Unit Heaters Patents (Class 126/110B)
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Patent number: 6152128Abstract: A portable forced air heater includes a one-piece unichassis structure which forms the base and the outer housing of the heater. The outer housing defines an elongated passage having a front end and a back end and which receives a burner assembly. The burner assembly is spaced from the outer housing such that cooling air flows between the combustion chamber of the burner assembly and the outer housing. The burner assembly itself includes the elongated combustion chamber which is shorter than the air passage defined by the outer shell and includes a rear head member which is snapped into place in the inlet end of the combustion chamber. Self-aligning mounting tabs and brackets are formed in both the unichassis and the combustion chamber to significantly reduce the number of parts and to simplify construction.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1999Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: DESA InternationalInventors: John R. Willey, Eric M. Kaltenmark
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Airflow diffuser for use with a forced-air space heater and a forced-air space heater using the same
Patent number: 6142141Abstract: A unitary airflow diffuser for use with a forced-air space heater has a plurality of spurs radially extending from a hub. The spurs include one or more vanes for deflecting the airflow generated by fan blades within the space heater. A nozzle assembly is secured through an aperture in the hub of the diffuser for supplying fuel within a combustion chamber. Brackets can be provided for securing an igniter and a sensor to the airflow diffuser. Mounting tabs are provided on each vane to secure the airflow diffuser to a mounting plate disposed at the input of the combustion chamber. The nozzle ejects the fuel through a central aperture in the mounting plate into the combustion chamber. The mounting plate can have secondary apertures through which air can be diverted, and vanes can be provided on the mounting plates to direct air through the secondary apertures.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1997Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: The Coleman Company, Inc.Inventor: Norris R. Long -
Patent number: 6089221Abstract: A space heater for heating air from within a room with a heat exchanger connected to a burner and discharging heated air into the room has a room temperature sensor for detecting a room temperature and a controller for controlling the burner with a freeze prevention temperature set to prevent indoor facilities from being frozen. When the detected room temperature drops to or below the freeze prevention temperature, the controller operates the burner and controls the burner with a lower limit for an amount of heat in the burner with which no moisture condensation occurs in the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1999Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Rinnai Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Mano, Shigeaki Yasui
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Patent number: 6065468Abstract: A housing for an outdoor gas fired construction heater that incorporates a one-piece shell design that sits on and mounts directly to the base. Openings are used in the sides near the top and the bottom of the shell to provide the burner system with a metered amount of inlet air. Integrally formed, inwardly and downwardly projecting panels protect the burner system from debris, drafts at floor level, and to shield the floor on which the burner sits from infrared energy. In order to increase the strength of the top and shell assembly, the top sits on and is directly mounted to the shell. The shell height and top openings are of a size to allow heat out but to prevent drafts from pulling the flame out of the top of the heater.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1998Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: Desa InternationalInventors: John R. Willey, Eric M. Kaltenmark, Ricky J. Fielder
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Patent number: 6019099Abstract: A high efficiency gas fireplace unit having a heat exchanger is located in a room in which the heat from the gas fireplace is not wanted. An air duct is connected to the heat exchanger and has a termination point in a room or area remote from the gas fireplace unit. During a heat dump or heat transfer mode of operation, an induced draft fan in an air duct is activated by a remote switch thrown to cause room air to be sucked through the heat exchanger and passed through the air duct and dumped in a remote area so that the fireplace heating effect is nullified or neutralized allowing the fireplace to be operated with or without an air conditioning system.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1998Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: Heat-N-Glo Fireplace Products Inc.Inventors: Ronald John Shimek, Robb Edward Bennett, Daniel Curtis Shimek
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Patent number: 5988156Abstract: A fluid spray burner for a heater having a nozzle block which supports a spray nozzle and to which fuel can be fed from a fuel line via a fuel pump. A fuel pump is integrated in the burner housing, and in particular to a radial carrier plate thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH and Co.Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Schmid, Fritz Mohring, Adolf Schodt, Helmut Keinert
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Patent number: 5950616Abstract: A high efficiency heater system made up of a longitudinally extending combustion chamber located within an external enclosure which is spaced apart from the combustion chamber to provide an air space. A burner assembly provides combustion gases into one end of the combustion chamber which travel down the chamber and are exhausted through flue gas vents at the other end of the chamber. An air path divider separates the air space between the upper portion of the combustion chamber and the enclosure from the air space between a lower portion of the combustion chamber and the enclosure. A blower supplies ambient air which flows into the upper air space, flows along the hottest part of the combustion chamber and then, upon reaching the flue gas end of the combustion chamber, reverses direction and travels back along the lower air space before being exhausted into the ambient air.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1998Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Shenandoah Manufacturing Company, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey S. Armentrout
