GB2451297A

GB2451297A - Warm air blower

Info

Publication number: GB2451297A
Application number: GB0714859A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Allen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-27
Filing date: 2007-07-27
Publication date: 2009-01-28
Also published as: GB0714859D0; GB2451308B; GB0802648D0; GB2451308A; WO2009016394A1; GB0813315D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a cold air supply, box A, and a hot air supply. The hot and cold air are mixed (in box B) and then forced through a cone shaped portion and over a delta-shaped panel D to cause the air to move in a vortex or swirling motion as it leaves the apparatus. A coned nozzle C allows the direction of airflow to be selected. The entire apparatus is portable and may be mounted on a trailer.

Description

Heat wave vortex device This invention relates to a device that is portable, and removes the formation of frost in crops and citrus groves.

The device is designed to combine hot and cold air and produce large quantities of warm air in which the airflow is passed over a delta shaped panel at the exhaust point, which produces a vortex air mass in a swirling pattern, so mixing the air Large amounts of hot and cold air is mixed in box B, and directed over a Delta shaped triangular wing (item D) which produces the vortex swirl effect.

A single portable device can direct well over 6000cubic feet per minute(cfm) of warm air over various locations such as Citrus tree groves, or other crops which require frost defence to prevent them being destroyed.

This design also reduces the effects of fog and by utilising the design at airports the effects of fog will be reduced.

The device's effects are designed to be used in pairs on a portable trailer, which would have an internal width of 5ft which would allow it to be driven through Citrus groves or other crops.

The warm vortex airflow is designed to be hot enough to prevent frost and fog from forming whilst mobile, but not hot enough to damage crops or other items.

During development a temperature rise of over 15 degrees C at a distance of 30ft has been proven using 2 x 280,000btu space heaters, and a single 2860cfm cold air fan.

The vortex swirling effect is produced by including a Delta shaped panel (D) which is angled at 15 degrees to create a vortex swirling effect as the air is forced over it.

The delta panel can be attached to either exit port of the mixing box B, or attached to the 45 degree bend nozzle C, which is used to give greater directional control of the warm airflow, such as in citrus groves.

The size of the design allows for two heat wave vortex devices to be mounted side by side on a 5ft wide trailer. This gives a heat output for the research model of 1,000,000btu's(l6Okw) and a combined air flow of over 6000cfm(cubic feet per minute) which is directed through both mixing boxes B and over the Delta shaped panels This creates two large warm air vortex's whilst the units are mobile, allowing no build up of frost or fog.

The heaters required for the device to produce the hot air, can be either propane or oil fired depending on the fuel of choice.

A single heat wave vortex machine requires 2 propane space heaters(280,000btus's), a single cold air fan(test model utilised had a 2860cfm output), and a single petrol generator with a 2.4kw output to drive the heaters fans, and the cold air fan motors.

Throughout the research and development of this device there is scope for larger heaters and fans to be used at areas such as airports to prevent the formation of fog, and frost build up on aircraft.

The device is shown in a layout which would be beneficial in the frost protection ti.) of agricultural crops due to the trailer size to be driven between crops.

The heat wave vortex device comprises of a cold air fan similar with an output of 2860 cfm which is attached to the entrance port of Box A, this cold airflow is directed into the entrance port of mixing box B. Two heaters are attached below the cold air entrance port into Box B, and the airflow mixes with hot air produced by 2 heater blowers, which can produce 280,000btus(8Okw) each, and a further airflow of 2000cfm each.

(4000cfm from 2 x heaters, plus 2600 cfm from the cold fan blower = 6600cfm).

This mixed warm airflow is then directed over a Delta shaped panel at the exit port to produce a large warm air vortex swirling effect.

The vortex swirling motion of the air is exhausted through the exit nozzle of Box B, or if further directional control is required, nozzle C (45 degree bend) can be attached to Box Band exit port and the Delta shaped panel (D) is attached to the exit of this bend to produce the vortex air flow.

This swirling vortex of warm air mixes the outside air to reduce the effect and build up of frost and fog in any area.

The whole package is designed in this example to fit on to a 5ft wide trailer in pairs, which would also carry the required propane bottles and generator.(lOft long) To cover a greater surface area at the same time, two heat wave vortex devices would be mounted on the same 5ft wide trailer, which allows for continued movement between crops such as citrus groves.

The delta shaped panel(D) is secured by two bolts, on to either mixing box B exit port, or if the the 45 degree nozzle C is required, it can be also attached to nozzle C. Boxes A, B, nozzle C, and delta panel D, are all made from galvanised sheet metal. The thickness of the metal is variable depending on the heaters utilised.

The heat wave vortex machine is fully portable and each Box item is fully removable from a trailer, allowing a normal agricultural trailer to be used.

Several of these units would be required to keep a citrus crop from becoming frost damaged.

