Patent Application
20190003670
This disclosure is generally directed to the creation of an imitation flame for use in non-flammable candles as well as numerous other applications.
Simulated flames in candles are desirable for use in enclosed spaces where a real flame is undesirable, impractical or not permitted. There are different ways to generate simulated flames, and some simulated flames are more realistic than others. Creating a cost effective and compact simulated flame is desirable for many applications in both homes and commercial environments.
Some embodiments of the disclosure are directed to an apparatus having a transducer configured to transduce and modulate a liquid to form a simulated flame. The transducer may be a piezoelectric transducer driven by a modulated drive signal such that a liquid transduces to a mist/aerosol, such that the transducer controls (or varies) and shapes the mist to create a vapor plume. Use of a nozzle/manifold a certain distance above the transducer may shape the mist as well. The plume is illuminated by a colored light source to generate the simulated flame. A wick or a dispenser may be one means of presenting the liquid to the transducer. Controlling the droplet size presented to the transducer may shape the size, dimension of the plume. The transducer may have multiple transducer openings, angled or straight perforations, notches, and/or impressions to shape the plume and create the effect of a dancing flame.
An exemplary artificial flame apparatus utilizes a mist plume that is illuminated by a light source to imitate a flame. In an exemplary embodiment, the mist exits a housing around an artificial wick. The artificial wick may be shaped like a conventional wick or have a flame shape, such as a silhouette of a flame. The artificial wick may comprise a light source such as a light emitting diode, fiber optics or light tubes, for example. An exemplary artificial wick comprises a plurality of individual light sources or elements, such as LEDs, fiber optics or light tubes that are configured to imitate a wick of a candle and/or a flame. A plurality of fiber optics or light tubes may be spiraled about each other for example and an individual light source may emit a different color light from one of the other light sources. In addition, the light intensity or color may change to produce a more realistic artificial flame appearance. A light source may also be configured in proximity to the mist plume, such as around the base of the mist outlet and may project light onto the exiting mist and/or onto the artificial wick. The light emitted by the light source may be a colored light and may change color and/or intensity to produce a more realistic artificial flame.
The mist of an exemplary artificial flame apparatus is produced by a transducer, such as an ultrasonic transducer having a transducer surface that produces vibrations, such as ultrasonic vibrations that create a mist when in contact with liquid. An exemplary transducer may be a piezoelectric transducer. The liquid from a liquid reservoir within the housing may be in contact with the transducer surface directly, via a porous wick or via droplets that impinge on the transducer surface. A portion of the transducer, such as the transducer surface may be in direct contact with the liquid within the liquid reservoir, whereby the transducer surface may be submerged in the liquid. A wick, such as a porous wick, may transport liquid from the liquid reservoir to the transducer surface through capillary forces. A pump or gravity feed apparatus may present liquid from the liquid reservoir to the transducer surface and may produce droplets that fall onto the transducer surface, which may more effectively control the variation in the production of mist.
The rate of mist exiting the housing may be varied to change the size, shape or height of the mist plume to produce a more realistic looking artificial flame. An oscillator device may be utilized to change the rate of flow of the mist from the housing. An exemplary oscillator comprises an air-moving device, such as a fan, that forces the mist from the housing or mist reservoir. The air-moving device may change the airflow rate, or a valve may be configured to modulate that rate of airflow and thereby change the flow rate of mist exiting the housing. An air-moving device may produce a flow of air that travels through an airflow conduit and then through inlet ports into the mist reservoir. An exemplary oscillator device is a sonic device that produces sound waves and associated sound or acoustic pressure that pushes the mist from the housing. A sonic device or a sound-wave generator may generate sound waves with a sound wave frequency or varying sound wave frequencies. The sound-wave generator may be configured with a standing wave tube having one or more enclosure openings, whereby the rate of mist exiting the one or more enclosure openings may be expelled through the enclosure openings as a function of the standing wave frequency and/or magnitude. An exemplary enclosure, such as a tube, standing wave tube, or Ruben's tube, may be configured proximal to the artificial wick and may have a plurality of enclosure openings to produce a plurality of individual mist plumes. In an exemplary embodiment, a standing wave tube is configured around a portion of the artificial wick and may comprise a toroid shaped enclosure that extends around the artificial wick proximal to the mist outlet. The toroid shaped enclosure may have a plurality of enclosure openings around the outer perimeter of the artificial wick. The sound-wave generator of a standing wave tube may produce sound waves having a beat or rhythm or may produce random sound waves. A standing wave tube may be utilized in an artificial flame apparatus having a plurality of individual artificial wicks and flames, such as an artificial fire table or pit, log or fireplace configuration, and the standing wave may have a rhythm or beat, whereby the rate of flow of mist from the series of enclosure openings changes as a function of the standing wave, sound waves, and/or resultant associated sound or acoustic pressure.
