U.S. patent application number 13/546736 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-31 for passive pump filter.
The applicant listed for this patent is JOSEPH B. LEE. Invention is credited to JOSEPH B. LEE.
Application Number | 20150377511 13/546736 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54930090 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150377511 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; JOSEPH B. |
December 31, 2015 |
PASSIVE PUMP FILTER
Abstract
A portable forced air heating unit provided with a filter cover.
The filter cover reduces the dust and particulates that may enter
the air intake filter of an air compressor or unit. The filter
cover deflects particulates carried by the forced air. The filter
cover may extend from the air compressor.
Inventors: |
LEE; JOSEPH B.; (Bowling
Green, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LEE; JOSEPH B. |
Bowling Green |
KY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54930090 |
Appl. No.: |
13/546736 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
432/92 ;
126/110R; 126/99D; 432/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24H 9/1881 20130101;
F24H 3/0488 20130101; F24H 9/2085 20130101; Y02B 30/00 20130101;
Y02B 30/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24H 3/04 20060101
F24H003/04; F24H 9/20 20060101 F24H009/20; F24H 9/00 20060101
F24H009/00 |
Claims
1. A portable forced air heating unit comprising: an outer housing
having an inlet end and an outlet end; an air compressor, a motor,
and a fan positioned within said outer housing, wherein said air
compressor includes a filter opening defined by an upstream end
surface, said filter opening having an air intake filter therein;
wherein said fan forces air in a longitudinal first direction from
said inlet end to said outlet end; a filter cover having an end
plate with a longitudinal flange and skirt, wherein said end plate
is semicircular in shape with an outer periphery having an curved
edge connected by a straight edge, and said flange projects from
said curved edge and said skirt projects from said straight edge,
said flange and skirt circumscribing an outer periphery of said
filter opening, wherein said skirt extends between said air
compressor end surface and said end plate thereby said end plate is
longitudinally spaced upstream from said air compressor end surface
and radially disposed beyond said filter opening outer periphery
creating a longitudinal gap radially across said air intake filter;
wherein said longitudinal flange of said filter cover extends
longitudinally from said end plate in said longitudinal first
direction and is radially spaced from an outer wall of said air
compressor by said skirt towards said outer housing creating a
radial gap, and a free end of said longitudinal flange, said skirt,
and a cylindrical outer wall of said air compressor defines an
inlet opening, said inlet opening in fluid communication with said
air intake filter through said radial gap and said longitudinal
gap, wherein said inlet opening faces substantially towards said
outlet end of said outer housing thereby allowing air to enter said
inlet opening in a longitudinal second direction, wherein said
longitudinal second direction is opposite to said longitudinal
first direction.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The portable forced air heating unit of claim 1 wherein said
inlet opening is circumferential in shape.
5. The portable forced air heating unit of claim 1 wherein inlet
opening is longitudinally positioned downstream of said filter
opening of said air compressor.
6. The portable forced air heating unit of claim 1 further
including one or more tabs spacing said end plate from said end
surface of said air compressor.
7. A portable heater comprising: an outer housing having an inlet
end and an outlet end; an air compressor, a motor, and a fan
positioned within said outer housing, wherein said air compressor
includes a cylindrical outer wall longitudinally extending from an
upstream end surface, wherein said end surface includes a filter
opening defined by an outer periphery, said filter opening is in
fluid communication with an air intake filter; wherein said fan
forces air in a longitudinal first direction from said inlet end to
said outlet end; a filter cover having an end plate with a
longitudinally extending flange and skirt, wherein said endplate is
spaced upstream from said filter opening and wherein said flange
and said skirt circumferential surrounds said outer periphery of
said filter opening to define a longitudinal gap between said end
surface of said compressor and said end plate of said filter cover,
wherein said longitudinal gap further extends radially across said
air intake filter between said flange and said skirt; wherein said
flange of said filter cover extends longitudinally from said end
plate in said longitudinal first direction and is radially spaced
from said outer wall of said air compressor towards said outer
housing creating a radial gap in fluid communication with said
longitudinal gap; said flange, said skirt, and said cylindrical
outer wall of said air compressor defining an inlet opening,
wherein said inlet opening is circumferentially discontinuous about
said cylindrical outer wall of said air compressor, said inlet
opening is in fluid communication with said air intake filter
through said radial gap and said longitudinal gap; and wherein said
filter cover is positioned upstream from said filter opening to
deflect particulates from longitudinal entering said air intake
filter in said longitudinal first direction.
