Patent Application
20190093839
The current invention generally relates to displays, visual effects and sources of heat. In particular, the current invention relates to fire displays including fire pits.
Fire displays have been in use for many years to provide comfortable visual ambiances for indoor/outdoor gathering areas such as patios, balconies, pools, lobbies, restaurants and bars. Some such displays may consist of a metal pan or dish that may include a natural gas burner below a level of lava rocks, crushed glass or other medium that may cover or otherwise hide the burner mechanics. The fire may emit from the burner and flow upward through the rocks to be visible from above. This type of fire display may also be known as a fire pit.
Other examples of fire pits may include structures that may be built of bricks or tiles, and that may be above or below ground level. These structures may also include burners with flames extending above a covering medium.
In addition, these types of fire displays may also burn other types of combustible materials such as wood, coal or other types of material.
In any event, these fire pits while enjoyable to look at are not generally efficient sources of heat. The flames extend up and into open sky such that the heat is dissipated upward and not outward towards persons positioned about the circumference of the display. In addition, there is very little heating of the lava rocks or other covering medium. The amount of heat that is provided to the viewers is very small unless the fire becomes so large that it may be hazardous.
Accordingly, there is a need for an innovative fire pit that may be an efficient source of heat in addition to being a visual fire display.
In a first aspect of the invention, a display is described that may include fire and heat. The display may include a dish, a source of combustion within the dish, and a heat exchange assembly that may be heated by the source of combustion and that may disperse the heat outward to viewers of the display.
In another aspect of the invention, the display may include a container made of metal or other type of fire resistant material. In this aspect, the container may be configured to hold the source of combustion as well as the heat exchange assembly.
In another aspect of the invention, the source of combustion may be a gas burner that may emit flames in an upward direction. The source of combustion may also include an ignition source.
In another aspect of the invention, the display may include a heat exchange assembly that may comprise tubes or pipes that may be positioned above the source of combustion. In this way, the source of combustion may heat at least a portion of the assembly that may be immersed or in close proximity to the flames.
In another aspect of the invention, the heat exchange assembly may include one or more air blowers that may force air into the assembly. The air may travel through the assembly at enough pressure to pass through the assembly and out the assembly outputs.
In another aspect of the invention, the air intake of the air blower may be located outside the container in order to intake fresh air.
In another aspect of the invention, the air blower may be either outside or inside the container.
In another aspect of the invention, the outputs of heat exchange assembly may be located in the lower portion of the container.
In another aspect of the invention, the heat exchange assembly may include a downward section through which air may pass from an upper portion that may be immersed in the flame to the lower positioned outputs.
In another aspect of the invention, the heat exchange assembly may include an upward section through which air may travel from the air blower to the upper portion of the assembly that may be immersed in the flames.
In another aspect of the invention, the heat exchange assembly may include a grid of pipes.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the heat exchange assembly may include a pipe spider.
In another aspect of the invention, the display may combust other combustible materials such as wood and coal.
In another aspect of the invention, the container may include side doors that may allow the wood or coal to be placed within the container below the heat exchange assembly.
In another aspect of the invention, a segment of the heat exchange assembly may rotate upward to allow the wood or coal to be placed within the container below the heat exchange assembly. Once the combustible material is placed within the container the segment may be returned to its original position.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a segment of the heat exchange assembly may be removable to allow the wood or coal to be placed within the container below the heat exchange assembly. Once the combustible material is placed within the container the segment may be replaced to its original position.
Other aspects of the invention are discussed herein.
The following detailed description is not intended to limit the current invention. Alternate embodiments and variations of the subject matter described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The display 10 of the current invention, the visual effects that it may produce, and the benefits of its functionality are now described with reference to the figures. Where the same or similar components appear in more than one figure, they are identified by the same or similar reference numerals.
In general, display 10 includes a fire display that may provide dramatic visual effects and heat to its viewers. The fire display may include a heat exchange assembly that may extract heat from the display and deliver it safely to neighboring areas. For example, display 10 may be in the form of an innovative fire pit that viewers may generally gather around to enjoy its beauty as well as the warmth it provides. Display 10 may be installed in outdoor areas such as in atriums, balconies, courtyards, parks, camping sites, outdoor dining and bars, poolside and/or in other outdoor areas. Device 10 may also be installed in indoor areas such as at ski lodges, national park lodges, hotel lobbies, indoor atriums, indoor dining or bars and/or in other indoor areas. As such, display 10 may provide an attraction as well as heat to these buildings and spaces. Display 10 may also be included in existing fire, water and/or lighting displays to provide enhanced visual effects and/or heat to its viewers.
