Emitter apparatus

Abstract

A gas fired infrared radiation emitter that contains a frame, a screen assembly attached to the frame, and a device for locking the screen assembly to the frame. The screen assembly contains a support rod structure and at least four attachment rings attached to a screen. Each of the attachment rings is contiguous with a portion of the screen and, at the point at which each such attachment ring is contiguous with the screen, forms a screen contact point. The distance between any one screen contact point and the closest adjacent screen contact point does not exceed 75 millimeters.

1 . A gas fired infrared radiation emitter comprising a frame, a screen assembly attached to said frame, and a means for locking said screen assembly to said frame, wherein said screen assembly comprises a support rod structure, at least four attachment rings and a screen, wherein said attachment rings are disposed about said support rod structure and are adapted to secure said screen to said support rod structure, wherein: 
 (a) said support rod structure is comprised of a first outer longitudinal support rod, a second outer longitudinal support rod, a first inner longitudinal support rod, and a second inner longitudinal support rod, wherein: 
 1. each of said first and second outer longitudinal support rods, and each of said first and second inner longitudinal support rods, are substantially parallel to each other; forming an angle with regard to each other of from about 0 to about 5 degrees;  
 2. said first outer longitudinal support rod is connected to said first inner longitudinal support rod, and  
 3. said second outer longitudinal support rod is connected to said second inner longitudinal support rod,  
 4. said first inner longitudinal support rod is connected to said second inner longitudinal support rod;  
   (b) each of said attachment rings is contiguous with a portion of said screen and, at the point at which each such attachment ring is contiguous with said screen, forms a screen contact point; and    (c) the distance between any one screen contact point and the next closest screen contact point does not exceed 75 millimeters.    
   
   
       2 . The gas fired radiation emitter as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said screen assembly is removably attached to said frame.  
   
   
       3 . The gas fired radiation emitter as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said radiation emitter is comprised of means for releasably locking said screen assembly to said frame.  
   
   
       4 . The gas fired radiation emitter as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said support rod structure comprises a first member, a second member, a third member, a fourth member and a fifth member, and wherein said second member, said third member and said fourth member form a substantially H shaped connecting portion.  
   
   
       5 . The gas fired radiation emitter as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said radiation emitter is comprised of at least 10 of said attachment rings.  
   
   
       6 . The gas fired radiation emitter as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said radiation emitter is comprised of from about 4 to about 16 of said attachment rings.  
   
   
       7 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end, wherein said first side of said frame is integrally connected to a first screen support, said second side of said frame is integrally connected to a second screen support, and said screen assembly is contiguous with said first screen support and said second screen support.  
   
   
       8 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 7 , wherein said first end of said frame is integrally connected to a first vertically extending mounting bracket and a second vertically extending mounting bracket, wherein said second end of said frame is integrally connected to a third vertically extending mounting bracket and a fourth vertically extending mounting bracket, and wherein said first vertically extending mounting bracket, said second vertically extending mounting bracket, said third vertically extending mounting bracket and said fourth vertically extending mounting bracket are adapted to engage said screen assembly.  
   
   
       9 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 8 , wherein said first vertically extending mounting bracket comprises a first orifice adapted to receive one of said first member or said fifth member, said second vertically extending mounting bracket comprises a second orifice adapted to receive one of said first member or said fifth member, said third vertically extending mounting bracket comprises a third orifice adapted to receive one of said first member or said fifth member, said fourth vertically extending mounting bracket comprises a fourth orifice adapted to receive one of said first member or said fifth member.  
   
   
       10 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 9 , wherein said emitter further comprises a means for allowing movement of said first member and said fifth member towards one of said first end of said frame or said second end of said frame.  
   
   
       11 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 10 , wherein said emitter further comprises a means for limiting the movement of said first member and said fifth member towards one of said first side of said frame and said second side of said frame.  
   
   
       12 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 11 , wherein said frame further comprises an upper surface, wherein said first vertically extending mounting bracket, said second vertically extending mounting bracket, said third vertically extending mounting bracket and said fourth vertically extending mounting bracket form an angle with said upper surface of said frame of from about 70 to about 90 degrees.  
   
   
       13 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 12 , wherein said first vertically extending mounting bracket, said second vertically extending mounting bracket, said third vertically extending mounting bracket and said fourth vertically extending mounting bracket have a height of from about 8 millimeters to about 20 millimeters.  
   
   
       14 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 13 , wherein said first vertically extending mounting bracket comprises a fifth orifice adapted to receive a locking device, said second vertically extending mounting bracket comprises a sixth orifice adapted to receive a locking device, said third vertically extending mounting bracket comprises a seventh orifice adapted to receive a locking device, and said fourth vertically extending mounting bracket comprises an eighth orifice adapted to receive a locking device.  
   
   
       15 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 14 , wherein said first orifice, said second orifice, said third orifice, and said fourth orifice comprise a slot-type opening disposed at a distance of from about 7 millimeters to about 14 millimeters from said upper surface of said frame.  
   
   
       16 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 15 , wherein said first screen support further comprises a first top surface, said second screen support further comprises a second top surface, said first screen support and said second screen support further comprise a height of from about 7 millimeters to about 14 millimeters, and said first top surface of said first screen support and said second top surface of said second screen support comprise a height that is substantially the same distance as said distance said slot-type opening is disposed from said upper surface of said frame.  
   
   
       17 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 16 , wherein said first member comprises a first securing point and a second securing point, said fifth member comprises a third securing point and a fourth securing point, wherein said first securing point and said second securing point each comprise a bend in opposing ends of said first member where said bends comprise a radius of from about 45 to about 330 degrees and wherein said third securing point and said fourth securing point each comprise a bend in opposing ends of said second member where said bends comprise a radius of from about 45 to about 330 degrees.  
   
   
       18 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 17 , wherein said screen comprises a length of from about 2 to about 20 inches and a width of from about 1 to about 10 inches.  
   
   
       19 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 18 , wherein said screen further comprises an open space area of from about 30 to about 70 percent of the total surface area of said screen.  
   
   
       20 . The gas fired infrared radiation emitter of  claim 19 , wherein the length of said first member and said fifth member comprise from about 1.5 to about 25 inches.