Abstract:
An ornamental flame assembly which provides or produces an ornamental flame within a furnishing object such as a patio table or dining room table. The table has a noncombustible media recess which holds for example a layer of noncombustible stone aggregate material, sand, water, glass or other desired ornamental material. Contained within the media recess is a vapor fuel dispersion assembly. This assembly has a staging section which in one form is a bowl or cup arranged so that the top edge of the cup is held just below the top surface of the noncombustible media. Within the staging section is a vapor fuel dispersion section. This dispersion section in one form is an inverted cup which has a bottom edge which is serrated to provide for vapor fuel to pass into the inner region of the inverted cup and be distributed into the bottom region of the staging section. The dispersion assembly is fed with vapor fuel which in one form is propane. The vapor fuel source is a propane tank in one form which is held within the furnishing object&#39;s support, such as the table leg. The propane tank feeds a line directly into the dispersion section cup which then feeds the propane fuel into the staging section. As the propane fills the staging section cup, a volume of propane is presented at the top surface of the noncombustible media in the desired flame bum configuration. A control system provides for variation in flame heights, ignition, and burn sequences. The control system also can orchestrate, for example, multiple tables having multiple ornamental flame assemblies for a plurality of ornamental flame effects.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     a) Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This concept relates generally to the field of furnishings and more particularly to furniture objects such as tables, chairs, fountains, coffee tables, patio tables, wall furnishings, and other items which occur within the human living environment. More particularly, this concept relates to providing an ornamental flame as a centerpiece within the furnishing object. The operation and control of the flame as it appears above noncombustible media such as water, rocks, glass, sand, and other material which is noncombustible is provided within this general concept.  
         [0003]     b) Background Art  
         [0004]     The following prior art discusses various forms of burner assemblies but it is believed that they in no way disclose the present concept.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,517 discloses an apparatus and method for simulated campfires which has a fire pan, a diffuser element located within the pan, and a gas injector which extends into the interior. Referring to column 2 at line 47, the campfire apparatus can be assembled on a support surface and connected to a fuel source. A fire pan which has a main body with an inner surface and an upper rim holds the vaporized fuel when the gas is injected through a gas outlet into the pan interior. A vaporized fuel diffuser helps to disperse the fuel into the pan. Low density, nonflammable, material is disbursed in the pan to a depth sufficient to cover the gas fuel injector and the diffuser element. The particulate material allows the fuel vapor to pass upwards and restricts ignition of the fuel until the fuel reaches the upper surface of the particulate material. The particulate matter as discussed in column  3  around line  6 , is selected from a group of materials such as silicates, carbonates, course sands, ores, and material such as vermiculite.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,906 discloses a fire effect appliance which has a bowl which is supplied by a flammable gas line. A defusing device is also included and evenly distributes the gas throughout particulate matter contained within the inner chamber of the fire bowl. The bowl can be placed on a freestanding mount, or placed within a table. A fan as seen in  FIG. 4  is positioned below the heating element and is provided to force the heat upwards and disperse the heat into the adjacent environment. Referring to column 2 at line 61, the fire bowl is in the range of 18 to 14 inches in diameter. The bowl has an upper edge which has an annular flat flange and mounted on the undersurface of the flange are a plurality of pegs which act as feet to be placed against the table. Referring to column 3 at line 5, the table has a centrally located hole in one embodiment and because the fire bowl will become quite heated, the fire bowl pegs keep the bowl separated from the table so the table does not burn. The fire bowl itself is constructed of steel or aluminum. A defusing plate as seen in column 3 at line 37 is basically a flat circular metallic plate constructed of steel. The plate is proportional in diameter to the fire bowl diameter. The plate ranges in diameter from 57-60% of the largest diameter of the fire bowl. Particulate matter is also placed within the fire bowl such as gravel or any other type of particulate that is capable of being heated.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,514 discloses a portable fire pit and fire pit stand which has an elevated platform, fire pit within the platform, and a container of fuel. A decorative item may be placed within the fire pit and around the fuel. The fuel is ignited to display a large flame. A cover is placed over the fire pit. Referring to column 3 at line 25, a flange is formed around the top perimeter of the fire pit and allows the pit portion to be inserted and retained in the elevated platform without need of fastening. A container grate as seen in column 3 around line 36 is placed in the bottom of the fire pit, which reduces heat transfer from the heating element to the bottom of the pit. Further down at line 42, at least one container of fuel is surrounded by a decorative item which mimics for example, a noncombustible log, coals, stones or other items. The fuel is in one form a gel or in another form a type of alcohol fuel derivative.