GB2379731A

GB2379731A - Simulated flame device

Info

Publication number: GB2379731A
Application number: GB0221412A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Edward Bridgman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-15
Filing date: 2002-09-16
Publication date: 2003-03-19
Also published as: GB0221412D0; GB0122347D0

Abstract

A flame simulating device comprising a flame-shaped piece of coloured material 9 mounted on a housing 1, a fan 15 to blow air past the material, and a light source 13, wherein the light shines onto the material and at a critical angle of incidence a substantial part of it is reflected. This light effect causes bright white areas on the material which move about in a rippling manner, interspersed with the fabric's own colour. The material can be synthetic such as polyester or polyamide. The light source may be white, coloured or preferably have a colour filter 24 and is preferably a point or point-liner source which is located vertically below the material. One or more pairs of baffle plates 3 may be provided between the fan and material which may be disposed symmetrically and radially in a vertical plane and preferably have their upper, inner corners cut away 19. Shaping of the air column so that it is widened in the vertical plane of the fabric results in an increase of air efficiency which enables a smaller, slower and thus quieter fan to be used. The invention may be contained within a casing. Also disclosed is a device similar to that described above with means to vary the flow rate of the air 20, preferably be varying the air intake of the fan. Also disclosed is a 3<SP>rd</SP> device similar to that above where the material is attached via connectors 10 to a horizontal axle 11 upon which the connectors can move.

Description

Flame Simulation Device The present invention relates to a device for the simulation of the optical and mechanical characteristics of a flame.

Simulated flame devices utilizing a piece of lightweight material cut to the shape of a flame which is disposed in an airflow to produce flame like movement thereof and which is illuminated by a light source are known and are described in GB Patents 2352807 and 1088577 and US Patent 5927959.

A proportion of these devices, particularly those similar to that described in GB2352807, incorporate a fan for directing a passage of air in a vertical direction above which is mounted a flame-shaped piece of fabric. The fabric is supported vertically by the flow of air and wafts to and fro'in the air current in a similar manner to that of a real flame. The fabric is illuminated from below by means of one or more light sources, either immediately below the fabric and co-axially aligned with the fan illuminating in a vertical beam, or offset to one side illuminating one or both sides of the fabric. These devices are usually contained within a casing, usually cylindrical in nature but not necessarily so, which acts to maintain the passage of air in a vertical path and can also provide a mounting frame for securing one or more of the fan, light source and fixing points for the fabric (also baffle plates if they are necessary to reduce air turbulence within the casing).

In these devices the simulation is by means of white light from the light source falling on coloured fabric or by one or more coloured bulbs illuminating white fabric. In both of these instances the colouration is static and unchanging, either the white fabric flutters within a predetermined colour field or the coloured fabric exhibits a static colour pattern. Neither of these methods is able to mimic the variety of shades, or even colours, of a real flame which move fluidly about the body of the flame Almost all known simulated flame devices are required to be mounted at or above eye

level to avoid glare from the internal lamps and to hide from view the inner workings of the device, such as the lamp (s), baffle plates, lamp holder (s), fan, fan guard/protective grille, 'flame'connections etc.

In U. K. Patent Application 9915809.9 this situation is addressed by the addition of a close-fitting bulb cover or masque which encloses the light source and which has a slot through which the light emanates to illuminate the'flame'. In this embodiment the glare of the white light used can only be seen when the device is viewed from an almost vertical position and the masque is thus successful in eliminating the unwanted lateral diffusion of light from the light source.

The situation with regards the visibility of the other inner components, however, remains the same, whilst the lamp glare can be significantly reduced by use of a coloured bulb and white or pale silk for the flame (or reduced by viewing through a partially opaque/coloured screen) the inner workings of the device are unsightly and detract from the overall effect.

We have now devised an improved flame simulation device.

According to the invention there is provided a device for simulating a flame which comprises (i) a housing (ii) a flame shaped piece of material mounted on the housing (iii) a means for generating an air flow through said housing over the flame shaped piece of material (iv) a light source in the housing positioned to shine on the flame shaped piece of material in which the flame shaped piece of material comprises a coloured material which has a critical angle of incidence at which a substantial part of the light falling on the material becomes reflected from the material's surface.

