Electric Fireplace Flame Assembly for Thin Light-Dark Flame Effects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric fireplace flame simulating assemblies are wide and difficult to manufacture as thin products due to the requirement of maintaining a certain distance between the flame board and imaging screen for uniform light intensity, which limits the ability to create a light and dark flame pattern.
Innovation Solution
A flame simulating assembly with a light shelter and reflection panel, where the light shelter forms an acute angle with the reflection panel, and is mounted on a synchronously rotating mechanism within the housing, allowing for a compact design and positioning of the light source below or within the shelter, enabling a light and dark flame effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the flame board and imaging screen are positioned on the same side of the light source with uniform light intensity distribution, then a flame vision can be produced, but the width of the apparatus becomes large and it is difficult to manufacture a thin product
Solution Approach 1:
The light shelter is designed with non-uniform light transmission characteristics, creating local variations in light intensity. The rotation of the light shelter produces dynamic light and dark patterns on the flame board, eliminating the need for uniform light distribution while maintaining the flame vision effect. This allows for a more compact width arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a temporal dimension through rotation, transforming a static uniform light distribution problem into a dynamic patterned illumination system. By rotating the light shelter, the system creates time-varying light and dark patterns that achieve the flame effect without requiring large spatial separation, thus reducing apparatus width.
2Illumination intensity
If the flame board and imaging screen are positioned on the same side of the light source, then a flame vision can be produced, but the brightness of the entire flame remains uniform and no light and dark pattern can be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The light shelter creates local variations in light transmission, producing distinct light and dark regions on the flame board. This non-uniform illumination pattern is essential for achieving realistic flame visual effects, contrasting with the uniform brightness of conventional designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The light shelter is designed to rotate, introducing dynamic motion to the illumination pattern. This rotation creates continuously varying light and dark patterns on the flame board, mimicking the natural fluctuation of real flames and enhancing the visual realism of the flame effect.
3Length of stationary object
If a compact design with reduced width is implemented, then the apparatus can be manufactured as a thin product, but the distance between flame board and imaging screen must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing rotation as a temporal dimension, the system compensates for the reduced spatial distance. The dynamic light and dark patterns created through rotation maintain flame vision quality even when the physical distance between components is minimized, enabling compact thin-product manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the illumination parameters from static uniform light to dynamic patterned light through rotation. This parameter change allows the system to maintain effective flame vision quality with reduced component distances, enabling compact design while preserving visual reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the width of the electric fireplace while producing a realistic light and dark flame effect, enhancing the visual appeal and manufacturing feasibility.
Implementation Method 1
a light source (9), a reflection panel (5), an imaging screen (2), at least two light shelters (6) with light openings (8) which is positioned between the reflection panel and the imaging screen
Implementation Method 2
The reflection panel has a reflection area in form of a flame. The light shelter forms an acute angel the reflection panel
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a flame simulating assembly for an electric fireplace and an electric fireplace therewith. The flame simulating assembly comprises a light source, a reflection panel, a light shelter with light openings for light penetration, and a simulating fuel-bed located within the cavity of the housing of the flame simulating assembly. The light shelter can be in form of a tube and mounted on a synchronously rotating mechanism which is in turn mounted on a bracket within the housing. The reflection panel has a reflection area in form of a flame. The light shelter forms an acute angel the reflection panel, or the axis of the light shelter is substantially parallel to or substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane. The light shelter is below the reflection panel and fitted with it. The imaging screen is positioned above the reflection panel. The light source is positioned within the light shelter, or the light source is positioned outside the light shelter but below the light shelter. Such a structure can significantly reduce the width of a product and produce a light and dark flame effect.