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,288 discloses a portable fireplace which has an inner housing and a flame pit. An outer housing surrounds the inner housing and a space is formed between the inner and outer housings to create an insulation zone. A support is contained within the flame pit to hold a flame presentation substance. Referring to column 3 at line 5, a fire ring which has a series of interconnected tubes forming a manifold has perforations and allows gas to be fed to the fire ring to exit and be ignited by a suitable ignition source. Contained over the fire ring as discussed in column 3 at line 48, is the flame presentation substance such as wood, log, rocks, artificial logs, and other similar ornamental looking devices.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,881 discloses a portable fireplace with a planar base and a plurality of gas orifices. The base can be any shape, and the gas is directed through channels to orifices where it emerges and ignites. In an alternative embodiment, the base is enclosed within a tight wind screen and contains water which allows the illusion of flames emerging from a flame burning water surface. Referring to column 3 at line 40, it is possible to add rocks to the base in order to enhance the visual effect. Also, the fluid as discussed in line 59 may also comprise any noncombustible fluid. Once the gas emerges from the water, the gas is ignited by a match or spark igniter, and the flame gives an enjoyable visual effect in a sustained manner above the surface of the fluid. When used with the fluid, the orifices discharging the gas also use a diaphragm valve or check valve to prevent the water or fluid from entering into the gas channel.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,466 discloses a barbecue and patio table combination with a burner pit positioned in the upper section of the table which can be covered when not in use by a lid which is flush with the upper surface of the table slab. Cooking griddle, charcoal plate, and ash collecting bucket are held within the inner wall of the burner pit in an inverted frusto conical shape.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,128 discloses a fire pit which has controls for flames from a lava rock media visibly displayed at the base portion of an elevated platform. Surrounding the platform is a wall to contain the lava rocks. A gas line which has a number of outlet ports disposed throughout the lava rocks is contained herein. Attached to the base portion is a lid support structure which is substantially open around the lateral sides above the wall, which allows clear view of the law for rocks within the base portion. A controlled fire may be safely displayed in any outdoor space including residential areas of urban and suburban locales.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,796 discloses a combination table and cooking grill, which has a horizontal tabletop and a centrally disposed aperture in the middle of the table where the tabletop is mounted on the upper portion of a vertical hollow pedestal. An inner grill housing houses the heat source and the cooking grate with the grate and the heat source positioned below or in line with the central aperture. Users can place food items around the periphery of the table and grill the barbecued food as desired.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,250 discloses a gas fire fireplace basket which simulates a coal fire and incorporates a plurality of gas burners beneath the screen which in turn supports a plurality of pieces of noncombustible material in a loosely disposed shallow layer. A deepened pocket in the screen locates pieces of noncombustible material adjacent cutaway areas in the front portion of the basket which provides for the illusion of greater depth of the noncombustible materials than is actually provided.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,337 discloses a flaming fountain, which is a display device where natural or other combustible gases mixed with water as the water is ejected from a special mixing chamber and causes the gas to be trapped and encapsulated with air bubbles suspended in the water stream so that when a mixture of gaseous and water breaks over a loss of momentum and gravity, the bubbles break, releasing the combustible gas which is ignited and provides a flame at the point where the water breaks over. By varying the pressure of the water, the encapsulated gas may be released at selected heights and over greater various areas.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an ornamental flame object;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an ornamental flame burning above noncombustible media;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vapor fuel tank connected to the ornamental flame object;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is an elevational section view of the fuel dispersion assembly;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the fuel dispersion assembly;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is an elevational section view of the fuel dispersion cup;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the fuel dispersion cup;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is an elevational view of the vapor fuel dispersion assembly in a water environment;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a section view of the vapor fuel dispersion assembly air stone;  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the fuel dispersion assembly;  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of the previously-mentioned alternative embodiment integrated with a programmable integrated circuit;  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is an alternative embodiment of the ornamental flame configuration shown in a spiral configuration;  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is an elevational view of the previously-mentioned spiral configuration ornamental flame alternative embodiment;  
