Standalone flame effect

Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods for standalone flame effects. Various aspects of the invention described herein may be applied to any of the particular applications set forth below or for any other types of fire displays. A flame effect may include a local fuel source, a burner configured to receive a flammable fuel from the fuel source, a local power source, and a wireless communication module in electrical communication with the local power source. The location of one or more flame effects may be automatically determined, and may be used in creating a desired fire display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A standalone flame effect, comprising:
 a fuel source;   a burner configured to receive a flammable fuel from the fuel source;   a local power source; and   a wireless communication module in electrical communication with the local power source.   
     
     
         2 . The flame effect of  claim 1  wherein the wireless communication module is configured to communicate with a flow rate controller that controls a flow rate of the flammable fuel between the fuel source and the burner. 
     
     
         3 . The flame effect of  claim 1  wherein the wireless communication module is configured to provide a relative location of the standalone flame effect. 
     
     
         4 . The flame effect of  claim 1  wherein the wireless communication module is configured to provide an identity of the standalone flame effect. 
     
     
         5 . A method for controlling a fire display comprising:
 providing one or more flame effect comprising a burner configured to receive a flammable fuel from a fuel source;   transmitting, using a wireless communication module of the flame effect, a wireless communication between the flame effect and an external device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the external device is a controller configured to send a signal to the one or more flame effect to vary or maintain flow rate of the flammable fuel provided to the burner. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the wireless communication includes instructions to a flow rate controller that controls the flow rate of the flammable fuel between the fuel source and burner. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the wireless communication includes a relative location of the flame effect. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the wireless communication includes an identity of the flame effect. 
     
     
         10 . A standalone flame effect, comprising:
 a fuel source;   a burner configured to receive a flammable fuel from the fuel source;   a local power source; and   a locating system in electrical communication with the local power source, configured to provide a relative location of the standalone flame effect.   
     
     
         11 . The flame effect of  claim 10  wherein the local power source is a battery. 
     
     
         12 . The flame effect of  claim 11  wherein the battery has a charge monitoring and reporting system. 
     
     
         13 . The flame effect of  claim 10  wherein the fuel source includes a fuel monitoring and reporting system. 
     
     
         14 . The flame effect of  claim 10  wherein the locating system is capable of automatically determining the position of the flame effect in three dimensions. 
     
     
         15 . A flame effect system comprising:
 one or more flame effect comprising a burner configured to receive a flammable fuel from a fuel source and a locating system configured to provide a relative location of the one or more flame effect; and   a controller configured to send a signal to the one or more flame effect to vary or maintain flow rate of the flammable fuel provided to the burner based on the relative location provided by the locating system.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising a position transmitter configured to receive a signal with the relative location from the locating system, and provide location information to the controller. 
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling a fire display comprising:
 providing one or more flame effect comprising a burner configured to receive a flammable fuel from a fuel source;   transmitting, from the one or more flame effect, a relative location of the one or more flame effect;   receiving, at a controller, the relative location of the one or more flame effect; and   sending a signal to the one or more flame effect to vary or maintain the flammable fuel provided to the burner based on the relative location.