Portable heating system and method for pest control

• US 10,051,853 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2016
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
• Original Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
• Inventors: O'Brien, Timothy S., Camenga, Eric P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendoza-Wilkenfe, Erik
• Application Number:
  US15/134,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20160227754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2094 killing insects by using temperature, e.g. flames, steam or freezing A01M1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/24 Arrangements connected with buildings, doors, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/72 Pest control by keeping dry E04B1/70; impregnation of wood or like materials B27K
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/002 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/0057 Guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/01 Heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/025 by controlling speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2103 near a heat exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 3/00 Self-contained rotary compression machines, i.e. with compressor, condenser and evaporator rotating as a single unit
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/02 of the compression type
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/022 Compressor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/024 with an air driving element
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0472 the conduits being helically or spirally coiled

Abstract

A system for killing pests in an affected area of a structure comprises a heat exchanger unit placed within an affected area, and a thermostatic control. The heat exchanger unit is configured to receive a flow of water from a faucet, and generate heated air by transferring heat from the flow of water received from the faucet to air flowing through the heat exchanger unit. The thermostatic control is configured to monitor a temperature of the flow of water as it is received by the heat exchanger unit, monitor a temperature of the air as it is received at an inlet of the heat exchanger unit, and automatically cease the flow of water to the heat exchanger unit when the temperature of the air received by the heat exchanger unit is greater than the temperature of the flow of water.

Claims

1. A system for killing pests in an affected area of a structure, comprising:

a heat exchanger unit placed within the affected area, the heat exchanger unit configured to;

receive a flow of water from a faucet, wherein the faucet comprises one of a shower faucet or a sink faucet; and

generate heated air by transferring heat from the flow of water received from the faucet to air flowing through the heat exchanger unit; and

a thermostatic control configured to;

monitor a temperature of the flow of water as the flow of water is received by the heat exchanger unit;

monitor a temperature of the air as the air is received at an inlet of the heat exchanger unit; and

automatically cease the flow of water to the heat exchanger unit when the temperature of the air received by the heat exchanger unit is greater than the temperature of the flow of water.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a thermometer configured to measure the temperature of the air received by the heat exchanger.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an inlet hose having a first end coupled to the faucet and a second end coupled to an inlet port of the heat exchanger unit such that the heat exchanger unit may receive the flow of water from the faucet via the inlet port; and

an outlet hose having a first end coupled to an outlet port of the heat exchanger unit and a second end positioned proximate to a drain such that the flow of water may leave the heat exchanger unit via the outlet port and be discharged into the drain.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises an apartment building and the affected area comprises an apartment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a hotel and the affected area comprises a hotel room.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an air mover positioned proximate to a portable electric heater that further heats the heated air emitted by the heat exchanger, the air mover being configured to direct heated air emitted by the portable electric heater along the floor of the affected area in order to prevent temperature stratification.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein, after the affected area is treated for pests, the heat exchanger unit is further configured to generate cool air by transferring heat from the air flowing through the heat exchanger unit to the flow of water received from the faucet.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the flow of water is received by the heat exchanger unit at a temperature of approximately 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit that is tolerated by an occupant of the structure; and

a portable electric heater is operable to further heat the heated air emitted by the heat exchanger to a target temperature greater than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the heat exchanger unit comprises a valve that is automatically closed to prevent the flow of water to the heat exchanger unit when the temperature of the air is greater than the temperature of the flow of water.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a coil of hose configured to carry water from the heat exchanger unit, the coil of hose configured to be placed relative to a particular portion of the affected area within the structure, the coil of hose configured to transfer heat to the particular portion of the affected area.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fan placed proximate to the inlet of the heat exchanger unit, the fan operable to direct air into the inlet of the heat exchanger unit, and wherein the thermostatic control is configured to automatically cycle off the fan when the temperature of the air received by the heat exchanger unit is greater than a predetermined threshold.