In the specification the terms vertical and vertically apply to the position when the device is in use with the flame shaped piece of material positioned above the means for generating an air flow.

When this critical angle is achieved, there is insignificant absorption of the light with its consequent retransmission as coloured light (i. e. that of the fabric). Whereas the surface reflection of the light below this angle is almost total and the fabric exhibits negligible colouration other than that of the light source alone.

This critical angle will vary from material to material and is generally below 50 and can be below 10 or 2 . Preferably the material is a synthetic material such as a polyester, polyamide etc. as synthetic fabrics in general have a smoother and more reflective surface than natural materials, although some silks can exhibit these properties to a significant degree.

Preferably the light source is coloured.

The invention is based on the principal that, when white light falls on the surface of a coloured fabric at a high angle of incidence, such as at 90 degrees, almost all of the light is absorbed and re-transmitted in the same colour as that of the fabric. As the angle of incidence is reduced, to say 45 or 30 degrees, the proportion of light reflected from the surface as the original white light is still very small indeed when compared to that still being absorbed and re-transmitted as coloured light. This reflection, appearing as a bright white sheen on the surface of the fabric, is not significant in changing the colouration of the fabric until a very shallow angle of incidence is achieved. With certain fabrics, e. g. those constructed with a tight and finely woven man-made fibre (since synthetic fibres have much smoother surfaces and thus reflect light better) such as a polyester or a polyamide, there is a critical angle of incidence of only a few degrees when almost all of the white light becomes reflected from the fabric's surface.

When this critical angle is achieved, there is insignificant absorption of the light with its consequent retransmission as coloured light (i. e. that of the fabric) whereas the surface reflection of the light is almost total. In this event the fabric exhibits almost no colouration and what was a faint sheen becomes a dazzling white covering the

surface of the fabric.

Preferably the light source produces a narrow beam of light i. e. it is point source or point-linear and, when the above principal is adapted to a piece of fabric fluttering in a vertical position in an air-flow immediately above a narrow beam of light, different areas of the fabric move in and out of this critical angle of incidence and cause bright white areas on the surface of the fabric to move about in a rippling manner, interspersed with differing shades of the fabric's own colour. The light source can be vertically below the flame shaped piece of material or it can be positioned marginally to one side so that it shines on the outside of the flame shaped piece of material.

The insertion of a colour filter between the white light source and the flame material (or the use of a coloured bulb) will colour the white light (which alone is inappropriate for simulating the colour of a real flame) but leave the fabric colour largely unaffected (provided that the depth of colour of the filter is not as great as that

of the fabric).

It is thus possible to use a pale yellow filter and a deep orange flame to produce an orange flame of differing and fluidly changing hues overlaid with shimmering ripples of yellow moving around the flame's surface. Similarly, a red filter and a yellow flame will display an orange flame (having combined the two colours) but with a red incandescence overlaying the rippling surface.

This combination of a coloured filter, a differently coloured piece of fabric, an almost point light source, the light source having the minimum angle of incidence to the fabric's surface and the use of a fabric of very specific reflective and absorptive characteristics has not been employed before and improves the optical characteristics of this type of flame simulation beyond measure. It changes the effect from a static imposition of colour on the surface of the fabric to a display of one or more colours and a legion of differing hues in a constantly changing pattern over the body of the

flame; a much more acceptable simulation of the true nature of the optical characteristics of a real flame.

By use of differing colour filters the colour of the light, and therefore the appearance of the'flame', can be changed. Alternatively, differently coloured lamps can be used to achieve the same effect.

In known simulated flame devices the flow-rate of air has been pre-determined by the strength of the fan employed within the device. For this given flow-rate of air there is a very narrow band of flame designs and sizes which are capable of'flying'in such a way as to adequately simulate the nature of a true flame. To alter the nature of the flame produced from an agitated fluttering to slow wafting it would be necessary either to use the same fabric but increase its size (thus increasing its weight) or to use a denser fabric but maintain the size of the flame (effect as above). These methods require the removal and replacement of the flames, an operation which is time consuming, tedious and, once again, leads to a single specific flying characteristic for each flame.

