U.S. patent application number 14/593716 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-13 for heating system with adjustable louver.
The applicant listed for this patent is Detroit Radiant Products Co.. Invention is credited to Ken Bachorski, Kevin Blissett, Thomas A. Martelle, Joseph A. Wortman.
Application Number | 20150226454 14/593716 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53678689 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150226454 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wortman; Joseph A. ; et
al. |
August 13, 2015 |
HEATING SYSTEM WITH ADJUSTABLE LOUVER
Abstract
A heating system including at least one louver coupled with the
housing of a heater including a blade and end caps on the blade for
holding each louver in a fixed position during operation of the
heater assembly, but also releasing the louver for adjustment in
positioning relative to the axis of rotation of the louver to
change air flow direction or other characteristics as desired.
Inventors: |
Wortman; Joseph A.; (St.
Clair Shores, MI) ; Martelle; Thomas A.; (Shelby
Township, MI) ; Blissett; Kevin; (Lenox Township,
MI) ; Bachorski; Ken; (Warren, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Detroit Radiant Products Co. |
Warren |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53678689 |
Appl. No.: |
14/593716 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61925953 |
Jan 10, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/322 ;
126/285R; 126/89 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24H 3/0488 20130101;
F24H 9/0063 20130101; F24H 9/0068 20130101; F23D 14/70 20130101;
F23M 9/08 20130101; Y02B 30/28 20130101; F23D 14/12 20130101; F24H
3/065 20130101; F28F 1/426 20130101; F23C 3/002 20130101; Y02B
30/00 20130101; F28F 13/06 20130101; F24D 5/08 20130101; F24H 3/087
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24H 9/00 20060101
F24H009/00; F24H 3/06 20060101 F24H003/06 |
Claims
1. A heating system comprising: a housing through which air flows
through a heating element from an inlet to an outlet; at least one
elongated louver having a first end and a second end and a central
axis of rotation; an element at each end of said louver to engage
the housing, with a first element engaging said housing in a fixed
position and also adjustable to other fixed positions and a second
element engaging said housing in a resilient position to release
said first element to be adjusted to a second fixed position; a
blower for continuously forcing air through said compartment; and a
heating element.
2. A heating system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising
multiple louvers.
3. A demand radiant heating system as set forth in claim 1 wherein
said louvers can be adjusted a various intervals by a disengagement
and re-engagement of toothed gears disposed in said first
element.
4. A demand radiant heating system as set forth in claim 1
including means disposed adjacent said burner for igniting an
air/fuel mixture in said burner and for sensing a predetermined
temperature of said burner.
5. A demand radiant heating system as set forth in claim 6 wherein
said igniting and sensing means comprises a glow bar ignitor.
6. A louver for a heating system comprising: an elongated blade
having a first end and a second end; a housing in which the louver
is disposed, the housing defining a compartment into and out of
which air flows and includes an element for heating the air passing
by the heating element; a fan continuously forcing air into said
compartment; said louver including elements to attach the first and
the second end to the housing, comprising caps at each of the
louver; One cap having an adjustable element relative to the
housing and the other cap having a releasable element relative to
the housing to permit the adjustable element to move from a first
fixed position to a second fixed position.
7. An invention as set forth in claim 6 further comprising that
multiple louvers are engaged with the housing.
8. A heating system comprising: A housing having a heating element,
a fan to continuously blow air over the heating element, and an
outlet for the heated air; At least one louver at the outlet of the
housing, said louver having an axis of rotation and a mechanism to
adjust the louver to alter the direction of air flow from the
heating system flowing past the louver by rotation around the axis
of rotation, comprising engagement elements at each end of the
louver, with a first element engaging at least a portion of the
housing and a second element engaging at least a portion of the
housing; and one of said elements moveable ; and said first element
having a lock to engage at least a portion of the housing in place
and release to permit the second element to rotate and return the
louver to lock engagement when the release is no longer engaged.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a louver for use
with a heater assembly. In particular, the present invention
includes a louver including a blade and end caps on the blade for
holding each louver in a fixed position during operation of the
heater assembly, but also releasing the louver for adjustment in
positioning relative to the axis of rotation of the louver to
change air flow direction or other characteristics as desired.
