US2412088A

US2412088A - Unit heater

Info

Publication number: US2412088A
Application number: US418774A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry B Holthouse
Original assignee: Galvin Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Galvin Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1941-11-12
Filing date: 1941-11-12
Publication date: 1946-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1963-12-03

Description

D 3, 1946- H. B. HoLTHousE 2,412,088

UNIT HEATER Filed Nov. 12, 1941 y '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 3, 1946. H. B. HoLTHousE- UNIT HEATER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov 12. 1941 ll l/ Dem 3, 1946.

HOLTHOUSE UN I T HEATER Filed Nov. l2, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 Dec. 3, 1946. H. B. HQL'rHousE 2,412,088

UNIT HEATER l Filed Nov. 12, 1941 'r sheets-sheet 4 l?" 'N n Dec. 3, 1946. H.B. HoL'rHousE.'

UNIT HEATER Filed Nov. 12, 1941, 7 heats-sheet 5 Dec. 3, 1E46.`A H. B. HoLTHous 2,412,088

UNIT HEATER Filed Nov. 12, 1941 7 sheets-sheet e De.3,1946. Hamm-HOUSE y' 2,412,088

v UNIT 'HEATER Filed Nov. 12, V15241 'I sheets-sheet 7 gli" .111111 jab |||||||IIIICQ Patented Dec. 3, 1946 UNIT HEATER Harry B. Holthouse, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Galvin Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 12, 1941, serial No. 418,774

(ci. 12e-11o) 11 Claims. l

This invention relates generally to air heating systems and in particular to a self-contained air heating unit including a burner of internal combustion type operated in conjunction with an internal combustion engine and assembled with the engine as a portable unit to provide for thev supply of heated air at any desired location.

It is an object of this invention to providel an improved air heating system.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable air heating unit which is compact in assembly, simple and rugged in construction and eilicient in operation to deliver a relatively large volume of air at a hightemperature to a source remote from the heating unit; v

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable air heating unit capable of heating an airplane engine for starting purposes in a minimum of time.

Yet another object of this invention is'to provide a self-contained air heating unit for heating airplane engines having means providing for its .being simply and easily moved about under all weather conditions;

A still further object of this invention is to provide a duct system for heating airplane engines which is carried in the airplane wings andhaving a common inlet adapted tobe operatively connected with a source of heat when the plane is stationary.

inthe provision of a portableheating unit including a heater of internal lcombustion type operated in conjunction with an internal combustion engine which is light in weight, and composed entirely of preassembled parts compactly and conveniently arranged, but 'individually re.- movable from the unit to facilitate work on the unit With the unit parts of a preassembled construrtion a complete part can be carried for replacement purposes so that the unit may be operated with but a minimum of lost time.

' Anoth'er feature of this invention is found in the provision of a duct system for carrying heated air to the engines and cabin of an airplane which is carried in the leading edge of the airplane wings and provided with a commonoutlet for operative connection with a source of heat when the plane is stationary. In flight means-are provided for covering the inlet so that the heat developed by the engines is fed through the ductv system to provide a de-icing action at the leading edge of the Wings. 1 A

Further objects, features and advantages of A this invention will become apparent from .the fol- A particular feature of this invention is found lowing description when taken in connection. with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the invention as applied to the heating of the engines of an airplane for starting purposes, the heater for the purposes of illustration being shown enlarged relative to the size of the airplane;

Fig. 21S-a fragmentary lsectional view of the inlet to the airplane duct system shown in Fig. 1 showing the positioning of a cap thereon when the airplane is innight; t

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the complete heating unit shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the heating unit of Fig. 1 with the engine removed therefrom;

Fig. 5 is a. sectional view of the heating unit as seen along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectionalrview as seen along line 6- in Fig. 5 showing fuel vaporizing means used in the operation of thel heater or burner portion of the complete heating unit;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of another form of a complete heating unit;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the heating unit of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view as seen along the line 9-9 in Fig. 7 showing the construction of the. heater combustion chamber;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill- I0 in Fig. 7;

