Abstract: A portable liquid heating device includes a single service beverage container defining a cavity for a quantity of liquid and a removable electric heating unit disposed in the container to heat the liquid. The heating unit includes a top housing having a radial flange adapted to rest on the rim of the container in spaced relation thereto to vent the container. A rigid, apertured non-metallic shroud extends into the container from the top housing and terminates in an open free end. Spacer means engageable with the container walls surround the shroud means adjacent the flange to center the shroud in the container in spaced relation to the walls thereof. A cyclindrical thermostatically controlled electric heater, shorter than the shroud, extends downwardly from the top housing into the shroud in spaced relation thereto.

Abstract: A system for automatically purging heating mantles and other apparatus including an enclosed volume capable of low level pressurization. The system comprises a pressure sensor for sensing the fluid pressure within the enclosure, which may be the space between a heating mantle poncho and the enclosed flask, and a fluidic logic circuit which is responsive to a low pressure condition within the enclosure to deactivate the heating element in the mantle. At the same time, the logic circuit causes a predetermined volume of purging gas to flow through the enclosure and, after this has been accomplished, reactivates the heating element and reestablishes the minimum pressure conditions by flowing a small volume of purging gas into the enclosure. The system is particularly intended for use in hazardous locations where explosion-proof electrical equipment enclosures are normally mandatory.

Abstract: A heating assembly for a fused bath is disclosed. The assembly includes a heating element within a tube. Also, disposed within the tube is a first thermocouple. A second thermocouple is positioned in the bath outside the tube. Control means are connected to the heating elements and thermocouples so that the heating of the bath is performed responsive to the temperature sensed by the second thermocouple; but, if the first thermocouple detects heat in the tube greater than a given value it will interrupt the heating operation to prevent damage to the heating elements due to over-heating.

Abstract: A system for automatically purging heating mantles and other apparatus including an enclosed volume capable of low level pressurization. The system comprises a pressure sensor for sensing the fluid pressure within the enclosure, which may be the space between a heating mantle poncho and the enclosed flask, and a fluidic logic circuit which is responsive to a low pressure condition within the enclosure to deactivate the heating element in the mantle. At the same time, the logic circuit causes a predetermined volume of purging gas to flow through the enclosure and, after this has been accomplished, reactivates the heating element and reestablishes the minimum pressure conditions by flowing a small volume of purging gas into the enclosure. The system is particularly intended for use in hazardous locations where explosion-proof electrical equipment enclosures are normally mandatory.

Abstract: A preheating arrangement for bringing foundry ladles up to temperature is described. The arrangement comprises a slotted elongated graphite rod extending down from a ladle cover, a pair of clamp and contact elements extending through the cover and a transformer above the cover with a shell around the transformer forming a single turn secondary winding connected directly to the clamp and contact elements. A graphite element is coated to protect it from corrosive atmospheres by heating it, while buried in sand, to the fusing temperature of the sand and then allowing it to cool.

Abstract: In apparatus for deep fat frying, control circuitry is provided for regulating the temperature of heating elements. During cooking the heating elements are immersed in cooking fluid and are maintained at a selected temperature by an operating thermostat. Two high limit thermostats are provided to turn off the heaters if the temperature exceeds a predetermined safe limit. For cleaning, the heating elements are raised out of the cooking fluid and automatically disconnected from the operation and first high-limit thermostats. The heaters are cyclically actuated and deactuated by a thermal time delay relay, gradually raising the heater temperature to achieve pyrolytic cleaning of the heating elements. The second high-limit thermostat turns off the heating elements when a predetermined temperature is reached, ending pyrolytic cleaning.

Abstract: Means for varying the heating rate of an immersion heater in a hot-water extraction unit comprising a solution tank in which an electrical immersion heater is mounted in order to decrease the warm-up time of the unit. In the preferred embodiment, the means comprise (a) a first heating element having a first watt rating; (b) a second heating element having a second watt rating, lower than the first watt rating; and (c) means for selectively actuating one or the other of the two heating elements.

Abstract: A frying apparatus includes a frypot for containing cooking oil positioned in a support housing. Heating elements are pivotally attached to said housing and suspended within the frypot to heat the cooking oil for deep fat frying. A thermostat is mounted to the front of the housing to extend into the frypot above the heating elements to regulate the cooking oil temperature. The thermostat is separate from the heating elements so that the elements may be pivoted upward to a cleaning position. A biasing heater is mounted to the front of housing directly below the thermostat to compensate for the distance between the thermostat and the heating elements by providing additional heat to the thermostat. A temperature selector is provided on the outside front of the housing to allow adjustment of the thermostat without reaching over the frypot.

Abstract: A partitioning sleeve is positioned in the main body of a thermal actuator to form a separate internal liquid reservoir from which fluid may be supplied to the actuator heater. The heater is part of a heater sub-assembly that is sealed in an opening formed in the main body of the actuator so that the coil-type electric resistance heater is accurately positioned for submersion in liquid in the variable volume chamber formed in the main body of the actuator. Moreover, the recycling or cool down time for the thermal actuator is reduced by thermal transfer between an appreciable contacting surface area of an extensible diaphragm that partly forms the actuator chamber and a guide cap that also supports and guides the diaphragm during its extension to enlarge the variable volume chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for thawing frozen semen for use in artificial insemination of animals. More particularly, the system relates to an apparatus for thawing semen while retaining maximum cell yield by minimizing loss of semen activity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a deep fat fryer characterized by a front-mounted control panel spanning the gap between the forwardly-extending arms of a generally H-shaped tubular frame shielding the electrical conductors that cooperates with the latter to define an open-topped hinged lid for the fat reservoir.

Abstract: In apparatus for deep fat frying, control circuitry is provided for regulating the temperature of heating elements. During cooking the heating elements are immersed in cooking fluid and are maintained at a selected temperature by an operating thermostat. Two high limit thermostats are provided to turn off the heaters if the temperature exceeds a predetermined safe limit. For cleaning, the heating elements are raised out of the cooking fluid and automatically disconnected from the operating and first high-limit thermostats. The heaters are cyclically actuated and deactuated by a thermal time delay relay, to gradually raising the heater temperature to achieve pyrolytic cleaning of the heating elements. The second high-limit thermostat turns off the heating elements when a predetermined temperature is reached, ending pyrolytic cleaning.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in electric kettles and in particular to the temperature controls for such kettles. The temperature control is adjustable to provide a variation in operating temperature of the heating element of the kettle and thus control the wattage input to the kettle. By this means it is possible to control the rate at which water is boiled or evaporated from the kettle. By setting the temperature control to its highest heat position, full wattage is supplied to the heater element to bring the water in the vessel to a boil and vapourize the contents thereof in the shortest possible time. If the temperature controller is left in the high heat position the kettle will evaporate at an approximate rate of two quarts of water in one hour. If the control is set to the low end of the range the contents will be brought up to a boil condition in the same time as if the thermostat were set on the high heat position, but the same amount of water will be evaporated in 12 to 15 hours.

Abstract: The improved operating-safety control uses an operating contactor and a safety contactor each having normally open switch contacts and means connect these switch contacts on opposite sides of and in main power series circuits with the electric heating elements of the cooking apparatus effective for controlling electric input to same. An actuating coil is effective for closing each contactor switch contacts, and the control includes an operating thermostat and a safety thermostat each having a heat sensor in the cooking environment and each having a heat sensor in the cooking environment and each having normally closed contacts opened responsive to a set sensed high temperature. The control connects main on and off switch means operatively in series with a parallel hookup connection of the safety contactor actuating coil as one leg and the serially connected operator contactor actuating coil and operating thermostat controlled contacts as the other leg.