CN1313771C - Space heater - Google Patents

Abstract

A space heater comprises a housing (4) having a rear wall (8) and a front wall (10). Located forwardly of the front wall is a solid fuel effect means (12). Heating means is provided, in conventional manner. Suspended within the housing (4) by an upper support 30 is a flame effect means which in a preferred embodiment is in the form of a sheet of lightweight flexible material, the sheet being provided with elongate openings (20). Means (18) is provided to cause the sheet (14) to move, specifically by directing a flow of air upwardly against the material, to cause the material to billow. Light is directed from a light source (28) against the flame effect means, some light being reflected from the flame effect means directly through a translucent screen (24), some light passing through openings (20) of the sheet (14) onto a reflector (32), and being reflected from the reflector back through the sheet (14), and through the screen (24).

Description

space heater

technical field

This invention relates to space heaters and in particular, but not exclusively, to apparatus for simulating the flame of a solid fuel effect fire, giving the impression of a flame emanating from a burning fuel.

Background technique

A conventional space heater, referred to herein as a space heater of the type described, comprises a housing, heating means located in the housing, flame effect means located in the housing, a The light source of the flame effect device in the body, and a screen through which light is emitted from said housing. Usually there is a device, such as a fan or mechanism, to move the flame effect device within the housing, and usually the screen is translucent to allow the visual effect produced inside the housing to slightly occur diffusion.

In the past, several approaches have been utilized to simulate flames in space heaters of this type. For example, GB-A-968568 shows an apparatus in which the flame effect means comprises a large number of reflective ribbons suspended near the rear of the fire, the light source being placed in front of the ribbons and a translucent screen also Arranged in front of these strips so that light from said light sources and reflected by the strips is incident on the rear surface of the screen, giving a flame effect when the screen is viewed from the front.

As another example, it is known from GB-A-1186655 to suspend strips in front of the light source so that light is transmitted between the strips directly onto a translucent screen.

In the specification of our European patent EP0986722A, the flame effect means is in the form of a thin layer of translucent material, such as Chinese crepe, with a large number of vertically extending elongated slits, said material being optically positioned at the light source and the screen. A fan located inside the housing causes the material to churn, and the slits are periodically opened a short distance, allowing light to be transmitted directly onto the screen, thereby simulating a flame.

Contents of the invention

The inventors have realized that, in the past, the main focus has been on getting relatively more light to fall on the screen, and that doing so is not very helpful in producing a high quality simulated flame.

On the contrary, according to the present invention, there is provided a space heater, characterized in that the light emitted from the light source is directed through the movable flame effect device onto a reflector, and the reflected light is directed through the flame effect device again to the screen.

Preferably, the flame effect means comprises a thin layer of flexible material, and is preferably generally non-glossy, producing only a small amount of reflected light. For example, the flame effect means may be formed from a thin layer of silky material, such as Chinese crepe, preferably of a darker colour, such as dark red, or even black.

Preferably, the flame effect device has an opening and means are provided for moving said flame effect device within the housing, thereby causing movement of said opening.

Preferably, the openings provided in the lamellae are elongated and the material is loosely suspended inside the housing so as to "churn" in a stream of air blowing across it or by mechanical means. This tumbling will cause the slits to open and the openings will be seen to travel vertically in an upward direction, or downwards if desired.

Light passing through the screen will be at four levels, as described below:

a) light from the light source passing through the material of the flame effect device incident on the reflector and returning from the reflector through the material of the flame effect device incident on the screen;

bi) light from the light source passing through an opening in the material of the flame effect device onto the reflector and through said material onto the screen;

bii) light rays that pass through the material of the flame effect device and are incident on the reflector and via said material on the screen;

c) light reflected directly onto the screen from the flame effect device;

d) Light rays from the light source incident on the reflector through one of said openings and from the reflector back through one or the other of said openings and incident on the screen.

Typically, levels a) and b) will be kept at an inefficient level, while level c) is only sufficient to provide a low brightness background light.

The light at level d) will be intermittent, but relatively bright, giving a "smoking" fire effect, which will achieve a high degree of realism.

By changing the thickness and color of the material forming the flame effect device, and by changing the thickness of the slit, the color and power of the lamp, and the degree of atomization on the screen, a flame effect can be formed over a wide range of visual output. High quality flame effect installation.

As an alternative to using a flame effect device made of one thin layer of flexible material, the flame effect device may also comprise a large number of ribbons.

The following detailed description of a space heater as a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment being used to illustrate the present invention.

Description of drawings

In the attached picture:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an electronic stove as a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the working principle of the electric stove; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing the formation of "openings" in the flame effect device.

