Heating apparatus

Abstract

An electric heating apparatus (1) including an electric heater (12) and a flame simulator (2). The apparatus includes an air outlet channel (14) for expelling heated air wherein the cross-sectional area of the air outlet channel (13) increases with increased distance from the heater.

1 . A heating apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a flame simulation compartment and a viewing window for viewing said compartment and flames simulated therein;   a flame simulator for simulating flames in said flame simulation compartment;   a heater unit adjacent the flame simulation compartment, the heater unit including:
 a heater, an air inlet, an air inlet channel connecting the air inlet to the heater, an air outlet, an air outlet channel connecting the heater to the air outlet, and a fan for drawing air into the air inlet, to then flow through the air inlet channel past the heater, through the air outlet channel and then through the air outlet, wherein the cross-sectional area of the air outlet channel in the planes perpendicular to the direction of the flow of air therethrough increases with increased distance from the heater. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the air inlet channel and air outlet channel are adjacent each other but separated by a channel wall or walls. 
     
     
         3 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 1  where the air outlet channel includes two outlet channel side walls whose surface planes subtend an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         4 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 3  where the obtuse angle is between 120 degrees and 150 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 4  where the obtuse angle is between 130 degrees and 135 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the heater unit is an electric heater. 
     
     
         7 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in use, an air inlet is located above the air outlet and the air inlet channel is arranged above the air outlet channel. 
     
     
         8 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein, in use, an air inlet is located at the same height and alongside the air outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the air inlet and air outlet are substantially horizontal vents or slots in the front of the heating apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the air inlet channel and air outlet channels each angle downwards as they approach the respective air inlet and air outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the heat outlet extends across more than 25% of the width of the front of the heating apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the heat outlet extends across more than 50% of the width of the front of the heating apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the heat outlet extends across more than 75% of the width of the front of the heating apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the air inlet channel and air outlet channels each angle downwards as they approach the respective air inlet and air outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The heating apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the air inlet channel and air outlet channels each angle downwards as they approach the respective air inlet and air outlet.