Centrifical blower and heating element apparatus

Abstract

A centrifugal blower and heating element apparatus includes a base, a scroll housing having primary and secondary inlet ports, and an integrated heating element, motor and impeller. The apparatus may be provided as a portable appliance used for heating a room. The apparatus may have an elongated aspect ratio and a space efficient design.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A centrifugal blower and heating element combination comprising:
 a scroll housing comprising:
 a primary wall defining a first interior space; 
 at least one primary inlet port in said primary wall; 
 at least one secondary wall located in said first interior space and defining a second interior space; 
 at least one secondary inlet port in said secondary wall; and 
 at least one exit port in said primary wall; 
   an air impeller located at least partially within said second interior space;   a motor connected to said impeller and rotating said impeller;   an air stream generated by a rotation of said impeller;   a first flow path of said air stream entering said first interior space through said at least one primary inlet port;   a second flow path of said air stream passing through said secondary inlet port and entering said second interior space;   a third flow path of said air stream exiting said first interior space through said at least one exit port; and   at least one heating element located between said impeller and said at least one exit port and within said first interior space and/or said second interior space,   wherein said air stream exiting said at least one exit port along said third flow path comprises a heated air stream.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said primary wall further comprises a first half and a second half. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein said at least one primary inlet port is located in one of said first or second halves of said primary wall and said at least one exit port is located in the other of said first or second halves of said primary wall. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein said at least one secondary wall is unitary to one or both of said first and/or said second halves. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said first flow path and said third flow path are substantially orthogonal to said second flow path. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of said primary wall defines a profile required to facilitate said generation of said air stream when said impeller is rotated and absent said profile of said primary wall said generation of said air stream would not ensue. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 1  further comprising a base wherein said base supports said scroll housing, said air impeller and said motor relative to a support surface. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7  further comprising an axis of rotation of said impeller, wherein said axis of rotation in substantially orthogonal to said support surface. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 8  wherein said axis of rotation in substantially parallel to said support surface. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein said base further comprises attachment features to attach said base to a mounting surface. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of said at least one secondary wall further comprising an additional non-unitary component relative to said primary wall. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said additional non-unitary component serves to create a passageway for electrical and/or control wires and impedes said electrical and/or control wires from contacting said impeller. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein said additional non-unitary component serves as a high temperature mounting structure for said heating element. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 1  further comprising an overall height dimension H as measured from said support surface to a top of said scroll housing and an overall width dimension W as measured left to right wherein said overall height dimension H is at least 3 times (300% of) said overall width dimension W.