Patent Application
20110283986
Not applicable.
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A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to air conversion devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a heating recovery apparatus designed to improve the efficiency of a heating source.
Wall mounted gas furnaces are often used to heat rooms or houses. Some such furnaces use natural airflow to circulate the heat from the furnace, which is not sufficient to recover all heat possible. As a result much of the heat from these furnaces is expelled into the environment through a chimney, increasing the user's energy bill and contributing to global worming. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a heat recovery apparatus able to generally prevent heat from being expelled into the environment.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved techniques for providing a heat recovery apparatus that recovers lost heat from a conventional wall mounted gas furnace or heating unit.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
To achieve the forgoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, an apparatus for improved efficiency of an air conversion device is presented.
In one embodiment an apparatus includes a housing including a first side having a first opening and a second side having a second opening, means for creating an airflow through the housing between the first opening and the second opening, means for activating the creating means to create the airflow, means for controlling the activating means, and means for enabling the apparatus to direct the airflow about an air conversion device, thereby increasing an efficiency of the air conversion device. Another embodiment further includes means for responding to temperature changes of the air conversion device to control the controlling means. Yet another embodiment further includes means for directing a portion of the airflow along a portion of a front surface external of the air conversion device.
In another embodiment an apparatus includes a housing including a first side having a first opening and a second side having a second opening. At least one fan creates an airflow through the housing between the first opening and the second opening. A motor activates the at least one fan to create the airflow. A control mechanism controls the motor. A mounting for the housing enables the apparatus to direct the airflow about an air conversion device, thereby increasing an efficiency of the air conversion device. In another embodiment the mounting includes means for joining the second side to a front surface of the air conversion device. In yet another embodiment the apparatus is joined proximate a top portion of the front surface. In still another embodiment a direction of the airflow at the second opening has an obtuse angle with respect to the front surface for enabling a majority of the airflow to pass along a portion of the front surface internal of the air conversion device. In another embodiment the housing is generally rectangular in shape and the second side is angled. In yet another embodiment the direction of the airflow is downward within the air conversion device. In still another embodiment the direction of the airflow is from the first opening to the second opening. Another embodiment further includes a temperature sensor in communication with the control mechanism and disposed proximate the second side for responding to temperature changes of the air conversion device to control the activation. Yet another embodiment further includes means for directing a portion of the airflow along a portion of the front surface external of the air conversion device. In still another embodiment the control mechanism further includes a manual fan control. Another embodiment further includes an additional fan and an additional motor in communication with the control mechanism for increasing a volume of the airflow. In yet another embodiment the air conversion device is a heating system.
In another embodiment an apparatus includes a housing including a first side having a first opening and an angled second side having a second opening. At least one fan creates a forced airflow between the first opening and the second opening. A motor rotates the at least one fan to create the forced airflow. An attachment mechanism joins the second side to a front surface of a heating system thus enabling the apparatus to direct a substantial portion of the forced airflow to pass downward along a portion of the front surface internal of the heating system. A temperature sensor is disposed proximate the second side for responding to temperature changes of the heating system. A control mechanism is responsive to the temperature sensor for controlling the motor, thereby increasing an efficiency of the heating system. Another embodiment further includes means for directing a portion of the forced airflow along a portion of the front surface external of the heating system. In yet another embodiment a direction of the forced airflow is from the first opening to the second opening. In still another embodiment the attachment mechanism includes hooks. In another embodiment the control mechanism further includes a manual fan control.
Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become more apparent and be more readily understood from the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.
Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
It is to be understood that any exact measurements/dimensions or particular construction materials indicated herein are solely provided as examples of suitable configurations and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Depending on the needs of the particular application, those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of the following teachings, a multiplicity of suitable alternative implementation details.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus designed to improve the efficiency of an air conversion device such as, but not limited to, a heating system. The apparatus recovers lost heat from the heating source. Preferred embodiments are used in conjunction with a conventional gas heater or furnace and are easily attached to such a furnace or heater. Preferred embodiments improve the efficiency of existing heating systems and therefore reduce the cost of operating such heating systems. Preferred embodiments are safe, economical and easy to use and economical to manufacture.
Referring to
In some alternate embodiments of the present invention, the heat recovery apparatus may not be mounted directly on the heating system, but may be positions near the heating system to induce an airflow though the heating system. In some of these embodiments, the heat recovery apparatus may further include devices such as, but not limited to, vanes, deflector, ducts, etc., to direct the airflow to a desired entry location on the heating system.
In some other alternate embodiments of the present invention, the heat recovery apparatus may further include an air filter/purifier. These embodiments may help to reduce dust in the air and accumulation of dust in the heating system.
In yet some other alternate embodiments of the present invention, the heat recovery apparatus may be adapted with a humidifier system. These embodiments may help to provide a more comfortable healthier environment in the space being heated.
In still some other alternate embodiments of the present invention, the heat recovery apparatus may further include a manual fan control in the control mechanism 111 to override the temperature sensor 113 and prompt control mechanism 111 to turn the fan on or off. Some of these embodiments may further include means for controlling the speed of the fan.
Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of providing a heating system efficiency increasing apparatus according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. For example, the particular implementation of the apparatus may vary depending upon the particular type of system on which it is used. The systems described in the foregoing were directed to heating implementations; however, similar techniques are to use efficiency increasing apparatuses on other types of air conversion devices or environmental control systems such as, but not limited to, cooling systems, window mounted air conditioners, air filtration and purification systems, etc. Non-heating implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Claim elements and steps herein have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. As such, the numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.
