GB2571677A

GB2571677A - Flame simulation device and electric fireplace

Info

Publication number: GB2571677A
Application number: GB1908741.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pan Liping
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-11-25
Filing date: 2017-11-17
Publication date: 2019-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-17
Also published as: WO2018095284A1; CN206222233U; GB2571677B; GB201908741D0

Abstract

A flame simulation device comprises a light source (1), a flame imaging element (3), an imaging plate (4), a light reflection member, and a dummy fuel (5). The light reflection member serves as a rotary light reflection assembly (2). The light source (1) projects light to a light reflection strip (21) of a rotating drum, the light is reflected by the light reflection strip (21) of the rotary light reflection assembly (2) to the flame imaging element (3) to form a flame image, and the formed flame image forms a flame image on the dummy fuel (5) by means of the imaging plate (4). A real image of a simulated flame is reflected to the other side of the imaging plate (4) by means of a mirror surface of the imaging plate (4) to form a virtual image of the simulated flame on the dummy fuel (5) and it is difficult to see a real image of the simulated flame in a normal working state, and accordingly the simulated flame is bright and has good dynamic effect.

Description

Flame Simulation Device and Electric Fireplace

Technical Field

The invention relates to a flame simulation device and an electric fireplace applying the same.

Background

Flame simulation devices in electric fireplaces typically employ electronic or simulated fire that is not used for heating, but is merely used for creating a visual effect and plays a role in decoration.

An existing electric fireplace with simulated flames generally consists of two parts: a blowing and heating device and a flame simulation device. There are generally two types of flame simulation devices, wherein the flame simulation device of the first type is formed by hanging a group of ribbons above a simulated comburent and behind a translucent plastic screen and mirror glass, and generating flickering light rays by blowing the ribbons with air and projecting them onto the glass surface to simulate flames during combustion, which creates the visual sense of flickering flames, without the scene of bouncing tongue of fire during fierce combustion; and the flame simulation device of the second type is formed by installing a movable light source driven by a motor to rotate behind a simulated dendritic wood-carbon combustion medium, and further disposing a fire-shaped wall, a light-transmitting screen and mirror glass in front of the combustion medium, wherein light rays emitted from the movable light source are utilized to form flame shapes through flame holes in the fire-shaped wall, and then projected onto the light-transmitting screen and the mirror glass to generate the visual sense of flames and enhance flame bouncing.

There are other types of flame simulation devices which all have the problem of relatively poor flame simulation effect or complicated manufacturing.

Summary of the Invention

The technical problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a flame simulation device for an electric fireplace and the electric fireplace, with a better flame effect, so as to overcome the above-mentioned defects in the prior art.

The technical scheme adopted by the invention for solving the above-mentioned technical problem is as follows:

The flame simulation device comprises a light source, a flame imaging element, an imaging plate, a reflective member and dummy fuel, wherein the reflective member is a rotary' reflective assembly, light rays are projected onto a reflective sheet of a rotary drum by the light source, and reflected by a reflective sheet of the rotary reflective assembly onto the flame imaging element to form flame images, and the formed flame images form flame images on the dummy fuel via the imaging plate.

The reflective member is a rotary reflective assembly which comprises a driver and a plurality of reflective sheets, wherein the reflective sheets are rotated by the driver, the light rays irradiate the plurality of reflective sheets to form rotating light beams, and the rotating light beams are projected onto the flame imaging plate through reflection of reflective stripes to generate real images of simulated flames.

The plurality of reflective sheets are distributed on a shaft or the plurality of reflective sheets are connected in series to form a reflective sheet string, the reflective sheet string is connected with the driver through the shaft, and the shaft is driven by the driver to rotate the reflective sheet string.

The reflective member can also be an existing device for generating simulated flames.

The flame imaging element can be one or multiple in number.

The flame imaging element can be a flame plate made of a transparent or translucent material, and can also be cloth and the like of a flame color, for forming simulated flames from light reflected by the reflective member.

The imaging plate is transparent or translucent, so that the dummy fuel below can be seen through the imaging plate.

The imaging plate has a bright surface that can serve as a plane mirror, namely, real images of simulated flames on one side can form virtual images of the simulated flames on the other side.

The dummy fuel is a transparent or translucent component, and the light source is disposed inside or below the dummy fuel, so that the combustion of the dummy fuel is more vivid and realistic.

The dummy fuel can be in various forms, for example, in the shape of coal briquette, tree branches and stones, or formed by stacking stones or coal briquette thereon, and the dummy fuel can also be opaque component.

The working principle of a flame device is as follows: the reflective stripes are driven to rotate through a coupler after the motor rotates. After a flame light source irradiates the rotating reflective stripes, by reflection of the reflective sheets, the virtual images of the simulated flames are superimposed with the dummy fuel to create a visual effect of fuel combustion.

The electric fireplace is formed by the flame simulation device together with an outer frame and a heating mechanism of the electric fireplace.

