RU2646265C2 - Flame simulation device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electronic equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to electric fireplace equipment, in particular to a flame simulation device. Flame simulation device comprises a fog generator, having a housing with a fog outlet and at least one ultrasonic fluid injector installed in the casing, providing a fog generation, means for pulse fluid injection to a mist generator ultrasonic sprayer, with the possibility of forming a uniform flow of finely dispersed fog, means for mist output through the outlet of the mist generator and at least one light source. Light source is installed with the possibility of illuminating the fog flow exiting the output of the fog generator, ensuring flame simulation.

EFFECT: technical result is an increase in the uniformity of the formed fog flow, a reduction in the overall dimensions of the device, a simplification of the design, an increased stability of operation and a decrease in the pollution of the generator.

19 cl, 13 dwg

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to the equipment of electric fireplaces, namely, a device for simulating flame and smoke generated by the combustion of solid fuel.

State of the art

Electric fireplaces are substitutes for traditional fireplaces using fuel combustion. Unlike fuel fireplaces, heat from an electric fireplace is created immediately when it is turned on, and it does not require any cleaning.

In the process of carrying out new developments in the field of fireplaces, the main improvements are elements that simulate the combustion of fuel with the release of flame and smoke.

Previously, flicker simulation was carried out by using strips of light material (tapes), oscillating under the influence of a stream of air directed at them. However, such an imitation is far from real perception.

Another constructive solution for simulating flickering flames is to project light onto the screen, emanating from a light source and passing through the rotating fan blades, while these blades are curved along the involute, which allows you to display a moving front of fuel combustion. Such a solution is described in British patent GB 512481, 09/18/1939. The main structural elements of the fireplace disclosed in the patent are a grill on which a fuel simulator, a light source, a screen and a fan are placed.

A more advanced design of a fireplace with an optical flame simulation is disclosed in GB Patent GB 2395550, 08/30/2006, where light is supplied from light sources to a light filter made in the form of a comb, and a rotating shaft with petal-shaped elements mounted on it is mounted above it. Light falling on a rotating shaft with petals acquires the effect of movement, and when it hits the light and dark areas of the light filter, an intermittent movement effect is created. The front screen with etched areas serves as a diffraction grating, and the light is blurred, more real.

Fireplaces are known in which not only flame is imitated, but also smoke rising from fuel. So, in the publication of international application WO 2006027272, March 16, 2006, a device for simulating a flame using steam obtained by evaporation of a liquid, for example glycol, is used in a steam generator. The rising steam passing through the openings in the grill and fuel simulator is illuminated by light sources, which creates the effect of smoke and flame. This design provides for steam recovery. It passes between the walls of the fireplace and returns to the inlet, where it again heats up and rises.

In US patent US 8413358, 09/09/2013 disclosed the design of a device for simulating a flame, including the primary and secondary reservoirs with a liquid, an aerosol generator, light source (s), a fan, a substrate with a fuel simulator. The aerosol generator may include one or more ultrasonic transducers that can be controlled by a controller to control the volume of the resulting aerosol. Ultrasonic transducers can be installed at the bottom of the liquid tank.

The closest analogue of the claimed invention is a device for simulating a flame, disclosed in the patent of the Russian Federation for utility model RU 137598, 02.20.2014. The known device contains a fog generator having a housing with outlet openings, in which ultrasonic transducers for spraying liquid are installed, providing fog generation, a liquid reservoir connected to the fog generator, means for supplying liquid from the reservoir to the evaporator, means for pumping air (fan), installed with the possibility of outputting fog through the outlet openings of the generator, and light sources (31) installed with the possibility of lighting the fog exiting the generator. The liquid supply means are made in the form of channels (12), at the output of which ultrasonic transducers are installed, which provide atomization of the liquid.

The disadvantages of the known flame simulation devices using a fog generator are large dimensions, high cost, and also the contamination of ultrasonic nebulizers.

Disclosure of invention

The task of the claimed invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of analogues.

The technical result of the invention is to increase the uniformity of the generated fog stream, reduce the dimensions of the device, simplify the design, increase stability and reduce pollution of the generator.

The specified technical result is achieved due to the fact that the device for simulating a flame contains a fog generator having a housing with an outlet for the fog and at least one ultrasonic liquid atomizer installed in the housing, which generates fog (3), means for pulse supply of liquid to the ultrasonic atomizer (2) a fog generator (1), means (6) for outputting the fog (3) through the outlet (10) of the fog generator, and at least one light source (8), mounted to illuminate the stream and fog (3) emerging from the outlet (10) of the fog generator, providing simulated flame.

