WO2005075898A1

WO2005075898A1 - Table or wall-mounted heater fan, with adjustable heating and motor power

Info

Publication number: WO2005075898A1
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000086
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Giudici
Original assignee: Ermete Giudici S.P.A.
Priority date: 2004-02-10
Filing date: 2004-02-25
Publication date: 2005-08-18
Also published as: ITMI20040207A1

Abstract

Electric heater fan that can stand on a flat surface or be wall-mounted as preferred, air flow being directed and heating and motor power being regulated according to need.

Description

Table or wall-mounted heater fan, with adjustable heating and motor power

Subject of the invention is an electric heater fan. Electric heater fans comprise one or more electric resistances and a fan worked by an electric motor to produce environmental warming by means of heated air. These appliances can usually operate in three ways: - ventilation, emitting a draught of air; - emission of moderately warm air; - emission of hot air. A disadvantage of these appliances is that the rotating movement of the fan makes them noisy. This noise can become tiresome, often even intolerable especially if the appliance is used solely for ventilation, but also if used to provide only moderately warm aire. A further disadvantage consists in the fact that they are made either to stand on a flat surface or to be wall-mounted. The wall-mounted fans are difficult to orientate so that the flow of air, whether hot or cold, makes them inadequate for the required purpose or even undesirable. The present invention eliminates these drawbacks by means of simple and inexpensive means as will now be described. Subject of the invention is an electric heater fan, to stand on a flat surface or be wall-mounted, flow of air from which can be adjusted in orientation, heating power and motor power.

The appliance comprises a first and a second electric resistance, an electric motor with fan, a thermostat and commutator each operated by a separate knob.

On turning the thermostat knob to a position indicated by one of the specific symbols, the appliance will automatically switch off when the desired room temperature has been reached. On turning the commutator knob to one of the specific symbols, the followjng functions can be obtained: complete switch-off, ventilation only, ventilation with minimum motor and heating power, ventilation with medium motor and heating power, ventilation with maximum motor and heating power. In one advantageous execution the commutator comprises four mobile contacts and four fixed contacts which, according to the way the knob is turned, close the electric circuits between one or another of the fixed and mobile contacts and consequently connect the electric feed lines to one or another of the devices constrituted by the electric motor, by the first electric resistance and by the second electric resistance.

In the switched-off position, all the mobile contacts are kept detached from the fixed contacts. In the ventilation-only position, feed is supplied solely to the electric motor.

In the minimum-heat position, electric feed in series is supplied only to the first resistance and to the motor so that the motor runs at low speed and is therefore noiseless. In the medium-power position, electric feed in parallel is supplied to the first resistance and to the motor. Finally, in the maximum-power position, feed in parallel is supplied both to the electric motor and to the two resistances so producing maximum ventilation and heating power.

The fan preferably presents a flat base and, at the top in the rear, a space for housing a wall bracket, so that it can either stand on any flat surface or be wall-mounted.

When wall-mounted, the fan can turn on a substantially vertical axis enabling warmth to be directed to any part of the room. The wall bracket consists of two components, the first to be fixed onto the fan by fitting it into a se_^at provided, and the second to be fixed to a wall.

The component to be fixed onto the fan by insertion into the seat provided at the rear, consists substantially of a flat parallelepiped chamber having a wide fan-shaped mouth the upper and lower edges of which are arched, and a substantially concave bottom which contain longitudinal clefts comprising two central and superimposed arched cavities.

The central point of the upper and lower arched edges of the mouth substantially coincides with the centre of the arches of the cavities. In the top of the chamber an axial hole, shaped like a squared "U", creates a rectangular downward-facing spring fitted with a projecting tooth, while, cut into the top of the housing formed in the rear surface of the fan, is a rectangular aperture onto the edge of which the tooth then fits to hold the component firmly in its seat. In one advantageous execution the component to be wall-mounted presents a box-shaped body with a flat base which fits up against the wall, and an arched front surface of the same radius as that of the arched edges of the mouth of the component fixed to the fan. At the centre of said arched surface is a rod whose thickness at the tip substantially corresponds to the distance between the cavities in the bottom of the chamber of the component to be mounted on the fan. Two teeth, one upper and one lower, are fixed to said tip. At the longitudinal ends of the wall-mounting component, between the rear arched surface and the base, are two deep cavities with holes in the bottom to receive screws to screw into wall plugs and the like.

