GB2256705A

GB2256705A - Space heaters

Info

Publication number: GB2256705A
Application number: GB9126647A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Longhi Giuseppe De
Original assignee: Miralfin SRL
Current assignee: Miralfin SRL
Priority date: 1991-06-14
Filing date: 1991-12-16
Publication date: 1992-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-16
Also published as: FR2677739B3; GB9126647D0; IT221909Z2; ITMI910532U1; GB2256705B; FR2677739A3; ITMI910532V0; ES1019811U; ES1019811Y

Abstract

A catalytic or infra-red radiation space heater comprises a casing having on its front surface an area 4 for the transmission of heat energy to surrounding air and on its interior a gas burner 6 to produce heat energy, and a fan 8 to deviate said air, the fan 8 being located externally of the casing and actuable independently from the burner. <IMAGE>

Description

"Room Heater Structure" The present invention relates to a room heater structure for heating rooms.

At present there exists on the market numerous types of heaters including catalytic heaters and infra-red ray heaters. Normally, these heaters comprise a support framework for a chassis internally of which there is located an arrangement adapted to produce heat energy which is emitted in the room to be heated. As with all heaters these heaters transmit heat into the room to be heated mainly by convection.

In particular, the air which contacts the heated surface, for example of a catalytic heater or an infra-red ray heater, is heated with the result that the motion of the air molecules, becoming greater, cause the molecules to move further apart from each other.

As a result, the warmer portions of air molecules expand, becoming lighter from those surrounding them and therefore take on a mass migration velocity with respect to other molecules causing other portions of cold air to move into their place and starting a new cycle. There therefore arises within the convective motion of air the following disadvantages.

The air which is gradually heated passes heat to bodies and other objects with which they come into contact, causing them to cool and to move once again downwardly.

From this it will be easily understood that heat which is produced from a heater, in this case of a catalytic type of infra-red ray type, tends to heat only the air close to the heater itself, spreading only to a limited extent within the room in which the heater is placed.

To obviate at least partially this disadvantage, there have been designed catalytic or infra-red ray heaters the interior of which are provided with fans adapted to generate a current of air which, acting on the arrangement for producing heat energy, becomes heated and thereafter is transmitted externally of the heater.

The flow of heated air has a flow direction substantially at right angles to the rising motion of the molecules heated by the air sending the portions of heated air to areas of the room far from the heater.

In this type of heater, having a fan incorporated within the chassis and taking into account that catalytic or infra-red heaters do not have a gas bottle containing the gas to be burnt incorporated within the chassis, the flow of air produced by the fan, on the heater is consequently close to the burner of the catalytic heater or infra-red ray heater with the result of diminishing the combustion of gas and injecting as a result within the room a quantity of unburnt and noxious gas, for example carbon monoxide.

Further, the catalytic or infra-red ray heaters have a further serious disadvantage due to the formation of a large quantity of steam within the room being heated.

In fact, it can be shown that with a catalytic heater or infra-red ray heater bringing the temperature of an average sized room to approximately 20"C, for each produced cubic metre of gas consumed, approximately four cubic metres of steam is produced which condense on window panes and objects contained within the room resulting in an increase in the humidity rate to unhealthy levels.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate or reduce the above set out technical disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a room heater structure comprising a chassis having on its front surface an area for transmission of heat energy to surrounding air molecules and on its interior an arrangement producing heat energy, the room heater structure including deviator means for air molecules to transport said heat energy, said deviator means being associated externally of the chassis and activatable independently of the arrangement for producing heat energy.

Preferably, the deviator means is associated with an upper part of the chassis and distant from the area and arrangement for producing heat energy.

Preferably, the deviator means includes at least one inlet and outlet, the deviator means blowing a predetermined quantity of air across the inlet and ejecting the air through the outlet.

Preferably, the outlet includes deflecting fins to direct the air in a predetermined direction.

Preferably, the outlet directs the air in a direction substantially perpendicular to hot air rising vertically from the area transmitting heat energy.

Preferably, the deviator means includes at least one fan actuated by an electric motor.

Preferably, air entering the inlet and exiting through the outlet communicates through a conduit.

Preferably, the deviator means includes, adjacent the fan, at least one electrical resistance for heating the air exiting from the outlet.

