대표
청구항
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1. An apparatus for providing thermal energy for use in a household environment, the apparatus comprising:a portable free standing elongate housing definingi) a first interior space having a vertically oriented elongate configuration,ii) a second interior space, the second interior space positioned below the first interior space,iii) a vertically oriented elongate air outlet disposed adjacent the first interior space at a portion of the housing, andiv) at least one air inlet disposed adjacent the second interior space;at least one vertically oriented elo...
1. An apparatus for providing thermal energy for use in a household environment, the apparatus comprising:a portable free standing elongate housing definingi) a first interior space having a vertically oriented elongate configuration,ii) a second interior space, the second interior space positioned below the first interior space,iii) a vertically oriented elongate air outlet disposed adjacent the first interior space at a portion of the housing, andiv) at least one air inlet disposed adjacent the second interior space;at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element positioned within the first interior space, the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element oriented along a length of the first housing;a non-transverse centrifugal blower positioned within the second interior space and in fluid communication with the first interior space, the non-transverse centrifugal blower having at least one intake port receiving intake air from a first flow path at a lower portion of the housing and generating exhaust air upward along a second flow path, the second flow path substantially orthogonal to the first flow path; anda vertical oriented elongate restrictor positioned within the first interior space for restricting a flow of the exhaust air through the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element,wherein substantially all the exhaust air flows through the at least one vertically oriented elongate heating element in a substantially uniform direction and is exhausted above the first flow path. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-transverse centrifugal blower has a predetermined blade diameter and the at least one vertically oriented elongate heating element has a predetermined length, and a ratio of the at least one vertically oriented elongate heating element length to the blade diameter is at least 1.75:1. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-transverse centrifugal blower has at least one fan blade having a plurality of blade elements facing in a rotational direction of the non-transverse centrifugal blower. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a static pressure within the first interior space is greater than 0.01 inch water column. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a static pressure within the first interior space is at least 0.05 inch water column. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an aspect ratio of the at least one vertically oriented elongate heating element is greater than 4:1. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an aspect ratio of the at least one vertically oriented elongate heating element is about 18:1. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an aspect ratio of the at least one vertically oriented elongate heating element is between about 4:1 and 22:1. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a single heat distribution pattern is generated which is substantially continuous over a substantial length of the apparatus. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein only a single elongate path of heat is provided from the housing. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second flow path comprises at least two flow path portions exhausting from respective outlets of the air generator, the at least two flow path portions combining into the second flow path. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element generates a total of about 1500 Watts of energy. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restrictor is a unitary part of the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element. 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element is a ceramic heating element. 15. An apparatus for providing thermal energy for use in a household environment, the apparatus comprising:a portable free standing housing defining at least a first interior spa ce having a vertically oriented elongate configuration;at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element positioned within the first interior space and oriented along a length of the housing; anda non-transverse centrifugal blower positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the first interior space, the non-transverse centrifugal blower generating exhaust air for charging the first interior space with a static pressure; anda vertically oriented elongate restrictor positioned within the first elongate interior space for i) converting the static pressure into an airflow having a velocity and ii) restricting a flow of the exhaust air through the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element,wherein substantially all the exhaust air flows through the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element in a substantially uniform direction and along a substantial portion of the length of the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the non-transverse centrifugal blower is directly coupled to the first interior space. 17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a the non-transverse centrifugal blower is a unitary blower assembly. 18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the non-transverse centrifugal blower has an elongate structure having a vertical orientation. 19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first interior space further includes a plenum area between the vertically oriented elongate electric heating element and the non-transverse centrifugal blower. 20. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the non-transverse centrifugal blower has at least one intake port, the at least one intake port receiving intake air along a first flow path, and generating the exhaust air along a second flow path, the second flow path substantially orthogonal to the first flow path. 21. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the housing further defines a second interior space adjacent the interior space, the non-transverse centrifugal blower located within the second interior space. 22. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the static pressure within the first interior space is greater than 0.01 inch water column. 23. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the static pressure within the first interior space is greater than 0.06 inch water column. 24. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the pressure within the interior space is between about 0.07″ and 0.22 inch water column. 25. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the non-transverse centrifugal blower has a predetermined blade diameter and the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element has a predetermined length, a ratio of the heating element length to the non-transverse centrifugal blower blade diameter being at least 1.75:1. 26. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the non-transverse centrifugal blower has a predetermined blade diameter and the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element has a predetermined length, a ratio of the heating element length to the non-transverse centrifugal blower blade diameter being at least 2:1. 27. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the velocity is greater than 375 fpm at 1 foot from the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element. 28. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the restricting means is a unitary part of the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element. 29. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element has an input side and an output side, the restricting means adjacent to at least one of the input side and the output side of the heating element. 30. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the restricting means is separate from the at least one ve rtically oriented elongate electric heating element. 31. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the restricting means has a flow through area of between 20% and 80%. 32. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the restricting means has a flow through area of about 62%. 33. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the restricting means converts the static pressure associated with the exhaust air into an air velocity which is in turn imparted into the exhaust air and flows through the at least vertically oriented elongate electric one heating element. 34. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element has a length of at least 7 inches. 35. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the non-transverse centrifugal blower is positioned alongside the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element. 36. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the non-transverse centrifugal blower is at least one of i) positioned behind the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element and ii) has an axis of rotation parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vertically oriented elongate electric heating element. 37. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element is a ceramic heating element. 38. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element is an electrical resistive heating element. 39. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising vent means for venting the exhaust air from the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element. 40. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the non-transverse centrifugal blower emits a concentrated airflow toward the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element. 41. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the vertically oriented elongate electric heating element has a predetermined length and a predetermined width, an aspect ratio of the predetermined length to the predetermined width being at least 4:1. 42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the aspect ratio is about 18:1. 43. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the aspect ratio is between about 4:1 and 22:1. 44. An apparatus for providing thermal energy for use in a household environment, the apparatus comprising:a portable free standing housing means defining a first elongate interior space and a second interior space;vertically oriented elongate thermal energy generation means for generating thermal energy, the thermal energy generation means positioned i) within the first elongate interior space and oriented along a length of the first elongate interior space and ii) above the second interior space; andnon-transverse centrifugal blower means for generating an exhaust airflow toward the first interior space, the non-transverse centrifugal blower means positioned within the second interior space and coupled to the first interior space,wherein the air generation means receives intake air from a first flow path at a lower portion of the housing means and generates the exhaust air along a second flow path, the second flow path substantially orthogonal to the first flow path and directed away from the first flow path, substantially all the exhaust air flowing through the vertically oriented elongate thermal energy generation means in a substantially uniform direction and exiting the housing means above the first flow path. 45. An apparatus for providing thermal energy for use in a household environment, the apparatus comprising:portable free standing housing means defining at least a first interior space having a vertically oriented elongate configuration;vertically oriented elongate thermal energy generation means for generating thermal energy, the thermal energy generation means positioned within the first interior space and havi ng a length of at least 7 inches;non-transverse centrifugal pressure generating means for generating a static pressure within the first interior space, the pressure generating means positioned within the housing and in direct fluid communication with the first interior space; anda restrictor positioned within the first interior space for converting the static pressure into an airflow and restricting a flow of exhaust air through the thermal energy generation means,wherein the pressure generating means has a predetermined blade diameter and the thermal energy generation means has a predetermined length, a ratio of the thermal energy generation means length to the static pressure generating means blade diameter being at least 1.75:1, and substantially all the exhaust air flows through the thermal energy generation means in a substantially uniform direction and along a substantial portion of the length of the thermal energy generation means. 46. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the restrictor is a unitary part of the thermal energy generation means. 47. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the thermal energy generation means has a predetermined length and a predetermined width, an aspect ratio of the predetermined length to the predetermined width being at least 3:1. 48. A method for providing thermal energy for use in a household environment, the method comprising the steps of:providing a portable free standing elongate housing having a first elongate interior space and a second interior space;receiving at least a portion of intake air along a first flow path at other than a front portion of the housing at a lower area thereof;generating an exhaust airflow toward the first interior space along a second flow path based on the intake air, the second flow path substantially orthogonal to the first flow path;generating thermal energy within the first interior space using a vertically oriented elongate thermal energy generator;imparting the thermal energy into the exhaust air by passing substantially all of the exhaust air though the vertically oriented elongate-thermal energy generator to form heated exhaust air; andexpelling the heated exhaust air from the first interior space along a flow path above the first flow path and directed away from at least a portion the first flow path. 49. An apparatus for providing thermal energy for use in a household environment, the apparatus comprising:a portable free standing housing definingi) a first interior space having a vertically oriented elongate configuration,ii) a second interior space, the second interior space positioned below the first interior space,iii) an air outlet disposed adjacent the first interior space at a front portion of the housing, andiv) at least one air inlet disposed adjacent the second interior space, one of the at least one air inlets other than at a front portion of the housing of the housing;at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element positioned one of within and adjacent the first interior space, the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element having a length of at least 7 inches and oriented along a length of the first housing;a non-transverse centrifugal blower positioned within the second interior space and directly coupled to the first interior space at a lower portion thereof, the non-transverse centrifugal blower having at least one intake port receiving intake air traveling along a first flow path at a lower portion of the housing and generating exhaust air upward along a second flow path, the second flow path substantially orthogonal to the first flow path; andat least one air restrictor positioned adjacent the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element to restrict a flow of the exhaust air through the heating element, wherein substantially all the exhaust air flows in a substantially uniform direction and through a substantial portion of the vertically oriented elo ngate electric heating element and is exhausted above the first flow path. 50. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein a portion of the first interior space forms a plenum area between the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element and the non-transverse centrifugal blower, the exhaust air charging at least the plenum area with a static pressure. 51. An apparatus for providing thermal energy comprising:a housing defining a first interior space and a second interior space;at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element positioned within the first interior space;a non-transverse centrifugal blower positioned within the second interior space and adjacent the first interior space, the non-transverse centrifugal blower having at least one intake port receiving intake air from a first flow path and generating exhaust air along a second flow path, the second flow path substantially orthogonal to the first flow path; anda restrictor for restricting a flow of exhaust air through the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element,wherein substantially all the exhaust air flows through the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element in a substantially uniform direction along a substantial portion of the length of the heating element. 52. An apparatus for providing thermal energy for use in a household environment, the apparatus comprising:a portable free standing elongate housing definingi) a first interior space having a vertically oriented elongate configuration,ii) a second interior space, the second interior space positioned below the first interior space,iii) a vertically oriented elongate air outlet disposed adjacent the first interior space at a front portion of the housing, andiv) at least one air inlet disposed adjacent the second interior space, one of the at least one air inlets other than at a front portion of the housing;at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element positioned within the first interior space, the at least one vertically oriented elongate electric heating element oriented along a length of the first housing; anda non-transverse centrifugal blower positioned within the second interior space and coupled to a lower portion of the first interior space, the non-transverse centrifugal blower having at least one intake port receiving intake air from a first flow path at a lower portion of the housing and generating exhaust air upward along a second flow path, the second flow path substantially orthogonal to the first flow path,wherein substantially all the exhaust air flows through the at least one vertically oriented elongate heating element in a substantially uniform direction and is exhausted above the first flow path.