As shown in the figures, display 10 may include container 100, combustion source 200 and heat exchange assembly 300. Additional components and/or assemblies may also be included and may be described in later sections. In general, combustion source 200 may be configured within container 100 to provide flames of fire. Heat exchange assembly 300 may be configured with combustion source 200 to extract heat from the flames and provide it to neighboring areas of display 10. Heat exchange assembly 300 may comprise a network of tubes, pipes, manifolds, or other types of devices that may allow air to pass through them. The assembly 300 may also include an air blower that may force air into, through and out the assembly 300. The assembly 300 may be immersed within or in close proximity to the flame such that the flame may heat the pipes and the air traveling within. The heated air may then be vented out or otherwise delivered to areas adjacent to the display 10 to provide warmth. In addition, the flame may extend upward past the heat exchange assembly 300 and be visible towards the top or above the container 100 to provide a visual attraction.
Referring now to
Container 100 may also include a pit that may be formed above or below ground, cut into the Earth or built using bricks, tiles, ceramic, stone masonry, cement or other heat/flame resistant materials. In any event, container 100 may generally include a bottom 104 and sides 106 so that it may support and/or otherwise contain the various components and assemblies of display 10 and the flames that it may produce. Container 100 may also include a top such as a grating or other type of top that may provide safety from the flames while allowing the flames to be visible. In this scenario, it may be preferable for the top to allow air to pass in and out of the container 100 in order to provide oxygen to the flames as well as a release path for any smoke or other gasses that may be present. In general, container 100 may be any type of container, vessel or enclosure that may adequately support and contain the various components and assemblies of display 10.
Moving forward, in one example as shown in
The flammable gas may be provided to combustion source 200 from a gas supply 208 that may be configured with display 10 or provided from another source via gas pipe 210 as well known in the art. The gas supply 208 may be configured outside container 100, inside container 100 or in any combination thereof. Also note that ignition source 204 as depicted as a pilot light in
As also shown in
Note that while
As shown in
If natural gas (Methane) is used, the temperature of flame 206 may be approximately 1950° C. (3542° F.), and if Propane is used, the temperature of flame 206 may be approximately 2800° C. (5072° F.). Other temperatures for other types of flammable gas are known in the art. With portion 310 positioned above the combustion source 200 and immersed or in close proximity to flame 206 at these temperatures, a portion of this heat may be transferred to portion 310 and to the air inside through conduction and convection. Note that portion 310 may be located in any position with regard to flames 206 in which it may receive heat from the flames 206.
Heat exchange assembly 300 may also include one or more air blowers 304 that may generally blow air into one or more of its inputs 306. Air blower 304 may include blowers, fans, sources of pressurized air, or other devices that may force air into the input 306 of heat exchange assembly 300 at an adequate pressure [EXAMPLE PSI RANGES] so that it may enter input 306 and exit output 308 at a substantial pressure. In fact, it may be preferable for the air to exit outputs 308 as a gentle steam of air. Air blower 304 may include an electric motor, a gas engine, an air pressure motor or any other type of device that may adequately power air blower 304. In addition, air blower 304 may be powered by an electrical outlet, a battery, petroleum, a solar panel or by other types or combination of types of power sources. In this way, the air may generally travel from the input 306 to out the output 308. This path is generally depicted by the airflow arrows within tube 302 in
The air intake port 312 to air blower 304 may be located outside the container 100 so that the air traveling into air blower 304 and through heat exchange assembly 300 may be fresh and never subject to mixing with any combustion products that may result from display 10. For example, air blower 304 may be located generally outside container 100 as depicted in
In another example as shown in
As the heated air from portion 310 travels through the remainder of heat exchange assembly 300 and out its output port 308, it may exit container 100 through opening 108. Note that opening 108 may include a grating or a filter, or may be generally open. In this way, the heated air may be delivered to areas surrounding display 10, for example, to patrons who may be sitting next to display 10 while enjoying its visual flame display and the warmth it may provide.
As shown in
In addition, it should be noted that this lower positioning of output port 308 and output opening 108 may require heat exchange assembly 300 to include downward portion 314 that may generally extend from an area higher up within container 100 (for example, in the area of portion 310 that may be above combustion source 200 and immersed in flames 206) to the lower location of output port 308 and output opening 108. In this way, air may be heated in the upper portion 310 and then travel downward through downward portion 314 and out output port 308 and output opening 108. Also, if there are more than one output ports 308 and more than one output openings 108, it may be required for there to be more than one downward portion 314, with each downward portion 314 configured to accommodate the different output ports 308 and output openings 108. Note that output port 308 and output opening 108 may be to the side and/or below the combustion source 200. Also note that if one or more air blowers 304 are positioned below portion 310 that one or more upward sections 315 may be required to carry the air from air blowers 304 upward to portion 310.
