Abstrict
An electric heater includes a casing having a receiving compartment
and an air outlet communicating the receiving compartment to outside
and a plurality of radiant conductive fins spacedly supported in
the receiving compartment to define an air heating channel between
each two radiant conductive fins, wherein each of the radiant conductive
fins has at least a guiding slot formed thereon. A heating element
is electrically connected to a power source wherein the heating
element is transversely extended to the radiant conductive fins
through the guiding slots to heat up the radiant conductive fins
in such a manner when the radiant conductive fins are heated up
for warming an air within the air heating channels, a heat current
is created on each radiant conductive fin for creating heat flows
flowing from the air heating channels respectively to outside through
the air outlet.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electric heater, comprising: a casing having a receiving
compartment, an air outlet formed at a top side for communicating
said receiving compartment to outside, and an air inlet formed at
a bottom side thereof, wherein said casing further comprises a plurality
of transverse supporters spacedly and transversely extended within
said receiving compartment; a plurality of radiant conductive fins
spacedly supported in said receiving compartment by said transverse
supporters to define an air heating channel between each two said
radiant conductive fins, wherein each of said radiant conductive
fins has at least a guiding slot formed thereon, wherein each of
said air heating channels is aligned between said air inlet and
said air outlet for guiding air to flow along said air heating channels
from said air inlet to said air outlet; and a heating element, having
a diameter slightly smaller than a size of said guiding slot, electrically
connected to a power source wherein said heating element is transversely
extended to said radiant conductive fins through said guiding slots
to define a gap between said heating element and said respective
guiding slot, wherein when said heating element radially generates
heat, said heat is radiantly distributed through said radiant conductive
fins in a planar manner for heating up said air within said air
heating channels so as to create heat flows therewithin to outside
through said air outlet.
2. The electric heater, as recited in claim 1, wherein said radiant
conductive fins are spacedly supported in said receiving compartment
in a vertically parallel manner, wherein each of said air heating
channels is formed between each two said radiant conductive fins
for allowing said air to be heated within said air heating channels
and to upwardly flow towards said air outlet of said casing.
3. The electric heater, as recited in claim 1, wherein said guiding
slot of each of said radiant conductive fins is a through circular
hole formed on said respective radiant conductive fin, wherein each
of said guiding slots has a diameter slightly larger than a diameter
of said heating element such that when said heating element passes
through said guiding slot, said gap is formed between a circumferential
edge of said guiding slot and an outer circumferential surface of
said heating element such that when said heating element generates
said heat, said radiant conductive fins transform said heat in a
radial direction into a planar direction.
4. The electric heater, as recited in claim 2, wherein said guiding
slot of each of said radiant conductive fins is a through circular
hole formed on said respective radiant conductive fin, wherein each
of said guiding slots has a diameter slightly larger than a diameter
of said heating element such that when said heating element passes
through said guiding slot, said gap is formed between a circumferential
edge of said guiding slot and an outer circumferential surface of
said heating element such that when said heating element generates
said heat, said radiant conductive fins transform said heat in a
radial direction into a planar direction.
5. The electric heater, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
a heat reflector, having a heat reflecting surface, disposed within
said receiving compartment at a position transversely extended from
said radiant conductive fins at side edges thereof for radiantly
guiding said heat on each of said radiant conductive fins.
6. The electric heater, as recited in claim 2, further comprising
a heat reflector, having a heat reflecting surface, disposed within
said receiving compartment at a position transversely extended from
said radiant conductive fins at side edges thereof for radiantly
guiding said heat on each of said radiant conductive fins.
7. The electric heater, as recited in claim 4, further comprising
a heat reflector, having a heat reflecting surface, disposed within
said receiving compartment at a position transversely extended from
said radiant conductive fins at side edges thereof for radiantly
guiding said heat on each of said radiant conductive fins.
8. The electric heater, as recited in claim 5, wherein said heat
reflecting surface of said heat reflector, having a concave shape,
has a predetermined curvature, wherein said heat reflector is arranged
for substantially collecting and reflecting heat from said heating
element to a focus point formed on said respective radiant conductive
fins.
9. The electric heater, as recited in claim 6, wherein said heat
reflecting surface of said heat reflector, having a concave shape,
has a predetermined curvature, wherein said heat reflector is arranged
for substantially collecting and reflecting heat from said heating
element to a focus point formed on said respective radiant conductive
fins.
10. The electric heater, as recited in claim 7, wherein said heat
reflecting surface of said heat reflector, having a concave shape,
has a predetermined curvature, wherein said heat reflector is arranged
for substantially collecting and reflecting heat from said heating
element to a focus point formed on said respective radiant conductive
fins.