8. The portable heater of claim 7 wherein said filter cover is
longitudinally aligned with said filter opening and larger than
said outer periphery of said filter opening.
9. The portable heater of claim 7 wherein said endplate is
substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal first
direction.
10. The portable heater of claim 9 wherein said flange extends from
said endplate upstream from said filter opening to a position
downstream from said filter opening.
11. The portable heater of claim 7 wherein said filter cover
extends from a first longitudinal position upstream from said
filter opening to a second longitudinal position downstream from
said filter opening.
12. The portable heater of claim 7 wherein said filter cover
projects from said air compressor.
13. The portable heater of claim 7 wherein said filter cover
defines a first directional flow of air into said air intake filter
in a longitudinal second direction, wherein said longitudinal
second direction is opposite to said longitudinal first
direction.
14. The portable heater of claim 13 wherein said filter cover
defines a second directional flow of air into said air intake
filter, wherein said second directional flow of air flows in a
radial direction that is substantially perpendicular to said
longitudinal second direction.
15. A portable forced air heating unit comprising: an outer housing
having an inlet end and an outlet end; an air compressor, a motor,
a fan, and a filter cover positioned within said outer housing,
wherein said air compressor includes a cylindrical outer wall
longitudinally extending from an upstream end surface, wherein said
air compressor includes an upstream facing filter opening in said
upstream end surface, said filter opening includes an air intake
filter therein; wherein said fan forces air in a longitudinal first
direction from said inlet end to said outlet end; a filter cover
defines an inlet opening longitudinally positioned downstream of a
filter opening of said air compressor, wherein said inlet opening
is circumferentially discontinuous about said cylindrical outer
wall of said air compressor, said inlet opening receives a first
directional flow of air into said air intake filter, wherein said
first directional flow of air is in a longitudinal second direction
substantially opposite to said longitudinal first direction of
forced air; and wherein said filter cover defines a second
directional flow of air, wherein said second directional flow of
air flows in a radial direction that is substantially perpendicular
to said longitudinal second direction.
16. (canceled)
17. The portable forced air heating unit of claim 15 wherein said
filter cover includes an endplate and a longitudinally extending
flange.
18. The portable forced air heating unit of claim 15 wherein said
filter cover and said air compressor combine to define at least
said first directional flow of air into said air intake filter.
19. (canceled)
20. The portable forced air heating unit of claim 15 wherein said
inlet opening faces downstream in said longitudinal first
direction.
21. A portable forced air heating unit comprising: a housing having
an inlet end and an outlet end; an air compressor, a motor, a fan,
and a filter cover positioned within said housing, wherein said air
compressor includes an upstream facing filter opening in said
upstream end surface, said filter opening includes an air intake
filter therein; wherein said fan forces air in a longitudinal first
direction from said inlet end to said outlet end; a filter cover
defining a longitudinal air channel, wherein said longitudinal air
channel allows a first directional flow of air to be in upstream
fluid communication with said air intake filter of said air
compressor, wherein said first directional flow of air travels in a
longitudinal second direction substantially opposite to said
longitudinal first direction of forced air; and wherein said filter
cover deflects air particulates within forced air in said
longitudinal first direction from entering said longitudinal air
channel in said substantially opposite said longitudinal second
direction.
