Forced air heater including on-board source of electric energy

Abstract

A forced-air heater having a self-contained on-board electric-power supply, a fuel tank, a support, a housing, a combustion chamber, and a motorized fan. The self-contained on-board electric-power supply may have a generator, a photovoltaic component, or some combination thereof. The fuel tank may be adapted to store a first fuel. The combustion chamber may be adapted to generate heat by combusting the first fuel with air. The motorized fan may be adapted to draw in ambient air through an air intake and force the air into the combustion chamber.

1 . A forced-air heater comprising:
 a self-contained on-board electric-power supply comprising,
 a generator, 
 a photovoltaic component, or 
 some combination thereof; 
   a fuel tank adapted to store a first fuel;   a support;   a housing;   a combustion chamber adapted to generate heat by combusting the first fuel with air; and   a motorized fan adapted to operate to,
 draw in ambient air through an air intake, and 
 force the air into the combustion chamber. 
   
     
     
         2 . The forced-air heater of  claim 1 , wherein said self-contained on-board electric-power supply comprises a photovoltaic component. 
     
     
         3 . The forced-air heater of  claim 2 , further comprising a battery. 
     
     
         4 . The forced-air heater of  claim 3 , wherein the battery is a lithium ion battery or a sealed lead-acid battery. 
     
     
         5 . The forced-air heater of  claim 1 , wherein said self-contained on-board electric-power supply comprises a generator. 
     
     
         6 . The forced-air heater of  claim 5 , further comprising an engine operationally engaged with the generator. 
     
     
         7 . The forced-air heater of  claim 6 , wherein the engine is an external combustion engine. 
     
     
         8 . The forced-air heater of  claim 7 , wherein the engine is adapted to generate work from the heat. 
     
     
         9 . The forced-air heater of  claim 6 , wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         10 . The forced-air heater of  claim 9 , wherein the engine is adapted to generate work from combustion of a second fuel. 
     
     
         11 . The forced-air heater of  claim 10 , wherein said second fuel is a fuel oil, kerosene, gasoline, propane, natural gas, or alcohol. 
     
     
         12 . The forced-air heater of  claim 11 , wherein said second fuel is a different fuel from said first fuel. 
     
     
         13 . The forced-air heater of  claim 10 , wherein said second fuel is a fuel oil, kerosene, gasoline, or alcohol. 
     
     
         14 . The forced-air heater of  claim 13 , wherein said second fuel is the same fuel as said first fuel. 
     
     
         15 . A method for producing heat, comprising
 providing a forced-air heater, said forced-air heater comprising:
 a self-contained on-board electric-power supply comprising,
 a generator, 
 a photovoltaic component, or 
 some combination thereof; 
 
 a fuel tank adapted to store a first fuel; 
 a support; 
 a housing; 
 a combustion chamber adapted to generate heat by combusting the first fuel with air, 
 a motorized fan adapted to operate to,
 draw in ambient air through an air intake, and 
 force the air into the combustion chamber; 
 
   generating electric power from said self-contained on-board electric-power supply; and   directing a majority of said generated electric power to an electric load component or external electric load accessory other than a resistive heating element.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said self-contained on-board electric-power supply comprises a photovoltaic component. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said self-contained on-board electric-power supply comprises a generator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising an engine operationally engaged with the generator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine adapted to generate work from combustion of a second fuel different fuel from said first fuel. 
     
     
         20 . A forced-air heater comprising:
 a self-contained on-board electric-power supply comprising a generator;   a fuel tank adapted to store a first fuel, said first fuel comprising fuel oil, kerosene, gasoline, or alcohol;   a support;   a housing;   a battery comprising
 a lithium ion battery, or 
 a sealed lead-acid battery; 
   an engine operationally engaged with the generator, said engine being an internal combustion engine adapted to generate work from combustion of a second fuel other than the first fuel;   a combustion chamber adapted to generate heat by combusting the first fuel with air;   a motorized fan adapted to operate to,
 draw in ambient air through an air intake, and 
 force air into the combustion chamber.