Portable heating system and method for pest control

• US 9,807,994 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2017
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• 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-Wilkenfel, Erik
• Application Number:
  US15/399,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20170112117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 305 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 method for killing pests in an affected area of a structure includes receiving a flow of water from a faucet, 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. The method continues by generating heated air using a heat pump by transferring heat from the flow of water to air, and emitting the heated air into an affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The method concludes by monitoring a temperature of a flow of water as it is received and, automatically ceasing operation of the heat pump when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit.

Claims

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

receiving a flow of water from a faucet, 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;

generating heated air using a heat pump by transferring heat from the flow of water to air;

emitting the heated air into the affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit;

monitoring a temperature of a flow of water as it is received and;

automatically ceasing operation of the heat pump when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising further heating the emitted heated air.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the flow of water is between 45 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising draining the flow of water from the heat pump.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at a heat exchanger unit, the flow of water from the faucet, the flow of water being received at a first temperature; and

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

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

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the first temperature is greater than 125 degrees Fahrenheit; and

the second temperature is at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein, after the affected area is treated for pests, generating 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 method of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises an apartment building and the affected area comprises an apartment.

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

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing heated air emitted by the heat pump unit along a floor of the affected area in order to prevent temperature stratification.

11. A method for killing pests in an affected area of a structure, comprising:

supplying a flow of water from a faucet to a heat pump using an inlet hose, wherein the faucet comprises one of a shower faucet and a sink faucet;

generating heated air by transferring heat from the flow of water to air using the heat pump;

emitting the heated air into the affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit;

monitoring a temperature of the flow of water;

automatically ceasing operation of the heat pump when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit; and

draining the flow of water from the heat pump using an outlet hose.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature of the flow of water is between 45 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving the flow of water from the faucet at a heat exchanger unit, the flow of water being received at a first temperature; and

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

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

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, after the affected area is treated for pests, generating cool air by transferring heat from the air flowing through the heat exchanger unit to the flow of water received from the faucet.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the first temperature is greater than 125 degrees Fahrenheit; and

the second temperature is at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising directing heated air emitted by the heat pump unit along a floor of the affected area in order to prevent temperature stratification.

17. A method for killing pests in an affected area of a structure, comprising:

receiving a flow of water from a faucet at a heat exchanger unit, the flow of water being received at a first temperature;

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

discharging the flow of water at a second temperature, the discharged flow of water being received by a heat pump unit;

generating heated air by transferring heat from the flow of water to air using the heat pump;

emitting the heated air into the affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit;

monitoring a temperature of the flow of water;

automatically ceasing operation of the heat pump when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit; and

after the affected area is treated for pests, generating 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 method of claim 17, further comprising draining the flow of water from the heat pump.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

supplying the flow of water from a faucet to the heat pump using a first hose; and

supplying the flow of water from the heat exchanger unit to the heat pump unit using a second hose.

20. The method of claim 17, 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.