Fig-.11 is a side elevational view of another modified form of the invention; f

Fig. 12 is an end elevational view as seen lookingtoward the right in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the lineV a carriage or like portable means with the heater l extending longitudinally of the carriage and thek engine disposed laterally to one side of the heater.V A fuel tank for supplying fuel to both the heater and the engine is arranged laterally to the same side of the heater as the engine and in substantial alignment with the engine on an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the heater. The longitudinal length of the complete heating unit is dened substantiallyby the longitudinal length` of the heater so that the unit is capable of being compactly and conveniently assembled in a relatively small space. The engine includes a fan mounted on the crank shaft thereof to provide air for burning in the heater andair for circulating through a passage in the heaterv arranged in thermal relation with the heater1 combustion chamber. The engine and fan assembly, the heater, and the fuel tank are separately removable from the portable means as preassembled units to facilitate assembly and' service work on the heating unit.

With reference to the drawings, one form of the heating unit of this invention is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as including a burner or heater I0 of internal combustion type, an air cooled internal combustion engine I I and a fuel tank I2 coinmon to the engine and heater. These three parts are mounted on a common sled orportable supporting member I3, but individually secured thereto; securing straps I8' and I2' being used for the heater I and tank I2, respectively, while the base (not shown)y for the engine II is supported directly on the sled or base member I3.

The'heater I6 is comprised of a substantially cylindrical housing member I4 having a combustion chamber I5 and an air chamber I6 therein. The combustion chamber I5 has a tubular outer wall I1 closed at one end by a cover plate I8 and at its opposite end I9 by the base portion 2| of a substantially cup-shaped member 22 which defines the air chamber I6. The open end of the member 22 is closed by a cover or end plate 23 for the housing member I'4. Thus as is evident from Fig. 3 the air chamber I 6 and combustion chamber I5 are in alignment axially of the housing I4 and separated from eachother by the base portion 2 I of the cup-shaped member 22. heater housing I4 by ns 24 angularly spaced about the combustion chamber I5 and extending axially thereof, to provide an annular passage 26 about the chambers I5 and I6 (Fig. 5). An inlet 21 to the passage 26 is at one end 25 of the housing I4 and an outlet 28 therefor is at the' housing end 29. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the housing end 29 is of substantially bell shape and adapted for releasable connection with a flexible air conduit 3| for conducting the heated air to a source remote from the heater. Air to be heated is circulated through the passage 26 by a. fan 32 mounted on the engine crankshaft 33 aswill be later described. V

The combustion chamber I5 (Figs. 3 and 5) is divided into 'four axially extending passages 34a- 34d by' a partition member 36 of substantially X-shape and of a construction providing for the connecting of such four passages to form a. single serpentine passage. The partition member 36 is coextensive in length with the combustion chamber I5 and is retained therein in an assembly position by welding or like means to the fins 24. By virtue of this construction of the continuous passage in the combustion chamber I5, the inlet 31 and outlet 38'of the passage are both located in the base portion 2Il of the cupshaped member 22.

Located within the air chamber I5 and at the inlet 31 to the combustion passages 34a- 34d is a fuel conditioning unit (Fig. 6) designated generally as 39 and including a substantially tubular shaped' housing 4I closed at one end 42 and open at its opposite or outlet end 43 for fluid connection with the combustion chamber passage 34a. As is evident from Fig. 6 the greater part of the conditioning unit 39 extends into the air chamber I6. vThe housing member 4I is -constructed of a high heat conducting material and includes an air and fuel mixing chamber 43a at the closed end thereof, and an equalizing chamber 44 adjacent thereto, the mixing chamber 43a and equalizing chamber 44 being sepafrated-by a heat conducting partition plate 46 having perforations 41 over the upper portion thereof. The equalizing chamber 44 in turn is separated from the combustion passage 34a by a heat insulating plate 48 having perforations 49 arranged peripherally therein. Positioned axially through the housing member 4I and supported y in the housing end 42, and

partition plates

46 and 48 is a heating element or conduit portion 5Iv having an inlet end 52 extending from the'housing end 42 and an outlet portion 53 projetcing outwardly from the open housing end 43 into the combustion passage. 34a.

