Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
RADIANT HEATING SYSTEM AND BOILER HOUSING FOR USE THEREIN
This invention relates generally to a radiant heating system and to an
improved boiler housing for
use in a radiant heating system, which is durable and reliable, that is
constructed and arranged to
receive easily removable or replaceable heating elements, and which can be
easily installed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
It is well known that, for example, furnaces can be used to heat spaces such
as homes.
Traditionally, such furnaces were oil furnaces. However, as the demand for oil
has risen sharply in
the last decade, the price has correspondingly risen sharply, reducing the
ability of such furnaces to
be economical to the home or business owner. Recently, gas-fired applications,
using natural gas,
have been much in demand for homeowners in economically heating their home.
However, much
as has occurred with oil, natural gas has also seen large price increases in
the last couple of years,
which has also reduced the economical viability of gas-fired applications.
It is also well known to heat homes or spaces using, for example, electrical
baseboards, but, as
hydro rates have risen quite sharply recently, and can be expected to continue
upwardly in the
future, these types of devices are not necessarily economical also. In
addition, heating systems
such as furnaces can require a large footprint, and take up an inordinate
amount of space.
In addition, certain types of heating arrangements have utilized electrical
elements internally
positioned within, whereby coolant can be heated by an electrical element so
as to heat an area.
United States Patents Nos. 5,408,960 (Woytowich) and 4,770,134 (Foreman et al)
are examples of
such devices. However, these arrangements feature electrical elements that are
internally
positioned and firmly set within a tank or chamber, and do not allow for easy
removal of the
electrical element from the pre-heater without complete disassembly, or
destruction, of the pre-
heater, should maintenance or replacement of the electrical element be
required. In such
maintenance or replacement situations, the entire unit would be required to be
removed to access
1
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
the internal electrical element, thereby making maintenance and replacement of
such pre-heater
components difficult and complicated.
What is required is a radiant heating system and an improved boiler housing
for use in a
radiant heating system, which is very economical, and which can generate
substantial amounts of
heat to heat larger spaces, such as in a home or business. Thus, there is a
need for an improved
environmentally friendly radiant heating system and an improved boiler housing
for use therein for
heating a space which has a generally uncomplicated and simple design, which
may be installed
easily, and is durable and reliable, and which possesses easily removable or
replaceable heating
elements. In addition, there is a need for a radiant heating system which
possesses a minimal
footprint, and which utilizes internally positioned baffle plates of differing
lengths within the
housing, with a view to increasing the turbulence of the coolant within the
housing, so as to
temporarily inhibit and keep coolant in the housing longer to heat it in a
faster and more efficient
manner, and increase water pressure in the system. Further there is a need for
a radiant heating
system which can be utilized in a variety of applications, from heating a home
to radiant floor
heating. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this
need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved,
environmentally friendly
radiant heating system and an improved boiler housing for use therein, which
has a generally
uncomplicated and simple design, which possesses a minimal footprint, and
which has a housing
with an inlet and outlet for permitting a flow of coolant therein, which can
then be interconnected
with piping to form a closed fluid flow circuit.
2
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved radiant
heating system and
boiler housing for use therein, wherein the housing has openings defined
therein whereby easily
removable electric heating elements can be inserted to project into the
housing and be in direct
contact with the coolant to heat it.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved radiant
heating system and
boiler housing for use therein, wherein a diameter of the inlet of the housing
is greater than a
diameter of the outlet, so as to temporarily inhibit and keep coolant in the
housing longer to heat it
in a faster and more efficient manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved radiant
heating system and
boiler housing for use therein, which utilizes internally positioned baffle
plates of differing lengths
within the housing, with a view to increasing the turbulence of the coolant
within the housing, so
as to temporarily inhibit and keep coolant in the housing longer to heat it in
a faster and more
efficient manner, and increase water pressure in the system.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radiant
heating system
constructed and arranged for interconnection to a power source for heating a
desired area and
having a closed fluid flow circuit comprising: a housing comprising: (a) a top
plate for covering
and sealing an upper surface of the housing, the top plate having a plurality
of openings defined
therein and having an inlet for permitting a flow of coolant to enter into the
housing and an outlet
3
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
for permitting a transfer of heated coolant out of the housing, wherein a
diameter of the inlet is
greater than a diameter of the outlet, the inlet and the outlet being
