Abstract:
A heating system including at least one louver coupled with the housing of a heater including a blade and end caps on the blade for holding each louver in a fixed position during operation of the heater assembly, but also releasing the louver for adjustment in positioning relative to the axis of rotation of the louver to change air flow direction or other characteristics as desired.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a louver for use with a heater assembly. In particular, the present invention includes a louver including a blade and end caps on the blade for holding each louver in a fixed position during operation of the heater assembly, but also releasing the louver for adjustment in positioning relative to the axis of rotation of the louver to change air flow direction or other characteristics as desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Heater technology includes a variety of devices to heat spaces within an environment. Gas-fired unit heaters offer one option where infrared heating is not practical due to ceiling heights, clearances to combustibles or building use, as a separated combustion unit heater. Gas-fired, tubular exchanger, induced draft, hot air heaters can be used in commercial, industrial and agricultural applications, and may feature durable, powder-coated black enamel exterior and stainless steel louvers for an exceptional aesthetic appeal, and a swept wing impeller with finger-proof fan guards for low noise operation. In the present application, it has been found that the efficiencies of these heaters can be improved with improved air flow over fixed louvers that are adjustable to a selected configuration. The selective adjustment may be available via an easily adjusted manually engageable mechanism to direct heated air to optimum locations within an environmental space at a variety of adjustment locations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a heater assembly including a housing and a plurality of louvers supported by in the housing; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the heater assembly including a fan coupled to the housing; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the heater assembly and the fan; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an elevated top view of an embodiment of the fan having a swept wing configuration; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is an elevated side view of the fan having the swept wing configuration; 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a perspective front view of a louver disposed in a portion of the housing; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective rear view of the louver disposed in the portion of the housing; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective side view of a louver including a pin and a first shaft disposed in a portion of the housing to hold the louver in position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective side view of the first end cap defining a first blade chamber and a plunger shaft aperture; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a perspective side view of a first end cap having a first body and a plunger, a louver and a second end cap; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a perspective exploded view of the first end cap including the plunger, a biasing member, the first body, and a first lock washer; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is an elevated side view of the first end cap of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a perspective side view of the first end cap with the first lock washer disposed about the plunger; 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a perspective side view of an alternative first end cap having a second body and a locking member; 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a perspective exploded view the end cap of  FIG. 13  including the locking member, the body, and a second lock washer; 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a perspective side view of the end cap of  FIG. 13  defining a lock chamber and a lock shaft aperture with a plurality of teeth extending into the lock chamber about the lock shaft aperture; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a perspective side view of the end cap of  FIG. 13  with the lock washer disposed about the locking member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a heater assembly  20  includes a housing  22  defining a chamber  24 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the heater assembly  20  includes a heater  26  disposed in the chamber  24  for heating an air flow. The heater assembly  20  defines an opening  28  in communication with the chamber  24 . The heater assembly  20  includes a plurality of louvers  30  rotatably disposed in the chamber  24  and/or the opening  28 . Each of the plurality of louvers  30  is independently adjustable for directing the air flow. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the heater assembly  20  includes a fan  32  coupled to the housing  22  in communication with the chamber  24  for creating the air flow. The fan  32  may have any suitable configuration, such as a swept wing configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , for improving the efficiency of the heater assembly  20 . 
         [0022]    One of the plurality louvers  30  in a portion of the housing  22  is shown for example in  FIGS. 6-8 . Each of the other louvers  30  has a similar construction. Each louver  30  is rotatably disposed about a louver axis A 1 . The one of the plurality louvers  30  includes a blade  34  disposed along the louver axis A 1 . The blade  34  has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration for directing the air flow. The blade  34  can have any suitable alternative cross-sectional configuration, such as, a flat cross-sectional configuration. The arcuate cross-sectional configuration of the blade  34  and a lack of ribs or edges reduce turbulence and drag of air flow around the blade  34 . The blade  34  is made of metal, but can be made of any suitable alternative material, such as, plastic. 