11. The electric heater, as recited in claim 8, wherein said heat
reflector has a longitudinal upper reflecting portion, a longitudinal
lower reflecting portion, and a longitudinal mid-reflecting portion
extended from said upper reflecting portion to said lower reflecting
portion, wherein each of said upper and lower reflecting portions
of said heat reflector has a curvature smaller than a curvature
of said mid-portion of said heat reflector in such a manner that
said heat reflector is capable of radiantly reflecting said heat
towards to a mid-portion of each of said radiant conductive fins.
12. The electric heater, as recited in claim 9, wherein said heat
reflector has a longitudinal upper reflecting portion, a longitudinal
lower reflecting portion, and a longitudinal mid-reflecting portion
extended from said upper reflecting portion to said lower reflecting
portion, wherein each of said upper and lower reflecting portions
of said heat reflector has a curvature smaller than a curvature
of said mid-portion of said heat reflector in such a manner that
said heat reflector is capable of radiantly reflecting said heat
towards to a mid-portion of each of said radiant conductive fins.
13. The electric heater, as recited in claim 10, wherein said heat
reflector has a longitudinal upper reflecting portion, a longitudinal
lower reflecting portion, and a longitudinal mid-reflecting portion
extended from said upper reflecting portion to said lower reflecting
portion, wherein each of said upper and lower reflecting portions
of said heat reflector has a curvature smaller than a curvature
of said mid-portion of said heat reflector in such a manner that
said heat reflector is capable of radiantly reflecting said heat
towards to a mid-portion of each of said radiant conductive fins.
14. The electric heater, as recited in claim 2, wherein said guiding
slot is an elongated through slot formed on said respective radiant
conductive fins, wherein said guiding slot is downwardly extended
on said respective radiant conductive fin to form an opening at
a bottom edge of said respective radiant conductive fin, wherein
said heating element is slid into along said guiding slot from said
opening thereof to mount said radiant conductive fins at said heating
element.
15. The electric heater, as recited in claim 14, further comprising
a heat reflector, having a heat reflecting surface, disposed within
said receiving compartment at a position transversely extended from
said radiant conductive fins at side edges thereof for radiantly
guiding said heat on each of said radiant conductive fins.
16. The electric heater, as recited in claim 15, wherein said heat
reflecting surface of said heat reflector, having a concave shape,
has a predetermined curvature, wherein said heat reflector is arranged
for substantially collecting and reflecting heat from said heating
element to a focus point formed on said respective radiant conductive
fins.
17. The electric heater, as recited in claim 16, wherein said heat
reflector has a longitudinal upper reflecting portion, a longitudinal
lower reflecting portion, and a longitudinal mid-reflecting portion
extended from said upper reflecting portion to said lower reflecting
portion, wherein each of said upper and lower reflecting portions
of said heat reflector has a curvature smaller than a curvature
of said mid-portion of said heat reflector in such a manner that
said heat reflector is capable of radiantly reflecting said heat
towards to a mid-portion of each of said radiant conductive fins.
18. The electric heater, as recited in claim 2, wherein said guiding
slot is an elongated through slot formed on said respective radiant
conductive fins, wherein said guiding slot is sidewardly extended
on said respective radiant conductive fin to form an opening at
a side edge of said respective radiant conductive fin, wherein said
heating element is slid into along said guiding slot from said opening
thereof to mount said radiant conductive fins at said heating element.
19. The electric heater, as recited in claim 18, further comprising
a heat reflector, having a heat reflecting surface, disposed within
said receiving compartment at a position transversely extended from
said radiant conductive fins at side edges thereof for radiantly
guiding said heat on each of said radiant conductive fins.
20. The electric heater, as recited in claim 19, wherein said heat
reflecting surface of said heat reflector, having a concave shape,
has a predetermined curvature, wherein said heat reflector is arranged
for substantially collecting and reflecting heat from said heating
element to a focus point formed on said respective radiant conductive
fins.
21. The electric heater, as recited in claim 20, wherein said heat
reflector has a longitudinal upper reflecting portion, a longitudinal
lower reflecting portion, and a longitudinal mid-reflecting portion
extended from said upper reflecting portion to said lower reflecting
portion, wherein each of said upper and lower reflecting portions
of said heat reflector has a curvature smaller than a curvature
of said mid-portion of said heat reflector in such a manner that
said heat reflector is capable of radiantly reflecting said heat
towards to a mid-portion of each of said radiant conductive fins.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a heater, and more particularly
to an electric heater which comprises a plurality of spaced apart
radiant conductive fins not only for heating up the air between
each two radiant conductive fins but also for creating a heat flow
to guide the heated air flowing to outside in accordance with the
mechanisms of heat transfer.