Private embodiments of the invention are also provided, according to which:

- the device further comprises a fluid reservoir connected to a fog generator;

- the device further comprises a distributor for the formation of a directed stream of fog, combined with the outlet of the fog generator;

- a fog generator is installed inside the simulation of a log of artificial wood;

- the housing of the fog generator is made in the form of a container and has a cover in the form of a radiator, on which is mentioned the at least one light source;

- at least one heating element is additionally placed on the radiator;

- the radiator has protruding elements for heating the air in the body of the fog generator;

- the outlet of the fog generator is made in the radiator;

- the wall of the body of the fog generator and the radiator are installed with a gap and have protrusions forming the outlet of the fog generator in the form of a gap;

- the bottom of the housing of the fog generator is made with a slope and has at least one opening for condensate drain;

- an ultrasonic membrane was used as an ultrasonic nebulizer;

- the ultrasonic membrane is oriented horizontally;

- the ultrasonic membrane is oriented vertically;

- means for pulsed fluid supply are configured to supply fluid to the ultrasonic membrane in the form of drops or jets;

- the pulsed fluid supply means comprise at least one fluid supply pipe, said pipe being connected to a fluid reservoir or a fluid supply line via a pipe and / or channel;

- means pulsed fluid supply also contain a control unit for pulsed fluid supply;

- means for pulsed fluid supply contain at least one pump for pumping fluid from the reservoir into the tube for pulsed fluid supply;

- the ultrasonic membrane on the one hand is in contact with the liquid located in the channel connecting the tube for pulsed fluid supply and the tank, and is made with the possibility of oscillation to ensure pumping fluid from the tank into the tube;

- the fog output means comprises a fan for supplying air to the fog generator body through its inlet.

Unlike analogues, the claimed invention implements a pulsed liquid supply to the ultrasonic atomizer in the form of small doses (drops, jets, etc.) to form a fog.

Pulse feed has the following advantages:

1) the uniformity of the fog stream leaving the generator increases, which provides a more realistic image when projecting a light stream onto a fog;

2) reduced overall dimensions of the fog generator, because in the dispersion zone of the fog generator there is a minimum amount of liquid, so that the liquid does not occupy the useful volume of the dispersion zone, and, accordingly, the dispersion zone can have minimum overall dimensions. The minimum overall dimensions of the fog generator also provide flexibility in the layout of the entire device;

3) increases the stability of the generator, because the liquid supplied to the ultrasonic nebulizer (membrane), immediately before dispersing, does not contact the membrane and does not heat up from the membrane during operation;

4) the amount of scale accumulating on the ultrasonic atomizer is reduced (especially with a vertical arrangement), increasing its service life, as ultrasonic nebulizers are not in constant contact with the entire volume of liquid;

5) decreases the cost, because for the operation of the device simulating a flame does not require the use of funds to maintain the level of liquid;

6) provides spraying of all the liquid entering the nozzles. Thus, after turning off the fire simulation system, there will be no liquid left in it, in which microorganisms can potentially multiply.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is illustrated by drawings, where:

in FIG. 1 shows a general view of a device according to a first embodiment;

in FIG. 2 shows a top view of the device according to the first embodiment;

in FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along the lower boundary of the horizontal plane of the radiator of the device according to the first embodiment;

in FIG. 4 shows a view of a radiator of a device according to a first embodiment;

in FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the device according to the first embodiment;

in FIG. 6 shows an internal view of the case of the fog generator device of the first embodiment;

in FIG. 7 shows a general view of a device according to a second embodiment;

in FIG. 8 shows a fog generator of a device according to a second embodiment;

in FIG. 9 and 10 show a general view of a device according to a third embodiment;

in FIG. 11 shows a top view of a device according to a third embodiment;

in FIG. 12, 13 shows a particular embodiment of an ultrasonic membrane and means for pulsed fluid supply (general view and top view).

In the presented figures, the elements are indicated by the following positions:

1 - fog generator

2 - ultrasonic liquid atomizer (membrane)

3 - fog

4 - inlet of the fog generator

5 - entrance slit of the fog generator

6 - fog output means (fan)

7 - radiator

8 - light source

9 - aerodynamic elements (ribs) of the radiator

10 - outlet of the fog generator

11 - protrusion of the fog generator housing

12 - radiator protrusion

13 - bottom of the fog generator housing

14 - drain hole of the fog generator housing

15 - simulated charcoal

16 - imitation of logs

17 - base plate

18 - tube for pulsed fluid supply to the membrane

19 - inlet pipe of the fog generator

20 - outlet pipe of the fog generator

21 - the body of the simulated fire unit

22 - distributor

23 - substrate for light sources

24 - partition

25 - fluid reservoir

26 - the cover of the housing of the simulated fire unit

27 - the bottom of the body of the simulated fire unit

28 - fluid pump 29- control board

30 - pipeline (hose)

31 - channel for supplying fluid.

The implementation of the invention

A device for simulating a flame according to the first embodiment of the invention (Figs. 1-6) uses a modular concept and comprises a fog generator (1), the casing of which is an open extended container. In the case of the fog generator (1), one or more ultrasonic liquid atomizers (2) are installed in the form of ultrasonic membranes of piezoceramic emitters. The ultrasonic membrane (2) is oriented vertically in the case of the fog generator (1) and is positioned in such a way that the stream of the fog generated by it fills the maximum possible volume of the body capacity. An example of such an arrangement may be the location at the end of the container. The ultrasonic membrane (2) is adapted to operate in the fog generation mode (3) with pulsed supply (spraying) of liquid into it in the form of droplets or jets from a liquid reservoir or through a pipeline (water supply) (not shown). The specified supply is provided by controls and precision fluid supply (not shown).

An inlet (4) is made in the generator housing, combined with a narrow long slit (5), for supplying air to the housing under a slight excess pressure created by the fog output means (6), which is made in the form of a fan.

As the cover of the fog generator housing (1), a flat radiator (7) is used, on the external (upper) surface of which light sources (8) are installed, for example, in the form of LEDs that provide LED illumination of a given configuration, repeating the languages of the flame, and, if necessary, heating elements (not shown in the drawings). The radiator (7) is designed to remove heat from the LEDs and heating elements (if installed), as well as to heat the air entering the housing to form the upward convective flows of the generated fog (3). The lower side of the radiator (7) can have aerodynamic elements (plates, fins) (9) for better heat transfer to the air supplied to the housing, as well as to provide the necessary configuration inside the air flow housing, in which the supplied air will capture the maximum amount of fog (3) .

In the case of the fog generator (1) also made an outlet (10) in the form of a slit for the exit of fog (3). The specified hole (10) can be formed both in the radiator (7) itself and formed due to incomplete closing of the capacity of the fog generator housing (1) by the radiator (7) (i.e., due to the displacement of the radiator). In particular, the slit of the outlet (10) is formed by protrusions (11) and (12), which can be structural parts of the capacity of the generator housing (1) and the radiator (7), respectively, and are designed to direct the flow of fog blown from the tank (1), and also additional heat dissipation. These protrusions (11, 12) can also serve to protect the user from direct exposure to light sources.

The bottom (13) of the fog generator housing (1) can be made with a longitudinal or transverse slope and have one or more openings (14) in the lower part for drainage of the liquid (condensate drain).

When the device according to the first embodiment operates, a dispersible (sprayed) liquid (water or any other liquid suitable for forming fog) by means of pulsed supply (not shown) is precisely applied with microscopic doses to one or several membranes (2) that form a fog (3) in the form of a suspension of microdrops (aerosol). The fog (3) is picked up by the air stream created by the fog output means (6) (fan) through the inlet (4) and the long slot (5) and leaves the tank through the outlet (10). The luminous flux from the light sources (8) located on the radiator (7) is scattered by the particles coming from the fog tank (3), and due to this, an effect simulating the glow of the flame is achieved. The heat generated by the light sources (8) (and heating elements) is transferred to a radiator (7), which additionally heats the air stream passing through the body of the fog generator (1), which ensures the formation of ascending aerosol flows at the outlet of the fog generator (1) due to convection, and this, in turn, creates the effect of the movement of the flame and visually increases its height.

The device according to the second embodiment of the invention (Figs. 7 and 8) has a remote concept. In FIG. 7 shows artificial logs simulating a layer of charcoal (15) and the logs (16) lying on it in a fireplace insert. In one of the artificial logs, a fog generator (1) of the claimed device is shown, shown in FIG. 8.

In the bottom (13) of the generator housing (1), which acts as a substrate, ultrasonic liquid nebulizers (2) are installed in the form of membranes fixed by means of a support plate (17) clamping the membranes (2) between themselves and the bottom (13). The evaporation surface of the membranes (2) is oriented horizontally. In the case of the fog generator (1), there are placed means for pulsed fluid supply to the membranes (2), made in the form of tubes (18) connected through channels to a reservoir or a liquid pipe line (not shown). An inlet (4) with a nozzle (19) is made in the bottom of the mist generator housing (1) to inject air into the generator housing (1) using fog output means (not shown), as well as an outlet (10) with an outlet nozzle (20) ) to divert the air-fog mixture.

