Radiant energy – Radiant energy generation and sources
Patent
1990-12-20
1992-04-21
Berman, Jack I.
Radiant energy
Radiant energy generation and sources
219 1055R, 219 1055B, 219 1055E, 219 1055F, H05B 680
Patent
active
051071266
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a far infrared generator and, more particularly, to a far infrared generator which radiates far infrared rays by conversion of microwave energy into far infrared energy.
2. Background Art
In recent years, infrared radiation, especially, infrared rays with wave lengths ranging from near infrared to far infrared region have received much attention because of its energy-saving and mild warming effects, and far infrared radiation has now commercially utilized as a heat source for heating, drying, and other purposes in various industrial fields such as industries of machines, metals, automobiles, plastics, electric or electronic devices, lumbers, architecture and foods.
Conventionally, as a means of generating far infrared rays, there have been used those utilizing electric resistance heating (e.g. far infrared lamps, electric heaters) or those utilizing secondary heating with a separate heat source (e.g. sheathed heaters, radiant burners). Such conventional far infrared generating means generally produces far infrared radiation by heating an infrared radiating ceramic material such as ZrO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2.SiO.sub.2, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, or the like.
However, these far infrared generating means must be maintained at temperatures of several hundred degrees Centigrade and above as they utilize far infrared rays caused by thermal radiation. In addition, it is difficult to obtain desired far infrared radiation since the wave length and emissivity of the far infrared rays vary widely with the temperature and condition of the surface of the radiator. They also have such a drawback that the use of thermal radiation leads to increase in apparatus size, thus making it difficult to use these conventional means as a heat source of household appliances.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a compact far infrared generator capable of efficiently generating far infrared rays with a desired wave length with a simple structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a far infrared generator which can be used in cheap and compact cookers.
According to the present invention, there is provided a far infrared generator comprising a means for generating microwaves and an energy converter placed in front of the microwave output portion of the microwave generating means and consists of a dielectric which converts microwave energy emitted from the microwave generating means into far infrared radiation.
It is preferred that the far infrared generator is provided with a means for controlling temperature of the energy converter to ensure control of wave lengths of radiated far infrared rays.
Dielectric materials for constituting the energy converter include ferro electrics, pyroelectrics and piezoelectric material. Oxides, fluorides and complex oxides of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, zirconium, silicon, aluminum and titanium are typical dielectrics. But these are not to be construed as limitations. These dielectrics can be used in any form such as single crystal, polycrystal, or ceramics. The single crystal includes natural single crystals such as rock crystal, sapphire and ruby, as well as artificial crystals.
It is preferred to use a dielectric material containing a very small amount of one or more transition metals. Here,
of atomic numbers 21 (Sc) to transition metals mean elements of atomic numbers 21 (Sc) to 30 (Zn), 39 (Y) to 48 (Cd), 57 (La) to 80 (Hg), and 89 (Ac) and above. These elements may be contained singly or in combination of two or more.
The above-mentioned complex oxides include:
(a) aluminosilicates containing alkali metals, e.g. muscovite-series micas and biotite-series micas, represented by the general formula: FeIII, Mn, Al, Mg, or V; D represents Si or Al;
(b) Single or multicomponent dielectric ceramics with a perovskite structure represented by the general formula: represents Zr, Ti, or Nb; or modified ceramics containing a lanthanide element or other
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Berman Jack I.
Nguyen Kiet T.
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