Output ports 308 may also extend out from openings 108 and/or be directed in any orientation (for example upward, downward, to the left or right, or in any other direction). For example, if the body of display 10 is below ground level, output ports 308 may extend out from openings 108 and then extend upward to a position above the ground to release the heated air. In addition, output ports 308 may also include fan shaped output orifices to spread out the emitted air, converging nozzles to accelerate the emitted air, or other types of nozzles or output orifices to generally affect the output streams of air. These features may allow the heat to be directed in any direction and to any location as necessary.
Moving forward, the configuration of heat exchange assembly 300 will now be described with relation to
In one example of this type as shown in
In the example above, it should be noted that the number and configuration of pipes 318, 320 are only meant as a general representation, and that pipe grid 316 may include any number and/or configuration of pipes 318, 320. For example, pipe grid 316 may include the same or a different number of pipes 318 than pipes 320, only pipes 318, only pipes 320, or any combination thereof. In addition, pipes 318 may not necessarily all be parallel with each other, and pipes 320 may not necessarily all be parallel with each other or perpendicular to pipes 318. Also, the inputs 306 and outputs 308 may be configured in any manner or location as described in the embodiments above, and air blowers 304 may be configured with any of the inputs accordingly. In addition, air blowers 304 may also be configured with pipe grid 316 to inject air into nodes 322 or into other areas of the pipe grid 316.
In another example as shown in
Also, pipe spider 324 may include any number of radial pipes 328 that may extend from any number of central sections 326. That is, pipe spider 324 may comprise a network of central sections 326 and radial pipes 328 that may be configured with each other in any manner. In addition, pipe spider 324 may include concentric rings of tubes that encircle central section 326 while tying radial pipes 328 together.
Other configurations of heat exchange assembly 300 may include one or more spirals, zig-zags, ladders, crisscrosses, or other types or combinations of types of networks or configurations that may allow for air to be injected into the assembly 300, heated by portion 310 and then emitted from display 10 to provide warmth to its surroundings. It may also be preferable that output ports 308 of heat exchange assembly 300 be located somewhat symmetrically about container 100 so that the heat provided by the assembly 300 may be generally radiated symmetrically outward from display 10 during operation. However, this may not be required.
Regarding portion 310, it may be preferable to maximize the size of portion 310 and its percentage of the overall size/volume of heat exchange assembly 300 that may be located inside container 100. For example, it may be preferable for portion 310 to represent at least 50% of heat exchange assembly 300 contained inside container 100. In addition, it may be preferable for portion 310 to represent an even larger percentage such as 70%, 80% or 90%. By maximizing the size of portion 310, the amount of air within portion 310 heated by flames 206 may also be maximized such that display 10 may provide more warmth.
In another example as depicted in
Note that the details described in the above examples and embodiments of display 10 with regards to container 100 and heat exchange assembly 300 also apply to this embodiment as well and that this example in no way limits the invention. In addition, it can be seen in
Door 116 may open by rotating downward about hinge mechanism 118 as shown by arrow A. Note that door 116 may also rotate upward, to the side or in any direction such that it may open and create opening 114. Door 116 may also slide open or open in any other way. Door 116 may be closed by rotating it upward in the direction of arrow B and releasably securing it to side 106 with locking member 120. Locking member may include a latch, snap, lock, tab or other type of locking mechanism. Note that for demonstration purposes, door 116 on the right side of container 100 in
In this configuration it can be seen that combustion source 200 (in this case combustible material such as wood or coal) may provide flames 206 that may heat portion 310 of heat exchange assembly 300, and that display 10 may provide both visual effects and heat as described in the above embodiments.
In another example of this type, heat exchange assembly 300 may include a section that may be temporarily repositioned to gain access to the inside of container 100 such that combustible material 214 may be placed on holder 212. In one example as depicted in
Once section 330 may be in the upper position, an opening may be formed in the top of container 100 and the combustible material 214 may be placed through the opening and onto holder 212. After this is completed, section 330 may be rotated back downward in the direction of arrow D and reconfigured with rest of heat exchange assembly 300 at junction 332. This is depicted by the dashed lines in
Note that section 330 may or may not include portion 310. Either way, it should be clear that portion 310 may be positioned directly above flames 206 during operation of display 10 in order to maximize the heat transfer between flames 206 and portion 310 as described above.
It should also be noted that the example depicted in
In another example as depicted in
Once section 335 may be lifted, an opening may be formed in the top of container 100 and the combustible material 214 may be placed through the opening and onto holder 212. After this is completed, section 335 may be replaced in the direction of arrows F and reconfigured with rest of heat exchange assembly 300 at junctions 336, 338. This is depicted by the dashed lines in
Note that section 335 may or may not include portion 310. Either way, it should be clear that portion 310 may be positioned directly above flames 206 during operation of display 10 in order to maximize the heat transfer between flames 206 and portion 310 as described above.
It should also be noted that the example depicted in
Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/561,158, filed Sep. 20, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62561158 | Sep 2017 | US |
