Burner system incorporating flame and light

Abstract

A heating appliance that includes an enclosure defining a combustion chamber, an ember support member, a plurality of translucent artificial embers, a burner, and a light source. The embers are disposed upon the ember support member. The burner is coupled to a source of combustible fuel and is positioned vertically above the ember support member. The burner is also at least partially surrounded by and in contact with the embers to reduce viewability of the burner. The light source is positioned vertically below the ember support member and produces light that illuminates the embers.

1 . A heating appliance, comprising: 
 an enclosure defining a combustion chamber;    an ember support member;    a plurality of translucent artificial embers disposed upon the ember support member;    a first tube burner coupled to a source of combustible fuel, the tube burner being positioned vertically above the ember support member and at least partially surrounded by the embers to reduce viewability of the tube burner; and    a light source positioned vertically below the ember support member, the light source producing light that illuminates the embers.    
   
   
       2 . The heating appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a second tube burner positioned rearward in the combustion chamber from the first tube burner.  
   
   
       3 . The heating appliance of  claim 2 , further comprising a reflective member positioned between the first and second tube burners, the reflective member being arranged in the combustion chamber to at least partially conceal the second tube burner from view.  
   
   
       4 . The heating appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the reflective member reflects light from the light source and light from a flame generated by the first tube burner towards a front portion of the combustion chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The heating appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the second tube burner is spaced vertically above the embers and the first tube burner.  
   
   
       6 . The heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a light bulb, the light bulb being accessible for replacement from underneath a bottom panel of the enclosure.  
   
   
       7 . The heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the ember support member includes a wire mesh that defines a plurality of apertures that are sized smaller than the embers.  
   
   
       8 . The heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the embers are separate from the ember support member.  
   
   
       9 . A heating appliance, comprising: 
 an enclosure defining a combustion chamber;    an ember support member defining an ember support surface;    a plurality of translucent artificial embers disposed upon but separable from the ember support surface;    a first burner coupled to a source of combustible fuel and configured to generate a flame, the first burner being positioned adjacent to the ember support member and at least partially concealed from view by the embers, the first burner having a tube shape;    a light source positioned vertically below the ember support member and the tube burner, the light source producing light that passes through the ember support member to illuminate the embers; and    a reflective member positioned rearward of the embers in the combustion chamber to reflect light produced by the light source and the flame, the reflective member being spaced frontward of a rear panel of the combustion chamber and having a height that extends within a lower vertical halve of the combustion chamber.    
   
   
       10 . The heating appliance of  claim 9 , further comprising a second burner positioned rearward in the combustion chamber from the reflective member.  
   
   
       11 . The heating appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the reflective member at least partially conceals the second tube burner from viewing.  
   
   
       12 . The heating appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the first burner is position vertically above the ember support surface and surrounded by the embers.  
   
   
       13 . The heating appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is positioned below a bottom panel of the enclosure.  
   
   
       14 . A method of increasing viewable light in a heating appliance, the heating appliance including an enclosure that defines a combustion chamber, and an ember support member, a plurality of transparent embers, a light source, and a burner member positioned in the enclosure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 supporting the embers on a support surface defined by the ember support member, the embers being separable from the support surface, the support surface including a plurality of apertures sized smaller than the embers;    positioning the burner member adjacent to the support surface, the burner being configured to generate a flame that produces light in the combustion chamber;    surrounding a portion of the burner member with the embers to at least partially conceal the burner member from view; and    positioning the light source vertically beneath the support surface, the light source providing light that passes through the plurality of apertures to illuminate the embers and produce light in the combustion chamber.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein positioning the burner member includes positioning the burner member vertically above the support surface.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the burner member is a tube burner.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heating appliance further comprises a reflective member and the method further includes positioning the reflective member in the combustion chamber rearward of the embers but frontward of a rear panel of the enclosure, the reflective member reflecting light from the flame and light from the light source towards a front portion of the combustion chamber.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the heating appliance further comprises another tube burner and the method includes positioning the another burner in the combustion chamber rearward of the reflective member, the reflective member at least partially concealing the another burner member from view.  
   
   
       19 . A method of generating viewable light, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a support member, a plurality of transparent embers, a light source, a tube burner, and a reflective panel;    supporting the embers on the support member, the embers being separable from the support surface;    positioning the burner member adjacent to the support member, the burner being configured to generate a flame that produces light;    surrounding a portion of the burner member with the embers to at least partially conceal the burner member from view;    positioning the light source vertically beneath the support surface, the light source providing light that passes through the support member to illuminate the embers; and    positioning the reflective panel adjacent to at least some of the embers, the reflective panel being configured to reflect light produced by the flame and the light source, the reflective member being substantially vertically oriented and having a height that extends no more that about 6 inches vertically above the embers.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising another burner member and the method further includes positioning the another burner member on an opposing side of the reflective member from the embers.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein positioning the burner member includes orienting the burner member vertically above the support member and surrounding the burner member with the embers includes contacting the embers against the burner member.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the burner member includes a cylindrical tube shape having a plurality of gas apertures formed along a length of the burner member, and a flame associated with each of the gas apertures is viewable through the embers.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the reflective panel is positioned directly adjacent to at least some of the embers.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the support member includes a plurality of apertures sized smaller than the embers, and light from the light source passes through the plurality of apertures.