GB2396691A - Apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire has a light source 36, and preferably ribbons 50 and a fan 34, to simulate a flame effect on a diffusing screen 38. The flame effect may be enhanced by use of a coloured radiant light film as a reflector 58 which reflects different colours of light depending on the angle of observation (fig 5). A fan heater may be provided above the flame effect apparatus. A radiant light film preferably comprises hundreds of ultra-thin polymer layers, each of which reflect light differently. If the film is overlain on a red substrate, the observed colour changes from predominantly red to predominantly yellow as the angle of observation is more oblique (fig 5).

Description

DE SC By,. Oh APPARA I US FOR SIMULATING A SOLID FUEL FIRE..DTD: The

present invention relates to apparatus lor simulating a solid fuel fire.

In particular' but not exclusively' the presem invention relates to apparatus for 5 simulating a solid fi'el fire which forms part of a heating apparatus such as an electric fire. Apparatus for simulating ilickenng flames have been known for some time.

However. there is a demand for ever more realistic flame simulation and the present invention has been devised with this in mind.

I O In accordance with the present invention. an apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire comprises a source of light, simulated flame effect means for interrupting said light to simulate flames and screen means on which to view an image of the simulated flames, the apparatus further comprising light modifying means which receives light from the light source, modifies the light and transmits it towards the 1' screen means.

By modifying light from the light source, such that at least some of the light reaching the screen means has been modified, it has been found that it is possible to produce a much more realistic flame effect.

Prcterably! the light mollifying means is arranged to modify the colour of the 20 light. In a preferred embodiment, the light modifying means comprises a reflector means which rec.:ies light from the light source and reflects it towards to.scrccn means angler the flame Duct means. Preferably. the colour of the light reflected Irom the reflector',eans is dependent upon the allele at which the reflcch:d light is

viewed. I2or example, the reflector means may be adapted to reflect predominantly red light at a first a vieving angle d predcminantlv yellow light at a second, more oblique. icwing angle. I-Tovever the reflector means ma' he adapted to produce other colours, if desired.

By appropriate positioning of the components of the apparatus. the flame effect thus produced can be made more yellow towards its upper end and more red towards its lower end, similar to die appearance of real flames produced loy solid fuel.

The reflector means may comprise a radiant colour film. A reflective sheet formed Prom a CM 590 radiant light film colour panel, manufactured by 3M_, 10overlaid on a red substrate has been found to be particularly effective. However, other radiant light film colour panels andior other colours of substrates may be used to produce different colour effects.

The simulated flame effect means may be positioned between the light source and the light modifying means. AIternatively, or in addition, the light modifying, 15means may be positioned between the light source and the simulated flame effect means. Preferably the screen means comprises a translucent viewing screen. For examples the screen means preferably diffusely transmits light producing said simulated flame effect.

0Preferably, the outer face of' the screen means comprises a diffusing surface.

The clitfusing surface is preferably non-reflective.

The simulated name effect means may comprise a plurality of pieces or flcxiblc material suspended so that they are capable of mc'vement. and means for

l causing said movement' Prelerably. the pieces,f flexible material comprise a plurality of strips or ribbons. The strips or ribbons are arranged vertically and arc preferably arranged substantially parallel to one another.

lathe Koreans fi'r causing movement of the pieces of flexible material preferably comprises means for generating a current of air The means for generating the current of air may conveniently comprise a Jan which is preferably located below the bottom end of the pieces of flexible material.

The present invention also includes a heating apparatus comprising an I O apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire in accordance with the present invention, and means for generating heat. The means for generating heat may comprise a fan heater ubich may be positioned above the simulated flame effect means.

13 way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described. with reference to the accompanying drawings' in which: 15 Fig. I is a perspective view of heating apparatus in accordance with the present invention; lain. is a perspective view of the heating apparatus of lig. 1. partly dismantled, [:ig. 3 is a vertical crosssection through the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2, 20 Fig. 4 Is an exploded perspective view of the heating apparatus as shown in 1. ig. 7: and Fig. A. is diagram demonstrating the reflectivity ol a portion of the apparatus 01 Fit. I.