It would be preferable to vary the airflow from the fan in order to be able to generate a continuous variation in the supporting column of air, so that flying characteristics of the flame can be easily altered and the invention also provides a device for simulating a flame which comprises (i) a housing (ii) a flame shaped piece of material mounted on the housing (iii) a means for generating an air flow through said housing over the flame shaped piece of material (iv) a light source in the housing positioned to shine on the flame shaped piece of material and in which there is a means to vary the flow rate of the air.

This means to vary the flow rate, since the space above the fan can be taken up with the light source, electrical attachments, baffles and flame fixing points, is best sited below the fan and can be engaged in varying the air intake rather than the air output.

This means to vary the flow rate of the airflow can be a means which gradually closes off the path of the air into the fan. There are a myriad number of ways of achieving this result by mechanical means, e. g. the raising or lowering of a solid lightweight disc (of at least the same diameter as the aperture) to and from the fan intake. This disc, similar in nature to a compact disc, could be mounted horizontally over a vertical threaded bolt through its central hole. The central mounting hole of the disc would match the bolt diameter and the disc simply spun in either direction to raise or lower it. Retaining wing nuts atop and below the disc could be added to the mechanism for stability Alternatively, the screen could be a solid version of a fan-guard which prevents children putting their fingers in the device. The mounting bolts which attach the guard to the fan could be extended to accommodate the solid disc and wing nuts again used to raise and lower the disc to cover or depart the air intake.

An alternative to mechanical means of varying the flow rate of the air flow and hence the flying characteristics of the simulated flame is an electronic means such as the placing of a variable resistor (rheostat) in the power lead between the mains supply and the device (or between transformer and device if such is used) to vary the power to both the fan and light source. This variable resistor will reduce the speed of the fan and therefore reduce the strength of the supporting column of air and will also perform the function of reducing the strength of the light source, an advantage when desiring to display a less frenetic, reduced flame action, once again having the overall effect of imitating the reduction in the height, activity and brightness of, say, a Victorian gas flame merely by turning a knob.

When variation of airflow is used in conjunction with the ability to change the colour filter and thereby the overall colouration of the simulated flame, the device now has the capacity to provide an agitated, flickering orange and yellow gas flame and convert it in a trice to a slow wafting blue/yellow flame redolent of a methylated

spirit flame.

An alternative method for varying the characteristics of the flame is by adjusting the fixing points of the flame shaped piece of material and the invention also provides a device for simulating a flame which comprises (i) a housing (ii) a flame shaped piece of material mounted on the housing (iii) a means for generating an air flow through said housing over the flame shaped piece of material (iv) a light source in the housing positioned to shine on the flame shaped piece of material in which the flame shaped piece of material is attached via connectors to a horizontal axle so that the connectors have the capacity to move on the axle and that the axle has the capacity to move on the housing.

Preferably the connectors and the axle are able to move about in a limited fashion, in both horizontal and vertical planes and also in a slight twisting motion.

In known simulated flame devices the shape of the air column has not been varied to increase efficiency in supporting the flame other than by restricting the opening at the top of the casing that contains the air column. Whilst this does increase the air speed at the center of the apparatus it also reduces the proportion of the flame contained within the air column and therefore does not maximize its efficiency.

The invention also provides a device for simulating a flame which comprises (i) a housing (ii) a flame shaped piece of material mounted on the housing (iii) a means for generating an air flow through said housing over the flame shaped piece of material (iv) a light source in the housing positioned to shine on the flame shaped piece of material and in which there is a means of shaping the air column that supports the flame.

In situations where the overall size of the device is constrained by the dimensions of the decorative housing within which it is required to be mounted, it may be necessary

to reduce the dimensions of the fan and light source and yet maintain the size of the simulated flame. In this situation it may be necessary to use a fan whose lateral dimensions are significantly less than the width of the fabric flame. With the requirement that the flame should be all but, if not completely, contained within the supporting column of air for maximum efficiency, it may be necessary to shape the outlet of the casing controlling the air column between the fan and the flame such that the air column becomes ovoid, or more rectilinear in cross-section rather than cylindrical (in many respects like that of the end of a vacuum cleaner whose cylindrical hose connection flattens and widens to provide laterally extended contact with the carpet). The opening at the top of the casing is not restricted at all but merely shaped to provide a more efficient air current, sending air from where it is not required to where it is. Broadly speaking, the opening at the top of the casing containing the air column is widened in the vertical plane of the fabric and narrowed in the vertical plane perpendicular to it. The increase in efficiency of the air as a supporting medium also enables a slower (and thus less noisy) and smaller fan to be used to support a proportionately larger'flame'.

