Air warmer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A heating element comprising:
- a chamber having and an inlet and an outlet and defining a flow direction that extends from the inlet to the outlet;
a resistive material positioned on at least one substrate, wherein a combination of the resistive material and the at least one substrate are folded into a plurality of folds that extend substantially parallel to the flow direction;
the resistive material disposed on the substrate, wherein adjacent folds of the combination of the resistive material and the substrate define a plurality of gaps through which at least a portion of air entering the inlet passes; and
at least one electrical lead operatively coupled to the resistive material such that an electrical current can be delivered through the resistive material;
wherein the resistive material is configured to produce heat when electrically energized; and
wherein heat transfer is configured to occur between heat generated along the folded substrate and air passing through the plurality of gaps.
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Abstract
A heating element includes a plurality of folded surfaces which can be resistively heating using electrical current. The heating element can advantageously function both as a heating source and a heat transfer device, as the need for separate fins or other heat dissipation members is eliminated. In some embodiments, the heating element can be included in a fluid heating system. The fluid heating system can include a fluid transfer device configured to deliver a volume or ambient air or other fluid through the heating element. As air moves past the heated folded surface of the heating element, it is heated. Heated air can then be discharged to one or more desired locations.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A heating element comprising:
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a chamber having and an inlet and an outlet and defining a flow direction that extends from the inlet to the outlet; a resistive material positioned on at least one substrate, wherein a combination of the resistive material and the at least one substrate are folded into a plurality of folds that extend substantially parallel to the flow direction;
the resistive material disposed on the substrate, wherein adjacent folds of the combination of the resistive material and the substrate define a plurality of gaps through which at least a portion of air entering the inlet passes; andat least one electrical lead operatively coupled to the resistive material such that an electrical current can be delivered through the resistive material; wherein the resistive material is configured to produce heat when electrically energized; and wherein heat transfer is configured to occur between heat generated along the folded substrate and air passing through the plurality of gaps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A heating element comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber, said housing comprising an inlet and an outlet and defining a flow direction that extends from the inlet to the outlet; a resistive material positioned within the chamber, wherein the resistive material is generally folded into a plurality of folds that extend substantially parallel to the flow direction; and at least one electrical lead operatively coupled to the resistive material such that an electrical current can be delivered through the resistive material; wherein the resistive material is configured to generate heat when electrical current is delivered therethrough; and wherein at least a portion of the heat generated by the resistive material can be transferred to a fluid passing through the chamber.
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11. A climate controlled assembly comprising:
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a heating element comprising a resistive material positioned on a substrate configured to receive an electrical current, wherein the substrate and the resistive material positioned thereon are generally folded into a plurality of folds, and wherein the heating element is configured to produce heat when an electrical current is delivered through the resistive material; wherein a plurality of gaps are defined between adjacent folds of the heating element; a fluid transfer device configured to selectively transfer fluids through or in the vicinity of the gaps; and a control system configured to control the operation of at least one of the heating element and the fluid transfer device; wherein fluids transferred toward and past the heating element are selectively heated via a transfer of heat from the heating element to said fluids before being directed to an occupant of the assembly. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification