FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a mobile device for heating spaces, comprising one or more radiant elements which define a heating battery in which a heat transfer fluid flows.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile heating devices are known, such as for example thermal radiators comprising one or more radiant elements, connected together and hydraulically communicating, by means of upper and lower collectors.

A diathermic oil, heated by one or more electrical resistances, is made to flow in the radiant elements and, through the collectors, from one radiant element to another. The electrical resistance is normally immersed in an oil bath and located on the lower part of the mobile heating device.

The one or more radiant elements thus define a heating battery which is normally associated with a control panel, by means of which a user can switch the heating device on or off and in which, for example, a knob for selecting the desired temperature can be provided, which can be associated with an on/off thermostat for the heating device, a possible display for viewing the temperature and/or other electrical or electronic components.

The control panel and the heating battery have substantially opposite requirements. While the heating battery has to guarantee uniform and long- lasting heat in the space, the control panel on the other hand should be kept as cold as possible, to guarantee the effectiveness and correct functioning of its components, which can be electrical or electronic components, or other.

Excessive heating of the control panel, in addition to negatively affecting the functioning of the components it houses, can also represent a danger for the user, since the surface of the panel can become excessively hot.

Furthermore, the control panel itself is normally made of plastic material, which must be chosen among those with a satisfactory heat resistance, which leads to an increase in costs in the construction of the mobile heating device. Costs are also increased due to the quality of the electrical and/or electronic components to be housed in the control panel, since they must be components able to resist high temperatures.

The use of plastic materials to make the control panel is therefore quite limited nowadays, and this also limits the possibility of giving the panel more attractive ergonomic or aesthetic conformations, or other.

Some known mobile heating devices, which however have the above problems, are described for example in documents WO 2008/086652 Al, US 4 493 974 A, US 5 966 498 A and US 2018/372340 Al. In these mobile devices, in particular, the control panel is adjacent to or located near the heating battery, therefore it can be negatively affected by the presence of the battery and can overheat.

There is therefore a need to perfect a mobile device for heating spaces which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a mobile device for heating spaces which allows to combine a heating battery with a control panel in such a way that the heat emitted by the heating battery does not significantly affect the control panel, that is, which allows to keep the control panel colder than what happens today in known mobile heating devices.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a mobile device for heating spaces which therefore allows to keep the surface of the control panel colder, with consequent greater safety for the user, and which allows to keep the electrical and/or electronic components housed inside the control panel colder, increasing the efficiency and duration thereof.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a mobile device for heating spaces that is economical to make, thanks above all to the fact that the materials with which the control panel is made can be, for example, plastic materials that do not have particular characteristics of thermal resistance, as well as the electrical and/or electronic components, which also do not need to have particular characteristics of thermal resistance.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a mobile device for heating spaces that can use a wider range of materials for its construction and in particular for the construction of the control panel, compared with that which can be used in mobile heating devices known in the field.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a mobile device for heating spaces according to the present invention comprises a heating battery provided with one or more radiant elements in which a heated heat transfer fluid flows, and associated with a control panel configured to regulate and control the functioning of the heating battery.

According to one aspect of the invention, the mobile device comprises a thermal protection assembly positioned between the heating battery and the control panel and configured to allow an increase in heat exchange of the heating battery with the surrounding space, and a decrease in heat exchange with the control panel. The heating battery has at least one free surface facing the control panel and in contact with the space that surrounds the mobile device. The free surface is thus air-cooled by natural convection. The thermal protection assembly also comprises at least one heat exchange zone, disposed between the heating battery and the control panel and created thanks to the reciprocal distancing between the heating battery and the control panel.

Advantageously, thanks in particular to the thermal protection assembly with which it is provided, the present mobile device for heating spaces allows to combine a heating battery with a control panel in such a way that the heat emitted by the heating battery does not significantly affect the control panel, that is, it allows to keep the control panel cooler than what currently occurs in known mobile heating devices.

The present mobile device for heating spaces therefore allows to keep the surface of the control panel cooler, with consequent greater safety for the user, and allows to keep the electrical and/or electronic components housed inside the control panel or associated with the control panel cooler, thus increasing its efficiency and duration.

The present mobile device for heating spaces is also economical to produce and the materials with which the control panel is made can be, for example, plastic materials that have lower thermal resistance characteristics, as is the case for the electrical and/or electronic components, which can also have lower thermal resistance characteristics.

To produce the present mobile device and in particular to produce the control panel, moreover, it is possible to use a wider range of materials than what can be used in the mobile heating devices known in the field.

Furthermore, the detection of the ambient temperature occurs with greater precision, since the local heating effects are reduced thanks to the solution being presented.

The control panel can also be positioned on a support which allows to distance it from the heating battery and to at least partly create the heat exchange zone.