constructed and arranged for
connection with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, respectively; and (b) at
least two baffle plates
internally positioned within the housing, the at least two baffle plates
having different lengths from
one another within the housing; a plurality of heating elements constructed
and arranged for
insertion into the plurality of openings and projecting into the housing
whereby the plurality of
heating elements are in direct contact with the coolant; a pump in
communication with the heating
system for continuously circulating the coolant throughout the closed fluid
flow circuit, wherein
the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are interconnected to form the closed fluid
flow circuit, the
interconnected inlet pipe and outlet pipe being constructed and arranged to
radiate heat to the
desired area by means of the heated coolant flowing therethrough.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
radiant heating system
constructed and arranged for heating a desired area and having a closed fluid
flow circuit
comprising a housing comprising: (a) a top plate for covering and sealing an
upper surface of the
housing, the top plate having a plurality of openings defined therein and
having an inlet for
permitting a flow of coolant to enter into the housing and an outlet for
permitting a transfer of
heated coolant out of the housing, wherein a diameter of the inlet is greater
than a diameter of the
outlet, the inlet and the outlet being constructed and arranged for connection
with an inlet pipe and
an outlet pipe, respectively; and (b) at least two baffle plates internally
positioned within the
housing, the at least two baffle plates having different lengths from one
another within the
housing; a plurality of heating elements constructed and arranged for
insertion into the plurality of
4
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
,
openings and projecting into the housing whereby the plurality of heating
elements are in direct
contact with the coolant; a pump in communication with the heating system for
continuously
circulating the coolant throughout the closed fluid flow circuit; and a power
source constructed and
arranged for connection with the heating system, the power source supplying
the plurality of
heating elements and the pump with power; wherein the inlet pipe and the
outlet pipe are
interconnected to form the closed fluid flow circuit, the interconnected inlet
pipe and outlet pipe
being constructed and arranged to radiate heat to the desired area by means of
the heated coolant
flowing therethrough.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
radiant heating system
constructed and arranged for heating a desired area and having a closed fluid
flow circuit
comprising: a housing comprising: (a) a top plate for covering and sealing an
upper surface of the
housing, the top plate having a plurality of openings defined therein; (b) an
inlet for permitting a
flow of coolant to enter into the housing; (c) an outlet for permitting a
transfer of heated coolant
out of the housing, wherein a diameter of the inlet is greater than a diameter
of the outlet, the inlet
and the outlet being constructed and arranged for connection with an inlet
pipe and an outlet pipe,
respectively; (d) at least two baffle plates internally positioned within the
housing, the at least two
baffle plates having different lengths from one another within the housing;
(e) a substantially flat
bottom portion; (f) right and left angled portions connected to the bottom
portion; and
(g) upstanding opposed side wall portions, connected to respective ones of the
right and left
angled portions; a plurality of heating elements constructed and arranged for
insertion into the
plurality of openings and projecting into the housing whereby the plurality of
heating elements are
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
in direct contact with the coolant; a pump in communication with the heating
system for
continuously circulating the coolant throughout the closed fluid flow circuit;
and a power source
constructed and arranged for connection with the heating system, the power
source supplying the
plurality of heating elements and the pump with power; wherein the inlet pipe
and the outlet pipe
are interconnected to form the closed fluid flow circuit, the interconnected
inlet pipe and outlet
pipe being constructed and arranged to radiate heat to the desired area by
means of the heated
coolant flowing therethrough.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
housing for use in a
radiant heating system constructed and arranged for heating a desired area and
having a closed
fluid flow circuit, the housing comprising an inlet for permitting a flow of
coolant to enter into the
housing, the housing being constructed and arranged to circulate the flow of
the coolant within the
housing; a plurality of openings defined therein which are constructed and
arranged for insertion of
a plurality of heating elements into the plurality of openings and projecting
into the housing,
whereby the plurality of heating elements are in direct contact with the
coolant to heat the coolant;
an outlet for permitting a transfer of heated coolant out of the housing,
wherein a diameter of the
inlet is greater than a diameter of the outlet; a top plate for covering and
sealing an upper surface
of the housing, the top plate having a plurality of openings defined therein;
and at least two baffle
plates internally positioned within the housing, the at least two baffle
plates having different
lengths from one another within the housing; wherein the inlet and the outlet
are constructed and
arranged for communication and interconnection with an inlet pipe and an
outlet pipe, respectively,
for forming the closed fluid flow circuit, the interconnected inlet pipe and
outlet pipe being
6
CA 02783166 2017-01-12
constructed and arranged to radiate heat to the desired area by means of the
heated coolant
flowing therethrough.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
radiant heating system
constructed and arranged for interconnection to a power source for heating a
desired area and
having a closed fluid flow circuit comprising a housing comprising: (a) a top
plate for covering
and sealing an upper surface of the housing, the top plate having a plurality
of openings defined
therein and having an inlet for permitting a flow of coolant to enter into the
housing and an outlet
for permitting a transfer of heated coolant out of the housing, wherein a
diameter of the inlet is
greater than a diameter of the outlet, the inlet and the outlet being
constructed and arranged for
connection with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, respectively; and (b) at
least two baffle plates
internally positioned within the housing, the at least two baffle plates
having different lengths
from one another within the housing; a plurality of heating elements
constructed and arranged for
insertion into the plurality of openings and projecting into the housing
whereby the plurality of
heating elements are in direct contact with the coolant, the plurality of
heating elements being
accessible from an exterior surface of the housing to permit removal of the
plurality of heating
elements from the housing without disassembly of the housing and without
disconnection of the
housing from the closed fluid flow circuit; a pump in communication with the
heating system for
continuously circulating the coolant throughout the closed fluid flow circuit,
wherein the inlet
pipe and the outlet pipe are interconnected to form the closed fluid flow
circuit, the
interconnected inlet pipe and outlet pipe being constructed and arranged to
radiate heat to the
desired area by means of the heated coolant flowing therethrough.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
radiant heating
system constructed and arranged for heating a desired area and having a closed
fluid flow circuit
comprising: a housing comprising (a) a top plate for covering and sealing an
upper surface of the
housing, the top plate having a plurality of openings defined therein and
having an inlet for
permitting a flow of coolant to enter into the housing and an outlet for
permitting a transfer of
heated coolant out of the housing, wherein a diameter of the inlet is greater
than a diameter of the
outlet, the inlet and the outlet being constructed and arranged for connection
with an inlet pipe
7
CA 02783166 2017-01-12
and an outlet pipe, respectively; and (b) at least two baffle plates
internally positioned within the
housing, the at least two baffle plates having different lengths from one
another within the
housing; a plurality of heating elements constructed and arranged for
insertion into the plurality
of openings and projecting into the housing whereby the plurality of heating
elements are in
direct contact with the coolant, the plurality of heating elements being
accessible from an
exterior surface of the housing to permit removal of the plurality of heating
elements from the
housing without disassembly of the housing and without disconnection of the
housing from the
closed fluid flow circuit; a pump in communication with the heating system for
continuously
circulating the coolant throughout the closed fluid flow circuit; and a power
source constructed
and arranged for connection with the heating system, the power source
supplying the plurality of
heating elements and the pump with power; wherein the inlet pipe and the
outlet pipe are
interconnected to form the closed fluid flow circuit, the interconnected inlet
pipe and outlet pipe
being constructed and arranged to radiate heat to the desired area by means of
the heated coolant
flowing therethrough.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
housing for use in a
radiant heating system constructed and arranged for heating a desired area and
having a closed
fluid flow circuit, the housing comprising an inlet for permitting a flow of
coolant to enter into
the housing, the housing being constructed and arranged to circulate the flow
of the coolant
within the housing; a plurality of openings defined therein which are
constructed and arranged
for insertion of a plurality of heating elements into the plurality of
openings and projecting into
the housing, whereby the plurality of heating elements are in direct contact
with the coolant to
heat the coolant, the plurality of openings being constructed and arranged to
permit access to the
plurality of heating elements from an exterior surface of the housing to
permit removal of the
plurality of heating elements from the housing without disassembly of the
housing and without
disconnection of the housing from the closed fluid flow circuit; an outlet for
permitting a transfer
of heated coolant out of the housing, wherein a diameter of the inlet is
greater than a diameter of
the outlet; a top plate for covering and sealing an upper surface of the
housing, the top plate
having a plurality of openings defined therein and at least two baffle plates
internally positioned
within the housing, the at least two baffle plates having different lengths
from one another within
7A
CA 02783166 2017-01-12
the housing; wherein the inlet and the outlet are constructed and arranged for
communication and
interconnection with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, respectively, for
forming the closed fluid
flow circuit, the interconnected inlet pipe and outlet pipe being constructed
and arranged to
radiate heat to the desired area by means of the heated coolant flowing
therethrough.
The advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved,
environmentally friendly
radiant heating system and boiler housing for use therein, which has a
generally uncomplicated
and simple design, which possesses a minimal footprint, and which has a
housing which can
circulate and heat a flow of coolant therein. The housing can then be
interconnected with piping
to form a closed fluid flow circuit, whereby heat from the heated coolant can
be used to heat a
space remote from the housing. Further, the system can be integrated with
pumps, and connected
to a power source, whereby the closed fluid flow circuit can be used to
circulate and radiate heat
in a variety of applications, such as radiant floor heating, home heating, and
so forth.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved
radiant heating system
and boiler housing for use therein, wherein the housing has an inlet for
permitting a flow of
coolant into and throughout the housing and an outlet for permitting a
transfer of heated coolant
out of the housing, wherein a diameter of the inlet is greater than a diameter
of the outlet so as to
keep coolant in the housing longer to heat it, therefore heating the coolant
in a faster and more
efficient manner.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved
radiant heating system
and boiler housing for use therein, which utilizes internally positioned
baffle plates of differing
lengths within the housing, with a view to increasing the turbulence of the
coolant within the
housing, so as to temporarily inhibit and keep coolant in the housing longer
to heat it in a faster
7B
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
and more efficient manner, and increase water pressure in the system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the housing of the
radiant heating system
of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of the housing of the
radiant heating system
of the present invention shown in Figure 1, shown with the heating elements in
position within the
housing;
Figure 3A is a top view of an embodiment of the housing of the radiant heating
system
of the present invention shown in Figure 1, with the top cover removed and
illustrating the internal
baffle plates;
Figure 3B is a side view of an embodiment of the baffle plates for insertion
within the housing of
of the of the radiant heating system of the present invention; and
Figure 4 is a flow diagram view of an embodiment of the radiant heating system
of the present
invention, illustrating the system components.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In terms of describing the individual components of the system in greater
detail, and with reference
to Figures 1 to 4, the radiant heating system of the present invention is
designated in its entirety by
the reference numeral 1. With further reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is
shown an exemplary
8
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
embodiment of the housing 3 of the radiant heating system 1 of the present
invention, through
which coolant (not shown) may pass through the housing. Preferably, the
housing 3 is made of
metal, such as stainless steel, though it is conceivable that other materials
could also be utilized, as
would be apparent to one skilled in the art. The size and shape of the housing
can be varied, as
would also be understood.
In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 3 will also have, with reference to
Figures 1 and 2, a
top sealing plate 5 for covering and sealing the top surface of the housing 3,
the top sealing plate 5
being connected to the housing 3 by receiving screws or other securing means
placed through
securing holes 13. The top sealing plate 5 will have an inlet 9 and an outlet
11 for a flow
of coolant (not shown) to enter into and leave the housing 3. In addition, the
top sealing plate 5
has openings 7 defined therein, for insertion of heating elements 15 therein
to project into the
housing 3 and be in direct contact with the coolant to heat it. The inlet 9
and the outlet 11 can be
interconnected with piping (2,4), as shown in Figure 4, to form a closed fluid
flow circuit. In an
exemplary embodiment, a diameter of the inlet 9 is greater than a diameter of
the outlet 11, so as to
temporarily inhibit and keep coolant in the housing 3 longer to heat it in a
faster and more efficient
manner. The number of heating elements 15 which could be utilized could be
varied, depending
upon the application of the system, and the size required of the system.
As noted above, the housing 3 possesses an outlet 11 for a flow of heated
coolant to leave the
housing 3, as hereinafter described. The inlet 9 and the outlet 11 are
constructed and arranged for
interconnection with piping (2,4), as shown in Figure 4, to form a closed
fluid flow circuit. Of
9
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
course, inlet 9 will be interconnected with inlet pipe 2 and outlet 11 will be
interconnected with
outlet pipe 4. Once the inlet pipe and outlet pipe are interconnected to the
system 1, a pump 6 and
a power source 8, as shown in Figure 4, can be interconnected to the system to
circulate the
coolant in the closed fluid flow circuit, and through the system 1, it being
understood that
conventional power sources or pumps could be utilized. For example, in one
embodiment, the
power source can be an electrical type power source, or a power pack that can
be plugged in by
means of a power cord, though it is conceivable that, alternatively, other
types of power sources
could be utilized, such as solar power cells, A/C power, DC power pack,
battery, wind generated
power sources or the like, as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. It
will be understood that
the power source can be activated conventionally, or, for example, by a remote
device (not shown),
as would be understood by one skilled in the art.