A controller may control and vary the functions of the artificial flame apparatus including the power, frequency, waveform and/or rate of mist exiting the housing through one or more housing openings, and may control the transducer, the rate of liquid delivery to the transducer, the color or intensity of the light, the oscillator and the like. A controller may comprise a microprocessor and/or a control circuit. In an exemplary embodiment, a modulator produces a modulation signal that is used to change one or more of the features of the artificial flame apparatus, such as the intensity, color, rate of change of intensity and/or color of the light, and/or the rate of flow of mist from the housing. A modulator may control the transducer to produce mist and to control a variation of the rate of mist produced. A microprocessor may be configured to run a control program that includes a modulation program, thereby making the microprocessor a modulator.
Liquid within the liquid reservoir may comprise water and other agents such as aromatic agents to produce a mist having a scent. An aroma agent, such as a liquid or solid may be mixed directly with the liquid, such as water, in the liquid reservoir or may be placed in a pod whereby the aroma agent is slowly added to the liquid.
An exemplary artificial flame apparatus may be a single flame having a single artificial wick or may comprise a plurality of artificial wicks and flames. An artificial flame apparatus may be in the shape of a log or be configured in a fire table, fire pit or be an insert to a fire feature or fireplace.
The summary is provided as a general introduction to some of the disclosed embodiments, and is not intended to be limiting. Additional example embodiments including variations and alternative configurations of the disclosed embodiments are provided herein.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the Figures. The Figures represent an illustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Further, the Figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein and are illustrated in the accompanying Figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications, combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of the present invention.
The following description of exemplary embodiments provides information that enables a person skilled in the art to make and use the subject matter set forth in the appended claims, but may omit certain details already well-known in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, to be taken as illustrative and not limiting.
The example embodiments may also be described herein with reference to spatial relationships between various elements or to the spatial orientation of various elements depicted in the attached drawings. In general, such relationships or orientation assume a frame of reference. However, as should be recognized by those skilled in the art, this frame of reference is merely a descriptive expedient rather than a strict prescription.
Referring to
The resonator 24 is controlled by a control circuit 28 that provides a selectively controllable electrical modulated drive signal 30 to control variations in the shape and appearance of the generated aerosol 12. The drive signal 30 may be pulsed, and generated at varying power levels, frequencies and waveshapes to variably control the transducing energy and produce a dancing flame-like effect, and such that it swirls, floats, or produces other selected shapes, such as shown in
The mist directing/shaping nozzle 14, shown as a cone, is configured to shape the aerosol vapor 12. The nozzle 14 may be positioned directly on the top surface of the wick structure 22 and above the resonator 24, but is preferably spaced a distance D2 above the resonator 24, and a distance DI+D2 above the wick structure 22 such as using spacers.
The resonator 24 has at least one centrally located transducer opening 32 configured to allow the aerosol 12 to rise through the transducer opening 32, and helps shape the aerosol vapor 12 such that is swirls, floats, or produces other selected shapes. At least one light source 34, which may produce a colored light or be a colored light source, is configured to illuminate the aerosol 12 to create the appearance of a flame. The light source 34 may be a light emitting diode (LED) source, integrated fiber optic light source, and is internal to the candle 10 such as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Various illuminated aerosol vapors that can be created are shown in
An alternative embodiment of this disclosure is shown in
One illustrative embodiment shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In one illustrative embodiment, the resonant frequency of the drive signal 108 of the modulated transducer 106 is a driving signal of 28.52 kHz, at an operating power about 20 Watts. In other embodiments the frequency may be about 100 kHz. The diameter of the transducer 106 is 26 mm (about 1 inch). What creates the flame effect is the generated irregular, ultrasonic wave that spreads upwards from the modulated transducer. This works brilliantly for candles. Essential oils can be added to the liquid and diffused for scented candles—opening a market of proprietary products.
The transducer 106 arrangements can be one of a number of types, such as a piezoelectric transducer creating a high frequency mechanical oscillation just below the surface of a source of water, such that an ultrasonic vibration turns the liquid into mist. The dispensed fluid, such as water, may be dispersed as onto the modulated transducer 106 to take advantage of gravity. The droplets may be a substantially consistent size or inconsistent size. The water may be injected onto the transducer 106 using an injector, and the water may be a standing liquid residing in a basin. The fluid can be transported, dropped, placed, pushed onto, through transducer 106 in many fashions. The implementation of capillary effect, use of solenoids, tubes, pumps, wicking effect, and/or the implementation of fluidic technology such as switches, amplifiers, oscillators, and the like, may be utilized to effectively transport liquid and/or create plume motion and support functions that may allow for the movement of specific sized droplets of liquid onto the transducer. Liquid may be injected, pumped, pressurized onto the transducer 106. A fluidic switch and/or a solenoid valve may be utilized to effectively create and move specific sized droplets of liquid for movement and release onto the transducer 106. A system of fluid supply channels through a solenoid valve, and/or a cavitation process, may provide random plume sizes as droplets are intermittently delivered onto the transducer to create various flame heights to mimic a real flame. Integrated circuitry may allow random frequency/power modulation of the transducer. Variable droplet size may be achieved through a fluidic valve delivery system or through a modulated pump system disseminating fluid onto the transducer in several fashions including, but not limited to, dropping via gravity, pushing or pumping, capillary effect, injecting and the like. The liquid may be brought into contact from below, the side, and/or the center onto the transducer.
