US3606639A

US3606639A - Apparatus for making artificial fire-place logs having colored flames

Info

Publication number: US3606639A
Application number: US835089A
Authority: US
Inventors: William Hughes Brockbank
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-06-20
Filing date: 1969-06-20
Publication date: 1971-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-21

Abstract

AN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARITICIAL FIREPLACE LOGS HAVING FLAME COLORANTS AS ADDITIVE WHICH PROVIDE COLORED FLAMES CONTINUOUSLY DURING THE BURNING OF THE ENTIRE LOG. THE APPARATUS HAS MEANS FOR FORMING AND DROPPING AN ELONGATE, SLENDER MASS OF DISCRETE PARTICLES OF PYROGENIC COLORING MATTER INTO THE CAVITY OF AN ELONGATE ARTIFICIAL LOG MOLD; MEANS FOR FILLING THE LOG MOLD WITH ARTIFICIAL LOG MIX, PREFERABLY CONTAINING AN ADDITIONAL QUANTITY OF FLAME COLORANTS ADMIXED THEREWITH; AND MEANS FOR COMPRESSING THE LOG MIX IN THE MOLD TO FORM A LOG. THE DISCRETE PARTICLES OF COLORING MATTER FOUND WITHIN THE MOLD ADHERE SUPERFICIALLY TO THE SURFACE OF THELOG, PREFERABLY ALONG A LOCALIZED AREA OF THE LOG CORRESPONDING TO THE TOP AND FRONT SIDE OF THE LOG AS IT IS POSITIONED IN A FIREPLACE.

Description

eh W71 w. H. BROCKBANK APPARATUS FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL FIREPLACE LOGS HAVING COLORED FLAMES Filed June 20, 1968 INVENTOR. WILLIAM HUGHES BROCKBANK AT TORNE YS United States Patent US. 18-20C 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for producing artificial fireplace logs having flame colorants as additives which provide colored flames continuously during the burning of the entire log. The apparatus has means for forming and dropping an elongate, slender mass of discrete particles of pyrogenic coloring matter into the cavity of an elongate artificial log mold; means for filling the log mold with artificial log mix, preferably containing an additional quantity of flame colorants admixed therewith; and means for compressing the log mix in the mold to form a log. The discrete particles of coloring matter found within the mold adhere superficially to the surface of the log, preferably along a localized area of the log corresponding to the top and front side of the log as it is positioned in a fireplace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field This invention relates to artificial fireplace logs and an apparatus for producing them.

State of the art Artificial logs for burning in fireplaces have long been molded from mixtures of combustible materials, such as sawdust and wax. Although many attempts have been made to produce both natural and artificial fireplace logs having flame colorant additives, prior to the present invention no such logs have been generally available on the market.

Objectives It was a principal purpose in the development of the present invention to provide an apparatus that would pro duce artificial fireplace logs having flame colorants, which provide colored flames continuously during the burning of the entire log, in an economical and efficient manner and with relatively low capital investment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the invention comprises means for forming and dropping a slender, elongate mass of dry, discrete particles of pyrogenic coloring matter preferably along one longitudinal side of a log mold cavity formed for the production of artificial logs for burning in fireplaces; means for filling the log mold cavity with an artificial log mix, such as a mixture of sawdust and wax, whereby a fireplace log is molded against the previously deposited particles of pyrogenic coloring matter with the coloring particles adhering superficially to the surface of the log longitudinally along a localized area of the log; and means for compressing the log mix in the mold to form an artificial log which will exhibit colored flames continuously during the burning of the entire log.

It is preferred to have one longitudinal side of the log formed relatively flat, so that the flat side will serve as the bottom of the log when placed upon a fireplace grate or the like. The localized area of adherent flame colorant particles is preferably placed along the top and front side of the log as it is placed in the fireplace. In this manner the localized colorant area faces the front of the fireplace and Patented Sept. 21, 1971 provides the best results at the least cost for achieving colored flames during the entire period in which the log is burning.

THE DRAW ING The accompanying drawing illustrates a specific embodiment of the apparatus which is presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out the invention in actual practice:

FIG. 1 illustrates the log mold and device for dropping the particles of flame colorant into the mold cavities;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus of the invention has a mold cylinder 10-, which is rotatably mounted on shaft 25 within a stationary hollow cylinder 11. The mold cylinder 10 contains a series ofi mold cavities 13 formed therein and opening longitudinally along the longitudinal circumferential surface 14 of the mold cylinder 10. As the mold cylinder 10 rotates, the inner walls of the hollow cylinder 11 form a relatively flat base which encloses the longitudinal opening of each mold cavity 13. The oppo-- site ends of each mold cavity 13 are open in the mold cylinder '10; however, as the cylinder 10 is in operational status within the apparatus,

end plates

20, 21, as shown in FIG. 2, normally seal off the opposite ends of the mold cavities 13.

A hopper 15 is provided at and along the top of the stationary hollow cylinder 11. The hopper 15 is divided into two sections 16, 16a, both of which are connected with the stationary hollow cylinder 11 through openings 17, 17a. The first hopper section 16 contains the artificial log mix 18 which is dropped through opening 17 into the log cavity 13 as the log cavity is rotated counterclockwise past the opening 17.