The housing 3, as noted previously, has openings 7 defined therein, for
insertion
of heating elements 15 therein (shown in Figure 2) to project inwardly into
the housing 3
and be positioned so as to be in direct contact with the coolant to heat it.
The number of
heating elements 15 which could be utilized could be varied, depending upon
the application of the
system, and the size required of the system. For example, as few as two
heating elements could be
used, or up to sixteen, or more.
Preferably, the coolant will be water, though it is conceivable that other
fluids could be utilized,
as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. Of course, heating elements 15
are connected to, and
supplied with, power from the power source 8 for enabling the heating elements
15 to
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
heat the coolant, the coolant of course being circulated throughout the system
by the pump 6. The
electrical connection portion of heating elements 15 can, as an example, be
made of
Inconel TM, it being understood that this refers to a family of austenitic
nickel chromium-based
super-alloys, which are typically used in high temperature applications.
Common trade names for
Inconel TM include: Inconel 625 TM, Chronin 625 TM, Altemp 625 Tm,Haynes 625
TM, Nickelvac 625
TM and Nicrofer 6020 TM, for example. Preferably, any of the heating elements
15
are easily removable and replaceable if required from the housing 3.
In an exemplary embodiment, and with reference to Figures 3A and 3B, the
housing 3 possesses
two or more baffle plates 14 of differing lengths (clearly shown in Figure 3B)
from one another
within the housing 3, which can be positioned within the interior of the
housing 3. The baffle
plates 14 serve to increase the turbulence of the coolant within the housing
as it flows through, and
so as to temporarily inhibit and keep coolant in the housing longer to heat it
in a faster and more
efficient manner, and increase water pressure in the system. Preferably, the
baffle plates 14 do not
extend to a same height as that of the sides of the housing 3. The baffle
plates 14 can be
substantially solid, and are preferably made of metal. Further, the baffle
plates 14 can be arranged
to run horizontally, across the housing 3 as shown In Figure 3A, or,
alternatively, may run along a
substantial interior length of the housing 3, or a partial length thereof.
Further, with reference to Figure 1, the housing 3 comprises a substantially
flat bottom 17,
and right 19 and left angled 21 bottom portions, which are then integrally
connected to side walls
23 of the housing. In an exemplary embodiment, a shape of the baffle plates 14
will correspond to
the shape of the housing 3 in this respect.
11
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
Radiator panels 12, as shown in Figure 4, can be connected to the closed fluid
flow circuit to
radiate the heat from the coolant flowing in the circuit to a space to be
heated by the radiant
heating system 1. Such a space could be, for example, a home, a room, an
office, radiant flooring
or a building. If desired, such generated heat can be circulated by means of a
conventional fan or
blower.
The radiant heating system 1 can be activated by a remote device 18, as shown
in Figure 4, by a
user,whereby the power source can be activated to heat the heating elements,
and the
interconnected system, remotely from a distance, and this heat can then be
transferred by way of
the heat emitting radiator panels 12 or the like into the space to be heated.
In another alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown),
coolant can be omitted,
and dry heat, provided from the heating elements, can be utilized. In this
embodiment (not
shown) the housing 3 would preferably have an air passageway extending
therethrough for
passage of air through the housing 3. Heating elements would be inserted and
mounted into the
openings, the heating so as to project into the housing whereby the heating
elements are in direct
contact with air in the air passageway. A power source in communication with
the radiant
heating system would supply the electric heating elements with power, for
enabling the heating
elements to heat the air. An air blower, for example, or other such device,
could then direct the
heated air to an area external to the radiant heating system, such as a house
or other enclosed
structure, the air blower being supplied with power from the power source. As
an example, the
heated air can then be circulated by means of the conventional air
handler/blower (not shown)
through the ductwork of a home.
12
CA 02783166 2012-07-13
In an alternative embodiment, the radiant heating system can further comprise
a thermostatic
control 16, as shown in Figure 4, in association with the heating elements 15
and the coolant in
the housing 3, wherein the thermostatic control 16 is adapted to deactivate
the heating elements
15 when a temperature of the coolant exceeds a pre-determined level. Further,
the thermostatic
control 16 can also thus turn the heating elements 15 on when a temperature of
the coolant falls
below a pre-determined level.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred
embodiments.
However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of
variations and
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
described
herein.
13