         [0023]    One of the plurality louvers  30  includes a first end cap  36  and a second end cap  38  spaced from the first end cap  36  along the louver axis A 1 . The first and second end caps  36 ,  38  engage opposite sides of the blade  34  for selective rotation of the blade  34  relative to the housing  22 . Specifically referring to  FIG. 7 , the housing  22  defines a first shaft aperture  40  for engaging one of the first and second end caps  36 ,  38 . The housing  22  defines a correlative second shaft aperture and a retaining aperture for engaging the other of the first and second end caps  36  and  38 . The second end cap  38  may be either identical with the first end cap (as a mirror image) or can also be an end cap with merely holds the louver rotatable in place without a separate locking mechanism. 
         [0024]    The first end cap  36  has first body  42  rotatably disposed in a portion of the housing  22 . The first end cap  36  defines a first blade chamber  44  in the first body  42  with a tapered configuration as shown in  FIG. 12 . The blade  34  is disposed in the first blade chamber  44  for mounting the blade  34  to the portion of the housing  22  along the louver axis A 1 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the first end cap  36  has a first surface  46  extending along the first body  42  with an arcuate configuration and directs air flow around the first end cap  36  for reducing turbulent air flow and drag around the first end cap  36 . The first end cap  36  has a first winglet  48  extending from the first surface  46  transverse to the louver axis A 1 . The first winglet  48  has an arcuate configuration and directs air flow towards the blade  34  to reduce turbulent air flow between the one of the plurality of louvers  30  and the housing  22  and encourage laminar air flow over the first end cap  36  and the blade  34  to reduce drag. As shown, the blades are designed to have a leading edge, a trailing edge and a uniform thickness throughout the curvature, although an alternative configuration could use a more airplane wing designed configuration as needed or desired. 
         [0026]    The second end cap  38  has a second body  50  rotatably disposed in the portion of the housing  22 . The second end cap  38  defines a second blade chamber  52  in the second body  50  with a tapered configuration, as shown in  FIG. 16 . The blade  34  is disposed in the second blade chamber  52  for mounting the blade  34  to the portion of the housing  22  along the louver axis A 1 . 
         [0027]    The second end cap  38  has a second surface  54  extending along the second body  50  with an arcuate configuration for directing air flow around the second end cap  38  for reducing turbulent air flow and drag around the second end cap  38 . The second end cap  38  has a second winglet  56  extending from the second surface  54  transverse to the louver axis A 1 . The second winglet  56  an arcuate configuration to direct the air flow towards the blade  34  to reduce turbulent air flow between the one of the plurality of louvers  30  and the housing  22  and encourage laminar air flow over the second end cap  38  and the blade  34  to reduce drag. 
         [0028]    The first and second end caps  36 ,  38  are configured to selectively lock in a selected rotational position relative to the housing  22 . Specifically, one of the first and second end caps  36 ,  38  includes a pair of locking features  58  and the other of the first and second caps  36 ,  38  is spring loaded to engage the pair of locking features  58 . For example, the first end cap  36  is spring loaded and the second cap  38  includes the pair of locking features  58  in the embodiment in the Figures and as set forth further below. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the first body  42  defines a plunger chamber  60  along the louver axis A 1 . The first end cap  36  includes a plunger  62  movably disposed in the plunger chamber  60  for coupling the first end cap  36  to the housing  22 . 
         [0030]    The plunger  62  has a plunger shoulder  64  and a first shaft  66  extending along the louver axis A 1  away from the plunger shoulder  64 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the plunger  62  has a plunger shaft  68  extending from the plunger shoulder  64  away from the first shaft  66 . The plunger shaft  68  is disposed in the plunger chamber  60 . The first end cap  36  includes a biasing member  70  disposed about the plunger shaft  68 . The biasing member  70  abuts the plunger shoulder  64  and the first body  42  to bias the plunger  62  to resiliently extend from the plunger chamber  60  towards the housing  22 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the first end cap  36  defines a plunger shaft aperture  72  along the louver axis A 1  for receiving the plunger shaft  68  of the plunger  62 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the plunger shaft  68  extends through the plunger shaft aperture  72 . The first end cap  36  includes a first lock washer  74  disposed around the plunger shaft  68  and abutting the first body  42  for retaining the plunger  62  in the plunger chamber  60 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , the second end cap  38  defines a lock chamber  76  in the second body  50  and includes a locking member  78  engageable with lock chamber  76  for coupling the second end cap  38  to the housing  22 . The locking member  78  has a lock shoulder  80  and a second shaft  82  extending along the louver axis A 1  away from the lock shoulder  80 . 