To associate the first component, to be fixed to the apparatus or already on it, to the second component to be wall-mounted, all that has to be done is to press the first component against the second component until the projecting teeth, on the tip of the rod fixed to the second component and inserted inside the mouth of the first component, are pressed into the cavities present in the centre of the cleft in the bottom of said first component, the effect of this being that the cavities, returning to their former positions, prevent accidental detachment of the teeth from the cavities and therefore accidental detachment of the fan from the wall.

When wall-mounted, the fan can be turned as desired around a vertical geometrical axis between the two sides of the component fixed to it. Stabilization in the desired position is assured by a set of notches cut in one of the arched edges of the first component fixed to the fan; the tooth of a spring fits into the notch, said spring being created in the centre of the arched side of the second wall-mounting component below the rod, by formation of a cut in the shape of a square "U". The appliance has a substantially parallelepiped structure comprising a front half and a rear half joined by a curved line.

There is a front grille and a rear grille consisting of horizontal strips intersected by thin vertical columns.

The front grille extends round to the sides while the rear grille has a vertical substantially oval surround. The fan has a flat base with a circular extension at the rear.

A small head-shaped part protects rearward from the top of the fan. The knobs for the thermostat and for the commutator are approximately of the same size, partially projecting near the top of the front half of the appliance from two apertures, set side by side, within a crosswise cavity. A pilot light is placed between the two knobs to show if the appliance is switched on or off.

In one execution the first and second electric resistances are powered at 1000 Watt.

These resistances are circular, they are formed of a series of helical turns around a circular frame situated substantially at the centre of the rear grill of the appliance in which the motor with helical fan is fixed in a central position.

The invention offers evident advantages.

When operating at low heating power, reduced motor speed drastically lessens noise.

The appliance silently ventilates and warms the environment to the great comfort of the user.

It can be placed on any flat surface or wall-mounted where direction of air flow can be set automatically or directly on the appliance. Stabilization between the wall bracket and the appliance is as quick and simple to do as it is inexpensive and effective.

Positioning of the front and rear grilles on either side of the motor surrounded by the double electric resistance, ensures maximum efficiency with minimum bulk. The inclined front, the curved rear surface between the upper and lower extensions, the thermostat and commutator knobs at the top in a crosswise cavity, with the pilot light between the knobs, all contribute to creating a functional and aesthetically valid design.

Characteristics and purposes of the disclosure will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures. Fig. 1 Heater fan with separate thermostat and commutator controls and wall bracket comprising a component to fit onto the fan and another to mount in the wall.

Fig. 2 Heater fan wall-mounted by the bracket, rear perspective with detail of the central area.

Fig. 3 Rear half of the heater fan, perspective of the inside.

To make the drawing clearer, electric wiring among the various parts is not shown; for these connections see Figures 8, 10, 12, 14.

Fig. 4 Part of the wall bracket to connect to the fan, front perspective with detail in a rear perspective.

Fig. 5 Part of the bracket to be wall-mounted, front perspective.

Fig. 6 As above, rear perspective.

Fig. 7 Detail of the heater fan at the commutator controls in the

"switched off' position. Fig. 8 Wiring diagram for the position in Figure 7.

Fig. 9 Detail of the heater fan at the commutator controls in the

"ventilation" position.

Fig. 10 Wiring diagram for the position in Figure 9.

Fig. 11 Detail of the heater fan at the commutator controls in the "minimum heat and motor power" position.

Fig. 12 Wiring diagram for the position in Figure 11.

Fig. 13 Detail of the heater fan at the commutator controls in the

"medium heat and motor power" position.

Fig. 14 Wiring diagram for the position in Figure 13. Fig. 15 Detail of the heater fan at the commutator controls in the

"maximum heat and motor power" position.

Fig. 16 Wiring diagram for the position in Figure 15.

