Portable heating system and method for pest control

• US 9,374,991 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
• Original Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corporation (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: O'Brien, Timothy S., Camenga, Eric P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendoza-WIlkenfe, Erik
• Application Number:
  US14/168,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20140144066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 pump unit placed within an affected area. The heat pump unit comprises an evaporator component, a condensor component, and a compressor component. The evaporator component is configured to receive a flow of water from a faucet, and transfer heat from the flow of water to a refrigerant. The condenser component is configured to receive the refrigerant from the evaporator component, and generate heated air by transferring heat from the refrigerant to air flowing through the condenser component. The heated air being emitted into the affected area is in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The compressor component is configured to return the refrigerant from the evaporator component of the heat pump unit to the condenser component of the heat pump unit.

Claims

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

a heat pump unit placed within an affected area, the heat pump unit comprising;

an evaporator component configured to;

receive a flow of water from a faucet;

transfer heat from the flow of water to a refrigerant;

a condenser component configured to;

receive the refrigerant from the evaporator component; and

generate heated air by transferring heat from the refrigerant to air flowing through the condenser component, the heated air being emitted into the affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit;

a compressor component configured to return the refrigerant from the evaporator component of the heat pump unit to the condenser component of the heat pump unit; and

a thermostatic control configured to;

monitor a temperature of a flow of water as it is received by the heat pump;

monitor a temperature of air; and

automatically cease operation of the compressor component when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

while the refrigerant is in the evaporator component of the heat pump unit, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the flow of water as the refrigerant changes from a liquid state to a vapor state; and

while the refrigerant is in the condenser component of the heat pump unit, the refrigerant diffuses heat to the air as the refrigerant changes from the vapor state to the liquid state.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one electric heater positioned proximate to the heat pump unit, the at least one electric heater configured to further heat the heated air emitted by the condenser component of the heat pump unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the faucet comprises one of a shower faucet and a sink faucet; and

the temperature of the flow of water is at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 a heat exchanger unit positioned between the faucet and the heat pump unit, the heat exchanger unit being operable to:

receive the flow of water from the faucet, the flow of water being received at a first temperature; and

transfer heat from the flow of water received from the faucet to air flowing through the heat exchanger unit; and

discharge the flow of water at a second temperature, the discharged flow of water being received by the evaporator component of the heat pump unit.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a first hose having a first end coupled to the faucet and a second end coupled to an inlet port of the heat exchanger unit; and

a second hose having a first end coupled to an outlet port of the heat exchanger unit and a second end coupled to an inlet port of the heat pump unit.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the faucet comprises a shower faucet or a sink faucet;

the first temperature is greater than 125 degrees Fahrenheit; and

the second temperature is at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

9. The system of claim 6, 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.

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

11. The system of claim 5, 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 pump unit such that the evaporator component of the heat pump 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 pump unit and a the second end positioned proximate to a drain such that the flow of water may leave the heat pump unit via the outlet port and be discharged into the drain.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an air mover positioned proximate to the heat pump unit, the air mover being configured to direct heated air emitted by the condenser component of the heat pump unit along the floor of the affected area in order to prevent temperature stratification.