12. A system for killing pests in an affected area of a structure, comprising:

a heat exchanger unit placed within the affected area, the heat exchanger unit configured to;

receive a flow of water from a faucet; and

generate heated air by transferring heat from the flow of water received from the faucet to air flowing through the heat exchanger unit; and

a thermostatic control configured to;

monitor a temperature of the flow of water as the flow of water is received by the heat exchanger unit;

monitor a temperature of the air as the air is received at an inlet of the heat exchanger unit; and

automatically cease the flow of water to the heat exchanger unit when the temperature of the air received by the heat exchanger unit is greater than the temperature of the flow of water;

an inlet hose having a first end coupled to the faucet and a second end coupled to an inlet port of the heat exchanger unit such that the heat exchanger unit may receive the flow of water from the faucet via the inlet port; and

an outlet hose having a first end coupled to an outlet port of the heat exchanger unit and a second end positioned proximate to a drain such that the flow of water may leave the heat exchanger unit via the outlet port and be discharged into the drain.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a thermometer configured to measure the temperature of the air received by the heat exchanger.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the structure comprises an apartment building and the affected area comprises an apartment.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the structure comprises a hotel and the affected area comprises a hotel room.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising an air mover positioned proximate to a portable electric heater that further heats the heated air emitted by the heat exchanger, the air mover being configured to direct heated air emitted by the portable electric heater along the floor of the affected area in order to prevent temperature stratification.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein, after the affected area is treated for pests, the heat exchanger unit is further configured to generate cool air by transferring heat from the air flowing through the heat exchanger unit to the flow of water received from the faucet.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the flow of water is received by the heat exchanger unit at a temperature of approximately 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit that is tolerated by an occupant of the structure; and

a portable electric heater is operable to further heat the heated air emitted by the heat exchanger to a target temperature greater than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the heat exchanger unit comprises a valve that is automatically closed to prevent the flow of water to the heat exchanger unit when the temperature of the air is greater than the temperature of the flow of water.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising a coil of hose configured to carry water from the heat exchanger unit, the coil of hose configured to be placed relative to a particular portion of the affected area within the structure, the coil of hose configured to transfer heat to the particular portion of the affected area.

21. The system of claim 12, further comprising a fan placed proximate to the inlet of the heat exchanger unit, the fan operable to direct air into the inlet of the heat exchanger unit, and wherein the thermostatic control is configured to automatically cycle off the fan when the temperature of the air received by the heat exchanger unit is greater than a predetermined threshold.

22. A system for killing pests in an affected area of a structure, comprising:

a heat exchanger unit placed within the affected area, the heat exchanger unit configured to;

receive a flow of water from a faucet; and

generate heated air by transferring heat from the flow of water received from the faucet to air flowing through the heat exchanger unit; and

a thermostatic control configured to;

monitor a temperature of the flow of water as the flow of water is received by the heat exchanger unit;

monitor a temperature of the air as the air is received at an inlet of the heat exchanger unit; and

automatically cease the flow of water to the heat exchanger unit when the temperature of the air received by the heat exchanger unit is greater than the temperature of the flow of water; and

a thermometer configured to measure the temperature of the air received by the heat exchanger;

wherein the heat exchanger unit comprises a valve that is automatically closed to prevent the flow of water to the heat exchanger unit when the temperature of the air is greater than the temperature of the flow of water.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

an inlet hose having a first end coupled to the faucet and a second end coupled to an inlet port of the heat exchanger unit such that the heat exchanger unit may receive the flow of water from the faucet via the inlet port; and

an outlet hose having a first end coupled to an outlet port of the heat exchanger unit and a second end positioned proximate to a drain such that the flow of water may leave the heat exchanger unit via the outlet port and be discharged into the drain.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the structure comprises an apartment building and the affected area comprises an apartment.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the structure comprises a hotel and the affected area comprises a hotel room.

26. The system of claim 22, further comprising an air mover positioned proximate to a portable electric heater that further heats the heated air emitted by the heat exchanger, the air mover being configured to direct heated air emitted by the portable electric heater along the floor of the affected area in order to prevent temperature stratification.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein, after the affected area is treated for pests, the heat exchanger unit is further configured to generate cool air by transferring heat from the air flowing through the heat exchanger unit to the flow of water received from the faucet.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the flow of water is received by the heat exchanger unit at a temperature of approximately 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit that is tolerated by an occupant of the structure; and

a portable electric heater is operable to further heat the heated air emitted by the heat exchanger to a target temperature greater than 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

29. The system of claim 22, further comprising a coil of hose configured to carry water from the heat exchanger unit, the coil of hose configured to be placed relative to a particular portion of the affected area within the structure, the coil of hose configured to transfer heat to the particular portion of the affected area.

30. The system of claim 22, further comprising a fan placed proximate to the inlet of the heat exchanger unit, the fan operable to direct air into the inlet of the heat exchanger unit, and wherein the thermostatic control is configured to automatically cycle off the fan when the temperature of the air received by the heat exchanger unit is greater than a predetermined threshold.