US20150168012A1 - Heater having a floating heat exchanger - Google Patents
Heater having a floating heat exchanger Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20150168012A1 US20150168012A1 US14/635,671 US201514635671A US2015168012A1 US 20150168012 A1 US20150168012 A1 US 20150168012A1 US 201514635671 A US201514635671 A US 201514635671A US 2015168012 A1 US2015168012 A1 US 2015168012A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- heater
- heat exchanger
- shell
- disposed
- heat
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000007667 floating Methods 0.000 title claims description 13
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 229910052755 nonmetal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 71
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 37
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 30
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 22
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 14
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 10
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 5
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000005485 electric heating Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 3
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 2
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920005830 Polyurethane Foam Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003197 catalytic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001413 cellular effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013500 data storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003066 decision tree Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004907 flux Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013521 mastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005055 memory storage Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011490 mineral wool Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006855 networking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003208 petroleum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001690 polydopamine Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011496 polyurethane foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011819 refractory material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000005060 rubber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010865 sewage Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H3/00—Air heaters
- F24H3/02—Air heaters with forced circulation
- F24H3/04—Air heaters with forced circulation the air being in direct contact with the heating medium, e.g. electric heating element
- F24H3/0405—Air heaters with forced circulation the air being in direct contact with the heating medium, e.g. electric heating element using electric energy supply, e.g. the heating medium being a resistive element; Heating by direct contact, i.e. with resistive elements, electrodes and fins being bonded together without additional element in-between
- F24H3/0411—Air heaters with forced circulation the air being in direct contact with the heating medium, e.g. electric heating element using electric energy supply, e.g. the heating medium being a resistive element; Heating by direct contact, i.e. with resistive elements, electrodes and fins being bonded together without additional element in-between for domestic or space-heating systems
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H3/00—Air heaters
- F24H3/002—Air heaters using electric energy supply
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
- F24H15/355—Control of heat-generating means in heaters
- F24H15/37—Control of heat-generating means in heaters of electric heaters
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
- F24H15/395—Information to users, e.g. alarms
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/40—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the type of controllers
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H9/00—Details
- F24H9/0052—Details for air heaters
- F24H9/0057—Guiding means
- F24H9/0063—Guiding means in air channels
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H9/00—Details
- F24H9/18—Arrangement or mounting of grates or heating means
- F24H9/1854—Arrangement or mounting of grates or heating means for air heaters
- F24H9/1863—Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H9/00—Details
- F24H9/20—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24H9/2064—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for air heaters
- F24H9/2071—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for air heaters using electrical energy supply
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D2220/00—Components of central heating installations excluding heat sources
- F24D2220/20—Heat consumers
- F24D2220/2009—Radiators
- F24D2220/2036—Electric radiators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/20—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control inputs
- F24H15/254—Room temperature
Abstract
A heater having a heat exchanger with a heat emission device disposed therein. The heater includes an airflow channel formed by a shell disposed about the heat exchanger. The heat emission device is physically coupled to the shell by a coupling device that is consisting essentially of a non-metal heat insulating interface structure. The heater includes a housing disposed about the shell. The heat emission device is not directly physically coupled to the airflow channel by a metal structure. The heat emission device is not directly physically coupled to the housing by a metal structure. The interface structure is a collar disposed about an end of the heat emission device and through an aperture of a side wall of the shell. The interface structure is ceramic.
Description
- This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of, under 35 U.S.C. §121, and claims priority to, under 35 U.S.C. §121, U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 13/425,617, entitled Heater, by Bruce Amberson, filed on Mar. 21, 2012.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to heating devices, specifically a heater including a floating heat exchanger.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- A heater is an object that emits heat or causes another body to achieve a higher temperature. In a household or domestic setting, heaters are usually appliances whose purpose is to generate heating (i.e. warmth). Heaters exist for all states of matter, including solids, liquids and gases and there are 3 types of heat transfer: Convection, Conduction and Radiation.
- A heat exchanger is a piece of equipment built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to another. The media may be separated by a solid wall, so that they never mix, or they may be in direct contact. They are widely used in space heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, power plants, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries, natural gas processing, and sewage treatment. The classic example of a heat exchanger is found in an internal combustion engine in which a circulating fluid known as engine coolant flows through radiator coils and air flows past the coils, which cools the coolant and heats the incoming air.
- Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples of references related to the present invention are described below in their own words, and the supporting teachings of each reference are incorporated by reference herein:
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,046,918, issued to Burkett et al., discloses a space heater with a linear source of infrared radiant energy in heat exchange relationship with a heat exchanger formed of copper or aluminum material. The copper is pretreated to soften the copper and partially blacken the surface thereof. The aluminum is anodized and electrolytically colored dark. The space heater is thermally more efficient than a comparable space heater wherein the copper or aluminum has not been pretreated. The linear source of infrared radiant energy and heat exchanger are mounted in a heater core that is thermally insulated by an air jacket from an exterior case.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,260, issued to Orr et al., discloses a portable electric heater producing a vertically oriented, heated exhaust air stream at an elevation above a support surface is provided. A base contacting the support surface and supporting an elongate housing in a substantially vertical position from the support surface. An inlet opening allows air to enter the interior of the housing and a vertically oriented outlet opening allows a heated exhaust air stream to exit the housing. An air blower assembly and elongate electric heating element are disposed within the housing. The air blower assembly has a substantially vertically oriented axis of rotation and the electric heating element is substantially vertically oriented proximate the outlet opening. The flow of the exhaust air stream from the air impeller assembly toward the vertically oriented elongate electric heating element is a substantially direct and straight vector and substantially all of the exhaust air stream passes through the electric heating element.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,835, issued to Ibrahim, discloses a high-temperature, non-catalytic, infrared heater is formed within a housing having a bottom and at least one side lined with a refractory material. The burner includes a burner surface area and is positioned within the housing. A re-radiating surface is positioned above the burner and comprises a mesh having a re-radiating surface area greater than the burner surface area with the re-radiating surface operating between approximately 400 F. and 2200 F.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,898, issued to Kling, discloses an electric space heater includes an exterior case (10) which encloses an insulated heater core housing (12). Heat is generated in the heater core (14) by elongated incandescent ultraviolet lamps (64) mounted in a frame (60) inside the core housing (12). A porous aluminum sheet heat exchanger (68) surrounds the lamps (64) on three sides and extends the length of the lamps. A fan (34) mounted in an inlet opening (27) of a rear wall (22) of the case (10) forces air through an opening (52) in the core housing (12) through the heat exchanger (68) and around the lamps, and through outlet openings (28, 54) to the space to be heated. The core housing (12) is U-shaped with curved portions (46, 48) to laminate the air flow.