In situations where it is preferable to mount the simulated flame mechanism within a closed housing (decorative or functional), such as for outdoor use, and possibly where there are constraints in either size or shape of this housing, it may be preferable to have the fan positioned other than directly beneath the'flame'and/or the light source. The invention also provides a device for simulating a flame which comprises (i) a housing (ii) a flame shaped piece of material mounted on the housing (iii) a means for generating an airflow through said housing over the flame shaped piece of material (iv) a light source in the housing positioned to shine on the flame shaped piece of material in which there is a means of directing said airflow from the fan to the flame shaped piece of material where the fan is not positioned substantially beneath the flame material.

In this situation the air column would have to be directed by a predominantly closed

conduit running from fan outlet to'flame'in such a manner as to support the'flame' in its required vertical position. In this arrangement the fan could be placed some distance from the'flame', either within or outwith the confines of the outer housing. The fan could even be sited adjacent to the flame itself, an arrangement which would enhance the air circulation within a closed housing, such as a globe, and reduce the overall size of the containing unit.

This conduit could take the form of a flexible corrugated plastic cylinder, such as that found on flexible drinking straws and would allow the same flame simulation unit to be mounted within a variety of housings of differing size and shape.

This type of conduit may have its outlet shaped in order to provide an air column above which more closely matches the plane of the flame shaped piece of fabric that 'flies'above, as described in an earlier section.

Another application that employs the principle of employing a conduit for directing air from a displaced fan to a simulated flame is in the simulation of a candle, whereby the conduit imitates the body of a candle.

In this instance the fan may be placed at the base of the candle, either in the candle itself or in the candle holder at its base, and may be displaced to one side of the vertical or mounted at an angle to the vertical. The light source could be sited within the upper end of the candle in such a manner as to illuminate the flame shaped material above and also provide the glow around the upper end of the candle itself (the candle tube being made of a resinous or plastic material which is wax coloured and not entirely opaque to the light from the light source) in a realistic simulation of a true candle.

In simulating the visual and mechanical characteristics of the candle flame, the flicker

of the flame in an ambient airflow, such as a draught, would be simulated by mounting the'flame'on a horizontal pin within and toward the top of the candle tube, the pin being weighted down by a flat vertical vane such as a flat plumb bob or weather vane. The air turbulence within the candle cylinder would rock the vane to and fro' (provided it is not too heavy) about the mean vertical position. Any consistent inequality in the airflow on either side of the vane would be corrected by bending the vane slightly toward the side of greater airflow, thus correcting the imbalance.

This vane would be connected via a vertical pin to the horizontal flame mounting pin above and extend beyond this to simulate the wick seen within a true candle flame.

This'wick'would in part support the flame and, together with the candle flame being small in size, thus would require a much smaller fan to provide sufficient airflow to rock the flame and flutter its outer sections. The use of a very small fan in this instance provides for its discreet housing within the body of quite a small diameter candle cylinder or in its proportionately small base, holder or candlestick.

The ends of the mounting pin can be mounted in the candle body itself in such a manner as to be able to rock to and fro'in the passing air flow.

Efforts have been made in the past to simulate multiple flames, particularly in the production of space heaters such as log effect electric fires. An example of this is given in GB patent 1088577 where'a plurality of ribbon-like members disposed in the passage of air provide a flickering, shifting colour pattern on the screen'.

In these cases the requirement is to simulate flames that are viewed through a partially opaque screen which diffuses the transmitted light and thereby breaks up the outline of the simulated flames (which are, being ribbons, not true physical representations of flames). The'flickering, shifting colour patterns'created in this way do go some way to imitating the images of flames behind a diffusing material but

in all these log-effect fireplaces the simulation is two dimensional.