         [0028]      FIG. 14  is an elevational section view of the spiral leg fuel dispersion assembly;  
         [0029]      FIG. 15  is a plan view of the spiral leg fuel dispersion assembly;  
         [0030]      FIG. 16  is an elevational section view of the fuel dispersion assembly with programmable integrated circuit and controllers;  
         [0031]      FIG. 17  is a plan view of an ornamental flame assembly integrating multiple tables and a programmable integrated circuit and controllers;  
         [0032]      FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram of the control application and control class objects;  
         [0033]      FIG. 19  is a flow diagram of a fuel dispersion assembly operation application;  
         [0034]      FIG. 20  is a flow diagram of an ornamental flame object operation application;  
         [0035]      FIG. 21  is a flow diagram of an ornamental flame assembly operation application;  
         [0036]      FIG. 22  is a flow diagram of a continuous burn application;  
         [0037]      FIG. 23  is a flow diagram of a timed burn application;  
         [0038]      FIG. 24  is a flow diagram of a variable burn application.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]     Generally speaking, this concept relates to providing an ornamental flame which appears to combust above a noncombustible media. For example, the ornamental flame may appear to float or bum above say for example rocks, water, sand, glass, or other media which normally does not bum unless at extremely high temperatures. The ornamental flame is provided within an ornamental flame object which will be discussed below.  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an ornamental flame object  10  is provided in this case as a table, a coffee table, a wall ornament, a patio table, a sculptural effect, or even part of a lounge chair of some sort. The overall and general idea is to provide for the ornamental flame  20  within the center portion of the table top surface  12 . The flame  20  appears to burn above a noncombustible media which resides within a media recess  16 . In this current embodiment, the table has a plurality of support legs  14  which raise it above the ground surface. In addition, light elements  18  are provided which give additional luminosity effects as desired.  
         [0041]     Discussing further the ornamental effect of the flame, and referring to  FIG. 2 , the flame  20  appears to burn above the noncombustible media  38  which in this case are a plurality of pebbles, stones and rocks. The flame seems to float above a burn location  22 , which is in this case provided at the center of the media recess  16 .  
         [0042]     To provide for this ornamental flame  20  burning above the noncombustible media  38 , a series of fuel dispersion assemblies  40  which will discussed below as seen in  FIG. 5 , can be arranged within the media recess  16  to provide the desired burning effect and create the desired ambience for example within the restaurant, backyard patio area, or dining room environments.  
         [0043]     To create the ornamental flame  20 , a vapor fuel is provided which feeds the combustion. The vapor fuel is provided from a vapor fuel container  24  which in this case is a propane tank. In the current embodiment, the propane tank  24  is strapped to the outside of one of the support legs  14  of the table or ornamental flame object  10 , but in alternative embodiments the propane tank  24  is provided in a recess within the support leg  14 .  
         [0044]     The vapor fuel is fed to the burner  34  through the use of a fuel vapor line  28 . The vapor fuel is regulated by a control valve  26  as it is provided at the outlet of the pre-pressurized propane tank  24 . The burner  34  extends through the bottom wall  32  of the media recess  16  through a burner port  30  which is sealed to keep the noncombustible media  38  from exiting through the burner port but allows the vapor fuel feed line  26  to extend up through the port and into the fuel dispersion assembly  40  which will be further discussed below.  
         [0045]     Although the current embodiment provides for a single fuel source or propane tank  24  to feed the burner unit  34 , additional fuel sources with additional control valves  26  can be provided as desired for the arrangement and configuration of the final ornamental effect of various ornamental flames, thus providing various arrangements and combinations as will be discussed below.  
         [0046]     While providing the vapor fuel through a vapor fuel line  28  is part of the first stage of creating the ornamental effect, dispersing the vapor fuel which this case is propane, within the noncombustible media  38  to achieve the desired burning effect requires the use of a fuel dispersion assembly  40  as seen in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0047]     In this current embodiment, only a single fuel dispersion assembly  40  is provided. It is already conceived that additional assemblies can be used to create combinations of ornamental effects as will be discussed below.  
