Gas hearth

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas hearth, at least comprising a combustion chamber, gas supply means for supplying combustible gas into the combustion chamber to firebed-simulating means positioned in the combustion chamber, ignition means for igniting the combustible gas in the combustion chamber and a flue-gas discharge duct connected to the combustion chamber for discharging combustion flue gases from the combustion chamber, as well as metering means which are arranged in the combustion chamber for metering a pyrotechnical additive into the flames of the burning combustible gas during operation, wherein the metering means comprise a reservoir for the pyrotechnical additive which reservoir is provided with at least one metering opening.

1 . A gas hearth, comprising:
 a combustion chamber having a firebed-simulator positioned therein;   gas supply device that supplies combustible gas into said combustion chamber to said firebed-simulator positioned i therein, when in operation;   an ignitor that ignites the combustible gas in said combustion chamber when in operation;   a flue-gas discharge duct connected to said combustion chamber such that combustion flue gases are discharged from said combustion chamber, through said flue-gas discharge duct when in operation; and   a meter arranged in said combustion chamber such that a pyrotechnical additive is metered into the flames of the burning combustible gas during operation,   wherein   said meter comprises a reservoir for the pyrotechnical additive, which reservoir is provided with at least one metering opening as well as a displacement component positioned in said reservoir such that the pyrotechnical additive contained in said reservoir is displaced towards and through said at least one metering opening during operation.   
     
     
         2 . A gas hearth according to  claim 1 , wherein said displacement component comprises a rotatable driven screw conveyor. 
     
     
         3 . A gas hearth according to  claim 1 , wherein said meter comprises at least one supply line which is connected to said at least one the metering opening and ends near said firebed-simulator. 
     
     
         4 . A gas hearth according to  claim 3 , wherein said meter comprises at least one pump which is placed near said at least one metering opening such that a certain amount of displaced pyrotechnical additive is passed through said supply line in the direction of said firebed-simulator by means of a pressurized medium, when in operation. 
     
     
         5 . A gas hearth according to  claim 4 , wherein said meter comprises a controller that actuates said displacement component and said pump. 
     
     
         6 . A gas hearth according to  claim 4 , wherein said pump is a compressed air pump. 
     
     
         7 . A gas hearth according to  claim 1 , wherein said meter is arranged under said firebed-simulator. 
     
     
         8 . A gas hearth according to  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir is provided with a filling opening which can be closed with a closure. 
     
     
         9 . A gas hearth according to  claim 8 , wherein said closure forms part of the firebed-simulator. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a gas hearth in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising:
 supplying a combustible gas through said gas supply device to said firebed-simulator in said combustion chamber;   igniting the combustible gas in said combustion chamber;   discharging combustion flue gases from said combustion chamber through said flue-gas discharge duct; and   metering a pyrotechnical additive into the flames of the burning combustible gas through said meter.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the pyrotechnical additive is in the form of granules. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the pyrotechnical additive is a pulverulent or granular material. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the pyrotechnical additive comprises a carbon-containing additive.