Arranged in a spaced concentric relation about K nected

passages

45, 50, and 55 by a substantially L-shaped bafile plate 59a adapted to direct the exhaust gases entering the conduit 54 from the axially in an opposite direction into the inlet 52 These two chambers are spaced from the of the heating element 5I, from where it is discharged through the heating# element outlet 53 into the combustion passage 34a. As indicated by the arrows in Fig'. 6 this directed flow of the exhaust gases occurs by virtue vof the gas passing successively through the

passages

45,56 and 55 and thence into the inlet 52 of the heating element 5I. Since the housing member 4I, partition plate 46 and heating element 5I are' constructed of a material having high heat con-'- ductivity, the heat from the engine exhaust gases passingv about the housing 4I is readily transferred to the heat conditioning yunit 39 for a purpose now to be explained.

Thev fuel conditioning unit 39 is provided with an inlet 6U at the closed end 42, thereof, in which is positioned an air and fuel nozzle 59. As seen from Figs. 5 and 6' the nozzle 59 hasl one end 65 thereof extending through the conduit 54 into the air chamber I6. The end of the fuel nozzle 59 is connected through a pipe 6I with a fuel pump 62 operatively supported on the engine II, and in fluid connection with the fuel tank I2 through pipe 63. The pump 62 is common to both theengine II and heater I0 so as to supply fuel to both thereof during-the normal operation of the heating unit. The fuel from the nozzle 59 is introduced into the mixing chamber 43 of the fuel conditioning unit 39 together with combuschamber I6.

through the apertures neat insulating plate u into the combustion passage 34a. This vaporous mixture is mixed with the exhaust gases from the heating element outlet 53 for burning therewith in the combustion chamber I5, combustion being initiated by spark means S .positioned in the combustion chamber passage 34a. and connected in operative association with the engine magneto (not shown). Supplementary air `for .combustion is supplied through ports connecting the passage 34a with the air chamber I6, and tubes connecting the passage 34e with the exhausted from the combustion passage outlet 38 into the tail pipe assembly 1K6V for discharge with an inlet 68 and an outlet or mouth 69. 'I'he inlet 1| (Fig. 4) to the air chamber I6 is positionedwithin the inlet 21 lto the annular passage 26, with the mouth 69 of the fan housing 61 being movable within the inlet 21 to the passage 26 and releasably connected therewith. By virtue of this construction the air delivered by the fan 32 is divided so that a portion thereof is supplied t0 theair chamber I6, and the remaining portion circulated through the annular passage 26,` The housing 61 and fan 32 are preassembled with the engine II so as to be movable therewith as aunit, The heater or burner |0 is completely preassembled independently of the engine and fan assembly, and tank I2, with each of these three pre-assembled units being separately secured to the base member I3, as above described. Since vthe connection of the fan scroll 61 with the air inlet portion 21 of the heater I0v is accomplished equally well regardless of whether the outlet 69 is inserted Within the inlet 21, or the inlet 21 is tted about the outlet 69, each partmay be removed from the base I 3`independently of the other to facilitate assembly and service work on the heater.

From a consideration of Figs. 3 and v4 it is seen that the burner I0 is positioned longitudinally of the base or supporting member I3 with the engine and fan assembly disposed laterally to one side and at the end, 25 thereof. The fuel tank I2 is arranged laterally to the same side of the heater I0 and in alignment with the engine Il on an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the heater I0. This arrangement of the heater |0, engine II, and fuel tank I2 provides for a compact assembly of the heating unit in a confined space, the height and length of which is determined essentially by the height and length of the heaterl I0 and the width by the combined dimensions of the heater I0 and engine il laterally of the heating unit. Since The gases from combustion are.

