GB1583297A - Gas burning appliances - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO GAS BURNING APPLIANCES (71) We, RICHARD BAXENDALE ;k SONS LIMITED, a British Company of Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to gas burning appliances incorporating artificial fuel e.g. artificial coal or coke.

In our prior Patent Serial No. 1,536,339 there is disclosed a construction of gas burning appliance comprising a radiant unit of inverted open channel section and providing an upper perforated surface and opposed lateral flanges, the upper surface being upwardly inclined to subtend an acute angle with the horizontal and directed towards the front of the appliance, with pieces of artificial fuel supported by the upper surface or arranged closely thereabove, a fire brick on which the radiant unit is supported by the lateral flanges and which forms a backing member for the radiant unit to define an upwardly extending passageway therebetween open at both ends, and a gas burner adjacent the open lower end of the passageway and adapted to direct flames along and through said passageway towards a flue arrangement of the appliance.

In this gas burning appliance, the lower end of the flue arrangement is immediately above the upper end of the radiant unit or units and the radiant heat from the appliances is directed both forwardly and upwardly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas burning appliance which has an increased radiant heat output compared with that disclosed in the aforesaid co-pending Patent Application.

According to the present invention there is provided a gas burning appliance comprising elongate hollow first radiant means defining a first upwardly extending passageway open at both ends and inclined to subtend an acute angle with the horizontal so as to provide an upper perforated supporting surface directed towards the front of the appliance and forming a first radiant portion of the appliance, pieces of artificial fuel supported by the upper surface or arranged closely thereabove, and a gas burner adjacent the open lower end of the first passageway and adapted to direct flames along and through said first passageway towards a flue arrangement of the appliance, second radiant means being disposed between the upper end of said inclined radiant means and a second upwardly extending passageway defined by said flue arrangement to subtend an obtuse angle with said first radiant means and to form a second radiant portion of the appliance, and said flue arrangement comprising a heat exchanger with a wall which defines a front portion of the second passageway and which is exposed at the front of the appliance above the second radiant means to form a third radiant portion of the appliance.

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a transverse cross section through a radiant convector gas fire.

The gas burning appliance is a free-standing radiant convector gas fire with a fuel effect. The fire is particularly adapted to be fitted into a fire-place aperture, as shown in the drawing and is accordingly provided with a minimal casing 1 and backplate 2.

The casing 1 is of any suitable shape and finished in any suitable manner and is appropriately thermally insulated. The radiant portions of the gas fire are in three sections indicated generally at 3, 4 and 5 and the section 5 thereof forms part of a flue ararrangement 6 for the gas fire.

The radiant section 3 has at its lower end a gas burner 7 and is constituted by one or more, usually four, hollow ceramic radiant units 8 all disposed in an upwardly inclined attitude subtending an acute angle with the horizonal. Each unit 8 is rectangular in shape and of inverted channel-section with an upper perforated surface and lateral flanges.

The side walls or flanges 9 of each unit 8 serve to support the unit 8 with upward inclination from front to back of the fire above a ceramic fire brick 10 in the gas fire.

The unit 8 could, alternatively for example, be made of an expanded metal sheet, although any form of perforated metal sheet would serve.

The gas burner 7 is inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal than the angle of inclination of the radiant units 8.

To increase the surface area over which the gas flames can play, the uppermost surface of the ceramic brick 10 can be provided with protrusions or upwardly inclined thorns (not shown). Inwardly inclined protrusions can also be formed on each radiant unit 8.

These protrusions or thorns break-up and diffuse the flames as they pass between the brick 10 and each radiant unit 8.

Pieces 11 of artificial fuel, i.e. blackcoloured ceramic material of various and irregular shapes are laid on top of the radiant unit 8 and contained by a retaining plate 12 attached to the lowermost edge of the unit 8. These pieces 11 of artificial fuel are heated to partial red heat mainly by radiation from the radiant unit 8 to provide a "coal effect".

It will be manifest that the radiant heat from the radiant section 3 is directed outwardly in a generally forward but upward direction. The radiant section 3 may be replaced by the radiant section of the gas burning appliance disclosed in our prior Patent Serial No. 1,506,168.

Immediately above the radiant section 3 is disposed a secondary and vertical radiant section 4 defined by conventional box-like ceramic radiant units 13.

The passageway defined by radiant units 8 and fire brick 10 registers with the passageway through ceramic radiant units 13.

