EP3081863B1

EP3081863B1 - Portable infrared rays header for environmental heating

Info

Publication number: EP3081863B1
Application number: EP16159556.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pier Luigi Tenci
Original assignee: La Rude Srl
Current assignee: La Rude Srl
Priority date: 2015-03-13
Filing date: 2016-03-10
Publication date: 2020-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-10
Also published as: EP3081863A1

Description

Field of the invention

In its most general aspect the present invention relates to the technical field of infrared heat generators, and more particularly the invention relates to a portable infrared ray header for environmental heating.

State of the art

As known, there are different types of heat generators for environmental heating, commonly also called stoves.
Nowadays, among the various heat generators popular on the market, the infrared heat generators are particularly important, and among these the more advantageous ones are gas-fired.
In the gas-fired infrared heat generators, the heat generated by gas combustion is usually converted into infrared radiation by means of a mineral fiber of amorphous silica having high degree of purity, generally greater than 99%, the fiber being associated with the radiating means.
A heat generator of this type is described, for example, in the European Patent EP 2 577 165 in the name of the same Applicant.
In particular, the afore said Patent describes a heat generator comprising a vertically-arranged body delimiting a central chamber having an inlet at the base and a radial outlet; a burner for the combustion of a gas, placed on the base of the hollow body for the emission of combustion gases into the central chamber; a plurality of holes flush with the inlet of the central chamber for an inflow of combustive air and for mixing with the combustion gases coming from the burner and directed towards the radial outlet of the hollow body; radiating means interposed between the inlet and the outlet of the central chamber; as well as a base having wheels mounted thereto in order to move the heat generator and which supports a bell for containing a gas bottle having in turn a hollow column mounted thereon in order to bear the burner and to accommodate the components of the heat generator.
It should be noted that, in the above described heat generator, the burner is basically inside the inlet provided in the base of the central chamber and that, in use, the flame generated in the burner substantially extends inside the central chamber.
Although a heat generator such as the above described is advantageous, however it is not free from drawbacks, among which its overall dimension, which is significant although it is considered a so-called mobile device.
Since the above considered heat generator, as well as in general the other heat generators of the same type available in the prior art, are bulky, their mobility is limited thereby actually allowing short displacements thereof.
Therefore, the heat generators of the above described type are intended to be used mainly in working environments such as, for example, warehouses, or quite large common areas, such as workshops and bar verandas, whereas their domestic use, for example at home, is limited.
Document US 4,452,225 A discloses a portable auxiliary radiant chimney effect heater, including an inverted conical chimney placed over and heated to the infrared spectrum by an open flame such as that provided by the burner of an otherwise conventional cooking stove, in which the chimney is surrounded by a semi-parabolic reflector.
Document US2005/175950 A1 discloses a heating apparatus including a heating head and a burner assembly for igniting fuel from a fuel source, in which the heating head has a dual-walled construction to form several flue chambers that can be substantially isolated from each other and configured to generate turbulent gas flow therein for maximum heat transfer to the outer wall.
Document US 2,596,329 A discloses an accessory heater device usable on cooking stove burner.
Document US 2,088,280 A discloses a heating attachment for stoves, ranges and the like.
Document US 3,509,869 A discloses a ceramic convector for converting a cooking unit into a temporary heater.

Summary of the invention

The technical problem underlying the present invention was to provide an infrared heat generator for heating the environment, having structural and functional characteristics such to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the known technique, that is to say a heat generator of the above said type having limited overall dimensions, particularly to be used in domestic, household environment, not only being movable but also easily transportable, therefore portable and particularly cost-effective.
According to the invention, the afore said problem is solved by a portable infrared ray header for environmental heating according to the appended claim 1. Further detailed characteristics and advantages are described in the dependent claims.
In practice, according to the invention, an infrared ray header for environmental heating, without its own burner but able to be coupled to any gas burner of a stovetop, particularly a domestic one, is provided.
In this way, the header according to the present invention is small-overall sized and is particularly suitable to be used in small spaces, such as precisely a house kitchen, since it does not require to be arranged in a special space, because a space portion above any gas-stove top can be exploited.
This header results to be advantageously cost-effective, as well as easy to be handled and, in particular, not only movable but also easy to be transported and thus portable, due to the fact that it is unprovided with its own burner as well as with respective components.
During the use of this header, a flame generated by the afore said burner remains essentially outside the afore said central chamber.
Preferably, the afore said bearing means are made of athermic material, i.e. a material not transmitting heat, and advantageously are made of refractory steel.
Preferably, the afore said bearing means comprise a plurality of feet.
Preferably, the afore said header comprises a connecting element having essentially an annular shape, extended between the afore said plurality of feet and constrained thereto.
Preferably, the afore said bearing means, therefore preferably the afore said feet, have extent, i.e. a projection from the afore said base, comprised between 30 mm and 60 mm, more preferably comprised between 35 mm and 55 mm, and still more preferably comprised between 40 mm and 50 mm.
Preferably, the width of the afore said main inlet is greater than or equal to about 135 mm.
Preferably, the afore said header comprises an essentially net-shaped protecting element outside of the afore said side wall and, therefore, outside the afore said layer of amorphous silica fiber, the protecting element being preferably removably associated with the afore said hollow body.
Preferably, the afore said header comprises at least one handle for the transportation thereof, which is preferably arranged at the afore said top wall and which is more preferably associated with the afore said protecting element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more evident by the review of the following detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, depicted for illustration purposes only and without limitation, with the aid of the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portable infrared ray header for environmental heating according to the present invention;
figure 2 shows a longitudinal section side view of the header of figure 1 during the use thereof, in particular coupled to a gas burner of a stovetop.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to figures 1-2, with the numeral 1 a portable infrared ray header for environmental heating according to the present invention is denoted on the whole.
The header 1 comprises basically a hollow body 2 delimiting a central chamber 3, having a base 4 provided with a main inlet 5, a top wall 6 and an at least partially gas-permeable side wall 7 extended from the base 4 to the top wall 6.
In the example of the afore mentioned figures, the hollow body 2 is illustrated as having a substantially vertical arrangement and, in particular, a cylindrical shape although other shapes, such as spherical or polyhedral, can be provided.
In detail for the infrared radiation, specifically with a wavelength comprised between 2 micrometers and 5 micrometer, the header 1 comprises, at the side wall 7, radiating means basically comprising a layer of amorphous silica fiber with high degree of purity, generally denoted with numeral 8, in which the silica content is at least equal to or even greater than 99%.
Such a material is usually known as quartz silica.
Moreover, the amorphous silica fiber has density comprised between 90 g/m² and 120 g/m² per unit area and is essentially composed of elongated fibers with diameter comprised between 2 micrometers and 13 micrometers.
According to the invention, the header 1 is apt to be coupled to a gas stove top, being unprovided with its own burner and the respective components for supplying gas to the burner.
For this purpose, as illustrated in the example of figure 2 showing the present invention in use, the header 1 comprises bearing means, globally denoted with the numeral 9, for supporting the hollow body 2 on a domestic stovetop 10 comprising a burner 11, at a predetermined limited distance therefrom.
In particular, through the burner 11 that is outside of the hollow body 2 and precisely outside of the central chamber 3, a flame 12 is produced by combustion of a supplying gas, the flame also being substantially outside of the central chamber 3, whereas the relative emission of hot combustion gases occurs in the central chamber 3, as shown in the example of figure 2 by the arrows inside the central chamber 3.
Still referring to the example of figure 2, it should be noted that the stovetop 10, the burner 11 and the flame 12 are depicted by dashed lines.
Then the hot combustion gases found a way out from the central chamber 3 through the gas-permeable side wall 7, the respective heat thereof being converted into infrared radiation by passing through the layer of amorphous silica fiber 8, still as shown in the example of figure 2 by the arrows inside the central chamber 3.
As regards the structural aspect of the header according to the invention, and in accordance with the examples of the figures, the bearing means 9 are associated with the base 4 of the hollow body 2 and, advantageously, are basically arranged around the main inlet 5 of the hollow body 2.
In detail, the bearing means 9 may take the shape of a plurality of feet, each referred to as 13, advantageously made of athermic material, preferably of refractory steel. The bearing means 9 are further provided with a plurality of through holes 14.
This provides the required distance between the central chamber of the header and the stovetop coupled thereto, thereby allowing the burner, and therefore the flame, to receive the needed air flow for the combustion of supplied gas, as depicted in the example of figure 2 by the arrows outside the central chamber.
In fact, from a thermo-fluid-dynamic point of view, unlike the heat generators according to the known art in which the maximum temperature point is inside the radiating header during use, in the present invention the maximum temperature point is outside the header, in particular out of the central chamber and just before the main inlet of the hollow body.
Therefore, advantageously, the bearing means made of refractory, perforated and athermic steel and having a predetermined limited length, in particular extending preferably between 30 mm and 60 mm, more preferably between 35 mm and 55 mm, and still more preferably between 40 mm and 50 mm beyond the base, allow this header to be raised from the stovetop so that a proper air flow can access the burner, in order to optimize the flame combustion of the supplied gas, while obstacles found by the air grazing the stovetop and heat loss towards the latter are minimized.
Moreover, still according to an embodiment of the invention, the header 1 comprises a connecting element 15 of the bearing means 9, in particular extended between the plurality of feet 13 and constrained thereto.
The connecting element 15, practically formed by a ring also preferably made of athermic material such as refractory steel, represents an element for stiffening and containing the feet 13 as well as for centering the header 1 with respect to the burner 11.
According to the above, the main inlet 5 of the hollow body 2, which advantageously is circle-shaped, has length greater than or equal to about 135 mm, thereby allowing the present header to be coupled to burners having power up to 3,2 kW and flame spreaders similarly having diameter up to 135 mm.
Additionally, the header 1 may comprise an advantageously net-shaped protecting element 16 outside the layer of amorphous silica fiber 8 and the side wall 7, advantageously removably associated with the hollow body 2 and having in particular its lower portion associated with the base 4 and its upper portion with the top wall 6 of the hollow body 2 by means of a tightening wing nut 17.
In this way, the outer portion of the side wall of the hollow body is easy to be accessed in order to clean the present header, in particular to remove from the outer portion of the side wall 7 possible sulphate and/or carbonate residues which can be originated by the combustion of the supplying gas, in particular if methane is used.
Still according to the invention, the header 1 may comprise a handle 18 for the transportation thereof, the handle being arranged at the top wall 6 of the hollow body 2 according to the examples of the figures, although side handles can be also provided.
In particular, the handle 18 is also made of athermic material such as refractory steel, and is constrained to a top portion of the protecting element 16.
A thermally insulating layer, generally referred to with numeral 19, arranged at the top wall 6 of the hollow body 2, together with specific insulating gaskets 20 arranged between the layer of amorphous silica fiber 8 and the top wall 6, complete the header 1.
Finally, still as regard the structural aspect, it should be said that the side wall 7 of the hollow body 2 advantageously comprises a stretched double metal net, and precisely an inner net and an outer net, the layer of amorphous silica fiber 8 being comprised therebetween.
The double metal net, having an open area of at least 85%, allows the flow of combustion gases to be maximized without significant pressure losses.
In accordance with the above, the header according to the present invention in practice ensures that carbon monoxide emissions are zero, or almost zero and, in any case, always considerably below the limits according to current regulations, thereby resulting in total safety for the user.
It is possible to summarize the advantages of the present invention, already highlighted in the description above, noting that it provides an infrared ray header for environmental heating, the header being particularly cost-effective, lightweight, easy to be handled, small overall-sized and therefore portable, and adapted to a widespread use, in particular of domestic and household type since it can be coupled to any burner of a gas stove top.
In order to meet incidental and specific requirements, several variations and modifications could be made by a field technician to the illustrated and described embodiments of present invention, provided that all are included in the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

