Heating systems – Heat radiators – Shields
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-16
2002-07-23
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3749)
Heating systems
Heat radiators
Shields
C165S055000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06422477
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to heat reflectors, and more particularly it pertains to a reflector mountable behind a baseboard type heat convector for recovering heat conducted through the back structure of the heater.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the early 1960's, the construction industry has witnessed a substantial increase in installations of electric baseboard convectors. It is believed that the rising cost of labor, generally, and the low cost of electricity have contributed to make of the electric baseboard convectors a reasonably low cost system for space heating. This system was also particularly appealing to the construction industry for its easy installation, and it was quickly adopted for the residential market especially. As the construction costs increased during the 1970's and 1980's, this type of heating system remained an attractive option.
A conventional electric baseboard heat convector contains a finned electrical element mounted longitudinally inside a sheet metal housing. The heat generated by the element causes the air to rise and to naturally circulate inside the heater. A heat transfer occurs between the circulated air and the finned heating element of the heater. Heat energy is absorbed by the air circulated inside the heater and is transmitted by natural convection to the ambient air inside the room in which the heater is installed, for heating the room. A modem version of a baseboard heat convector of the common type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,551,642, issued on Dec. 29, 1970 to David Knoll. The terms baseboard heat convector, baseboard heater, heat convector and heater are used interchangeably herein for convenience, to designate generally, the type of heater which is described in the above reference.
It is known that a portion of the heat energy generated by these baseboard heaters is radiated toward the back portion of the metal housing and is transmitted by conduction to the wall on which the heater is mounted. This conducted heat is lost through the wall and to the outside of the building.
Numerous attempts have been made in the past by manufacturers and utility companies to increase the efficiency of electric baseboard heating systems in an effort to save energy, and obviously to help consumers to save on heating costs. For many years, utility companies and energy saving consultants have encouraged consumers to add insulation to existing buildings, to use higher insulation standards in new buildings, to seal off air infiltrations, to use energy efficient windows, etcetera. These are considered to be good design practices, but in a certain aspect, are only corrective measures and do not address the loss of heat radiated and conducted through the wall on which a heat convector is mounted.
Although it is believed that the construction industry does not abound with practical solutions to recover the heat losses from behind baseboard heat convectors, the patent literature contains some suggestions to at least partly resolve this problem, depending on the circumstances. It is known that the prior art describes a number of heat reflectors which are usable for reducing the radiation and conduction of heat through the back structure of various types of heat convectors. Some of these devices are described in the following patent documents:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,014,117, issued on Sep. 10, 1935 to C. B. Simoneau;
U.S. Pat. No. 2,060,088, issued on Nov. 10, 1936 to A. M. Lane;
U.S. Pat. No. 2,855,185, issued on Oct. 7, 1958 to E. Runte;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,575, issued on May 17, 1983 to L. G. Bobrowski;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,805, issued on Aug. 23, 1983 to L. C. Kienlen et al.;
CA Patent 567,955, issued on Dec. 23, 1958 to T. W. Glynn;
CA Patent 1,090,979, issued on Dec. 9, 1980 to L. Nowicki.
A common drawback with the reflectors of the prior art, however, is that the space between the heating element and the reflective surface is exposed to the ambient air. The dust carried by the air stream passing between the heating element and the reflective surface deposits on the reflective surface and causes the reflector to quickly lose its properties. The cleaning of these reflectors is not always easy and therefore these heat reflectors are not always efficient and esthetical.
The prior art is also short on suggestions with regard to a reflector which can be installed to the back of a common wall-mounted baseboard heater without changing the appearance of the baseboard heater, without overly changing the projection of the heater from the wall on which it is mounted, and without reducing the structural strength of the attachment of the heater to the wall.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved reflector that may be readily mounted behind a baseboard heat convector for recovering the heat lost through the wall behind the heater, and for improving the efficiency of the baseboard beater. It is believed that there continues to be a need for a heat recovery reflector which can be used as a retrofit unit to be mounted behind an existing baseboard heater or as a standard accessory usable in all new baseboard heater installations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, however, there is provided a heat recovery reflector which is mountable behind a baseboard heat convector for reflecting radiated heat back onto the metal enclosure of the baseboard heat convector, for increasing the efficiency of the baseboard heat convector. The heat recovery reflector according to the present invention is easily mountable behind an existing baseboard heater or installed as an optional accessory behind a new baseboard heater. The heat recovery reflector is saleable in a kit form, wherein the longitudinal portion thereof is cuttable to various lengths to accommodate various sizes of baseboard heaters.
In a first aspect of the present invention, the heat recovery reflector comprises a channel-like extrusion having a web, a heat reflective surface on the web and flanges bordering the web and the heat reflective surface. The flanges have a substantial depth relative to the thickness of the web. The distance between the flanges is equal to or slightly less that the height of the back surface of a baseboard heat convector. This channel-like extrusion is mountable behind a baseboard heat convector for defining with the back surface of the heat convector, a closed space behind the heat convector. Consequently, as the heat reflective surface is totally enclosed, it does not collect dust and lose efficiency, as the prior art reflectors do if not cleaned periodically.
In an actual installation, the heat recovery reflector is mounted between a baseboard heater and a wall, for reflecting forwardly the heat conducted through the back portion of the heater housing. The principal advantage of this installation is that the heat transmitted through the back surface of the baseboard heater is radiated back to the back surface where it becomes available to raise the temperature of the air circulated inside the heater. The efficiency of the baseboard heater is thereby substantially increased.
In another aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the channel-like extrusion is about ¾ of an inch whereby the heat recovery reflector does not substantially change the projection of the baseboard heater from the wall on which it is mounted, and does not overly affect the structural strength of the attachment of the heater to the wall.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reflector kit for installation behind a baseboard heat convector. The reflector kit comprises a channel-like extrusion having a definite length and wherein each of the flanges has an inside surface relative to the web, and serrations on this inside surface. There is also provided a pair of caps for covering the ends of the channel-like extrusion. Each cap has tabs extending therefrom and each of the tabs has at least one notch thereon which is engagedly mountable in one of the serrations on the flanges. The cha
Boles Derek S.
Joyce Harold
Theriault Mario
LandOfFree
Heat recovery reflector for baseboard heat convector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Heat recovery reflector for baseboard heat convector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Heat recovery reflector for baseboard heat convector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2816394