The hopper section 16a containing dry, discrete partioles of flame colorant 18a is located immediately in advance of the hopper 16 containing the artificial log mix 18, upstream from the direction of rotation of the mold cylinder 10. The flame colorant particles 18a are channeled into a measuring slot 19 conveniently located on the circumference of, and extending longitudinally along the length of, a rotatable shaft 24. As the shaft 24 is rotated, the pyrogenic coloring matter 18a contained in the slot is released through the opening 17a in the stationary hollow cylinder 11 into the mold cavity 13. The colorant particles 18a are released from the measuring slot 19 when the mold cavity 13 has rotated to a position immediately below the hopper opening 17a. At this point, the colorant particles 18a fall through the opening 17a downwardly into the mold cavity 13, with the principal portion of the coloring particles 18a coming to rest at the bottom 19a of the mold cavity 13.

As the mold cylinder 10 rotates, the mold cavity 13 which has just received a quantity of coloring particles along the bottom 19a.advances to the opening 17 of the log mix hopper 16. A portion of the log mix 18 is deposited in the mold cavity 13, and the mold cylinder '10 continues to rotate approximately one quarter turn to a position in alignment with the first hydraulic ram 22, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the first hydraulic ram 22 extends through an opening (not shown) in the end plate 20 into the mold cavity 13 and compresses the artificial log mix into a compact log form. The ram 22 withdraws, and the mold cavity 13 rotates past the ram 22. The loose coloring particles which have not impressed themselves into the log at 19a fall along the longitudinal length of wall 19b as the mold cavity rotates. On the opposite side of the central shaft 25, the mold cavity 13 comes into alignment with the second ram '23 which extends into the mold cavity 13 through a second opening (not shown) in the end plate 20, and discharges the molded log from the apparatus through opening 31, as shown in FIG. 3. The resulting log has flame colorant particles adherent to the surface of the adjacent longitudinal sides of the log corresponding to the wall 19b and the bottom 19a of the mold cavity 13.

In the described embodiment of the apparatus, the logs which are molded in the mold cavities have one longitudinal side which is relatively flat formed against the surface of the stationary hollow cylinder. This is an advantage, in that it provides a relatively stable surface for use as the bottom of the log as it rests upon a fireplace grate or other surface, so that the log does not move or roll as it burns. When so placed in the fireplace, the two sides of the log having flame colored particles adhering thereto can be positioned to face the front of the fireplace. The flames emanating from the log upon ignition are brightly colored due to the presence of the superficially adhering flame colorant particles along the top and front of the log. As the adhering flame colorant particles are consumed, the pyrogenic coloring matter within the log replenishes the surface colorant particles available for coloring the flames by rising with the vaporized waxy fuel portion of the log to the surface thereof.

If so desired, the hopper containing flame colorant particles can be divided longitudinally into several subsections, each of which contains coloring matter producing a different colored flame. The various colorant particles are then deposited in the mold cavity, and from there onto the log in bands or strips, each extending around the circumference of the log. The resulting log produces different colored flames in bands across the length of the log for a pleasing and unusual flame effect.

In order to facilitate the placement of the log by the user properly in the fireplace, so that the portions of the log dusted with flame colorant face the front of the fireplace, it is contemplated that the artificial log can be commercially packaged with directions on the wrapper setting forth the proper placement of the log for best results.

The terms pyrogenic coloring matter, flame colorants, and flame coloring matter all refer to additives which, when burned, provide a colored flame. The flame colorants include such well known metallic salts as copper, barium, potassium, lithium, calcium, and strontium salts. It is preferred, however, to use dry, particulate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as the flame colorant, which is disclosed in my co-pending application entitled Artificial Fireplace Logs Which Burn with Colored Flame and Process For Making Same. For convenience in operating the apparatus, the screen particle size of the pyrogenic coloring matter should preferably not exceed 20 mesh although a larger size can be used.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications of the contemplated best mode may be used to achieve the same results. It is of importance in the apparatus that a measured amount of dry, discrete particles of flame colorant be deposited along the length of a log mold cavity, so that the deposited coloring matter adheres to a longitudinal portion of the artifical log molded therein.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for producing artificial logs which burn with colored flames, comprising:

a stationary hollow cylinder a log mold adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis and containing a plurality of elongate log mold cavities, each cavity being adapted to receive pyrogenic coloring matter through an opening extending along the longitudinal dimension of the mold cavity; means for rotating the log mold; means for depositing a measured amount of pyrogenic coloring matter through the longitudinal opening along the length of each mold cavity;

means for depositing artificial log molding material into each mold cavity;

means for compressing the artificial log molding material in the mold cavity to form an artificial log having superficially adherent pyrogenic flame coloring matter upon the surface thereof, and wherein the means for depositing a measured amount of pyrogenic coloring matter comprises an elongated vessel mounted above the log mold and rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and means for simultaneously rotating the log mold and the elongated vessel at relative speeds such that a measured amount of coloring matter from the vessel is deposited into each mold cavity along the length thereof.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein an elongate container for artificial log molding material is mounted above the log mold, the container having a discharge orifice extending along the longitudinal length of the container, the orifice adapted to deposit artificial log mold material in each mold cavity as the log mold rotates; and wherein the elongate vessel for depositing pyrogenic coloring matter is disposed at the discharge orifice of a container for coloring matter, the container for coloring matter being disposed above the log mold in advance of the container for log molding material, so that coloring matter is deposited in each mold cavity before the log molding material is deposited therein.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the two hoppers are individual longitudinal compartments of a single hopper structure.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mold cavity is of approximate horse-shoe configuration in transverse section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,.090 11/1921 Barlett 185(Q)X 1,545,266 7/1925 Morsa 185(C)X 1,477,358 12/1923 Johnson 185(C) 1,645,678 10/1927 Affholder 185(E) 2,307,371 1/1943 Hileman 18Cooling Digest FOREIGN PATENTS 333,908 2/ 1920 Germany 185 ROBERT L. SPICER, 111., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 18--5RR, 20H