The present invention is an all around radiation heating apparatus using propane gas as an energy source of heat generation. To make the heater usable under all outdoor weather conditions, propane gas is stored and supplied, for example, through a portable liquid propane gas tank.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,651,647 and 6,470,877 both disclose a heating apparatus. A defining characteristic of these patents is a shroud slidable along a longitudinal tubular shaft. To install or remove a portable liquid propane tank, one has to slide the shroud upward along the longitudinal tubular shaft so as to make the liquid propane tank and the housing chamber thereof accessible.
This system of installing and removing a portable liquid propane tank is quite cumbersome considering that one has to lift the shroud to a required height and affix it at that height for a period of time, properly disconnect an empty portable liquid propane tank from a fuel supply line, remove the empty portable liquid propane tank out of a housing chamber, place a fully charged liquid propane tank into a tank housing chamber, properly connect the fully charged portable liquid propane tank to the fuel supply line of the heater, then lower the shroud to sit on the base of the heater to protect the portable liquid propane tank and the fuel supply line from outside elements.
There is a potential danger of this slidable shroud type of heater during the portable liquid propane tank installation and removal services. When installing or removing the portable liquid propane tank, the slidable shroud has to be held in suspense for a sustained period of time, either by a second pair of hands of an assistant or by suspending hooks, hanger or other supports. Should the second pair of hands accidentally drop the shroud, or should a gust of wind or unintended movement that causes the shroud to fall from associate hooks, hangers or other supports, any impact due to the fallen shroud may cause a spark that may ignite any leaked propane gas from the fuel line or from the portable liquid propane tank. Therefore, the safety and ease of placement and removal of the tank and ease of making correct and proper connection and disconnection to and from the fuel line are of critical importance. The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties and safety concerns by providing a new and improved design of the heater.
The first object of the present invention is to enhance safety of the installation and removal of a portable liquid propane tank from an all around radiation heating apparatus.
The second object of the present invention is to ensure a safe and easy handling of a portable liquid propane tank to and from an all around radiation heating apparatus.
The third object of the present invention is to arrive at a liquid propane tank housing chamber with an open-able and closable door.
The fourth object of the present invention is to arrive at an all around radiation heating apparatus with a liquid propane tank housing chamber wherein a door is approximately between a half and a third of the diameter of the housing chamber.
The fifth object of the present invention is to arrive at an all around radiation heating apparatus without a slidable shroud.
The sixth object of the present invention is to arrive at an all around radiation heating apparatus with a door having an elongated oval and curve opening to serve as an observation opening to visually inspect whether a portable liquid propane tank is installed in the housing chamber without having to open the door itself.
The seventh object of the present invention is to arrive at an all around radiation heating apparatus with a door having an elongated oval and curve opening to serve as a handle to open and close the door.
The eighth object of the present invention is to arrive at an all around radiation heating apparatus with a door having a top ridge and a bottom ridge serving as alignment references for the correct placement of the door to the door frame of the housing chamber.
The ninth object of the present invention is to arrive at an all around radiation heating apparatus with attached wheels for ease of transportation of the heater.
The tenth object of the present invention is to arrive at an all around radiation heating apparatus with a portable liquid propane tank housing chamber that is sufficiently structured to support the weigh accumulated from above the housing chamber.
The eleventh object of the present invention is to arrive at an all around radiation heating apparatus with a portable propane tank housing chamber that is sufficiently structured with balanced weight distribution to stabilize the heater even if a portable liquid propane tank is not installed.
The twelfth object of the present invention is to introduce a tabletop to the all around radiation heating apparatus.
The thirteenth object of the present invention is to provide channels for ventilation to allow propane gas to escape in case there is a leak of propane gas.
The fourteenth object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of stabilizers to the all around radiation heating apparatus to prevent unintended tipping over.
The fifteenth object is to provide a weight chamber to the base of the all around radiation heating apparatus to lower its center of gravity to further prevent unintended tipping over.
Numerous parts of the all around radiation heating apparatus are shown in an exploded view in
The heater burner with screen exterior 312 is connected to the reflector assembly 302 by a set of reflector studs 308 and with corresponding number of wing-nuts 406 and 506, as shown by way of examples in
Post 316 has a bottom flange section 330 and a top opening section 326. Enlarged views of the bottom flange section 330 is shown by way of an example in
Enlarge views of the top opening section of post 316 is shown by way of an example in
The flange 330 is used to securely seat the post 316 to the top section of cylinder housing 314. On the top section of cylinder housing 314 is an opening 315 suitably allow the post 316 to fit from underneath there-through as shown in
A fuel line 902 travels inside and along the conduit opening 604 of post 316 to supply propane gas from a portable tank residing in the housing cylinder to the heater burner 312, as shown in
A more detail top view of base 332 is shown by way of examples in
Securely placed underneath the top cover 1004 of the base 322 is a weight chamber 1104 is shown by way of an example in
As shown, the weight chamber 1104 is attached to the top cover 1004 to form the base 322 by fitting a number of screws through a set of holes 1006 of the top cover 1004 corresponding with a set of holes 1106 of the weight chamber 1104.
The set of wheels 324 and a plurality of toes can both be installed on a base 322. This combination of installations would provide the optimum stabilization effect as well as transport convenience.
Once closed, the door is locked into place by latching a strap-loop 1502 of a strap lock 1306 over a hook 1504 on the door 1304, as shown in
The door frame itself has an opening spanning 130 degrees of the 360 degrees circumference of the shell 1302. The door is designed to cover approximately 139 degrees of the 360 degrees circumference of the shell 1302. This degree of door frame opening is an optimal amount to provide ease of transporting a portable liquid propane tank into and out of the housing cylinder yet to ensure the overall integrity of the housing cylinder given the weight it has to withstand and distribute downward to the base.
It is learned that if the degree of circumferential coverage of the door frame were greater than 130 degrees, there would be uneven downward weight distribution that pre-disposes the all around radiation heating apparatus an unacceptable tendency to tip over. However, if the degree of circumferential door frame coverage is smaller than 130 degrees, the opening is too small to transport the propane tank into and out of the housing cylinder.
On the door 1304 is an elongated oval opening 1310 serving both as an easy visual inspection window to check whether a propane tank is in the housing cylinder as well as serving as a handle to conveniently open and close the door 1304.
In addition to the above-mentioned purposes, the elongated oval opening 1310 and a plurality of openings 1312 in combination serve as safety ventilations system. As it is readily understandable that propane gas may leak from the liquid propane tank if there is any crack or crevices to an otherwise sealed system. If and when a leak does occur, instead of trapping the escaped and highly flammable gas in the cylindrical housing chamber 314, it is much better to provide an outlet for the gas to escape. Propane gas has a density typically one and a half times higher than normal air. This means escaped propane gas would sink. For this reason, there are more openings and they are widely spread on the lower side of the shell 1302 than the opening at the higher side.
The all around radiation heating apparatus may be used in outdoor social environments, it would greatly enhance the heater's utility functions if a table of adjustable height may be added to hold drinks, serve as a writing pad or serve other features associated with a table. For this reason, a table-top may be added to the present invention.
An example of an installed table-top is shown by way of examples in
Number | Date | Country | |
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61136549 | Sep 2008 | US |