Standalone flame simulator
AssigneeDisney Enterprises, Inc.
InventorMark A. Reichow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for simulating flames using fabric flame sheets or elements. The apparatus includes a fan or blower for producing a volume of air flow and two or more flame elements positioned in the fan air flow. First and second light sources, such as high powered light emitting diodes (LEDs), are provided to produce light beams having two differing colors such as an amber beam and an orange/red beam. The light beams are directed so as to mix or cross on or near the flame elements when the flame elements extend outward from their mounting location into the fan air flow. Each of the LEDs has a brightness level that can be tuned or adjusted by a controller, which may be manual or may be automated to modify the brightness level of at least one of the LEDs and typically both LEDs during the operation of the flame simulator.
Claims20
An apparatus for simulating flames, comprising:
- a fan producing air flow;
- two or more flame elements positioned in the fan air flow;
- and
- first and second light sources producing light beams of first and second colors, wherein the first color differs from the second color, the light sources are light emitting diodes, and the first and second light beams are directed to mix on or near the flame elements in the fan air flow,
- wherein the first and second light sources further comprise a pair of lenses mounted such that the first and second light beams are focused into patterns having cross sections smaller than about a size of the flame elements in the fan air flow.
A flame simulator, comprising:
- a fan generating a volume of air flow at an outlet;
- a output chimney positioned at the fan outlet, the output chimney comprising a wall for directing the air flow to a chimney outlet defined by edge of the chimney wall;
- a light source illuminating an area adjacent the chimney outlet;
- and
- flame elements mounted on the edge of the chimney wall, wherein the flame elements each comprise a mounting rod and fabric body comprising a base portion and a tip portion, the base portion being wider than the tip portion and the mounting rod being attached both to the base portion of the body and to the edge of the chimney wall, wherein a distance between adjacent ones of the mounting rods is such that at least the tip portions of adjacent ones of the flame elements are able to contact each other, wherein the light source further comprises a lens mounted such that the light beam is focused into a pattern having a cross section smaller than about a size of the flame elements in the fan air flow.
An apparatus adapted for use alone or with other structure such as torch structures and imitation logs to produce an enhanced flame effect, comprising:
- a fan providing a volume of air flow;
- a flow manifold for directing the air flow to an outlet of the flow manifold;
- flame elements each comprising a fabric body mounted on or proximate to the outlet of the flow manifold such that the fabric body is positioned within the air flow;
- and
- a light source assembly comprising two light emitting diodes each producing a light beam with a brightness level and a controller for the light emitting diodes that is operable to adjust the brightness levels, wherein the light beams have differing colors and are both directed at least partially concurrently toward a location near the outlet of the flow manifold, and wherein the light source assembly further comprises a lens associated with each of the light emitting diodes to shape the light beams based on the fabric bodies of the flame elements to mitigate blow-by, wherein the lenses are mounted such that the light beam is focused into patterns having cross sections smaller than about a size of the flame elements in the fan air flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.