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Patent number: 5941232Abstract: A portable space heater in which a fuel discharge nozzle discharges fuel into a combustion chamber from a fuel tank. A rigid non-flexible metal tube extends between the nozzle and tank. The tank includes an opening with a closure member in the opening. The closure member includes an opening into which a tube compression fitting can be secured for securely affixing one end of the tubing. In the preferred embodiment, the tank is plastic and the closure member is an insert which is insert molded into the top of the tank. In another embodiment, the tank can be metal with the closure member welded to the top wall thereof. In still another embodiment, the closure member is a cap threaded on a threaded opening. In all embodiments, the fuel filter is located inside the tank and is accessible by withdrawing it from the tank through an opening in the insert.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1997Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Vogelzang International CorporationInventor: Steven J. Vogelzang
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Patent number: 5893711Abstract: A portable space heater in which a plastic tank is utilized underneath a relatively heavy heater unit. The plastic tank is protected against stresses exerted on it by the heater unit by a unique support structure that is supported on the same portable frame as the plastic tank.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1997Date of Patent: April 13, 1999Assignee: Vogelzang International CorporationInventors: Steven J. Vogelzang, John C. Brandt
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Patent number: 5879154Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater is provided with a flame spreader-type fuel burner assembly that reduces the operating NOx emissions of the water heater. The assembly includes a radial port gas burner coaxially disposed in a facing relationship with a generally inverted dish-shaped flame spreader which intercepts and is impinged on its concave side by the burner flames. In various disclosed embodiments of the flame spreader, during operation of the burner the burner flames pass through spaced series of openings extending through the flame spreader body inwardly of its outer edge periphery instead of being deflected horizontally outwardly past such periphery before passing upwardly beyond the flame spreader. The passage of the previously generated burner flames through these various openings serves to materially reduce the burner NOx emissions compared to a burner having an associated flame spreader with a conventional imperforate construction.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1996Date of Patent: March 9, 1999Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Carl J. Suchovsky
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Patent number: 5848585Abstract: A portable forced air heater includes a base, an outer tubular housing mounted on the base which includes front and rear ends, and a burner assembly mounted within the outer housing. The burner assembly includes an inner housing, and support brackets on the inner housing include tabs which extend through slots in the outer housing. A fan is mounted within the outer housing behind the inner housing. The outer housing is provided with an air opening rearwardly of the inner housing, and an air scoop below the air opening guides air from the fan toward the front of the outer housing for cooling the support surface of the heater. An air diffuser plate on the rear end-of the inner housing is provided with radially extending tapered slots which include radially outwardly diverging side edges. The diffuser plate includes a vane for each slot which partially obstructs the slot. A fuel valve is mounted on the base, and a fuel tube extends between the fuel valve and the burner assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1996Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: The Coleman Company, Inc.Inventors: Norris R. Long, Clyde R. Schulte
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Patent number: 5766003Abstract: A liquid fuel space heater having a specially designed tank and fuel line assembly. The tank includes two capped openings. The first capped opening is an opening in which the fuel is permitted to be introduced. The second capped opening includes an opening in the top receiving a fitting to which a rigid metal tube is connected. A filter is connected to the lower end of the fitting so as to be located inside the tank.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Vogelzang International CorporationInventor: Steven J. Vogelzang
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Patent number: 5727730Abstract: The invention relates to an air heating device with a hot air fan located in a housing to deliver hot air from an air inlet opening which is located on the face side via a heat exchanger to a hot air exit opening located on the opposite face.The object of the invention is to devise an air heating device which can always intake a sufficient amount of hot air regardless of its installation position without additional parts.This object is achieved by the fact that the housing near the face air inlet opening on its outside periphery on at least one side has additional air inlet openings.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1995Date of Patent: March 17, 1998Assignee: Webasto Thermosysteme GmbHInventors: Stephan Habijanec, Christine Sallinger, Rudiger Galtz
