Flame simulating assembly

Abstract

A simulated fuel bed for simulating a combustible fuel in a fire. The simulated fuel bed includes a plurality of simulated combustible fuel elements, including one or more light-producing simulated combustible fuel elements. A body of the light-producing simulated combustible fuel element has one or more cavities therein, and one or more light sources positioned to direct light therefrom inside the cavity. The body includes an exterior surface and one or more light-transmitting parts extending between the cavity and the exterior surface. The light-transmitting part is positioned in a path of light from the light source. The light from the light source is transmittable through the light-transmitting part to the exterior surface for simulating glowing embers of the combustible fuel.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 628,109, filed Nov. 17, 2004.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention is related to a flame simulating assembly for providing images of flames. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Various types of flame simulating assemblies, such as electric fireplaces, are known. Many of the prior art flame simulating assemblies include a simulated fuel bed which resembles a burning solid combustible fuel, as well as embers and ashes resulting from the combustion. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 566,564 (Dewey) discloses an electric heating apparatus with a cover (B′) which “is made . . . of a transparent or semitransparent material” (p. 1, lines 50-52). The cover is “fashioned or colored” so that it resembles coal or wood “in a state of combustion when light is radiated through it” (p. 1, lines 53-57). [0004] However, the use of a cover or a (partially translucent shell) such as the cover disclosed in Dewey to imitate...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026] In another of its aspects, the controller is adapted to cause the light provided by the fuel light source to vary.

Problems solved by technology

However, the use of a cover or a (partially translucent shell) such as the cover disclosed in Dewey to imitate burning solid combustible fuel has some disadvantages.

Because it is evident from even a cursory observation of this type of prior art simulated fuel bed that the raised parts (i.e., simulated logs) are actually formed integrally with the simulated ember bed part of the shell, this type of simulated fuel bed tends to detract from the simulation effect sought.

Another disadvantage of the prior art results from characteristics of the typical light source which is intended to provide light which imitates the light produced by glowing embers in a real fire.

However, the characteristics of light from embers are somewhat different from those of light from flames.

For instance, embers generally tend to glow, and pulsate, but flames tend to flicker, and move.

Because of these differences, attempts in the prior art to use the same light source to provide a flame simulation effect and a burning ember simulation effect have had somewhat limited success.

Also, the positioning of the light source intended to provide the ember simulation effect is somewhat unsatisfactory in the prior art.

In this way, the usual location of the light source in the prior art undermines the simulation effect.

Also, Schlett does not disclose any attempt to simulate glowing embers in the fuel.

However, the tubing appears unrealistic in appearance, and the fluorescing portions would appear to be unconvincing imitations of flames and embers, which would generally not be fluorescent in a natural fire.

In addition, the flame simulating assemblies of the prior art typically do not provide for control, beyond activation and de-activation, of the light sources providing images of flames or other light sources.

In particular, prior art flame simulating assemblies do not typically include controls which provide for increases or decreases in the intensity of the light provided by one or more light sources in relation to ambient light intensity.

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