         [0048]     The overall operation includes the following: after the fuel travels through the fuel vapor line  28  it enters into a fuel dispersion section or cup  44 . The propane exits through the top of the vapor fuel line  28  and filters down through the bottom of the fuel dispersion cup  44 . The vapor fuel then enters into a fuel staging section or cup  42  which is arranged to collect the vapor fuel  46  and present it at the top surface of the noncombustible media  38  so that it can be ignited and produce the ornamental flame  20 . In order to provide for the proper presentment of the fuel vapor  46  at the desired location within the noncombustible media  38 , the fuel cup  42  as seen in  FIG. 5  needs to be arranged in the desired containment orientation.  
         [0049]     The fuel cup  42  in this current embodiment has a fuel cup bottom wall  62  and a fuel cup side wall  65  and an open-edged fuel cup top edge  64 . In this current embodiment the fuel cup is arranged to allow the fuel vapor line  28  to enter through the center portion of the fuel cup bottom wall  62 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , the fuel vapor line  28  feeds through a vapor line bottom stay  70 . The fuel vapor line is mated to a fuel vapor exit line  60  which is substantially arranged in the vertical direction. The fuel vapor exit line  60  is held in stationary position by a vapor line top stay  68 . The vapor line top stay  68  and the vapor line bottom stay  70  are mated together or connected together and provide for seating on a fuel vapor line stay seat  72 . In this particular embodiment the vapor line top stay  70  has two side arms  69  which extend laterally out from the vertical wall face and seat on the fuel line stay seat  72 . The fuel line stay seat  72  is a raised cylindrical portion of the fuel cup bottom wall  62 . The seat  72  has an inner cylindrical opening which allows the top stay  68  and the fuel exit line  60  to pass through the bottom wall of the fuel cup  62  and create the transfer from the fuel vapor line  28  into the vapor cup or fuel cup  42 .  
         [0050]     In detailed flow operation: the fuel vapor  46  has a certain flow rate  45  because of the pre-pressurized propane tank  24 . This flow rate  45  provides an exit velocity of the vapor fuel into the fuel cup  42 . To keep the propane from exiting in the vertical direction, and enabling the vapor fuel to be dispersed within the fuel cup  42 , the fuel dispersion cup  44  is provided with exit ports. The fuel dispersion cup has as previously mentioned a solid top wall  52  with cylindrical side walls  54 . The cup is substantially open on the vertically lower or bottom edge  56 .  
         [0051]     The propane is deflected from its vertical travel path down into the bottom portion of the fuel dispersion cup  44  and then it passes through a plurality of predefined fuel dispersion exit ports  58 . These exit ports  58  direct the vapor fuel  46  into the bottom region of the fuel cup  42  in the desired predetermined locations.  
         [0052]     As the vapor fuel  46  begins to collect at the bottom of the fuel cup  42  (referring back to  FIG. 4 ), the propane or vapor fuel  46  begins to aggregate, collect and/or rise toward the fuel cup top edge  64 . The fuel cup top edge  64  is positioned at a predetermined fuel cup recess height  50 .  
         [0053]     During the burning operation, the combustion of the vapor fuel  46  will create around the perimeter and underneath the flame  20  itself, convection currents  48  which feeds the oxygen fuel combustion. The convection current  48  acts to draw up the vapor fuel  46  as it begins to spill over the edge  64  of the fuel cup  42 . If the fuel cup recess height  50  is too great and the distance between the top edge of the fuel cup  64  and the top surface of the noncombustible media allows the aggregate spillover of the vapor fuel  46  to exceed the updraft convection current drag of the convection current  48 , the vapor fuel  46  will begin to collect into the media recess  16 . To keep the vapor fuel from allowing uncontrollable flames to extend beyond the edge of the fuel cup and into the media recess, the fuel cup recess height  50  needs to be substantially small enough to prevent this spillover from happening.  
         [0054]     Although the current fuel dispersion assembly  40  is utilizing the fuel dispersion cup  44  in conjunction with the fuel cup  42 , other assembly types are needed for various ornamental effects as well as for dispersion of the fuel within various noncombustible media.  