The heater fan 10 presents a substantially truncated-pyramidal body with curved lines, formed of two halves, the front half 12 and the rear half 14, matching at the line 16.

Said body presents a flat base 24 with a circular rear extension 26, an upper head 22 projecting rearward above a cavity 28, front and rear grilles 30 and 50 respectively, made of horizontal strips intersected with thin vertical columns.

The front grille extends across as far as the sides of the appliance, while the rear grille is enclosed within a vertical oval. Above the front grille are two apertures 38 and 42 through which the controls 86 and 106 respectively emerge, for the thermostat 80 and for the commutator 100.

A pilot light 37 showing that the fan is turned on is situated between the two controls. The appliance with its flat base 24 can be placed on any flat surface

4, or can be wall-mounted 6 by means of its bracket 160 and orientated in the required direction as will be explained below. On the internal rear wall 52 of the appliance (Figure 3) in the centre of the rear grille 50 a circular frame 120 is screwed into the cylindrical seats 54.

Said frame carries two circular electric resistances 122 and 124 each consisting of a series of continuous substantially radial turns and, placed centrally, an electric motor 130.

A helical fan 134, facing towards the front grille, is fitted onto the shaft 132 of said motor 130.

At the top of said inner wall, are two seats 78 and 96, for the thermostat 80 and commutator 100 respectively.

For the thermostat 80 there are nine positions, corresponding to the

"appliance switched off' position and to the different degrees of warmth required, and to the nine specific symbols placed radially on the knob 86 and indicated by an arrow 40 on the rim of the aperture

38.

For the commutator 100 there are five positions corresponding to the five symbols marked on the knob 106, these too being indicated by an arrow 44 on the edge of the window 42. The symbols correspond to "cool ventilation", "appliance switched off' and to the heat and motor powers, respectively "minimum", "medium" and "maximum".

One line 140 of electric current is connected to the thermostat 80, to the electric motor 130 and to the two resistances 122 and 124

(Figures 8, 10, 12, 14).

The commutator 100 presents four mobile contacts 146-149 and four fixed contacts 152-155 (Figures 8, 10, 12, 14) which, according to the position assigned to the knob 106, also connect, in different ways and with different effects, the second electric line 142 to the electric motor 130 and to the pair of resistances 122, 124.

By turning the knob onto the symbol 110 for the "switched-off position (Figures 7, 8), all the mobile contacts 146-149 become detached from the fixed contacts 152-155. By turning the knob onto the symbol 108 for the "cool air" position, the motor 130 will be connected to the second electric line 142

(Figures 9, 10).

By turning the knob onto the symbol 112 marked with a sign indicating "silence", the electric motor 130 and the first line 122 of the electric resistances will also be connected, in series, to the second line 142 (Figures 11 , 12).

Heat output is obviously that generated by resistance 122 while speed of the motor 130 is about 50% of what the appliance can do.

There is the double advantage of a saving in running costs and of noiselessness due to the low speed of the motor.

By turning the knob onto the "medium power" symbol (a perforated star - Figures 13, 14), the motor 130 and the first resistance 122 are connected in parallel to the second line 142, thus increasing heat and motor power. Turning the knob onto the "maximum power" symbol (a solid star -

Figures 15, 16) closes all contacts of the commutator 100 thus providing electric feed in parallel to the second resistance 124 as well, and therefore maximum heating and motor power. To mount the appliance to the wall, there is bracket 160 comprising two articulated components, one 178 to fit onto the appliance and the other 161 to mount on the wall (Figures 2, 4-6).

Component 178 is a flat substantially parallelepiped chamber, with sides 179, a large fan-shaped mouth 180 with upper and lower arched rims 181 the geometrical centre of which lies on the XX axis of symmetry of the component, and with a substantially concave base 182.

In said base is a longitudinal cleft 183 with, at the centre, two substantially parallel and superimposed arched cavities 184, 185. The central point of the radii of the rims 181 of the mouth 180 is practically the same as that of the radii of the cavities 184, 185. Said component 178 is associated to the appliance by causing it to penetrate inside an internal seat 58 provided for it, lying crosswise to the top of the rear wall of the appliance (Figures 2 , 3). To make association of the two parts stable, a rectangular spring 190 has been created on the upper surface of said component (Figure 4), in the form of an axial hole 191 shaped like a squared "U", said spring facing downward and having a projecting tooth 192. At the position of the tooth and at the top of said internal seat 58 (Figure 3), is a rectangular aperture 74 that permits said tooth 192 to fit onto the upper edge of said aperture. The component 161 , to be wall mounted, presents a box-shaped body with a flat base 162 (Figures 5, 6) to match with the wall, and a front surface 163 arched at the same radius as that of the arched rims 181 of the mouth 180 of component 178 to be fixed to the appliance. Uppermost at the centre of said arched surface 163 there is a radial rod 164 having a tip 165 the thickness of which substantially corresponds to the distance between the cavities 184, 185 on the base 182 of component 178.

To said tip 165 is fixed a diametrical ridge with two teeth 166 at the end, one upper and one lower. To wall-mount said component 161 , deep cavities 172 and 174 are made at its longitudinal ends, between its side 163 and base 162.

Holes, respectively 173 and 175, are made in the bottom of said cavities for screws to screw into dowels, or the like, buried in the wall.

To associate component 178, already fitted onto the appliance, to the wall-mounting component 161 , it is enough to press said component

161 into component 178, inserting the rod 164 into the mouth 180 until the projecting teeth 166 on the tip 165 of the rod 164, enter the cavities 184, 185 in the centre of the cleft 183 in the bottom of said component 178. This having been done, the cavities 184 and 185 resume their former positions, at a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of the tip 165 of the rod 164, so preventing accidental detachment of said teeth 166 from the cavities 184, 185 and therefore accidental detachment of the appliance 10 from the wall. The fan heater hung from the wall bracket 161 can be oriented as desired, around a vertical geometrical axis, between one side and the other 179 of the component 178.

The appliance can be fixed in its various positions by a set of notches

188 on one arched rim 181 of the mouth 180 of the component 178, into which notches presses the tooth 170 of a spring 168 created in the centre of the cylindrical wall 163 of the component 161 , below the rod 164 (Figure 5), by means of a squared-U shaped cut 169.

Claims

1. Electric heater fan characterized in that it can stand on a flat surface or be wall-mounted, and that air flow can be regulated in orientation, in heating power and motor power.

2. Electric heater fan as in claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a first and a second electric resistance, an electric motor with fan, a thermostat and a commutator operated separately each by its own knob.

3. Electric heater fan as in claim 2, characterized in that, by turning its knob onto one of the specific symbols, the thermostat enables the appliance to be automatically turned off when the chosen room temperature has been reached.

4. Electric heater fan as in claim 2, characterized in that, by turning its knob onto one of the specific symbols, the commutator can be used to set the appliance respectively on the positions for switch-off, ventilation only, ventilation with minimum motor power and heating, ventilation with medium power and heating, and ventilation with maximum motor power and heating.

5. Electric heater fan as in claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the commutator comprises four mobile contacts and four fixed contacts with which, according to how the knob is turned, the electric circuits between one or another of the fixed and mobile contacts can be closed as desired, and consequently connection of the electric feed lines to one or another of the devices constituted by the electric motor, by the first electric resistance and by the second electric resistance.

6. Electric heater fan as in claims 4 and 5, characterized in that, when in the switched off position, all mobile contacts are detached from the fixed contacts, when in the ventilation only position feed is supplied to the electric motor only, when in the minimum heating position electric feed is supplied in series to the first resistance only and to the electric motor so that the motor runs at low speed and noiselessly, when in the position of medium power feed is supplied in parallel to the first electric resistance and to the electric motor, and when in the position of maximum power, feed is supplied in parallel to the electric motor as well as to the two electric resistances, so producing maximum ventilation and heating.

7. Electric heater fan as in claim 1 , characterized in that the appliance comprises a flat base having rearward at the top a rear seat for the wall bracket, so that the heater can stand on any flat surface or be wall-mounted.

8. Electric heater fan as in claim 7, characterized in that, when wall-mounted, it can be turned on substantially vertical axis so as to direct the heating as required to any area of the room.

