Abstrict
An electric heater with a heat shield plate includes a heating
body which is installed at a reflector and heated when electrical
power is applied thereto. A safety net is provided which covers
a front surface of the reflector and defines a space for accommodating
the heating body therein. Further, the heat shield plate is installed
at an upper edge of the reflector such that foreign materials are
prevented from falling down onto the heating body through the safety
net, and a plurality of through-holes are dispersedly formed in
the heat shield plate in order to prevent the heat shield plate
from being overheated. The heat shield plate includes a curved strap-like
plate in which the plurality of through-holes are dispersedly formed,
and fixing pieces which extend vertically from the curved plate
on one lateral side thereof so that they are coupled to the reflector.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electric heater with a heat shield plate, including a heating
body which is installed at a reflector and heated when electrical
power is applied thereto, and a safety net which covers a front
surface of the reflector and defines a space for accommodating the
heating body therein, wherein: the heat shield plate is installed
at an upper edge of the reflector such that foreign materials are
prevented from falling down onto the heating body through the safety
net; and a plurality of through-holes are dispersedly formed in
the heat shield plate in order to prevent the heat shield plate
from being overheated; wherein the heat shield plate includes a
curved strap-like plate in which the plurality of through-holes
are dispersedly formed, and fixing pieces which extend vertically
from the curved plate on one lateral side thereof so that they are
coupled to the reflector; and wherein extension pieces extend from
at least two positions on the one lateral side of the curved plate
in a width direction thereof, and each of the fixing pieces coupled
to the reflector is constructed to be bent from one end of each
extension piece.
2. The electric heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein an additional
space is defined in the curved plate between the extension pieces
connecting with the fixing pieces when the heat shield plate is
coupled to the reflector.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric heater with a heat
shield plate for preventing heat heating rays of the heater and
introduction of foreign materials into the heater. More particularly,
the present invention relates to an electric heater in which a heat
shield plate formed with a plurality of through-holes is installed
on a curved plate serving as a reflector to prevent overheat of
the electric heater and perform a heat shielding function.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As living standards are improved, a heater as a dominant one of
room heating apparatuses has been generally changed from a conventional
oil heater to an electric heater. It goes without saying that various
kinds of electric heaters have been developed as social demands
for the heaters are increased.
As well known in the art, a fundamental operating principle of
the electric heater is that ambient air is heated with heat generated
when an electric current flows through a heating wire which is placed
within a specific space and protected by a safety net. Furthermore,
additional means for radiating the heat more efficiently from the
heating wire are further installed in the electric heater. As a
typical example thereof, a type of electric heater in which a reflector
manufactured by curving a substantially rectangular metal sheet
to a certain extent is installed behind the heating wire has been
spread. However, this electric heater hardly obtains an effect of
efficient heat radiation. Such a conventional electric heater has
a problem in that a sufficient amount of heat cannot be fully transferred
up to a desired distance. In fact, in a case where an amount of
electric current is increased so as to increase the amount of heat
generated from the heater, there is a risk of overheating and fire.
However, if the amount of electric current is reduced in consideration
of a safety accident due to the increase of the electric current,
it is difficult to obtain the sufficient amount of heat to a desired
extent.
In order to solve the problems in the conventional electric heater,
a radiant electric heater capable of fully heating room air by transferring
an adequate amount of heat as far as possible has been developed
and disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No.
98-61527.
Such a radiant electric heater is configured in such a manner that
a spherical reflector is installed behind a heating wire and a portion
to which the heating wire is attached is reduced in diameter in
a rearward direction so that heat cannot be diffused in all directions
and can be concentrated within a narrow range. Therefore, the heat
can be transferred as far as possible. Referring to FIGS. 1 and
2, the electric heater 10 comprises a heat generating unit 10 including
a heating wire, and a supporting unit 20 for supporting the heat
generating unit.
