Compact portable electric heater with high thermal output
A portable heater composed of a housing having a bottom surface, an exterior top surface, a front exterior surface which contains a grille composed of air outlet apertures is capable of providing a relatively large heat output for its size in either of a natural convection mode or a forced convection mode. The heater includes a heating element inside of a housing. A plurality of baffles define a convection chamber within the housing that extends from the housing bottom, rearward of a heating element, upwardly and forwardly to a point above the air outlet apertures on the inner surface of the housing. The convection chamber maintains exterior portions of the housing at or below a threshold temperature of about 80 degrees Celsius.
1 . A portable heater comprising:
a housing having a bottom surface, an exterior top surface, a front exterior surface, the front exterior surface including a grille composed of air outlet apertures, and the bottom surface having a series of air intake apertures formed therein;
a plurality of baffles located within the housing and a heating element disposed within the housing, the heating element capable of heating air flowing from the air intake apertures to the air outlet apertures in a natural convection movement; and
the baffles disposed so as to define a convection chamber within the housing positioned from a location at the bottom of the housing rearward of the heating element, and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom to a location on the inside of the front exterior surface above the air outlet apertures;
wherein the convection chamber maintains a portion of the housing exterior surface at or below a threshold temperature.
2 . The portable heater of claim 1 , wherein the convection chamber has one of an arcuate or rectilinear cross-section.
3 . The portable heater of claim 1 , further comprising an air movement mechanism that urges air to move into the housing through the series of air intake apertures.
4 . The portable heater of claim 3 , wherein the air movement mechanism is one of a fan and an electrokinetic device.
5 . The portable heater of claim 1 , further comprising a safety device that causes a reduction in heat output by the heating element when an overheat condition is detected.
6 . The portable heater of claim 1 , wherein at least a first series of air intake apertures is located beneath the heating element, and a second series of air intake apertures is positioned beneath the convection chamber.
7 . The portable heater of claim 1 , further comprising a rear chamber formed between at least one baffle and an exterior portion of the housing.
8 . The portable heater of claim 7 , wherein a third series of air intake apertures is positioned beneath the rear chamber.
9 . The portable heater of claim 1 , wherein the threshold temperature is about 80 degrees Celsius.
10 . The portable heater of claim 1 , wherein the exterior top surface and a leading edge of the front surface are maintained at or below the threshold temperature.
11 . A portable heater comprising:
a housing having a series of air intake apertures and air outlet apertures formed therein;
a heating element disposed within the housing; and
at least two baffles located within the housing disposed so as to define a convection chamber within the housing positioned from a location at a bottom of the housing rearward of the heating element, and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom to a location on a front inside surface of the housing;
wherein a first natural convection movement of air flows into the housing through a first group of the air intake apertures, past the heating element and out the air outlet apertures, and a second natural convection movement of air flows into the housing through a second group of air intake apertures and through the convection chamber;
wherein the convection chamber maintains a portion of an exterior surface of the housing at or below a threshold temperature.
12 . The portable heater of claim 11 , wherein the convection chamber has one of an arcuate or rectilinear cross-section.
13 . The portable heater of claim 11 , further comprising an air movement mechanism that urges air to move into the housing through air intake apertures.
14 . The portable heater of claim 13 , wherein the air movement mechanism is one of a fan and an electrokinetic device.
15 . The portable heater of claim 11 , further comprising a rear chamber formed between at least one baffle and an exterior portion of the housing.
16 . The portable heater of claim 15 , wherein a third series of air intake apertures is positioned beneath the rear chamber.
17 . The portable heater of claim 11 , wherein the threshold temperature is about 80 degrees Celsius.
18 . The portable heater of claim 11 , wherein t a top surface and a front surface leading edge are maintained at or below the threshold temperature.
19 . A portable heater comprising:
a housing having a bottom surface, an exterior top surface, a front exterior surface, the front exterior surface including a grille composed of air outlet apertures, and the bottom surface having a series of air intake apertures formed therein;
the front exterior surface further including a leading edge and a face surface with venting apertures formed therein;
at least two baffles located within the housing and a heating element disposed within the housing, the heating element capable of heating air flowing from the air intake apertures to the air outlet apertures in a natural convection movement; and
the baffles disposed so as to define an arcuate convection chamber within the housing positioned from a location at the bottom of the housing rearward of the heating element, and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom to a location on the inside of the front exterior surface above the air outlet apertures;
wherein the convection chamber maintains the leading edge and exterior top surface at or below a threshold temperature.
20 . The heater of claim 19 , wherein the threshold temperature is about 80 degrees Celsius.