Column heater with improved heat output

Abstract

A radiant area heater includes a columnar base with a hollow compartment and a heating column disposed on the columnar base. The heating column includes a control portion with at least one controller, a burner, and a sparker and a flame portion that includes a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is disposed on a cylindrical member that has at least one vent allowing air to circulate to the burner and within the combustion chamber. The heating column further includes at least one heat emitting screen disposed above the flame portion that radiates heat outwards from the heater. A cover is disposed over the heating column to direct heat outwards and away from the heater.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A radiant area heater comprising:
 a columnar base that includes a hollow compartment;   a heating column disposed on the columnar base, the heating column comprising:
 a control portion that comprises at least one controller, a burner, and a sparker; 
 a flame portion that comprises a combustion chamber, the combustion chamber being disposed on a cylindrical member, the cylindrical member comprising at least one vent allowing air to circulate to the burner and within the combustion chamber; and 
 at least one heat emitting screen disposed above the flame portion, the heat emitting screen radiating heat outwards from the heater; and 
   a cover disposed over the heating column, the cover being configured to direct heat outwards and away from the heater.   
     
     
         2 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 1 , further comprising a base flange disposed at a bottom of the columnar base, the base flange comprising at least one wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the columnar base comprises a removable panel allowing access to the hollow compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 3 , wherein the removable panel is a door attached to the columnar base via hinges, the door being releasably secured in a closed position by a latch. 
     
     
         5 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 3 , wherein the removable panel comprises at least one air ventilation hole. 
     
     
         6 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat emitting screen comprises an upper heat emitting screen and a lower heat emitting screen, the upper heat emitting screen having a width that is greater than a width of the lower heat emitting screen. 
     
     
         7 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 6 , wherein the width of the lower heat emitting screen is substantially equal to a width of the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of the combustion chamber is at least 200 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 1 , further comprising a wire cage disposed around the flame portion and the at least on heat emitting screen. 
     
     
         10 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the columnar base and heating column are cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         11 . A radiant area heater comprising:
 a cylindrical columnar base, the columnar base comprising:
 a base flange at a bottom of the columnar base, the base flange comprising at least one wheel; and 
 a hollow compartment configured to house a fuel tank therein; 
   a middle flange disposed above the columnar base;   a cylindrical control portion, the control portion comprising at least one controller, a burner, and a sparker;   a cylindrical flame portion disposed above the middle flange, the flame portion comprising:
 a transparent cylindrical combustion chamber disposed above said burner; 
 a cylindrical supporting member configured to hold the combustion chamber, the supporting member comprising at least one vent allowing air to circulate to the burner and within the combustion chamber; 
   at least one heat emitting screen disposed above of the combustion chamber;   a wire cage disposed to surround the combustion chamber and the at least one heat emitting screen; and   a cover disposed above the at least one heat emitting screen, the cover configured to direct heat outward from the heater.   
     
     
         12 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one heat emitting screen comprises an upper heat emitting screen and a lower heat emitting screen, the upper heat emitting screen having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the lower heat emitting screen. 
     
     
         13 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 12 , wherein the diameter of the lower heat emitting screen is substantially equal to a diameter of the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 11 , wherein a diameter of the combustion chamber is at least 200 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 11 , wherein the middle flange comprises a handle. 
     
     
         16 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 11 , wherein the control portion further comprises a pilot light. 
     
     
         17 . The radiant area heater according to  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the wire cage is removable. 
     
     
         18 . A heater comprising:
 a base configured to support the heater;   a burner located in or above the base, the burner in gaseous communication with a source of combustible gas;   a combustion area extending upward from the base and located above the burner, the combustion area having cross sectional area of greater than 706 square centimeters;   air vents adjacent or below the combustion area, the air vents having an area greater than an area of the burner to allow air flow into the combustion area to complete combustion of the combustible gas; and   a top cover above the combustion area configured radiate heat downward and outward.   
     
     
         19 . The heater of  claim 18 , further comprising one or more radiant heating screen located above the combustion area, the one or more radiant heating screens configured to receive heat rising from the combustion chamber and radiate the heat outward from the heater. 
     
     
         20 . The heater of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more radiant heating screens comprises an upper screen and a lower screen, the upper screen having a diameter that is greater than the lower screen. 
     
     
         21 . The heater of  claim 18 , wherein combustion area is enclosed in a transparent or semi-transparent enclosure. 
     
     
         22 . The heater of  claim 18 , wherein the combustion area is configured to present flame from the burner, the flame having a height of greater than 60 centimeters. 
     
     
         23 . The heater of  claim 18 , wherein the base is round to increase stability and the combustion chamber is round to thereby provide equivalent heat output at all radial locations along a fixed radius outward from the heater.