First, the supporting unit 20 will be described below. A main circuit
for operating and controlling the radiant electric heater 1 is installed
within a stand 21. Further, a power switch 22 for turning electrical
power on or off, a temperature control switch 23 for intermittently
turning the electrical power off at a predetermined temperature
so that the temperature of the heating wire can be kept to be optimal,
a power lamp 24 for indicating whether the electrical power is turned
on or off, a safety switch 29 for intermittently turning the electrical
power off in accordance with whether the electric heater is tilted,
a warning lamp 25 for warning a user when the electric heater is
excessively tilted, and the like are arranged at the top and bottom
of the stand 21.
Furthermore, the heat generating unit 10 and the stand 21 are connected
with each other via first and second posts 26, 27 constructed in
such a manner that the second post 27 can be inserted into or put
out from the first post 26 after unlocking a control knob 28. That
is, a height of the heat generating unit 10 can be arbitrarily adjusted.
In addition, referring to FIG. 2 in which the heat generating unit
of the radiant electric heater is shown in an enlarged scale, the
heat generating unit 10 comprises the heating wire 12 wound around
a heating wire mount 11 of a predetermined shape, the reflector
13 placed behind the heating wire, a safety net 14 connected to
the reflector for defining a front contour of the whole heat generating
unit 10, and a supporting case 15 connected to a rear end of the
reflector 13 for supporting the reflector. Furthermore, the heating
wire 12 is connected to the reflector 13 via a bracket 16, and rods
17 for sensing the heat are attached to the front of the reflector
at desired positions thereof.
Accordingly, heat rays a from the heating wire 12 are concentrated
within the predetermined range by the reflector 13, contrary to
the conventional structure in which the heat rays are diffused in
all directions. Consequently, the heat generated from the heating
wire can reach a position to be heated across a considerable distance.
At this time, the heat rays a do not remain in the vicinity of the
heat generating unit 10 including the heating wire 12, but are immediately
emitted from the heat generating unit through a reflecting process
of the reflector 13. Thus, overheating of the safety net 14 can
also be prevented.
Here, a phenomenon that the heat rays are concentrated to the utmost
can be obtained in a case where the reflector 13 is configured to
have a parabolic surface with a central portion thereof being concave
and to include a regular spherical surface such as in a general
concave mirror.
Moreover, the heating wire mount 11, which is generally made of
a heat-resistant material such as ceramic and around which the heating
wire 12 is wound, is configured in the form of a truncated cone
or a circular cone of which diameter is decreased in a rearward
direction so that all the heat rays a from the heating wire 12 are
caused to be directed toward the reflector 3 and can thus be prevented
from being diffused out of the predetermined range C. At this time,
even though the mount 11 is configured in the form of a triangular
pyramid or polygonal pyramid rather than the truncated cone, the
object of the invention can be sufficiently achieved. That is, any
types of mounts 11 of which sectional areas are reduced in the rearward
direction may be employed in the invention.
It is apparent that such an electric heater has superior thermal
efficiency. However, since the heating wire of the electric heater
is made in the form of a coil, the coil may be corroded if it is
used for a long time. Thus, there is another problem in that durability
in use is deteriorated and risk of fire is increased.
Accordingly, an electric heater disclosed in Korean Utility Model
Registration No. 214840 has been developed. The electric heater
is configured such that a halogen lamp is used as a heat generating
means and a reflector is installed in front of the halogen lamp
and fixed to a safety net. FIG. 3 is a front view of the electric
heater of the utility model registration, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged
sectional view taken along line A--A of FIG. 3. The electric heater
of the '840 utility model registration includes a reflector with
a heat generating means added thereto and a safety net installed
in the formed of the reflector. The electric heater further comprises
a halogen lamp fixing plate 50 with a fixing hole 51 (not shown)
for allowing electrical power to be supplied to the halogen lamp
40 and fixing the halogen lamp 40 horizontally, an auxiliary reflector
60 installed to correspond to a central bent portion of the halogen
lamp 40 for causing heat therefrom to be reflected onto the reflector
30, and a reflector fixture 32 of which one end is connected to
the auxiliary reflector 60 and the other end is fixed to a central
portion of the safety net 31.
