GB2219073A

GB2219073A - Portable apparatus for heating a substantially enclosed area

Info

Publication number: GB2219073A
Application number: GB8821666A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Milne Haresign
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-05-27
Filing date: 1988-08-31
Publication date: 1989-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-31
Also published as: GB2219073B; GB8812564D0; GB8821666D0

Abstract

Apparatus 10 for heating a substantially enclosed area such as a marquee or the like comprises at least one air heater 12 mounted in a trailer 11 and means for passing air from the area to be heated through the heater. Input and output ducts 15, 14 are provided and are arranged to extend between the warm air heaters 12 and the area to be heated. Thus, the apparatus 10 is arranged to be situated outside the area to be heated. The apparatus includes its own supply of fuel gas, 19 and may be thermostatically controlled. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR BEATING A SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSED AREA The invention relates to apparatus for heating a substantially enclosed area and particularly but not exclusively to apparatus for heating tents, marquees, pneumatics or the like.

It is known to heat a marquee using a large paraffin fired heater situated therewithin. The heater may, however, become very hot, in particular at the output vent, so that a person touching the output vent may contract a burn, which is clearly undesirable.

Furthermore, as the heater is situated entirely within the marquee, fumes will be released into the marquee which may discolour fabrics therewithin, such as clothes or wall hangings, or result in those fabrics taking on the odour of the fumes.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for heating a substantially enclosed area comprising heating means and means for passing air from an input to the heating means and thence to an output, the apparatus being adapted to be situated outside the area with the input and output inside the area.

Preferably the apparatus is adapted for heating tents, marquees, pneumatics or the like.

As the apparatus is adapted to be situated outside the area-to be heated there is no danger of persons, animals or material being burnt by the apparatus.

Furthermore, the venting for the heating means may be external to the area.

Preferably the apparatus is adapted to be portable.

Thus, if the apparatus is to be used to heat a marquee, for example, the marquee can be set up in any position and the apparatus then transported to the marquee.

The apparatus may include a plurality of ground engaging wheels and preferably is adapted to be pulled behind a vehicle. The apparatus may include a trailer on which the remainder thereof is mounted.

The heating means preferably comprises'at least one warm air heater. The or each heater is preferably a gas fired heater. The gas may be mains gas or may be supplied from a portable source. The or each heater preferably burns LPG or the like. The apparatus may include therefore at least one gas supply cylinder and preferably a plurality of gas supply cylinders is provided, the cylinders being interconnected by an automatic change-over valve. Thus, when one cylinder or set of cylinders is exhausted, the supply lines are automatically connected to a new cylinder or set of cylinders.

The input is preferably arranged at a higher level than the output. In this way, air is circulated and warm air rising through the area is replaced by warm air from the apparatus output. The input is preferably vertically spaced from the output by about 8 feet (2.44 m). At least one support strut may be provided between the input and the output.

The input may comprise -at least one duct and the output may also. comprise at least one duct.

Preferably the or each duct is insulated. Thus heat is not lost between the heating means and the area to be heated. The or each duct may be insulated by a layer of insulating material of the type applied as a foam. The or each duct may be steel and preferably includes corrosion protection on its inner surface.

The inner surface of the or each duct is preferably galvanised.

The means for passing air is preferably controllable so as to provide a plurality of different air speeds and may be programmable. In this way the heat passing into the area can be controlled. The heating means is preferably controllable so as to provide a plurality of different levels of heat and may be programmable.

Thus an alternative or additional method of heat control is provided. Sensing means may be provided for sensing the temperature in the area. Preferably, one or both of the heating means and the means for passing air is controllable in response to the temperature sensed by the sensing means so as to keep the temperature at a predetermined level. The apparatus may be programmable to provide a set temperature regime for the area.

The apparatus may include a generator which may be a petrol generator for generating power therefor.

Preferably, the apparatus does not require external connection for its operation.

The apparatus may include stabilising means for arranging the input and output in stable alignment with the area to be heated. The stablising means may comprise a plurality of downwardly extendable elements.

The heating means preferably includes a thermistorstat.

The apparatus preferably provides about 180000 BTU's (190 MJ).

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of the embodiment.

Apparatus 10 includes an enclosed rectangular trailer 11 in which two warm air heaters 12 are mounted. The warm air heaters 12 are mounted above the floor 13 of the trailer 11 and are arranged to draw air downwardly through them to be heated. Rectangular cross section ducts 14, 15 are mounted on an outer wall of the trailer 11 and guide air to and from the heaters 12 for heating. One output duct 14 and one input duct 15 is provided for each heater 12. The ducts 14, 15 are connected to the heaters 12 by suitable ducting 16 within the trailer 11. Each duct 14, 15 is insulated on its outer surface by a layer of insulating material of the type applied as a foam, so that heat loss in the ducts 14, 15 is minimised.

The input duct 15 for each heater 12 is provided substantially vertically above its corresponding output duct 14 and the two ducts are connected at their outer end by a substantially vertical support strut 17. The two support struts 17 are connected by cross members 18. The support strut 17 and cross members 18 provide rigid interconnection between the ducts 14, 15.