embodiment, as determined by the combined dimensions of the heater I0 and engine II laterally of the heating unit is twenty-four inches. 'Ihis embodiment includes an internal combustion engine rated at about one horse -power'and a half, with the heater and engine having a fuel consumption during a run of one hour under'full load conditions of 2.3 gallons. The fuel tank I 2 is relatively largefor an engine of this size and has a capacity of about 8 gallons. The fan 32 is capable of delivering about 1100 cubic feet per minute from the heater outlet 28 when running at a speed of about 3600 R. P. M., the temperature of the heated air at the outlet 28 during normal op-v eratingconditions being about 140 C. Theentire weight of the complete heating unit including the base I3 does not exceed 270 pounds so that the unit can be moved about rather easily by one man by sliding the base I3, The relatively solid assembly arrangement of the heater I0, engine II and fuel tank I2 adapts the heating unit for installation in a minimum of space, the low height of. the unit providing for a low center of gravity which increases the ease with which the unit can be handled and moved about without danger of tipping over, and also serves to retain the unit more rigid during its operation so as to reduce excessive vibration thereof.

The portability of the heating unit under some conditions of its operation, such as where .it is utilized for the heating of airplane engines, may be facilitated by providing the base I3 with wheels |20 (Figs. 3 and 4). The wheels |20, a pair of which is illustrated, may be lrubber-tired and are rotatably supported at the end |2I of the base member I3 on mounting means including a bracket or brace |22 having one portion thereof secured to the base member I3, and the other portion 23 thereof extending outwardly from the engine shaft 33 extends parallel with the longitudinal axis of the heater I0, the fan. 32 for the heater I0 and fan unit 11 for coolingv the engine |I are also positionedy in alignment on an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the" heater I 0, with the two

fans

32 and 11 and exhaust conduit 58 all being` arranged within the dimensions of the base I3. In one embodiment of the invention the overall heightof the heating unit is less than 15 inches'and of a length not exceeding four feet, these dimensions defining substantially the corresponding dimensions of the heater I0. The transverse dimension of this unit on the wheels.

' for use. y sled or base member I3 beco'mes inconvenient the base end |2| in a direction inclined upwardly from the longitudinal plane of the base member. The longitudinal extent of the portion |23 is proportioned relative to a corresponding wheel |20 such that the wheel is lifted above the ground, when the base member is in a horizontal position. In other words the wheel is in substantially a clearlnglposition relative to the ground when the heating unit is being slidably moved about on the base member I3. By virtue of this assembly the wheels |20 are fixedly retained in j an operating positionvso as to be constantly ready When sliding of the heating unit on the or difficult the heating unit may be wheeled about on'the wheels |20 by simply raising or lifting the base end |24, a handle |26 being provided for this purpose. The handle |26 is of substantially U-shaped configuration with the legs |21 thereof being slidably supported in brackets |28 so as to be extensible from the -base member. portions |29 at the Afree end of each leg member I21- prevent the handle |26 from being pulled out of operative connection with the base member I3. On lifting of the base member end |24 the wheels |20 are lowered into engagement with the ground, with the continued raising of the base member resting the entire weight of the heating the base member end |24 is accomplished with the wheels |20 functioning as a pivot point so that the unit is gradually lifted and lowered to completely eliminate any sudden dropping thereof. The heating unit is thus capable of being slidably moved about on the base I3, or wheeled about on the wheels |20 with equal facility since Stop The lifting Aand lowering of 'A unit are equally vtrated in Fig. 1 applied to the heating of airplane engines for starting purposes. The airplane is shown as including a fuselage 18 having wings 18, with each wing 18 carrying a pair of engines-88 and 8| thereon enclosed by a cowl 88. The plane cabin 82 is disposed between the wings 18 and in the fuselage 18- in a usual manner. A duct 83 is positioned transversely of the cabin 82 and at the leading edge of each wing 18, the opposite ends of the duct terminating substantialLv atthe wing ends the outermost engines 8| within a corresponding cowl 88. As is clearly shown in Fig. 1 the duct 83 is of a reduced section after leaving the inner engines 88, with

outlets

88 and 88 being provided inthe duct 83 at the inner engines 88 andouter engines 8 I, respec- ,arranged substantially intermediate the inner engines 88 and below the cabin 82 and is adapted for operative releasable connection with the heater I8 through the exible conduit 3|. This operative connection may be of the usual bayonet type. A duct portion 88 is attached to the duct 88 for carrying heated air into the cabin 82. With the duct system in the plane connecting the engines and cabin, heat is readily supplied thereto by simply connecting the heater |8 to the inlet 81. v

By virtue of the arrangement of the duct'83 in the wings 18 and at the leading edge of such wings, it may be utilized during normal flying operation to provide a de-icing means. Thus when the plane is in flight a cover or cap means |8| (Fig. 2) having pins |32 for bayonet assembly with corresponding slots |33 in the inlet 81,

. is positioned over the inlet to plugthe same.

With the inlet 81 stopped a portion of the air within the cowls 88 heated by the engines is fed into the duct 88 to heat the same, circulation of the air in the duct being accomplishedV by the several openings therein at 88 and 88.

In Figs. 7-10 there is shown a heating unit which is substantally similar in all respects to the heating unit of Figs. l6, except for some changes in the construction of the burner, the heating unit of Fig. 7 being somewhat larger than the heating unit of Fig..2 so that the burner thereof is constructed to provide for a relatively higher output of heated air. Similar numerals of reference primed shall be used, therefore. in Figs. '1-10 to indicate parts thereof corresponding to Figs. 1 6.

Referring to Figs.l '7 and 9, the heater or burner I8 is seen to include a housing member 88 of substantially rectangular form and having an open side 8| which is supported directly on the base member i3. Enclosed within the housing 88 are a combustion chamber i8' and an air chamber I8', these two chambers being of a substantially rectangular cross-section and arranged longitudinally of the housing member 88 but spaced therefrom by radiating fins 82.- The fins 82 are substantially co-extensive in length with thefcombustion chamber I8' and form an air circulating passage 28 thereabout having an inlet 21' and an outlet 28. As is best seen in F18.

Y 9 the fins 82 at the bottom ofthe heater I8' serve to space the chamber I8' from the base member flning walls for the air circulating passage 28'. The combustion chamber I8' (Figs. 9 and 10) is divided longitudinally by partition members 88 into four passages 8|a-8Id which are interconnected to provide a continuous pe through the combustion chamber i5'. These passages are, of a size to provide for the use of a pair of inlets 31 leading to the passage 8|avand a pair of outlets 38 leading from the passage 8|d. Each inlet 31' is operatively associated with a fuel conditioning unit 38 which is similar in all respects to the Vunit 38 fully described above in connection with Fig. 6. In turn, each outlet 88' is provided with an exhaust tail assembly 18 whichis similar to the corresponding assembly of Fig. 3. The two fuel conditioning units 38 in the inlets 31' are operated concurrently with only Vone spark S being needed to initiate combustion.

'I'he engine Il and fuel tank I2' operatively associated with the heater i8', are correspondingly larger than the like parts in the heating unit of Fig. 3 but are relatively arranged and operated in all respects similar thereto. A further description thereof is believed, therefore, to be unnecessary. Because of the relatively low or pancake assembly of the complete heating unit, a

platform or shelf 82a (Fig. 8) may be supported heating unit, the platform 82 is relatively low.

so that a second heating unit can be very conveniently positioned thereon without being too high to operate or service. It is obvious, of course,

that a similar platform structure is' also applical Ible for use with'the heating unit of Fig. 3`.

An arrangement of the heating unit of Figs. l6

with the engine and i2 in a superposed rela-,

tion with the heater I8 is shown in Figs'. 1p1-14. The base I8 is provided with a frame structure erally outwardly from the unit. Except for the trays 8.1 and 88 the sides and ends of the frame structure are entirely open, a top |82 providing a cover for the heating unit and functioning also as a'brace for the uprights 88. The outlets '28a of the air passage in the heater, three of which are used in the heating unit of Fig. 11, are thus readily accessible for operative connection with flexible conduit means 8|.