Preferably, the halogen lamp 40 is fixed to the halogen lamp fixing
plate 50 with a ceramic material or the like which can be isolated
from the reflector 30, and the halogen lamp fixing plate 50 is configured
to be in close contact with the reflector 30 so that it cannot hinder
heat reflection of the reflector 30. In FIG. 4, reference numeral
52 designates screw holes used for fastening the halogen lamp fixing
plate 50 to the reflector 30 with the screws, and reference numeral
33 designates a handle used when carrying the electric heater and
preferably formed on an upper surface of a supporting case 34 for
supporting the reflector 30 in the rear thereof.
The auxiliary reflector 60 is installed at a front end of the halogen
lamp 40 in such a manner that a concave surface thereof is directed
toward the reflector 30 so that the heat from the halogen lamp 40
can be reflected onto the reflector 30.
First, the halogen lamp fixing plate 50 is fastened to the reflector
30 by screwing the screws into the screw holes 52. The halogen lamp
40 is then coupled to the halogen lamp plate 50 and connected to
a power cable (not shown). Further, the reflector fixture 32 is
fixedly installed at the central portion of the safety net 31 coupled
to the reflector 30 so that it is directed toward the reflector
30, and the auxiliary reflector 60 is fixedly installed to the reflector
fixture 32 in such a manner that the concave surface thereof is
directed toward the reflector 30. Of course, the auxiliary reflector
60 is installed not to come into contact with the central front
end of the halogen lamp 40. Then, if the power switch is turned
on by using a control knob 35, the electric power is applied to
the halogen lamp 40 to cause the heat to be generated from the halogen
lamp 40. Heat rays emitted from the lamp (for example, H1) are primarily
reflected on the reflector 30 and then transferred to a user, whereas
the other heat rays (for example, H2) are primarily reflected on
the auxiliary reflector 60 and secondarily reflected on the reflector
30 and then transferred to the user. That is, contrary to the electric
heater shown in FIG. 2 in which only the primarily reflected heat
rays are emitted, all the heat rays including secondarily reflected
components thereof by the auxiliary reflector 60 are reflected on
the reflector 30 and emitted in case of the electric heater shown
in FIGS. 3 to 5. Therefore, since the amount of heat to be reflected
and transferred to the user is remarkably increased, heating efficiency
can be relatively improved.
Moreover, since the auxiliary reflector 60 is installed in front
of the halogen lamp 40, there is an advantage in that children cannot
bring pointed objects (for example, chopsticks) into direct contact
with the lamp so that the lamp can be protected. Further, since
the halogen lamp fixing plate 50 is designed to have a low height
thereof, it can be fixed almost integrally to the reflector 30 and
thus easily installed. Since the fixing plate 50 does not hinder
a heat transfer process, the heating efficiency of the electric
heater can be enhanced. However, in a case where such a type of
electric heater is employed, radiant heat resulting from the reflected
heat may be locally concentrated on an upper periphery the reflector
30. In such a case, the children may burn their delicate skin on
the hot upper periphery of the reflector.
Accordingly, an electric heater disclosed in Korean Utility Model
Registration No. 236788 has been developed. FIG. 5 is a front view
of the electric heater with a conventional heat shield plate mounted
thereto, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B--B of
FIG. 5. The electric heater also comprises the halogen lamp fixing
plate 50 with the fixing holes 51 (not shown) for allowing the electrical
power to be supplied to the halogen lamp 40 and fixing the halogen
lamp 40 horizontally, the auxiliary curved reflector 60 installed
to correspond to the central bent portion of the halogen lamp 40
for causing the heat to be reflected onto the reflector 30, and
the reflector fixture 32 of which one end is connected to the auxiliary
reflector 60 and the other end is fixed to the central portion of
the safety net 31. Further, a heat shield plate 70 for shielding
the radiant heat toward the upper periphery is installed at an upper
edge of the reflector 30, and a ceramic coating layer 71 for increasing
heat shield efficiency is also formed on a surface of the heat shield
plate facing the lamp. The heat shield plate 70 is provided at a
proper position of a top portion thereof with protruding portions
72 in which screw holes 73 for fixing the heat shield plate to the
upper edge of the reflector 30 are formed, and thus, the heat shield
plate is fixedly coupled to the reflector 30 with screws 74.
