The present invention includes a heater comprising a burner housing having an inlet for supplying air into the burner housing. A plurality of burners are each spaced from each other in the burner housing for combusting a fuel and air mixture into heated gas. A plurality of heater tubes each extend from and return to the burner housing for radiating heat. The heater tubes each have an inlet end and an outlet end with the inlet ends in communication with the burners for receiving the heated gas from the burners. A collector box is disposed in the burner housing in communication with the outlet ends of the heater tubes for receiving the heated gas from the heater tubes. A fan is in communication with the collector box to move the heated gas from the burners to the collector box. The outlet ends of the heater tubes are adjacent each other at the burner housing and each of the inlet ends of the heater tubes are spaced in different directions from the outlet tubes at the burner housing.

Such a configuration advantageously emits a low intensity and relatively uniform heat pattern to generally uniformly heat an area to a preferred temperature. Further, the configuration of the heater tubes such that the inlet ends of the heater tubes are spaced in different directions from the outlet tubes at the burner housing results in a generally uniform heat pattern. Specifically, since the inlet end receives the heated gas from the burners, the heater tubes are hotter near the inlet end. As such, the hotter inlet ends are advantageously spaced from each other further apart than the outlet ends to evenly distribute the heat emitted from the heater tubes. In other words, the hottest portion of each heater tube is located towards the perimeter of the heater to direct more energy to the perimeter of the heater. The relatively cooler portion of the heater tubes are adjacent to each other so that, in combination, these relatively cooler portions do not overheat the area directly below the relative cooler portions.

Further, because the heat originates from at least two areas, i.e., the overall heat output is split between at least two burners spaced from each other, the heat from each of the heater tubes is of a low intensity and the radiant heat pattern can be easily optimized by adjusting the heat output of either or both of the tubes. This low intensity heat pattern also spreads across a relatively larger area because the radiant heat from the separate tubes can be directed in different directions. Since the radiant heat from the separate tubes is directed in different directions, the heat pattern extends along two opposite sides of the radiant heater and is a mirror image about the radiant heater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heater in a chick brooder;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the heater of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the heater of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along Line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the heater with a heater tube shown in cross-section;

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded view of the heater;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a burner housing of the heater;

FIG. 8 is a partially cut-away and partially exploded view of the burner housing;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rear of the burner housing;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the burner housing with a rear cover removed;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the heater;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the heater heating an area and illustrating a heating pattern; and

FIG. 13 is a top view of a prior art heater heating an area and illustrating a prior art heating pattern.