According to the invention there is provided a device for simulating a flame which comprises (i) a housing (ii) a flame shaped piece of material mounted on the housing (iii) a means for generating an air flow through said housing over the flame shaped piece of material (iv) a light source in the housing positioned to shine on the flame shaped piece of material in which the flame shaped piece of material is mounted on the housing so that it forms a canopy with the opening over the housing and the air can be blown into the opening causing the material to flutter in the air flow.

In this invention the multiple flames are three-dimensional and can thus be viewed from all directions, not just from the front. This is advantageous when desiring to display a flame effect product in the form of a table lamp, for example, whose outer decorative mounting is constructed of a light diffusing material such as silk or frosted glass and where multiple flames are required but their precise outlines are to be obscured.

Preferably there is a dome or a domed cap to cover the entire open, visible, section of the device which has a central slit across the top in the plane of the silk flame above.

This cap has several benefits i) It hides the internal components from view. ii) It allows light to be projected upward in a fan shape and thus fall upon the silk flame without the obtrusive and detractive lateral projection. iii) It allows the air column to be focussed in the plane of the silk flame rather than being extended laterally where it is not supporting the flame. iv) It allows the use of a less powerful fan with consequent reduction in noise. v) The cap may be coloured or otherwise textured to simulate, tor example, a coalbed through which the flame emerges.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which :- Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention Fig. 2 shows a different embodiment of the invention Fig. 3 shows an enlarged part of fig. 2 Fig. 4 shows a side view of the flame showing variations in dimensions Fig. 5 shows an embodiment with a fan mounted to the side Fig. 6 is a plan view of fig. 5 Fig. 7 is a simulated candle Fig. 8 is shows the use of a canopy and Fig. 9 shows the use of domed cap.

Referring to fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

In this embodiment the flame shaped piece of material (9) is synthetic and the light source (13) emits white light which is coloured as it passes through a colour filter (24). When in use the lamp (13) and fan (15) are turned on and the air flow causes the flame shaped fabric (9) to flutter in the air flow. The incident light on the fabric flame (9) varies in its angle so that some light falls on the fabric at a low angle of incidence e. g. less than 5 . The light which falls on the fabric at larger angle of incidence causes the fabric to appear in its own colour whereas the light which falls on the fabric at low angles of incidence is reflected and appears in the colour of the colour filter (24) through which the white light from the light source (13) passes, so that the fabric appears to be its natural colour with varying differently coloured areas which shimmer about the material's surface giving a realistic flame effect.

In this embodiment the baffle plates have been shown with their upper, inner comers cut away (19) to improve air flow in the centre of the device.

The fan, consisting of fan motor (15), blades (16) and housing (18), drives a column of air vertically through the outer casing (1) past the baffle plates (3) which then supports the flame-shaped and coloured piece of fabric (9) which flutters to and fro' in this passage of air. The outer casing (1) is mounted to the fan housing by bolts (12) which pass through the fan housing (18) and secured by retaining nuts (17). The solid circular disc (20) can be raised or lowered by means of the wing nut (21) attached to the threaded mounting bolt (22). The fabric (9) is illuminated by the light source (13) which is situated centrally below. The light source (13), consisting of a lamp and lamp holder (14) and secured to the inner casing by fixing screws (5), is mounted within an inner casing (4), held in place by the baffle plates (3), which allows light to pass only in a vertical direction. An electrical alternative to the solid circular disc (20) is to pass the electrical leads from the lamp holder and fan (6) out of the device to a variable resistor (7) and thence to the power supply (8).

To vary the intensity of the light and the speed of the fan the variable resistor can be used to vary the power to the lamp and fan. To vary the airflow only the disc (20) can be raised or lowered along screw thread (22) by means of wing nut (21) which controls the flow of air to the fan input.

Again referring to fig. I, rather than have the connectors mounted on a rigid section of the device, the flame can be connected to a thin, horizontal pin (11) which runs horizontally through the air column whose ends pass through circular apertures (2) (significantly larger than the diameter of the pin) and which are, beyond the apertures, bent at approximately 90 to the body of the pin (23) to maintain the flame and pin in the air column. With the correct weight of pin (11), the air-flow (which is never precisely smooth) will'jiggle'the pin (11) around in its mounting holes (2) and thereby provide a degree of horizontal and vertical motion to the flame fixing points rather than they being fixed points within the device (if the pin is too heavy, the flame will merely rock back and forth about the axis of the pin). Depending on the diameter of the apertures (2), a small amount of twisting motion will also be evident, all of which provides a more three-dimensional flickering effect to the mechanical

characteristics of the flame.

