CA1209631A - Combined radiant and fan heater - Google Patents

Combined radiant and fan heater

Info

Publication number
CA1209631A
CA1209631A CA000434520A CA434520A CA1209631A CA 1209631 A CA1209631 A CA 1209631A CA 000434520 A CA000434520 A CA 000434520A CA 434520 A CA434520 A CA 434520A CA 1209631 A CA1209631 A CA 1209631A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
fan
mode
heater
radiant
heating means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000434520A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David M. Howie
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Black and Decker Inc
Original Assignee
Black and Decker Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Black and Decker Inc filed Critical Black and Decker Inc
Priority to CA000434520A priority Critical patent/CA1209631A/en
Priority to GB08418455A priority patent/GB2144843A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1209631A publication Critical patent/CA1209631A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24HFLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H3/00Air heaters
    • F24H3/02Air heaters with forced circulation
    • F24H3/06Air heaters with forced circulation the air being kept separate from the heating medium, e.g. using forced circulation of air over radiators
    • F24H3/062Air heaters with forced circulation the air being kept separate from the heating medium, e.g. using forced circulation of air over radiators using electric energy supply; the heating medium being the resistive element
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C1/00Stoves or ranges in which the fuel or energy supply is not restricted to solid fuel or to a type covered by a single one of the following groups F24C3/00 - F24C9/00; Stoves or ranges in which the type of fuel or energy supply is not specified
    • F24C1/14Radiation heating stoves and ranges, with additional provision for convection heating

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Direct Air Heating By Heater Or Combustion Gas (AREA)

Abstract

COMBINED RADIANT AND FAN HEATER

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A combined portable radiant and space area heater is provided, having a radiant heating means combined with a fan operable in at least a slow speed and a high speed mode. Operating in the low speed mode, the fan serves to locally recirculate heat provided by the radiant heating means, while permitting the heating means to maintain a high temperature with consequent high radiant heat output, suited for use primarily by an individual. In the low speed fan mode the recirculated air affects the temperature of a thermosensitive sensor, so as to control the energization of the heating means in the event that a limiting temperature of the sensor, indicative of local conditions, is exceeded. In the high speed mode of fan operation the temperature of the radiant heating means is effectively reduced, to significantly diminish the extent of heat radiation, the output instead being effected by high velocity dispersal of hot air, in a space area heating mode.

Description

63~

Case 2860 COMBINED RADIANT A~D FAN HEATER
This invention is directed to an electric heater, primarily of the portable type.
Portable electric heaters are well known and highly developed, and generally fall into one of two the classes, namely a radiant heater or a space area heater, using forced convection means.
Radiant beater~ o~ the quartz eleMent type have recently impacted the market, and because o~
thair relatively local e~ect are used primarily as a personal heat source. Portable space heaters are also well known and widely used, most usually ralying upon a fan effecting a significant dispersal of heate~ air, to function as a space area heater.
Certain types of radiant heaters have in the past utilized a small capacity fan providing local circulation, as a means for recirculating air past a thermostat such that in the event the front of ~he heater becomes obstructed, or is placed in too close proximity to a barrier, then the temperature of the recirculated air will rise quite rapidly, causing the protective thermostat of the heater to de-energize the heating element, by disconnecting the electrical connection thereto.
The present invention makes provision for a fan means having at least two modes of operation, namely a slow speed mode, as described above fox prior ~2~31 Case 2860 a~t radiant heaters, whereby the temperature of the radiant heating means remaIrlS substantially undiminished and the heater functions in the same fashion as other personal radiant heaters. In the other mode, with high speed fan operation, this causes dispersal of heated air generated by th,e radiant heating means, so as to effect space area heatin~.
This hot air disperal is effected such that the temperature of the radiant heating means is significantly reduced with a marked reduc~ion, in heat radiation.
It has been found that the purposes o-f two quite different heater types m~y be combined into a single entity, giving the benefits of being able to operate in two quite disparate heater modes, whilst achieving respective outputs in each mode of operation that compare closely with commercial products of the respective type.
In accordance with the present invention there is thus provided a multi-mode fan heater having a radiant element, reflector means for reflecting heat radiated by the element, operable in a first mode wherein the heater functions as a personal radiant heater, fan means operating at a high capacity in a second mode of operation of the heater to significantly cool the radiant heating means and to effectively disperse air heated by the heating means in space area heating relation.
A preferred embodiment of the invention incorporates fan means including a speed control switch for selecting the mode of operation of the heater~ The speed control switch includes a low speed fan setting for operating in a first, radiant heating mode to provide limited local air recirculation within the heater, having thermosensitive control means for sensing the temperature of recirculated air, being .. ~