SUMMARY
[0002] Heater technology includes a variety of devices to heat
spaces within an environment. Gas-fired unit heaters offer one
option where infrared heating is not practical due to ceiling
heights, clearances to combustibles or building use, as a separated
combustion unit heater. Gas-fired, tubular exchanger, induced
draft, hot air heaters can be used in commercial, industrial and
agricultural applications, and may feature durable, powder-coated
black enamel exterior and stainless steel louvers for an
exceptional aesthetic appeal, and a swept wing impeller with
finger-proof fan guards for low noise operation. In the present
application, it has been found that the efficiencies of these
heaters can be improved with improved air flow over fixed louvers
that are adjustable to a selected configuration. The selective
adjustment may be available via an easily adjusted manually
engageable mechanism to direct heated air to optimum locations
within an environmental space at a variety of adjustment
locations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heater assembly including
a housing and a plurality of louvers supported by in the
housing;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a side view of the heater assembly including a fan
coupled to the housing;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the heater assembly and the
fan;
[0007] FIG. 4 is an elevated top view of an embodiment of the fan
having a swept wing configuration;
[0008] FIG. 5 is an elevated side view of the fan having the swept
wing configuration;
[0009] FIG. 6 is a perspective front view of a louver disposed in a
portion of the housing;
[0010] FIG. 6A is a perspective rear view of the louver disposed in
the portion of the housing;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of a louver including a
pin and a first shaft disposed in a portion of the housing to hold
the louver in position;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of the first end cap
defining a first blade chamber and a plunger shaft aperture;
[0013] FIG. 9 is a perspective side view of a first end cap having
a first body and a plunger, a louver and a second end cap;
[0014] FIG. 10 is a perspective exploded view of the first end cap
including the plunger, a biasing member, the first body, and a
first lock washer;
[0015] FIG. 11 is an elevated side view of the first end cap of
FIG. 9;
[0016] FIG. 12 is a perspective side view of the first end cap with
the first lock washer disposed about the plunger;
[0017] FIG. 13 is a perspective side view of an alternative first
end cap having a second body and a locking member;
[0018] FIG. 14 is a perspective exploded view the end cap of FIG.
13 including the locking member, the body, and a second lock
washer;
[0019] FIG. 15 is a perspective side view of the end cap of FIG. 13
defining a lock chamber and a lock shaft aperture with a plurality
of teeth extending into the lock chamber about the lock shaft
aperture; and
[0020] FIG. 16 is a perspective side view of the end cap of FIG. 13
with the lock washer disposed about the locking member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals
indicate like parts throughout the several views, a heater assembly
20 includes a housing 22 defining a chamber 24. As shown in FIG. 1,
the heater assembly 20 includes a heater 26 disposed in the chamber
24 for heating an air flow. The heater assembly 20 defines an
opening 28 in communication with the chamber 24. The heater
assembly 20 includes a plurality of louvers 30 rotatably disposed
in the chamber 24 and/or the opening 28. Each of the plurality of
louvers 30 is independently adjustable for directing the air flow.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the heater assembly 20 includes a fan 32
coupled to the housing 22 in communication with the chamber 24 for
creating the air flow. The fan 32 may have any suitable
configuration, such as a swept wing configuration, as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5, for improving the efficiency of the heater assembly
20.
[0022] One of the plurality louvers 30 in a portion of the housing
22 is shown for example in FIGS. 6-8. Each of the other louvers 30
has a similar construction. Each louver 30 is rotatably disposed
about a louver axis A1. The one of the plurality louvers 30
includes a blade 34 disposed along the louver axis A1. The blade 34
has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration for directing the air
flow. The blade 34 can have any suitable alternative
cross-sectional configuration, such as, a flat cross-sectional
configuration. The arcuate cross-sectional configuration of the
blade 34 and a lack of ribs or edges reduce turbulence and drag of
air flow around the blade 34. The blade 34 is made of metal, but
can be made of any suitable alternative material, such as,
plastic.
[0023] One of the plurality louvers 30 includes a first end cap 36
and a second end cap 38 spaced from the first end cap 36 along the
louver axis A1. The first and second end caps 36, 38 engage
opposite sides of the blade 34 for selective rotation of the blade
34 relative to the housing 22. Specifically referring to FIG. 7,
the housing 22 defines a first shaft aperture 40 for engaging one
of the first and second end caps 36, 38. The housing 22 defines a
correlative second shaft aperture and a retaining aperture for
engaging the other of the first and second end caps 36 and 38. The
second end cap 38 may be either identical with the first end cap
(as a mirror image) or can also be an end cap with merely holds the
louver rotatable in place without a separate locking mechanism.