22. The portable forced air heating unit of claim 21 further
comprising a radial air channel in fluid communication between said
air intake filter and said longitudinal air channel.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to heaters in particular to a
portable forced air heating unit with a filter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Portable heating units may be used in a variety of
environments as desired by the user. However, in dusty
environments, such as but not limited to construction (ex: drywall)
and agricultural applications, the level of ambient particulates
can be substantial, quickly clogging an exposed pump air intake
filter. Frequent cleaning or replacement of this air intake filter
is common in these environments. Undesirable buildup of particles
upon the air intake filter may lead to malfunction of the air
compressor, motor pump assembly, or heater. As such, there is a
need to effectively separate or reduce dust and particulates from
the portable heating unit's forced air from entering the pump air
intake filter or heater filter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] In the drawings, like reference characters generally
referred to the same parts throughout the different views. Also,
the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead
generally being placed upon illustrating the principals of the
invention.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable forced air
heating unit according to one embodiment with portions of the
housing broken away illustrating the filter cover;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the filter cover exploded
from the air compressor and motor of FIG. 1 with portions of the
heating unit broken away;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a sectional, perspective view of the filter cover
engaged with the air compressor of the heating unit of FIG. 2 taken
along line 3-3 with portions of the heating unit broken away;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the filter cover and air
compressor of FIG. 3 taken along 4-4 with the air intake filter
removed; and
[0008] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the heating unit of
FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 with portions of the heating unit
broken away and the filter cover tab removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and
of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also,
it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used
herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded
as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and
variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed
thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.
Unless limited otherwise, the terms "connected," "coupled," "in
communication with" and "mounted," and variations thereof herein
are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections,
couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms "connected" and
"coupled" and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or
mechanical connections or couplings.
[0010] Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the
specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are
intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention and that other
alternative mechanical configurations are possible.
[0011] The portable forced air heating unit 10 depicted in the
drawings provides for a filter cover or baffle 20 that effectively
deflects particulates from entering an air intake filter 45 of the
heating unit 10. Filter cover 20 may be made from a variety of
material not limited to plastic, metal, or combinations thereof.
The particles may be a variety of undesirable dust, materials, or
liquid that may be forced through the heater during operational use
in different environments such as, but not limited to, construction
and agricultural environments.
[0012] Kerosene forced air heaters conventionally include a
housing, a burner head assembly mounted within the housing, and an
air blower system within the housing behind the burner head
assembly. Fuel (kerosene, fuel oil, or diesel fuel, etc.) is
conveyed to the burner head assembly and combustion chamber
assembly. The blower supplies combustion air to the burner head
assembly and forces hot combustion gases from the burner head
assembly while cooling the exterior of the burner head assembly and
combustion chamber assembly. Although a kerosene forced air heater
is shown in detail it is understood that the embodiments of the
invention may be used in any type of portable forced air heater
such as, but not limited to, a gas or multi-fuel forced air
heater.
[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, there is one embodiment of a portable
forced air heating unit 10 within which a filter cover 20 is
utilized. Unit 10 includes a fuel tank assembly 70, an elongated
housing 50 superposed upon the fuel tank assembly 70, and a
controls compartment 60 disposed between so as to join the housing
50 to fuel tank assembly 70. Housing 50 includes a combustion
chamber assembly (not shown), described herein, within which a
mixture of fuel and air is burned, and the fuel tank assembly 70
contains a reservoir or tank 74 of fuel for burning within the
combustion chamber assembly. Routed through controls compartment 60
between fuel tank assembly 70 and housing 50 is a fuel line (not
shown) and air line 82 and appropriate controls whose structure and
function are well-known in the art are associated with the housing
50 and fuel tank assembly 70 for controlling the heater operation.
It should also be understood that the controls compartment 60 may
be located or mounted in any number of positions and be a variety
of dimensions, shapes, quantities, and construction. Further,
additional components may be included in the unit such as the type
shown in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/186,110 filed Aug. 5, 2008
and entitled LOW PRESSURE FORCED AIR HEATER, which is herein
incorporated by reference.
[0014] Housing 50 is generally cylindrical and supports a
combustion chamber assembly. Housing 50 and/or combustion chamber
assembly may be a variety of different shapes, sizes,
configurations, constructions, and still be within the scope of the
embodiments. Combustion chamber assembly includes a cylindrical
outer shell or heat shield and a cylindrical inner shell or
combustion chamber therewithin. Combustion chamber is arranged
substantially centrally of heat shield so that an annular spacing
exists between combustion chamber and heat shield. One end or inlet
end of the combustion chamber is covered by a burner head assembly
(not shown), and the opposing end or outlet end of combustion
chamber 44 may be covered by an afterburner. Combustion chamber
assembly is supported within housing 50 by, for example, brackets
joined between housing 50 and heat shield.
