Simulated Log Burner

Abstract

A simulated log burner consists of a grate assembly on which an element of ceramic material or the like and having a surface simulating a log is mounted. A fuel tank which may be mounted on the grate assembly supplies fuel via a fuel line to a burner supported on the grate assembly forwardly and generally below the ceramic element. The arrangement is such that fuel burned in the burner causes a flame to rise upwardly in front of the ceramic element to thereby simulate a burning log.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a simulated log burner and more particularly to a burner which burns a fluid fuel in a manner which makes it appear that a log is burning.

Log burning fires in fireplaces are frequently preferred by many over other types of burners or heaters because of a warmth and fascination associated with watching an open flame on a log burning in a fireplace. However, burning of a log within a home or building requires a fireplace and even when a fireplace is available, there is often a reluctance to start a log burning fire because of the necessity of having to follow a frequently prolonged procedure for getting the log to start burning. Also, undesirable smoke may result to thereby foul up the air in the room and to saturate decorative materials such as drapes, curtains, furniture and the like. In addition, after the fire has burned out, it is necessary to remove the ashes and this results in creating a mess adjacent the fireplace. Further, it is not always an easy task to put the fire out when desired and frequently the fire is left to burn itself out over longer periods of time than might be desired. In certain localities the use of illuminating gas or natural gas would be illegal in simulated log burners. Also a gas log burner would require extensive plumbing in such places where it is permitted. There is also an inherent hazard in illuminating gas or the like which can only be eliminated by complicated shut-down mechanisms. Further, an illuminating gas log burner burns with a regular unnatural looking flame whereas the burner of the present invention gives off modulation and is more realistic.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid difficulties by providing a simulated log burner which burns a fluid fuel in a manner which makes it appear that a log is burning.

Another object is to provide a simulated log burner which is safe to operate and which is readily controlled to provide an adjustable flame.

A further object is to provide a simulated burner which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which has an attractive appearance in that the control elements are normally hidden from view.

A further object is to provide a simulated burner which is readily serviceable and which may be easily assembled and disassembled.

Another object is to provide a simulated log burner assembly which may include its own fuel tank and which is readily transportable as a self-contained unit.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description which is of a preferred embodiment thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A simulated log burner comprises a grate assembly on which an element of ceramic material or the like and having a surface simulating a log is mounted. A burner supported on the grate assembly is located forwardly and generally below the ceramic element. A fuel tank which may be mounted on the grate assembly supplies fuel to the burner through a fuel conduit, the arrangement being such that fuel burned in the burner causes a flame to rise upwardly in front of the ceramic element to thereby simulate the burning log.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a simulated log burner according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the simulated log burner as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the simulated log burner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail view on a larger scale of the diffuser burner block used in the simulated log burner shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the loop in the fuel line leading from the fuel tank to the diffuser burner block;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a diffuser burner block according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 3 show a simulated log burner according to one embodiment of the invention as comprising a base 10 on which an upright stud 12 is mounted for rotation about its vertical axis relative to the base 10.

Mounted on the upper end portion of the stud 12 is a grate assembly made up of four spaced grate bars 14, 15, 16, 17 and a pair of cross bars 20, 22 to which the grate bars 14-17 are suitably joined such as by welding or the like. A plate 24 is suitably secured between the two inner grate bars 15, 16 and this plate has an opening 26 for receiving the upper end of the stud 12 to thereby provide for securement of the grate assembly to the stud 12. The grate bars 15-17 may have their front end portions bent upwardly and outwardly as indicated in 28 at FIGS. 4 and 5 to simulate the appearance of a grate such as one may find in a wood burning fire.

The grate assembly has mounted thereon in upright position a bulkhead 30 and a heat shield 32. The bulkhead 30 may comprise a metal plate suitably fixed at its lower end to the grate assembly such as by welding or the like. The heat shield 32 which may be made of asbestos or other heat resistant material is secured to the bulkhead such as by fastening screws 34 or the like.

Mounted on the front of the bulkhead 30 are a pair of ceramic members 36, 38 each of which has a frontal surface simulating a log of wood.

A fuel tank 50 is mounted on the grate assembly at the rear section of the latter behind the bulkhead 30 and heat shield 32. The fuel tank 50 may be mounted on a base member 52 extending over the top of the four grate members 14-17 and may be suitably secured in place by an upright plate 54 extending upwardly from the rear of the grate assembly and one or more brackets 56 secured to the fuel tank 50 and to the upright plate 54. Thus each bracket 56 may have one end welded to the tank 50 and the other end bent at right angles to form a flange 58 so that a fastening member 60 can be employed to secure the flange 58 to the upright plate 54. A suitable neck 62 and cap 64 are provided on the fuel tank 50 to facilitate filling with fuel.

A fuel line 66 extends from the lower portion of one end of the fuel tank 50 to a diffuser block 68 disposed underneath the grate assembly below but in front of the ceramic members 36, 38. As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the diffuser block 68 is disposed at an elevation below the fuel tank 50 so that fuel in the latter will flow by gravity to the diffuser block 68. A valve 70 is provided in the fuel line 66 to stop the fuel flow and to control its rate of flow to the diffuser block 68. The fuel line 66 also includes a 360 degree loop 72 as can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. The loop 72 in the fuel line 66 provides a greater surface area of the fuel line 66 thereby serving to keep the fuel cool to preclude vaporization in the fuel delivery line 66. The loop 72 also insures delivery of the fuel because of the greater head that is required to be maintained such that volatized fuel will be maintained at the diffuser block 68 and be precluded from volatizing in the fuel line 66.

The diffuser block 68 comprises an elongated trough open at the top as best shown in FIG. 4. The fuel line 66 has its end portion 66a extending into the diffuser block 68 along substantially its entire length and may have its longitudinal end closed and sealed, for example by crimping as shown at 74. The diffuser block 68 may be suspended from the under side of the grate bars 14, 17 such as by welding or the like as indicated at 78 in FIG. 4.

The end portion 66a of the fuel line 66 disposed in the diffuser block 68 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 through which fuel is delivered to the diffuser block 58.

A wick 86 of fiberglass or asbestos may be placed in the open top of the diffuser block 68. As shown in FIG. 4, the wick 86 extends the full length of the opening in the diffuser block 68 and an upper portion of the wick 86 extends above the diffuser block 68 while a lower portion extends into the trough. Thus it will be apparent that the wick 86 will become saturated with the fuel in the trough and that the fuel on the wick 86 may be ignited to cause a flame to rise in front of the simulated logs 36, 38. Alternatively, the wick 86 may be dispensed with and the fuel burned directly from the trough. However, a wick tends to prevent spatter and avoids geysers or uneven burning of fuel.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternate embodiment wherein an inverted, generally U-shaped wire screen 90 of chrome steel mesh wire or the like is disposed in the open trough of a diffuser block 92. A wick 96 made of fiberglass or asbestos may be disposed within the upper portion of the inverted U of the wire screen 90 as best shown in FIG. 7. The wick 96 may be supported on the wire screen 90 by engaging the fibers of the wick 96 with the wire screen 90 or by providing suitable support means such as tie wires or the like between the wick 96 and wire screen 90. A fuel tube 98 of the type previously described in connection with the main embodiment is provided in the trough directly below the wick 96.

Alternatively, a pressurized fuel tank may be provided thereby eliminating the loop 72 in the fuel conduit 66. Also when using a pressurized fuel tank, the latter may be mounted at an elevation below that of the burner 68 in as much as gravity is not required to induce the flow of fuel. Also a gaseous fuel may be used for example, propane or butane gas which are under pressure. Also a liquid fuel such as methyl alcohol may be used under pressure as well. If it is desired to obtain a yellow-blue flame from methyl alcohol, the latter may be dissolved in up to 32 percent by volume of naptha. However, it has been found that a solution of from 22 percent to 32 percent and preferably 26 percent by volume of naptha in methanol alcohol gives a desirable yellow-blue flame with a minimum of soot. Ethanol may be also used as a fuel.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, as the form hereinbefore described is merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A simulated log burner comprising, support means, log-simulating means simulating a log of wood supported on and extending above said support means, and means having burner means mounted on said support means generally forwardly of said log simulating means for burning fuel to cause a flame to rise in front of said simulating means to simulate a burning log, means to provide a fuel to said burner means, said means having burner means comprising an elongated trough having an open top, and said burner means comprises an elongated fuel tube extending longitudinally within said trough, said fuel tube having a plurality of spaced openings for discharging fuel into said trough, and a wick disposed in the open top of said burner trough.

2. A simulated log burner according to claim 1, comprising means supporting said wick in said open top of said trough.

3. A simulated log burner according to claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said wick comprises a wire screen having a generally inverted, U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, said wick being disposed generally within said inverted U-shaped configuration.

4. A simulated log burner comprising a grate assembly, barrier means extending upwardly from said grate assembly and dividing the latter into a front section and a rear section, an element mounted on one side of said barrier means and disposed over said front section of said grate assembly, said element having a frontal surface simulating a log of wood, a burner means supported on said grate assembly generally forwardly of said element, a fuel tank mounted on said grate assembly on the rear section of of the latter, and a fuel conduit running from said fuel tank to said burner means such that fuel burned in said burner means causes a flame to rise in front of said frontal surface of said element to simulate a burning log.

5. A simulated log burner according to claim 4, wherein said burner means is disposed on said grate assembly at an elevation below the elevation of said fuel tank, such that fuel flows by gravity from said fuel tank to said burner means, and valve means in said fuel conduit for controlling the flow of fuel to said burner means.

6. A simulated log burner according to claim 1, wherein said fuel conduit has a 360 degree closed loop formed therein.

7. A simulated log burner according to claim 4 wherein said barrier means comprises a heat resistant shield and said element is made of ceramic formed into a hollow shape.

8. A simulated log burner comprising, support means, log-simulating means simulating a log of wood supported on and extending above said support means, means having burner means mounted on said support means generally forwardly of said log simulating means for burning fuel to cause a flame to rise in front of said simulating means to simulate a burning log, means to provide a fuel to said burner means, a base and a stand for supporting said support means at an elevated disposition, and means on said stand providing for rotation of said support means relative to said base.

9. A simulated log burner comprising, support means, log-simulating means simulating a log of wood supported on and extending above said support means, means having burner means mounted on said support means generally forwardly of said log-simulating means for burning fuel to cause a flame to rise in front of said simulating means to simulate a burning log, means to provide a liquid fuel to said burner means, said burner means comprising a diffuser block having a trough open at the top receiving liquid fuel and vaporizing it and burning the vapor thereof, said means to provide said liquid fuel comprising a fuel tank for liquid fluid above the level of said diffuser block, a supply conduit providing liquid fuel from said tank to said diffuser block trough, and means on said conduit downstream of said tank providing a flow path for said fluid insuring said liquid fuel does not vaporize therein and flows to said diffuser trough in a liquid state.

10. A simulated log burner according to claim 9, in which said conduit extends along said block diffuser and is provided with a plurality of openings for fuel distribution disposed axially spaced, said openings are disposed in a helical path axially of the conduit, the opening remotest from said fuel tank being disposed on a lower side of said conduit to flow fuel directly to said block diffuser, and the remainder of said openings being arranged on a side of said conduit and an upper surface thereof.

11. A simulated log burner according to claim 9, in which the last-mentioned means comprises a loop in the order of 360.degree. in said conduit.