96~3L
Case 2860 connected electrically in energy controlling relation with the radiant element, to limit energization of that element when a predetermined air temperature of recirculated air is sensed.
In the preferred embodiment a generally parabolic reflector is provided having an extended lower leg extending to~Jards the front of the heater, in order to eliminate any undue floor heating effect which can otherwise constitute a fire hazard. The reflector is provided with an air outlet slot or slots substantially horizontally aligned behind the focus of the reflector, so as to discharge air in cooling relation over a radiant heating means such as a resistance heater located at the reflector focus.
The reflector is provided wi-th an air inlet in the upper half thereof for recirculation of heater air, there being a thermosensitive sensing element being located in the path oE the air flow, behind ~he re~lec~or and electrically connected in series relation with the energi~ing circuit of the radiant heater.
The fan is fitted for dual mode operation having control means for switching the fan from a high capaci~y blowing mode to a low capacity blowing mode.
The dual mode function is generally provided by a multi-speed controller for the fan motor, having a selection switch by means of which a predetermined mode of fan operation is ~elected.
Selection of the low capacity blowing ~ode causes a low volume of air to circulate past the radiant heating means, so that the temperature of the radiant heating means is maintained at a high value, and the heater functions effectively in a radiation mode. Selec~ion of the high capacity blowing mode causes a high volume of air to circulate past the radiant heating means, thereby dropping its ., :~2~963~
Case 2860 temperature, so as to diminish the radiant output therefrom, while causing the apparatus to dissipate heat primarily by means of hot air dispersal, in a space area heating mode, whereby heat is tran~ferred away from the proximity of ~he heater, in room heating relation.
In the case of operation in either mode where the circulation of air is impeded such that a dangerous temperature rise can en~ue, such for instance as the entrainm~nt of curtains at the heater air inlet or outlet, or the positioning of the heater in dangerously close proximity to an object, the consequent diminuation of air flow results in a significant rise in the temperature of air entering lS behind the reflector. This raises the temperature of the thermosen~itive ~ensor to a sufficient extent to limit or cut off the energization of the heater element.
Certain embodiments are described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a general view of a portable heater incorporating the present invention;
Figure 2 i5 a section end view taken at the plane 2-2 half-way along the heater, and Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 of an alternative embodiment.
Referring to Figure 1, the heater 10 is a portable appliance having a cabinet 12 with a pair of end walls 14 and an enclosure wall 16~ A protective grill wire 18 isolates a radiant heating me~ns 20, illustrated as a metal rodded heating element of the type trademarked CALROD, the heating means 20 being mounted at the focus of a generally eliptical reflector 22 having an elongated lower leg portion 24 that serves to limit reflected or directly radiated emission on to the floor or other supporting surface.

