Heater

Abstract

To provide a heater which allows immediate warmth to be felt only on an upper side of the heater but also at any peripheries by further improving an existing heater including a heat radiation panel and planar heating element.SOLUTION: A heater includes: a flat-plate-like heat radiation panel 9 in which a plurality of through-hole-like ventilation passages 9b extending in a vertical direction is arrayed; and a pair of planar heating elements 10 disposed so as to hold the heat radiation panel 9 on both surface side of the heat radiation panel to generate heat when being energized. The planar heating elements 10 is fixed via a spacer 11a to the heat radiation panel 9 to provide an interval g.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heater using a planar heating element such as a glass heater or a ceramic heater.

Background Art

[0002] As equipment for warming a room, for example, an oil stove that burns kerosene, a heater that warms a heat radiation panel with warm water (see Patent Document 1 below), a heater that warms a cylindrical member with warm water (see Patent Document 2 below), etc. are known. The oil stove has problems such as the risk of causing a fire when it falls because it uses fire, and the heater that uses warm water has problems such as poor thermal efficiency.

[0003] Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have developed "a heater including a flat heat radiation panel provided with a plurality of fin portions arranged so as to span between facing flat portions, and through-holes in the shape of ventilation paths extending in the vertical direction between the fin portions arranged in parallel, and a pair of planar heating elements arranged so as to contact and sandwich each flat portion of the heat radiation panel and generating heat when energized" (see Patent Document 3 below).

[0004] This heater improves the thermal efficiency by arranging planar heating elements on both sides of the heat radiation panel, and enables the room to be warmed rapidly.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The heater described in Patent Document 3 above is thermally efficient and can rapidly heat a room. However, most of the heat from the planar heating element is transferred to the heat dissipation panel, which warms the air and creates an upward airflow. As a result, while the area near the upper air outlet feels warm immediately after power is turned on, the area near the front, back, and sides of the heater warms up somewhat more slowly than the area near the air outlet.

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to further improve conventional heating devices equipped with heat-dissipating panels and planar heating elements, and to provide a heating device that allows people to feel warmth immediately not only on the surface above the heating device, but also anywhere around it. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One embodiment of the present invention is a heating device comprising a flat heat-dissipating panel having a plurality of parallel through-hole-shaped ventilation passages extending in the vertical direction, and a pair of planar heating elements arranged to sandwich the heat-dissipating panel on both sides and generating heat when electricity is applied, characterized in that the planar heating elements are fixed between the heat-dissipating panel and the heating device via spacers.

[0009] In the above-described form of heater, a gap is created between the heat-dissipating panel and the planar heating element. As a result, the heat emitted from the planar heating element warms not only the heat-dissipating panel but also the air in that gap. This air then dissipates, allowing the heater to quickly warm not only the area above it but also the surrounding area.

[0010] In the above-described form of heater, it is preferable that the gap width between the planar heating element and the heat dissipation panel be 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm, and that the thickness of the spacer be 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm. By setting the gap width between the planar heating element and the heat dissipation panel within this range, both the heat dissipation panel and the air in the gap can be heated appropriately. If the gap is narrower, only the heat dissipation panel will heat up, causing only the upper part of the heater to warm up easily. If the gap is wider, heat will not transfer well to the heat dissipation panel.

[0011] In the above-described form of the heater, it is preferable that the spacer is integrally formed with a fixing device that secures the planar heating element to the heat dissipation panel. This allows for easy formation of a gap between the planar heating element and the heat dissipation panel, enabling efficient assembly.

[0012] In the above-described form of heater, it is preferable that the fixing device comprises a clip portion that elastically holds the planar heating element and a fixing portion that contacts and fixes the fixing device to one surface of the heat dissipation panel. By using this type of fastener, the clip portion can be attached to the surface heating element, and the fixing portion can be secured to the heat dissipation panel with screws or the like, thereby fixing the surface heating element to the heat dissipation panel and creating a gap between it and the heat dissipation panel. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a heating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a section of the heater shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the heating element, which is a component of the heater. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the heating section. [Figure 5] Figure 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the heating section. [Figure 6] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the heat dissipation panel, which is a component of the heating section. [Figure 7] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fixing device, which is a component of the heating section. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] A heating device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the heater 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped main body 2 and a heating unit 3 disposed inside the main body 2. The heater 1 is suitable for a household heater that warms a living room or the like, although it is not particularly limited.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 2 has a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a front surface portion 2a, a rear surface portion 2b, an upper surface portion 2c, left and right side surface portions 2d, and a bottom surface portion 2e. The main body 2 is preferably formed in a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape with the width (the width of the front surface portion 2a) being thinner than the depth (the width of the side surface portion 2d). Although not particularly limited, the width is preferably within the range of 150 mm to 350 mm, the depth is preferably within the range of 400 mm to 600 mm, and the height is preferably within the range of 500 mm to 700 mm.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface portion 2c includes an operation unit 4 and an air outlet 5. The operation unit 4 is provided with a switch for operating the heater 1 and a light for notifying the operating status of the heater 1, and can perform ON / OFF operations and air volume adjustments. The air outlet 5 is opened in a horizontally long rectangular shape so that the air heated by the internal heating unit 3 can be discharged. The air outlet 5 has a grid-like mesh structure to prevent objects and fingers from entering easily.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface portion 2a and the rear surface portion 2b of the main body 2, near the upper surface portion 2c, there are provided horizontally long rectangular recessed carrying portions 6 so that the heater 1 can be easily carried by hanging fingers on the carrying portions 6.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the bottom surface portion 2e of the main body 2 includes legs 7 and a suction port 8. The legs 7 are provided with support portions 7a protruding obliquely outward in a rod shape from each corner of the bottom surface portion 2e, and casters 7b are fixed to the tip portions of the support portions 7a to make it easy to move the main body 2. The intake port 8 has a horizontally elongated rectangular opening to allow air to be drawn inside. The intake port 8 has a grid-like mesh structure to prevent objects or fingers from entering.