As described above, according to the previous electric heater,
heat rays H3 shown in FIG. 6 directed toward the upper periphery
of the reflector 30 cause the upper periphery to be heated. Thus,
the children may burn their delicate skin on the hot upper periphery
of the reflector. However, according to the electric heater shown
in FIGS. 5, 6 and 6A, since the radiant heat rays H3 directed toward
the upper periphery of the reflector 30 are reflected onto the coating
layer 71 of the heat shield plate 70, the radiant heat directed
toward the upper periphery is completely blocked. Thus, since heat
transfer locally concentrated on the upper periphery P of the reflector
30 is prevented, overheating of the upper periphery P can also be
prevented. Moreover, since the heat-resistant coating layer 71 is
formed on a bottom surface of the heat shield plate 70 so that heat
transfer efficiency can be decreased, heat shield efficiency of
the heat shield plate 70 can be improved. In such a case, it is
preferred that the heat-resistant coating layer 71 be made of ceramic
since the ceramic exhibits the heat-resistant characteristics even
at a temperature of 350.degree. C. However, according to such a
constitution, the heat transferred through the reflector 30 cannot
be still blocked even though the heat-resistant coating layer 71
blocks the radiating heat. Further, since the heat shield plate
70 is horizontally placed, a kind of space for additionally accommodating
heat therein is defined. Thus, since the space may produce another
factor in overheating of any specific portions on the reflector,
there is a further problem in that a desired heat shield effect
cannot be easily achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is conceived to solve the problems in the
prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric
heater with a heat shield plate capable of being self-cooled, wherein
heat cannot be transferred to an upper periphery of a heat reflector
by installing the heat shield plate at an upper edge of the reflector
of the heater and the heat can be circulated via a plurality of
through-holes formed in the heat shield plate.
To this end, the present invention is configured such that the
heat shield plate is installed at the upper edge of the reflector
of the heater and a plurality of through-holes are dispersedly formed
in the heat shield plate. Further, the heat shield plate is fixed
to the reflector via fixing pieces thereof in such a manner that
a predetermined space is defined by extension pieces of the heat
shield plate between the reflector and the heat shield plate.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an electric heater with a heat shield plate, including a heating
body which is installed at a reflector and heated when electrical
power is applied thereto, and a safety net which covers a front
surface of the reflector and defines a space for accommodating the
heating body therein. Further, the heat shield plate is installed
at an upper edge of the reflector such that foreign materials are
prevented from falling down onto the heating body through the safety
net, and a plurality of through-holes are dispersedly formed in
the heat shield plate in order to prevent the heat shield plate
from being overheated.
The heat shield plate may include a curved strap-like plate in
which the plurality of through-holes are dispersedly formed, and
fixing pieces which extend vertically from the curved plate on one
lateral side thereof so that they are coupled to the reflector.
Preferably, the fixing pieces and the curved plate are constructed
to be connected with each other via extension pieces which extend
from the curved plate in a width direction of the curved plate.
More preferably, the fixing pieces are dispersedly formed on at
least two positions on the one lateral side of the curved plate,
and an additional space is defined between the extension pieces
connecting with the fixing pieces when the heat shield plate is
coupled to the reflector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects and features of the present invention
will become apparent from the following description of a preferred
embodiment given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional electric heater;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of essential components of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view of another conventional electric heater;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A--A of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a front view of an electric heater with a conventional
heat shield plate mounted thereto;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B--B of FIG. 5;
FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of the conventional heat shield plate
shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heat shield plate for use in
an electric heater according to the present invention; and
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a major portion of the
heat shield plate, showing a state where the heat shield plate is
installed according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will
be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heat shield plate for use in
an electric heater according to the present invention, and FIG.
