Flameless heating apparatus and method

Abstract

A flameless heating apparatus is provided for heating and vaporizing a composition. The flameless heating apparatus may include a heating member, heating barrel, heat generation component, control component, and base member. A method for heating and vaporizing a composition using the flameless heating apparatus is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flameless heating apparatus for elevating a temperature of a target, the heating apparatus comprising:
 a heating member comprising:
 a heat generation component comprising an electrical heating element installed to the heat generation component that operates via induction, and 
 a heating barrel operatively attached to the heat generation component and extending outwardly from the heating member; and 
   a control component to affect operating characteristics of the heat generation component;   wherein air heated by the heat generation component is directed through the heating barrel to the target to increase the temperature of the target.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an exterior heating member surface of the heating member is constructed at least partially using wood. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating member further comprises a fan to move the air that is heated by the heat generation component through the heating barrel. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the target comprises a crucible. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the crucible comprises quartz and/or borosilicate glass. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor to detect information relating to the air that is heated by the heat generation component; and   wherein the control component affects the operating characteristics in response to the information provided by the sensor.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control component comprises a timer. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base member onto which the heating member is installed;   a junction located on the base member about which the heating member being installed to the base member is at least partially pivotable.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electric heating element is selectably operated to consume between about 600 watts and about 950 watts of electrical power to heat the air. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating barrel comprises:
 an outer barrel; and   an inner barrel at least partially enclosed by the outer barrel to at least partially provide a heat shield for the outer barrel by isolating the air that is heated away from the outer barrel during operation.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a physical integrity of the inner barrel is substantially maintained during operation via an orientation of the inner barrel substantially within the outer barrel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a first inner barrel end of the inner barrel that is distal to the heat generation component comprises flow shaping features to direct the air that is heated from an interior portion of the heating member through the heating barrel with minimal resistance. 
     
     
         13 . A flameless heating apparatus for elevating a temperature of a target, the heating apparatus comprising:
 a heating member comprising:
 a heat generation component comprising an electrical heating element installed therein; 
   a heating barrel operatively attached to the heating member and extending outwardly from the heating member;   a base member onto which the heating member is installed; and   a junction located on the base member about which the heating member being installed to the base member is at least partially pivotable;   wherein the heating barrel comprises:
 an outer barrel, and 
 an inner barrel at least partially enclosed by the outer barrel to at least partially provide a heat shield for the outer barrel by isolating air that is heated away from the outer barrel during operation; 
   wherein the air heated by the heat generation component is directed through the inner barrel of the heating barrel to the target to increase the temperature of the target.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a control component to affect operating characteristics of the heat generation component.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a sensor to detect information relating to the air that is heated by the heat generation component; and   wherein the control component affects the operating characteristics in response to the information provided by the sensor;   wherein the control component comprises a timer.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a first inner barrel end of the inner barrel that is distal to the heat generation component comprises flow shaping features to direct the air that is heated from an interior portion of the heating member through the heating barrel with minimal resistance. 
     
     
         17 . A method of heating a target using a flameless heating apparatus comprising:
 a) generating heat via induction by a heat generation component comprised by a heating member;   b) heating air in the heating member with the heat generated by the heat generation component;   c) flowing the air that is heated through a heating barrel operatively attached to the heating member and extending outwardly from the heating member via a fan;   d) heating the target with the air that is heated being directed through the heating barrel; and   e) controlling operating characteristics of the heat generation component via a control component.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 f) detecting information relating to the air that is heated by the heat generation component via a sensor; and   g) affecting the operating characteristics in response to the information provided by the sensor via the control component.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a base member onto which the heating member is installed;   a junction located on the base member about which the heating member being installed to the base member is at least partially pivotable.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the heating barrel comprises:
 an outer barrel; and   an inner barrel at least partially enclosed by the outer barrel to at least partially provide a heat shield for the outer barrel by isolating the air that is heated away from the outer barrel during operation;   wherein a first inner barrel end of the inner barrel that is distal to the heat generation component comprises flow shaping features to direct the air that is heated away from an interior portion of the heating member through the heating barrel with minimal resistance.