WO2003063664A1

WO2003063664A1 - Smoke effect apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2003063664A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/000142
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keith Jonathan Stokes
Original assignee: Valor Limited
Priority date: 2002-01-30
Filing date: 2003-01-16
Publication date: 2003-08-07
Also published as: GB2402206A; GB0418795D0; GB0202152D0; GB2402206B

Abstract

An electrical heating apparatus incorporates a smoke effect apparatus having a container (28) for liquid, an ultrasonic transducer (36) submerged in liquid within the container and an apertured bed (46, 47, 48) located above the transducer. When the transducer is actuated, clouds of water vapour resembling smoke are produced. The clouds of water vapour are drawn upwardly in a current of air induced by a fan heater (52) located above the apertured bed, which gives the impression that smoke is originating from the bed in the manner of a fire.

Description

DESCRIPTION

SMOKE EFFECT APPARATUS

The present invention relates to smoke effect apparatus and in particular, but

by no means exclusively, to smoke effect apparatus for simulating a real fire.

There have been many attempts to construct electrical heating apparatus which

simulate the appearance of a real fire, e.g. a coal or log fire. Such attempts are

increasingly successful but since the simulation has been confined to the simulation of flickering flames and/or a glowing fuel bed, the existing effects can never be fully

realistic. We have devised an apparatus which simulates the production of smoke and which thus greatly adds to the realism of the simulation of a real fire. However,

the effect can be dramatic and visually appealing in its own right and is not restricted

to simulation of a real fire in a heating apparatus.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a smoke effect

apparatus comprises a container for liquid, an ultrasonic transducer within the

container, an apertured bed located above, but spaced from, the transducer and means

for inducing a current of air upwardly from the bed.

Operation of an ultrasonic transducer in certain liquids, notably water, causes

rapid bubble formation and cavitation and results in the formation of clouds of

vapour of the liquid which resembles smoke. By displacing the clouds of vapour upwardly away from the apertured bed, the impression is given that smoke is

originating from the bed. The effect is particularly striking when the apertured bed

comprises a simulated fuel bed, which results in the apparent generation of smoke from a bed of fuel, in the manner of a real fuel bed.

The term "apertured bed" in this specification is intended to mean a body or

mass having gaps or apertures through which clouds of vapour produced by the

ultrasonic transducer may pass and be drawn upwards by the current of air.

The apertured fuel bed may comprise a plurality of discrete bodies arranged

together to form a larger general mass, e.g. simulated coals or logs, real coals or logs,

large pebbles, small rocks or coloured glass pieces, the clouds of vapour passing up

around and between the individual bodies and being drawn upwardly by the current

of air. When a plurality of smaller bodies are used, it may be appropriate to support them on a frame which also allows the passage of clouds of vapour produced by the

transducer, e.g. a latticework of intersecting wires or rods.

Alternatively, the apertured bed is in the form of one or more larger bodies, each of which has one or more apertures allowing the passage of clouds of vapour

produced by the ultrasonic apparatus below. For example, the apertured bed may

comprise a single block of material having a plurality of passages extending from its

undersurface to an upper surface.

The means for inducing a current of air may comprise a fan. Preferably the fan

is located above the apertured bed.

The apparatus preferably further comprises a casing or housing which may be arranged to help to induce the desired upward current of air. The means for inducing

the current of air is preferably located towards the top of the casing or housing.

The apparatus may further comprise heating means for outputting heat. In one embodiment, this conveniently takes the form of an electric fan heater which may

also serve as the means for inducing a current of air. This has the additional

advantage that the clouds of vapour produced by the ultrasonic transducer are heated

as they pass through the fan heater, which destroys the smoke effect of the vapour

before it is discharged from the apparatus. This can be significant since unless the

clouds of vapour will retain their smoke-like appearance until they have absorbed

sufficient energy to vaporise further and become invisible, which might otherwise

give rise to the potentially disturbing impression that smoke was being discharged

from the apparatus into the room where the apparatus was located.

The apparatus may further comprise illumination means located below the

apertured bed. The production of the vapour clouds by the ultrasonic transducer will

cause the light from the illumination means to flicker and vary, resulting in a pleasing

visual effect. Preferably the illumination means is located within the container and

preferably, in use, it is submerged in liquid. By selection of an appropriate colour

for the light output from the illumination means (e.g. red, orange, yellow or a

combination thereof) and by having the apertured bed in the form of a simulated fuel

bed (e.g. simulated coals or logs) it is possible to give the impression of a glowing

fuel bed. The effect is even more striking if the apertured bed is at least partially

translucent, allowing light to pass through the bed as well as between individual

bodies of the bed or apertures within the bed.

