Combination heater-light-ventilator unit

• US 4,681,024 A
• Filed: 07/29/1986
• Issued: 07/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marley Engineered Products LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fasco Industries, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Ivey, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Makay, Albert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warner, Steven E.
• Application Number:
  US06/890,417
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 98/40.07, 98/40.08, 98/33.1, 98/34.6, 98/31.6, 98/42.07, 98/34.5, 362/147-149, 362/404, 362/408, 362/294, 362/373, 362/92, 219/220, 219/361, 219/369, 219/370, 219/472, 219/473
• US Class Current: 454/233
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0092 with heating or cooling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/078 combined with lighting fixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/0616 Outlets that have intake openings
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/02 combined with lighting fixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/14 mounted on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/0411 for domestic or space-heating systems

Abstract

A combination heater-light-ventilator unit for mounting in a ceiling, is disclosed. A cylindrical housing supports the unit and an annular grille on its bottom includes an arcuate heat discharge outlet around part of its circumference and an arcuate air intake through the remainder, with a light diffuser supported in the center. The heat discharge outlet is configured to direct heat flow relatively straight down from the unit to minimize its recirculation through the arcuate air intake.

Claims

1. A combination heater-light-ventilator unit, comprising:

a cylindrical housing having a top member and an upright cylindrical wall supporting said top member, said housing supporting a heating subsystem, a lighting subsystem, and a ventilating subsystem,

said heating subsystem including a heater and a heat blower disposed within said housing, said heat blower adapted to discharge downward from said unit through a heat discharge outlet,

said lighting subsystem including a light source and a reflector disposed within said housing to direct light downward therefrom,

said ventilating subsystem including a vent blower mounted atop said housing, said vent blower communicating on its inlet side with the interior of said housing and adapted to discharge to a remote location through a vent discharge outlet, and

an annular grille mounted on the bottom of said cylindrical housing, said annular grille including a first arcuate portion thereof forming said heat discharge outlet of said heating subsystem, and a second arcuate portion thereof having ports permitting free passage of air from below to within said housing, said annular grille further supporting a light diffuser below said lamp.

2. A combination heater-light-ventilator unit, comprising:

a housing supporting a heating subsystem, a lighting subsystem, and a ventilating subsystem,

said heating subsystem including a heat blower selectively operable by a first switch, and adapted to discharge warm air downward in a first path from said unit through a heat discharge outlet,

said lighting subsystem including a light source and a reflector disposed to direct light downward from said unit,

said ventilating subsystem including a vent blower adapted to discharge air from within said housing to a remote location, and selectively operable by a second switch and optionally at the same time as said heat blower, and

a grille member mounted on the bottom of said housing, said grille member having a first open portion thereof connected to the outlet of said heat blower and forming said heat discharge outlet of said heating subsystem, and having a second open portion thereof communicating with the inlet to said vent blower along a second path different from said first path, and permitting free passage of air from below to within said housing, said heat discharge outlet configured to direct heat flow away from said unit to minimize recirculation of heated air therethrough.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing is cylindrical and said open portions of said grille member are arranged in an annular path coaxialy of said housing.

4. The combination as defined in 2, wherein said second open portion of said grille member is greater in size than said first open portion thereof.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said open portions of said grille member are arranged in a path surrounding said lighting subsystem.

6. A combination heat-ventilator unit, comprising

a housing open at its lower end and supporting at least a heating subsystem and a ventilating subsystem,

said heating subsystem including a heat blower selectively operable by a first switch, and adapted to discharge warm air downwardly through a first enclosure in said housing to a heat discharge outlet located in the bottom of said housing,

said ventilating subsystem including a vent blower adapted to discharge air from within said housing to a remote location, and selectively operable by a second switch, and optionally at the same time as said heat blower, and

a grille member mounted on the bottom of said housing and having therethrough a plurality of openings arrayed in a predetermined path around the marginal edge of said lower, open end of said housing, a minor portion of said openings in said grille member communicating with the outlet of said first enclosure and forming said heat discharge outlet of said heating subsystem, and the remaining openings in said grille member communicating with the interior of said housing externally of said first enclosure, and permitting free passage of air from below to within said housing, whereby upon simultaneous operation of said heat blower and said vent blower warm air travels out of the unit and along a path which is separate from the path along which air enters the housing for discharge to a remote location.