Electric heater with forced air module

Abstract

An electric heating unit ( 10 ) is provided. The electric heating unit ( 10 ) includes a housing ( 12 ) with a chamber and an electric heating element ( 14 ) located within the chamber and extending substantially a length of the chamber. A forced air module ( 16 ) is included having a blower ( 32 ) in flow communication with a first end ( 38 ) of an air plenum ( 34 ). The air plenum ( 34 ) is located adjacent the heating element ( 14 ) and extends a length of the heating element ( 14 ). The air plenum ( 32 ) is configured to discharge air across the heating element ( 14 ) uniformly along the length of the heating element ( 14 ).

1 . An electric heating unit comprising: 
 a housing with a chamber;    an electric heating element located within the chamber and extending substantially a length of the chamber;    a forced air module spaced from the electric heating element and having a blower in flow communication with a first end of an air plenum, the plenum located adjacent the heating element and extending a length of the heating element;    wherein the air plenum is configured to discharge air across the heating element uniformly along the length of the heating element.    
   
   
       2 . The electric heating unit of  claim 1  wherein the blower comprises a radial fan blower and a duct to direct air discharged from the radial fan blower into the air plenum.  
   
   
       3 . The electric heating unit of  claim 1  wherein a cross sectional area of the air plenum varies along the length of the air plenum.  
   
   
       4 . The electric heating unit of  claim 1  wherein a cross sectional area of the air plenum decreases along its length from the first end of the plenum towards a second end of the plenum.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . The electric heating unit of  claim 1  wherein the air plenum comprises a plurality of apertures facing the heating element.  
   
   
       9 . The electric heating unit of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of apertures are generally evenly distributed along the length of the air plenum.  
   
   
       10 . The electric heating unit of  claim 9  wherein each aperture is equally sized.  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . An electric heating unit comprising: 
 a housing with a chamber;    an electric heating element located within the chamber and extending substantially a length of the chamber;    a forced air module spaced from the electric heating element and having a blower in flow communication with a first end of an air plenum located adjacent the heating element and extending a length of the heating element, the blower for pressurizing the air plenum;    wherein the air plenum is configured to maintain a generally uniform air pressure within the plenum and along its length.    
   
   
       13 . The heating unit of  claim 12  wherein the air plenum is configured to discharge a uniform mass flow of air across the heating element along the length of the heating element.  
   
   
       14 . The electric heating unit of  claim 13  wherein the air plenum includes a series of apertures of uniform size facing the heating element.  
   
   
       15 . The electric heating unit of  claim 13  wherein the air plenum includes a series of apertures facing the heating element, the apertures being evenly distributed along a length of the plenum and of varying sizes wherein the size of each aperture increases along the length of the plenum from the first end of the of the plenum towards a second end of the plenum.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . The electric heating unit of  claim 12  wherein a cross sectional area of the air plenum varies along the length of the air plenum.  
   
   
       20 . The electric heating unit of  claim 12  wherein a cross sectional area of the air plenum decreases along its length from the first end of the plenum towards a second end of the plenum.  
   
   
       21 . An electric heating unit comprising: 
 an electric heating element; and    a forced air module spaced from the electric heating element and for directing a flow of air across the heating element and comprising an air plenum;    wherein the air plenum is configured to maintain a generally uniform air pressure within the plenum.    
   
   
       22 . The electric heating unit of  claim 21  wherein a cross sectional area of the air plenum varies along the length of the air plenum.  
   
   
       23 . The electric heating unit of  claim 1  wherein a cross sectional area of the air plenum decreases along its length from the first end of the plenum towards a second end of the plenum.