Preferably, the inlet and outlet, the fan and the electrical resistance are housed in an additional unit externally of the chassis.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a part-sectional side view of the room heater structure in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to Fig. 1, a room heater structure 1 includes feet 2 supporting a chassis 3 and having on its front surface an area 4 for the transmission of heat energy to surrounding air molecules. The transmission zone 4 is further protected, as is conventionally done, by a grill 5.

Internally of the chassis 3 and supported by the chassis 3 there is further provided a burner 6.

The burner 6 of a catalytic heater or infra-red ray heater is, as is known, fed from a gas bottle also arranged internally of the chassis and not shown in the drawing.

Above the chassis 3 and in a position spaced from the burner 6 the room heater structure 1 has means 7 for deviating the molecules of air which transport the heat energy and, amongst other things, is activatable independently, as will be better described hereinafter, from the arrangement for producing the heat energy, that being the burner 6.

More particularly, the deviating means 7 includes a fan 8 actuated by an electric motor 9. Air enters an inlet 11 and with the action of the fan 8 and the electric motor 9 communicates through a conduit 10 and exits through an outlet 12.

The outlet 12 has deflector fins 20 adapted to direct the quantity of air blown by the fan 8 in a predetermined direction and in particular in a direction substantially perpendicular to vertically rising hot air exiting from the area 4 of the heater 1.

Adjacent the fan 8 there is further provided at least one electrical resistance 13 adapted to heat the air exiting from the outlet 12.

In this way the resistance 13 co-operating with the fan 8, results in a flow of hot air through the outlet 12 which co-operates with the hot air produced by the catalytic or infra-red ray heater through the burner 6.

This combination results in a room being brought to a predetermined temperature, consuming less gas and therefore permitting the catalytic or infra-red ray heater to produce a quantity of steam considerably lower than a heater of the same type and of similar design.

Further, as will be briefly seen from what has been described, the fan 8 and the resistance 13 together with the inlet 11 and outlet 12 are housed in an additional unit 14 which is completely external of the chassis 3 of the heater 1 and spaced from the burner 6 of the heater 1. In this way, the flow of air from the additional unit 14 does not affect in any way the burner 6 allowing the catalytic heater or infra-red ray heater to obtain an optimal combustion of gas.

It will be understood that that it will be possible to operate the fan 8 only or the fan 8 and resistance 13 together simultaneously with the operation of the burner 6 of the catalytic heater or infra-red ray heater.

An advantage of the room heater structure 1 is that it is possible to distribute heated air in areas of the room far from the heater 1 without affecting optimum combustion of the burner 6 and avoiding transporting carbon monoxide into the room.

Another advantage derives from the fact that by using the fan 8 and resistance 13 together it is possible to heat the air coming from the outlet 12 so as to more quickly heat the room with a consequent saving of gas and therefore with a notable reduction in the formation of steam vapour in the room itself.

In practice, the material used as well as the dimensions can be whatever it is necessary and as required by the state of the art.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A room heater structure comprising a chassis having on a front surface an area for transmission of heat energy to surrounding air molecules and on its interior an arrangement producing heat energy, the room heater structure including deviator means for the air molecules to transport said heat energy, said deviator means being associated externally of the chassis and activatable independently of the arrangement for producing heat energy.

2. A room heater structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the deviator means is associated with an upper part of the chassis and distant from the area and arrangement for producing heat energy.

3. A room heater structure as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, wherein the deviator means includes at least one inlet and outlet, the deviator means blowing a predetermined quantity of air across the inlet and ejecting the air through the outlet.

4. A room heater structure as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the outlet includes deflecting fins.

5. A room heater structure as claimed in Claims 3 or 4, wherein the outlet directs the air in a direction substantially perpendicular to the hot air rising vertically from the area transmitting heat energy.

6. A room heater structure as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the deviator means includes at least one fan actuated by an electrical motor.

7. A room heater structure as claimed in any one of Claims 3 - 6, wherein air entering the inlet and exiting through the outlet communicates through a conduit.

8. A room heater structure as claimed in Claims 6 or 7, wherein the deviator means includes, adjacent the fan, at least one electrical resistance.

9. A room heater structure a claimed in Claim 8, wherein the inlet and outlet, the fan and the electrical resistance are housed in an additional unit externally of the chassis.