Low noise electric fan heater
An electric fan heater comprises a housing 11, a base 12 integrally formed or attached to the housing 11 so that the housing 11 can be supported on a surface, a grille 19 integrally formed or attached to the housing 11, an electric fan 14, 15 to direct a flow of air towards the grille 19, and an electric heating element 17 located between the fan 14, 15 and grille 19. Grille 19 may comprise of an array of louvers 20 that have in a flow direction 'A' a rounded entry tip, an entry portion (25, fig 3) that widens to a wide portion (23), and an exit portion (24) that narrows from the wide portion (23) to a rounded exit tip (27) resulting in a laminar flow. The louvers 20 may be pivot mounted. A heat resistant cowling 16 supporting the fan 14, 15 and heating element 17 may be located within and protects the housing 11 from heat emanating from the heating element 17. Control knobs 34 connected to switches 13 permit operation of the fan heater. The location of the heating element 17 downstream of the fan 14, 15 and the profile of the louvers 20 reduce operational sound levels of the fan heater, prolongs the fan motor 14 life and generates a good volumetric flow rate.