Venturi disk non-exposed flame and electronic controls heater

Abstract

A portable heating apparatus includes a housing, a heat source, a fan, and a heat shield. The housing includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. The heat source is located within the housing. The fan creates a flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet and is disposed between the heat source and the outlet. The heat shield is disposed between the heat source and the fan and is operable to restrict the flow of fluid between the heat source and the fan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable heating apparatus comprising:
 a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid outlet;   a heat source disposed within the housing;   a fan for creating a flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, the fan disposed between the heat source and the outlet; and   a heat shield disposed between the heat source and the fan, the heat shield operable to restrict the flow of fluid between the heat source and the fan.   
     
     
         2 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a structure separating a first volume of fluid from a second volume of fluid, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the first volume of fluid and the inlet is in fluid communication with the second volume. 
     
     
         3 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat shield includes a first square pyramid having a first apex and a second square pyramid having a second apex, and wherein the first apex generally faces the heat source and the second apex generally faces the fan. 
     
     
         4 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the heat shield substantially defines a rhombus. 
     
     
         5 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a Venturi flow pattern between the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat shield includes a first non-planar surface and a second non-planar surface, and wherein the first non-planar surface generally faces the heat source and the second non-planar surface generally faces the fan. 
     
     
         7 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source includes a flame. 
     
     
         8 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a fluid temperature on an upstream side of the heat shield is greater than a fluid temperature on a downstream side of the heat shield. 
     
     
         9 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system, wherein the control system is in communication with at least one sensor disposed within the second volume. 
     
     
         10 . A portable heating apparatus comprising:
 a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid outlet;   a heat source disposed within the housing;   a fan for creating a flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, the fan disposed between the heat source and the outlet; and   a heat shield disposed between the heat source and the fan, the heat shield including a first conical construct having a first apex and a second conical construct having a second apex,   wherein the first apex generally faces the heat source and the second apex generally faces the fan.   
     
     
         11 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a structure separating a first volume of fluid from a second volume of fluid, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the first volume of fluid and the inlet is in fluid communication with the second volume. 
     
     
         12 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the heat shield substantially defines a rhombus. 
     
     
         13 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a Venturi flow pattern between the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the heat shield includes a first non-planar surface and a second non-planar surface, and wherein the first non-planar surface generally faces the heat source and the second non-planar surface generally faces the fan. 
     
     
         15 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the heat source includes a flame. 
     
     
         16 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a fluid temperature on an upstream side of the heat shield is greater than a fluid temperature on a downstream side of the heat shield. 
     
     
         17 . The portable heating apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a control system, wherein the control system is in communication with at least one sensor disposed within the second volume.