 . The translucent screen 20 has a plurality of moulded irregular shaped flame-like elements 22 on its rear surface to further reflect or refract incident light and give the impression of flames. The moulding 22 may be moulded in or on the translucent screen or may be affixed thereto. Preferably the front of the screen 20 is smooth and may be planar or fowardly convex. The reflective means 8 may comprise a plurality of reflective streamers 10 suspended in an air stream from a fan 3. Preferably the streamers 10 are triangular in shape and of different colours.

Description

2350182 FLAME-EFFECT ELECTRIC FIRE The present invention relates to

electric fires of the type which incorporate devices to simulate the visual effects of live flames such as would issue from fires burning solid fuel.

Electric fires are a very popular and convenient form of radiant domestic heating, and many such fires, especially when they are designed for installation in the opening of a conventional solid fuel fire, upon a hearth or against a flat wall, are constructed to give the overall impression of a solid-fuel fire. In such cases, a moulding to represent the upper surface of a bed of partly-burned solid fuel is a very common feature.

An important characteristic of a normal solid-fuel fire is the effect produced by flickering flames, and it is attempts to produce this effect which have most engaged the designers of electric fuel-effect fires.

One common approach has been to provide a vented spinner, mounted for rotation about a vertical axis above a coloured electric bulb. When the bulb is illuminated, the heat rising from the bulb causes the spinner to rotate and, by virtue of the vents in the spinner, coloured light is intermittently directed at the underside of the translucent simulated fuel bed. The resulting effect is a crude rhythmic simulation of the light from a flame.

2 In order, to produce a more credible visual ef f ect, a translucent screen is provided in the space above and rearward of the simulated fuel bed and a vertical flame effect is created on the rear of that screen.

One method of achieving the flame effect is to use a series of ribbons held at their ends in generally vertical positions and caused to move by a current of air from a fan. However the effects created by viewing such moving ribbons through the screen lack reality.

An alternative method of achieving the flame effect is to provide a static reflector behind the translucent screen in which are formed generally upwardly extending flutings onto which light is incident from the bulb and from which light is reflected onto the screen, the configuration of the flutings being such as to create a f lame ef f ect on the rear of the screen.

Again, however, the flame effects can lack realism.

According to the present invention there is provided a flame effect electric fire comprising a substantially upright translucent screen, reflector means rearward of the screen, and a source of light for projecting light onto the reflector means whereby light is reflected irregularly by said means onto the screen, characterised by a plurality of moulded, irregular flame-like finger elements on the screen extending substantially upwardly of the screen from the bottom thereof, the arrangement being such that the irregular light incident on the moulded finger elements is itself 3 further irregularly reflected and refracted by said moulded elements to create a realistic 3D, upwardly rising flame effect and smoke effect in the screen.

The irregular nature of the moulded elements, and in particular the varying thicknesses and widths thereof, is chosen to ensure that the light incident thereon, which itself is of an irregular, asymmetric nature, creates a constantly varying visual effect which closely resembles true solid fuel flames.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reflector means comprise a plurality of reflective streamers suspended substantially vertically behind the screen and caused to flutter by the airstream from a fan whereby light incident thereon is reflected irregularly therefrom onto the rear of the screen.

Preferably the lower end extents of some at least of the streamers are of generally triangular configurations in the manner of flames, while it is further preferred that the streamers are of different colours, some being lighter than others, for example liquid gold and blue, further to improve the realism of the flame effect created thereby.

The moulded finger elements may be formed in a translucent sheet itself adhered or otherwise secured to the rear surface of the screen.

Alternatively the finger elements may be moulded in or on the translucent screen, preferably on the rear surface thereof.

4 It is currently preferred that the front surface of the translucent screen is smooth and planar, although said surface may be smooth and forwardly convex.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view, partly broken away and partly exploded, of a fire according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the translucent screen and the translucent sheet secured thereto of the fire of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line III - III of Fig.2, and Fig. 4 is a front view of the ref lector means of the f ire of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated fire comprises a housing 2 containing an electric fan 3 and an electric fan-assisted heater 4 having a plurality of heating elements and on which is positioned an electric light bulb 6, typically orange or red in colour.

