Double wall infrared emitter
OwnerMark G. Fannon, John J. Fannon, IIIinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An infrared energy emitter is disclosed which comprises a longitudinally extending tubular enclosure of infrared energy transmitting material enclosing a longitudinally extending filament. A longitudinally extending outer tubular sheath of infrared energy transmitting material coaxially receives the tubular enclosure. The outer sheath has a reflector which extends longitudinally substantially coextensive with the filament, and circumferentially with the sheath through at least 180 degrees to create a window through which the infrared energy is emitted. A cooling fluid may be passed through a space created between the inner envelope and outer sheath to allow higher power densities or to cool the outer sheath for use in explosive environments.
Claims18
An infrared energy emitter comprising:
- a longitudinally extending energy emitting filament;
- a longitudinally extending tubular enclosure of infrared energy transmitting material enclosing the filament;
- a longitudinally extending outer tubular sheath of infrared energy transmitting material having two ends and a central longitudinal section therebetween;
- a reflector comprising a reflective coating on a surface of the sheath extending partially circumferentially with the sheath;
- and
- the central longitudinal section of the sheath being spaced apart from the enclosure about the entire circumference of the enclosure sufficiently to protect the reflective coating from the infrared energy being emitted by the filament.
An infrared energy emitter comprising:
- a longitudinally extending filament;
- a longitudinally extending tubular enclosure of infrared energy transmitting material enclosing the filament, the enclosure being hermetically sealed;
- a longitudinally extending outer tubular sheath of infrared energy, transmitting material having two ends and a central longitudinal section therebetween, the tubular enclosure being coaxially disposed within the outer sheath and the central section of the sheath being spaced apart from the enclosure about the entire circumference of the enclosure, thereby forming a space between the sheath and the enclosure, and openings at the ends into the space whereby the space can be ventilated to cool the sheath;
- and
- a reflective coating on the sheath extending longitudinally substantially coextensive with the filament, and circumferentially with the sheath at least 180 degrees and comprising a gold metal reflective coating on a surface of the sheath.
A method for heating an object with infrared energy comprising the steps of:
- passing a current through an elongated filament to produce infrared energy, the filament being disposed within a hermetically sealed elongated tubular enclosure;
- surrounding the enclosure with an outer elongated tubular sheath of infrared energy transmitting material having two ends and a longitudinal central section therebetween, the sheath having a reflective coating that extends longitudinally substantially coextensively with the filament and partially circumferentially with the sheath, and central section of the sheath being spaced apart from the enclosure about the entire circumference of the enclosure to define a space between the sheath and the enclosure;
- reflecting infrared radiation from the filament off of the reflective coating on the sheath, back to the filament;
- and
- passing infrared radiation toward the object from the filament through a portion of the sheath not occluded by the reflector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.