Electric fan heater with switchable series/parallel heating elements
US5825974A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05B1/02
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electrical heating apparatus, for example, a fan heater, comprises at least an electrical heating element (14) and a motor (14) for driving a fan. The apparatus also comprises a switch device arranged to provide the apparatus with two operating modes. In the first mode the heating element and the motor are connected in parallel, and in the second mode the heating element and the motor are connected in series. The first mode provides a relatively high heat output and/or high airflow to distribute the heat quickly. The second mode provides quieter operation at a similar or lower output power level, for example, to maintain a given temperature while causing less disturbance to people in the vicinity of the fan heater. A further heating element may be arranged in parallel with the motor in the second mode of operation so as to provide a potential divider for supplying the motor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.