Flame simulating assembly for simulated fireplaces including a reflecting light system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing simulated fireplaces require additional backlighting components, increasing manufacturing and operational costs, and have complex designs with many parts, leading to poor flame projections and large housing sizes.
Innovation Solution
A flame simulating assembly with a reflected flickering light system using a rotating flicker rod with multiple elements, which creates a dancing light effect on a simulated fuel bed and flame screen, reducing the need for additional lighting and incorporating an integrated ember bed and flame screen made from the same plastic, resulting in a more realistic and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If additional backlighting components are used to illuminate the fuel bed and logs, then the visual realism of the simulated fireplace is improved, but the manufacturing cost and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single light source is designed to perform multiple functions: it illuminates the flame screen through the rotating reflector while also illuminating the fuel bed and logs through the same optical path. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate backlighting components, reducing both manufacturing cost and operational complexity while maintaining visual realism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the illumination of the flame screen and the fuel bed/logs into a single integrated optical system. The rotating reflector and light source work together to distribute light to multiple areas simultaneously, merging what would traditionally require separate lighting systems into one unified component arrangement
2Illumination intensity
If additional backlighting components are installed, then the flame projection quality is improved, but the housing size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flame screen illumination path and the fuel bed illumination path into a single compact optical system. The rotating reflector positioned behind the flame screen simultaneously directs light to the flame screen and allows light to pass through to illuminate the fuel bed, achieving high flame projection quality without increasing housing volume
3Device complexity
If a single light source is used for both flame screen and fuel bed illumination, then the manufacturing cost and operational cost are reduced, but the light distribution and flicker effect quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotating reflector that dynamically redistributes light from the single light source. As the reflector rotates, it creates temporal variations in light distribution that simulate natural flame flicker effects, ensuring that the simplified single-light-source system maintains high illumination quality and realistic visual effects
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating reflector implements periodic action by continuously rotating to modulate the light path. This periodic rotation creates the flickering effect necessary for realistic flame simulation, allowing a single static light source to produce dynamic, high-quality light distribution across the flame screen and fuel bed
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
The solution provides a cost-effective, compact, and realistic flame simulation with reduced electrical needs, enhancing the visual effect of flames and embers while minimizing component complexity and size.
Implementation Method 1
Some of the light from the light source is reflected off of the rotating flicker element up towards a flame screen to create a flame effect
Implementation Method 2
Some of the light from the light source passes though the rotating flicker elements onto an angled reflector, or mirror, that reflects light up onto a simulated fuel bed
Data Source
AI summary
A flame simulating assembly is provided with a reflected flickering light that includes only one light source. Light from the light source passes though a rotating flicker element onto one or more reflectors, or mirrors, that reflect light up onto a simulated fuel bed and the some of the light is reflected off of the flicker elements towards a flame screen to create a simulated flame. The clipping flicker elements creates a fluttering light effect due to the flicker elements “intermittently dipping” into the light path. This fluctuating light is reflected onto the logs and ember bed in front and creates a dancing effect, which simulates glowing embers.