[0015] During operation of heating unit 10, air is drawn from the
surrounding environment through inlet end 12 of housing 50, heated,
and then forced in the downstream or longitudinal first direction
D1 along the longitudinal axis A and out of outlet end 14 to heat
the surrounding environment. Housing 50 may include one or more
louvers 52 at inlet end 12. Burner head assembly includes an air
line 82 in fluid communication with the motor and pump assembly 90.
Motor 91 drives a fan 92 to draw air from the back of the unit or
inlet end 12 in order to circulate or push air into and around a
combustion chamber assembly. Motor 91 may also drive the pump or
air compressor 40. Air may be circulated through a rear plate when
entering combustion chamber assembly. A mixture of fuel and air is
routed into the combustion chamber through burner head assembly
where it is burned in a combustion process. The fuel may be
delivered to the combustion chamber through fuel line in the form
of oil droplets formed by an atomizing process. Regardless of the
atomizing process, however, incomplete combustion may occur within
the combustion chamber due to non-uniformity in size of the fuel
droplets or an uneven mixing of the fuel droplets with air.
Combustion chamber outlet end provides the discharge end for
combustion chamber, and the afterburner is positioned adjacent the
outlet end of the chamber for burning fuel particles which are not
burned within the combustion chamber to reduce the likelihood that
unburned fuel particles will be discharged from heater 10 and enter
the surrounding environment. The air is heated and provides a
stream of clean, hot air out of the exit or outlet end 14 of unit
10. Air circulated between the combustion chamber assembly and
housing 50 cools the burner head assembly, combustion chamber
assembly, and housing 50.
[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, air compressor 40 may be of a variety
of compressor types and sizes so long as it is capable of
compressing a quantity of air appropriate for the particular force
air heating unit 10 to a pressure that is also appropriate for the
particular unit in which it is installed. In some embodiments, air
compressor 40 is of the carbon vane type. Air compressor 40
includes a filter opening 42 defined by an outer periphery edge or
rim 43 of the air compressor end surface 44 allowing air to enter
the air intake filter 45. One embodiment of the filter opening 42
is shown as positioned on the axial end surface 44 of the air
compressor 40 facing in the upstream or longitudinal second
direction D2, thereby the longitudinal forced air in the opposing
longitudinal first direction D1 could directly enter the filter 45
without the use of the filter cover 20. As such, filter cover 20 in
operation (FIG. 5) deflects this longitudinal forced air, and its
carried particulates 1, away from the filter 45 or filter opening
42. The filter cover 20 redirects the longitudinal air flow before
entering the filter 45 through a serpentine or multi-directional
flow or another direction, as described in more detail below, to
deflect away from the filter opening 42 or filter 45. This passive
filtration of dust particles or particulates 1 therefore occurs
without the use of additional filtering media. It is understood
that a variety of filtering media, such as but not limited to open
cell foam, could also be used in combination with the filter cover
20 if desired. This advantageously reduces the buildup of particles
in the filter 45 as well as reducing such particles from entering
the carbon vane pump.
[0017] Although filter cover 20 is shown in detail in the drawings,
it merely represents one embodiment, and it is to be understood
that there are a variety of shapes, dimensions, quantities,
positions within the unit, compositions, and constructions which
may be used and still be within the scope of these embodiments to
deflect airborne particles from entering the air intake filter 45.
It should be understood, that a variety of filter cover embodiments
may be used with a variety of air compressor, filter, and filter
opening embodiments.
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, filter cover 20 is positioned within
the forced air longitudinal flow along longitudinal axis A of the
housing 50 between the inlet end 12 and the outlet end 14. In one
embodiment, filter cover 20 is releasably secured or fixed to air
compressor 40. In other embodiments the filter cover 20 may be
integral with the air compressor 40, mounted to other structure of
the heating unit 10, or combination thereof. Filter cover 20 is
longitudinally aligned with the air intake filter 45 and may be
larger than the filter opening 42 thereby at least partially
extending outside the outer peripheral extent of the filter opening
42 or rim 43. Filter cover 20 may include an end plate 22 and a
longitudinally extending flange 24. End plate 22 is longitudinally
spaced upstream from the end surface 44 of the air compressor 40
thereby creating a longitudinal gap 31 (FIGS. 3 and 5). End plate
22 is shown as being substantially perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis A of the unit 10. However it should be understood
that the end plate 22 and/or the flange 24 may be of a variety of
sizes, shapes, constructions, orientations, and positions with the
unit 10. In some embodiments, a projecting skirt 23 from end plate
22 may abut the end surface 44 and circumferentially connect with
the flange 24 to define the longitudinal spacing distance creating
the longitudinal gap 31. An additional tab 21 may be used between
the skirt 23 and flange 24 to abut the end surface 44 to support
the end plate's longitudinal spacing from the air compressor 40.