         [0055]     For example, referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the vapor fuel dispersion assembly  40  is provided to disperse the fuel vapor  46  within a water environment  84 . The fuel line  28  provides the vapor fuel to the bottom portion of an air stone fuel vapor diffuser  82 . This air stone vapor diffuser is positioned within the bottom portion of a liquid media recess  80 , which in the current embodiment being discussed is a clear glass containment structure. The propane tank  24  provides the desired fuel and is positioned within a single support leg  14  which does not show in this particular embodiment.  
         [0056]     The air stone  82  in the current embodiment is configured as a tapered cylinder having a wider bottom cylinder base and a narrower top cylinder surface. The fuel vapor exit line  60 , exits or terminates at the bottom of the air stone bottom wall  88  and is surrounded and held in position by an air stone stem  90 .  
         [0057]     While the above air stone fuel diffuser  82  exemplifies one embodiment of the vapor fuel dispersion assembly  40  in a liquid environment, other orientations synchronizing multiple vapor fuel dispersion assemblies are utilized.  
         [0058]     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a circular fuel dispersion assembly  100  is provided to create a circular ornamental flame  106 . The circular ornamentation is achieved through the use of a cylindrical fuel cup  102 , which has an inner radial wall  106  and an outer radial wall  104 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , the cylindrical fuel cup  102  contains in this current embodiment four fuel dispersion cups  44 . Each fuel dispersion cup  44  has both an ignition control as well as a flow control which will be discussed below and which are controlled by a programmable integrated circuit  110  or PIC to also be discussed below. Similarly, each fuel dispersion cup  44  has a fuel line  28  which is sourced from the fuel tank  24 .  
         [0059]     The fuel dispersion cups  44  distribute the fuel  28  within the inner wall region of the cylindrical fuel up  102 . The fuel vapor is ignited and the circular ornamental flame  106  appears above the noncombustible media  38  as previously discussed.  
         [0060]     Another alternative embodiment of the ornamental flame object  10  is shown with a spiral ornamental flame configuration  120  as seen in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . Generally speaking, the small ornamental configuration  120  is provided with a plurality of spiral leg fuel dispersion assemblies  124 . Each fuel dispersion assembly  124  includes a spiral leg fuel dispersion cup  123  and a spiral leg fuel cup  122 . As previously discussed in the prior alternative embodiment, a programmable integrated circuit  110  provides for control of the various ignition functions and flow control functions of each fuel dispersion cup  123 . In the current alternative embodiment, the ornamental flame configuration  120  is designed to show a hierarchical spiral ornamental flame display  126 . These fuel dispersion assemblies are configured for various combustion burning rates to create a high flame, a medium flame and a low flame.  
         [0061]     Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a spiral leg fuel dispersion some  124  is shown where the spiral leg fuel cup  122  is configured with an outer radially aligned wall  144  and an inner radially aligned wall  146 . These two walls extend from a tangent point  143  and converge at an apex  148  to create the desired containment cup. Within the fuel cup  122  is positioned the fuel dispersion cup  123 . To provide for increased fuel burn rate, the cup top wall  132  has a plurality of micro ports  134  which are sized to provide the maximum desired amount of fuel vapor flow out of the top wall  132  but still small enough to keep the noncombustible media  38  from entering into the inner portion of the fuel dispersion cup  123 . Thus when the flow rate through the micro ports  134  reaches its maximum capacity, the fuel vapor will also exit through the bottom exit port  36  of the dispersion cup outer sidewalls  140 . In the current embodiment, the dispersion cup perimeter sidewall  140  configuration parallels the radial sidewalls of the spiral leg fuel cup  122 .  
         [0062]     Now discussing in more detail the control for regulating the fuel into the fuel vapor cup (referring to  FIGS. 16-18 ). While a standard turn knob and weir-type control knob can be used, a more automated system is provided in the current embodiment.  
         [0063]     To provide for ignition and flow control, a fuel dispersion assembly with a programmable integrated circuit  160  is provided. The programmable integrated circuit  110  integrates with a control interface  172  which operates the control logic through an interface control application  174 . The analog signals which are sent to the actuated control valve  164  and the piezo electric igniter  162  are sent from the digital to analog relay  171 .  
         [0064]     The programmable integrated circuit  110  can operate with a single fuel dispersion assembly, an ornamental frame object, or an ornamental flame assembly.  
