Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Radiant heater
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2001-05-01
Jeffery, John A. (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Radiant heater
C392S412000, C392S415000, C392S414000, C392S440000, C362S238000, C362S259000, C362S378000, C362S419000, C250S495100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226454
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for heating at a distance by light radiance.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There exist in the prior art several documents describing different types of apparatuses for detecting and/or deicing portions of ice on a given surface.
Known in the prior art, there is U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,389 granted to CHEW and al. in which is described a method and an apparatus for deicing an aircraft. The heat source is generated by an apparatus which comprises a burner in order to heat a first surface. This first surface emits infrared radiation which is reflected on a second surface and thus, is redirected onto the surface to be deiced. Furthermore, these apparatuses are disposed under the roof of a hangar or other similar structure.
Also known in the art, there is U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,755 granted to MAGNUSSON et al. in which is described an apparatus for deicing an aircraft. This apparatus comprises a row of devices for vaporising a liquid or a gas or for irradiating a surface disposed in front of the device. This apparatus also comprises a system for automatically controlling the vaporisation or the irradiation according to the presence or not of a surface in front of the device.
Also known in the art, there is U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,140 granted to MADSEN in which is described an apparatus comprising several sources of infrared radiation organized in several rows where each of the rows is mounted under the roof of a hangar and is positioned at a given location under the roof of the hangar and at a desired height. This document describes the use of these luminous sources for deicing all the surface of an aircraft. These sources are always used in combination with a hangar, so as to heat the ambient air of the hangar.
Also known in the art, there is U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,217 granted to YOUMANS in which is described a method and an apparatus for thawing a given surface such as a field or a body of water. This thawing apparatus is mounted under a helicopter. This apparatus comprises several luminous sources mounted side by side.
Also known in the art, there is U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,891 granted to VEGA et al. in which is described a system comprising an assembly which generates a laser beam. This assembly comprises a lens to make a laser beam diverge. Preferably, this system comprises two assemblies producing each a unique beam and these two assemblies are jointly displaced along the surface to be deiced, namely, along the wing of an aircraft.
Known in the art, there is also U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,474 granted to NUNNALLY in which is described a system for detecting and deicing the ice on the surface of an aircraft. This system uses a unique laser beam for deicing a restrained area on the aircraft.
Known in the art, there is also U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,370 granted to STERN in which is described a system for detecting the ice or the snow on a reflecting metallic surface by using a polarised light.
Known in the art, there is also U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,121 granted to PADAWER et al. in which is described a system for detecting the presence of ice on an aircraft. This system is permanently installed on the aircraft.
The apparatuses and methods of the prior art allow to heat an object. However, for a given number of lamps, the intensity of heating remains limited.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for heating an object by light radiance with a greater intensity of heat than what is possible with the apparatuses and methods of the prior art for a same number of lamps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for heating at a distance by light radiance, comprising:
a support;
narrow-beam lamps mounted on the support, each of the lamps being able to produce a luminous beam having a central axis of projection; and
convergence means cooperating with the support and the lamps to orientate said lamps so as to make the central axes of the luminous beams converged towards a first focal area in order to heat an object.
Also according to the present invention, there is provided a method for heating at a distance by light radiance, comprising the following steps:
activating narrow-beam lamps mounted on a support, each of the lamps being able to produce a luminous beam having a central axis of projection; and
orienting the lamps by means of the support so as to make the central axes of the luminous beams produced by the lamps converged towards a first focal area in order to heat an object.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of the preferred embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Foley & Lardner
Hydro-Quebec
Jeffery John A.
LandOfFree
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