Patio Heater with Misting Capability

Abstract

A temperature control appliance adapted for installation over an outdoor gathering area provides infrared, radiant heat or evaporative cooling modes. The radiant burner has a semi-cylindrical porous foam metal radiator element mounted in a housing to direct infrared heat to the gathering area. Evaporative cooling is provided by misting nozzles mounted on the burner housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An overhead mountable temperature-control appliance comprising:
 a housing;   a fuel-fired infrared radiator heater disposed within the housing;   a series of water supplied misting nozzles mounted on the housing; and   
       control means for selectively activating only one of said radiator heater and misting nozzles at a given time. 
     
     
         2 . The temperature-control appliance as defined in  claim 1  wherein the radiator heater comprises a fuel/air plenum and a radiator element mounted on the plenum for generating radiant heat when selective and supplied with fuel and air. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature-controlled appliance as defined in  claim 2  wherein the radiator element is made of porous foam metal. 
     
     
         4 . An overhead mountable temperature controlling appliance as defined in  claim 3  wherein the radiator element is semi-cylindrical. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature-controlled appliance as defined in  claim 4  wherein the combination of the plenum and radiator element when mounted together is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature-controlled appliance as defined in  claim 1  wherein the control means comprises a manually operable device remote from said housing with a control element for individually selecting heat, mist and off conditions for said device. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature-controlled appliance defined in  claim 1  further including a fan for suppling air to the heater when selected and means for detecting an inflow of air to the heater and preventing activation of said heater if no inflow of air is detected. 
     
     
         8 . A fuel fired patio heating appliance with misting capability for evaporative cooling comprising:
 a housing mountable over a gathering area;   a burner assembly disposed within the housing for directing radiant heat from the housing toward the gathering area and comprising a burner element having a foam metal burner element oriented to radiate heat downwardly toward the gathering area;   an ignitor device associated with the foam metal burner element for igniting a fuel air mixture supplied to said burner; and   an array of misting nozzles carried by the housing;   a fuel supply for the burner;   a water supply for the misting nozzles; and   control means for selectively operating one of said burn and missing nozzles at any given time.   
     
     
         9 . The appliance defined in  claim 8  wherein the housing is made of steel and has an open bottom;
 said radiator element being mounted within the housing in a fashion to direct radiate heat therefrom downwardly and outwardly toward a gathering area. 
 
     
     
         10 . The appliance defined in  claim 8  wherein the fuel supply to said burner is one of natural gas and propane. 
     
     
         11 . The patio heater appliance defined in  claim 1  wherein the burner element is substantially cylindrical and the foam metal radiator element is substantially semi-cylindrical.