GB2481064A

GB2481064A - Fire simulation with a holographic image in front of an image of moving flames

Info

Publication number: GB2481064A
Application number: GB201009805A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Jonathan Stokes
Original assignee: Valor Ltd
Current assignee: Valor Ltd
Priority date: 2010-06-11
Filing date: 2010-06-11
Publication date: 2011-12-14
Also published as: GB201009805D0

Abstract

Apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire has a sheet 28 with a holographic image 30 of a bed of fuel and a display screen 40 on the opposite side of the sheet 28 from a viewer for generating and displaying a moving visual image of flames 42, so that the flames 42 appear to emanate from the holographic image 30 of the fuel bed. The display screen 40 can be a LED television monitor, cathode ray tube, or plasma screen with images controlled by unit 44. Sheet 28 can be inclined about 10Â°. Light from an LED 32 is reflected from a mirror on cowling 38 to illuminate the front of sheet 28. The apparatus can have an electric fan heater 22.

Description

DESCRIPTION

APPARATUS FOR SIMULATING A SOLID FUEL FIRE

The present invention relates to an apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire.

In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire which forms part of a heating apparatus such as an electric fire.

In GB 2377753, an electric fire has a holographic sheet which, when illuminated, produces a holographic image depicting a bed of fuel.

Flame effect means (e.g. a series of ribbons suspended vertically in an air stream behind the holographic sheet) cooperates with the holographic sheet, so that the flame effect appears to emanate from the holographic image of the fuel bed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire, of improved realism.

In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire comprises hologram means for producing a holographic image depicting a bed of fuel and means located on the opposite side of the hologram means from a viewer for generating and displaying a moving visual image of flames, whereby the moving visual image of flames appears to emanate from the holographic image of the fuel bed.

By generating an actual image of moving flames (rather than a flame "effect" produced by the moving of ribbons or the like) it is possible to produce a very realistic impression of a com busting fuel bed.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a source of radiation for s illuminating the hologram means in order to produce the holographic image, e.g. a source of visible light.

The apparatus may further comprise a mirror for directing the illuminating radiation on to the viewing side of the hologram means.

The holograph means may comprise a sheet or screen which carries the holographic image depicting the bed of fuel.

Preferably, the means for generating and displaying a moving visual image of flames is positioned behind the hologram means which carries the holographic image.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for generating and displaying a moving visual image of flames comprises a display screen, e.g. a television screen, a computer monitor or a picture frame capable of __displayingmoving_visuaLimages. ____ The display screen may comprise an LED display screen.

The present invention also includes heating apparatus comprising 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.

Preferably, the hologram means is illuminated by a source of radiation and the radiation is directed onto the viewing side of the hologram means by a mirror.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present s invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is a perspective view, partially cut away, of an embodiment of an electric fire incorporating an apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire, in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the electric fire of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of arrows II -II.

An electric fire 10 comprises a casing having a planar base wall 12, two parallel side walls 14 extending upwardly from the base wall, a planar top wall 16 interconnecting the upper ends of the two side walls 14 and a planar rear wall 18 interconnecting the rearmost edges of the base wall 12, side walls 14, and the top wall 16. A planar peripheral flange 20 extends continuously around, the perpendicularly to, Ihe side walls 12, 14 and the top wall 16. A conventional fan heater 22 is located in the uppermost portion of the housing 10, and discharges heated air through an exhaust grille 24.

The front wall of the casing has a rectangular opening 26 which receives a planar rectangular holographic sheet 28. The holographic sheet 28 is inclined rearwardly by a small amount, typically of the order of 100. The holographic sheet 28 carries a three-dimensional image 30 of a glowing fuel bed (e.g. glowing coals) and is illuminated by means of an LED light source 32 located beneath the fan heater 22. Light from the LED light source 32 passes through an aperture 34 in the housing and is reflected onto the holographic sheet 28 by means of a mirror 36located on s a cowling 38 extending forwardly of the housing, beneath the exhaust grille 24 of the fan heater. When the holographic sheet 28 is illuminated by the light from the LED light source 32, the three-dimensional image 30 of an illuminated fuel bed is generated, and appears to be located behind the holographic sheet.

Located behind the holographic sheet is an LED display screen 40 which is adapted to generate and display images of moving flames 42. In the embodiment illustrated, the display screen 40 is a small television monitor which displays a video loop of real flames 42. The display screen is under the control of a control unit 44 mounted on the base wall l2of is the housing. The control unit can be adjusted by means of control switches (not illustrated) so that the display screen 40 can display different video images, including.high.flames, low.flames and.settings.in between preferably to correspond to the output of the fan heater 22.

The display screen is positioned so that the images of the moving flames 42 appear to emanate from the three-dimensional image 30 of the glowing fuel bed generated by the illuminated holographic sheet. The three-dimensional image 30 of the fuel bed, together with the images of the actual moving flames 42 generated by the display screen, which appear to emanate from the three-dimensional image 30 of the fuel bed,

S

provides an extremely realistic simulation of a glowing fuel bed from which flames emanate.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example, the LED television display described could be s replaced with a different display, for example, a computer monitor, an LED picture frame capable of displaying moving images, a plasma screen display or, if space permits, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display. However, this list is not exhaustive and any display capable of displaying an image of moving flames can be used.

In addition, the reference to a "bed of fuel" should be taken to include decorative beds which are not necessarily of fuel, such as beds of pebbles, rocks or the like.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire, comprising hologram means for producing a holographic image depicting a bed of fuel and means located on the opposite side of the hologram means from a viewer for generating and displaying a moving visual image of flames, whereby the moving visual images of flames appears to emanate from the holographic image of the fuel bed.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a source of radiation for illuminating the hologram means in order to produce the holographic image.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the source of radiation is a source of visible light.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, comprising a mirror for directing the illuminating radiation on to the viewing side of the hologram means.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein cftqsJfte -holographic image depicting the bed of fuel.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for generating and displaying a moving visual image of flames is positioned behind the hologram means which carries the holographic image.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for generating and displaying a moving visual image of flames comprises a display screen.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for s generating and displaying a moving visual image of flames comprises a television screen, a computer monitor or a picture frame capable of displaying moving visual images.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, comprising an LED display screen.
10. A heating apparatus comprising apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire as claimed in any of the preceding claims, and means for generating heat.
11. A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for generating heat comprises a fan heater.is
12. A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hologram means is illuminated by a source of radiation and wherein the rathation is. directed onto.the viewing side of the holpgraph. means by. a mirror.
13. A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mirror is mounted on a cowling forming pad of the heating apparatus.
14. An apparatus for simulating a solid fuel fire substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
15. A heating apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.