Tt will be manifest that the radiant heat from radiant section 4 is directed wholly outwardly and forwardly of the appliance.

The flue arrangement 6 is disposed immediately above the radiant section 4 and is of box-like construction. The arrangement is preferably made of cast iron and comprises a heat exchanger portion 14 defining a substantially vertical passageway 15A which registers with the passageway through the radiant units 13, and a flue portion 16 defining a substantially horizontal passageway 15B which communicates with a chimney 17 of the fire-place. A front panel 18 of the heat exchanger is exposed at the front of the gas fire and forms the third radiant section 5. It will be manifest that this radiant section 5 directs radiant heat outwardly and forwardly of the appliance in a similar fashion to the section 4.

To assist in the extraction of heat from the heat exchanger portion 14, the inner surface of the front panel 18 and the opposing surface of a rear wall portion 19 of the passageway 15A are provided with outstanding pipes or thorns 20. The exterior surface of the front panel 18 can be finished in any suitable attractive manner and is provided with vanes 21. As the vanes 21 are exposed and will become hot, they can be covered by a suitable grille (not shown).

In a modified arrangement, the front panel 18 of the heat exchanger portion 14 can be extended downwardly to replace the radiant units 13 and thereby lie adjacent the uppermost edges of the radiant units 8. In this case, the artificial fuel bed and radiant units 8 are extended downwardly in length to lie closer to the front casing 1.

The flue arrangement 6 is of simple construction does not need to be provided with baffle or other flue breaker means as described in our prior United Kingdom Patent Serial No. 1,536,338 unless the chimney 17 exceeds a predetermined height, usually approximately 14 feet when the suction flue pull effect is sufficiently high to affect adversely the burner efficiency and heat output.

For convection purposes, air enters the gas fire through a bottom opening 22 and passes beneath the radiant brick 10, behind the radiant units 13 and the rear wall 19 in an air space 23 formed between the latter and the backplate 2. The convection air flows out of the space 23 through a duct 24 at the top of the gas fire, as shown by dashed arrows 25, after flowing around the horizontal flue portion 16. The air is heated during its passage through the space 23 and to increase the heat transmitted to same the rear surface of the wall 19 is provided with protruding pipes or thorns 26. The duct 24 opens at the front of the casing 1 permitting the heated air to be dispersed into the area to be heated by the fire.

Combustion air also enters the gas fire through the opening 22 and flows to the burner 7.

The provision of the third radiant section 5 increases the radiant output of the gas burning appliance disclosed herein above that of our earlier appliance disclosed in the aforesaid Patent Serial No. 1,536.339. Additionally, the appliance is more compact and can be made small enough to fit into conventional fire-place apertures. The flue ar arrangement 6 of the appliance is of simple construction and is used to supply both radiant and convection heat.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS : - 1. A gas burning appliance comprising elongate hollow first radiant means defining