The apertured bed may comprise a frame and a plurality of separate bodies

supported on the frame. The apertured bed may comprise one or more bodies having one or more apertures through which water vapour produced by the transducer can pass.

The apparatus may further comprise deflector means located between the

transducer and the apertured bed, for deflecting water vapour produced by the

transducer. The deflector means may be located on the undersurface of the apertured

bed. There may also be cut-out means for prevailing operation of the transducer

when the lever of liquid in the container falls below a predetermined level.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a simulated

heating apparatus comprises a smoke effect apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the apertured bed comprises a simulated fuel

bed.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a heating apparatus comprises a simulated heating apparatus in accordance with the second aspect of the

present invention and further comprises heating means. In one embodiment, the heating means comprises a fan heater, which also

serves as the means for inducing the current of air.

The use of the apparatus with water, to produce clouds of water vapour, is particularly preferred, since the clouds of water vapour are harmless and non-toxic.

Furthermore, the production of the clouds of water vapour also results in the formation of negative ions in the air, which are thought to contribute to a feeling of

well-being. However, other liquids which produce clouds of vapour when subjected

to ultrasonic vibration could be used instead. By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will

now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of heating apparatus in

accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the heating apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring to the Figures, a heating apparatus comprises a metal casing 10 having a planar base wall 12, a planar rear wall 14 extending perpendicularly at the

rear edge of the base, two planar side walls 16, 18 extending perpendicularly to the

base and tapering towards each other at the rear of the base, a planar upper wall 20 extending parallel to the base wall and a front wall 22 having a rectangular aperture

24 provided therein.

Positioned on the base wall 12 of the casing is an ultrasonic water vapour generator 26. The generator comprises an open-topped rectangular container 28

having a planar base wall 30, two parallel upstanding side walls (not visible in the Figures) and parallel upstanding front and rear walls 32, 34. A conventional

ultrasonic transducer 36 sits on the base wall 30 of the container 28 and is supplied

with electric power from a cable 38 which passes sealingly through the rear wall 34

of the container 28. The cable 38 is connected to the transducer 36 via a cut-out unit

40 (illustrated schematically) which cuts off the electrical supply to the transducer 36

if the water level falls below a predetermined level. The cable 38 also supplies

electrical power to a waterproof lamp unit 42 which preferably has a coloured lens

(e.g. orange or red). A series of intersecting thin parallel rods 44, 46 extend over the open top of the container between the front and rear walls 32, 34 and between the side walls of

the container 28, forming a latticework 47 which supports a plurality of simulated

coals 48 which are stacked in a manner which simulates a bed of real coals. A metal shroud 50 is also secured to the undersurface of the rods 44, 46 immediately above

the ultrasonic transducer 36, to deflect the water vapour emerging from the vicinity

of the transducer, as will be explained.

As shown in Fig. 2, a conventional electric fan heater 52 is located towards the

upper end of the casing 10. The fan heater 52 is located within an inner fan chamber

54 defined by a planar inner upper wall 56 parallel to the outer upper wall 20 and a

planar inner lower wall 58 parallel to, and spaced apart from the wall 56 and is

supplied with power from a low-voltage transformer 59 located outside the chamber

54. The fan chamber 54 communicates with the main part of the interior of the

casing 10 via a rectangular aperture 60 at the rear of the inner lower wall 58 and communicates with the exterior via a louvred rectangular outlet 62 at the upper end of the front wall 22 of the casing 10.