One embodiment comprises a fireplace insert 120 as shown in
As shown in
An air-moving device 388, such as a fan, may produce a flow of air, as indicated by the bold arrows that forces the mist 114 from the housing. Power to the fan may be modulated to control a flow of air to further shape and control the mist plume. As shown, the air-moving device produces a flow of air that travels through flow conduits 389 and then through inlets 408 into the mist reservoir 412 to force the mist 114 out of the housing 202. A splash guard 432 may be configured to prevent large droplets of liquid from entering and/or exiting the housing through the nozzle 14. The splash guard may prevent condensation droplets from dropping onto the transducer. The air-moving device may be controlled by a controller 27 having a control circuit 28 and a modulator 110 that changes air-moving device output, which may change the flow rate of the airflow and subsequently the rate of mist exiting the housing. A modulator may also regulate the transducers to vary the rate of mist production, as a function of a controller. A modulator may also control the light emitted by the light source by changing colors and/or intensity to produce a more realistic artificial flame. A shaping nozzle 512 may be configured to shape the mist as it exits the housing to form a flame shaped vapor plume 218.
As shown in
As shown in
The vapor mist 12, or vapor plume 218 produced by the exemplary artificial flame apparatus 16 may be configured to oscillate or change shape, size or height to mimic a real flame that moves, dances, and changes shape. An oscillator 384 may create sound waves, vibrations, or pressure gradients that force the mist 114 from the housing 202 at a variable rate, thereby creating a changing plume. An oscillator may produce sound waves, sound pressure or acoustical pressure, and may be configured with a standing wave tube 500, also referred to as a Ruben's tube. An oscillator may be used to create waveforms controlling properties such as amplitude, frequency, rise time, time interval, distortion and others. Mist 114 may enter an inlet 502 to enclosure 501 of the standing wave tube and a sound wave generator 506 may create sound waves/sound pressure that travel along the enclosure 501 forcing the mist out of enclosure openings 504 in the enclosure 501. The mist may be expelled from the enclosure openings as a function of the sound wave, or sound pressure, whereby it may change at a rhythm or beat of the sound wave. The controller 27 and/or modulator 110 may control the sound generator 506 to produce a mist that moves to a particular beat or rhythm due to the controlled variation in the sound waves. This variation may be the product of an acoustical selection or creation, sound wave pattern creation, modulated sound wave pattern or may be random. The oscillator may be a surface acoustic device.
An exemplary artificial flame apparatus may comprise a power source 29, such as a battery or rechargeable battery 19 or a wired power connection, such as a plug adapted to be plugged into an electrical outlet including a wall outlet or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) outlet/micro USB or similar manner. In an exemplary embodiment, a rechargeable battery is configured within the housing 202 of the artificial flame apparatus and is configured to be recharged through a USB connection.
As shown in
Other uses of the apparatus as described herein, may include biological applications, not necessarily related to simulation of a realistic flame, pyrotechnics, fire pits, torches, car exhaust tubes, education, magic acts, special effects, military/law enforcement/first responders training, etc. This flame technology can be utilized in any application requiring the simulation/replication of a realistic flame. The appended claims set forth novel and inventive aspects of the subject matter described above, but the claims may also encompass additional subject matter not specifically recited in detail. For example, certain features, elements, or aspects may be omitted from the claims if not necessary to distinguish the novel and inventive features from what is already known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. Features, elements, and aspects described herein may also be combined or replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Specific embodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications, combinations and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
This application is a continuation in part of PCT patent application no. PCT/US2017/036862, having an international filing date of Jun. 9, 2017 and claiming the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/179,706, filed on Jun. 10, 2016 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,568,157 on Feb. 14, 2017; and this application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/555,051 filed on Sep. 7, 2017 and to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/554,419, filed on Sep. 5, 2017; the entirety of all applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62173809 | Jun 2015 | US | |
| 62555051 | Sep 2017 | US | |
| 62554419 | Sep 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15179706 | Jun 2016 | US |
| Child | PCT/US2017/036862 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2017/036862 | Jun 2017 | US |
| Child | 16122748 | US |