The connectors attaching the flame to the axle can be circular rings (10) which are prevented from traveling along the axle by means of stops (23) on the section of the pin between the connectors (10). This allows the flame to have further degrees of freedom rather than being held in a static position on the axle and enhances the mechanical characteristics of the simulated flame.

An embodiment of this invention is shown in Figures 2,3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. In Fig. 2 the shaping of the outer casing (1) in its widening in the vertical plane of the fabric flame is shown at (25). A horizontal drawing of the outer casing is shown in Fig. 3 whereby the air column entering the outer casing (26) fans out and widens in the plane of the fabric flame (9) which is attached by rings (10) to the mounting pin (11) which passes through apertures (2) in the casing. The column of air widens in one direction and narrows in the perpendicular direction as it exits the casing (27) due to the shaping of the casing outlet (25) and thence passes over the flame shaped piece of fabric (9).

Fig. 4 shows a side-on view of the flame (9) and device and shows how the dimensions of the device may be reduced in the vertical by the amount delineated by the two broken lines (28). This achieved by siting the light source (13) and colour filter (24) offset to one side of the flame fabric (9) adjacent to the narrowed section of the outer casing (1) where it has been shaped (25) to alter the shape of the air column supporting the flame shaped piece of fabric.

Referring to figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, in this embodiment the fan (42) is displaced from the position immediately below the flame shaped piece of material and the air flow (41) generated by the fan blades (43) is directed by means of a conduit (44). This directed air flow (45) allows the flame shaped piece of fabric (49) to be sited some distance from the fan (42) and connected to the device by means of connecting points (46). The outlet of the conduit (47) can be shaped as described in

an earlier section and is illustrated in the vertical view of the device shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to figure 7 of the accompanying drawings, the air conduit, in this embodiment a simulated hollow candle, (61) is mounted on a base of some form (64) and within the body of the candle (61) is an air intake (65) which provides air to the fan (63). This air flow is directed up the shaft of the candle (62) and passes over a weighted, inflexible vane (66) attached to the flame mounting pin (60) which rocks back and forth causing the flame shaped material (68) to simulate the flicker of a real candle flame. The vane attachment is extended beyond the mounting pin (60) to simulate the wick seen within a real candle flame (69). The flame is illuminated, as is the upper section of the candle sleeve, by one or more small light sources (67) sited toward the top of the candle sleeve.

Referring to figure 8 of the accompanying drawings, in this arrangement the single piece of flame shaped material is replaced by a predominantly tubular canopy (31) whose upper section has been cut to display a number of individual flame shaped sections (32). The air flow generated by the fan (36) passes through the opening of the canopy (33) and stimulates fluttering in the flame shaped sections of the upper canopy (32), the air passing out of the canopy at (35). The tubular canopy is illuminated from within by the light source (35) and the flickering multiple flame effect is viewed through a diffusing membrane such as silk, paper, frosted glass or other such material (37) Referring to fig. 9 (i) this shows a side view with the cap in place and fig. 9 (ii) shows a side view pf the cap and fig. (iii) shows a top view of the cap, the flame (1) is mounted below the highest point of the cap (2) and which emerges through the slit

(8). The cap (2) is placed over the casing (5) but is easily removable so that the lamp Y-.. a. Lil I and flame may be replaced. This cap (2) hides the lamp (7), the baffle plates (3), the fan (4) and the lamp holder (6) from view from all but the most vertical of angles.

Claims

Claims 1. A device for simulating a flame which comprises (i) a housing (ii) a flame shaped piece of material mounted on the housing (iii) a means for generating an air flow through said housing over the flame shaped piece of material (iv) a light source in the housing positioned to shine on the flame shaped piece of material in which the flame shaped piece of material comprises a coloured material which has a critical angle of incidence at which a substantial part of the light falling on the material becomes reflected from the material's surface.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the material is a synthetic material.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the material is a polyester or a polyamide.
4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the light source is white.
5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the light source is coloured.
6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the light source is a point or point-linear source
7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the light source is substantially vertically below the flame shaped piece of material.
8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the light source is positioned so that it shines on the outside of the flame shaped piece of material.
9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which there is a colour filtre between the light source and the flame shaped piece of material.