To the inner face of the rear wall of the f ire housing 2 is secured reflector means indicated generally at 8 and most clearly shown in Fig. 4. More particularly the reflector means comprise a series of streamers or ribbons 10,101 extending substantially vertically and loosely between upper and lower support rails 12,14 respectively, the streamers being of a flexible reflective material.

Some of the streamers 101 have bifurcated, generally triangular lower end extents 16 resembling flames, the streamers being of different colours. For example, the streamers 10 1 may be gold and the other streamers 10 may be blue.

It will be appreciated that, on actuation of the fan 3 and on illumination of the bulb 6, the streamers 10,101 are agitated and flutter whereby light from the bulb 6 is irregularly reflected therefrom.

The fire further comprises a planar, tinted translucent screen 18 adapted to close the front of the f ire and to the inner face of which is secured a sheet 20 of a translucent plastics material.

Integrally moulded on the inner face of the sheet 20 are a plurality of irregular, flame-like finger elements 22, the overall configuration of the mouldings resembling flames which peak towards a chimney outlet as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Each element 22 is of constantly varying thickness and width whereby there is asymmetry and irregularity within the generally triangular overall configuration of the elements 22. Fig. 3 shows the generally undulating nature of a horizontal section through the elements 22.

It will thus be appreciated that the aforementioned light from the bulb 6 which is irregularly reflected from the streamers 10,10, is incident on the moulded elements 22 to be reflected and refracted thereby such as to create a constantly varying visual effect which closely resembles true solid fuel flames and rising 6 smoke emissions.

More particularly, the locations of the streamers 10, 10 1, the varying colours of the streamers 10, 10 1, the asymmetric agitation of the streamers 10,101, the positions of the finger elements 22 relative to the streamers 10,101, and the asymmetric nature of the elements 22 all combine to create a 3D image of constantly flickering flames interspersed with smoke in the manner of a real solid fuel fire.

Although not illustrated, the fire will incorporate a simulated solid fuel bed which will be illuminated from below by the bulb 6 with the simulated flames extending upwardly from the fuel bed.

The precise construction of a fire according to the invention may differ from that illustrated and detailed above.

The configurations of the streamers 10, 10 and the colours thereof, may be other than as shown and described. Although streamers are preferred, other reflective means may be provided for directing light irregularly onto the sheet 20.

The embossed elements 22 for providing the flame effect may be other than on the inner face of the sheet 20/screen 18 combination, for example within or on the outer face of the combination. The screen 18 and sheet 20 may comprise an integrally moulded unit, and may be other than planar, for example outwardly convex.

Other modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

7 CLAIMS

1 A flame effect electric fire comprising a substantially upright translucent screen, reflector means rearward of the screen, and a source of light for projecting light onto the reflector means whereby light is reflected irregularly by said means onto the screen, characterised by a plurality of moulded, irregular flame-like finger elements on the screen extending substantially upwardly of the screen from the bottom thereof, the arrangement being such that the irregular light incident on the moulded finger elements is itself further irregularly reflected and refracted by said moulded elements to create an upwardly rising flame effect and smoke effect in the screen.

2. A f ire as claimed in claim 1 in which the reflector means comprise a plurality of reflective streamers suspended substantially vertically behind the screen and caused to flutter by the airstream from a fan whereby light incident thereon is reflected irregularly therefrom onto the rear of. the screen.

3. A f ire as claimed in claim 2 in which the lower end extents of some at least of the streamers are of a bifurcated, generally triangular configuration in the manner of flames.

4. A f ire as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the streamers are of different colours, some being 8 lighter than others.

5. A f ire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which moulded finger elements are formed in a translucent sheet itself secured to the rear surface of the screen.

6. A f ire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the finger elements are moulded in or on the translucent screen.

7. A f ire as claimed in claim 6 in which the f inger elements are moulded on the rear surface of the translucent screen.

8. A f ire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the front surface of the translucent screen is smooth and planar.

9. A f ire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the front surface of the translucent screen is smooth and forwardly convex.

10. A flame effect electric fire substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.