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Patent number: 5664555Abstract: A forced air, wall heater includes a heat exchanger which has a plurality of tubes. Each of the tubes include substantially parallel aligned runs and at least one return section between adjacent runs. The return section is aligned generally perpendicular with each of the plurality of runs. The heater also includes a blower positioned for blowing air directly toward the return section to maximize the mass flow rate of air over the return section. At least two of the runs are offset both laterally and in the direction of air flow with respect to each other. The ordering of tubes differs in at least two positions within the exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1995Date of Patent: September 9, 1997Assignee: Empire Comfort Systems, Inc.Inventors: Lloyd R. Maschhoff, Thomas D. Vaughn
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Patent number: 5540213Abstract: A kerosene heater (1) having a pump assembly (106) which includes a piston (113) having a hollow bore (121) through which fuel (98) is routed to the hollow shaft of a fuel atomizer (27). The piston (113) is operated by a cam (117) machined into the shaft (114) of the heater motor (22). Mounted on the motor shaft (114) between the atomizer (27) and the pump assembly (106) is a novel fan (26) combining both low pitched outer blade portions (143) and high pitched vanes (146) near the hub (136) of the fan (26). The air flow near the periphery of the fan tends to be axial while the flow near the hub (136) tends to be turbulent and of lower velocity. A series of rear heads (32,33) downstream of the atomizer (27) tends to separate cooling and combustion air while preheating a portion of the air in the region of the atomizer (27).Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1994Date of Patent: July 30, 1996Assignee: DESA InternationalInventors: Dennis B. Shell, Jay J. Kakuk
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Patent number: 5524606Abstract: Air heater comprising a gas burner and heat exchange means including at least one heat-exchange wall which separates a first passage for flow of air to be heated from a second passage for flow of the flue gases produced by the burner, the air to be heated being made to flow by blower means through the first passage, the hot flue gases flowing in counter current through the second passage, wherein the burner is of the radiation type, and the heat-exchange wall comprises a convective-exchange part and an absorption part for absorbing the radiation from the burner, the flue gases heating the air by convection mainly in the region of the convective-exchange part, the radiation from the burner being mainly emitted towards the absorption part, the air flowing over this absorption part after it has flowed over the convective-exchange part.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1994Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventor: Georges Le Strat
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Patent number: 5399086Abstract: In a direct gas-fire heater assembly having a generally box-like housing with a grate-like floor with a conventional gas regulator, a gas port mounted within a box-like shroud, the shroud having one side with a predetermined number, shape and size of primary combustion air inflow orifices to direct primary combustion air toward the gas port. A burner is mounted on the shroud over the gas port. The area above the burner and adjacent to it contains an ignition device and flame sense rod as well as a pair of opposed and particularly oriented flame shields on each side of the flame orifice. One each of a pair of opposed baffle-type deflectors is arranged on each side and just above the flame shield so as to form a combustion chamber as well as a path for secondary air flow to a downstream chamber. An additional flame deflector is formed on one baffle-type deflector to deflect the flame toward the blower area.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1993Date of Patent: March 21, 1995Assignee: Cambridge Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Gary J. Potter, Samuel M. Baxter
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Patent number: 5363836Abstract: A furnace including an elongated housing having an air intake adjacent one end of the housing and an air discharge vent adjacent the other end of the housing utilizes a substantially U-shaped heat exchanger positioned within the housing and a partition supported within the housing so as to separate the interior of the housing into first and second zones. A fuel burner assembly directs a flame and attending combustion products into one leg section of the heat exchanger so that the heat generated by the flame and combustion products are absorbed through the inside surfaces of both leg sections. The furnace also includes a fan so that a fraction of the air move through the first zone and absorbs heat from the outer surfaces of the one leg section and so that a remainder of the air moves through the second zone and absorbs heat from the other surfaces of the other leg section. The partition provides a first and a second opening through which the first and second zones communicate with one another.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1993Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: Black Gold CorporationInventor: Eugene C. Briggs
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Patent number: 5307800Abstract: An afterburner positionable adjacent the discharge end of a combustion chamber of a fuel-burning heater utilizes a ring portion and a nose cone portion which are constructed as a unit out of a single piece of material. The ring portion accommodates the attachment of the afterburner adjacent the discharge end of the combustion chamber, and the nose cone portion has a skirt including peripheral edge portions which are spaced from and overlap the inner edge portions of the ring portion so that the direction of movement of the flow of products of combustion through the combustion chamber is altered before the combustion products exit the chamber. The afterburner is formed from a single piece of sheet steel in steps involving a first press operation, a lancing operation, and then a second press operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1992Date of Patent: May 3, 1994Assignee: DESA International, Inc.Inventor: Joseph B. Lee, Jr.
