Forced air heater including multiple on-board sources of electric energy

Abstract

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a heating device may comprise a control assembly having a self-contained, on board power supply. A control unit may control the operation of the heater and the power supply may comprise a first power source in electrical communication with the control unit, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the first power source to selectively supply electrical power to at least a portion of the heating device; and, a second power source in electrical communication with the control unit, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the second power source to selectively supply electrical power to at least a portion of the heating device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A forced air heating system, comprising:
 a housing comprising an elongated tubular shell;   a combustion region disposed within the housing;   a fuel inlet fluidly coupled with the combustion region, the fuel inlet configured to fluidly couple with an external fuel tank;   a support engaged with the lower portion of the housing proximate the combustion region, the support comprising an internal chamber;   a control unit, at least a portion of which is disposed in the internal chamber, which selectively supplies electrical power from a power supply to control at least a portion of the heater; and   a first power source electrically coupled with the power supply, the first power source electrically coupling with a selectively removable rechargeable battery.   
     
     
         2 . The heating system of  claim 1 , comprising a second power source electrically coupling with a remote power source. 
     
     
         3 . The heating system of  claim 2 , the second power source comprising an alternating current (AC) electrical power source supplied by remote source of AC electrical power coupled with the second power source. 
     
     
         4 . The heating system of  claim 3 , comprising a rectifier electrically coupled with the second power source for converting AC electrical power to direct current (DC) electrical power. 
     
     
         5 . The heating system of  claim 3 , comprising an electrical plug for coupling with the remote source of AC electrical power. 
     
     
         6 . The heating system of  claim 1 , comprising the selectively removable rechargeable battery, the battery comprising a lithium battery. 
     
     
         7 . The heating system of  claim 6 , comprising a recharging unit that recharges the selectably removable battery separately from the heater. 
     
     
         8 . The heating system of  claim 1 , comprising a fuel line to fluidly couple the external fuel tank with the fuel inlet, the fuel tank comprising a pressurized hydrocarbon fuel used for combustion in the combustion region. 
     
     
         9 . The heating system of  claim 1 , comprising a fuel tank fixedly engaged to the heater, and holding liquid fuel oil product used for combustion in the combustion region. 
     
     
         10 . The heating system of  claim 1 , comprising a motorized fan assembly disposed in the housing that is electrically coupled with the control unit. 
     
     
         11 . The heating system of  claim 1 , comprising a fuel nozzle disposed in the combustion region and fluidly coupled with the fluid inlet through the support. 
     
     
         12 . The heating system of  claim 11 , comprising an igniter disposed in the combustion region for igniting fuel expelled from the fuel nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . The heating system of  claim 1 , comprising a heater controller comprising a panel disposed on the support, and coupled with the control unit for selective operation of the heater. 
     
     
         14 . The heating system of  claim 13 , comprising a temperature control interface for selectively controlling a supply of fuel to the combustion region, and an ignition control for activating an ignitor. 
     
     
         15 . The heating system of  claim 1 , the selectively removable rechargeable battery electrically coupling with the first power source outside of the interior chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A forced-air heater, comprising:
 an upper housing comprising a tubular shaped cylinder comprising a combustion region disposed therein;   a combustion chamber disposed within the combustion region, the combustion chamber operably a site of combustion of fuel;   a fuel inlet fluidly coupled with the combustion chamber, the fuel inlet operably coupling with a fuel tank to provide fuel to the combustion chamber;   a lower housing comprising an interior chamber, the lower housing operably disposed beneath and adjacent to the upper housing;   a control unit disposed in the interior chamber to selectively control at least a portion of the heater;   an electrical conductor that electrically couples the control unit to a power supply, at least a portion of the electrical conductor disposed in the interior chamber, wherein the power supply supplies electrical power to one or more of the control unit, and a motorized fan assembly;   the power supply comprising one or more of:
 a first power source comprising a battery coupling component configured to selectively couple and uncouple with a rechargeable battery; and 
 a second power source comprising a rectifier for converting alternating current (AC) electrical power to direct current (DC) electrical power, and a remote electricity coupling component for electrically coupling with a remote AC electrical power source. 
   
     
     
         17 . The heater of  claim 16 , comprising a fixedly engaged fuel tank that holds liquid fuel oil product used for combustion in the combustion region. 
     
     
         18 . The heating system of  claim 16 , comprising the selectively removable rechargeable battery, the battery comprising a lithium battery. 
     
     
         19 . The heating system of  claim 18 , comprising a recharging unit that recharges the selectably removable battery separately from the heater. 
     
     
         20 . A forced air heating system, comprising:
 a housing comprising an elongated tubular shell;   a combustion region disposed within the housing;   a fuel inlet fluidly coupled with the combustion region, the fuel inlet configured to fluidly couple with an external fuel tank;   a support engaged with the lower portion of the housing proximate the combustion region, the support comprising an internal chamber;   a fuel nozzle disposed in the combustion region and fluidly coupled with the fluid inlet through the support;   an igniter disposed in the combustion region for igniting fuel expelled from the fuel nozzle;   a control unit, at least a portion of which is disposed in the internal chamber, which selectively supplies electrical power from a power supply to control at least a portion of the heater;   a motorized fan assembly disposed in the housing that is electrically coupled with the control unit;   a temperature control interface for selectively controlling a supply of fuel to the combustion region, and an ignition control for activating an ignitor   a first power source electrically coupled with the power supply, the first power source electrically coupling with a selectively removable rechargeable battery; and   a second power source comprising an alternating current (AC) electrical power source supplied by remote source of AC electrical power coupled with the second power source, and a rectifier electrically coupled with the second power source for converting AC electrical power to direct current (DC) electrical power.