Ihe embodiment of heating apparatus in accordance with the present invention and shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a pressed steel housing I U having a rectangular planar rear wall I I. two upstancling parallel planar side walls 12 14. two upstanding parallel upper and lourer walls 16, 1B and a peripheral flange 20 20. 24. 26 extending from the side walls 12, 14 and the upper and lower stalls 16. 18. The side walls and upper and lower walls define a rectangular recess 38 which at its upper end receives a conventional fan heater 0* at its Central portion receives a moving flame effect means 32 (to be described further) and at its lower portion receives a conventional tangential fan 34 (which is arranged lO to blow an upwardly directed current of air) and fluorescent lamp 36.

In use, the recess is closed by a planar rectangular sheet 38 of grey glass which Is frosted (i.e. is translucent or semi-opaque) on its outer surface to form a screen, as will be explained. The lower edge of the glass sheet is supported on two lugs 40 which have been punched out ofthe lower end of one face of a respective one 1' of two vertical elongate supports 42 which are secured to the housing 10. The glass sheet 38 is held in place by means of a generally planar polished copper plate 44 which is screwed to the housing via inclined pressed-out lugs 45 and engages the lower portion of the outer face of the glass sheet. The glass sheet is also held in place by trio Medical securing brackets 47 secured one to each ofthe side Stalls 12, 14 and 20 which press against the front nice of the sheet 38 at its vertical edges. The copper plate. hen secured to the housing, is positioned above. and reflects light from. the Lore scent lamp 36. as will he cxplainel.

Talc tangential tan 34' fluorescent lamp 36 and the polished copper plate 44 are cot Bred. in use. by a simulated bed of fuel 46 and a fret 48. I he simulated bed of fuel is typically a simulated bed of coal and is partially transparent and coloured redioranL'e in those areas, whereby light from the fluorescent lamp causes the fuel bed to glow in the manner of a real fuel bed.

The moving flame effect means 3' comprises a plurality of elongate strips or ribbons 50 of material arranged generally vertically and generally parallel to each other. secured at each end to upper and lower hooks 52, 54. Conveniently! the hooks 52. 54 are pressed fiom a matt black rectangular plate 56 which is secured to the front I O face of the rear wall I O and the ribbons are slightly longer than the spacing between the upper and lower hooks 5', 54 so that they are slightly floppy. Thus as the fan 34 is operated and blows an upwardly directed current of air, the ribbons flutter in the current and when illuminated they provide a realistic simulation of moving flames.

A smaller. rectangular, reRective sheet 58 is also secured to the front face of 15 the matt black rectangular plate 56. The reflective sheet as is secured towards the lower end of the malt black sheet 56' spaced Mom the louver edge of the latter. The reflective sheet 58 is formed from a CM590 Radiant Light Film Colour Panel overlaid on a red substrate. Such light films are manufactured by 3M' and comprise hundreds of ultra-thin pole mer layers. each of which reflects light differently, with 20 the result that the absented colour of the film changes according to the position of the observer. if the film is overlaid on a red substrate. as described. the observed colour changes from predominantly red to predominuntlw yellow as the angle at o bscrvation

J is more oblique, as shown in Fig. a. This creates a much more realistic moving flame enact, as will be described. However, different radiant light film colour panels andfor differently coloured substrates can be used to achieve different colour effects, it desired.

In use. the heating apparatus is assembled as shown in Fig. I. The apparatus as a whole is usually inset into an aperture in a wall or fireplace but this has been omitted in the draunn;s, for clarity. The apparatus is switched on by means of a first rocker switch 60, which switches on the fluorescent lamp 36 and actuates the tangential fan 34 in the base ofthe housing 10. (The fan heater 30 may additionally 10 be switched on. if desired, by mews of further rocker switches 62, 64.) Actuation of the fan 34 causes an upward draught of air to pass over the strips or ribbons SO which are in turn caused to flutter or nap by the air current. Insight from the lamp 36 is reflected through the moving strips or ribbons 50 onto the screen formed by the translucent, semiopaque outer surface of the glass sheet 38 and fonns 15 a realistic moving image which simulates real flames. However. Me effect produced by the present invention is much more effective than known arrangements, for two main reasons.