The flange 24 is radially and outwardly spaced along the
perpendicular axis P from the outer surface 46 of the air
compressor 40 thereby creating a radial gap 32 (FIGS. 3-5). The
filter cover 20, or more specifically the flange 24, may extend
from a first longitudinal position upstream from the filter opening
42 to a second longitudinal position downstream from the filter
opening 42. The filet cover 20 may include an inlet opening 26 from
which air enters the filter cover 20 and continues to air intake
filter 45. Inlet opening 26 may be integral or defined solely by
the filter cover 20, but is shown in FIGS. 3-5 as being defined by
a combination of the filter cover flange 24 and the outer surface
46 of the air compressor 40. Inlet opening 42 may also be described
as being downstream of the filter opening 42 or air compressor end
surface 44. Inlet opening 26 faces downstream towards the outlet
end 14 and may circumferentially surround at least a portion of the
air compressor 40. The orientation of the inlet opening 26 is in a
substantially perpendicular plane, along axis P, relative to the
longitudinal axis A of the unit 10 (FIG. 4). Although shown as
discontinuous or circumferentially surrounding only a portion of
the outer diameter of the air compressor 40 (FIG. 4), the inlet
opening 26 may extend 360 degrees about the compressor. As such,
the inlet opening 26 may be a variety of shapes, positions,
orientations relative to the filter cover, sizes, constructions,
and quantities and still be within the scope of the
embodiments.
[0019] In operation, as best illustrated in FIGS. 5, the filter
cover 20 creates a multi-directional or another directional flow of
intake air in fluid communication with the air intake filter 45
through inlet opening 26 to deflect airborne particles 1. During
operation of the heating unit 10, the longitudinal forced air with
particulates 1 enters from inlet end 12 of the heating unit 10 and
travels in longitudinal first direction D1 to outlet end 14 of the
heating unit 10. The forced or carried particulates 1 contact or
deflect around the outer surface 22a of the end plate 22 and
generally move outwardly beyond the flange 24. Particulates 1 then
may travel along or outside the outer surface 24a of the
longitudinal flange 24 until the particulates 1 continue downstream
past the inlet opening 26. In this manner, particulates 1 are
prevented from entering the inlet opening 26 of the filter cover
20. Therefore, particles 1 pulled into the inlet end 12 and carried
by the longitudinal forced air along the longitudinal axis A in the
longitudinal first direction D1 have a tendency to continue
downstream to the outlet end 14 instead of flowing against the
direction of forced air around the free end 24b of the flange 24
and back into the inlet opening 26 or radial gap 32.
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the inlet opening 26 of the filter
cover 20 faces downstream, intake air flow travels at least in an
upstream or first directional flow of air F1 upon entering the
inlet opening 26, opposite to the forced longitudinal air flow in
the longitudinal first direction D1. Subsequently, the intake air
flow continues to travel through the radial gap 32 before
redirecting in a radially inward direction or second directional
flow of air F2, transverse to the longitudinal axis A, into the
axial gap 31. The air intake flow continues from the axial gap 31
downstream into the filter opening 42 containing the air intake
filter 45.
[0021] Although the air intake flow may travel in one or more
directions dissimilar to the longitudinal first direction D1, it
merely represents one embodiment, and it is to be understood that
there are a variety of constructions, quantities, shapes, sizes,
and orientations of the filter cover 20, alone or in combination
with the air compressor 40, that may be used and still be within
the scope of the embodiments to deflect or redirect air flow into
the filter.
[0022] It is understood that while certain embodiments of the
invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited
thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the
following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
* * * * *