During operation of the device, as well as in the first embodiment, the liquid (water) from the reservoir using a pump (not shown) is drip fed to the ultrasonic membranes (2) by means of pulsed feeding (tubes (18)) through the channels. Membranes transform liquid droplets falling on them into fog, which accumulates inside the cavity of a fog generator simulating a log (16). Through the inlet pipe (19), with the help of a fan (not shown), air is supplied to the mist generator body (1), which, entraining the fog and condensation formed, leaves through the pipe (20). Next, the air-fog mixture enters the distributor (not shown), from where it is uniformly fed through the slots into the space above the artificial wood and with the help of light sources (not shown) creates an imitation of flames. Condensate entering the distributor is drained through a hole with a hose back into the water tank.

The device according to the third embodiment of the invention (Figs. 9-11) has a block concept. In FIG. Figure 9 shows artificial logs simulating a layer of charcoal (15) with logs (16), under which a device simulating fire unit is installed.

The fire simulation unit (see Fig. 10-11) has a housing (21) and a fog generator (1) with ultrasonic membranes (2) mounted on the housing, a distributor (22), fog output means (fan) (6), and sources light (backlight) (8), mounted on a substrate (23). The housing (21) of the fire simulation unit is divided into two zones using a horizontal partition (24) (the end wall of the housing in Fig. 10 is not shown conventionally). The upper part of the body forms a reservoir (25) for liquid and is closed on top by a lid (26). In the lower part of the housing (21) of the simulation unit at its bottom (27) are the electronic and mechanical components of the device, which are two peristaltic pumps (28) and a set of control cards (29) that form the fluid supply control unit. The pumps (28) are connected by pipelines (hoses) (30) to the reservoir (25) for the liquid and the case of the generator (1) of the fog. The fan (6) is attached directly to the body of the fog generator for its efficiency. The distributor (22) is mounted on the fog generator so that its opening is located above the light sources (8).

When the device is operated according to the described third embodiment, the liquid (water or other suitable liquid) from the tank (25) is pumped through the pipelines (30) into the membranes (2), which form a mist, through droplets (30) through pipelines (30). By means of a fan (6), air is pumped into the case of the fog generator (1), which, carrying the fog along, exits through the hole in the distributor (22), is illuminated from below by lamps (8) and rises up through the hole in the wood, creating the effect of flame tongues

Ultrasonic membranes (2) designed to create fog (3), according to the above described design variants of the device, can be used as pumps for supplying liquid to their surface. In such an embodiment (see Figs. 12-13), the membrane (2) is installed in the body of the fog generator (1) so that one of the sides (in Fig. 12 is the upper side of the membrane (2)) has an open surface for generation aerosol, and the other side (in Fig. 12 - the lower side of the membrane (2)) was turned to the means for supplying fluid. The means for supplying fluid in this case comprise an inlet pipe (19) and a tube (18) for supplying fluid to the membrane, connected by an internal channel (31), providing direct contact of the fluid with the lower surface of the membrane (2). At the same time, check valves (not shown) are installed on the inlet pipe (19) and the tube (18) to prevent the reverse movement of the liquid.

When this unit is operating, the membrane (2) oscillates in the vertical direction (according to Fig. 12). When the membrane (2) moves upwards, a certain volume of liquid is captured through the inlet pipe (19) and carried away into the internal channel (31). After that, the membrane (2) moves downward, and the volume of liquid available in the channel (31) is displaced into the tube (18) due to the check valve installed on the inlet pipe (19) and prevents the reverse movement of the liquid. With the subsequent movement of the membrane (2) up, the check valve on the tube (18) prevents the liquid from moving from the tube (18) back into the internal channel (31). The volume of fluid pumped by the membrane (2) is controlled by control systems and precision fluid supply.

Example 1 of the invention

To create the effect of simulating a flame, the device according to the first embodiment (Fig. 1-6) was used with a vertically oriented membrane onto which liquid (water) was pulsed through the tube in the form of drops with a flow rate of 50 to 100 ml / h. The oscillation frequency of the membrane was 1.5-1.8 MHz. The formation of a uniform and time-stable stream of fine mist was observed. In addition, it was found that the most effective fogging was observed under the condition of supplying the next drop of liquid no earlier than the evaporation of the previous drop from the membrane, i.e. when another drop of liquid was applied to a substantially dry membrane. With this in mind, a feedback system was implemented using current control on the membrane, which changed when the membrane became dry.

