Heating method and apparatus

Claim 1

A radiant heating system for heating a selected area comprising: fluid heating means operable to heat a fluid, heat transfer means for accommodating heated fluid located in a selected area operable to allow heat to radiate to the environment adjacent the selected area, control means connected to the fluid heating means and heat transfer means for regulating the flow and temperature of the fluid to the heat transfer means, means to move fluid from the fluid heating means to the control means and return fluid from the control means to the fluid heating means, said control means having a pump for transferring fluid to the heat transfer means, a housing of material having a coefficient of thermal conductivity of less than 1.0 kcal/m h °C., a valve body defining a plurality of chambers within the housing, a valve movable within the valve body to control the recirculation of the return fluid from the heat transfer means back to the heat transfer means, and a temperature responsive actuator operable to control the position of the valve in response to the temperature of the fluid directed to the heat transfer means, thereby regulating the temperature of the fluid delivered to the heat transfer means, said housing having an internal passage, a pump in communication with the internal passage, and an outlet passage in communication with the pump chamber connected to heat transfer apparatus, said pump having rotatable means located in said pump chamber operable to pump fluid from the internal passage to the outlet passage, and wherein of said chambers a first valve chamber is connected to the heat transfer means to receive fluid therefrom, a second valve chamber is connected to the fluid heating means to receive heated fluid therefrom, and a third valve chamber is connected to the fluid heating means to return fluid thereto, all in response to the position of the valve in the valve body.