A vehicle heater includes a heater housing (12) elongated in a direction of a housing longitudinal axis (L). A housing circumferential wall (34) defines a combustion air flow space (40). A combustion chamber assembly unit (14) is carried on the heater housing and has a combustion chamber (20) receiving combustion air from the combustion air flow space. A combustion air blower (42), with a combustion air blower housing (44), is carried on the heater housing. A combustion air inlet opening (56), in the combustion air blower housing, provides the inlet for combustion air into the combustion air blower. A combustion air connection unit (64), carried on the heater housing, has a combustion air passage duct (74) open outwardly in a first duct opening area (76) for receiving combustion air. The combustion air passage duct is open towards the combustion air inlet opening in a second duct opening area (78).

A fuel connection unit (10) for a fuel-operated vehicle heater (18) includes a connection unit body (12), which can be arranged at a heater housing (16). A fuel release line connection area (32) connects a fuel release line leading to a combustion chamber. A fuel feed line connection area (46) projects from the connection unit body (12) for connecting a fuel feed line. At least one functional unit (50), for influencing the flow of fuel in a fuel flow volume (36) formed in the connection unit body (12), is provided in the connection unit body (12).

A method for operating a fuel-operated vehicle heater, wherein after receipt of a switch-off signal by a control unit of the fuel-operated vehicle heater, a shutdown phase is initiated, during which remaining fuel present in the fuel-operated vehicle heater is combusted, and wherein a restart phase is initiated by the control unit after receipt of a switch-on signal during the shutdown phase, without the shutdown phase being terminated after complete combustion of the remaining fuel.

A vehicle heating system includes a fuel-operated heater (16) with a burner area (18), with a combustion air blower (20) for feeding combustion air to the burner area (18). A fuel pump (26) feeds fuel to the burner area (18). An actuating device (40) actuates the combustion air blower (20) and the fuel pump (26). The actuating device (40) is configured to actuate the combustion air blower (20) and the fuel pump (26) to carry out a fording operation upon receipt of a fording state information.

A fuel-operated vehicle heater includes a burner area (12) with a combustion chamber (14); a fuel pump (24); and a combustion air blower (28). A pressure sensor (38) detects a feed back pressure. An actuating unit (36) actuates the fuel pump (24) with a predefined value of a pump operating variable, and actuates the combustion air blower with a predefined value of a blower operating variable. A heater process includes detecting the feed back pressure in case of a feed operating state set during the combustion operation and comparing the detected feed back pressure (P.sub.e) with an expected feed back pressure (P.sub.E) for the set feed operating state. If the detected feed back pressure deviates from the expected feed back pressure the pump operating variable is changed such that the feed back pressure changes toward the expected feed pressure and/or essentially corresponds to the expected feed back pressure.

The invention relates to a burner (10), particularly for vehicle heaters, comprising a flexible panel (12) that separates an inner combustion region (14) from an outer region (16), a light-sensitive sensor for flame recognition being arranged in the outer region (16), and the flexible panel (12) comprising at least one light opening (20) that allows the passage of light from the inner combustion region (14) into the outer region (16). According to the invention, the light opening (20) is also provided so as to allow the passage of combustion air from the outer region (16) into the inner combustion region (14). The invention also relates to a vehicle heater.

A vehicle includes a drive motor arranged in an engine compartment, a fuel-operated vehicle heater arranged in the engine compartment, a fuel tank, a fuel line (22) leading from the fuel tank to the vehicle heater, as well as a cooling air line arrangement (46). The cooling air line arrangement (46) envelops the fuel line (22) in at least some areas for providing a cooling air flow duct (50) for cooling air flowing around the fuel line (22).

A vehicle heater includes a combustion chamber assembly unit (18) to be fed with fuel and combustion air, a housing (22) with a circumferential wall (24) defining a combustion air flow space (26), a combustion air blower (30) adjoining an end face (28) of the circumferential wall (24) of the housing (12) in the direction of a housing longitudinal axis (L), a fuel feed line and a sealing formation with a first sealing formation area arranged between the end face (28) of the circumferential wall (24) and the blower housing (32). A second sealing formation area (62) is positioned to mesh with a fuel feed line passage opening (38) for establishing a closure between the circumferential wall (24) and the fuel feed line (36). The sealing formation (56) includes a sealing element (54) providing the first sealing formation area (58) and the second sealing formation area (62).

A fuel connection unit for a fuel-operated vehicle heater includes a connection unit body (12) to be mounted on a heater body (78). A fuel release line connection area (16) is positioned such that it meshes with or faces an interior (80) of the heater body (78). The fuel release line connection area (16) connects a fuel release line (104), extending in the interior (80), with a fuel feed line connection area (20) to be positioned exposed on an outer side of the heater body (78), for connecting a fuel feed line.

A system and method for configuring parameters for a variable gaseous appliance, comprise a sensor for detecting a composition of the gaseous fuel in a fuel tank. A first set of instructions are executable on a processor for receiving a signal from the sensor and analyzing the gaseous fuel based on the Wobbe Index, methane index, and inert gas percentage, to produce a gaseous fuel analysis. A second set of instructions are executable on the processor for producing a signal for configuring parameters of the engine for running the engine based on the gaseous fuel analysis.