[0020] In this embodiment, the main body 2 is shaped like a vertically elongated rectangular parallelepiped, but it is not limited to this, and various designs can be adopted.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the heating unit 3 is located near the center of the interior of the main body 2, and as shown in Figures 3 to 5, it comprises a heat dissipation panel 9, a planar heating element 10, and a fixing device 11. As shown in Figure 6, the heat dissipation panel 9 is a hollow, elongated rectangular flat plate that penetrates vertically, with thin, plate-like fin sections 9a arranged parallel to each other at approximately equal intervals inside, forming multiple ventilation passages 9b. The ventilation passages 9b are formed as through-holes extending in the vertical direction and are arranged in a row in parallel. The ventilation passages 9b are not particularly limited, but it is preferable that their cross-section be rectangular, and especially preferable that they be elongated rectangular. It is also preferable that the width of the ventilation passages 9b be narrow, and although not particularly limited, it is preferable that it be 25 mm or less, especially 10 mm or less, and even more preferably 5 mm or less.

[0022] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the flat surfaces 9c on both sides of the heat dissipation panel 9 are designed to accommodate the planar heating element 10. It is preferable to improve the flatness of the flat surfaces 9c by press working or the like; for example, a flatness of 0.01 mm or less is preferable. Screw holes 9g for fastening the fasteners 11 are provided on the left and right edges of the flat surfaces 9c. Furthermore, the flat portion 9c is provided with grooves 9h that extend in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, five grooves 9h are provided on each surface of the flat portion 9c. The grooves 9h are not particularly limited, but can be formed into various shapes such as square grooves, circular grooves, or triangular cross-sections. Lip-shaped fixing grooves 9e are formed vertically on the side end surfaces 9d of the heat dissipation panel 9, allowing it to be fixed to the main body 2.

[0023] The heat dissipation panel 9 is preferably made from a material with good thermal conductivity, and is not particularly limited, but is preferably made from a metal such as copper, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy, and is preferably formed integrally by extrusion molding of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0024] The planar heating element 10 is a flat plate that generates heat across its entire surface when an electric current is passed through it. For example, glass heaters, ceramic heaters, and graft carbon heaters (graft carbon is a registered trademark) can be used. More specifically, ceramic heaters include alumina-based ceramic heaters and silicon nitride-based ceramic heaters.

[0025] In this embodiment, the planar heating element 10 has a rectangular flat heating element with conductive wires (not shown) arranged around it. The heating element has an area slightly smaller than the flat surface 9c of the heat dissipation panel 9, and the pair of heat dissipation panels 9 are sandwiched and fixed between them from both sides.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, the planar heating element 10 and the heat dissipation panel 9 are fixed together via a spacer 11a so that a gap g is created between them. The spacer 11a may be a thin, washer-like plate, but in this embodiment, it is integrally formed with the fixing device 11 for fixing the planar heating element 10 to the heat dissipation panel 9.

[0027] As shown in Figure 7, the fastener 11 comprises a clip portion 12 with a U-shaped cross-section formed by bending the long edges of a rectangular plate material so that they overlap, and a fixing portion 13 having a hole 13a through which screws or the like are inserted for fixing to the heat dissipation panel 9. In this embodiment, one planar heating element 10 is fixed to the heat dissipation panel 9 using four fasteners 11.

[0028] The clip portion 12 of the fixing device 11 is designed to be clamped onto the edge of the planar heating element 10, and comprises a spacer piece 12a and a clamping piece 12b facing it. The spacer piece 12a is in the shape of an elongated rectangular plate and is sandwiched between the planar heating element 10 and the heat dissipation panel 9, acting as a spacer 11a, and can form a gap g between the planar heating element 10 and the heat dissipation panel 9. The width of the gap g is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm, and more preferably 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm. The thickness of the spacer piece 12a is preferably 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm, and more preferably 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm, so that the width of the gap g falls within this range.

