GB2464305A

GB2464305A - Fuel effect apparatus giving increased depth and realism to the simulated fuel bed

Info

Publication number: GB2464305A
Application number: GB0818607A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Jonathan Stokes
Original assignee: Valor Ltd
Current assignee: Valor Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-10
Filing date: 2008-10-10
Publication date: 2010-04-14
Also published as: GB0818607D0

Abstract

A fuel effect apparatus for use in a heating apparatus 10 has an illuminated simulated fuel bed 28 situated between a reflective sheet 34 and a partially reflective and partially transparent sheet 36, characterised in that the two sheets 34,36 are arranged to produce non-parallel reflection of light. The reflective sheets may be planar and arranged in a non-parallel manner or they may be non-planar. If they are planar, the first sheet 36 may be tilted rearwardly relative to the second sheet 34 so that its upper edge is closer than its bottom edge to the second sheet. If non-planar, the sheets 34,36 may be curved and the first sheet 36 may be curved cylindrically. The first reflective sheet 36 may be concave when viewed by an observer and may be partially reflective on the surface that faces away from the observer. The heating apparatus 10 may comprise an electric fan heater 24. The apparatus 10 produces an image of a fuel bed 28 with increased depth and realism.

Description

DESCRIPTION

FUEL EFFECT APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a fuel effect apparatus and in particular, but not exclusively, to a fuel effect apparatus for use with, or as part of, a heating apparatus.

It is known to provide a domestic heating apparatus with a simulated bed of fuel. It is also known to increase the apparent depth of the simulated fuel bed by providing a reflector behind the bed and a partially transparent and partially reflective sheet in front of the bed, resulting in multiple images of the bed produced by reflection between the front and rear sheets, whereby the apparent depth of the bed is increased from the exterior. An example of a heating apparatus with such an arrangement is disclosed in GB 2180927.

However, in the known arrangements the rear reflecting sheet and the partially reflective front sheet are planar and are arranged parallel to one another, whereby the reflections between the sheets are substantially normal to the plane of the sheets. Whilst such arrangements do indeed produce the appearance of a fuel bed with increased depth, the effect is of a fuel bed extending substantially horizontally into the far distance, which reduces the realism of the effect, It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel effect apparatus which overcomes or alleviates the problems associated with the

prior art.

In accordance with the present invention, a fuel effect apparatus comprises means for simulating a fuel bed, a light source for illuminating the simulated bed, the simulated bed being located between first and second reflective means arranged to provide multiple images of the simulated bed, a first of the reflective means being capable of both transmitting light and reflecting light and the first and second reflective means being adapted to produce non-parallel reflection of light.

By providing non-parallel reflection of light between the first and second reflective means, it is possible to produce an image of the simulated fuel bed of increased depth, but which also appears to rise upwardly towards the rear, in a "banked" manner, which is more akin to a real fuel bed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second reflective means are substantially planar but are arranged in a non-parallel manner with respect to each other. For example, the first reflective means may be tilted relative to the second reflective means so that its upper edge is closer than its bottom edge to the second reflective means.

In another embodiment, at least one of the first and second reflective means is non-planar, e.g. curved. For example, the first reflective means may be curved, eg. curved such that it is inwardly concave and/or in a cylindrical shape.

Preferably, the first reflective means is partially reflective on the face remote from an observer.

The present invention also includes a heating apparatus comprising means for producing a thermal output (e.g. a fan heater) and a fuel effect apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective of a first embodiment of heating apparatus incorporating a simulated flame effective in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the heating apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of heating apparatus incorporating a simulated fuel bed in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional elevation through the heating apparatus of Fig. 3.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, a heating apparatus 10 comprises a casing having a planar base wall 12, two parallel planar side walls 14, a planar top wall 16 and a rear wall 18. The casing has a rectangular opening 20 in its front, which is surrounded by a decorative fascia 22. A conventional fan heater 24 is located above the aperture 20 and discharges heated air through a grille 26 in the upper portion of the fascia, A simulated fuel bed 28 rests on a support ledge 30 within the casing at the lower edge of the aperture 20. The ledge 30 is transparent (for example glass or plastics) and is illuminated from below by a light source 32 in the form of an incandescent bulb, fluorescent tube, one or more fight emitting diodes or other light source.

