U.S. patent number 3,590,806 [Application Number 04/852,015] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-06 for portable l. p. gas space heater.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bernzomatic Corporation. Invention is credited to Joseph K. Locke.
United States Patent |
3,590,806 |
Locke |
July 6, 1971 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
PORTABLE L. P. GAS SPACE HEATER
Abstract
An attractive lightweight portable L. P. gas space heater
comprises a boxlike rectangular housing having space for two
disposable L. P. gas cartridges. A circular catalytic heating
element is mounted on the front of the heater. The catalytic unit
is a porous pad which allows the gas to seep through and upon
contact with the air burns the same on its outside surface. Since
no premixing with air is required the back space behind the
catalytic pad in the heating element is directly connected to one
of the two L. P. cartridges in the housing or the carrying case. To
permit compact construction, a flexible gas line is used so that
the L. P. cylinder can be connected thereto external of the
housing. The gas line attaches to the cylinder with a finger
adjustable regulator valve which valve, when mounted on the
cartridge, is designed to have its control knob extend through the
housing on the top portion so that it is readably accessible. The
rear wall of the carrying case is hinged to open so that the gas
cartridges, one of which is a spare, are accessible and can be
readily exchanged.
Inventors: |
Locke; Joseph K. (De Kalb,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Bernzomatic Corporation
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
25312295 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/852,015 |
Filed: |
August 21, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/92B; D23/335;
431/344; 431/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C
3/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24C
3/14 (20060101); F24C 3/00 (20060101); F24c
003/04 (); F24c 003/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;126/92,92B
;431/328,329,344 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Myhre; Charles J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A portable L.P. gas radiant heater comprising:
a. a rectilinear housing having a carrying handle and a hole
adapted to receive the control knob of a valve and adapted to
detachably retain inside thereof two upright L. P. gas cartridges
side-by-side;
b. a pressure-regulator and control valve means within said housing
and adapted to be directly mounted to the neck of an L.P. gas
cartridge and to draw gas therefrom, said control valve having a
finger-adjustable control knob adapted to extend through the hole
in said housing when mounted on an L.P. gas cartridge therein;
c. a generally planer radiant heating element having a guard
thereover to prevent body contact therewith and mounted externally
on said housing with the plane thereof being parallel to the plane
defined by the longitudinal axis of said two L.P. gas cartridges,
said heating element comprising a porous catalytic radiant heating
pad and being adapted to pass gas therethrough without premixing
with air; and
d. a flexible gasline connecting said control valve to said heating
element, said gas line passing through and being mounted on said
housing beneath said heating element and having a length and
flexibility sufficient to permit removal of said control valve from
said housing and the mounting of the same on one of said two L. P.
gas cartridges:
e. the rear wall of said housing opposite from the wall mounting
said heating element being detachably mounted to permit access to
the interior of said housing.
2. The heater of claim 1 wherein said rear wall is hinged to said
housing along one edge thereof.
3. The heater of claim 1 wherein said heating element is circular
and comprises a platinum impregnated aluminum silicate, and wherein
said guard makes a snap fit therewith.
4. The heater of claim 1 wherein said pressure-regulator control
valve has associated therewith a manually operated control for
positioning said valve at the full open position to permit flooding
of said heating element with gas.
5. The heater of claim 1 wherein the hole in said housing has
associated therewith means to prevent said control valve means from
rotating.
Description
DESCRIPTION
There are many instances where a small portable radiant heater is
useful such as for camping, hunting as in duck blinds, construction
work, spectator sports such as football, in ice fishing shacks and
in many such other applications. It is of course desirable that
such a heater be simple to operate, safe adjustable and have a
relatively long operating time.
The present invention meets these objectives. The propane heater of
this invention employs a planer catalytic radiant heating pad that
effects relatively slow catalytic combustion of the propane gas on
the surface of the pad. It can be considered in a sense flameless
and is quite easy to operate. The flow of gas need only be started
through the pad and the lower portion of it heated slightly, as
with a match, to start the catalytic reaction.
The overall design of the present heater is quire simple and
attractive. The housing is designed to contain two standard
disposable L. P. gas cartridges, one of which is connected to the
backside of the catalytic heating element through a control
valve-regulator and a flexible connecting line. The control knob of
the regulator extends through the housing and is readily accessible
to finger tip control.
The regulator valve is a subject matter of a copending application
entitled "Pressure Regulator Valve for L. P. Cartridges" in the
name of Irving H. Stenner, filed simultaneously herewith and
assigned to a common assignee.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the heater from the front;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the heater;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heater from the backside
showing the access door partly open, and
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the means to attach the L. P.
gasline to the catalytic unit.
DESCRIPTION
The heater comprises a carrying case 10 or housing that has an
adjustable handle 11 attached to the sides of the housing.
Tightening knobs 12 permit the handle to be placed in the position
shown in FIG. 1 for carrying, or in the position shown in FIG. 3 to
stabilize the heater when it is resting on a surface.
A circular heating element, generally indicated at 15, is affixed
to the front of the carrying case by means of bracket 16. The
heating element comprises an enclosed pan 17 that makes a gastight
seal about and retains catalytic pad 19. The catalytic element or
pad 19 is porous and comprises an aluminum silicate impregnated
with a platinum catalyst, usually by spraying the catalytic
solution thereon. A preferred catalytic pad is sold by Bruest Inc.,
Independence, Kansas. A guard 20 clips over the heating element 15
to prevent body contact therewith or the accidental contacting of
flammable material.
The underside of the heating element 15, i.e., pan 17 is connected
to the propane gas supply by a conduit 25 which is attached to pan
17 by nut 26 and extends through to the inside of housing 10. A
collar 24 holds an orifice 27 at the outlet, which orifice helps to
control the gas flow. Conduit 25 is attached to a flexible hose 28
which ends in a regulator valve 29 having a control knob 30. The
length of flexible line 28 is sufficient to permit regulator 29 to
be attached to the neck of a disposable L. P. gas cartridge by
screwing the two together outside of the carrying case. The
cartridge with the regulator attached is held within the cabinet by
clip 31 with the control knob 30 of the regulator extending through
the housing as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A reserve cartridge 33,
shown in outline, is retained within the housing by clip 32.
The backwall 14 of the housing is hinged so that it can be opened
to permit access to the L. P. gas cartridges and the regulator
valve 29. This valve has an activation rod or plunger so that when
it is connected to the cartridge it will open the valve therein and
draw gas.
To operate the device, the gas cartridge is connected to regulator
valve 29, the knob of the valve is inserted through hole 34 in the
housing and the cartridge is clipped in place within retaining clip
31. A metal finger 18 engages the body of valve 29 to prevent
rotation thereof. Knob 30 is then rotated to the on position. The
type of valve shown has a control button 30a in the knob which when
depressed overrides the regulator valve and holds it in the full
open position so that it is possible to flood pan 17 with propane
gas. After this flooding, a match or the like is held to the lower
portion of the catalytic pad to initiate the catalytic combustion
which then spreads upwardly and over the whole pad. The rate of gas
consumption and heating is then adjusted to the desired level by
rotation of control valve 30.
With the type of catalytic heating pad used, a temperature of about
235.degree. F. is necessary in order to initiate the catalytic
combustion. This type of pad tends to absorb moisture in storage
and it is for this reason that the override control button 30a was
found to be necessary. This feature permits ready ignition of the
heater even under quite adverse conditions.
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