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Patent number: 5249956Abstract: An improved multi-fuel heater using a porous fuel vaporizer in close proxty to an burner cup the improved heater having means to ameliorate the build up of particulate material between the cup and the vaporizer.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1992Date of Patent: October 5, 1993Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventor: William H. Chu
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Patent number: 5232153Abstract: An arrangement for the reduction of exhaust gas discharge temperature and for an increase in efficiency in heating devices is preferably used for the heating of the interior of mobile units. A baffle plate is arranged in an annular chamber defined between a flame tube of the heating device and a heat exchanger surrounding the tube.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1991Date of Patent: August 3, 1993Assignee: J. EberspacherInventors: Fritz Mohring, Dieter Maisenbacher
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Patent number: 5201651Abstract: A gas-fired construction heater which meets the applicable ANSI Standard and operates to supply heated air separately from products of combustion. The products of combustion are permitted to contain no more than a specified percent of carbon monoxide when uncontrolled heater operating conditions are within predetermined ranges. The uncontrolled operating conditions include variations in input rate and supply voltage. A combustion chamber produces the products of combustion and has primary and secondary combustion zones. A heat exchanger receives the products of combustion and transfers heat therefrom to fresh air to be heated. The chamber and the heat exchanger define a tertiary combustion zone. Inlets supply a separate natural combustion draft to each of the primary and tertiary combustion zones. The inlets include a first and a third fixed-area inlet for respectively supplying the separate natural drafts to the primary and tertiary combustion zones.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1991Date of Patent: April 13, 1993Assignee: T.A. Pelsue CompanyInventors: Mark R. Niksic, Charles Hokes
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Patent number: 5197871Abstract: A vaporizing type burner including a cylindrical body, a combustion chamber, a fuel absorbing section for receiving a fuel therein and vaporizing the received fuel therefrom, a mixer tube in which a vaporized fuel and a combustion air are mixed with each other to prepare a mixture gas and an igniting plug for igniting the mixture gas radially ejected from the mixer tube wherein a supporting member for accommodating the fuel absorbing section in the cylindrical body is arranged in such a manner as not to allow the fuel absorbing section to be exposed directly the combustion chamber, a vaporizing chamber is arranged adjacent to the fuel absorbing section and the supporting member so as to allow a part of the combustion gas generated in the combustion chamber to be introduced into the vaporizing chamber without any burning flame, an air swirling chamber includes a plurality of guide plates for imparting a swirling force to the combustion air, the mixer tube is communicated not only with the air swirling chamberType: GrantFiled: June 25, 1992Date of Patent: March 30, 1993Assignee: Mikuni Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuuzou Yamamoto, Katsuji Sawada, Hisashi Fukunaga
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Patent number: 5172857Abstract: A motor vehicle auxiliary heater annular combustion air blower is disclosed having a housing defining a suction side of the blower and a delivery side of the blower. The housing also defines a mounting bore which extends substantially perpendicular to the bypass channel. A rotary slide valve is provided in the form of a cylindrical pin member which is rotatable within said mounting bore and includes a surface before variable throttling of said bypass channel independence upon the rotational position of said rotary slide valve.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1990Date of Patent: December 22, 1992Assignee: J. EberspacherInventors: Fritz Mohring, Martin Stoll
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Patent number: 5165386Abstract: A heat exchanger for heating air or another gas, comprising at least one gas-fired burner comprising a metal pipe-shaped combustion chamber which is part of the heat exchanger and extends in the path of the air to be heated, wherein the pipe-shaped burner chamber (4) comprises means for enlarging the heat transfer surface, such as fins (V), with the pipe-shaped burner chamber (4) forming the first pass of at least two parallel passes which communicate at their ends via deflecting boxes (5, 6) and the burner (1) being a high-speed burner.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1991Date of Patent: November 24, 1992Assignee: Veg-Gasinstituut N.V.Inventor: Geuko Van Der Veen
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Patent number: 5137445Abstract: An improved multifuel heater having a means to provide a source of particte free combustion air to a fuel ignition chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1991Date of Patent: August 11, 1992Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventor: William H. Chu