The simulated fuel bed is located and enclosed between a rear planar reflective sheet 34 located adjacent to the inner face of the rear wall 18 of the casing and a planar semi-transparent front sheet 36. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper edge of the front planar sheet 36 is tilted rearwardly (for example by approximately 5°), The front sheet 36 is partially reflective and partially transmissive. For example, the rear face of the sheet may have a partially reflective coating.

It will also be observed that a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 40 are mounted on the rear face of the fascia 22 around its periphery. The LEDs 40 can be arranged to produce different colours, as desired, to set a room mood or tone, In use, the light source 32 is switched on which causes the fuel bed 28 to be illuminated. This cases a series of multiple images of the fuel bed to be created by multiple reflection between the partially reflective front sheet 36 and the reflective rear sheet 34 and the appearance to an observer is of a fuel bed of greatly increased depth, in particular greater than the depth of the casing, as shown in Fig. 1.

However, in view of the fact that the front partially reflective and partially transmissive sheet 36 is inclined to the reflective planar rear sheet 34, reflection of light between the two sheets takes place in a non-parallel manner.

By tilting the upper edge of the front sheet 36 rearwardly, the image of the fuel bed 28 produced by the multiple reflections appears to be inclined upwardly in a "banked" manner in the manner of a real fuel bed, which greatly increases the realism of the effect, As indicated previously, the LEDs 40 on the rear face of the fascia 22 may also be illuminated, if desired, and the fan heater 24 can also be switched on to provide heat, if necessary.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The second embodiment is very similar to the first embodiment and identical references numerals have been used to identify the same features. Indeed, the only difference between the two embodiments is that the planar partially reflective and partially transmissive front sheet 36 of the first embodiment is replaced with a cylindrical curved, inwardly concave front sheet 42 which is also partially reflective and partially transniissive in the same way as the planar sheet 36 of the first embodiment. The sheet 42 is curved in one direction only in the manner of a cylinder and is arranged such that it is concave when viewed from the exterior.

As for the first embodiment, when the simulated fuel bed 28 is illuminated, multiple reflections occur between the front sheet 42 and the rear sheet 34. In view of the fact that the front sheet 42is curved, the reflections between the two sheets are non-parallel. As for the first embodiment, this produces an effect of a fuel bed of increased depth and which is inclined upwardly or "banked". However, in view of the fact that the front reflector 42 is curved, the image of the fuel bed of increased depth also appears to be curved upwardly, which again adds to the realism of the effect.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For example, the light source 32 and/or the LEDs 40 on the rear face of the fascia may be under the control of a microprocessor.

The microprocessor can be programmed from digital information derived from video footage of a real open fire and the light source 28 and/or LEDs can be adjusted to create multiple colours which, can be used to set a room mood or tone.

Moreover, although the embodiments have described a simulated bed of fuel, other beds such as a bed of pebbles or glass pieces may be used instead, and the term "fuel bed" is intended to include such variants.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A fuel effect apparatus comprising means for simulating a fuel bed, a light source for illuminated the simulated bed, the simulated bed being located between first and second reflective means arranged to provide multiple images of the simulated bed, a first of the reflective means being capable of both transmitting light and reflecting light and the first and second reflective means being adapted to produce non-parallel reflection of light.
2. A fuel effect apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second reflective means are substantially planar but are arranged in a non-parallel manner with respect to each other.
3. A fuel effect apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first reflective means is tilted relative to the second reflective means so that its upper edge is closer than its bottom edge to the second reflective means.
4. A fuel effect apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second reflective means is non-planar.
5. A fuel effect apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second reflective means is curved.
6. A fuel effect apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first reflective means is curved.
7. A fuel effect apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first reflective means is curved cylindrically.
8. A fuel effect apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the first reflective means is concave when viewed by an observer.
9. A fuel effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the first reflective means is partially reflective on the face remote from an observer.
10. A fuel effect apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
11. A heating apparatus comprising means for providing a thermal output and a fuel effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
12. A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for providing a thermal output comprises a fan heater.
13. A heating apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.