In some embodiments, the thermal protection assembly can comprise at least one shielding element positioned between the heating battery and the control panel.

Between the shielding element and the heating battery there can be positioned at least one substantially vertical duct in which air flows by natural convection. This duct can be made of metal material.

At least one element made of insulating material could be positioned between the shielding element and the heating battery.

The shielding element can be made of plastic material and/or metal material.

The shielding element can have a concavity facing toward the outside of the mobile device.

At least a first heat exchange zone can also be created between the shielding element and the free surface of the heating battery, having a shape diverging from the inside to the outside of the mobile device.

The first heat exchange zone can be a zone where heat exchange occurs by natural convection.

In the first heat exchange zone, there can be provided the positioning of at least one element made of insulating material.

Between the shielding element and the control panel at least a second heat exchange zone can also be created.

The second heat exchange zone can be a zone where heat exchange occurs by natural convection.

In the second heat exchange zone, there can be provided the positioning of at least one element made of insulating material.

The thermal protection assembly can have two first heat exchange zones that are specular with respect to a median longitudinal axis of the mobile device.

The thermal protection assembly can have two second heat exchange zones that are specular with respect to a median longitudinal axis of the mobile device.

Furthermore, the thermal protection assembly can comprise at least one metal box-like element positioned between the heating battery and the support of the control panel.

In some embodiments, the metal box-like element can be integrated in the heating battery.

Furthermore, the metal box-like element could be provided at both ends of the heating battery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a mobile device for heating spaces according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the mobile device of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a mobile device for heating spaces according to another embodiment of the invention;

- fig. 4 is a schematic top view of the mobile device of fig. 3.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

With reference to the attached drawings and with particular reference to fig. 1 and fig. 2 thereof, a mobile device 10a for heating spaces comprises a heating battery I la provided with one or more radiant elements 12a in which a heated heat transfer fluid flows, and associated with a control panel 13a configured to regulate and control the functioning of the heating battery 1 la.

According to the present invention, the mobile device 10a comprises a thermal protection assembly 14a positioned between the heating battery 11a and the control panel 13a and configured to allow an increase in heat exchange of the heating battery I la with the surrounding space and a decrease in heat exchange with the control panel 13 a.

The heating battery I la has at least one free surface 15a facing the control panel 13a and in contact with the space that surrounds the mobile device 10a, therefore the free surface 15a is air-cooled by natural convection.

The thermal protection assembly 14a comprises at least one heat exchange zone, see the zone 19 and/or 23 in fig. 2, disposed between the heating battery I la and the control panel 13a and created thanks to the reciprocal distancing between the heating battery I la and the control panel 13a.

Thanks to this heat exchange zone, the heat produced by the heating battery I la is dissipated in the external space and the control panel 13a, suitably distanced from the unit, is not affected, or is negligibly affected, by the heat produced by it.

The panel 13a is positioned on a support 24 which allows to distance it from the heating battery 13 and to at least partly create the heat exchange zone 19 and/or 23. The support 24 can be for example a box-like element and can also extend for all or part of the height of the mobile device 10a.

The free surface 15a of the heating battery can be for example a substantially vertical surface, substantially parallel to the control panel 13 a.

The control panel 13a comprises a series of electrical and/or electronic components for regulating and controlling the functioning of the heating battery 11a. These components can be associated with knobs 16 for regulating the functioning of the mobile device 10a, which are provided on the control panel 13 a. The knobs 16 can be provided, for example, to switch the mobile device 10a on and off, to regulate the temperature or other. A display could also be provided on the control panel 13a to display the temperature and/or other characteristics of the mobile device 10a.

The thermal protection assembly 14a can also comprise at least one shielding element 17a positioned between the heating battery I la and the control panel 13a. The shielding element 17a can be made of plastic material and/or metal material.

The support 24 can comprise a pair of opposite walls 25 which extend from the control panel 13a to the shielding element 17a. The extension of the walls 25 will substantially determine the distancing of the shielding element 17a from the control panel 13a. Furthermore, the shielding element 17a can be connected to the heating battery 1 la in only a few points required for structural reasons, but in such a way that no phenomena of heat conduction toward the control panel 13a occur.

Substantially, therefore, see in particular fig. 2, at least one first heat exchange zone 19 can be created between the shielding element 17a and the free surface 15a of the heating battery I la, having in particular a shape diverging from the inside to the outside of the mobile device 10a.

A second heat exchange zone 23 can be created, thanks in particular to the support 24, between the shielding element 17a and the control panel 13a.

The first heat exchange zone 19 can be a zone in which heat exchange occurs by natural convection. Therefore, substantially, the shielding element 17a and the free surface 15a will be separated by air.