Firstly some of the light from the lamp 36 reaches the fluttering steps or ribbons,0 after having been reflected from the inner surface of the polished copper 0 plate 44. The reflection from the copper plate alters the colour of some of the light reaching the strips or ribbons -0 anal produces a more realistic effect.

ficcondlw. and more significantly some of the light Irom the lamp 36 reaches

the fluttering strips or ribbons 5(t after having been reflected From the reflective sheet 5X made form the Radiant Fight Film olour Panel. as described previously. As explained earlier the colour of light reflected from the sheet '8 is dependent on the angle at which the sheet is viewed. In the particular case described. yellow light is i reflected at more oblique angles and red light is reflected at more acute angles. Thus, redder light from the panel s8 is reflected more towards the lower ends of the strips or ribbons 50, in the region indicated generally at R in Fig. I' whereas yellower light reflects more towards the upper ends of the strips or ribbons SO, in the region indicated generally at Y in Fig. 1. As a result, the moving image of flames is redder 10 towards its lower end and yellower towards its upper end, as is the case with flames from a real towel bed.

The overall effect is that the realism of the moving flame image is greatly enhanced as compared with the prior art.

The present invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing 35 embodiment. For example, although the embodiment described produces an enhanced red/yellov, flame effect, different panels 58 ardor a different coloured reflective panel 44 a'dfor substrate could be selected to produce other flame effects which are more decorative than realistic. Moreover, the heating apparatus may be intended to simulate burning fuel other than coal, e.g. logs, in which case the ?0 simniated fuel bed 46 would he adapted accordingly. Furthermore. the heating apparatus need not be. arranged to fit into a fiecplace recess as described but could be arranged to be iltel in other circumstances. for example. the apparatus may be in

i x the form of a simulated free-.standing stove or may be arranged to fit flush against a Mali. Moreover, the locations of the reflective elements may differ Mom those lescribed. For example, a reflective sheet formed from a radiant light film colour panel may be located in place of; or in addition to, the reflective surface formed by the polished copper plate 44. Alternatively. or in addition, a reflective plate similar to plate 44 may be located in place of. or in addition to, the panel 58 formed from radiant light film. Indeed reflective members may be positioned at other locations instead of; or in addition to, those described.

Claims (1)

1. I. An apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire. comprising a source of light.

   uninsulated flame effect means for interrupting said light to simulate flames and screen means on which to view an Image of the simulated flames, the apparatus further 5 comprising light modifying means which receives light from the light source.

   modifies the light and transmits it towards the screen means.

   a. An apparatus as claimed ill claim 1. wherein the light modifying means modifies the colour of the light.

   3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2. Therein the light modifying 10 means comprises a reflector means which receives light Tom the light source asad reflects it towards the screen means.

   4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3. wherein the colour of We light reflected Tom the reflector means is dependent upon the angle at which the reflected light is viewed.

   15 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reflector means is adapted to reflect predominantly red light at a first viewing angle and predominantly yellow light at a second. more oblique, viewing angle.

   6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim a, wherein the reflector means comprises a radiant colour film.

   20 7. An apparatus as claimed in any of the precedsrig claims, wherein the sinulated flame effect means is positioned hetveen the light source and the light nodifving means.

   X. An apparatu.s as claimed in any of the pre;eding claims. vhcrein the light

   l l() modil ing means is positioned between the light source and simulated name effect means. 9. An apparatus as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the screen means comprises a translucent viewing screen.

   10. An apparatus as claimed in claim g, wherein Me screen means diffusely transmits light producing said simulated flame elect.

   I 1. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the outer face ofthe screen means comprises a diffusing surface 12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outer face ofthe screen ID means is non-reflective.

   13. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims. wherein the simulated flame effect means comprises a plurality of pieces of flexible material suspended so that they are capable of movement, and means for causing said movement. 15 14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13. wherein the pieces of flexible material comprise a plurality of strips or ribbons.

   15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14. wherein the strips or ribbons are arranged substantially parallel to one another.

   16. An apparatus as claimed in claim I Jr wherein the strips or ribbons are 90 arranged substantially vertically.

   17. An apparatus as c [aimed in any Declaims 1; to l 6, wherein the means for causing movement of said pieces of flexible material comprises means for generating a cunent of air.

   1i 18. An apparatus as claimell in claim 17! wherein the means for generating current of air comprises a fan.

   19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18. wherein the fan is located at or below the looter end of the pieces of flexible material.

   5 0. An apparatus for simulating n solid Mel fire substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

   21. A heating apparatus comprising an apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire as claimed in any of the preceding claims, and means for generating heat.

   21. A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 21. wherein the means for 10 generating heat comprises a fan heater.

   2. A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein the means for generating heat is located above the simulated flame effect means.

   94. A heating apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.