2. Description of Related Arts
Portable electric heaters have become very popular since the electric
heaters are economy, energy effective, and easy operation. In comparison
with a central heating system to warm up the surrounding air within
the entire house, the electric heater is adapted to warm up a particular
area such as an individual room. Therefore, the operation cost of
the electric heater is cheaper than that of the central heating
system. Generally, there are two types of electric heater, namely
the heat core electric heater and the radiant electric heater.
The heat core electric heater generally comprises a bowl shaped
reflector body and a heating element disposed therein in such a
manner that when the heating element is electrically heated up,
the heat from the heat element is reflected by the reflector body
to outside. The advantage of the heat core electric heater is that
the heating element is heated up quickly such that the heat core
electric heater provides an instant heat source for warming up the
surrounding air.
However, such heat core electric heater can provide a localized
heating coverage area around the reflector body. In other words,
the heat core electric heat must be located close to the user in
order to directly transfer the heat to the user. If the heat core
electric heat is located away from the user, the user is unable
to feel the heat therefrom. Therefore, such heat core electric heater
is considered as a heat source to warm up the localized area since
the heat core electric heater provides a low heat effect. In addition,
the heat core electric heater generates not only heat energy but
also light energy which is not energy effective. In addition, the
heating element is extremely hot when it is heated up so that an
object such as curtain around the heat core electric heater will
get burnt accidentally.
The radiant electric heater comprises a plurality of vertical heating
walls each having a oil chamber for receiving a predetermined volume
of thermal conductivity oil therein wherein when the oil is electrically
heated up, the oil starts to float upwardly so as to form a circulation
of oil in each of the heating walls. By means of convection, the
air surrounded the heating walls released to outside to increase
the room temperature within the particular area. The radiant electric
heater is safe to use since the oil is heated up within the heating
wall, which can prevent the surrounding object from getting fire.
However, the radiant electric heater is extremely heavy and has
a bulky size. It is difficulty for the user to move the radiant
electric heater from places to places so that the radiant electric
heater has loss a meaning of portability.
Moreover, the major drawback of the radiant electric heater is
that the oil requires a long period of time to be heated up. In
other words, the radiant electric heater must be switched on to
pre-heat the surrounding air in order to reach the desire room temperature.
Thus, oil leaking is another major problem of the radiant electric
heater after a period of continued use.
As a result, the above two mentioned electric heaters function
as a heat source to radiate the heat in a radial direction, wherein
no airflow is created to guide the heat evenly distributing to the
room. Therefore, the user may merely use a fan to create airflow
to distribute the warm air from the electric heater to the surroundings.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide an electric
heater which comprises a plurality of spaced apart radiant conductive
fins not only for heating up the air between each two radiant conductive
fins but also for creating a heat flow to guide the heated air flowing
along an air heating channel to outside in accordance with the mechanisms
of heat transfer.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electric heater,
wherein the radiant conductive fins are heated up by a heating element
to create a heat current on each radiant conductive fin according
to the conduction of heat transfer so as to form the heat flow from
the air heating channel.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric
heater, wherein the air heating channel is defined between each
two radiant conductive fins such that when the radiant conductive
fins are heated up, the air temperature at the bottom portion of
the air heating channel is lower than the air temperature at the
upper portion of the air heating channel. Therefore, due to the
convection of heat transfer, the air is guided to flow upwardly
to create the heat flow along the air heating channel so as to enhance
the air circulation in the room.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric
heater, wherein the radiant conductive fins are made of thermal
conductive material such that the radiant conductive fins can be
heated up instantaneously so as to provide a quick air heating feature
for the electric heater while being energy effective.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric
heater, which is safe to use since the electric heater provides
a flow of warm air in comparison with the conventional electric
heater that provides heat directly from the heat source.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric
heater, wherein no complicated or expensive electrical structure
is required to achieve the above mentioned objects of the present
invention. Therefore, the present invention provides an economic
and efficient solution not only for warming up the surrounding air
within the room but also for enhancing the air circulation of the
room.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present
invention provides an electric heater, comprising:
a casing having a receiving compartment and an air outlet communicating
the receiving compartment to outside;
a plurality of radiant conductive fins spacedly supported in the
receiving compartment to define an air heating channel between each
two radiant conductive fins, wherein each of the radiant conductive
fins has at least a guiding slot formed thereon; and
a heating element electrically connected to a power source wherein
the heating element is transversely extended to the radiant conductive
fins through the guiding slots to heat up the radiant conductive
fins in such a manner when the radiant conductive fins are heated
up for warming an air within the air heating channels, a heat current
is created on each radiant conductive fin for creating heat flows
flowing from the air heating channels respectively to outside through
the air outlet.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed description,
the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric heater according to
a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the radiant conductive fins of
the electric heater according to the above preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view of the electric heater according
to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates a first alternative mode of the guiding slot
of the radiant conductive fin of the electric heater according to
the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a second alternative mode of the guiding slot
of the radiant conductive fin of the electric heater according to
the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, an electric heater
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated, wherein the electric heater comprises a casing 10 having
a receiving compartment 11 and an air outlet 12 communicating the
receiving compartment 11 to outside, a plurality of radiant conductive
fins 20, and a heating element 30.
