Rotary heat exchanger

Claim 2

A rotary heater comprising: a rotor assembly mounted for rotation including a plurality of blades constructed and positioned to act as fan blades during rotation of the rotor assembly, each blade being hollow to form a chamber therewithin; means for supplying fluid to each blade chamber during rotation of the rotor assembly; means for oxidizing the fluid after the fluid has entered within the blade chamber during rotor assembly rotation and for causing heat enerby to be liverted from the fluid within the chamber thereby raising the termperatue of the blades; means for venting the blade chamber of the oxidized fluid during rotor assembly rotation; and means for rotatably supporting and rotating the rotor.

Claim 3

A rotary heater as recited in claim 1, wherein the fluid is a hydrocarbon gas and air mixture and the oxidizing means includes means for igniting the gas-air mixture within the blades.

Claim 4

A rotary heater as recited in claim 2, wherein the igniting means is a pilot light disposed within the venting means.

Claim 5

A rotary heater as recited in claim 1, wherein the oxidizing means includes an element formed from a catalytic material disposed within each blade chamber adapted to interact with the fluid supplied into the blade chamber and means for igniting the fluid while within the blade chamber.

Claim 6

A rotary heater as recited in claim 4, wherein the catalytic element extends substantially across the entire length of each of the blade chambers.

Claim 7

A rotary heater as recited in claim 5, wherein the igniting means includes a pilot light disposed within the venting means.

Claim 8

A rotary heater as recited in claim 6, wherein the catalytic material comprises a wire mesh formed of metallic fibers plated with one of the platinum group metals.

Claim 9

A rotary heater comprising, a rotor mounted for rotation about a rotor axis, support means for rotatably mounting the rotor, a plurality of hollow blades fixed to the rotor and extending thereacross parallel to the rotor axis, a catalytic element formed of metallic fibers coated with a catalytic material positioned within the interior of each hollow blade substantially extending across the blade interior dividing each interior into fluid inlet and outlet chambers, means for supplying fluid to the fluid inlet chamber of each blade, means for venting the blade interiors fluidly communicating with the fluid outlet chamber of each blade interior, means for oxidizing the fluid within the blade so that heat energy is liberated from the fluid within the blade, and means for rotating the rotor.

Claim 10

A rotary heater comprising, a rotor mounted for rotation about a rotor axis, support means for rotatably mounting the rotor, a plurality of hollow blades fixed to the rotor and extending thereacross parallel to the rotor axis, a catalytic element formed of metallic fibers coated with a catalytic material positioned within the interior of each hollow blade substantially extending across the blade interior dividing each interior into fluid inlet and outlet chambers, means for supplying fluid to the fluid inlet chamber of each blade, means for venting the blade interiors fluidly communicating with the fluid outlet chamber of each blade interior, means for oxidizing the fluid within the blade so that heat energy is liberated from the fluid within the blade, and means for rotating the rotor.

Claim 11

A rotary heater as recited in claim 8, wherein the fluid supply means comprises a rotor end plate rotatable with the rotor rigidly connected to one end of each of the plurality of blades, the plate having fluid passages interiorly formed therein whose ends communicate between one end of the fluid inlet chamber of each of the blades and a central aperture formed in the rotor end plate.

Claim 12

The rotary heater as recited in claim 9, wherein the other end of the fluid inlet chamber is sealed.

Claim 13

The rotary heater as recited in claim 9, wherein the fluid supply means further comprises a nozzle having an exit end disposed adjacent to the rotor plate aperture and its entrance end communicating with a source of combustible gas.

Claim 14

A rotary heater as Recited in claim 11, wherein the nozzle is rotatably mounted and rigidly connected to the rotor end plate.

Claim 15

The rotary heater of claim 8, wherein one end of each blade outlet chamber communicates with the fluid outlet passage and the other end of said outlet chamber is sealed.

Claim 16

A rotary heater as recited in claim 8, wherein the fluid outlet passage comprises a funnel-shaped member having an enlarged end enclosing the open ends of the fluid outlet chambers.

Claim 17

A rotary heat exchanger as recited in claim 14, wherein the funnel-shaped member has a reduced end disposed within an exhaust pipe, said pipe having a pilot light disposed therein.

Claim 18

A rotary heater as recited in claim 8, wherein the catalytic material is a platinum group metal.

Claim 19

A rotary heater as recited in claim 16, wherein the metallic fibers are formed of steel.

Claim 20

The rotary heater of claim 16, wherein the metallic fibers are formed of a nickel-chromium alloy.

Claim 21

The rotary heater as recited in claim 16, wherein the metallic fibers are formed of a iron-chromium-cobalt alloy.

Claim 22

The rotary heater of claim 8, wherein the fluid is a hydrocarbon gas-air mixture.