<Desc/Clms Page number 17>
10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the means for generating an air flow is a fan.
11. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which there are baffles mounted within the casing between the means for generating an air flow and the flame shaped piece of material.
12. A device as claimed in claim 11 in which there are one or more pairs of symmetrically disposed baffle plates mounted in a vertical plane and disposed radially.
13. A device as claimed in claim 12 or 13 in which the upper, inner corners are cut away.
14. A device for simulating a flame which comprises (i) a housing (ii) a flame shaped piece of material mounted on the housing (iii) a means for generating an air flow through said housing over the flame shaped piece of material (iv) a light source in the housing positioned to shine on the flame shaped piece of material in which there is a means to vary the flow rate of the air.
15. A device as claimed in claim 14 in which the means for generating an air flow is a fan.
16. A device as claimed in claim 14 or 15 in which the means to vary the air flow is sited below the fan and is a means for varying the air intake to the fan.
17. A device as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16 in which the fan is mounted within a casing and the means to vary the air flow comprises a moveable disc or other flat plate mounted within an aperture in the casing.

<Desc/Clms Page number 18>
18. A device as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17 in which the means for generating an air flow is an electrically operated fan and the means to vary the flow rate of the air flow is a variable resistor which varies the electrical supply to the fan.
19. A device as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 18 in which the means for generating an air flow is an electrically operated fan and the means to vary the flow rate of the air flow is a variable resistor which varies the electrical supply to both the fan and the light source.
20. A device for simulating a flame which comprises (i) a housing (ii) a flame shaped piece of material mounted on the housing (iii) a means for generating an air flow through said housing over the flame shaped piece of material (iv) a light source in the housing positioned to shine on the flame shaped piece of material in which the flame shaped piece of material is attached via connectors to a horizontal axle so the connectors have the capacity to move on the axle.
21. A device as claimed in claim 20 in which the connectors are able to move in a limited fashion, in both horizontal and vertical planes.
22. A device as claimed in claim 20 or 21 in which the flame shaped piece of material is connected to a thin, horizontal pin which runs horizontally through the opening to the flame shaped piece of material and whose ends pass through circular apertures larger than the diameter of the pin and which, along its length, contains stops to maintain the flame shaped piece of material and pin in the flow of air generated and allows for a limited degree of twisting motion to be applied to the flame shaped material.
23. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the outlet of the casing controlling the air flow from the fan to the flame shaped fabric is widened in the vertical plane of the fabric and narrowed in the vertical plane perpendicular to it

<Desc/Clms Page number 19>

in order to shape the column of air above the air outlet prior to it falling upon the flame shaped material.
24. A device a claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the air flow from the fan is directed by means of a conduit until it falls upon the flame shaped piece of material.
25. A device a claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the air flow from the fan is directed by means of a conduit and the outlet of this conduit is widened in the vertical plane of the fabric and narrowed in the vertical plane perpendicular to it in order to shape the column of air above the air outlet prior to it falling upon the flame shaped piece of material.
26. A device a claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the air flow is contained within a conduit which simulates a candle.
27. A device as claimed in claim 26 in which the connectors are able to move in a limited fashion, in both horizontal and vertical planes.
28. A device as claimed in claims 26 and 27 in which the simulated flame is able to move in a rocking motion about the axis of the connecting axle.
29. A device as claimed in claims 26 to 28 in which the rocking motion is afforded by the passage of air past a flat vane suspended beneath, and connected via the axle to, the simulated flame.
30. A device as claimed in claims 26 to 29 in which the material which constitutes the candle sleeve is of a partially translucent nature and simulates the opacity of a real candle when illuminated.

<Desc/Clms Page number 20>
31. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the flame shaped piece of material is mounted on the housing so that it forms a canopy with the opening over the housing and the air can be blown into the opening causing the material to flutter in the air flow.
32. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which there is a cap which fits over the housing, which cap has a slit through which the flame shaped piece of material passes.