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Patent number: 5137444Abstract: A process for operating a burner fed with liquid fuel, in particular a vaporization burner of a heater in which, preferably, a motor vehicle add-on heater is involved. In this operating process, after the burner has been in steady state operation for a predetermined period, the fuel feed is briefly interrupted. The predetermined period of steady state operation of the burner is preferably about 5 to 20 minutes, while the fuel feed is interrupted for about 5 to 25 seconds. With this operating process, deposits on the burner can be reduced so that the service life of the burner can be considerably increased.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1991Date of Patent: August 11, 1992Assignee: Webasto AG FahrzeugtechnikInventors: Karl Grebe, Karl Panick
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Patent number: 5114071Abstract: In the context of a latent heat storage means for vehicle heating systems run on waste engine heat, comprising an inner container accommodating a storage core, an outer containing surrounding the inner one with a clearance to constitute a preferably evacuated insulating space, two ducts running from the outside through the insulating space to the inner container, of which one functions as a supply duct for a heat vehicle fluid and the other functions as a return duct therefor, and the inner container is suspended at two end walls, via a respective group of ribs with a low thermal conductivity, on the outer container, between a first end wall of the inner container and the outer container at least one spring is so arranged that it tends to change the distance apart of the opposite end walls of the inner container and of the outer container and between the container wall connecting the two end walls of the inner container and the adjacent container wall of the outer container the insulating space has its minimuType: GrantFiled: March 5, 1991Date of Patent: May 19, 1992Inventor: Oskar Schatz
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Patent number: 5090896Abstract: With a fluid fuel driven standard heating for motor vehicles, whose combustion chambers are equipped as vaporizer burners, a heater plug with open heater coils up to now would be installed in the usual way. What is disadvantageous for the operation, particularly in the starting, is the voltage dependence of such a heater plug. Also, with time an increasing carbonization would be established. According to the invention the vaporizing of the liquid fuel occurs under a seal by the use of a rod heater plug. The ignition can--independent of voltage--occur with the help of a spark plug (high voltage electrode). In a construction design the vaporizer is developed as a heat pipe, in which the rod heater plug is arranged.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1989Date of Patent: February 25, 1992Assignee: J. EberspacherInventors: Erich Kenner, Herbert Langen
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Patent number: 5082175Abstract: A heating device (1) is provided with a sleeve member (14) surrounding a burner element (10) of the heating device, such that a combustion air chamber (15), having a predetermined volume coordinated to the respective configuration of the burner, is obtained between the burner element (10) and the sleeve member (14). The sleeve member (14) may be radially divided into two parts (14a, 14b), which parts are tightened against each other for sealing purposes. At a front end, the combustion air chamber (15) is defined by a cover (16) having an inlet opening (17) for the combustion air, which inlet opening is sealed relative to the environment and is connected with the outlet of a combustion air blower. The sleeve member (14) may be made of a light metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1989Date of Patent: January 21, 1992Assignee: Webasto Ag FahrzeugtechnikInventors: Peter Koch, Guenter Kahnau, Peter Glaser, Georg Habbel, Stefan Kunz, Bernhard Schmatelka
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Patent number: 5065736Abstract: An improved air heating apparatus and method of heating an air stream wherein the heating arrangement includes a heater housing with a combustion drum having a burner at one end thereof, the drum being disposed in spaced relation in the housing to extend longitudinally along the length thereof, a heat exchanger longitudinally extending in the space between the combustion drum and housing to receive combustion products from the combustion drum, an air stream blower positioned to pass an air stream over the heat exchanger in the space between housing and drum and to pass air from opposed ends of the combustion drum including the burner at one end to promote an extended burner flame substantially along the combustion drum length.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1991Date of Patent: November 19, 1991Assignee: Engineered Air Systems, Inc.Inventor: Paul A. Mutchler
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Patent number: 5056501Abstract: A combustion heater includes a burner cylinder defining therein a combustion chamber. The burner cylinder has a peripheral wall thereof having a number of air inlet holes formed therein, one bottomed end thereof having an end wall formed with at least one opening, and another open end thereof having a peripheral edge. A wick is exposed to the combustion chamber for impregnating with liquid fuel. The peripheral edge of the open end of the burner cylinder is disposed in close contact with the wick. The end wall of the bottomed end of same is opposed to the wick. The burner cylinder has a radially extending reflecting portion formed by the end wall of the bottomed end thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1990Date of Patent: October 15, 1991Assignee: Zexel CorporationInventor: Hiroyuki Ida
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Patent number: 5052367Abstract: An easily portable ventilating heater to supply either ambient fresh air or warm fresh air to utility workers while working in an underground utility installation. The ventilating heater comprises a blower unit and a heater unit. The blower unit can be used and operated without the heater being in operation. On the other hand, the heater cannot operate unless the blower unit is in operation. The ventilating heater has seveal safety features so that the heater automatically shuts down if the heater exceeds a pre-set temperature of about 200.degree. F., the inlet air flow is interrupted or the power or gas supply is interrupted. The ventilating heater automatically restarts once the heater temperature goes below the pre-set temperature and there is no interruption of air or gas flow or power. The heater uses liquid propane gas and the electrical system can be A.C. or D.C.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1990Date of Patent: October 1, 1991Inventors: Allan E. Beavers, Robert A. Fulcher
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Patent number: 5046663Abstract: A heater, in particular a motor vehicle heater, has a muffler insert in the exhaust gas outlet, a muffler insert that reduces, in particular, disturbing, low-frequency combustion noises. With the aid of the muffler insert, the exhaust gas stream in the area of the exhaust gas outlet of the heater is divided into at least two partial streams. The muffler insert can be made as a sheet metal part having hollow bodies that are made of pipe pieces. Alternatively, the muffler insert can be made as a one-piece cast part.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1989Date of Patent: September 10, 1991Assignee: Webasto AG FahrzeugtechnikInventor: Michael Bittmann
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Patent number: 5033956Abstract: Flow of liquid fuel to a vaporization tube of a heating device is controlled by a vertically adjustable float valve, with the vertical height of a surface level of the fuel in a float valve chamber being set to correspond to a desired operating level of the liquid fuel in the vaporization tube. Liquid fuel is permitted to free-flow from the float valve chamber to the lower end of the vertical vaporization tube without metering, the rate of flow and the level of the fuel in the vaporization tube being determined solely by the hydraulic head created by the surface level of the fuel in the float valve chamber. Raising of the float valve chamber produces a corresponding raising of the level of the fuel in the vaporization tube to increase the tube inner surface area which is contacted or wetted by the fuel in the tube, thus causing an increase in the rate of vaporization and a corresponding increase in heat output of the heating device.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1989Date of Patent: July 23, 1991Assignee: Teledyne Isotopes, Inc.Inventor: Thomas L. Nystrom
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Patent number: 5020991Abstract: A heating device, especially a motor vehicle heating device operated by means of liquid fuel, has a vaporization burner with an absorbent body that can be acted upon by liquid fuel. To effect equalization of heat distribution and fuel pretreatment, there is provided a cover of a high temperature and corrosion resistant sheet steel. The cover has a plurality of openings and covers at least a major portion of that surface of the absorbent body which faces a combustion chamber of the heating device. When the absorbent body has a through-opening to promote vaporization of the liquid fuel, the cover likewise can have a through-opening coordinated thereto, thus exposing the through-opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1990Date of Patent: June 4, 1991Assignee: Webasto AG FahrzeugtechnikInventors: Klaus Schaale, Hermann Schoenberger, Johann Sperl
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Patent number: 5005556Abstract: Substantially all available heat from a combustion gas stream is extracted by passing it through a cool, porous heat sink, which is thereby heated, and then releasing that heat into a cool air stream blown through the same porous heat sink in a second step (preferably in the opposite flow direction). The heat sink absorbs substantially all the available heat of combustion rather than merely scavenging what would otherwise be stack losses. The invention provides an improved means of recovering virtually all the available heat produced by combustion of a fuel gas. It permits recovery of the heat lost in a conventional single-zone furnace. The improved heat recovery is achieved without contamination of the ambient air with exhaust gas residues as occurs in direct-fired systems, and without incurring the problems of corrosion and waste disposal inherent in two-zone indirectly-fired systems.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1989Date of Patent: April 9, 1991Inventor: William B. Astle, Jr.
