Thermoelectric space heaters

Abstract

Disclosed are various thermoelectric heaters. A thermal transfer component has a first plate attached to a second plate. A heating channel is formed by at least one of the first plate or the second plate of the thermal transfer component. The heating channel is between the first plate and the second plate of the thermal transfer component. A heating element is within the heating channel.

Therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A thermoelectric heater, comprising:
 a thermal transfer component comprising a first plate attached to a second plate, wherein a surface area of each of the first plate and the second plate comprise a center heating area and an outer insulating area;   a heating channel formed by the first plate and the second plate of the thermal transfer component, the heating channel being between the first plate and the second plate in the heating area;   a heating element within the heating channel;   a plurality of insulating holes in the outer insulating area; and   a fin in the outer insulating area composing an outer edge of the thermal transfer component.   
     
     
         2 . The thermoelectric heater of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating holes are alignment holes that facilitate a connection of the first plate and the second plate. 
     
     
         3 . The thermoelectric heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises more than one resistance per unit length. 
     
     
         4 . The thermoelectric heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises:
 an inner core;   a resistive heating wire wrapped around the inner core; and   an outer insulation layer.   
     
     
         5 . The thermoelectric heater of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulating channel formed by the first plate and the second plate of the thermal transfer component, the insulating channel being between the first plate and the second plate in the insulating area, wherein the insulating channel provides thermal isolation between the heating area and an outer edge of the thermal transfer component. 
     
     
         6 . The thermoelectric heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is held substantially at a center of the heating channel by a first sheet and a second sheet sandwiched around the heating element, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet that are sandwiched around the heating element are between the first plate and the second plate of the thermal transfer component. 
     
     
         7 . The thermoelectric heater of  claim 1 , further comprising another thermal transfer component having another heating element in another heating channel, wherein the another heating element has a different resistance per unit length than the thermal transfer component. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a thermal transfer component having a height and a width, the thermal transfer component comprising a first plate attached to a second plate;   a heating channel formed by at least one of the first plate or the second plate of the thermal transfer component, the heating channel that is formed between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the heating channel meanders along at least a portion of the height and the width of the thermal transfer component; and   a heating element within the channel.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first plate or the second plate comprises a fin along an outer edge of the thermal transfer component. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of insulating holes through the fin. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of insulating holes is an alignment hole. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising an insulating channel formed by the first plate and the second plate of the thermal transfer component, the insulating channel being substantially along an outer edge of the thermal transfer component. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising an insulating channel and a fin formed by the first plate and the second plate of the thermal transfer component, the insulating channel and the fin being substantially along an outer edge of the thermal transfer component. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one thermal insulation channel formed by the first plate and the second plate of the thermal transfer component, the insulating channel being substantially along an outer edge of the thermal transfer component. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a thermal transfer component comprising a first plate and a second plate;   a heating channel in a center heating area formed by the first plate and the second plate, wherein the heating channel is between the first plate and the second plate;   an insulating channel in an insulating area formed by the first plate and the second plate, wherein the insulating channel is between the first plate and the second plate; and   a first foil sheet and a second foil sheet between the first plate and the second plate that hold a heating element in the heating channel, wherein the first foil sheet and the second foil sheet maintain a gap between the heating element and the heating channel.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a fin composing an outer edge of the thermal transfer component. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one insulating hole in the insulating area. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the heating element comprises:
 an inner core; and   a resistive heating wire wrapped around the inner core, wherein a wrapping density of the resistive heating wire varies along a length of the heating element.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an interconnection thoroughfare formed by a convex protrusion on each of the first plate and the second plate of the thermal transfer component. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the thermal transfer component is one of a plurality of thermal transfer components, and wherein the plurality of thermal transfer components are connected by a plurality of convex protrusions of the plurality of thermal transfer components.