Due to the inertia of the liquid supply pump, situations were observed when, instead of a drop, a liquid stream was supplied to the membrane. This phenomenon did not lead to a deterioration in the characteristics of the fog. In this case, all excess fluid drained from the membrane and was removed through the drainage hole.

Example 2 of the invention

Used the device according to the second variant of implementation (Fig. 8) with a horizontal membrane, to which the liquid (water) was pulsed in the form of jets at a flow rate of about 100 ml / h. The membrane oscillation frequency was 1.6 MHz. Excess liquid, which did not have time to evaporate, was removed from the membrane due to its vibrations. As in the case of example 1, an effective formation of a uniform stream of fog, stable over time, was observed.

Thus, the tests performed showed that the pulsed liquid supply in the form of separate drops or jets onto a horizontal or vertical membrane made it possible to form a uniform stream of fine mist, stable in time, providing a more realistic simulation of flame tongues in comparison with the known analogues, in which the membrane is in constant contact with a liquid, for example, when immersed in a liquid.

The above-described embodiments of the device are given to illustrate possible examples of design, but do not limit the scope of the claimed invention. Any combination of the above concepts is possible, as well as other options for implementing the nodes of the device within the totality of the essential features according to the claimed invention.

Claims (23)

1. A device for simulating a flame, comprising: a fog generator (1) having a housing with an outlet (10) for fog (3) and at least one ultrasonic liquid atomizer (2) installed in the housing, generating fog (3), means for pulsating fluid supply to the ultrasonic atomizer (2) of the fog generator (1) with the possibility of forming a uniform stream of fine mist, means (6) for outputting the fog (3) through the outlet (10) of the fog generator, and at least one light source (8) installed with the possibility of illuminating a stream of fog (3) exiting from the outlet (10) of the fog generator, providing simulated flame. 2. The device according to claim 1, additionally containing a reservoir (25) for a liquid connected to a fog generator (1). 3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a distributor (22) for forming a directed fog stream (3), combined with the outlet (10) of the fog generator. 4. The device according to claim 1, in which the fog generator (1) is installed inside the simulated log (16) of artificial wood. 5. The device according to claim 1, in which the housing of the fog generator (1) is made in the form of a container and has a cover in the form of a radiator (7), on which said at least one light source (8) is placed. 6. The device according to claim 5, in which at least one heating element is additionally placed on the radiator (7). 7. The device according to claim 5, in which the radiator (7) has protruding elements (9) for heating the air in the body of the fog generator (1). 8. The device according to claim 5, in which the outlet (10) of the fog generator is made in the radiator (7). 9. The device according to claim 5, in which the wall of the body of the fog generator (1) and the radiator (7) are installed with a gap and have protrusions (11, 12) forming the outlet (10) of the fog generator in the form of a gap. 10. The device according to claim 5, in which the bottom (13) of the case of the fog generator is made with a slope and has at least one opening (14) for draining the condensate. 11. The device according to claim 1, in which an ultrasonic membrane (2) is used as an ultrasonic atomizer (2). 12. The device according to claim 11, in which the ultrasonic membrane (2) is oriented horizontally. 13. The device according to claim 11, in which the ultrasonic membrane (2) is oriented vertically. 14. The device according to p. 11, in which the means of pulsed fluid supply are configured to supply fluid to the ultrasonic membrane in the form of drops or jets. 15. The device according to claim 11, in which the means for pulsed fluid supply contain at least one tube (18) for pulsed fluid supply, while the tube (18) is connected to the reservoir (25) for the fluid or the fluid supply line through the pipeline (30 ) and / or channel (31). 16. The device according to p. 15, in which the means of pulsed fluid supply also contain a control unit for pulsed fluid delivery. 17. The device according to p. 15, in which the means of pulsed fluid supply contain at least one pump (28) for pumping fluid from the reservoir (25) into the tube (18) for pulsed fluid supply. 18. The device according to p. 15, in which the ultrasonic membrane (2) on one side is in contact with the liquid located in the channel (31) connecting the tube (18) for pulsed fluid supply and the reservoir (25), and is configured to oscillate with ensuring pumping fluid from the tank (25) into the tube (18). 19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fog output means (6) comprises a fan for supplying air to the fog generator housing (1) through its inlet (4).

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