- The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages which include being inefficient, being bulky, being difficult to install, expensive, expensive to ship and/or store, being limited in use, being limited in application, being difficult to maintain a constant temperature, being ineffective, being limited in heat output, being difficult to manage or maintain, having poor heat transfer properties, heating too slowly, heating a room in an uncomfortable manner, failing to heat air sufficiently before blowing the same to a space to be heated, generating room temperature fluctuations that are too great, generating too much heat in the housing of the heater, wasting energy, endangering children, burning those who come in contact with the heater, and the like and combinations thereof.
- What is needed is a heater that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.
- The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available heaters. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an efficient and effective heating device.
- According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a heater that may include a heat exchanger with a heat emission device that may be disposed therein. The heater may include an airflow channel that may be formed by a shell that may be disposed about the heat exchanger. The heat emission device may be physically coupled to the shell by a coupling device that may be consisting essentially of a non-metal heat insulating interface structure. The heater may include a housing that may be disposed about the shell. The heat emission device may not be directly physically coupled to the airflow channel by a metal structure. The heat emission device may not be directly physically coupled to the housing by a metal structure.
- The interface structure may be a collar disposed about an end of the heat emission device and through an aperture of a side wall of the shell. The interface structure may be ceramic. The heat exchanger may be physically supported by the heat emission device and may not be directly physically coupled to any other portion of the heater. The heat exchanger may be an elongated airflow channel that may be formed by a metal enclosure having apertures at two opposite ends and having a cross-section that is accordion-shaped. The heat exchanger may not be directly touching any part of the heater except for the heat emission device. The heat emission device may be an elongated infrared heating element that protrudes through apertures through the heat exchanger at opposite ends thereof. The shell that may include apertures therethrough at opposite walls thereof through which the heat emission device protrudes and may be coupled thereto thereby.
- According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a heater that may include a housing that may have a floating heat exchanger that may be disposed therein that may be directly physically coupled only to a set of heat emission devices therein. The set of heat emission devices may include a plurality of elongated infrared heating elements. The heat exchanger may be substantially surrounded by a shell in a spaced relation from all portions of the heat exchanger that may thereby form an airflow channel around the heat exchanger. The heating elements may be coupled to and supported by the shell. The heating elements may be coupled to the shell through an insulating collar that may be disposed between cylindrical ends of the heating elements and mating apertures through the shell.
- The heat exchanger may include a first wall and a second wall, opposite the first wall, wherein the first and second walls may be coupled together by a pair of roughly textured walls, each of the pair of roughly textured walls may be disposed opposite the other with the heating elements disposed therebetween. The heat exchanger may include a pair of mating clamshell panels that may have matching and oppositely oriented U-shaped cut-outs at turned ends thereof that, when coupled together, entrap collared ends of the heating elements. The heat exchanger may have an accordion-shaped cross-section.
- According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a heater that may include a set of heating elements. The heater may include a floating heat exchanger that may be disposed therein that may be directly physically coupled only to the set of heating elements and may not be directly physically coupled to any other portion of the heater. The heater may include an airflow channel that may be formed by a shell that may be disposed about the heat exchanger. The set of heating elements may be physically coupled to the shell by a coupling device that may be consisting essentially of a non-metal heat insulating interface structure. The heater may include a housing that may be disposed about the shell.
- The set of heating elements may be elongated infrared emitters that may be coupled to and supported by the shell through apertures in side walls of the shell. The heat exchanger may be substantially surrounded by the shell in a spaced relation from all portions of the heat exchanger that may thereby form an airflow channel around the heat exchanger. The set of heating elements may be coupled to the shell through an insulating collar that may be disposed between cylindrical ends of the heating elements and mating apertures through the shell.
- Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
- Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
- These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
- In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawing(s). It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. The drawings are mere schematics representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. Understanding that these drawing(s) depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not, therefore, to be considered to be limiting its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawing(s), in which:
-
FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a heat exchanger of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a heat exchanger of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a display module coupled to a housing of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 5 is a module diagram of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 7 illustrates a front elevational view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 8 illustrates a side elevational view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 9 illustrates a top plan view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 10 illustrates a bottom plan view of heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 11 illustrates a back elevational view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a heater coupled to a wall of a room, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a sequence of instructions of a control module of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention; and -
FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a sequence of instructions of a control module of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. - For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing(s), and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
- Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like.
- Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of programmable or executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.
- Indeed, a module and/or a program of executable code may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.
- The various system components and/or modules discussed herein may include one or more of the following: a host server or other computing systems including a processor for processing digital data; a memory coupled to said processor for storing digital data; an input digitizer coupled to the processor for inputting digital data; an application program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor for directing processing of digital data by said processor; a display device coupled to the processor and memory for displaying information derived from digital data processed by said processor; and a plurality of databases. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, any computers discussed herein may include an operating system (e.g., Windows, NT, 95/98/2000, OS2; UNIX; Linux; Solaris; MacOS; Google Android; Apple iOS; mobile operating systems, and etc.) as well as various conventional support software and drivers typically associated with computers. The computers may be in a home or business environment with access to a network. In an exemplary embodiment, access is through the Internet through a commercially-available web-browser software package.
- The present invention may be described herein in terms of functional block components, screen shots, user interaction, optional selections, various processing steps, and the like. Each of such described herein may be one or more modules in exemplary embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, the present invention may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, the software elements of the present invention may be implemented with any programming or scripting language such as C, C++, Java, COBOL, assembler, PERL, PHP, Visual Basic, SQL, AJAX, extensible markup language (XML), with the various algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. Further, it should be noted that the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, network control, and the like. Still further, the invention may detect or prevent security issues with a client-side scripting language, such as JavaScript, VBScript, DHTML, HTML, or the like.
- Additionally, many of the functional units and/or modules herein are described as being “in communication” with other functional units and/or modules. Being “in communication” refers to any manner and/or way in which functional units and/or modules, such as, but not limited to, computers, laptop computers, PDAs, modules, environmentally sensitive devices, cameras, motion detectors and other types of hardware and/or software, may be in communication with each other. Some non-limiting examples include communicating, sending, and/or receiving data and metadata via: a network, a wireless network, software, instructions, circuitry, phone lines, internet lines, satellite signals, electric signals, electrical and magnetic fields and/or pulses, and/or so forth.
- As used herein, the term “network” may include any electronic communications means which incorporates both hardware and software components of such. Communication among the parties in accordance with the present invention may be accomplished through any suitable communication channels, such as, for example, a telephone network, an extranet, an intranet, Internet, point of interaction device (point of sale device, personal digital assistant, cellular phone, kiosk, etc.), online communications, off-line communications, wireless communications, transponder communications, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), Bluetooth, Zigbee, networked or linked devices and/or the like. Moreover, although the invention may be implemented with TCP/IP communications protocols, the invention may also be implemented using IPX, Appletalk, IP-6, NetBIOS, OSI, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or any number of existing or future protocols. If the network is in the nature of a public network, such as the Internet, it may be advantageous to presume the network to be insecure and open to eavesdroppers. Specific information related to the protocols, standards, and application software utilized in connection with the Internet is generally known to those skilled in the art and, as such, need not be detailed herein. See, for example, DILIP NAIK, INTERNET STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS (1998); JAVA 2 COMPLETE, various authors, (Sybex 1999); DEBORAH RAY AND ERIC RAY, MASTERING HTML 4.0 (1997); and LOSHIN, TCP/IP CLEARLY EXPLAINED (1997), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
- Reference throughout this specification to an “embodiment,” an “example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or combinations thereof described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases an “embodiment,” an “example,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, to different embodiments, or to one or more of the figures. Additionally, reference to the wording “embodiment,” “example” or the like, for two or more features, elements, etc. does not mean that the features are necessarily related, dissimilar, the same, etc.
- Each statement of an embodiment, or example, is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. Therefore, where one embodiment is identified as “another embodiment,” the identified embodiment is independent of any other embodiments characterized by the language “another embodiment.” The features, functions, and the like described herein are considered to be able to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly.
- As used herein, “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “is,” “are,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional unrecited elements or method steps. “Comprising” is to be interpreted as including the more restrictive terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”
-
FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown aheater 10 including ahousing 12 including ashell 110, anintake aperture 14, afan 32, aninfrared emission module 26, anoutput aperture 16, and a floatingheat exchanger 18, wherein the floating heat exchanger is directly coupled only to a plurality of heating elements which are coupled to the shell bynon-metallic interface structures 115 havingceramic collars 120 friction fitted within mating apertures of the shell. Advantageously, the floating heat exchanger allows for faster heating, more directed heating and reduced housing/shell temperatures which result in safer and more comfortable heating while in operation. - The illustrated
heater 10 including ahousing 12 configured to secure the components and modules of theheater 10. Thehousing 12 includes anintake aperture 14 disposed about a back portion of thehousing 12 of theheater 10. Thehousing 12 also includes anoutput aperture 16 disposed about a front portion of thehousing 12 of theheater 10. Theheater 10 includes aheat exchanger 18 that is operatively disposed within thehousing 12 between theintake aperture 14 and theoutput aperture 16. Theheat exchanger 18 is configured to increase the temperature of the ambient air passing there through. - The illustrated
heater 10 includes aninfrared emission module 26 that is disposed within a cavity of theheat exchanger 18. Theinfrared emission module 26 is substantially enclosed thereby such that emitted infrared light does not escape therefrom. Theinfrared emission module 26 includes a firstinfrared emitter 28, a secondinfrared emitter 30, a thirdinfrared emitter 58, and a fourthinfrared emitter 60. The illustratedinfrared emitters heat exchanger 18. Theheater 10 includes afan 32 that is positioned to motivate air into thehousing 12 through theintake aperture 14, across theheat exchanger 18 and theinfrared emission module 26, and out of anoutput aperture 16. - The illustrated
heater 10 includes aheat exchanger 18 with aheat emission device 26 disposed therein. Theheater 10 includes anairflow channel 105 formed by ashell 110 disposed about theheat exchanger 18. Theheat emission device 26 is physically coupled to theshell 110 by acoupling device 115 consisting essentially of a non-metal heat insulating interface structure. Theheater 10 includes ahousing 12 disposed about theshell 110. Theheat emission device 26 is not directly physically coupled to theairflow channel 105 by a metal structure. Theheat emission device 26 is not directly physically coupled to thehousing 12 by a metal structure. - The
interface structure 115 includes acollar 120 disposed about an end of theheat emission device 26 and through an aperture of a side wall of theshell 110. The illustratedinterface structure 115 is ceramic and nonmetallic. Theheat exchanger 18 is physically supported by theheat emission device 26 and is not directly physically coupled to any other portion of theheater 10. Theheat exchanger 18 is anelongated airflow channel 125 formed by ametal enclosure 110 having apertures at two opposite ends and having a cross-section that is accordion-shaped. Theheat exchanger 18 is not directly touching any part of theheater 10 except for theheat emission device 26. Theheat emission device 26 is an elongatedinfrared heating element heat exchanger 18 at opposite ends thereof. The shell ormetal enclosure 110 includes apertures therethrough at opposite walls thereof through which theheat emission device 26 protrudes and is coupled thereto thereby. - Of note, the
heat exchanger 18 is not coupled to the shell or any other portion of the housing directly. Specifically, there are no brackets supporting the heat exchanger, there are no mounts supporting the heat exchanger, there are no tabs supporting the heat exchanger, and there are no coupling structures coupling the heat exchanger directly to the shell. Instead, the heat exchanger is coupled only to the illustrated heating elements in a manner similar to how the heating elements are coupled to the shell. With no direct physical contact between the shell and the heat exchanger and with non-metal ceramic (or other materials having a similarly low heat conductance) collars providing the interface with the shell, only a very small amount of heat is transmitted directly from physical contact with the heating elements and no heat is transferred by direct physical contact with the heat exchanger (since there is no direct physical contact). - While ceramic collars are illustrated, other similar structures and/or materials may be utilized as well, including but not limited to mineral wool sleeves, brackets or coatings of rigid polyurethane foam (PUR/PIR), thermal cement coatings, silica tile braces, ceramic fiber mastic coatings and the like and combinations thereof. It may be that such structures circumscribe (or not circumscribe) a portion of a heating element that is to couple to a shell and/or a heat exchanger. It may be that such structures couple about a heating elements and clasp, clamp, clip, snap, buckle, pinch, screw to, tie to, or otherwise couple to a shell and/or a heat exchanger using one or more clamps, clips, snaps, buckles, pinching members, screws, bolts, nails, staples, ties, and the like and combinations thereof. Wherein the structure is limited to be non-metallic, rigid structures such as but not limited to nails, screws, bolts, staples and the like that are traditionally metallic may be ceramic, plastic, mineral or otherwise not metallic.
-
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a bottom perspective view of a heat exchanger of a heater and a perspective view of a heat exchanger of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown aheater 10 including ahousing 12 and aheat exchanger 18 disposed therein, wherein aninfrared emission module 26 is disposed within theheat exchanger 18. In addition, the illustratedheater 10 includes afan 32 disposed about a top portion of thehousing 12. - The illustrated
heater 10 includes ahousing 12 configured to secure the components and modules of theheater 10 therein. Theheater 10 includes aheat exchanger 18 that is operatively disposed within thehousing 12 between an intake aperture and an output aperture of thehousing 12. Theheat exchanger 18 includes ashell 20 forming acavity 22 therein, wherein aninterior surface 24 of theshell 20 is substantially black in the infrared domain. The blackinterior surface 24 of theshell 20 of theheat exchanger 18 is configured to absorb heat emission from aninfrared emission module 26 disposed therein, wherein the color black captures more infrared emissions and increases the temperature of the air passing therethrough. Theshell 20 of theheat exchanger 18 includes anodized aluminum that has not been subject to processing to make the surface reflective. Theshell 20 of theheat exchanger 18 includes a plurality of ridges configured to expand the surface area of theheat exchanger 18, thereby increasing the temperature of the air passing therethrough. The shell substantially covers theinfrared emission module 26 such that there are substantially no apertures about four of the six cubic/rectangular sides that may be covered by the shell. “Substantially no apertures” means that there are no apertures that permit a direct line of sight from an exterior of the shell to an operative surface of the infrared emission module. It is common for heat exchangers to include a multitude of apertures, such that the heat exchanger has a mesh or net-like appearance that permits infrared energy to escape the same, whereas the illustrated shell is different from such. - The
heater 10 includes aninfrared emission module 26 that is disposed within thecavity 22 of theheat exchanger 18. Theinfrared emission module 26 is substantially enclosed thereby such that emitted infrared light does not escape therefrom. This advantageously increases efficiency of the heater while reducing heat transfer to the housing of the heater, thereby protecting users thereof from heated housings and permitting the housing to be smaller. Accordingly, the heater may be placed more easily, interfere less with its surroundings, be less expensive, and/or be less expensive to ship/store. - The illustrated
infrared emission module 26 includes a firstinfrared emitter 28 and a secondinfrared emitter 30 configured to emit infrared light, thereby producing heat therefrom. The firstinfrared emitter 28 and the secondinfrared emitter 30 are disposed in parallel within thecavity 22 of theheat exchanger 18. Non-limiting examples of infrared emission modules include but are not limited to an infrared emitter described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,511, issued to Syllaios et al.; an infrared emitter described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,723, issued to Mohn et al.; or an infrared emitter described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,170,071, issued to Broussard, the supporting teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein. - The
heater 10 includes afan 32 that is positioned to motivate air into thehousing 12 through an intake aperture, across theheat exchanger 18, passed theinfrared emission module 26 and out of an output aperture. The illustratedfan 32 is disposed about a top portion of thehousing 12 and configured to motivate air in through an intake aperture, into thehousing 12, through and around theheat exchanger 18 and theinfrared emission module 26 and out an output aperture. - The illustrated
heater 10 includes a housing 23 having a floatingheat exchanger 18 disposed therein that is directly physically coupled only to a set ofheat emission devices 26 therein. The set ofheat emission devices 26 includes a plurality of elongatedinfrared heating elements heat exchanger 18 is substantially surrounded by ashell 12 in a spaced relation from all portions of theheat exchanger 18 thereby forming anairflow channel 105 around theheat exchanger 18. Theheating elements shell 12. Theheating elements shell 12 through an insulatingcollar 120 disposed between cylindrical ends of theheating elements shell 12. - The
heat exchanger 18 includes afirst wall 130 and asecond wall 135, opposite thefirst wall 130, wherein thefirst wall 130 andsecond wall 135 are coupled together by a pair of roughly texturedwalls 140, each of the pair of roughly textured walls are disposed opposite the other with theheating elements heat exchanger 18 includes a pair of mating clamshell panels that have matching and oppositely oriented U-shaped cut-outs at turned ends thereof that, when coupled together, entrap collared ends of theheating elements heat exchanger 18 has an accordion-shaped cross-section. -
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a display module coupled to a housing of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown aheater 10 including afan 32, ahousing 12, and adisplay screen 90. - The illustrated
heater 10 is configured to heat the ambient air of a room to a desired temperature. Theheater 10 includes ahousing 12 configured to secure the components and modules of aninfrared emission module 26 therein. Theheater 10 includes afan 32 configured to motivate air into thehousing 12 through an intake aperture, across theinfrared emission module 26, and out of anoutput aperture 16. Theinfrared emission module 26 is configured to provide heating elements to theheater 10 and heat the ambient air entering theheater 10. The illustratedhousing 12 includes afront portion 55 configured to couple to adisplay module 90, such as a flat screen television. Thedisplay module 90 is configured to display an audio visual display, such as a fireplace. - The illustrated
heater 10 includes a set ofheating elements heater 10 includes a floatingheat exchanger 18 disposed therein that is directly physically coupled only to the set ofheating elements heater 10. Theheater 10 includes anairflow channel 105 formed by ashell 105 that is disposed about theheat exchanger 18. The set ofheating elements shell 12 by a coupling device that is consisting essentially of a non-metal heat insulating interface structure. - The set of
heating elements shell 12 through apertures in side walls of theshell 12. Theheat exchanger 26 is substantially surrounded by theshell 12 in a spaced relation from all portions of theheat exchanger 26 thereby forming anairflow channel 105 around theheat exchanger 26. The set ofheating elements shell 12 through an insulatingcollar 120 disposed between cylindrical ends of theheating elements shell 12. -
FIG. 5 is a module diagram of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. Theheater 10 includes apower module 34, acontrol module 36, aninfrared emission module 26, and aninterface module 15. - The illustrated
heater 10 includes apower module 34 functionally coupled to the components and modules of theheater 10. Thepower module 34 is configured to provide power to the components and modules of theheater 10. - The
heater 10 includes acontrol module 36 in operative communication with the components and modules of theheater 10. Thecontrol module 36 is configured to provide operational instructions to the modules and components of theheater 10. Acontrol module 10 may include one or more of the following that may be operatively coupled to each other in any manner known in the art: state machine, central processing unit (CPU), bus, memory device, computer, server, networking device, and the like and combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of a control module may be a control module described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,836, issued to Wolf et al.; or a control module described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,635, issued to Swan et al. which are incorporated for their supported teachings herein. A control module may include but is not limited to a processor, a state machine, a script, a decision tree, and the like. Non-limiting examples of memory devices include ROM, RAM, Solid State memory, hard drives, tape drives, flash drives, optical memory devices, Smart LCD displays, Smart Plasma displays, Smart LED displays, and the like and combinations thereof, including but not limited to: a HP Storage Works P2000 G3 Modular Smart Array System, manufactured by Hewlett-Packard Company, 3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, Calif., 94304, USA; a Sony Pocket Bit USB Hash Drive, manufactured by Sony Corporation of America, 550 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y., 10022; or Data storage modules may be databases or data files, and the memory storage device may be hard drives or tapes. A non-limiting example of a data base is Filemaker Pro 11, manufactured by Filemaker Inc., 5261 Patrick Henry Dr., Santa Clara, Calif., 95054, or a memory modules described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,092, issued to Shibata et al.; or a memory module as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,072,201, issued to So et al., the supporting teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein. - The
heater 10 includes aninfrared emission module 26 functionally coupled to thepower module 34, thecontrol module 36, and aninterface module 15. Such coupling may be through wired and/or wireless connections that may transmit one or more of data, commands, power, and the like and combinations thereof. Theinfrared emission module 26 is configured to emit infrared light to heat ambient air flowing through theheater 10. Theheater 10 includes aninterface module 15 in operative communication with the modules and components of theheater 10. Theinterface module 15 is configured to provide operational controls to the modules and components of the heater. - According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a heater that may include a heat exchanger with a heat emission device that may be disposed therein. The heater may include an airflow channel that may be formed by a shell that may be disposed about the heat exchanger. The heat emission device may be physically coupled to the shell by a coupling device that may be consisting essentially of a non-metal heat insulating interface structure. The heater may include a housing that may be disposed about the shell. The heat emission device may not be directly physically coupled to the airflow channel by a metal structure. The heat emission device may not be directly physically coupled to the housing by a metal structure.