9. Electric heater fan as in claim 7, characterized in that the wall bracket consists of two components, the first to be fixed to the appliance by fitting it into a seat provided for the purpose, and the second component to be fixed to a wall.

10. Electric heater fan as in claim 9, characterized in that the component to be fitted onto the appliance by means of the seat made in its rear, substantially consists of a flat parallelepiped chamber comprising a wide fan-shaped mouth with arched upper and lower rims and a substantially concave bottom in which are longitudinal clefts comprising two central and superimposed arched cavities, the centre of the upper and lower arched rims of the mouth substantially coinciding with the centre of the arches of the cavities, there being created on the top of the chamber, by means of an axial hole shaped like a squared "U", a downward-facing rectangular spring provided with a projecting tooth and, on the top of the seat made in the rear of the appliance, a rectangular aperture to permit said component to be held stably inside its seat by means of the tooth that fits onto the edge of said aperture.

11. Electric heater fan as in claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the component to be wall-mounted presents a box-shaped body with a flat base that matches with the wall, and a front surface arched at the same radius as that of the arched rims of the mouth of the component fitted onto the appliance, there being at the centre of said arched surface a rod the thickness of whose tip substantially corresponds to the distance between the cavities in the bottom of the chamber of the component to be fitted onto the appliance, an upper and a lower tooth being fixed to said tip.

12. Electric heater fan as in claim 11 , characterized in that two deep cavities are made at the longitudinal ends of the component to be wall-mounted, between the arched front and the base, holes being made in the bottom of said cavities to receive screws to screw into dowels or the like buried in the wall.

13. Electric heater fan as in claims 9-12, characterized in that for associating the first component, to be fitted onto the appliance or that is already on it, to the second component to be wall-mounted, all that is needed is to press the first one against the second until the teeth, on the tip of the rod fixed to the second component and inserted in the mouth of the first component, become pressed into the cavities present in the centre of the cleft in the bottom of said first component, this producing the effect that, having been forced open, said cavities then return to their former positions so preventing accidental detachment of the teeth from said cavities and therefore accidental detachment of the appliance from the wall.

14. Electric heater fan as in claims 9-13, characterized in that when hung on the wall bracket, the heater fan can be turned as required around a vertical geometrical axis between the two sides of the component fixed to the appliance, its stability in the various positions being assured by a set of notches made in one of the arched rims of the first component fixed to the appliance, into which notches presses the tooth of a spring created in the centre of the arched surface of the second wall-mounting component below the rod, by formation of a cut in the shape of a squared "U".

15. Electric heater fan as in claim 1 , characterized in that it presents a substantially parallelepiped structure consisting of a front half and a rear half joined by a curved line.

16. Electric heater fan as in claim 1 , characterized in that it presents a front grille and a rear grille.

17. Electric heater fan as in claim 16, characterized in that the grilles are made of horizontal strips intersected by thin vertical columns.

18. Electric heater fan as in claim 16, characterized in that the front grille extends round to the sides.

19. Electric heater fan as in claim 16, characterized in that the shape of the rear grille is substantially that of a vertical oval.

20. Electric heater fan as in claim 1 , characterized in that the heater fan has a flat base.

21. Electric heater fan as in claim 1 , characterized in that the base of the appliance presents a circular extension at the rear.

22. Electric heater fan as in claim 1 , characterized in that there is a small head-shaped protection uppermost at its rear.

23. Electric heater fan as in claim 2, characterized in that the thermostat and commutator knobs are substantially of the same size and, at the top of the front half of the appliance, partially project through two apertures placed side by side within a crosswise cavity, a pilot light being situated between the two knobs to show if the appliance is switched on or off.

24. Electric heater fan as in claim 2, characterized in that the first and second resistances are powered at 1000 Watt.

25. Electric heater fan as in claims 2 and 16, characterized in that the two resistances are circular, are formed of a series of helical turns and are placed around a circular frame situated substantially in the centre of the heater fan's rear grille.

26. Electric heater fan as in claim 2, characterized in that the fan is helical.