[0024] The first end cap 36 has first body 42 rotatably disposed in
a portion of the housing 22. The first end cap 36 defines a first
blade chamber 44 in the first body 42 with a tapered configuration
as shown in FIG. 12. The blade 34 is disposed in the first blade
chamber 44 for mounting the blade 34 to the portion of the housing
22 along the louver axis A1.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the first end cap 36 has a first
surface 46 extending along the first body 42 with an arcuate
configuration and directs air flow around the first end cap 36 for
reducing turbulent air flow and drag around the first end cap 36.
The first end cap 36 has a first winglet 48 extending from the
first surface 46 transverse to the louver axis A1. The first
winglet 48 has an arcuate configuration and directs air flow
towards the blade 34 to reduce turbulent air flow between the one
of the plurality of louvers 30 and the housing 22 and encourage
laminar air flow over the first end cap 36 and the blade 34 to
reduce drag. As shown, the blades are designed to have a leading
edge, a trailing edge and a uniform thickness throughout the
curvature, although an alternative configuration could use a more
airplane wing designed configuration as needed or desired.
[0026] The second end cap 38 has a second body 50 rotatably
disposed in the portion of the housing 22. The second end cap 38
defines a second blade chamber 52 in the second body 50 with a
tapered configuration, as shown in FIG. 16. The blade 34 is
disposed in the second blade chamber 52 for mounting the blade 34
to the portion of the housing 22 along the louver axis A1.
[0027] The second end cap 38 has a second surface 54 extending
along the second body 50 with an arcuate configuration for
directing air flow around the second end cap 38 for reducing
turbulent air flow and drag around the second end cap 38. The
second end cap 38 has a second winglet 56 extending from the second
surface 54 transverse to the louver axis A1. The second winglet 56
an arcuate configuration to direct the air flow towards the blade
34 to reduce turbulent air flow between the one of the plurality of
louvers 30 and the housing 22 and encourage laminar air flow over
the second end cap 38 and the blade 34 to reduce drag.
[0028] The first and second end caps 36, 38 are configured to
selectively lock in a selected rotational position relative to the
housing 22. Specifically, one of the first and second end caps 36,
38 includes a pair of locking features 58 and the other of the
first and second caps 36, 38 is spring loaded to engage the pair of
locking features 58. For example, the first end cap 36 is spring
loaded and the second cap 38 includes the pair of locking features
58 in the embodiment in the Figures and as set forth further
below.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 9, the first body 42 defines a plunger
chamber 60 along the louver axis A1. The first end cap 36 includes
a plunger 62 movably disposed in the plunger chamber 60 for
coupling the first end cap 36 to the housing 22.
[0030] The plunger 62 has a plunger shoulder 64 and a first shaft
66 extending along the louver axis A1 away from the plunger
shoulder 64. As shown in FIG. 10, the plunger 62 has a plunger
shaft 68 extending from the plunger shoulder 64 away from the first
shaft 66. The plunger shaft 68 is disposed in the plunger chamber
60. The first end cap 36 includes a biasing member 70 disposed
about the plunger shaft 68. The biasing member 70 abuts the plunger
shoulder 64 and the first body 42 to bias the plunger 62 to
resiliently extend from the plunger chamber 60 towards the housing
22.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 11, the first end cap 36 defines a plunger
shaft aperture 72 along the louver axis A1 for receiving the
plunger shaft 68 of the plunger 62. As shown in FIG. 12, the
plunger shaft 68 extends through the plunger shaft aperture 72. The
first end cap 36 includes a first lock washer 74 disposed around
the plunger shaft 68 and abutting the first body 42 for retaining
the plunger 62 in the plunger chamber 60.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 13, the second end cap 38 defines a lock
chamber 76 in the second body 50 and includes a locking member 78
engageable with lock chamber 76 for coupling the second end cap 38
to the housing 22. The locking member 78 has a lock shoulder 80 and
a second shaft 82 extending along the louver axis A1 away from the
lock shoulder 80.
