A DEVICE HAVING AN AIR CUSHION FOR HEATING ROOM AIR AND A LIQUID

Abstract

Example embodiment relate to a device for heating room air and a liquid. Room air enters and exits the device via an air inlet and an air outlet, and the liquid enters and exits the device via a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. The heat transfer device transfers the thermal energy produced by an energy unit to the liquid in an interaction area of a medium line. A conveying device moves liquid and/or air between a medium container and the medium line. A control unit controls the conveying device. In case the device is intended to heat only room air in an air mode, the control unit, in a preparation step, controls the conveying device such that the conveying device moves air from an air cushion in the medium container through the medium line.

Claims

1. A device for heating room air and a liquid, comprising: an air inlet, an air outlet, a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, an energy unit, a heat transfer device, a medium container, a medium line, a conveying device and a control unit, wherein room air to be heated enters the device via the air inlet, wherein heated room air exits the device via the air outlet, wherein liquid to be heated enters the device via the liquid inlet, wherein heated liquid exits the device via the liquid outlet, wherein the energy unit produces thermal energy, wherein the heat transfer device transfers the thermal energy produced by the energy unit to the room air and/or the liquid, wherein the medium container serves to receive liquid and air, wherein the medium line serves to conduct liquid and air, wherein the heat transfer device and the medium line are configured and arranged relative to each other such that the heat transfer device transfers thermal energy to the liquid present in the medium line, wherein the conveying device serves to move liquid and/or air from the medium container to the medium line, and from the medium line to the medium container, wherein the control unit controls the conveying device, and wherein in case the device is intended to heat only room air in an air mode, the control unit, in a preparation step, controls the conveying device such that the conveying device moves air from an air cushion in the medium container through the medium line.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the medium container, the conveying device, and the medium line are configured and adapted to each other such that an amount of air in the medium container, the conveying device, and the medium line remains substantially constant.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the preparation step, the conveying device removes air from the air cushion and supplies it back to the medium container after the passage through the medium line.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein in case the device is intended to heat either only liquid or liquid and room air, the control unit controls the conveying device such that liquid flows from the medium container to the medium line, and from the medium line to the medium container.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a fan for conveying the room air from the air inlet to the air outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] More specifically, there are a large number of possibilities to configure and further develop the device according to the invention. To this end, reference is made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinated to claim 1, and, on the other hand, to the description below of example embodiments in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device.

[0013] FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a device for heating room air and a liquid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The room air enters the device through the air inlet 1 and exits it in a heated state through the air outlet 2. The liquid, water, for example, enters the device via the liquid inlet 3 and leaves it in a warmed up (heated) state via the liquid outlet 4. In the variant shown, the thermal energy for heating is generated by the energy unit 5 by the combustion of a fuel-air-mixture. Depending on the mode, the heat transfer device 6 transfers the thermal energy to the room air or to the liquid or, for example, both to the room air and the liquid. To this end, the room air is guided from the air inlet 1 through the fan, along or past the heat transfer device 6 to the air outlet 2. A medium container 7 is provided for the liquid, which is connected to the liquid inlet 3 and to the liquid outlet 4 and a medium line 8. The liquid flowing through the medium line 8 can absorb thermal energy from the heat transfer device 6. The flow of the liquid is generated by the conveying device 9 which comprises at least one pump, for example. The conveying device 9 is controlled by the control unit 10, which in this configuration also switches between the different modes of operation based on a user setting.

[0015] An air cushion 11 is provided in the medium container 7 for switching between the modes. The medium container 7 is thus not entirely filled with the liquid, rather, an area remains for the air. The medium line 8 is first largely emptied with respect to the liquid before only the room air is heated in the air mode. For this purpose, air from the air cushion 11 is guided through the medium line 8 by the conveying device 9. This involves that the conveying device 9 can convey not only liquid, but also air. After the preparation step, the air is heated in an air mode.

[0016] While the disclosure has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.