Decorations such as small stones can also be disposed at a front portion of the electric fireplace.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the advantages that the real images of the simulated flames are reflected onto the other side of the imaging plate through a mirror surface of the imaging plate to form the virtual images of the simulated flames on the dummy fuel, while the real images of the simulated flames are difficult to see in a normal working condition, so that the simulated flames are bright and good in dynamic effect.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural view of an electric fireplace comprising a flame simulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a rotary reflective assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention is described in further detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments.

As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a flame simulation device of an electric fireplace comprises a light source 1, flame imaging plates 3, an imaging plate 4, a rotary reflective assembly 2, dummy fuel 5 and a dummy fuel light source 6.

The light source 1 is fixed on a light source support 11, the light source support 11 is fixed on a tank body of the electric fireplace, and the rotary reflective assembly 2 is disposed in front of the light source 1.

The rotary reflective assembly 2 comprises reflective strips 21, a motor 23, a motor bracket 22, a coupler 24, a shaft 25, a bearing 26 and a reflective strip bracket 27, wherein a plurality of reflective strips 21 are connected in series with one another to form a reflective strip string, one end of the reflective strip string is fixed on the shaft 25, the motor 23 is fixed on the motor bracket 22, the motor bracket 22 is fixed on the tank body of the electric fireplace, the shaft 25 is fixed on a shaft of the motor 23 through the coupler 24, another shaft 25 is fixed on the reflective strip bracket 27 through the bearing 26, and the reflective strip bracket 27 is also fixed on the tank body of the electric fireplace, as shown in Fig. 1.

In this embodiment, the flame imaging plates 3 include two flame imaging plates 31, 32 disposed on a path of reflected light of the reflective strips 21, simulated flames can be formed by the reflected light on the two flame imaging plates 3, the flame imaging plate 31 is fixed on the light source support 11 through a screw 36, one end of the flame imaging plate 32 is fixed with the flame imaging plate 31 through a bracket 33, the other end thereof is fixed on another bracket 37 through a screw 37, and another bracket 37 is fixed on the tank body of the electric fireplace.

The rotary reflective assembly 2 is driven by the motor 23 to rotate. When the motor rotates, light rays emitted from the light source 1 irradiate the plurality of reflective strips to form rotating light beams, and the light beams are projected onto the flame imaging plates 31, 32 to generate real images of simulated flames on the flame imaging plates 31,32.

Two ends of the imaging plate 4 are respectively fixed on a rear wall and a front door of the electric fireplace through fixing parts 41, 42, the real images of the simulated flames on the flame imaging plate above the imaging plate 4 are projected onto the dummy fuel 5 below by the imaging plate 4 to enable the dummy fuel 5 to generate simulated flames.

The dummy fuel 5 is positioned below the imaging plate 4, and the real images of the simulated flames generated on the flame imaging plates 31,32 are subjected to mirror imaging via the imaging plate 4, so that virtual images of the simulated flames can be generated on the dummy fuel 5, just like flames in combustion from the dummy fuel 5.

A structure of the electric fireplace using the flame simulation device is shown in FIG. 1, and a hot air device 7 is disposed at an upper portion of the electric fireplace to heat a surrounding environment.

The hot air device generally comprises a fan 71 and a heating body 72, wherein the heating body 72 is placed in the fan, and air is heated by the heating body and then blown out by the fan.

A heating mechanism of the hot air device can also be replaced with devices in other forms.

The hot air device can also be disposed at a lower portion of the electric fireplace and reasonably arranged in a space of the electric fireplace.

The door of the electric fireplace can be opened, and can also be provided with glass 8, the imaging plate 4 can be seen directly or through the glass 8, and it is can be seen that the simulated flames generated on the imaging plate 4 is in combustion on the dummy fuel 5 when the flame simulation device is started.

The dummy fuel 5 with a combustion material such as wood is further disposed below a front portion of the electric fireplace, and the light source 6 is additionally disposed to enable the dummy fuel 5 to give out dark red light similar to the scene of wood combustion.

Decorations such as small stones can also be disposed below the front portion of the electric fireplace, which are not shown in the drawings.

Claims

1. A flame simulation device of an electric fireplace comprises a light source, a flame imaging element, an imaging plate, a reflective member and dummy fuel, wherein the reflective member is a rotary reflective assembly, light rays are projected onto a reflective sheet of a rotary drum by the light source, and reflected by a reflective sheet of the rotary reflective assembly onto the flame imaging element to form flame images, and the formed flame images form flame images on the dummy fuel via the imaging plate.

2. The flame simulation device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said reflective member is a rotary reflective assembly which comprises a driver and a plurality of reflective sheets, wherein the reflective sheets are rotated by the driver, the light rays irradiate the plurality of reflective sheets to form rotating light beams, and the rotating light beams are projected onto the flame imaging plate through reflection of reflective stripes to generate real images of simulated flames.

3. The flame simulation device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said plurality of reflective sheets are distributed on a shaft or the plurality of reflective sheets are connected in series to form a reflective sheet string, the reflective sheet string is connected with the driver through the shaft, and the shaft is driven by the driver to rotate the reflective sheet string.

4. The flame simulation device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said.

5. The flame simulation device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said imaging plate is transparent or translucent, so that the dummy fuel below can be seen through the imaging plate.

6. An electric fireplace comprising the above flame simulation device.