U.S. patent number 3,691,345 [Application Number 05/047,410] was granted by the patent office on 1972-09-12 for radiant heater.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Continental Radiant Glass Heating Corporation. Invention is credited to Continental Radiant Glass Heating Corporation, Robert L. Needham.
United States Patent |
3,691,345 |
Needham , et al. |
September 12, 1972 |
RADIANT HEATER
Abstract
A radiant heater includes means for delivery of heat by
convection as well as radiation. A heater subassembly is formed by
a tempered glass electric radiant heating panel supported in spaced
relation to a mounting panel by flanges extending forwardly from
the top and bottom margins of the mounting panel. The heater
subassembly is suspended within a main frame member in spaced
relation to the walls thereof by a plurality of spaced flange
members extending rearwardly from the top margin of the mounting
panel and engaged with projections stuck out from the main frame
member. A plurality of spaced, articulated, rearwardly extending
flange members are provided at the bottom margin of the mounting
panel to properly position the subassembly relative to the main
frame member. The arrangement allows first convection air flow path
between the heater panel and the mounting panel and a second
convection air flow path between the mounting panel and the main
frame member.
Inventors: |
Needham; Robert L. (Bayside,
NY), Continental Radiant Glass Heating Corporation (New
York, NY) |
Assignee: |
Continental Radiant Glass Heating
Corporation (New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
21948809 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/047,410 |
Filed: |
June 18, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
392/436; 165/55;
338/308; 219/543; 392/439 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C
7/043 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24C
7/04 (20060101); H05b 003/22 (); F24h 009/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;219/342,345,353-357,366-368,377,375,543,343,213
;165/49,52-57,129 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bartis; A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A radiant heater comprising a sub-assembly frame having a
generally rectangular mounting panel with a top marginal portion
and a bottom marginal portion, a first set of flanges extending
frontwardly from the top and bottom marginal portions of said
mounting panel for receiving and supporting a heating panel in
spaced relation to said mounting, panel said flanges being arranged
to allow convection currents to flow across front of said mounting
panel, spacing elements fitted into said frontwardly extending
flanges, an electric heating panel mounted on said spacing elements
in rattle-free relation in said mounting panel, a frame member
cooperating with said first set of flanges for retaining the
heating panel in sub-assembly with respect to said mounting panel,
said mounting panel further having a second set of flanges
extending rearwardly from its top and bottom marginal portions,
said second set of flanges including a plurality of flange members
at said top and bottom margins spaced laterally from each other to
allow for flow of convection currents past the rear of said
mounting panel and between the flange members; main frame member
comprising a panel having forwardly extending top, bottom, and end
wall portions, the panel of said main frame member being provided
with projections stuck out from the forward surface thereof, said
second set of flanges along the top margin including downwardly
directed portions which engage said projections to thereby suspend
the sub-assembly in the main frame member in spaced relation
thereto whereby two convection air passages are, the first between
said heating panel and said mounting panel member, and the second
between the mounting panel member and the main frame member, the
flanges of the second set along said bottom margin further
including articulated downwardly and frontwardly extending portions
for cooperating in the assembly of the heater, and being adapted to
abut against the forward face of the panel of said main frame
member, and an assembly plate engaging the articulated portions and
the bottom wall of the main frame for retaining the sub-assembly
and the main frame in assembled relationship with respect to each
other, said sub-assembly being mounted with respect to the main
frame so that convection currents may pass between the sub-assembly
and the main frame.
2. The radiant heater as defined in claim 1 wherein the top wall
portion of the main frame member is curved to define a convection
channel for heated air passing through the heater.
3. The radiant heater of claim 1 which further includes a
protective grill mounted over the front of the heating panel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to radiant heaters of the kind disclosed in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,770,704 and 2,781,440. These patents disclose
radiant heaters including a heating panel of tempered glass plate
having a metallic grid heating element laminated to the glass
plate. The heating panel is mounted on a sub-frame which is fitted
into a support frame. The metallic grid heating element is
electrically energized and radiates heat through the glass plate
into a living space. Convection currents pass through spaces in the
heater created by the assembly details of the sub-frame and the
support frame. The convection currents serve to cool the rear
portion of the heater and carry heat by convection from the heater
into the living space.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates to improvements in relation to the
construction of double frame radiant heaters to provide a
relatively simple and economic construction and to provide for
efficient movement of convection air currents through the heater
frame thereby to improve the effectiveness of the heater.
Advantageously, the radiant heater is provided with a structure
that allows a first path for a stream of air to flow directly
between a space provided between the heater panel and the heater
support panel and a second path for a stream of air between the
heater support panel and the main frame of convection air currents
for heating. In addition, the radiant heater is constructed with a
heater support panel having flanges advantageously constructed to
allow the flow of air through the spaces provided thereby.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a radiant
heater having an improved double frame construction which promotes
the effectiveness of delivery of heat to a living space,
particularly regarding the delivery of convection air currents
through the heater.
Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent
upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment described
below or will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of
the invention in practice.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment has been chosen for describing and
illustrating the principles of the present invention and is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the radiant heater according
to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a section view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are detailed views illustrating the preferred
arrangement for securing the support frames to each other in the
radiant heater of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, the radiant heater according to the
present invention, is constructed and designed for use in a living
space or if desired in any other place in need of heat. The radiant
heater may be mounted on a wall surface, for example under a window
sill or it may be mounted overhead on a ceiling surface.
The radiant heater 10 comprises a double frame construction
including a heater frame sub-assembly 12 and a main support frame
14 by which the heater may be mounted on a wall surface. A heating
panel 16 is fitted into the heater frame sub-assembly 12 which is
mounted on the main support frame 14. A grill 18 comprising
vertical and horizontal rod members 20 and 22 covers the heating
panel, protects the radiant heater from being contacted.
The heater frame sub-assembly 12 (FIGS. 2 and 3) includes the
heating panel 16 which includes a tempered glass plate 26 backed by
a suitable metallic grid heating element 28 which may be made of
aluminum or other material for conducting electricity and for this
purpose a suitable electrical connection 30 is attached to the
metallic grid through a suitable conduit 31. The heat energy is
supplied by resistance heating of the metallic grid 28 which
radiates heat energy through the tempered glass plate and also
heats the entire heater and ambient air so that convection currents
carry heat from the heater into the living space.
The heater frame sub-assembly 12 also includes a mounting panel 32
comprising a plate of suitable sheet metal having forwardly
directed flanges 34 and 36 at its upper and lower edges. These
forward flanges receive resilient and heat resistant spacing
members preferably silicone rubber grommets 38 in which the heating
panel 16 is mounted. The silicone rubber spacing members allow for
expansion of the glass plate from room temperature to its operative
heating temperature which may be around 300.degree. Farenheit. By
using silicone rubber spacing members it is possible to have a
compact and tight assembly at room temperature thus to avoid
rattling as well as at a high operating temperature.
A forward frame member 40 holds the heating panel 16 in position
with respect to the supporting panel 32. The forward frame member
includes an inwardly directed flange 42 portion which bears against
the glass plate 26 to hold it in place. Suitable fastening means
such as screws 44 illustrated in FIG. 4 secure the forward frame
member 40 to the support panel 32 so to provide a compact heating
heater frame sub-assembly. It will be observed that the heater
frame sub-assembly 12 includes the front grill 18 which protects
the heating element from inadvertent contact. Preferably the
protective grill is spot welded or otherwise connected to the
sub-assembly at spaced points 46 to allow for expansion of the
grill and to reduce the required points of contact between the
grill and the heater frame sub-assembly. Preferably the grill
comprises a lattice-work vertical and horizontal rod members 20 and
22 suitably bent to provide for a reasonable spacing of the grill
from the surface of the heater panel.
Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it will be observed that the
support panel 32 further includes rearwardly directed flange
members 48 and 50 at its upper and lower edges respectively. As
best shown in FIG. 4, the forward 34 and rear 48 flanges are spaced
from each other to allow for passage of air between the flanges so
that convection currents may cool the rear portions of the radiant
heater as more fully described below. It will be observed that the
lower rear flange members 50 of the mounting panel include
articulated downwardly and frontwardly extending panel portions 51
and 53. One lower flange member 50 supports a grommet 52 through
which the electrical connection passes. The articulated panels 51
and 53 also function in assembling the heater as more fully
described below.
The main support frame 14 comprises a generally dish-shaped sheet
metal plate 54 having a rear panel member 56 and upstanding bottom
58 and top wall 60 portions as well as end wall portions 61
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. The main support frame is suitably
dimensioned to receive the heater frame sub-assembly. The upper
portion 60 of the main frame as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is
outwardly curved to provide a smooth path for the convection
current passing through the spaces between the various portions of
the heater. The bottom wall 58 of the main support frame has an
outwardly extending rib member 62 which cooperates with an assembly
plate 64 to secure both frame members together. The assembly plate
64 includes main panels 65 and 67 disposed perpendicular to each
other. The main panel 65 includes a groove 69 which engages the rib
62 for securing the heater frames together. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5
and 6, the main frame 54 includes depressed fingers 66 in the rear
panel which receive the rearward extending flanges 48 of the heater
frame sub-assembly.
To assemble the radiant heater according to the present invention,
the rear flanges 48 of the heater frame sub-assembly are fitted
onto the rear panel fingers 66 of the main frame. The assembly
plate 64 engages the rib 62 and snaps into place against reversed
flanges 50 to retain the lower portion of the heater frame with
respect to the main frame. Suitable fastening means such as machine
screws 68 secure the assembly plate 64 to retainer plates 70. The
retainer plates 70 preferably are lateral extensions of the end
walls 61 as shown in FIG. 1.
When assembled it will be observed that a clear passage for
convection currents is maintained between the heater element
sub-assembly and the main frame. That is to say, convection air is
free to pass under the heater frame as indicated by arrows and to
divert into a first stream through the space defined by the heater
panel 16 and its support panel 32 and a second convection current
between the sub-assembly support panel 32 and the main frame 56.
This natural draft convection current flows from the top of the
radiant heater through the curved channel 60 defined by the top
wall of the heater. As best shown at FIG. 4, passage of the
convection current is provided because of the spacing of the
forwardly and rearwardly directed flanges 34 and 48 of the
sub-assembly panel. It is to be observed that the upper and lower
flanges of this panel are spaced in similar relation to each other
to provide such passage of air.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing description of the
present invention that applicant has provided an improved radiant
heater which provides economic construction with more effective use
of convection currents for heating.
* * * * *