The system also stops the formation of fog. Larger heaters and fans can be utilised for greater effect but the vortex airflow produced by the delta shaped panel D mixes the warm airflow and stops the frost and fog from forming.

Nozzle C is used to direct the airflow at higher crops such as citrus groves as it passes through them.

Box A design is designed to fit into the upper rear part of mixing Box B, and the degree bend nozzle C can be attached if required.

Delta shaped panel D, is either attached to Box B exit port, or onto the exit port of bend nozzle C, if it is used.

Space heaters slot into the 2 large holes at the rear of mixing Box B to provide the hot airflow, and a further high powered blower fan is attached to the entrance of box A to provide cold air at a high output. A generator with an output of 2 4kw is required to provide electricity to power the 2 heater blowers, and the cold air fan. (L)

All of these items are designed to fit inj,airs on a 5ft wide trailer.

The device is designed to be fully portable, and all the items can be fitted and detached with ease onto a trailer.

If propane is the fuel of choice to produce the heat, the device is designed to be able to fit in pairs onto a trailer, along with the required 4 propane bottles at the front of a lOft long trailer, so that all the devices can be carried on the same trailer, and towed by any vehicle such as a quad bike, which could fit into a narrow gap Inventor M.J Allen. i3)

Claims

Claim.

Heatwave Vortex.

1. The heat wave vortex is a fully portable device which can combine and mix large amounts of hot and cold air and then direct through a cone the large amounts of forced warm air over a delta shaped wing panel at the exit port which in turn produces a vortex swirling effect to a directed point reducing the effects of frost amongst crops such as citrus groves.

2 The warm air mass produced in development raises the outside temperature by over 15 degrees at a distance of 3Oft and is not hot enough to damage the crops but will not allow a frost to build up.

3. The device is designed to be placed in pairs on most agricultural trailers and towed between crops such as citrus groves.

4. A high power cold air fan fits into the entry port of Box A which connects into the rear of Box B which allows for the cold air to mix with the hot air produced by the heat blowers at the rear of Box B to be directed through the exit port of Box B which allows over 6000 cubic feet per minute of warm air to be forced over the delta shaped panel D which produces a vortex of warm swirling air.

7. The nozzle bend itemed C can also be fitted to direct the large warm air mass in any direction required and it also is fitted with the delta shaped panel D to produce the vortex effect of the exiting warm air mass to mix warm air amongst the crop such as a citrus grove.

8 The device can be left in static positions amongst crops but by towing it through the crops the swirling warm mass mixes with the colder air raising the temperature of the air in the field and so reduces the effect of a damaging frost.

9. The device has been shown to reduce the effects of fog by raising the temperature of the air above its dew point at a location where fog has formed and would be ideal to remove fog when placed along side airport runways or other locations.

The device can be made in larger dimensions and would produce greater vortex effects if larger areas are required to be protected from frost or fog.

11. The device shown in the description includes the outputs of both the hot and cold air fans used in the development stages and it is designed with size in mind to fit in pairs allowing it to be towed through citrus groves.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Hatwave Vortex.

Claims for frost and fog prevention.

1. The heat wave vortex is a fully portable device, which can combine and mix large amounts of hot and cold air and then direct it through a cone shaped exit.

Large amounts of warm air is forced over a delta shaped wing panel at the exit port which in turn produces a vortex swirling effect to a directed point reducing the effects of frost amongst crops such as citrus groves.

2. The warm air mass produced in development raises the outside temperature by over 15 degrees at a distance of 30ft and is not hot enough to damage the crops but will not allow a frost or fog to build up.

3. The device is designed to be placed in pairs on most agricultural trailers and towed between crops such as citrus groves.

4. A high power cold air fan fits into the entry port of Box A which connects into the rear of Box B which allows for the cold air to mix with the hot air produced by the heat blowers at the rear of Box B to be directed through the exit port of Box B which allows over 6000 cubic feet per minute of warm air to be forced over the delta shaped panel 0 which produces a vortex of warm swirling air.

7. The nozzle bend itemed C can also be fitted to direct the large warm air mass in any direction required and it also is fitted with the delta shaped panel D to produce the vortex effect of the exiting warm air mass to mix warm air amongst the crop such as a citrus grove.

8. The device can be left in static positions amongst crops but by towing it through the crops the swirling warm mass mixes with the colder air raising the temperature of the air in the field and so reduces the effect of a damaging frost.

9. The device by using the same procedure will reduce the effects of fog and mist, by raising the temperature of the air above its dew point at a location where fog has formed and would be ideal to remove fog when placed along side airport runways or other locations.

10. The device can be made in larger dimensions and would produce greater vortex effects if larger areas are required to be protected from frost or fog.

11. The device shown in the description is designed with size in mind to fit in pairs on a portable trailer, allowing it to be towed through crops.