Portable heating system and method for pest control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9930878-B2
Application number	US-201514934215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2015
Priority date	Jan 25, 2011
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A method for killing pests in an affected area of a structure, comprises positioning a heat pump unit within an affected area of the structure, coupling a first end of an inlet hose to a faucet, and coupling a second end of the inlet hose to an inlet port of the heat pump unit. The inlet port supplies a flow of water received from the faucet to an evaporator component of the heat pump unit. The evaporator component transfers heat from the flow of water to a refrigerant and communicate the refrigerant to a condenser component of the heat pump unit. The condenser component generates heated air by transferring heat from the refrigerant fluid to air flowing through the condenser component. The heated air i emitted into the affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for killing pests in an affected area of a structure, comprising:
positioning a heat pump unit within an affected area of the structure;
coupling a first end of an inlet hose to a faucet;
coupling a second end of the inlet hose to an inlet port of the heat pump unit, the inlet port supplying a flow of water received from the faucet to an evaporator component of the heat pump unit;
transferring heat from the flow of water to a refrigerant using the evaporator component;
directing the refrigerant to a condenser component of the heat pump unit;
generating heated air by transferring heat from the refrigerant to air flowing through the condenser component;
emitting heated air into the affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit;
monitoring a temperature of the flow of water received by the heat pump unit;
monitoring a temperature of air in the affected area; and
ceasing operation of the heat pump unit when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
while the refrigerant is in the evaporator component of the heat pump unit, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the flow of water as the refrigerant changes from a liquid state to a vapor state; and
while the refrigerant is in the condenser component of the heat pump unit, the refrigerant diffuses heat to the air as the refrigerant changes from the vapor state to the liquid state.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning at least one electric heater proximate to the heat pump unit, the method further comprising further heating the heated air emitted by the heat pump unit.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning a heat exchanger unit between the faucet and the heat pump unit such that the flow of water passing through the inlet hose passes through the heat exchanger unit prior to reaching the inlet port of the heat pump unit, the method further comprising generating heated air by transferring heat from the water to air flowing through the heat exchanger unit, and directing the heated air to the heat pump unit.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein, after the affected area is treated for pests, generating cool air by transferring heat from the air flowing through the heat exchanger unit to the flow of water received from the faucet.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the faucet comprises one of a shower faucet and a sink faucet.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the flow of water is supplied to the faucet by a water heating unit for the structure, the method further comprising setting a thermostat of the water heating unit such that a temperature of the flow of water received by the heat pump unit is at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
coupling a first end of an outlet hose to an outlet port of the heat pump unit;
positioning a second end of the outlet hose proximate to a drain such that the flow of water may leave the heat pump unit via the outlet port and be discharged into the drain.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises an apartment building and the affected area comprises an apartment.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a hotel and the affected area comprises a hotel room.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning an air mover proximate to the heat pump unit, the method further comprising directing heated air emitted by the heat pump unit along the floor of the affected area in order to prevent temperature stratification.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising separating a plurality of contaminated items within the affected area so that each contaminated item is heated throughout to the target temperature.

Assignees

• Technologies Holdings Corp
• Therma Stor Llc

Inventors

• O'Brien Timothy S
• Camenga Eric P

Classifications

• F25B30/02

  of the compression type · CPC title

• F25B49/022

  Compressor control arrangements · CPC title

• A01M1/2094 Primary

  killing insects by using temperature, e.g. flames, steam or freezing (A01M1/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28D1/0472

  the conduits being helically or spirally coiled · CPC title

• F28D1/024

  with an air driving element · CPC title