., 3~
Case 2860 A fan 26 driven by electric motor 28 and provided with selection switch 30 operates in a two or a three speed mode, to circulate air heated by the heating means 20. In the Figures l and 2 embodiment air drawn through the fan 26 is blown through slots 32 of reflector 22 in heat ~ransfer relation with the heating means 20. A return flow of heated air enters past the reflector 22, by way of slots 34 therein, the temperature of the return air flow being sensed by thermosensitiv~ control means 36 having a control knob 38. The control means 36, being in the preferred embodiment a bimetallic thermostat, is co~mected in series switching relation with the energization circuit of the heating means 20.
In operation, with the heater plugged in by way of cord plug 40 to a suitable outlet (not shown~
and the con~rol ~wi~ch 30 set on a low speed ~ix1t mode o~ opexation, the rate of air ciculation by the fan is sufficien~ly low -that the temperature of the heating means 20 becomes sufficien~ly high as to function as an effective radiator, whexein the heat generated by the heating means 20 is predominantly reflected forwardly of the heater l0, by means of the reflector 22, whereby the heater may be used effectively as a personal radiant heater.
Operating the heater l0 in a second mode with the fan central switch 30 set for a higher speed, the throughput of air is sufficient to cool the heating means 20 to the extent that it is no longer an efficient radiator, and the heat output is dispersed as hot air, by the fanO The heater l0 thus operates in the second mode as a space area heater.
Turning to the Figure 3 embodiment, the fan 26' is arranged to draw air heated by the heating means 20 rearwardly through slots 31, for discharge by the fan 26' forwardly through outlet 42 located at 3~
Case 2860 the front of the heater 10. In this arrangement the thermosensitive control means 36 is located adjacent the slot 31O
Reverting to the Figure 2 embodiment, this arrangement lend~ itself to ~he provision of an air filter 4~ through which air circulates forwardly particularly in the high speed or space area heater mode of operation.
In simulated performance tests, carried out under typical operating conditions, and comparing the performance of the subject heater with that of another brand, when functioning in the "mode 1" low throughput fan operation, as a radiant heater, virtually identical radiant heating was achieved as provided by a typical radiant heater of the type utilizing a quartz heating element.
Operating in the second mode as a spaca a~ea heater, the ~ubject heater took the same time to heat an enclosed space as that required by a commercial portable space area heater, to heat the same space to the same extent.
Thus, the operation of an embodiment of the multi-purpose heater of the present invention in either of its selected modes has been found to be virtually identical in each instance to a specialty heater designed to operate solely in that particular mode.
Thus, from actual results:
1) Mode 1 - radiant heater: heating a simulated "person" at a dista~ce of 3 feet, to effect a temperature rise from 10C
to 20C, the subject heater required 9 minutes 11 seconds. A quartz radiant heater required 9 minutes 16 seconds to perform the same heating.
2) Mode 2 - space area heater: heating a room 9~3`~
Case 2860 10 feet x 8 feet by 9 1/2 feet high from 10C to 15C required 12 minutes 30 seconds. A competitive fan heater, for the same effect also required 12 minutes 30 ~econds.
The subject heater thus presents a dual capability normally provided only by two separate heaters.
It should be emphasized that mis-using heaters to achieve the "other" function lead~ to the following results:
1 ) using all equivdlent radiant heater, operating in the manner of a space area heater, to heat a room requires 33~ more time than using the subject heatsr when operating in i~s space area heater mode~
2~ operating the subject heater in its ra~iant heater mode permits heating a "per~on" in half the ti~ne required by an equivalent ~0 space heating fan heater.
Thus~ it will be seen that the ~ubject invention makes readily available the selec~ion of the most effective mode of heating for a given situation, at the touch of a button, using a single portable 5 heater.
The adoption of this invention also permits the use of a wide range of styling formats of acc~ptable efficiency and attractive appearanceO

Claims (2)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is climed are defined as follows:
1. A dual-mode fan heater having a radiant heating element, reflector means for reflecting heat radiated by said element, fan means located within the heater, fan control switch means connected in mode controlling relation with the fan means, and air flow passage means in which said heating element is located, said switch means having a first mode position in which said fan means operates at a low flow capacity to produce operation of said heating element primarily in a heat radiating mode, and a switch second mode position in which said fan means operates at a high flow capacity to produce operation of said heating element in cooperation with air circulated by said fan means primarily in a heat convecting mode.
2. The fan heater of claim 1 wherein said switch means first mode position, provides limited local air recirculation, and thermosensitive control means being connected electrically in energy controlling relation with said radiant heating element, to limit energization of said element when a predetermined air temperature of recirculated air is sensed.
CA000434520A 1983-08-12 1983-08-12 Combined radiant and fan heater Expired CA1209631A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000434520A CA1209631A (en) 1983-08-12 1983-08-12 Combined radiant and fan heater
GB08418455A GB2144843A (en) 1983-08-12 1984-07-19 Multi-mode fan heater

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000434520A CA1209631A (en) 1983-08-12 1983-08-12 Combined radiant and fan heater

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1209631A true CA1209631A (en) 1986-08-12

Family

ID=4125863

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000434520A Expired CA1209631A (en) 1983-08-12 1983-08-12 Combined radiant and fan heater

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1209631A (en)
GB (1) GB2144843A (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2395775B (en) * 2002-11-07 2006-10-18 Ambi Rad Ltd An indirect heater assembly
CN115962506A (en) * 2022-11-21 2023-04-14 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 Electric heater and air temperature control method thereof

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB485283A (en) * 1937-09-06 1938-05-19 Edward Bennett Improvements in or relating to electric fans
GB745742A (en) * 1953-02-03 1956-02-29 William James Elkington Improvements relating to heating devices
GB926954A (en) * 1958-06-27 1963-05-22 Sidney Mcdougall Improvements in or relating to convection and radiation heaters
DE1205680B (en) * 1958-09-12 1965-11-25 Electrolux Ab Additional device with heating resistor for household vacuum cleaners operated by electric motors
GB1040189A (en) * 1963-11-11 1966-08-24 Planet Jig And Tool Company Lt Improvements in and relating to domestic electric heating appliances
AT320807B (en) * 1972-03-02 1975-02-25 Laing Ingeborg Electric heater with an electromotive fan
GB2075665B (en) * 1980-05-08 1983-12-21 United Gas Industries Ltd Electric fires

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2144843A (en) 1985-03-13
GB8418455D0 (en) 1984-08-22

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