The radiant conductive fins 20 are spacedly supported in the receiving
compartment 11 of the casing 10 to define an air heating channel
21 between each two radiant conductive fins 20, wherein each of
the radiant conductive fins 20 has at least a guiding slot 22 formed
thereon.
The heating element 30 is electrically connected to a power source
P wherein the heating element 30 is transversely extended to the
radiant conductive fins 20 through the guiding slots 22 to heat
up the radiant conductive fins 20 in such a manner when the radiant
conductive fins 20 are heated up for warming an air within the air
heating channels 21, a heat current 201 is created on each radiant
conductive fin 20 for creating heat flows 202 flowing from the air
heating channels 21 respectively to outside through the air outlet
12.
According to the preferred embodiment, the radiant conductive fins
20 are spacedly supported in the receiving compartment 11 in a vertically
parallel manner via a plurality of transverse supporters 101 wherein
each of the air heating channels 21 is formed between each two radiant
conductive fins 20 for guiding the air to be heated by the radiant
conductive fins 20 and to upwardly flow towards the air outlet 12
of the casing 10.
Each of the radiant conductive fins 20 is made of thermal conductive
material such as aluminum, copper, or stainless steel, wherein each
of the radiant conductive fins 20 is capable of transferring heat
from one region to another region through the conduction. It is
worth to mention that conduction of the radiant conductive fin 20
occurs between regions thereof at different temperatures.
Accordingly, when the heating element 30 is heated up, the region
of each of the radiant conductive fins 20 around the heating element
30 has a temperature higher than the region of each of the radiant
conductive fins 20 away from the heating element 30. Due to the
temperature difference on each of the radiant conductive fins 20,
the heat flows from the region having a higher temperature to the
region having a lower temperature.
In other words, the heat current 201 occurs when the heat is transferred
from the region of the radiant conductive fin 20 having a higher
temperature to the region thereof having a lower temperature, as
shown in FIG. 2.
The heating element 30 is made of infrared heating element, halogen-heating
element or other elements which can transform electrical energy
into heat energy. As shown in FIG. 2, the heating element 30 is
transversely penetrated the radiant conductive fins 20 through the
guiding slots 22 in such a manner that when the heating element
30 is heated up, the heat from the heating element 30 is radiated
to the radiant conductive fins 20.
The guiding slot 22 of each of the radiant conductive fins 20 is
a through circular hole formed on the respective radiant conductive
fin 20. Each of the guiding slots 20 has a diameter slightly larger
than a diameter of the heating element 30 such that when the heating
element 30 passes through the guiding slot 22 to contact with the
respective radiant conductive fin 20, a gap is formed between a
circumferential edge of the guiding slot 22 and an outer circumferential
surface of the heating element 30 for allowing the heating element
30 to be expanded when the heating element 30 is heated up. Accordingly,
the gap between the circumferential edge of the guiding slot 22
and the outer circumferential surface of the heating element 30
provides enough space for the expansion of the heating element 30
to prevent the damage of the respective radiant conductive fin 20.
Preferably, the gap has a distance in a range from 0.5 mm to 5 mm
depending on the material of the heating element 30.
It is known that cool air sinks at the bottom and hot air rises
on top of the cool air wherein the heat flows from hotter source
to cooler source through equilibrium forming processes in accordance
with the theory of convection.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the radiant conductive fins 20 are heated
up, the air within each of the air heating channels 21 is warmed
up in such a manner that the air flows upwardly along the respective
air heating channel 21 as the heat flow 202 to outside through the
air outlet 12 of the casing 10. Accordingly, the casing 10 further
has an air inlet 13 provided at a lower portion thereof for letting
a surrounding air to pass into the casing 10. Therefore, the cooler
air is guided to enter the air inlet 13 and is heated up by the
radiant conductive fins 20 to form a flow of warmer air when the
cooler air passes through the air heating channels 21. Then, the
heat flow 202 of the warmer air exits the casing 10 through the
air outlet 12 thereof.