The second heat exchange zone 23 can be a zone in which heat exchange occurs by natural convection. Therefore, substantially, the shielding element 17a and the control panel 13a will be separated by air.

At least one element made of insulating material can be provided in the first zone 19 and/or in the second zone 23.

Preferably, also given the shape of the shielding element 17a, two first heat exchange zones 19 are created that are specular with respect to a median longitudinal axis A of the mobile device 10a.

Furthermore, it is possible to also provide two second heat exchange zones 23 that are specular with respect to a median longitudinal axis A of the mobile device 10a.

The two heat exchange zones 19 and 23 separated by the shielding element 17a in fact represent a double protection of the control panel 13a from the heat emitted by the heating battery 1 la.

Between the shielding element 17a and the heating battery I la there can also be positioned at least one substantially vertical duct 18 in which air flows by natural convection. This duct 18, therefore, further contributes to cooling the control panel 13 a.

The duct 18 can be made with any internal section whatsoever and can be made of metal material. The shielding element 17a will be connected, in a fixed and movable way, to the duct 18.

The shielding element 17a, see in particular fig. 2, can be made substantially U-shaped, that is, provided with a concavity facing toward the outside of the mobile device 10a. In this way, it is possible to further distance the free surface 15a of the heating battery I la from the shielding element 17a and obtain a better heat exchange of the heating battery 1 l with the surrounding air.

The shielding element 17a preferably has a height substantially equal to the height of the radiant elements 12a, therefore it covers the entire height of the heating battery 1 la.

According to another embodiment of the mobile device 10b according to the present invention, see in particular fig. 3 and fig. 4, the thermal protection assembly 14b is positioned between the heating battery 11b, formed by one or more radiant elements 12b, and the control panel 13b. The thermal protection assembly 14b is configured to allow an increase in heat exchange of the heating battery 1 lb with the surrounding space and a decrease in heat exchange with the control panel 13b.

The heating battery 11b has at least one free surface 15b facing toward the control panel 13b and in contact with the space that surrounds the mobile device 10b, therefore the free surface 15b is air-cooled by natural convection.

The thermal protection assembly 14b comprises at least one heat exchange zone 22 disposed between the heating battery 1 lb and the control panel 13b, and created thanks to the reciprocal distancing between the heating battery 11b and the control panel 13b.

The free surface 15b of the heating battery l ib can be for example a substantially vertical surface, substantially parallel to the control panel 13b.

The thermal protection assembly 14b can comprise a support 20 on which the control panel 13b is positioned, and configured to distance the control panel 13b from the heating battery 1 lb. The heat exchange zone 22 is at least partly created around the support 20.

The support 20 can have a box-like shape and can also extend for all or part of the height of the mobile device 10b. The support 20 can comprise a pair of opposite walls 26 which extend from the control panel 13b to the heating battery l ib. The extension of these walls 26 will substantially determine the distancing of the control panel 13b from the heating battery l ib. The support 20 can also have the function of a cable winder.

The thermal protection assembly 14b can also comprise at least one metal boxlike element 21 positioned between the heating battery 11b and the support 20. Air flows by natural convection inside the box-like element 21.

The heat exchange zone 22 can be a zone in which heat exchange occurs by natural convection.

At least one element made of insulating material could be provided in such zone 22.

In some embodiments, the metal box-like element 21 can be integrated inside the heating battery 11b, as shown by way of example in fig. 4. The metal boxlike element 21 could also be positioned outside the heating battery 11b.

Therefore, the box-like element 21 and the support 20 in fact represent a double protection zone to protect the control panel 13b from the heat emitted by the heating battery l ib.

As can be observed, the metal box-like element 21 could be provided at both ends of the heating battery l ib. In this way, the control panel 13b could be positioned indifferently on one side or the other of the heating battery l ib.

The present mobile device 10a, 10b for heating spaces ultimately allows an effective thermal separation between the control panel 13a, 13b and the heating battery I la, 11b. In particular, the control panel 13a, 13b is affected by the heat emitted by the heating battery I la, 1 lb to a lesser extent than in known mobile heating devices, therefore the control panel is substantially kept cooler than what currently occurs in known mobile heating devices.

This guarantees greater safety for the user and also the possibility of being able to produce the control panel 13a, 13b with a wide range of materials, for example plastic material and in particular plastic material that does not have particular characteristics of thermal resistance, which is therefore economic.

Even the electrical and/or electronic components associated with the control panel are not affected by high temperatures, therefore their efficiency and duration are increased. The detection of the ambient temperature occurs with greater precision since the effects of local heating are reduced thanks to the solution presented.

Moreover, thanks to the fact that the control panel 13a, 13b is kept cooler, it is possible to also produce the control panel 13a, 13b with materials which allow to give it more attractive aesthetic conformations, whether ergonomic or other.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the mobile device for heating spaces as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.