- The interface structure may be a collar disposed about an end of the heat emission device and through an aperture of a side wall of the shell. The interface structure may be ceramic. The heat exchanger may be physically supported by the heat emission device and may not be directly physically coupled to any other portion of the heater. The heat exchanger may be an elongated airflow channel that may be formed by a metal enclosure having apertures at two opposite ends and having a cross-section that is accordion-shaped. The heat exchanger may not be directly touching any part of the heater except for the heat emission device. The heat emission device may be an elongated infrared heating element that protrudes through apertures through the heat exchanger at opposite ends thereof. The shell that may include apertures therethrough at opposite walls thereof through which the heat emission device protrudes and may be coupled thereto thereby.
- According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a heater that may include a housing that may have a floating heat exchanger that may be disposed therein that may be directly physically coupled only to a set of heat emission devices therein. The set of heat emission devices may include a plurality of elongated infrared heating elements. The heat exchanger may be substantially surrounded by a shell in a spaced relation from all portions of the heat exchanger that may thereby form an airflow channel around the heat exchanger. The heating elements may be coupled to and supported by the shell. The heating elements may be coupled to the shell through an insulating collar that may be disposed between cylindrical ends of the heating elements and mating apertures through the shell.
- The heat exchanger may include a first wall and a second wall, opposite the first wall, wherein the first and second walls may be coupled together by a pair of roughly textured walls, each of the pair of roughly textured walls may be disposed opposite the other with the heating elements disposed therebetween. The heat exchanger may include a pair of mating clamshell panels that may have matching and oppositely oriented U-shaped cut-outs at turned ends thereof that, when coupled together, entrap collared ends of the heating elements. The heat exchanger may have an accordion-shaped cross-section.
- According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a heater that may include a set of heating elements. The heater may include a floating heat exchanger that may be disposed therein that may be directly physically coupled only to the set of heating elements and may not be directly physically coupled to any other portion of the heater. The heater may include an airflow channel that may be formed by a shell that may be disposed about the heat exchanger. The set of heating elements may be physically coupled to the shell by a coupling device that may be consisting essentially of a non-metal heat insulating interface structure. The heater may include a housing that may be disposed about the shell.
- The set of heating elements may be elongated infrared emitters that may be coupled to and supported by the shell through apertures in side walls of the shell. The heat exchanger may be substantially surrounded by the shell in a spaced relation from all portions of the heat exchanger that may thereby form an airflow channel around the heat exchanger. The set of heating elements may be coupled to the shell through an insulating collar that may be disposed between cylindrical ends of the heating elements and mating apertures through the shell.
-
FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown aheater 10 including ahousing 12, anintake aperture 14 disposed along a side of thehousing 12, anoutput aperture 16 disposed on a front portion of thehousing 12, and aninterface module 15 disposed on a top portion of thehousing 12. The illustratedheater 10 is configured to heat the ambient air surrounding theheater 10 by heating the ambient air drawn in from theintake aperture 14 and expelling the heated air through theoutput aperture 16. Theheater 10 includes ahousing 12 configured to secure the components and modules of theheater 10, therein. Theintake aperture 14 is disposed along a side of thehousing 12 configured to draw ambient air therethrough into thehousing 12 of theheater 10. Theheater 10 includes anoutput aperture 16 in communication with theintake aperture 14 and configured to disperse heated air out therefrom. Theheater 10 includes aninterface module 15 configured to control the amount of ambient air drawn into the heater and the temperature of the heated air leaving the output aperture. A non-limiting example of an interface module may be a Non-limiting examples of a display/interface module may be a display/interface module as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,562, issued to Scott et al.; a touch screen interface module as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,202 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,609, issued to Arjomand, which are incorporated for their supported teachings herein. -
FIGS. 7-10 illustrate a pair of elevational views and a pair of plan views of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown aheater 10 including ahousing 12, anintake aperture 14 disposed along a side of thehousing 12, anoutput aperture 16 disposed on a front portion of thehousing 12, and aninterface module 15 disposed on a top portion of thehousing 12. - The illustrated
heater 10 is configured to heat the ambient air surrounding theheater 10 by heating the ambient air drawn in from theintake aperture 14. Theheater 10 includes ahousing 12 configured to secure the components and modules of theheater 10, therein. Theintake aperture 14 is disposed along a side of thehousing 12 configured to draw ambient air therethrough into thehousing 12 of theheater 10. Theheater 10 includes anoutput aperture 16 in communication with theintake aperture 14 and configured to disperse heated air out therefrom. Theheater 10 includes aninterface module 15 configured to provide operational controls to theheater 10. Theheater 10 includes apower module 17 configured to provide power to the modules and components of theheater 10. Non-limiting examples of a power module may be a power module described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,803, issued to Kikcuhi et al.; or a power module described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,595, issued to Gourab et al. which are incorporated for their supported teachings herein. Thepower module 17 may include a power outlet or remote power, such as batteries or a rechargeable battery or power supply. -
FIG. 11 illustrates a back elevational view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown aheater 10 including ahousing 12 includingintake aperture 14 disposed along sides of thehousing 12. - The illustrated
heater 10 is configured to heat ambient air of a room where theheater 10 is disposed. Theheater 10 includes ahousing 12 configured to couple to a wall or structure of a room. The illustratedhousing 12 includes a set ofwall coupling members 70, wherein thewall coupling members 70 each include an opening and a channel in communication with the opening. The opening is configured to receive a head member of a screw or nail (or other coupling device configured to couple a structure to a surface), wherein the screw or nail is configured to be anchored to a wall or structure of a room. Thewall coupling members 70 are configured to fit over the head of the screw or nail and slide downwardly, thereby securing the head of the screw or nail into the channel of thewall coupling member 70, thereby securing thehousing 12 of theheater 12 to a wall or structure of a room. -
FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a heater coupled to a wall of a room, according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown aheater 10 coupled to awall 35 of a room 33. - The illustrated
heater 10 is configured to heat the ambient air within a room 33. The ambient air is configured to enter through an intake aperture disposed on a side of theheater 75 and exit out an output aperture disposed about a front portion of theheater 80. Ambient air that has not been circulated is typically coolest around the exterior walls of a room. Therefore, disposing an intake aperture up against the exterior wall of a room, such as along a side of the housing of the heater, increases the efficiency of heating a room to a desired temperature since heat flux between materials is greater where there is a greater difference between respective temperatures. -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown aheater 10 disposed within acasing 85 including a plurality ofwheels 45. - The illustrated
heater 10 is configured to heat ambient air disposed about theheater 10. Theheater 10 is disposed within acasing 85 configured to resemble a piece of furniture such as an end table. Thecasing 85 may be a single piece coupled to a housing of the heater or may be a part of the housing. Thecasing 85 includes a plurality ofwheels 45 disposed about a bottom portion of thecasing 85. The plurality ofwheels 45 are configured to provide movement to theheater 10, thereby providing an efficient method to move theheater 10 from room to room or place to place. Theheater 10 includes anoutput aperture 16 disposed about a front portion of theheater 10 andcasing 85 configured to disperse heated ambient air therethrough. Theheater 10 includes aninterface module 15 disposed on a front portion of thecasing 85 and configured to provide operational controls to the components and modules of theheater 10. -
FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a sequence of instructions of a control module of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown a set of instructions from a control module configured to slow down a rate of ambient air passing through the heater. - The control module includes a set of instructions that includes receiving ambient air data regarding temperature of ambient air surrounding the
heater 38. The instructions include receiving output air data regarding temperature of air exiting the output aperture of thehousing 40. The set of instructions includes calculating a difference between the ambient air data and theoutput air data 42. The set of instructions also includes comparing the calculated difference against a preset delta value stored inmemory 44 and issuing an instruction to slow the fan if the calculated difference is greater than thepreset delta value 46. - As a non-limiting example, a heater may be activated in a room having an ambient air temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Such heater may include a temperature sensor disposed thereon and in communication with a control module of the heater. Non-limiting examples of temperature sensors include those described in: U.S. Patent Publication No.: 2009/0207882, by Yu; U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,326, issued to Batko et al.; and U.S. Patent Publication No.: 2010/0254429, by Shumaker et al., the supporting teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein. The heater may also include a memory device in communication with the control module wherein preset temperatures and/or other data such as delta values may be stored. One or more interface modules may permit control, setting, initialization, and/or alteration of such settings and thereby the data stored in the memory device(s). For purposes of this example, a delta value corresponding to 5 degrees Fahrenheit may be stored therein and such may be associated with a target temperature value corresponding to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. The heater, when activated may receive data regarding the 62 degree ambient temperature, subtract the same from the 72 degree target temperature, resulting in an actual delta of 10 degrees, compare the actual delta of 10 degrees with the stored delta value of 5 degrees, recognize that the actual delta is greater than the stored delta and then issue a command to alter a fan speed (generally slowing it down or starting it at a slower setting than otherwise) so that air traversing the heat exchanger may be heated to a higher temperature before exiting and so that the experienced “wind chill” of the heater itself is more comfortable to occupants of the room.
- It is understood that the above example is a simple version of possible operation and that more complicated variations are contemplated in this application, including but not limited to having a plurality of stored delta values associated with one or more target temperatures, wherein stored delta values are calculated from a function and/or the associated target temperature values are calculated from a function, wherein a fan speed is calculated and determined from a function, wherein one or more functions described herein are calculated based on one or more stored delta values, target temperature values, ambient air temperature values, actual fan speeds, previous values or speeds, and/or data received from one or more devices exterior to the heater, such as but not limited to other heaters, other temperature sensors, outside air temperature sensors, and the like and combinations thereof.
-
FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a sequence of instructions of a control module of a heater, according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown a set of instructions from a control module configured to reduce the temperature of the ambient air passing through the heater, when a desired temperature is reached. - The heater includes a control module that is in operative communication with the infrared emission module. The control module includes a set of instructions for performing the steps of receiving ambient air data regarding temperature of ambient air surrounding the
heater 48. The set of instructions include comparing ambient air data against a first temperature value and against a second temperature value, each of the first and second temperature values may be stored in memory and the second temperature value representing a higher temperature than that represented by thefirst temperature value 50. The instructions also include issuing an instruction to deactivate the second infrared emitter of the infrared emission module device when ambient air temperature as represented by ambient air data surpasses the temperature represented by thefirst temperature value 52. The set of instructions further include issuing an instruction to activate the second infrared emitter of the infrared emission module device when ambient air temperature as represented by ambient air data drops below the temperature represented by thefirst temperature value 54. The set of instructions include issuing an instruction to deactivate the first infrared emitter of the infrared emission module device when ambient air temperature as represented by ambient air data surpasses the temperature represented by thesecond temperature value 56. - As a non-limiting example, a heater may be activated in a room having an ambient air temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Such heater may include a temperature sensor disposed thereon and in communication with a control module of the heater. The heater may also include a memory device in communication with the control module wherein preset temperatures and/or other data such as delta values may be stored. One or more interface modules may permit control, setting, initialization, and/or alteration of such settings and thereby the data stored in the memory device(s). For purposes of this example, a first temperature value corresponding to 69 degrees Fahrenheit may be stored therein and a second temperature value corresponding to 72 degrees Fahrenheit may also be stored therein. The heater, when activated may receive data regarding the 62 degree ambient temperature, compare it to the first and second temperature values and activate a first and second infrared emitters and a fan, thereby causing the heater to provide heat to the room. The heater may continue to receive ambient air temperature and compare the same to the stored temperature values. When the ambient air temperature reaches or exceeds the first temperature value, the control module may issue a command to deactivate or otherwise diminish infrared emission from the first emitter, while allowing the second emitter to continue functioning as normal. Accordingly, the rate at which the heater produces heat is reduced. If the heat drops below the first temperature, the first emitter may be reactivated by the control module. If the heat meets and/or exceeds the second temperature, the control module may issue a command to deactivate or otherwise diminish the heat output of the second emitter. Accordingly, the heater may more accurately dispense heat and may do so in a more comfortable manner.
- There may be a motion detection module that may be in communication with the control module. Operation of the heater (turning on/off one or more various modules described herein, increasing/decreasing activity/power of one or more modules described herein, and etc.) may depend on and/or may change in response to information received from the motion detector module. Non-limiting examples of motion detection modules include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,216,533; 4,769,545; and 3,611,345, which references are incorporated by reference herein for their supporting teachings.
- It is understood that the above example is a simple version of possible operation and that more complicated variations are contemplated in this application, including but not limited to having a plurality of stored delta values associated with one or more target temperatures, wherein stored delta values are calculated from a function and/or the associated target temperature values are calculated from a function, wherein a fan speed is calculated and determined from a function, wherein one or more functions described herein are calculated based on one or more stored delta values, target temperature values, ambient air temperature values, actual fan speeds, previous values or speeds, and/or data received from one or more devices exterior to the heater, such as but not limited to other heaters, other temperature sensors, outside air temperature sensors, and the like and combinations thereof.