In use, water 64 is poured into the container 38 of the ultrasonic water vapour generator and the simulated coals 48 are arranged on the latticework 47 to simulate a bed of fuel as illustrated. The electrical power is then switched on, which activates the ultrasonic transducer 36, the lamp unit 42 and the fan heater 52. Activation of the ultrasonic transducer 36 within the water induces the formation and rapid cavitation of bubbles within the water in a known manner, which results in the formation of clouds of water vapour 66 having the appearance of white smoke. The clouds of water vapour pass upwardly and are deflected by the shroud 50 on the undersurface of the latticework 47, whereafter they pass around and between the simulated coals 48 located above. The clouds of water vapour 66 are drawn upwardly by the air current induced by the fan heater 52 and are discharged through the louvred outlet 62 in the front wall of the casing. The clouds of water vapour 66 are guided towards the fan chamber by a planar inner rear wall 68, extending parallel to the rear wall 14 of the casing 10, and an inclined flap 70 extending downwardly and forwardly from the undersurface of the inner lower wall 58 of the fan chamber 54 and forming a cowling. As the clouds of water vapour 66 pass around and between the simulated coals 48 they give the appearance of smoke rising from a fuel bed. The effect is enhanced by the illumination from the lamp unit 42, which flickers and varies as the light passes through the clouds of water vapour and gives the impression of a glowing fuel bed. The illumination effect is particularly effective if the light emerging from the lamp unit 42 is orange, red, yellow or a combination of these colours. The clouds of water vapour are drawn upwardly by the fan heater 52, in the manner of a real fire, and are eventually discharged via the louvred outlet 62. By the time the water vapour has reached the outlet 62, it will normally have absorbed sufficient energy for it not to have the appearance of smoke and will be completely transparent. If the fan heater is used in a heating mode (as opposed to just in a fan mode for producing a current of air) the water vapour will definitely lose its smokelike appearance before it is discharged as the clouds of water vapour will have passed through, and been heated by, the fan heater.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. As indicated, the fan heater 52 may be operated in a fan-only (i.e. non-heating) mode if

desired. Indeed, the fan heater 52 may be replaced with a fan having no heating

function, resulting in a visually simulated heating apparatus only.

Furthermore, although the embodiment refers to simulated coals arranged to form a simulated fuel bed, this need not be the case. For example, the simulated

coals may be replaced with a bed of other articles, e.g. real coals, simulated logs, real

logs, large rounded pebbles or small boulders or coloured glass pieces. If simulated

coals or logs are used, the simulation of a glowing fuel bed caused by the interaction

of the light from the lamp unit 42 and the clouds of vapour from the ultrasonic transducer 36 is particularly effective.

Alternatively, the apertured bed may comprise one or more larger bodies

having apertures through which the clouds of vapour may pass, e.g. a single block having one or a plurality of apertures extending from its undersurface to an upper

surface. Moreover, although the lamp unit 42 is described as being located in the liquid within the container 28, it may be more convenient to locate it out of the liquid

instead.

Finally, although the invention has been described with reference to clouds of

water vapour, any other suitable cloud-producing liquid can be used.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A smoke effect apparatus comprising a container for liquid, an ultrasonic transducer within the container, an apertured bed located above, but spaced from, the transducer and means for inducing a current of air upwardly from the bed.

2. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apertured bed comprises a plurality of discrete bodies arranged together to form a larger general mass.

3. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the apertured bed comprises a block of material having one or more apertures allowing the passage of clouds of vapour produced by the ultrasonic apparatus.

4. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the apertured bed comprises a single block of material having a plurality of passages extending from its undersurface to an upper surface.

5. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for inducing a current of air comprises a fan.

6. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fan is located above the apertured bed.

7. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a casing or housing.

8. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for inducing the current of air is located towards the top of the casing or housing.

9. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising heating means for outputting heat.

10. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heating means comprises a fan heater.

11. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fan heater serves as a means for inducing the current of air upwardly from the bed.

12. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising illumination means located below the apertured bed.

13. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the illumination means is located within the container.

14. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the ilhrrnination means, in use, is submerged in liquid.

15. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the illumination means emits a coloured light.

16. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apertured bed is at least partially translucent.

17. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apertured bed comprises a simulated fuel bed.

18. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apertured bed comprises a frame and a plurality of separate bodies supported on the frame.

19. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apertures bed comprises one or more bodies having one or more apertures through which water vapour produced by the transducer can pass.

20. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising deflector means located between the transducer and the apertured bed, for deflecting water vapour produced by the transducer.

21. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the deflector means is located on the undersurface of the apertured bed.

22. A smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising cut-out means for preventing operation of the transducer when the level of liquid within the container falls below a predetermined level.

23. A simulated heating apparatus comprising a smoke effect apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims and wherein the apertured bed comprises a simulated fuel bed.

24. A heating apparatus comprising a simulated heating apparatus as claimed in claim 23, and further comprising heating means .

25. A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the heating means comprises a fan heater.

26. A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the fan heater serves as means for inducing the upward current of air.