Indoor and outdoor heater
OwnerDante Cantalinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An indoor-outdoor gas infrared heater having one or more heat level settings. The heater includes a burner having ceramic plaques with a plurality of perforations and raised surfaces tapering into an apex between the perforations and an operating system having a control module electrically connected to a control valve, a power source and an activator for triggering the heater. The control valve has multiple pathways with each pathway supplying gas to the burner at a flow rate for a designated heat level setting. The heater has compartments for protecting the components from the heat coming from the burner.
Claims20
An indoor-outdoor gas infrared heater having one or more heat level settings, comprising:
- a chassis having a burner compartment housing a burner in a burner housing, the burner having ceramic plaques with a plurality of perforations having a total pore area of 0.1-0.2 square inches per square inch of plaque surface area and raised surfaces between the perforations, the raised surfaces tapering into an apex, the burner housing having one lateral end open to allow a burner inlet tube to protrude and plaques having insulation placed around the side peripheral edges of each plaque laid planarly side by side on top of the burner housing, the burner housing attached only to a heat shield end of the chassis and the burner inlet tube of the burner housing located opposite the heat shield end left unattached but supported by a seat bracket having a central opening allowing movement of the burner inlet tube therethrough to allow the burner housing to contract and expand during the process of heating and cooling of the plaques;
- an operating system compartment separated from the burner compartment housing an operating system including a control module electrically connected to a control valve having a main valve connector to the burner and a connector to a pilot assembly, a power source and an activator for triggering the heater, the control valve operating at a low voltage having multiple pathways with each pathway including an orifice having a diameter rated according to a heat input on the heater, the orifices controlling the amount supplied and designating the type of gas flowing into the burner at a flow rate for a designated heat level setting, the control valve including a converter stem to ensure delivery of a correct manifold pressure by the control valve for the type of gas used;
- and,
- a compartment divider further dividing the operating system compartment to result in a third burner venturi compartment comprising a flue kicker placed underneath the inlet tube of the burner having one end attached beneath a seat bracket holding the inlet tube of the burner and another end attached to the compartment divider, the compartment divider shielding the control module, control valve, power source and activator on the operating system compartment from heat coming from the burner inlet tube of the burner housing protruding from the burner compartment when the burner is turned “off” just after usage.
An indoor-outdoor gas infrared heater with multiple heat level settings operating on two types of gas, comprising:
- a chassis having a lined burner compartment housing a burner in a burner housing, the burner having ceramic plaques made primarily of aluminum-silicate material supporting a wide range of heat input for the multiple heat level settings, the plaques having a plurality of perforations with a total pore area of 0.1-0.2 square inches per square inch of plaque surface area and having raised surfaces, pyramidal or conical in shape tapering into an apex, between the perforations, the burner housing having one lateral end open to allow a burner inlet tube to protrude and plaques having insulation placed around the side peripheral edges of each plaque laid planarly side by side on top of the burner housing, the burner housing attached only to a heat shield end of the chassis and the burner inlet tube of the burner housing located opposite the heat shield end left unattached but supported by a seat bracket having a central opening allowing movement of the burner inlet tube therethrough to allow the burner housing to contract and expand during the process of heating and cooling of the plaques;
- and,
- an operating system compartment separated from the burner compartment housing an operating system including a control module electrically connected to a control valve having a main valve connector to the burner and a connector to a pilot assembly, a power source and an activator for triggering the heater, the control valve operating at a low voltage having multiple pathways with each pathway including an orifice having a diameter rated according to a heat input on the heater, the orifices controlling the amount supplied and designating the type of gas flowing into the burner for a designated heat level setting, the control valve including a converter stem to ensure delivery of a correct manifold pressure by the control valve for the type of gas used.
A process of operating an indoor-outdoor gas infrared heater with multiple heat level settings having a burner comprising ceramic plaques with raised surfaces tapering into an apex between perforations wherein gas flows into, a pilot flame rectifier sensor shutting the gas flow when the pilot fails to detect a flame within 60 seconds after the activator is placed to the ‘ON’ position and an operating system including a control module electrically connected to a control valve operating at a low voltage having a main valve connector to the burner, a connector to a pilot assembly and multiple pathways with each pathway supplying gas to the burner at a flow rate for a designated heat level setting, a power source and an activator for triggering the heater, the heater shutting off when the temperature of the control module exceeds a designated temperature, comprising:
- triggering the heater by placing the activator to an ‘ON’ position;
- receiving a signal for ignition by the control module of the heater;
- sending the signal to the control valve by the control module electrically connected to the control valve;
- allowing a gas to flow through a conduit to a pilot burner in the pilot assembly by the control valve;
- sending a signal to a spark electrode of the pilot assembly to ignite a flame at the pilot burner simultaneous to the control valve allowing gas to flow through the conduit to the pilot burner;
- mixing the gas with air and allowing this to burn at the pilot burner;
- splitting the flame at the pilot burner by a gas collector hood on the pilot burner, one towards a pilot flame rectifier sensor and the other towards a main infrared burner;
- detecting a flame by the pilot flame rectifier sensor and signaling a main burner actuator inside the control valve to open the gas flow through a conduit of the main infrared burner;
- lighting the ceramic plaques on the burner after the burner receives the flow and type of gas designated for a high heat level setting;
- adjusting the heat level setting to another heat level setting or maintaining the high heat level setting;
- and
- shutting the heater off when heating is no longer needed by placing the activator to an ‘OFF’ position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.