US 11,808,461 B2
Radiant heater assembly
Joseph A Wortman, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (US); Kevin L. Blissett, Lenox, MI (US); Kenneth L. Bachorski, Warren, MI (US); and Alex P. Napolitan, Fort Gratiot, MI (US)
Assigned to Detroit Radiant Products Company, Warren, MI (US)
Filed by Detroit Radiant Products Company, Warren, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/128,821.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/951,364, filed on Dec. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0190322 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. F24C 3/04 (2021.01); F23D 14/66 (2006.01); F24C 3/12 (2006.01)
CPC F24C 3/042 (2013.01) [F23D 14/66 (2013.01); F24C 3/122 (2013.01); F23N 2235/16 (2020.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A radiant heating assembly comprising:
a heating unit comprising:
a burner;
an air intake in communication with the burner and configured to provide air from an air source to the burner for combustion;
a fuel inlet in communication with the burner and configured to provide fuel to the burner for combustion;
a fuel valve disposed within the fuel inlet and configured to control amount of fuel provided to the burner through the fuel inlet; and
a controller configured to control the fuel valve;
a heat exchanger coupled to the burner of the heating unit;
a reflector coupled to and at least partially disposed about the heat exchanger, the reflector configured to reflect the heat energy produced by the heat exchanger in a defined direction, the reflector comprising:
a base defining an air chamber; and
an air circulation pump in communication with the air chamber defined in the base of the reflector and configured to move air through the air chamber and supply the air that has passed through the air chamber to the air intake as a second air source;
wherein the base is configured to absorb some of the heat energy produced by the heat exchanger such that as the air passes through the air chamber of the base, the air is heated above the air temperature of the surrounding environment, and when the heated air from the air chamber is provided to the air intake, it increases the temperature of the air provided by the air intake to the burner.