Portable infrared ray header (1) for environmental heating, comprising:
a hollow body (2) delimiting a central chamber (3), having a base (4) provided with a main inlet (5), a top wall (6) and a side wall (7) at least partially gas-permeable and extended from said base (4) to said top wall (6),

wherein said header is without its own burner, said header being apt to be coupled with a burner (11) for the combustion of a gas and the respective emission of combustion gases into said central chamber (3), said burner being outside of said central chamber (3), said header being characterized in that said side wall (7) comprises radiating means for infrared radiation comprising a layer of amorphous silica fiber (8) with silica content equal or higher than 99%; and in that it comprises bearing means (9) for supporting said hollow body (2) on a stovetop comprising said burner, at a predetermined limited distance therefrom, wherein said bearing means (9) are associated with said base (4) and are essentially arranged around said main inlet (5), and wherein said bearing means (9) are provided with a plurality of through holes (14).
Header according to claim 1, wherein said bearing means (9) are made of athermic refractory steel.
Header according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said bearing means (9) comprise a plurality of feet (13).
Header according to claim 3, comprising a connecting element (15) having essentially an annular shape and extended between said plurality of feet (13) and constrained thereto.
Header according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bearing means (9) have an extent from said base comprised between 30 mm and 60 mm, more preferably comprised between 35 mm and 55 mm, still more preferably comprised between 40 mm and 50 mm.
Header according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an essentially net-shaped protecting element (16) being outside of said side wall (7), wherein said protecting element (16) is removably associated with said hollow body (2).
Header according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one handle (18) for the transportation of said header, wherein said handle (18) is preferably arranged at said top wall (6).