GAS BURNER FOR A FIREPLACE

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas burner for a fireplace, comprising: a foot for fixing in the fireplace; an elongate holder connected to the foot; a burner for connecting to a gas supply of the fireplace and extending along the holder; and a log-like block arranged in at least one direction of view in front of the burner and on the burner and of substantially incombustible material with a length sufficient for approximately complete concealment of the burner, wherein the burner comprises a number of outlet openings at preselected positions through which gas from the gas supply flows out of the burner during operation of the gas burner.

Description: GAS BURNER FOR A FIREPLACE The present invention relates to a gas burner for a fireplace, wherein the illusion of a log fire is created with log-like blocks of substantially incombustible material and a gas flame coming from a burner. Such a configuration is known from the American patent specification 5.452.709, where the burner is formed with a conduit system, in which outlet openings are arranged on the upper side of the conduits for outflow of gas from the gas feed during operation of the gas burner. In the known configuration the log-like blocks and the burner are disposed substantially independently of each other. The known configuration according to the American patent 5.452.709 has a number of drawbacks. It has been found that the result achieved in simulating a log fire is inadequate in practice. The result does not have a natural appearance. The configuration is further very rigid and looks -the same at all times; no modification or adjustment whatever by the final user is possible. The construction is also complex, particularly as a result of the conduit system used as the actual burner. The present invention has for its object to obviate or at least diminish the above stated drawbacks of the known gas burners, for which purpose a gas burner for a fireplace is provided with the properties of claim 1. With a gas burner according to the present invention the gas flames appear to a greater extent to come from the log-like block, particularly as a result of the feature that the block is arranged on the holder. The configuration of a gas burner according to the present invention is greatly simplified and, in contrast, to the known configurations, a disposition of the loglike block standing obliquely upward is possible, which contributes toward the natural impression associated with a real log fire. All this, while the actual burner of the gas burner is concealed from view behind the loglike block, wherein the actual burner is not visible. In a preferred embodiment the holder and the burner can form a unit. A further simplification of the configuration is hereby realized. In another preferred embodiment the block can be manufactured from ceramic material. This is a simple and at present relatively inexpensive implementation of the block, wherein it must be noted that ceramic materials can be readily designed in a log shape. At least the majority of the outlet openings is preferably arranged on the underside of the burner. The flames hereby curl round the block in a more natural manner. The outlet openings can be ordered in at least two rows, for instance on either side of a vertical plane through the heart or centre line of the burner and/or of the block. The gas flames are hereby directed upward on either side along the block, which contributes to a more natural appearance. The holder can comprise engaging means for engaging the block. A fixed mounting or, alternatively, selectively releasable engaging means can be envisaged here. In the latter case the log-like block can be replaced by another block to enable production of gas burners of differing appearance from which the final user can choose and/or to give the user the opportunity of changing the block occasionally so as to give his fireplace a different appearance. Said engaging means can comprise at least one pin, wherein a hole corresponding with the pin is arranged in the block to form a pin-hole connection between block and holder. This is a very simple and sturdy configuration which is simple to implement as a releasable engagement. The position of the holder and the burner relative to the foot is preferably adjustable during production and/or during use. Gas burners and/or fireplaces of greatly varying appearance can hereby also be produced and supplied from which the final user can choose, or the user can even vary the position in order to change the appearance of his fireplace after a period of time or regularly. For this purpose a flexible connection is for instance arranged between the foot and the burner, which connection, while being flexible, will maintain a position of the holder and the burner once it is taken up. In a preferred embodiment a recess corresponding with the burner and for receiving the burner therein can be arranged in the block in the longitudinal direction thereof, wherein the outlet openings are free of the material of the block. Through such an embedding of the burner in the block the burner is concealed even better by the block, thus contributing to a natural appearance of the gas burner, all the more so since this reinforces the impression that the gas flames originate from the block. The present invention otherwise relates to a fireplace with a gas burner as described in the foregoing and also in the figure description following hereinbelow. Such a fireplace can be per se of many different types, for instance a closed or open fireplace, even a hybrid type in which wood and gas can even be burned simultaneously or alternately. The invention will be further described with reference to the figure desription following hereinbelow, which is formulated in conjunction with the annexed figures of preferred embodiments of the present invention, to which the present invention is however not limited, wherein: fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a fireplace with a gas burner according to the present invention in use; fig. 2 shows a side view of the gas burner shown in- fig. 1; fig. 3 shows the gas burner of fig. 2 without loglike block; fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV in fig. 3; and fig. 5 shows an embodiment differing from fig. 3 of a gas burner without log-like block. Fig. 1 shows a fireplace 1 with a gas burner 2 according to the present invention. Fireplace 1 comprises a barrel-shaped housing 3 and is connected to a flue duct 4 for supply and discharge respectively of clean air and combustion air. Fireplace 1 is further connected to a gas conduit 5 having therein a tap 6. The barrel-shaped housing 3 can be closed with a door 7 with an opening closed by a heat-resistant glass plate 8. Door 7 can be opened and closed with handle 9 to obtain access to the interior of fireplace 1 where the gas burner 2 is disposed. The door and/or the closure of fireplace 1 is of course not a limiting condition of the invention; fireplace 1 could be open, and so on. Gas burner 2 comprises, as also shown in fig. 2, a log-like block 10 of ceramic material with a part 11 resembling tree bark and a part 12 resembling wood, and a burner 13 which is placed on a foot 14, which can be connected with opening 15 to a gas supply as is designed- in fig. 1 as gas conduit 5. Burner 13 comprises two rows of outlet openings 16, only one row of which is visible in fig. 2. The outlet openings are directed downward, whereby the gas flowing out of the outlet openings moves in the direction of arrows A under the influence of the pressure prevailing in the gas supply. When the gas is ignited very natural flames are created due to this downward orientation of the outlet openings in rows 16, which flames pass along block 10 in upward direction as if block 10 itself were burning. Burner 13 is closed at the free end thereof with a plug 17. All the gas flowing out of burner 13 will thus come out of the rows 16 with outlet openings, and not out of the end of the burner closed with plug 17. Burner 13 is further provided with an air supply hole 18, through which combustion air is drav/n in and added to the gas for combustion flowing to the rows 16 with outlet openings. It is noted that such a hole 18 is of course not a prerequisite for the invention, a premixed mixture of gas and air without hole 18 would suffice equally well. Burner 13 further comprises two pins 19 which protrude upward from and are fixed to the conduit 20 by which the burner 13 is substantially formed. These pins 19 are placed into holes 21 drilled into the log-like block 10. Due to the position of the pins 19 corresponding with the position of burner 13 relative to foot 14, the block 10 is held fast with certainty and reliably by pins ' 19, which thus form engaging means. Block 10 can be arranged fixedly on pins 19 or simply placed loosely thereon with the holes 21 over the pins 19. In this latter case the block 10 can also be replaced, for instance when a user wishes to create a different appearance by placing a different block on burner 13. In the case where two or more than two pins 19 are used, it is recommended herein that the distance between the pins is known in advance and is preferably a standard distance in respect of the positioning of the holes 21 to be arranged in the block or a different block. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, which is also shown in fig. 3 but then without the log-like block 10 thereon, burner 13 simultaneously forms a holder for log-like block 10. In an alternative embodiment (which is not shown) , such a holder and the burner 13 can be designed separately. Block 10 can further be hollowed out in a manner not shown along a length corresponding with the length of burner 13, or at least that part of burner 13 which actually extends along block 10. In this manner the conduit 20 of burner 13 can be embedded in the material of log-like block 10. It is recommended herein that the rows 16 with outlet openings remain clear, i.e. that rows 16 with outlet openings are not covered by the material of log-like block 10. As shown in the view of fig. 3, the conduit 20 of burner 13 is bent through an angle which amounts to about 120°. Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment where the bend in conduit 20 of burner 13 is a bend through angle β, wherein angle β is approximately 105°. During production of the gas burners according to the present invention the position of the block 10 to be arranged on burner 13 is adjustable or can be adapted as required, for instance at the choice of a buyer or user, by varying the curve or bend through angle and/or β. Conduit 20 then only has to be bent to a greater or lesser extent. In a alternative embodiment (not shown) a flexible connection is arranged in the bend in conduit 20 of burner 13. It is hereby possible for the buyer or user to himself adjust the bend in conduit 20 of burner 13 and thereby adapt as desired the position of the loglike block 10 to be arranged on burner 13. The foregoing contributes toward the flexibility of the configuration and to an increased enjoyment of the fireplace with the gas burner according to the present invention, since the appearance thereof can be changed by varying the position of log-like block 10 and, as already described above, even by replacing the log-like block 10 with another block. Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view along line IV-IV in fig. 3. The rows 16 with outlet openings, which are here shown schematically, are placed at an angle y to the horizontal and thereunder, and are thus directed downward. The angle y is for instance about 30°, but this can be greatly varied within the scope of the present invention. The choice of an angle y can furthermore depend on the extent to which burner 13 is embedded in block 10 in the above described manner. The embodiment of fig. 5 comprises a further feature, wherein sleeves 22 are arranged over the rows 16 with outlet openings. As alternative instead of sleeves 22, a number of outlet openings can simply not be arranged along the length of the rows 16 with outlet openings. Particularly when they are displaceable along conduit 20 of burner 13, the sleeves 22 have the advantage that the flame image, as it results when the flames lick along block 10, can be influenced within limits associated with combustion. It is even possible herein for separate, slidable sleeves 22 to be arranged for each of the two rows 16 with outlet openings, as the; rows 16 are shown in fig. 4. Such sleeves 22 on either side of conduit 20 can herein hook into associated grooves above and below the rows 16 with outlet openings, wherein the grooves extend in longitudinal direction of the conduit and the sleeves are slidable herein along the length of conduit 20. It is thus .apparent that many embodiments of the present invention are possible other than those explicitly described in the foregoing. The invention is therefore not limited to the embodiments explicitly described above and shown in the drawings, but only by the appended claims. After perusal of the foregoing a skilled person will thus be able to realize many alternative embodiments for the engaging means, which are formed in the foregoing as a pin-hole connection, without himself having to perform any inventive work. Use can further be made in simple manner of a separate holder for the log-like block. Additional blocks of ceramic material can be laid separately against the gas burner as shown in fig. 1, in order to simulate a well filled fireplace and, if necessary, to conceal the burner even further. Such additional blocks can be placed loosely and this also provides the possibility of varying the appearance of the fireplace with gas burner according to the present invention. Use can be made of material other than ceramic material to manufacture the log-like blocks, and so on.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Gas burner for a fireplace, comprising: - a foot for fixing in the fireplace; - an elongate holder connected to the foot; - a burner for connecting to a gas supply of the fireplace and extending along the holder; and - a log-like block arranged in at least one direction of view in front of the burner and on the burner and of substantially incombustible material with a length sufficient for approximately complete concealment of the burner, wherein the burner comprises a number of outlet openings at preselected positions through which gas from the gas supply flows out of the burner during operation of the gas burner. 2. Gas burner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder and the burner form a unit. 3. Gas burner as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the block is manufactured from ceramic material. 4. Gas burner as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least the majority of the outlet openings is arranged on the underside of the burner. 5. Gas burner as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the outlet openings are ordered in at least two rows. 6. Gas burner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rows are arranged mirror-symmetrically relative to a plane defined by the heart or centre line of the burner and/or of the block. 7. Gas burner as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the holder comprises engaging means for engaging the block. 8. Gas burner as claimed in claim 7, wherein the engaging means are selectively releasable. 9. Gas burner as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the engaging means comprise at least one pin, and a hole corresponding with the pin is arranged in the block to form a pin-hole connection between block and holder. 10. Gas burner as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the position of the holder and the burner relative to the foot is adjustable during production and/or during use. 11. Gas burner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the foot and at least the burner form a unit. 12. Gas burner as claimed in claim 11, wherein the foot comprises the gas supply. 13. Gas burner as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein a flexible connection is arranged between the foot and the burner. 14. Gas burner as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a recess corresponding with the burner and for receiving the burner therein is arranged in the block in the longitudinal direction thereof, wherein the outlet openings are free of the material of the block. 15. Fireplace with gas burner as claimed in one or more than one of the foregoing claims .

Inventors: SCHAAFSMA BARTHOLOMEUS, SCHAAFSMA, BARTHOLOMEUS
Applicants: FABER BV, SCHAAFSMA BARTHOLOMEUS, FABER B.V., SCHAAFSMA, BARTHOLOMEUS
Application year: 2001
Main classification: F24C3
IPC codes: F24C3