[0029] The clamping piece 12b is shaped like an elongated rectangular plate and is positioned opposite the spacer piece 12a with a gap between them. The clamping piece 12b is provided with a triangular cross-section projection 12c that protrudes toward the spacer piece 12a. When the planar heating element 10 is clamped, the projection 12c abuts against the planar heating element 10, making it difficult to dislodge due to elastic force.

[0030] The fixing portion 13 is formed flush with the spacer piece 12a and consists of two rectangular plate-shaped pieces. Each piece is provided with a circular hole 13a, which can be inserted through a screw or the like to fasten and fix it to the screw hole 9g of the heat dissipation panel 9.

[0031] To assemble the heating unit 3, first, fasteners 11 are attached to the left and right edges of the planar heating element 10. By sandwiching the left and right edges of the planar heating element 10 between the spacer piece 12a and the clamping piece 12b of the clip portion 12 of the fastener 11, the protruding portion 12c contacts the planar heating element 10, and it can be attached without coming loose due to elastic force. Once two fasteners 11 are attached to each of the left and right edges of the planar heating element 10, the planar heating element 10 is placed on top of the flat portion 9c of the heat dissipation panel 9. Providing disc-shaped positioning pins 9f near the upper and lower ends of the flat portion 9c of the heat dissipation panel 9 makes it easier to position the planar heating element 10.

[0032] Then, with the planar heating element 10 placed on the flat portion 9c of the heat dissipation panel 9, the planar heating element 10 can be fixed to the heat dissipation panel 9 by inserting screws or the like through the holes 13a of the fixing portion 13 of the solid fitting 11 and fastening them. The heating unit 3 can be assembled by similarly fixing the planar heating element 10 to the other flat portion 9c. Since the planar heating element 10 and the heat dissipation panel 9 are fixed together via a spacer piece 12a that also serves as a spacer 11a, a gap g of appropriate width can be formed between them.

[0033] The heater 1 can be operated, for example, as follows: The heater 1 is started by turning on its ON / OFF switch. This energizes the surface heating element 10, causing its temperature to begin rising. Since the surface heating element 10 is superimposed on the heat dissipation panel 9 via a spacer, a gap g is created, allowing heat from the surface heating element 10 to be conducted to the heat dissipation panel 9, and also warming the air within the gap g. The temperature of the fin portion 9a, the flat portion 9c, and the side edge portion 9d of the heat dissipation panel 9 rises, warming the air in the ventilation passage 9b. The warmed air rises within the ventilation passage 9b, is released from the opening at the top of the heat dissipation panel 9, and is sent out through the air outlet 5, warming the upper side of the heater 1. Furthermore, the air within the gap g is also warmed, and warmed air is released from all four sides of the surface heating element 10. As a result, not only the upper side of the heater 1, but also the front, back, and sides can be rapidly warmed, allowing warmth to be felt immediately anywhere around the heater 1.

[0034] Thus, the heater 1 is safe as it does not use fire, and the heat generated by the pair of planar heating elements 10 provided on both flat surfaces 9c of the heat-dissipating panel 9 is efficiently transferred to the heat-dissipating panel 9, warming the air and moderately warming the area around the heater 1.

[0035] Using the fixing device 11, the heat dissipation panel 9 and the planar heating element 10 can be easily fixed together, and a gap g can be easily created between the heat dissipation panel 9 and the planar heating element 10. Furthermore, by providing grooves 9h in the heat dissipation panel 9, air in the gap g can flow more easily in the vertical direction, making it easier to heat the area around the heater 1. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1… Heater 2…Main body 2a...Front section 2b…Back part 2c...Top part 2d...Side part 2e…Bottom part 3...Heating part 4...Operation unit 5...Air outlet 6...Handle 7…Legs 7a...Support part 7b... Caster 8... Inlet 9… Heat dissipation panel 9a... Fin section 9b... Ventilation channel 9c…Plane part 9d…Side end face part 9e…Fixing groove 9f...Positioning pin 9g…Screw hole 9h…Groove 10… Planar heating element 11...Fixing tool 11a...Spacer 12... Clip part 12a...Spacer piece 12b...Pinching piece 12c...Protrusion part 13...Fixed part 13a...fixing piece 13b…hole g…Gap

Claims

1. A heating device comprising a flat heat dissipation panel having multiple parallel through-hole-shaped ventilation passages extending in the vertical direction, and a pair of planar heating elements arranged to sandwich the heat dissipation panel on both sides and generating heat when energized, wherein the planar heating elements are fixed between the heat dissipation panel and the heating device via spacers, and the gap width between the planar heating elements and the heat dissipation panel is 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm.

2. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the spacer is 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm.

3. The heating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spacer is integrally formed with a fixing device for fixing the planar heating element to the heat dissipation panel.

4. The heating device according to claim 3, wherein the fixing device comprises a clip portion that elastically holds the planar heating element and a fixing portion that contacts and fixes the fixing device to one surface of the heat dissipation panel.

Images