- It is understood that the above-described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
- For example, although the figures illustrate particular shapes and proportions for the parts described, it is understood that, except where specifically limited by the claims, the shapes, sizes, proportions and positions of the parts described herein are plethoric.
- Additionally, although the figures illustrate particular embodiments having one or more features, it is envisioned that any and/or all of the features describe herein may be present in one or more embodiments of the invention.
- It is also envisioned that such heaters may be adapted for a variety of uses including but not limited to being placed in homes, offices, schools, industrial complexes, outdoors, garages, manufacturing facilities, hospitals, and the like and combinations thereof.
- It is expected that there could be numerous variations of the design of this invention. An example is that the housing may be shaped as a sphere, ovoid, cube, rectangle, irregularly shaped, and the like and combinations thereof.
- Finally, it is envisioned that the components of the device may be constructed of a variety of materials, including but not limited to metals, ceramics, plastics, rubber, fibers, woven materials, wood, composites, and combinations thereof.
- Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims. Further, it is contemplated that an embodiment may be limited to consist of or to consist essentially of one or more of the features, functions, structures, methods described herein.
Claims (20)
1. A heater, comprising
a. a heat exchanger with a heat emission device disposed therein;
b. an airflow channel formed by a shell disposed about the heat exchanger, wherein the heat emission device is physically coupled to the shell by a coupling device consisting essentially of a non-metal heat insulating interface structure; and
c. a housing disposed about the shell, wherein the heat emission device is not directly physically coupled to the airflow channel by a metal structure and wherein the heat emission device is not directly physically coupled to the housing by a metal structure.
2. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the interface structure is a collar disposed about an end of the heat emission device and through an aperture of a side wall of the shell.
3. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the interface structure is ceramic.
4. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is physically supported by the heat emission device and not directly physically coupled to any other portion of the heater.
5. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is an elongated airflow channel formed by a metal enclosure having apertures at two opposite ends and having a cross-section that is accordion-shaped.
6. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger does not directly touch any part of the heater except for the heat emission device.
7. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the heat emission device is an elongated infrared heating element that protrudes through apertures through the heat exchanger at opposite ends thereof.
8. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the shell includes apertures therethrough at opposite walls thereof through which the heat emission device protrudes and is coupled thereto thereby.
9. A heater, comprising a housing having a floating heat exchanger disposed therein that is directly physically coupled only to a set of heat emission devices therein.
10. The heater of claim 9 , wherein the set of heat emission devices includes a plurality of elongated infrared heating elements.
11. The heater of claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger is substantially surrounded by a shell in a spaced relation from all portions of the heat exchanger that thereby forms an airflow channel around the heat exchanger.
12. The heater of claim 11 , wherein the heating elements are coupled to and supported by the shell.
13. The heater of claim 12 , wherein the heating elements are coupled to the shell through an insulating collar disposed between cylindrical ends of the heating elements and mating apertures through the shell.
14. The heater of claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a first wall and a second wall, opposite the first wall, wherein the first and second walls are coupled together by a pair of roughly textured walls, each of the pair of roughly textured walls being disposed opposite the other with the heating elements dispose therebetween.
15. The heater of claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a pair of mating clamshell panels having matching and oppositely oriented U-shaped cut-outs at turned ends thereof that, when coupled together, entrap collared ends of the heating elements.
16. The heater of claim 15 , wherein the heat exchanger has an accordion-shaped cross-section.
17. A heater, comprising:
a. a set of heating elements;
b. a floating heat exchanger disposed therein that is directly physically coupled only to the set of heating elements and not directly physically coupled to any other portion of the heater;
c. an airflow channel formed by a shell disposed about the heat exchanger, wherein the set of heating elements are physically coupled to the shell by a coupling device consisting essentially of a non-metal heat insulating interface structure; and
d. a housing disposed about the shell.
18. The heater of claim 17 , wherein set of heating elements are elongated infrared emitters that are coupled to and supported by the shell through apertures in side walls of the shell.
19. The heater of claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger is substantially surrounded by the shell in a spaced relation from all portions of the heat exchanger that thereby forms an airflow channel around the heat exchanger.
20. The heater of claim 17 , wherein the set of heating elements are coupled to the shell through an insulating collar disposed between cylindrical ends of the heating elements and mating apertures through the shell.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/635,671 US20150168012A1 (en) | 2012-03-21 | 2015-03-02 | Heater having a floating heat exchanger |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/425,617 US9036986B2 (en) | 2012-03-21 | 2012-03-21 | Heater |
US14/635,671 US20150168012A1 (en) | 2012-03-21 | 2015-03-02 | Heater having a floating heat exchanger |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/425,617 Continuation-In-Part US9036986B2 (en) | 2012-03-21 | 2012-03-21 | Heater |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20150168012A1 true US20150168012A1 (en) | 2015-06-18 |
Family
ID=53367966
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/635,671 Abandoned US20150168012A1 (en) | 2012-03-21 | 2015-03-02 | Heater having a floating heat exchanger |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20150168012A1 (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160209078A1 (en) * | 2015-01-15 | 2016-07-21 | Stylianos Giannoulis | Heating device |
FR3042852A1 (en) * | 2016-03-18 | 2017-04-28 | Delta Thermie | ELECTRIC HEATER |
US20170284701A1 (en) * | 2016-03-31 | 2017-10-05 | Gd Midea Environment Appliances Mfg Co., Ltd. | Electric radiator |
US20180172266A1 (en) * | 2016-12-21 | 2018-06-21 | Electric Horsepower Inc. | Electric resistance heater system and light tower |
USD926299S1 (en) * | 2019-10-17 | 2021-07-27 | Better Living with Air & More Inc. | Heater |
