QUARTZ TUBE INFRARED HEATER SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for heating air, said system comprising:
- an air inlet end through which air that is to be heated can enter into the system;
an air outlet end through which air that has been heated by the system can exit the system;
a heat exchanger assembly interposed between, and in communication with, the air inlet end and the air outlet end, said heat exchanger assembly includingduct means for conducting air through the heat exchanger assembly from the inlet end to the outlet end, thereby defining an airstream path for the flow of air through the system;
one or more quartz heater tube assemblies laterally disposed with respect to said airstream path within the duct means, each assembly comprisinga quartz tube, said tube having a first end and an opposite, second end, said tube being translucent to infrared radiation;
a first ceramic insulator adapted to receive and support the first end of the tube and having a first electrical contact means;
a second ceramic insulator adapted to receive and support the second end of the tube and having a second electrical contact means;
means for mounting the first ceramic insulator to the heat exchanger assembly;
means for mounting the second ceramic insulator to the heat exchanger assembly;
an electrical filament that extends through the lumen of the tube from the first electrical contact means to the second electrical contact means, which filament when energized by the passage of electric current therethrough emits infrared radiation through said tube and into the airstream path;
means surrounding the tube for inducing air turbulence in the vicinity of the tube when the system is energized and operating;
means for drawing air into, through, and out of the system;
and electric power means to energize the system, said means including means to provide electrical current to the electrical contact means of the ceramic insulators and to the means for drawing air into, through, and out of the system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electric space heating system Air at ambient temperature is drawn by a fan assembly into the system through an air inlet filter, then moves through a “Z”-shaped box within a heat exchanger assembly where it is heated by quartz heater tube assemblies The heated air is further heated as it passes by copper plates within the box and then exits the system Each tube assembly includes an electrically-resistive filament within the lumen of a quartz tube that is translucent to Infrared radiation emitted by the filament Oppositely—directed, ceramic insulators, attached to opposite ends of the tube, in combination with a ceramic, electrical connector block, support the tubes within the box and provide electrical contacts for an electric power source to energize the filament The block has a spring-loaded, sliding electrical contact that facilitates installation and removal of the tube assemblies through a utility access cutout.
12 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A system for heating air, said system comprising:
-
an air inlet end through which air that is to be heated can enter into the system; an air outlet end through which air that has been heated by the system can exit the system; a heat exchanger assembly interposed between, and in communication with, the air inlet end and the air outlet end, said heat exchanger assembly including duct means for conducting air through the heat exchanger assembly from the inlet end to the outlet end, thereby defining an airstream path for the flow of air through the system; one or more quartz heater tube assemblies laterally disposed with respect to said airstream path within the duct means, each assembly comprising a quartz tube, said tube having a first end and an opposite, second end, said tube being translucent to infrared radiation; a first ceramic insulator adapted to receive and support the first end of the tube and having a first electrical contact means; a second ceramic insulator adapted to receive and support the second end of the tube and having a second electrical contact means; means for mounting the first ceramic insulator to the heat exchanger assembly; means for mounting the second ceramic insulator to the heat exchanger assembly; an electrical filament that extends through the lumen of the tube from the first electrical contact means to the second electrical contact means, which filament when energized by the passage of electric current therethrough emits infrared radiation through said tube and into the airstream path; means surrounding the tube for inducing air turbulence in the vicinity of the tube when the system is energized and operating; means for drawing air into, through, and out of the system; and electric power means to energize the system, said means including means to provide electrical current to the electrical contact means of the ceramic insulators and to the means for drawing air into, through, and out of the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A quartz heater tube assembly for use in a system for heating air, said system having an air inlet end through which air that is to be heated can enter into the system, an air outlet end through which air that has been heated by the system can exit the system, and a heat exchanger assembly interposed between, and in communication with, the air inlet end and the air outlet end, and means for moving air into, through, and out of the system, comprising:
-
a quartz tube, said tube having a first end and an opposite, second end, said tube being translucent to infrared radiation; a first ceramic insulator adapted to receive and support the first end of the tube, said insulator having a first electrical contact means; a second ceramic insulator adapted to receive and support an opposite, second end of the tube, said insulator having a second electrical contact means; means for mounting the first ceramic insulator to the system; means for mounting the second ceramic insulator to the system; an electrically-resistive filament that extends through the lumen of the tube from the first electrical contact means to the second electrical contact means, which filament when energized by the passage of electric current therethrough emits infrared radiation through said tube; and means surrounding the tube for inducing air turbulence in the vicinity of the tube when the system is energized and operating. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification