Radiant tube heater assemblies

Abstract

A variable input, radiant tube heater includes the usual housing containing a burner tube, a reflector connected to the housing, a fuel line into the housing and a pressure regulator in the fuel line. The blower is operated by a 24 volt motor and a transformer remote from the heater. Fuel flow is regulated by a regulator including a valve in the fuel line, a valve operator and an electrical control connected to the operator. For outdoor use heaters are supported by a modular frame including hollow beams, posts for supporting the beams and saddles for interconnecting the beams and mounting them on posts.

1 . A variable input, radiant tube heater comprising a housing; a burner in said housing; a reflector connected to said housing; a burner tube in said housing; a gas inlet line for introducing fuel into said burner; a blower attached to said housing for blowing air into said housing; a 24 volt motor in said blower for operating the blower; a gas pressure regulator in said gas inlet line for regulating the flow of fuel to the burner; and a transformer remote from said heater for supplying 24 volt power to said blower motor.  
   
   
       2 . A variable input, radiant tube heater comprising a housing; a burner in said housing, a reflector connected to said housing; a burner tube in said housing; a gas inlet line for introducing fuel into said burner; a blower attached to said housing for blowing air into said housing; a gas pressure regulator in said gas inlet line for regulating the flow of fuel to the burner; said regulator including a valve in said gas inlet line, and a valve operator for opening and closing said valve; and an electrical control connected to said valve operator for controlling operation of said valve operator.  
   
   
       3 . The heater of  claim 2 , wherein said valve operator includes a casing in said gas inlet line; a partition in said casing dividing the casing into a first chamber containing said valve for receiving fuel from a source thereof and discharging fuel to said burner, and a second chamber; a spring in said second chamber connected to said valve for regulating fuel pressure required to open said valve; and a solenoid or stepper motor connected to said valve for opening and closing the valve.  
   
   
       4 . A modular supporting system for outdoor radiant heaters comprising a frame including at least one hollow beam for receiving fuel and electrical lines and supporting a radiant heater; a plurality of posts for supporting said beam at ends thereof; and saddles for connecting said beam to said posts, each said saddle having a closed bottom end, side walls and an open top end.  
   
   
       5 . The supporting system of  claim 4  wherein said saddles include a first mounting saddle for connecting an end of a beam to a post, and an intermediate mounting saddle for use between ends of a beam for connecting the beam to a post.  
   
   
       6 . The supporting system of  claim 5 , wherein each said end mounting saddle includes a bottom plate, a sleeve extending downwardly from said bottom plate for mounting the end saddle on a post, a pair of side plates for receiving one end of a beam therebetween and an end plate.  
   
   
       7 . The supporting system of  claim 6 , including gaps between said side and end plates of said end mounting saddle for receiving an end of at least one other panel to interconnect panels perpendicular to each other.  
   
   
       8 . The supporting system of  claim 5 , wherein said intermediate mounting saddle includes a bottom plate, a sleeve extending downwardly from said bottom plate for mounting the intermediate saddle on a post, and a pair of side plates for straddling opposed ends of a pair of beams.  
   
   
       9 . The supporting system of  claim 4 , including a bracket for connecting an end of a beam to a vertical structure, said bracket including a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and an end wall.  
   
   
       10 . The supporting system of  claim 4 , wherein said beam includes a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, and opposed inwardly extending strengthening flanges on top ends of said side walls.  
   
   
       11 . The supporting system of  claim 4 , including at least one infrared sensor for mounting on said frame for detecting an infrared beam reflected from an article beneath the heater; and a control connected to the sensor and heater for adjusting the flow of electrical power and fuel to the heater, whereby the heat output of the radiant heater can be adjusted.