Heater

Abstract

A radiant heater comprises a generally U-shaped radiative heating element having a first straight section, a second straight section, and an interconnecting U-shaped section. The non-connected end of the first straight section is arranged for communication with a burner and the non-connected end of the second straight section is arranged for communication with an extractor for extracting combustion gases from the tube. A redirecting element comprising opposed helical vanes, each executing a 180° turn about a central, common tube, is arranged within the first straight section so as to redirect, in use, at least a portion of the combusted gases flowing within the upper half of the tube towards the lower half, and gases flowing in the lower half towards the upper half.

1 . A radiant heater comprising:
 a radiant heating element in the form of a tube having first and second ends;   a burner communicating with a first end of the tube for delivering combustion gases into the tube;   an extractor communicating with the other, second end of the tube for extracting combustion gases from the tube; and   a redirecting element arranged so as to redirect, in use, at least a portion of the combustion gases flowing within the upper half of the tube towards the lower half.   
     
     
         2 . A radiant heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the redirecting element comprises a first longitudinally extending vane with a surface that extends downwards from the upper half into the lower half. 
     
     
         3 . A radiant heater according to  claim 2 , wherein the redirecting element further comprises a second longitudinally extending vane with a surface that extends upwards from the lower half to the upper half. 
     
     
         4 . A radiant heater according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and second vanes are arranged diametrically opposite one another and may comprise of one or more sets in each appliance. 
     
     
         5 . A radiant heater according to  claim 2 , wherein the or each vane is substantially helical. 
     
     
         6 . A radiant heater according to  claim 5 , wherein the or each vane makes a turn of approximately  180 ° along its length. 
     
     
         7 . A radiant heater according to  claim 2 , wherein the or each vane is supported on a longitudinal post that extends centrally within the tube. 
     
     
         8 . A radiant heater according to  claim 7 , wherein a spacer is provided on the post, of substantially the same diameter as the tube's inner diameter, so that the post is aligned centrally within the tube. 
     
     
         9 . A radiant heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the redirecting element is removably located within the tube. 
     
     
         10 . A radiant heater according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of redirecting element are provided within the tube. 
     
     
         11 . A radiant heater according to  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of redirecting element are supported on a single longitudinal post, with one end of the post including a connector to enable said post to be connected to the post of another redirecting element. 
     
     
         12 . A radiant heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube consists of first and second substantially straight sections, generally parallel to one another, connected by a U-shaped tube, the burner communicating with the first straight section and the extractor communicating with the second straight section, wherein the redirecting element(s) is or are disposed in the first straight section. 
     
     
         13 . A radiant heater according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing, the underside of which is recessed to receive the radiant heating element which is disposed beneath the housing such that its upper half is wholly within the recess, and at least a portion of its lower half protrudes downwardly from the recess, the recess having a heat reflective surface for reflecting heat radiation from the heating element in a downwards direction. 
     
     
         14 . A radiant heater according to  claim 13 , wherein the housing has a means enabling the attachment thereto of a reflective skirt for focussing the radiation emitted from the radiative heating element. 
     
     
         15 . A radiant heater comprising:
 a generally U-shaped radiative heating element having a first straight section, a second straight section, and an interconnecting U-shaped section, the non-connected end of the first straight section being arranged for communication with a burner and the non-connected end of the second straight section being arranged for communication with an extractor for extracting combustion gases from the tube; and   a redirecting element arranged within the first straight section so as to redirect, in use, at least a portion of the combustion gases flowing within the upper half of the tube towards the lower half.   
     
     
         16 . A radiant heater according to  claim 15 , wherein the redirecting element comprises at least one or more pairs of fixed, helical vanes so that, in use, combustion gases flowing within the lower half of the tube are also redirected towards the upper half to create a swirling effect within the first straight section as the gases travel between the burner end and the extractor end. 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing a heating element, comprising: providing a heating element formed of first and second detachable tube sections; separating the first and second sections to reveal an opening in each section; inserting a redirecting element within at least one of the sections through its opening, the redirecting element comprising a support member carrying at least one curved vane which in use is arranged to re-direct a combusted gas travelling through the tube section from an upper region to a lower region; and reconnecting the separated first and second sections.