8 is a sectional view showing a state where the heat shield plate
is installed according to the present invention. The electric heater
of the present invention includes a heating body which is installed
at a reflector 30 and heated when electrical power is applied thereto,
and a safety net 31 which covers a front surface of the reflector
and defines a space for accommodating the heating body therein.
Further, a heat shield plate 80 is installed at an upper edge of
the reflector 30 such that foreign materials are prevented from
falling down onto the heating body through the safety net, and a
plurality of through-holes 81 are also dispersedly formed in the
heat shield plate 80 in order to prevent the heat shield plate from
being overheated.
The heat shield plate 80 includes a curved strap-like plate 82
in which the plurality of through-holes 81 are dispersedly formed,
and fixing pieces 84 which extend vertically from the curved plate
82 at both ends of one lateral side thereof so that they are coupled
to the reflector 30.
Each of the fixing pieces 84 is bent with respect to the curved
plate 82 with each corresponding extension piece 83 interposed therebetween.
The fixing pieces 84 are dispersedly formed at two or more positions
on the one lateral side of the curved plate 82, and the space 85
is defined between the respective extension pieces 83 connecting
the heat shield plate 80 and the fixing pieces 84 when the curved
plate 82 are coupled to the reflector 30.
In the present invention constructed as such, the reflector 30
and the safety net 31 are coupled to each other with screws 74 in
a state where the heat shield plate 80 of FIG. 7 is interposed therebetween.
In a case where they are directly coupled to each other without
interposing the heat shield plate therebetween, the foreign materials
(for example, fiber or fabric) fall down onto the heating source
(or heating body) from the above and thus are burned. According
to the present invention, however, the heat shield plate 80 prevents
the foreign materials from falling down directly onto and coming
into contact with the heating source so that a fire on the heating
source can be prevented. Furthermore, since the plurality of through-holes
81 through which the heat passes upwardly are formed in the curved
plate 82 of the heat shield plate 80, natural cooling of the heat
shield plate through the through-holes 82 can be made and thus the
overheating of the heat shield plate can be prevented. In addition,
when the heat shield plate 80 is coupled to the reflector 30, the
extension pieces 83 causes the space 85 to be defined in the heat
shield plate 80 and thus heated air can be discharged even through
the space 85. Therefore, heat concentration at and thence overheating
of the heat shield plate can also be prevented. Moreover, since
transfer of the radiant heat from the heating source is blocked
by the heat shield plate 80, the upper periphery of the reflector
cannot be overheated and thus any burn on the hand can also be prevented
even though the user inadvertently touches the upper periphery.
Although it has been described that the fixing pieces 84 are installed
at both the ends of the lateral side of the heat shield plate, the
present invention is not limited thereto but may be configured in
such a manner that the fixing pieces are installed at any other
or more positions if the additional space 85 can be defined in the
heat shield plate.
As described above, according to the present invention, the heat
shield plate with the plurality of through-holes is installed at
the upper edge of the reflector of the electric heater so that the
air passing through the holes can cool the heat shield plate. Further,
the additional space is defined in the heat shield plate that is
coupled to the reflector so that the generated heat cannot be collected
therein. Thus, the local heating on the heat shield plate can be
prevented. Further, since the heat shield plate blocks the heat
rays from being directed toward the upper periphery of the reflector,
the temperature of the upper periphery of the reflector is relatively
lowered. Thus, the burn on the hand of the user can be prevented
even though the user inadvertently touches the upper periphery of
the reflector. Furthermore, since the heat shield plate prevents
the foreign materials from falling down onto the heating source,
and thus, the fire thereon can also be prevented.
Although the present invention has been described with respect
to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the present invention
is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that various substitutions, changes and modifications can
be made thereto without departing from the technical spirit and
scope of the invention.
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