Heater Having Heating Core and Conductive Fin

Abstract

Heater having an enclosure surrounding a heating core. The heating core includes heating elements and a self-supporting corrugated heat conductive fin positioned between first and second end panels, with at least one heating element positioned between the end panels. The fin provides air flow channels between the corrugations as well as multiple heat reflective surfaces, and the fin is self-supporting between the corrugations.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to a space heater, and more particularly to a portable convection and radiation space heater.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Convection space heaters have been developed, such as the heater described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,901,213 B2, issued to Bing Bai on May 31, 2005. That device has many parts, making it expensive and time-consuming to construct. For example, the '213 device teaches that multiple independent fins must be held in place by a series of transverse support rods having threaded ends and retainer nuts, guiding slots in end panels, a separate reflector and so on. It would be preferable to reduce this degree of complexity.[0003]US Patent Application Pub. No. 2002 / 0076213 published Jun. 20, 2002 in the name Pelonis suffers from such complexity to an even greater degree: the fins are themselves of comprised of multiple layers attached at the edges and they are possibly supported by a fairly complex tubular sha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a heater that uses a corrugated fin with small holes for heating elements. This design is cheaper and easier to make than other options. The technical benefit is the cost savings and easier manufacturing method.

Problems solved by technology

That device has many parts, making it expensive and time-consuming to construct.

The complexity continues in that the item teaches an electric heating unit which heats a diathermal fluid, which then circulates in internal spaces, while a forced air fan is taught as well.

The Pelonis reference also fails to teach an enclosure, being open on both sides.

It further fails to teach a reflective rear panel within the actual core of the heater, again due to being open on both sides.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,298 to Yang on Dec. 27, 1994 teaches a PTC semiconductor heating apparatus which relies upon a sandwich-panel-composite structure including heating elements not passing through but rather held in contact with coplanar (side to side linear) square corrugated fin plates: a minimum of two plates per heating element is apparently required and the corrugated fin plates lack self-supporting structural ability, stability and integrity.

Obviously the making of each composite panel is expensive and inefficient.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,626 to Shikama et al on Jun. 5, 1990 teaches a PIC thermistor device using forced air relying upon numerous short fins set between horizontal plates, again requiring a rather large investment in manufacturing.

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