Detailed ways

The space heater as the preferred embodiment of the present invention is an electric fire comprising a housing 4 having a bottom 6 and a rear wall 8 . In front of the front wall 10, an illuminated coal imitation 12 may be arranged in a conventional manner. Heating means (not shown) are also provided in a conventional manner.

Inside the housing 4, a thin layer 14 of lightweight flexible material is suspended from an upper support frame 13, such as Chinese crepe, which is loosely secured by lower fixing means 16 near the lower end of the housing.

Mounted near the lower fixture 16 is a fan 18 which is arranged to project a stream of air upwardly towards the material 14 to cause the material 14 to churn in an upward direction and, if desired, to blow the lower end of the sheet The part can be fixed on the rear wall of the fan housing.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the lamina 14 is provided with a large number of slits 20 extending over most of the height of the lamina 14 and generally parallel to the sides of the lamella 14, at In a preferred embodiment, it is assumed that sixteen such slits are uniformly provided in the width direction of the casing 4 .

Extending upwardly to an upper enclosure 21 is a translucent screen 24, conveniently made of transparent plastic or glass.

Inside the casing 4, a light source 28 is arranged near the front surface of the thin layer 14, and the light source 28 is arranged to emit light to the front surface of the thin layer 14. Conveniently, the light source also forms a light source for the solid fuel ( charcoal or coal) imitation 12 lighting fixtures.

Under the influence of the airflow projecting upwards across the lamina 14, the slits form openings 21 (see FIG. 3), which generally move in an upward direction as the lamina 14 tumbles under the influence of said airflow. . Alternatively, however, the air flow can also be directed downwards, so that the opening 21 is displaced in a downward direction. A portion of the light incident on the thin layer 14 passes through the material itself and falls onto a generally triangular-shaped reflector 32 mounted on the rear wall 8 of the housing, from where the reflected light passes forward through the thin layer 14 and out through the material. Over screen 24.

Some of the rays directed at the lamina 14 will also pass through the opening itself in one direction across the lamina 14, while some of the rays will pass through the slits in both directions transverse to the rays. 20 formed openings. The latter light, which emerges through the screen 24 and is thus seen by an observer of the space heater, will dissipate rapidly as the bright region 30 moves up the screen as the light from the light source 28 There is little incident on the upper part of the reflector 32, and by virtue of the shape of the reflector itself, a flickering flame is simulated.

The brightness of the background light that will be observed on the screen 24 will be primarily produced by light reflected from the front surface of the material 14 back through the screen. Of course, the intensity of the background light will be determined in part by the color of the material of the thin layer 14, and can be enhanced, if desired, by reducing the thickness so that the background light is illuminated by light reflected from the reflector 32 and passed through the material 14 itself. Light makes a small contribution.

It has been found that where the material 14 is formed from black Chinese crepe and the light source 28 is set to emit white light, a "smoky" flame effect is produced. Optionally, a warming effect can be created by using deep red Chinese crepe with an orange lamp as the light source 28 .

As an alternative to using a thin layer of Chinese crepe 14, the flame effect device may be formed from a large number of ribbons suspended between the reflector and the light source in such a way that light from the light source 28 Irradiating these strips, some of the light is reflected directly from the strips back through the screen, other light passes through the strips and is reflected back by the reflector 32, so that the light falling on the screen has a different level. The ribbon may be made of a translucent material, such as Chinese crepe, but may be partially reflective.

In this specification, "comprising" means "including or consisting of".

Features expressed in the foregoing description, in the appended claims or in the drawings, in their concrete form, or in the form of means for performing the disclosed function, method or process for achieving the disclosed results, as required, They can be used to implement the present invention in various forms independently or in any combination.

Claims (9)

1. space heater, comprise: a housing (6) and be arranged in the movably flame effect device of this housing, be used for illuminating this light source (28) of flame effect device movably at described housing, with a screen (24), light emits from described housing by this screen (24), it is characterized in that: the light that sends from light source (28) shines on the reflector (32) by flame effect device (14) movably, and reflection ray passes movably once more, and flame effect device (14) shines on the screen (24).

2. space heater according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described flame effect device comprises a flexible material thin layer (14).

3. space heater according to claim 2 is characterized in that: described flexible material thin layer is formed by a silk material thin layer.

4. according to claim 2 or 3 described space heaters, it is characterized in that: described flexible material thin layer is a crepe de Chine.

5. space heater according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described flame effect device has opening (21).

6. space heater according to claim 5 is characterized in that: described opening is elongate.

7. space heater according to claim 1 is characterized in that: the material that forms described flame effect device loosely is suspended within the described housing, and is provided with and makes these materials carry out the device of " seething ".

8. space heater according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described flame effect device comprises ribbon, and is provided with the device that makes that these ribbons are moved.

9. flame effect device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: the light that passes described screen is in many levels.

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