'I'he heater I8 is secured directly to the base I8 by mating gusset plates |88 (Fig. 13) of semi- 'circular shape andladapted together to extend completely about the heater |8. The pairs of mating lplates |83 are spaced longitudinally of the heater and in their mating assembly provide supporting legs |88 at the bottom of the heater, and a longitudinally extending platform portion |88 at the top thereof. As shown in Fig. 11 the platform portion |88 at the heater end 28 is adapted to alone support the engine thereon, with the remaining top' portions |88 serving as supports for the fuel tank l2. The scroll 81 for blower or air .circulating fan 32 is\carried directly on the top of the heater at the end 281 thereof.

. 9 The scroll 61, thev engine I|, and the fuel tank I2 are thus positioned in longitudinal alignment laterally ofthe heater I and directly thereabove, with the engine II located between the scroll 61 and the fuel tank I2, but with all of these parts confined within the longitudinal length of the heater I0. By virtue of this assembly of the heating unit the over all length of the heating unit is deiined substantially by the'length of the heater I0, while the width thereofI is determined substantially by the transverse dimension or diameter of the heater I0.

With reference to Fig. 14 the heating unit of Fig. 1l is shown with a .platform structure |01, in place of the gusset plates |03, for supporting the engine II and fuel tank I2. The platform |01 is carried on upwardly extending frame members positioned at the ends and to each side of the heater I0 and extending upwardly from the base I3 to a position immediately above the heater I 0. The engine4 II and fuel tank I2 are suitably mounted on the platform |01 in alignment on an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axisof the heater I0, the engine I I Abeing positioned between the fuel tank I2 and the fan scroll 61 which is supported directly on the heater I0.

As previously mentionedl side trays. 91 and 98 are extended longitudinally of the heating unit and pivotally supported from the uprights 96. The trays 91 and 9 8 in their open positions, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 12, are adapted to receive therein the ilexible conduit means 3| corresponding to the three outlets 28a (Fig. 11i each yconduit when deiiated being foldable into a compact bundle. With the conduit means in a folded condition within a corresponding tray, the trays are closed against the heating unit so as to appear as a side thereof, as shown in full lines in Fig. 12. The flexible conduits are thus completely out of the way when the heating unit is to be transported or moved about, and immediately available simply by the pivotal moving of the trays laterally outwardly from the heating unit. v

The maneuverability of the heating unit for all weather conditions is facilitated by the proviare thus removed entirely Within the confines of the frame structure 95 whereby to increase the ease in handling the heating unit for moving'it about on the base or sled member I3'. When the wheels |08 are in an operating position the heating unit is maintained substantially level bv the provision of a pivotal end support or foot. |09 pivoted to the sled member I3' at III. As shown in Fig. 11 the foot member |09, is pivotally movable in a counter-clockwise direction to its dotted line position on the top of the sled memberv I3'. In its unit supporting position the foot member |09 is moved to its full line position and retained therein by a clip member II2 secured at its end I I3 to the base member I3' and open at its opposite end I I4 to provide a slotted recess for receiving the foot |09.

From a consideration of the above description and drawings. it is seen that the invention prov vides a portable self-contained heating unit eomposed of a burner an internal combustion engine for starting purposes.

that in cases of emergency, the engines must be 10 for operating the burner, and a fuel tank common to both theburner and the engine, each of which is of a preassembled construction and adapted for individual mountingon a common unit are interchangeable, they may be kept` in stock in their preassernbled form so as .to be readily substituted for corresponding parts which require servicing. The hea-ting units are thus adapted for heavy duty service since a part requiring attentioncan be worked on while the corresponding workable part is in operation.V

The overall heating unit is very compactly ary ranged and capable of a high heat outputsoas to make it particularly applicable for use in heating the engines of transport or bombing planes It is readily appreciated of lboth vsled and wheel means which are equally available for use. The heating unit of this invention is entirely complete within itself and its operation is initiated concurrently with the operation of the internal combustion engine associated therewith. It is apparent, of course, that the heating unit may be retained 4in operation While it is being transported or moved about so that it need be started onlyV once regardless of the number of engines to be heated or the location of the planes carrying these engines.

Although specific reference has been made to the use of this invention for heating airplane engines. it is to be understood that this is only one application thereof, and that the heating unit may be satisfactorily used for the -heating of cabins, tents, and auto trailers or the like.