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Patent number: 4998878Abstract: A burner assembly includes a burner housing having a combustion chamber defined therein and a fuel injection nozzle secured to the burner housing and communicating with the combustion chamber. A fuel control device is provided for controlling the amount of fuel flowing through the nozzle. The fuel control device includes a valve chamber including a bore and a valve seat and a needle valve adapted to reciprocate in the valve chamber. An adjusting device is provided for adjusting a range of motion of the needle valve in the valve chamber. The adjusting device includes a control rod secured at one end to the needle valve and a bimetallic assembly for regulating the motion of the control rod. The bimetallic assembly includes a pair of legs which are operably connected to the control rod and are exposed to the heat produced by the burner assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1988Date of Patent: March 12, 1991Assignee: Hunter Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Thomas J. Gruber
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Patent number: 4958619Abstract: A flueless, portable low nitrogen oxides emissions, low carbon monoxide emissions space heater having a fuel chamber with a fuel inlet and a fuel distributor. The fuel inlet generates a swirling fuel flow within the fuel chamber. A primary air inlet generates a counter-swirling primary airflow with respect to the swirling fuel flow in a primary air chamber. The fuel distributor discharges the swirling fuel flow into the counter-swirling primary airflow thus forming a fuel/air mixture. An ignitor ignites the fuel/air mixture. A combustion chamber is sealably secured to and in communication with the primary air chamber. The combustion chamber wall has a plurality of secondary air supply holes. An intermediate shell surrounds the combustion chamber wall and forms a space between the intermediate shell and the combustion chamber wall. A secondary air inlet is in communication with the space between the intermediate shell and the combustion chamber wall. An outer protective shell surrounds the intermediate shell.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1989Date of Patent: September 25, 1990Assignee: Institute of Gas TechnologyInventor: Alan Kardas
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Patent number: 4955359Abstract: A forced-air furnace for burning gas or fuel oil or waste oil utilizes relatively few components and effectively heats air for space-heating purposes. The furnace includes a substantially enclosed, elongated housing having an air intake and an air discharge vent and a hollow elongated heat exchanger/combustion chamber which is supported within so as to extend axially along the housing. The furnace also includes a fuel burner assembly supported at the discharge end of the housing for directing a flame and attending combustion products directly into the heat exchanger so that the inner surface thereof absorbs heat generated thereby and so that no part of the flame impinges upon the heat exchanger. Heat transfer from the combustion products to the heat exchanger is enhanced by a pair of removable platen-like baffles mounted within the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1989Date of Patent: September 11, 1990Assignee: Robert Sun CompanyInventors: Eugene C. Briggs, Myron T. Cooperrider
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Patent number: 4942863Abstract: A thermoelectric generating assembly for replacement of a heat exchanger mounted in a fuel-burning heater having electricity-consuming components includes a thermoelectric generator for supplying the electrical power requirements of the heater components and an adaptor portion for mounting the thermoelectric generator within the heater. The assembly possesses a size and shape which approximates that of the heat exchanger to be replaced and can be mounted within the heater in a manner like that in which the heat exchanger is mounted within the heater prior to removal. The method includes the steps involved in replacing the heat exchanger with the thermoelectric generating assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1989Date of Patent: July 24, 1990Assignee: John C. YoungInventors: Der-Jeou Chou, John C. Young
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Patent number: 4940041Abstract: A heater, in particular a vehicle auxiliary heater, of the type which operates with a liquid heat exchange medium and which is tied, for example, into the coolant circuit of a motor vehicle. In this heater, a mounting space for a control device is formed on a jacket-like outer casing, preferably a formation cast integrally as part of the outer casing. In this mounting space, circuit boards and printed circuit cards of the control device and sensor elements are mounted. Heat produced by semiconductor power components of the control device is removed to the surroundings by wall surfaces, in particular side walls, of the mounting space to which they are mounted. An electric connection device is provided that connects the inputs and outputs of the control device to the respective operational parts to be controlled and/or to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1989Date of Patent: July 10, 1990Assignee: Webasto AG FahrzeugtechnikInventors: Josef Riedmaier, Friedrich Widemann, Bernhard Schmatelka
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Patent number: 4905895Abstract: In a heating device, particularly one intended for use as a vehicle auxiliary heating device, a heat exchanger is provided for a liquid heat exchange medium, which is of a quadrangular, preferably cuboid design, having a planar closed end. Inside the heat exchanger, inner fins are provided defining exhaust gas channels, whose free ends are approximately on a circle whose center is the center axis of the heat exchanger or that of the cylindrical combustion chamber as a transition between the cylindrical combustion chamber and a rectanguloid outer housing which surrounds the heat exchanger. An outer, flat surface of the housing may be formed with a receiver for a control or similar device.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1989Date of Patent: March 6, 1990Assignee: Webasto AG FahrzeugtechnikInventors: Karl Grebe, Peter Glaser, Georg Baechle
