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 and an air outlet communicating said receiving compartment
to outside; a plurality of radiant conductive fins spacedly supported
in said receiving compartment 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; and
a heating element electrically connected to a power source wherein
said heating element is transversely extended to said radiant conductive
fins through said guiding slots to heat up said radiant conductive
fins in such a manner when said radiant conductive fins are heated
up for warming an air within said air heating channels, a heat current
is created on each said radiant conductive fin for creating heat
flows to flow from said air heating channels respectively to outside
through said air outlet.
2. An 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 guiding said air to be heated by said radiant conductive fins
and to upwardly flow towards said air outlet of said casing.
3. An 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 to contact with said respective radiant
conductive fin, a gap is formed between a circumferential edge of
said guiding slot and an outer circumferential surface of said heating
element for allowing said heating element to be expanded when said
heating element is heated up.
4. An 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 to contact with said respective radiant
conductive fin, a gap is formed between a circumferential edge of
said guiding slot and an outer circumferential surface of said heating
element for allowing said heating element to be expanded when said
heating element is heated up.
5. An electric heater, as recited in claim 1, wherein said casing
further has an air inlet formed at a lower portion thereof for guiding
said air to flow along said air heating channels from outside in
such a manner that bottom portions of said radiant conductive fins
are cooler than upper portions thereof to create said heat circuit
on each of said radiant conductive fins.
6. An electric heater, as recited in claim 2, wherein said casing
further has an air inlet formed at a lower portion thereof for guiding
said air to flow along said air heating channels from outside in
such a manner that bottom portions of said radiant conductive fins
are cooler than upper portions thereof to create said heat circuit
on each of said radiant conductive fins.
7. An electric heater, as recited in claim 4, wherein said casing
further has an air inlet formed at a lower portion thereof for guiding
said air to flow along said air heating channels from outside in
such a manner that bottom portions of said radiant conductive fins
are cooler than upper portions thereof to create said heat circuit
on each of said radiant conductive fins.
8. An 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 current on each of said radiant conductive fins.
9. An 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 current on each of said radiant conductive fins.
10. An electric heater, as recited in claim 7, 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 current on each of said radiant conductive fins.
11. An electric heater, as recited in claim 8, wherein said heat
reflecting surface of said heat reflector, having a concave shaped,
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.
12. An electric heater, as recited in claim 9, wherein said heat
reflecting surface of said heat reflector, having a concave shaped,
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.
13. An electric heater, as recited in claim 10, wherein said heat
reflecting surface of said heat reflector, having a concave shaped,
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.
14. An electric heater, as recited in claim 11, 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.
15. An electric heater, as recited in claim 12, 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.
16. An electric heater, as recited in claim 13, 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.
17. An electric heater, as recited in claim 5, 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 in such
a manner each of said radiant conductive fins is mounted to said
heating element by slotting in said heating element along said guiding
slot from said opening thereof.
18. An electric heater, as recited in claim 11, 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 in such
a manner each of said radiant conductive fins is mounted to said
heating element by slotting in said heating element along said guiding
slot from said opening thereof.
19. An electric heater, as recited in claim 14, 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 in such
a manner each of said radiant conductive fins is mounted to said
heating element by slotting in said heating element along said guiding
slot from said opening thereof.
20. An electric heater, as recited in claim 5, 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 in such a
manner each of said radiant conductive fins is mounted to said heating
element by slotting in said heating element along said guiding slot
said from said opening thereof.
21. An electric heater, as recited in claim 11, 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 in such a
manner each of said radiant conductive fins is mounted to said heating
element by slotting in said heating element along said guiding slot
said from said opening thereof.
22. An electric heater, as recited in claim 14, 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 in such a
manner each of said radiant conductive fins is mounted to said heating
element by slotting in said heating element along said guiding slot
said from said opening thereof.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] 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.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the
present invention provides an electric heater, comprising:
[0017] a casing having a receiving compartment and an air outlet
communicating the receiving compartment to outside;
[0018] 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
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric heater according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] 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.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view of the electric heater
according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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 EMBODIMENT
[0026] 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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.
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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.
[0033] 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.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
[0036] 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.
[0037] 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.
[0038] 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.
[0039] 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.
[0040] 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.
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] 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.
[0045] 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.
[0046] 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.
[0047] 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. |