Further, although the present invention has been described with speciiic reference to several preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes Y can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A portable air heating unit having a base member for supporting a burner of internal combustion type and an internal combustion engine for operating said burner, a fuel tank common to said burner and engine, housing means for said burner having therein a combustion chamber and a passage for the air to be heated in thermal relation with said combustion chamber, said housing means having a length substantially equal to the longitudinal length of said base, means driven by said engine for supplying fuel from said fuel tank to said combustion chamber and engine, air moving means operatively connected with said engine for supplying air to said combustion chamber and air passage. means operatively associated with said combustion chamber for vaporizing the fuel supplied'thereto for mixing together with vthe air for combustion, and conduit means for the exhaust gases from .said engine arranged in thermal relation with said fuel vaporizing means to heat the same, said engine and fuel tank being positioned in substantial alignment on an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of of said portable means, an internal combustion engine for operating said heater, a. fuel tank common to said heater and internal combustion engine, said heater having a passage therein for air to be heated, means driven by said engine and fluid -connected'with said tank for supplying fuel to said engine and heater, air moving means operated by said engine for circulating air to be heated through said passage and supplying air for combustion to said heater, means in said heater for vaporizing the fuel supplied-to said heater for' mixing together with said combustion air, with said engine and fue1 tank being po'sitioned in substantial alignment on an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said,

heater, and means supporting all of said heater, engine, fuel tank and air moving means substantially within the dimensions of said portable means.

3. A unit for heating air including a longitudinally extending heater of internal combustion type adapted for operation in conjunction with an internal combustion engine having a fuel tank, said heater including means defining a combustion chamber. said enginev being disposed at one end of said heater and said fuel tank being disposed at the opposite end of said heater, means supporting said engine and tank in` alignment on an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said heater and substantially within the longitudinal length thereof, said heater includingmeans defining a passage for air to be heated arranged in thermal relation with said combustion chamber, aix'- moving means operatively con nected with said engine for circulating air through said passage.'conduit means fluid connecting said air moving means and said air passage, means in said conduit means for by-passing a portion of the air delivered by said air moving means to said combustion chamber, andmeans for supplying fuel to said combustion chamber-'and engine from said tank including fuel moving means common to said heater and engine and operatively connected with said engine.

4. A system for heating air including a burner of internal combustion type adapted for operation in commotion with an internal combustion engine land operatively assembled therewith on a common mounting means for transportation as a unit, a housing member for said burner havlng a combustion chamber therein and an air -passage arranged in thermal relation with said combustion chamber, air moving means operated by said engine for delivering air to said burner and air passage, a fuel system for said burner and engine including `a fuel tank carried on said mounting means and pumping means operatively supported on said engine, means-supporting said fuel tank, engine and air moving means in align ment to one side of said housing member and within the distance defined substantially by the longitudinal `length of the housing member, with .l the vertical height.v of said transportable unit being defined substantially bythe vertical height vof said housing member.

fil

with an internal combustion engine, common supporting means for said engine and burner, a housing member for said burner having a combustion chamber therein and a passage for air to be heated arranged in a thermal relation with said' combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel to said engine and combustion chamber including a fuel tank carried on said supporting means, air moving means in driven connection with said engine, and means dividing the flow of air from said air moving means to said combustion chamber and said air passage, means supporting said air movingmeans, fuel tank, and engine in substantial alignment laterally to one side of said burner, with the longitudinal length and vertical height of said unit being defined substantially by the corresponding dimensions of said burner, and the dimensions of said engine and fuel tank laterally of said burner being substantially equal so as to provide for a substantially uniform width of saidunit over the complete length thereof.

6.' A unit for heating air including a burner of internal `combustion type Aadapted to be operated in conjunction with an internal combustion engine having a fuel tank and conduit means for exhaust gases, a housing member for said burnerv having therein a combustion chamber and an air passage arranged in thermal relation with said combustion chamber, said engine and fuel tank being disposed laterally to one side of said housing, meanssupplying fuel to said combustion chamber from said fuel tank, air moving means operated by said engine for delivering air to said combustion chamber and air passage, heat transfer means in said housing member adapted to utilize the exhaust gases from said conduit means to prepare the air and fuel supplied to said comy 5. A portable air heating unitincluding a longitudinally extending burner ofinternal combusnon type adapted for operation in conjunction bustion chamberv for burning therein, means for carrying the exhaust gases in said conduit means into thermal relation with said fuel preparing means, and portable means for said unit including a mounting member adapted to carry said engine, burner and fuel tank in their above-defined relative positions, with the longitudinal dimension of said mounting member being dened substantially by the length of said housing member, and the lateral dimension of said mounting member substantially by the combined dimensions of said housing member andengine laterally ofsaid unit, with said fuel tank, housing mem; ber and engine all being confined within the dimensions of said mounting member and within a verticaldimension defined substantially by the vertical height of said housing member.

7. An air heating system having a burner of internal combustion type and adapted for` opera- .tion in conjunction with an internal combustion engine. a portable base member adapted to carry said burner 'and engine, housing means for/said burner having the lower side thereof open and positioned against said base member, a combustion chamber within said housing means spaced from said base member and housing means to form anair passage, means operated by said engine for supplying air to said combustion cham? ber and air passage, a fuel system for said burner and engine including a fuel tank, and means supporting said engine and fuel tank in substantial alignment between opposite ends of said housing means and'on an axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said housing means.

8. An air heating unit including portable means for carrying a burner of internal combustion l type and an internal combustionengine opera- 13 tively associated with said burner, with said burner being of a preassembled construction and including a housing member having therein a combustion chamber and a passage forv air to be heated arranged in thermal relation with said' side of said burner, and means for independently securing said burner, eng1ne,'and fuel tank on said portable means so that each of said three lparte'. is separately removable from said portable means, y

9. A portable air heating unit including a heater of internal combustion type operated in conjuncytion with an internal combustion engine, said heater having a combustion chamber and a passage for air to be heated thermally related with said combustion chamber, a supporting member for said heater, a fuel tank common to said en` gine and heater, a plurality of means for securing said heater to said supporting member, said securing means being spaced longitudinally of said heater with each thereof having a portion positioned at the top of said heater, with at, least one of said top portions serving as a support for said engine, and at least another of said top portions serving as a support for said tank, air moving means operatively connected with said engine for supplying air to said combustion chamber and air passage, and means for movingfuel to said engine and combustion chamber from said fuel tankoperatively supported on said engine, with said fuel tank, engine and air moving means being confined substantially within the longitudinal length of said heater, and said heater defining lLte longitudinal length of said supporting mem- 10. A portable air heating unit including a heater of internal combustion type operated solely by an internal combustion engine, said heater having a combustion chamber and a passage for air to be heated thermally related with said combustion chamber, a basev member for supporting said heater, frame means secured to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom about said heater, a mounting member carried on said frame means above said heater for supporting said engine, a Vfuel tank common to'said heater and engine supported on said mounting member, air moving means operatively connected 'with said engine for supplying air to said combustion chamber and air passage, and means for supplying fuel to said engine and heater from saidfuel tank operatively supported on said engine, with said fuel tank, engine and air moving means being arranged Y substantially within the longitudinal length of said heatenand said base member and mounting member being substantially co-exteny sive in lens-th with said heater.

11. A heating system including a longitudinally extending burner and a power unit, said burner being 'of the internal combustion type' and adapted for operation in conjunction with said power unit and operatively assembled therewith on common mounting means for transportation as a unit, said burner having a combustion chamber therein, means forming a passage for air to be heated arranged about said combustion chamber, andin heat conducting relation therewith, a fuel supply system including a fuel tank and means operated by said power unit for delivering fuel to said combustion chamber, air moving means operated by said power unit, means for dividing the flow of air from said air moving means to said combustion chamber and said air passage, and means supporting said airmoving means, fuel tank and power unit in substantial alignment on an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said burner and substantially within the longitudinal length thereof.

v HARRY B. HOLTI'HOUSE.-