It is worth to mention that the radiant conductive fins 20 are
cooled down at bottom portions thereof when the cooler air enters
the air heating channels 21 respectively. Due to the theory of conduction,
the heat current 201 occurs and flows from upper portions of the
radiant conductive fins 20 to lower portions thereof. Therefore,
the electric heater of the present invention provides an air circulation
by sucking the cooler air from the surroundings into the casing
10 and releasing the warmer air to the surroundings by the physical
properties of conduction and convection.
As shown in FIG. 3, the electric heater further comprises a heat
reflector 40, having a heat reflecting surface 41, disposed within
the receiving compartment 11 at a position transversely extended
from the radiant conductive fins 20 at side edges thereof for radiantly
guiding the heat current 201 on each of the radiant conductive fins
20. The heat reflecting surface 41 of the heat reflector 40 is arranged
to face towards the air heating channels 21 wherein when the radiant
conductive fins 20 are heated up by the heating element 30, the
heat is reflected by the heat reflecting surface 41 of the heat
reflector 40 so as to guide the heat on the radiant conductive fins
20 from regions to regions.
Accordingly, the region of the radiant conductive fin 20 closer
to the heating element 30 is hotter than the region of the radiant
conductive fin 20 far away from the heating element 30. Therefore,
the heat reflector 40 is capable of guiding the heat from the hotter
region of the radiant conductive fin 20 to the cooler region thereof
to enhance the heat current 201 on each of the radiant conductive
fins 20.
As shown in FIG. 3, the heat reflecting surface 41 of the heat
reflector 40, having a concave shaped, has a predetermined curvature
wherein the heat reflector 40 is arranged for substantially collecting
and reflecting the heat from the heating element 30 to a focus point
formed on the respective radiant conductive fins 20. In addition,
the heater reflector 40 can enhance the heating process for heating
up the air within the air heating channels 21 while the heater reflector
40 reflects the heat towards the air heating channels 21.
The heat reflector 40 has a longitudinal upper reflecting portion
401, a longitudinal lower reflecting portion 402, and a longitudinal
mid-reflecting portion 403 extended from the upper reflecting portion
401 to the lower reflecting portion 402 wherein each of the upper
and lower reflecting portions 401, 402 of the heat reflector 40
has a curvature smaller than a curvature of the mid-portion 403
of the heat reflector 40 in such a manner that the heat reflector
40 is capable of radiantly reflecting the heat towards to a mid-portion
of each of the radiant conductive fins 20.
It is worth to mention that the lower portion of each of the radiant
conductive fins 20 is cooler than the upper portion thereof when
the cooler air comes into the casing 10, the heat reflector 40 is
adapted to maintain each of the radiant conductive fins 20 at a
predetermined temperature for substantially heating up the air within
the air heating channels 21.
In other words, the heat reflector 40 is arranged to guide the
heat to downwardly flow along the radiant conductive fins 20 to
ensure the heat current 201 occurs on each of the radiant conductive
fins 20. Therefore, by selectively adjusting the curvature of the
heat reflector 40, the heat current 202 can be controlled on each
of the radiant conductive fins 20 so as to control the heat process
of the air within the air heating channels 21.
FIG. 4 illustrates a first alternative mode of the guiding slot
22A wherein each guiding slot 22A is an elongated through slot formed
on the respective radiant conductive fins 20A wherein the guiding
slot 22A is downwardly extended on the respective radiant conductive
fin 20A to form an opening 221A at a bottom edge of the respective
radiant conductive fin 20A in such a manner each of the radiant
conductive fins 20A is mounted to the heating element 30 by slotting
in the heating element 30 along the guiding slot 22A from the opening
221 A thereof.
FIG. 5 illustrates a second alternative mode of the guiding slot
22B wherein each guiding slot 22B is an elongated through slot formed
on the respective radiant conductive fins 20B wherein the guiding
slot 22B is sidewardly extended on the respective radiant conductive
fin 20B to form an opening 221B at a side edge of the respective
radiant conductive fin 20B in such a manner each of the radiant
conductive fins 20B is mounted to the heating element 30 by slotting
in the heating element 30 along the guiding slot 22B from the opening
221B thereof. It is worth to mention that a width of the guiding
slot 22A, 22B should be slightly larger than a diameter of the heating
element 30 for allowing the expansion of the heating element 30.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the
present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is
exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention
have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have
been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional
and structural principles of the present invention and is subject
to change without departure form such principles. Therefore, this
invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit
and scope of the following claims.
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