HEAT AND/OR LIGHT PRODUCING UNIT POWERED BY A LITHIUM SECONDARY CELL BATTERY WITH HIGH CHARGE AND DISCHARGE RATE CAPABILITY

• US 20120012574A1
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enerco Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enerco Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Vandrak, Brian S., Haney, Donald C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,487,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/220
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/04 carried on wheeled supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A portable combined heating and lighting unit comprising a first element and a second element for generating thermal or light energy, and a component to convert thermal or light energy into electricity. The first element generates thermal or light energy from combustion of fuel. The second element generates thermal or light energy from electricity.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a portable heating or lighting unit,

a lithium ion battery;

a housing;

a rectifier or inverter;

an electrical device adapted to use electrical energy from said lithium ion battery, wherein said electrical device comprises a resistive heating element; and

a control system comprising control hardware and embedded software, said control system being adapted to automatically control the resistive heating element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a regulator adapted to receive fuel from an associated fluid fuel source.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an air inlet in the housing adapted to admit air into the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a burner region in fluid communication with the regulator and in fluid communication with the air inlet, said burner region being adapted to produce thermal energy by combustion of an air and fuel mixture.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a thermoelectric element adapted to convert at least some of said thermal energy to produce electrical energy.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said thermoelectric element comprises a BiTe alloy.