         [0065]     For example, the single control element performed by the programmable integrated circuit  110  on the fuel dispersion assembly  160  as seen in  FIG. 16 , includes the same user interface  172  and control application  174 . The only difference between the single dispersion control application  174  and an ornamental flame object control application or an ornamental flame assembly control application is in how the programmable integrated circuit  110  has been hardwired for various multifunction capabilities.  
         [0066]     One embodiment for providing single fuel dispersion assembly control, ornamental object flame control, or ornamental flame assembly control is through the use of a series of sub-applications within the main control application  174  as seen in  FIG. 18 . Although the architecture shown for these applications discusses separate application implementation drawing from a series of control class objects  176 , other software architectural organizations can be implemented.  
         [0067]     These control sub-applications include a fuel dispersion assembly operation application  182 , an ornamental flame object operation application  184 , and an ornamental flame assembly operation application  186 . To perform their various functions, these applications draw from and initialize from a series of control class objects  176 . The objects included within this class include a continuous burn object  190 , the continuous burn object enabling the single application or assembly to bum the flame for a continuous period and then have manual shut off. Also is a timed bum object  192  which enables the user to set a time period for showing the ornamental flame.  
         [0068]     The users may wish to utilize a series of predetermined variable flame configurations, which have been saved into the programmable integrated circuit  110 . Thus in order to control the flames, a variable bum object  194  is provided.  
         [0069]     Users may wish to set the height of various ornamental flames, therefore control logic as provided through the use of a burn level object  196  which includes a high level object  198 , medium level object  200  and a low level object  202 . In addition, users may wish to utilize performance burn object  204  which provides for functionality between multiple ornamental flame objects.  
         [0070]     Additional control objects include an open valve object  206 , an ignite object  208 , a timer object  210 , a lights on/off object  212 , and a variable light control object  214 .  
         [0071]     The operation of the control application  174  for controlling a single flame dispersion assembly  182  operation application will now be provided. Referring to  FIG. 19 , the control application  174  enables the user to initialize the sub-application flame dispersion assembly operation  182  at step  220  by starting the flame dispersion assembly application. While running, the application  182  enables the user to start a continuous burn of the flame dispersion apparatus at step  224 , start a time to burn of the flame dispersion assembly at step  226 , or start a variable burn of the flame dispersion assembly at step  228 . The user can also at step  230  start a continuous bum at various burn level settings including a high flame burn at step  232 , a medium flame burn at step  234 , or a low flame burn at step  236 .  
         [0072]     In order to run the flame at a continuous burn, the control application takes a series of continuous bum steps  224  including as seen in  FIG. 22 , a start step at  262 , followed by a decision block to determine if the valve is set to open at step  264 . If the valve is not set to open then the piezo igniter is signaled to ignite the flame at step  268 . The continuous bum continues to run until the user ends the process at step  270 .  
         [0073]     Similarly, in order to perform a timed burn at step  226  (referring to  FIG. 23 ), the control application will start the time to bum setting at step  272  and implement a decision block at step  274  to read whether or not the valve is set to open. If the valve is set to open then the user can set the time to bum at step  278 , otherwise the user can open the valve at step  276 . The flame is ignited at step  280  by actuating the piezo electric igniter, and the burn continues through a while loop until the time is equal to zero at step  282 . The process ends at step  284 .  
         [0074]     In order to operate the variable bum setting of the ornamental flame at step  228 , the application starts the variable burn process at step  286  and the user can set a rate to vary the control valve opening at step  294 . The user can choose a high variable rate at step  280 , a medium variable rate at step  290 , or a low variable rate at step  292 . After the control valve rate is set, the control application poles the valve to determine whether or not the valve is set to open at decision block step  296 . If the valve is set to close then the control application signals the valve to open at step  298 ; otherwise the control application will then set the time to burn the flame at step  300 . The application also enables the user to set the upper height of the ornamental flame at step  302  as well as the lowest height of the ornamental flame level at step  304 . The control application will then enable the user to send an ignition signal at step  306  to the piezo electric igniter. The variable burn process  228  will run until in this case the while loop reaches the time equal to zero at step  308  at which point the variable bum process will end at step  310 .