[0033] The second shaft 82 engages the housing 22 for coupling the
first end cap 36 to the housing 22. The locking member 78 has a
retaining pin 84 extending relative to the louver axis A1 away from
the lock shoulder 80. The retaining pin 84 engages the housing 22
in an aperture 85 for preventing rotation of the locking member 78.
Additional apertures 87 and 89 may be provided to perform the same
function as aperture 85 but for additional degrees of angulations
of the blade.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 14, the locking member 78 has a lock shaft
86 extending from the lock shoulder 80 away from the second shaft
82. The locking member 78 includes one of the pair of locking
features 58 further defined as a first plurality of teeth 90
extending from the lock shoulder 80 and disposed about the lock
shaft 86. In one example, the first plurality of teeth 90 are
disposed about the lock shaft 86 in 2.5 degree increments, but it
should be appreciated that first plurality of teeth 90 may be
disposed about the lock shaft 86 in any degree increments, such as
three degree increments.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 15, the second body 50 of the second end
cap 38 defines a lock shaft aperture 88. The second body 50
includes the other of the pair of lock features 58 further defined
as a second plurality of teeth 92 extending into the lock chamber
76 about the lock shaft aperture 88 for engaging the first
plurality of teeth 90 of the locking member 78 to preventing
rotation of the one of the plurality louvers 30. In one example,
the second plurality of teeth 92 are disposed about the lock shaft
aperture 88 in 2.5 degree increments, but it should be appreciated
that second plurality of teeth 92 may be disposed about the lock
shaft aperture 88 in any degree increments as long as the second
plurality of teeth 92 are disposed about the same degree increments
as the first plurality of teeth 90.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 16, the lock shaft 86 extends through the
lock shaft aperture 88. The second end cap 38 includes a second
lock washer 96 disposed around the lock shaft 86 and abutting the
second body 50 for retaining the locking member 78 in the lock
chamber 76.
[0037] As an operator installs the one of the plurality of louvers
30, the first shaft 66 of the first end cap 36 is disposed in the
chamber 24 of the housing 22. The operator moves the one of the
plurality louvers 30 along the louver axis A1 in a first direction
F1 parallel to A1, as shown in FIG. 13, to compress the biasing
member 70 and move the plunger 62 into the plunger chamber 60 of
the first end cap 36. The operator aligns the second shaft 82 of
the second end cap 38 with the second shaft aperture and aligns the
retainer pin 84 with the retainer aperture 85 (or 87 or 89). The
operator moves the one of the plurality louvers 30 along the louver
axis A1 in a second direction F2 parallel to A1 to dispose the
second shaft 82 in the second shaft aperture and dispose the
retainer pin 84 in the retainer aperture 85. The biasing member 70
biases the one of the plurality louvers 30 along the louver axis A1
in the second direction F2 to engage the first plurality of teeth
90 of the second body 50 with the second plurality of teeth 92 of
the locking member 78 to prevent rotation of the one of the
plurality louvers 30 about the louver axis A1. The retainer pin 84
engages the housing 22 in the retainer aperture 85 to prevent
rotation of the locking member 78.
[0038] To adjust the one of the plurality louvers 30, the operator
moves the one of the plurality louvers 30 along the louver axis A1
in the first direction F1 to compress the biasing member 70 and
disengage the first plurality of teeth 90 of the second body 50
from the second plurality of teeth 92 of the locking member 78. The
operator rotates the one of the plurality louvers 30 about the
louver axis A1 to the desired angle of the one of the plurality
louvers 30. As the operator rotates the one of the plurality
louvers 30, the locking member 78 remains stationary and the second
end cap 38 rotates about the locking member 78. The operator moves
the one of the plurality louvers 30 along the louver axis A1 in a
second direction F2 aided by the biasing member 70 to reengage the
first plurality of teeth 90 of the second body 50 with the second
plurality of teeth 92 of the locking member 78. The biasing member
70 biases the one of the plurality louvers 30 along the louver axis
A1 in the second direction F2 retain the engagement of the first
plurality of teeth 90 of the second body 50 with the second
plurality of teeth 92 of the locking member 78 to prevent rotation
of the one of the plurality louvers 30 about the louver axis A1. It
is preferred that this operation be repeated for all of the louvers
30 in the housing 22, but it is not required and can be tailored or
selected as desired or needed.
[0039] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner,
and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used
is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than
of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings, and the
invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described.
* * * * *