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Patent number: 4848313Abstract: A compact forced air heater comprises a combustion chamber mounted in a housing, a burner module mounted across a back open end of the combustion chamber adjacent a back wall of the housing for producing heated air in the combustion chamber, an air intake in a front wall of the housing, and a high speed (3000 rpm) forced air blower mounted between the combustion chamber and the housing front end wall. The burner module includes a flameholder plate having a central primary air hole and circular rows of staggered secondary air holes surrounding the primary air hole. A flamespreader plate is mounted on the flameholder plate opposite the primary air hole, and an elongated right-angle burner tube, having a flattened locating-and-orienting end and at least one burner orifice in a sidewall of the tube, is located on an opposite side of the flameholder plate with the burner orifice aligned with the primary air hole and the flamespreader plate. An ignitor and a thermocouple are also mounted on the flameholder plate.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1987Date of Patent: July 18, 1989Assignee: Scheu Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Wally W. Velie
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Patent number: 4843273Abstract: A heater mechanism that includes a combustion chamber that is heated by open flames of a combustion gas generated from solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel, with heat being transferred from the combustion chamber to a heat-carrier that, for indirect or direct transfer of heat to a room that is to be heated, is conveyed via at least one flow-producing mechanism, which is driven by an electric motor that is supplied with power obtained from at least one thermoelectric generator directly from the heat generated by the flame in the combustion chamber. This generator is embodied as a plate-like semiconductor element having a cold side and a side that is to be heated. The cold side is disposed in the inlet region for still-cool heat-carrier, or in the vicinity of the ambient air. The side that is to be heated is disposed either in the convection range of the flame of the combustion chamber, or in the exhaust gas stream from the latter.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1988Date of Patent: June 27, 1989Assignee: Thermo-Watt Stromerzeugungsanlagen GmbHInventors: Helmut Dammers, Dieter Dammers
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Patent number: 4836183Abstract: A heater is adapted to provide heat for heating a room by effecting heat exchange in a heat section which is between combustion and ventilation sections. The heat exchange section comprises a rotary body positioned across the combustion and ventilation sections so as to rotate at that position. The rotary body has air flow passages extending in the same direction as the axis of rotation of the rotary body. The heater can effect heat exchange with an increased efficiency and also can prevent the interior of the room from being abnormally dried.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1988Date of Patent: June 6, 1989Assignees: Osaka Gas Company, Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha HamatechInventors: Masaharu Okuno, Toshihiro Ishibashi, Satoshi Naitou, Tatsuyoshi Sasaki
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Patent number: 4738242Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock defroster attachment is disclosed for use in defrosting frozen door linkage mechanisms. The device includes a flexible radially corrogated tube having an attachment end shaped to engage the nozzle of a portable gas torch and a tapered discharge end positionable within the elongated space defined by the vehicle's door and door jamb. When the attachment end has been connected to the torch nozzle and the discharge end positioned in the door space in the vicinity of the frozen door linkage mechanism, heated air will move through the tube and out the discharge end thereby warming and defrosting the frozen mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1987Date of Patent: April 19, 1988Inventor: William J. Hart
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Patent number: 4739153Abstract: A wall mounted electric room heater includes a wall box adapted to be secured between a pair of wall studs and having an open front and side walls extending from a back wall. A heater/blower assembly carried by a frame is disposed in the box and includes and electric resistance heating element mounted in a venturi having an inlet spaced from the back wall and an outlet communicating with the open front. A fan is mounted within the venturi for drawing air from the room through the open front into the wall box outside the venturi to the venturi inlet for flow through the venturi over the heating element to be heated and discharge from the venturi outlet and through the open front into the room. An air straightener as installed on the venturi downstream of the fan for causing the heated air to discharge from the venturi outlet in substantially axial direction to prevent the heated air from being entrained with the room air being drawn into the wall box by the fan.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1986Date of Patent: April 19, 1988Inventors: Robert D. Rendel, James P. Shawcross
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Patent number: 4729365Abstract: An indirect fired air heater of the portable type and method of operating the same wherein the combustion gas flow is reversed in a combustion drum and passed through a heat exchanger between the drum and the outer casing, the heat exchanger being supported from the outer casing with the combustion drum floatingly supported therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1986Date of Patent: March 8, 1988Assignee: Engineered Air Systems, Inc.Inventor: Paul A. Mutchler
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Patent number: 4718602Abstract: A fuel-operated vehicle heater especially of the type intended as an auxiliary or additional vehicle heater and which has a nozzle sitting on a nozzle holder to which fuel is fed from a fuel line by a filter, a fuel pump and an interposed solenoid valve. In a preferred embodiment heater, the nozzle holder, fuel pump, filter and solenoid valve form a subassembly that can be handled as a single unit. Advantageously, this subassembly can be fastened by screws to a flange within a housing part of the heater. On this flange can also be fastened an ignition spark emitter an a central connecting device, such as a burner motor. Advantageously, the feed line and/or the return line for the fuel supply are formed in the flange.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1986Date of Patent: January 12, 1988Assignee: Webasto-Werk W. Baier GmbH & Co.Inventors: Wolfgang Beck, Werner Lucius, Ernst Mosig, Bernhard Umlauf