US20210372627A1 (en) * | 2020-05-29 | 2021-12-02 | Twin-Star International, Inc. | Modular fireplace insert |
US20220235957A1 (en) * | 2019-05-20 | 2022-07-28 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Outdoor unit, air conditioner, and operation control method for air conditioner |
US11802715B2 (en) * | 2017-07-07 | 2023-10-31 | Synhelion Sa | Method for transferring the heat contained in a gas, and heat exchanger for this purpose |
USD1006204S1 (en) * | 2021-09-29 | 2023-11-28 | Puc Perfect Union Co., Ltd. | Wall-mounted electric heater |
Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3575582A (en) * | 1968-08-27 | 1971-04-20 | Darrell W Covault | Electric furnace |
US4164642A (en) * | 1976-12-20 | 1979-08-14 | Ebert Edward A | Radiant-hot air heater |
US4309594A (en) * | 1979-09-24 | 1982-01-05 | Jones John P | Modular infrared space heater device |
US4835367A (en) * | 1985-11-23 | 1989-05-30 | Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. Kg. | Portable electric radiant fan heater utilizing ceramic panel shielded halogen lamp |
US5568586A (en) * | 1995-06-19 | 1996-10-22 | Junkel; Eric F. | Over-heat protection for a portable space heater with thermally insulated thermostat mounted above slot cut in reflector |
US20060018640A1 (en) * | 2004-07-22 | 2006-01-26 | Marley Engineered Technologies, Llp | Heater with reflector and method for reflecting heat |
US20090003808A1 (en) * | 2007-06-30 | 2009-01-01 | Brooke Scott A | Ecowave 1.2 |
US20100043230A1 (en) * | 2008-08-12 | 2010-02-25 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | Method of Making a Hybrid Metal-Plastic Heat Exchanger |
US20100051709A1 (en) * | 2006-11-01 | 2010-03-04 | Krichtafovitch Igor A | Space heater with electrostatically assisted heat transfer and method of assisting heat transfer in heating devices |
US20120070133A1 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2012-03-22 | Heatbox (Nz) Limited | Thin-film carbon forced warm-air-heating unit |
US8247742B2 (en) * | 2007-05-11 | 2012-08-21 | Acepower Logistics, Inc. | Quartz tube infrared heater system |
US8886024B2 (en) * | 2011-06-01 | 2014-11-11 | Suarez Corporation Industries | Portable air conditioning apparatus |
-
2015
- 2015-03-02 US US14/635,671 patent/US20150168012A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3575582A (en) * | 1968-08-27 | 1971-04-20 | Darrell W Covault | Electric furnace |
US4164642A (en) * | 1976-12-20 | 1979-08-14 | Ebert Edward A | Radiant-hot air heater |
US4309594A (en) * | 1979-09-24 | 1982-01-05 | Jones John P | Modular infrared space heater device |
US4835367A (en) * | 1985-11-23 | 1989-05-30 | Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. Kg. | Portable electric radiant fan heater utilizing ceramic panel shielded halogen lamp |
US5568586A (en) * | 1995-06-19 | 1996-10-22 | Junkel; Eric F. | Over-heat protection for a portable space heater with thermally insulated thermostat mounted above slot cut in reflector |
US20060018640A1 (en) * | 2004-07-22 | 2006-01-26 | Marley Engineered Technologies, Llp | Heater with reflector and method for reflecting heat |
US20100051709A1 (en) * | 2006-11-01 | 2010-03-04 | Krichtafovitch Igor A | Space heater with electrostatically assisted heat transfer and method of assisting heat transfer in heating devices |
US8247742B2 (en) * | 2007-05-11 | 2012-08-21 | Acepower Logistics, Inc. | Quartz tube infrared heater system |
US20090003808A1 (en) * | 2007-06-30 | 2009-01-01 | Brooke Scott A | Ecowave 1.2 |
US20100043230A1 (en) * | 2008-08-12 | 2010-02-25 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | Method of Making a Hybrid Metal-Plastic Heat Exchanger |
US20120070133A1 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2012-03-22 | Heatbox (Nz) Limited | Thin-film carbon forced warm-air-heating unit |
US8886024B2 (en) * | 2011-06-01 | 2014-11-11 | Suarez Corporation Industries | Portable air conditioning apparatus |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160209078A1 (en) * | 2015-01-15 | 2016-07-21 | Stylianos Giannoulis | Heating device |
US10921022B2 (en) * | 2015-01-15 | 2021-02-16 | Stylianos Giannoulis | Heating device |
FR3042852A1 (en) * | 2016-03-18 | 2017-04-28 | Delta Thermie | ELECTRIC HEATER |
US20170284701A1 (en) * | 2016-03-31 | 2017-10-05 | Gd Midea Environment Appliances Mfg Co., Ltd. | Electric radiator |
US11098923B2 (en) * | 2016-03-31 | 2021-08-24 | Gd Midea Environment Appliances Mfg Co., Ltd. | Electric radiator |
US20180172266A1 (en) * | 2016-12-21 | 2018-06-21 | Electric Horsepower Inc. | Electric resistance heater system and light tower |
US11802715B2 (en) * | 2017-07-07 | 2023-10-31 | Synhelion Sa | Method for transferring the heat contained in a gas, and heat exchanger for this purpose |
US20220235957A1 (en) * | 2019-05-20 | 2022-07-28 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Outdoor unit, air conditioner, and operation control method for air conditioner |
US11802708B2 (en) * | 2019-05-20 | 2023-10-31 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Outdoor unit, air conditioner, and operation control method for air conditioner |
USD926299S1 (en) * | 2019-10-17 | 2021-07-27 | Better Living with Air & More Inc. | Heater |
US20210372627A1 (en) * | 2020-05-29 | 2021-12-02 | Twin-Star International, Inc. | Modular fireplace insert |
USD1006204S1 (en) * | 2021-09-29 | 2023-11-28 | Puc Perfect Union Co., Ltd. | Wall-mounted electric heater |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9036986B2 (en) | Heater | |
US20150168012A1 (en) | Heater having a floating heat exchanger | |
GB2411463A (en) | Portable fan unit mounted on top of a central heating radiator | |
TWM497203U (en) | Improved internal-spinning swirl cyclone wind scooper and fan device including the same | |
US20120070133A1 (en) | Thin-film carbon forced warm-air-heating unit | |
CN104299482B (en) | A kind of two-way variable semiconductor temperature control teaching experiment system | |
CN209310126U (en) | Smart home heater system | |
KR20150095527A (en) | A fan coil heating device using positive temperature coefficient heater and heating medium oil | |
CN212319834U (en) | Composite heating warmer | |
CN202838059U (en) | Low temperature wind-heat module of electronic cabinet | |
US20070062935A1 (en) | A microwave heating system for conditioning air in a space by heating the air to change its temperature | |
CN206176522U (en) | Live -wire operation tool is thermal cycle heating device cryogenically for storehouse | |
JP3241148U (en) | A heat sink with a magnet that absorbs and releases heat from a gas can for cassette stoves at room temperature or with the flow of heat source air from a heater. | |
CN106332516A (en) | Heat dissipation method used for multi-shaft controller | |
JP2017157528A (en) | Straight tube type led lighting lamp and system | |
JP2004125363A (en) | Structure for heater of electric heating type heating machine | |
WO2002042694A1 (en) | Electric radiator | |
CN202207232U (en) | Feet warmer | |
CN201944923U (en) | Wall-mounted heater | |
KR200291194Y1 (en) | panel type radiator | |
US4324359A (en) | Heat reclaiming system | |
CN215605110U (en) | Electric oven shell | |
CN213577685U (en) | 360-degree heater capable of heating in oriented mode | |
KR20060065401A (en) | The air boiler | |
CN209310178U (en) | The architectural energy saving system of energy conversion is realized in a kind of radiation |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |