Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Convection space heater
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-16
2001-12-04
Jeffery, John A. (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Convection space heater
C392S375000, C392S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327427
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of heaters that are used to heat generally small local spaces. In particular, this invention relates to such heaters that use electrical power as the heat source and especially this invention relates to such heaters that use light producing lamps as the heat generating elements.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
It is known to use small heat generating units to provide auxiliary heating for local spaces that do not receive sufficient heat from central heating units. These heating units are also used to provide heat when other heat sources are not available or to heat small spaces when it would not be justified to use a large central unit that would consume more power and heat more than the necessary space.
Space heaters have been constructed that generate heat by burning fuel or which generate heat from electrical power. Among those heaters using electrical power are those which use the heat from incandescent lamps as the heat source. The use of infra red lamps as a radiant heat source in bathrooms is common. It is also known in the art to use incandescent lamps, including infra red lamps, as the heat source in an enclosure through which air is passed and warmed. The warmed air is conducted to the space outside the enclosure to provide heat to that space.
The following U.S. Patents are known in the art and are incorporated by reference herein:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,582
U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,728
U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,593
U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,642
U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,447
U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,284
U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,594
U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,448
U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,367
U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,893
U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,239
U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,586
U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,980
U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,460
U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,994
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a space heater which uses an incandescent lamp to generate heat. It is another object to provide a space heater to heat air which is conducted through the space heater and which does not substantially heat the exterior of the space heater. It is also an object to provide a space heater which has an increased efficiency over space heaters using conventional incandescent lamps.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a space heater which uses quartz-halogen lamps to generate heat in the space heater. It is another object to provide a space heater which uses light generating lamps as a heat source and which confines the generated light to the interior of the space heater.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a space heater to heat air supplied to a local space. The space heater being in the form of an enclosure in which a quartz-halogen lamp heat source is mounted and having a path for air to be conducted through the enclosure with a part of the air path passing over the quartz-halogen lamp heat source parallel to the longitudinal axis of the quartz-halogen lamp heat source. Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
In accordance with the invention, a new space heater has improved efficiency in that it produces more usable heat in proportion to the amount of electricity consumed. The heater is an electrical heater which is enclosed and which heats air as the air is drawn through the enclosure. Heat is generated by one or more incandescent lamps which are preferably of the quartz-halogen type. The air path is designed to provide maximum heat transfer to the air, but to minimize the heat transferred to the enclosure to maintain the outer surface of the enclosure at ambient temperature or nearly so.
More preferably, the incandescent lamps are of the quartz-halogen type which use an iodine-inert gas fill surrounding a linear tungsten element. The element and fill are confined in a linear quartz tube which is spaced adjacent to the tungsten element. A suitable lamp is commercially available as a 500 watt, 120 volt lamp from Sylvania Corporation, as model 500 T3Q/CL-120V. It will be appreciated that equivalent lamps may be obtained from other suppliers and in other power and voltage specifications. The linear form of the lamps has been found to be especially preferred in this invention, as these lamps give very even heat transfer to the air which is conducted through the enclosure and which flows around the lamp parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lamp.
It another significant feature of the invention that, even though a substantial amount of light is generated by the lamp or lamps, no substantial amount of light escapes the enclosure of the space heater. This increases the value of the space heater, since it may be used in places where light is undesirable. For example, the space heater may be used in a bedroom, where light would disturb sleep, or in a photographic dark room, where light would interfere with photo development.
The invention summarized above comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated by the subjoined claims.
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Fishel Grace J.
Jeffery John A.
MHE Corp.
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