[0001] The present disclosure relates to simulated fires
and in particular to apparatus for simulating the burning
of solid fuel such as coal or logs. The apparatus may
desirably, but not essentially include a heat source configured
for space heating of a room. More especially, the
disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for simulating
flames produced by burning solid fuel and/or for simulating
smoke as produced when burning solid fuel.
(…)
[0018] The term "apertured bed" in this specification is
intended to mean and/or include a body, mass or assembly
having gaps or apertures through which vapour produced
by vapour generating means (such as an ultrasonic
transducer) may pass, in particular when entrained
in a rising current of air. The apertured bed may, for example,
be a fuel bed (in particular, a simulated fuel bed)
which comprises a plurality of discrete bodies arranged
together to form a larger general mass, such as simulated
coals or logs, real coals or logs, pebbles, small rocks or
glass or resin or plastic pieces, the vapour being able to
pass and around and between the individual bodies.
When a plurality of smaller bodies is used, it may be
appropriate to support them on a frame which also allows
the passage of the vapour produced vapour generating
means.
[0019] In alternative arrangements, the apertured bed
may be in the form of one or more larger bodies each of
which has one or more apertures which allow the passage
of vapour. For example the apertured bed may comprise
a single block of material having a plurality of passages
extending from its under surface to its upper surface.
(…)
[0085] Housing 268 further includes a fan or blower
292 which draws air into the housing 268. Air is expelled
from the fan 292 through outlet 294. It is noted that outlet
294 is directed away from transducers 34. Thus the air
current is deflected by the adjacent wall of the housing
268 into the body of the housing. This achieves a suitably
gentle air current for carrying the generated vapour out
of the vapour generator.
(…)
[0097] The apparatus 450 comprises a reservoir or
tank 476 which operatively contains a supply of liquid to
be vapourised. The reservoir 476 is connected to vapour
generator 478 by means of an arrangement 480 similar
to valve arrangement 280 (Figure 42B). Vapour generator
478 comprises container 452 and ultrasonic transducer
458 as previously described. Thus, liquid is supplied
from reservoir 476 to container 452 through valve arrangement
280, so that an at least approximately constant
volume of liquid is maintained in the container 452.
Preferably the volume of liquid in the container is maintained
within about +/- 10mm of the desired depth. Ultrasonic
transducer 458 acts on body of liquid 32 in the
container 452 to generate vapour as previously described.
The container 452 includes an outlet port 482
which communicates with inlet 486 of a vapour distribution
component 484. The vapour distributing component
484 is broadly similar to the vapour distributing component
260 described above. Container 452 includes an
inlet port 488 which communicates with a sub-housing
490 which houses a fan 492 and motor 494. Fan 492 is
driven by motor 494 and is configured to draw air into the
sub-housing 490 and to expel the air into container 452
through inlet port 488. Thus, a flow of air is provided from
the inlet port 488 of container 452 to the outlet port 482
of the container 452 and into the vapour distributing component
484 through inlet 486. The flow of air entrains
vapour in the head space 496 of the container 452 above
the liquid and carries the entrained vapour into the vapour
distributing component 484.
(…)
[0104] A further embodiment of an apparatus according
to the disclosure is illustrated in Figures 59, 60 and
61. With particular reference to Figures 59 and 60, it is
noted that the principles of operation of this embodiment
are substantially the same as those of the embodiments
illustrated in Figures 56 to 58. The embodiment of Figures
59 and 60 includes a liquid container 652 and a vapour
distributing component 684 which are conveniently
formed as a single component. Vapour distributing component
684 is connected to the container 652 by means
of a conduit (or at least one conduit) 700 which extends
upwardly and behind the fuel bed 232 and is separated
from the container 652 by a partition wall 702. Thus the
container 652 is also arranged behind the fuel bed, with
the (or each) ultrasonic transducer 658 thereby positioned
not lower than (and preferably above) the lowermost
parts of the fuel bed 232. A motor driven fan 692 is
positioned at a suitable location to provide a supply of air
into the container 652. In the embodiment illustrated in
Figure 59, the fan 692 is mounted at one end of the container
652, but other locations are possible. (…)