The warm air heaters 12 burn LPG or the like which is supplied from cylinders 19 which are mounted on the exterior of the enclosed trailer 11. The cylinders 19 are connected to the gas input for the warm air heaters 12 through an automatic change-over valve 20.

Flues 21 for exhaust fumes from the warm air heaters 12 are provided and extend through apertures 22 in the trailer 11 to the exterior of the trailer 11.

Control means (not shown) is provided for controlling the heat delivered by the warm air heaters 12 and the speed at which air passes through the heaters 12.

Sensing means (not shown) is also provided for sensing the temperature of the area to be heated.

A socket 23 is provided in the trailer 11 for connecting the electrical components of the trailer 11 to an electrical supply. A generator (not shown) is also provided in the trailer 11 for generating electricity in the case where an electrical supply is not available. The generator may be a petrol or diesel generator.

The trailer 11 includes a towing bar 24 for connection to a vehicle so that the trailer 11 can be towed. The trailer 11 also includes downwardly extendable elements or legs 25 in the region of each corner.

In use, the apparatus 11 will be towed to its desired position and the legs 25 will be extended downwardly to engage the ground to ensure that the trailer 11 will not move, and also to ensure that the trailer 11 is at the correct angle with respect to the area to be heated. In the case of a marquee, for example, the marquee may have rectangular openings therein to receive the ends of the input and output ducts 14, 15. The openings may be normally closed off by zip sided covers. The legs 25 may thus be used to align the ducts with the openings in the marquee. The sensing means may then be placed in the area to be heated and electrical supply line connected to the socket 23. The control means may then be set, for example, so that the heaters 12 start up at a pre-determined time and the temperature of the heaters 12 and the speed at which air is drawn therethrough, is controlled in response to signals from the sensing means such that the area is heated to a pre-determined temperature and then kept at that temperature until the pre-determined time at which the heaters 12 are turned of. A thermistorstat (not shown) may be provided so that when heat is no longer required, the heat supply does not simply cut out but is reduced over a period of time.

The automatic change-over valve 20 ensures that when one of the cylinders 19 is exhausted, the gas supply lines to the warm air heaters 12 are automatically connected to the next cylinder 19.

As the input ducts 15 are at a higher level than the output ducts 14, air will circulate in the marquee and heat lost through warmer air rising through the marquee will be replaced by heated air released at low level from the output ducts 14.

The ducts 14, 15 are made of steel and are galvanised for corrosion protection.

The trailer 11 need not be of the type shown but may, for example, have two wheels instead of four, or may not be enclosed, and indeed the trailer 11 may be of any suitable type.

Only one warm air heater 12, or more than two warm air heaters 12 may be provided if desired.

The warm air heaters need not be gas fired but may be electrical, or of any other suitable type.

The apparatus 10 need not be portable but may be fixed into position.

The ducts 14, 15 need not be of rectangular cross-section but may be of any suitable shape.

The ducts 14, 15 need not be insulated in the manner described but may be insulated in any suitable manner or need not be insulated if desired.

A generator need not be provided if desired.

Claims

1. Apparatus for heating tents, marquees, pneumatics orthe like, comprising heating means and means for passing air from an input to the heating means and thence to an output, the apparatus being adapted to be situated outside the area with the input and output inside the area.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be portable.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of ground engaging wheels.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be pulled behind a vehicle.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the apparatus includes a trailer on which the remainder thereof is mounted.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the heating means comprises at least one warm air heater.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the or each heater is a gas fired heater.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the or each heater burns LPG or the like.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the apparatus includes at least one gas supply cylinder.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein a plurality of gas supply cylinders are provided, the cylinders being interconnected by an automatic changeover valve.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the input is arranged at a higher level than the output.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the input is vertically spaced from the output by 8 about feet (2.44 m).

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein at least one strut is provided between the input and the output.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the input comprises at least one duct.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the output comprises at least one duct.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the or each duct is insulated.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the or each duct is insulated by a layer of insulating material of the type applied as a foam.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 14 to 17, wherein the or each duct is made of steel.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the or each duct includes corrosion protection on its inner surface.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the inner surface of the or each duct is galvanised.

21. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for passing air is controllable so as to provide a plurality of different air speeds.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the means for passing air is programmable.

23. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the heating means is controllable so as to provide a plurality of different levels of-heat.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the heating means is programmable.

25. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 21 to 24 wherein sensing means is provided for sensing the temperature in the tent, marquee, pneumatic or the like to be heated.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein one or both of the heating means and the means for passing air is controllable in response to the temperature sensed by the sensing means so as to keep the temperature of the tent, marquee, pneumatic or the like at a predetermined level.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the apparatus is programmable to provide a set temperature control regime for the tent, marquee, pneumatic or the like.

28. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes a generator for generating power therefor.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the generator is a petrol driven generator.

30. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus does not require external connection for its operation.

31. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the heating means includes a thermistorstat.

32. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes stabilising means for arranging the input and output in stable alignment with the tent, marquee, pneumatic or the like to be heated.

33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the stabilising means comprises a plurality of downwardly extendable elements.

34. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus provides about 180000 BTU's (190 MJ).

35. Apparatus for heating tents, marquees, pneumatics or the like substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawing.