GB2204394A

GB2204394A - Electric fires

Info

Publication number: GB2204394A
Application number: GB08710811A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Ogg
Original assignee: TI Creda Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: TI Creda Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 1987-05-07
Filing date: 1987-05-07
Publication date: 1988-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2007-05-07
Also published as: GB8710811D0; GB2204394B

Abstract

In an electric fire heating elements 12 heat quartz lumps 14 which themselves radiate heat to the room being served by the fire. The lumps 14 may comprise parts which are red. The fire may be provided with a glass-ceramic screen. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "lmprovements relating to electric fires" Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to electric fires.

Electric fires are generally of one of two types, namely the radiant type, where heat is transmitted predominately by radiation, or the convection type, where heat is transmitted to the room being served by the convection of warm air heated by heating elements of the fire.

The radiant type conventionally comprises heating elements comprising a generally cylindrical core wound with a resistence wire, which when in use is heated to a high temperature. Such fires suffer from a number of disadvantages, including one or more of the following: (a) heat is transmitted from the fire generally linearly, and primarily only to the front of the fire; (b such fires are bascially aesthetically unpleasing: in that the visual effect is one of an electrically heated element. Whilst efforts have been made to disguise the heating elements by mounting them in front of an illuminated "pretend" fire, this has not been wholly satisfactory.

According to this invention there is provided an electric fire comprising a radiant assembly, and electrically operated heating means to heat the radiant assembly.

Preferably the radiant assembly thus omprises one or more members which when heated by the heating means will themselves radiate heat to the room being served by the fire.

Preferably the radiant assembly comprises a plurality of irregularlyshaped members,so that a visual effect somewhat similar to that of a coot fire is obtained, and the advantage is gained that heat is radiated from the surfaces of the members in different directions, including towards regions to the sides of the fire.

Advantageously the radiant assembly comprises quartz, preferably in the form of lumps which may if desired be fused together. Preferably the radiant assembly comprises members which also radiate light in the visible spectrum, preferably red light, and thus advantageously quartz is used which is or comprises parts which are red.

Preferably the radiant assembly is such as also to transmit heat to the room being served by the convection of warm air heated by the radiant assembly.

The heating means preferably comprises heating elements comprising a cylindrical core of a refractory material wound with a resistent element, and preferably supported in a thermal/electrical insulating base, advantageously reflective of the heat towards the radiant assembly. In addition, the heating means may be arranged to redirect heat directly to the room being served.

Alternatively however other heating means may be used, such as one comprising a resistent element carried by a generally flat mounting member.

Advantageously the fire comprises a frame for the heating means and the radiant assembly, which may be in the form of a grate such as a conventional dog-grate.

If desired, the fire may also comprise a guard or shield of which may be of metal bars, or ceramic glass.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawing, of an electric fire which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

The accompanying drawing is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fire which is the preferred embodiment of this invention.

The electric fire illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawing comprises a support or frame 6, generally constructed as a convention doggrate, comprising a supported member 8 of electrically-and-heat insulating material. The support member 8 provides a shallow recess 10 in which a plurality of heating elements 12 are located, the heating elements 12 conveniently being of conventional construction, comprising a generally cylindrical refractory core wound with resistence wire.

Mounted above the heating assembly is a radiant assembly comprising a plurality of irregularly-shaped quartz lumps 14, so disposed in relation to the heating elements 12, that when the heating elements 12 are powered, the quartz lumps are heated thereby to a temperature at which they radiate heat and visible light. Nevertheless, in order for the heating elements to run at a temperature consistent with a long life, the quartz lumps, being relatively transparent to the thermal radiation, will transmit a proportion of the heater's output thereby obviating their need to reach temperatures themselves at which all the heater's output would be absored.

Advantageously a curved reflector is utilised, to reflect radiation transmitted generally rearwardly of the fire in a direction forwardly of the fire.

Particularly if quartz lumps are used which comprise red portions, a highly desirable effect may be obtained in this manner.

If necessary the quartz lumps may be protected against accidental touching, either by a conventional guard, or by a ceramic glass screen.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. An electric fire comprising a radiant assembly, and electrically operated heating means to heat the radiant assembly.

2. An electric fire as claimed in claim 1, in which the radiant assembly comprises one or more members which when heated by the heating means will themselves radiate heat.

3. An electric fire as claimed in claim 2, in which the radiant assembly comprises a plurality of irregularly shaped members.

4. An electric fire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the radiant assembly comprises quartz.

5. An electric fire as claimed in claim 4, in which the quartz is or comprises parts which are red.

6. An electric fire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the radiant assembly comprises members which also radiate light in the visible spectrum.

7. An electric fire substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.