         [0033]    The second shaft  82  engages the housing  22  for coupling the first end cap  36  to the housing  22 . The locking member  78  has a retaining pin  84  extending relative to the louver axis A 1  away from the lock shoulder  80 . The retaining pin  84  engages the housing  22  in an aperture  85  for preventing rotation of the locking member  78 . Additional apertures  87  and  89  may be provided to perform the same function as aperture  85  but for additional degrees of angulations of the blade. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , the locking member  78  has a lock shaft  86  extending from the lock shoulder  80  away from the second shaft  82 . The locking member  78  includes one of the pair of locking features  58  further defined as a first plurality of teeth  90  extending from the lock shoulder  80  and disposed about the lock shaft  86 . In one example, the first plurality of teeth  90  are disposed about the lock shaft  86  in 2.5 degree increments, but it should be appreciated that first plurality of teeth  90  may be disposed about the lock shaft  86  in any degree increments, such as three degree increments. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , the second body  50  of the second end cap  38  defines a lock shaft aperture  88 . The second body  50  includes the other of the pair of lock features  58  further defined as a second plurality of teeth  92  extending into the lock chamber  76  about the lock shaft aperture  88  for engaging the first plurality of teeth  90  of the locking member  78  to preventing rotation of the one of the plurality louvers  30 . In one example, the second plurality of teeth  92  are disposed about the lock shaft aperture  88  in 2.5 degree increments, but it should be appreciated that second plurality of teeth  92  may be disposed about the lock shaft aperture  88  in any degree increments as long as the second plurality of teeth  92  are disposed about the same degree increments as the first plurality of teeth  90 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , the lock shaft  86  extends through the lock shaft aperture  88 . The second end cap  38  includes a second lock washer  96  disposed around the lock shaft  86  and abutting the second body  50  for retaining the locking member  78  in the lock chamber  76 . 
         [0037]    As an operator installs the one of the plurality of louvers  30 , the first shaft  66  of the first end cap  36  is disposed in the chamber  24  of the housing  22 . The operator moves the one of the plurality louvers  30  along the louver axis A 1  in a first direction F 1  parallel to A 1 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , to compress the biasing member  70  and move the plunger  62  into the plunger chamber  60  of the first end cap  36 . The operator aligns the second shaft  82  of the second end cap  38  with the second shaft aperture and aligns the retainer pin  84  with the retainer aperture  85  (or  87  or  89 ). The operator moves the one of the plurality louvers  30  along the louver axis A 1  in a second direction F 2  parallel to A 1  to dispose the second shaft  82  in the second shaft aperture and dispose the retainer pin  84  in the retainer aperture  85 . The biasing member  70  biases the one of the plurality louvers  30  along the louver axis A 1  in the second direction F 2  to engage the first plurality of teeth  90  of the second body  50  with the second plurality of teeth  92  of the locking member  78  to prevent rotation of the one of the plurality louvers  30  about the louver axis A 1 . The retainer pin  84  engages the housing  22  in the retainer aperture  85  to prevent rotation of the locking member  78 . 
         [0038]    To adjust the one of the plurality louvers  30 , the operator moves the one of the plurality louvers  30  along the louver axis A 1  in the first direction F 1  to compress the biasing member  70  and disengage the first plurality of teeth  90  of the second body  50  from the second plurality of teeth  92  of the locking member  78 . The operator rotates the one of the plurality louvers  30  about the louver axis A 1  to the desired angle of the one of the plurality louvers  30 . As the operator rotates the one of the plurality louvers  30 , the locking member  78  remains stationary and the second end cap  38  rotates about the locking member  78 . The operator moves the one of the plurality louvers  30  along the louver axis A 1  in a second direction F 2  aided by the biasing member  70  to reengage the first plurality of teeth  90  of the second body  50  with the second plurality of teeth  92  of the locking member  78 . The biasing member  70  biases the one of the plurality louvers  30  along the louver axis A 1  in the second direction F 2  retain the engagement of the first plurality of teeth  90  of the second body  50  with the second plurality of teeth  92  of the locking member  78  to prevent rotation of the one of the plurality louvers  30  about the louver axis A 1 . It is preferred that this operation be repeated for all of the louvers  30  in the housing  22 , but it is not required and can be tailored or selected as desired or needed. 
         [0039]    The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings, and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.