Engine Heater

Abstract

An apparatus for preheating an engine is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a liquid fuel burning heater, a coolant pump for circulating engine coolant through the heater, a fuel pump for delivering fuel to the heater, a blower for delivering air to the heater, and a control module for maximizing the output of the heater. The heater comprises a liquid fuel burner and a two stage heat exchanger--the first stage for transferring heat produced by the burner to clean air supplied by the blower, and the second stage for transferring heat from the clean air to the engine coolant. The heater also produces a clean hot air discharge for heating an engine compartment, battery compartment or operator's compartment. The burner comprises a cup-shaped housing having an inlet, a plate enclosing the top of the housing, the plate having a first pattern of grooves in its outer surface and second pattern of grooves in its inner surface, the two patterns intersecting each other, a wick held in the first pattern of grooves, a pressure actuated inlet valve to the housing, and a glow plug igniter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.