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. horizonal. Each unit 8 is rectangular in shape and of inverted channel-section with an upper perforated surface and lateral flanges. The side walls or flanges 9 of each unit 8 serve to support the unit 8 with upward inclination from front to back of the fire above a ceramic fire brick 10 in the gas fire. The unit 8 could, alternatively for example, be made of an expanded metal sheet, although any form of perforated metal sheet would serve. The gas burner 7 is inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal than the angle of inclination of the radiant units 8. To increase the surface area over which the gas flames can play, the uppermost surface of the ceramic brick 10 can be provided with protrusions or upwardly inclined thorns (not shown). Inwardly inclined protrusions can also be formed on each radiant unit 8. These protrusions or thorns break-up and diffuse the flames as they pass between the brick 10 and each radiant unit 8. Pieces 11 of artificial fuel, i.e. blackcoloured ceramic material of various and irregular shapes are laid on top of the radiant unit 8 and contained by a retaining plate 12 attached to the lowermost edge of the unit 8. These pieces 11 of artificial fuel are heated to partial red heat mainly by radiation from the radiant unit 8 to provide a "coal effect". It will be manifest that the radiant heat from the radiant section 3 is directed outwardly in a generally forward but upward direction. The radiant section 3 may be replaced by the radiant section of the gas burning appliance disclosed in our prior Patent Serial No. 1,506,168. Immediately above the radiant section 3 is disposed a secondary and vertical radiant section 4 defined by conventional box-like ceramic radiant units 13. The passageway defined by radiant units 8 and fire brick 10 registers with the passageway through ceramic radiant units 13. Tt will be manifest that the radiant heat from radiant section 4 is directed wholly outwardly and forwardly of the appliance. The flue arrangement 6 is disposed immediately above the radiant section 4 and is of box-like construction. The arrangement is preferably made of cast iron and comprises a heat exchanger portion 14 defining a substantially vertical passageway 15A which registers with the passageway through the radiant units 13, and a flue portion 16 defining a substantially horizontal passageway 15B which communicates with a chimney 17 of the fire-place. A front panel 18 of the heat exchanger is exposed at the front of the gas fire and forms the third radiant section 5. It will be manifest that this radiant section 5 directs radiant heat outwardly and forwardly of the appliance in a similar fashion to the section 4. To assist in the extraction of heat from the heat exchanger portion 14, the inner surface of the front panel 18 and the opposing surface of a rear wall portion 19 of the passageway 15A are provided with outstanding pipes or thorns 20. The exterior surface of the front panel 18 can be finished in any suitable attractive manner and is provided with vanes 21. As the vanes 21 are exposed and will become hot, they can be covered by a suitable grille (not shown). In a modified arrangement, the front panel 18 of the heat exchanger portion 14 can be extended downwardly to replace the radiant units 13 and thereby lie adjacent the uppermost edges of the radiant units 8. In this case, the artificial fuel bed and radiant units 8 are extended downwardly in length to lie closer to the front casing 1. The flue arrangement 6 is of simple construction does not need to be provided with baffle or other flue breaker means as described in our prior United Kingdom Patent Serial No. 1,536,338 unless the chimney 17 exceeds a predetermined height, usually approximately 14 feet when the suction flue pull effect is sufficiently high to affect adversely the burner efficiency and heat output. For convection purposes, air enters the gas fire through a bottom opening 22 and passes beneath the radiant brick 10, behind the radiant units 13 and the rear wall 19 in an air space 23 formed between the latter and the backplate 2. The convection air flows out of the space 23 through a duct 24 at the top of the gas fire, as shown by dashed arrows 25, after flowing around the horizontal flue portion 16. The air is heated during its passage through the space 23 and to increase the heat transmitted to same the rear surface of the wall 19 is provided with protruding pipes or thorns 26. The duct 24 opens at the front of the casing 1 permitting the heated air to be dispersed into the area to be heated by the fire. Combustion air also enters the gas fire through the opening 22 and flows to the burner 7. The provision of the third radiant section 5 increases the radiant output of the gas burning appliance disclosed herein above that of our earlier appliance disclosed in the aforesaid Patent Serial No. 1,536.339. Additionally, the appliance is more compact and can be made small enough to fit into conventional fire-place apertures. The flue ar arrangement 6 of the appliance is of simple construction and is used to supply both radiant and convection heat. WHAT WE CLAIM IS : -

1. A gas burning appliance comprising elongate hollow first radiant means defining

a first upwardly extending passageway open at both ends and inclined to subtend an acute angle with the horizontal so as to provide an upper perforated supporting surface directed towards the front of the appliance and forming a first radiant portion of the appliance, pieces of artificial fuel supported by the upper surface or arranged closely thereabove, and a gas burner adjacent the open lower end of the first passageway and adapted to direct flames along and through said first passageway towards a flue arrangement of the appliance, second radiant means being disposed between the upper end of said inclined radiant means and a second upwardly extending passageway defined by said flue arrangement to subtend an obtuse angle with said first radiant means and to form a second radiant portion of the appliance, and said flue arrangement comprising a heat exchanger with a wall which defines a front portion of the second passageway and which is exposed at the front of the appliance above the second radiant means to form a third radiant portion of the appliance.

2. An appliance as claimed in claim 1, in which the flue arrangement comprises a first portion which forms the heat exchanger and defines the second upwardly directed passageway, and a second flue portion which defines a substantially horizontal passageway to communicate, in use, with a chimney or flue.

3. An appliance as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the wall of the heat exchanger additionally forms a part of the second radiant means.

4. An appliance as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the heat exchanger is provided with a plurality of projecting pipes or thorns on a wall surface thereof.

5. An appliance as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the second radiant means and said wall of the heat exchanger are both vertically disposed.

6. A gas burning appliance substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.