Abstract: A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the remaining hot water availability of, the recovery time for, and the overall efficiency of the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for altering the temperature of a liquid, comprising: a pipe having a first end for receiving a liquid and a second end for discharging the liquid; and a thermal element for altering the temperature of the liquid, wherein the thermal element is located in the pipe such that the volume available for the liquid within the pipe is in the range 0 to 20% of the pipe volume.

Abstract: In a microstructure apparatus for heating and atomizing a fluid with an inner body received in an outer tube, circumferential microstructure passages are formed into the inner surface of the outer tube or the outer surface of the inner body so as to form a flow passage which is provided with an inlet connector and heating means are incorporated into the inner body for heating the fluid conducted through the microstructure flow passages under pressure, the microstructure fluid passages extending spirally around the inner body so as to proved for a relatively long microstructure fluid flow passage which is open at the axial end thereof for discharging the fluid heated pressurized therein through the open axial end.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; a heating element that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pipe heater encircled conduit device (1), in which a heating element (111) wrapped with a filament (112) having high resistance is provided and a hollow quartz inner tube (113) is inserted at the outside of said heating element (113) to form a pipe heater (11), both ends of the heating element (111) being connected with an electrode pin (114) respectively. A hollow quartz outer tube (123) is inserted at the outside of the pipe heater (11), which has an inlet (121) and an outlet (122) on the tube wall. A heat transfer space (A) is thus formed between the inner quartz tube (113) and the outer quartz tube (123), and insulation members (124) are combined with the respective opening end of both tubes. By the arrangement of the inner and outer quartz tubes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; a heating element coil or tube covered with a plastic sheath that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet. The apparatus also has expandable and compressible features and parts for protection against freezing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; a heating element that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: An electrical resistance heating element for a heating device, with at least one flow canal through which the gaseous medium is able to flow from a canal inlet side to a canal outlet side of the resistance heating element, and with at least one heating resistor that extends essentially in the direction of the flow canal, with the medium flowing past the heating resistor and being heated in the process. The heating resistor is rod-shaped and produced from an electrically conductive ceramic material. The electrical resistance heating element is intended for installation in a heating tube into which air, for example, is blown at one end. The heated flow of air exits from the other end of the heating tube.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for generating heat for the purpose of radiating such heat into a separate entity such as a residential housing structure or a pavement surface. The system includes a steel conduit positioned proximate the separate entity to be heated. An annular copper conductor element in the form of a continuous loop is disposed within the interior of the steel conduit to form a substantially contiguous contact surface between the conductor element and the interior surface of the conduit. A power supply member provides an alternating current of approximately 240-480 V, and a transformer is electrically connected to the power supply member for receiving this alternating current.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid heating apparatus including a halogen lamp 23, and a tubular structure 26 surrounding the heating lamp and having a fluid inlet 24 and a fluid outlet 25. The tubular structure 26 comprises plural straight pipes 26a arrayed circumferentially around the halogen lamp 26, with adjacent straight pipes 26a being in contact with each other, or being slightly spaced from each other. At least the surfaces, facing the halogen lamp 26, of the straight pipes 26a are coated with a black paint 27, or a radiant-light-absorbing paint.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; a heating element that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet. The apparatus also has expandable and compressible features and parts for protection against freezing.

Abstract: An inter-axial inline fluid heater is presented. The inter-axial inline fluid heater includes an outer retaining sheath defining a first area, and an interior flow tube disposed within the outer sheath and capable of having fluid flow therethrough. Further, the inter-axial inline fluid heater includes a resistance wire disposed between the interior flow tube and the outer retaining sheath, the resistance wire capable of producing heat for heating a fluid passing through the interior flow tube when power is applied to the resistance wire. Also includes is a dielectric heat transfer material disposed between the interior flow tube and the outer retaining sheath and surrounding at least a portion of the resistance wire.

Abstract: A well bore fluid is being heated to prevent paraffin build-up in the production line by an electrical heating element lowered into a pre-determined subterranean location. The heating element is controlled by a control unit that is connected to a temperature sensor, which detects temperature in the vicinity of the heating element and energizes an above-the-surface electric power source to deliver sufficient electric power to the electric heating element to keep the paraffin substance in a liquefied state.

Abstract: A water heater module includes a heating member for generating heat source, an intermediate tube receiving the heating member therein and having plural convection holes for water to flow into or out of the intermediate tube, and an outer tube fitted on the intermediate tube and having a water intake and a water outlet to be respectively connected with a water outlet and a water intake of another module. The water heater module has a simple structure and is able to quickly heat cold water into hot water, and when hot water forms, pressure will increase to speed up the flowing rate of the hot water for quickly supplying a user with hot water. After hot water is heated one by one in plural modules combined together, the temperature will increase, and hence electric power of the module can be adjusted to economize electric energy of the water heater.

Abstract: A device for heating a liquid food with steam, having a liquid-transporting and a steam-transporting pipe (5, 7), where in order to effect the connection of both pipes for the purpose of heating the liquid directly in the pipe in a constructively simple manner, a coupling device (4) for connecting the pipes (5, 7) is provided, which contains at least one perforating needle (11), which is connected to one of the pipes (7, 5) and can pierce a perforable wall section (5a) on the other pipe (5, 7).

Abstract: A water heater including a water inlet line having an inlet opening that introduces cold water to a tank, a water outlet line having an outlet opening that withdraws heated water from the tank, and a heating element. The water heater further includes a control circuit. The heating element can be an electrical resistance heating element, a gas heating element, or a combination thereof. In one construction, the gas heating element includes a first combustive section and a second combustive section separately controlled from the first combustive section.

Abstract: A hose for pumping heated liquids therethrough is disclosed which has, in combination, an interior hose construction which is adapted to prevent kinking and collapse of said hose, a heating element which has abrasive protection layers associated therewith, an insulator, a moisture barrier and a safety and containment barrier. At least two hose fittings are positioned at each end of the hose with at least one of said hose fittings having electrical connections in electrical communication with the heating element and a source of electrical power.

Abstract: The present invention provides universal transfer apparatus and method to use this universal transfer apparatus. This invention further provides a method to obtain speciation data for organometals in a complex matrix, such as cigarette smoke. Our data demonstrate that gas chromatography linked to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer with the universal transfer apparatus provides metal speciation information for samples of tobacco smoke. The organometals include lead, tin, arsenic and cadmium.

Abstract: A vacuum heater assembly for heating fluids flowing within; the assembly comprises an inner member having a heating surface with an average cross-sectional area with an aspect ratio of at least 2. The inner member is disposed within an outer member and with a vacuum drawn in the space between the inner member and the outer member, the heat transfers toward the center of the inner member, heating the fluids flowing within.

Abstract: A fluid heating system includes a fluid supply conduit, a hot fluid conduit, and a fluid heating tube assembly. The fluid heating tube assembly includes an inlet coupling coupled to the fluid supply conduit, an outlet coupling coupled to the hot fluid conduit, and at least one fluid heating tube coupled between the inlet coupling and the outlet coupling. The at least one fluid heating tube includes a tube formed of heat conducting material, a dielectric coating permanently bonded on an outer surface of the tube, and a resistive layer permanently bonded on the dielectric coating. A power distributor is coupled to the fluid heating tube assembly and coupleable to a power source. A switch is coupled between the power distributor and the fluid heating tube assembly to control current flow from the power distributor to the at least one fluid heating tube.

Abstract: A fluid line with a pipe provided with a sleeve of a woven or braided fabric, wherein the pipe, in turn, includes at least one conductor. In the finished state of the fluid line, the sleeve immediately surrounds the pipe and each conductor is loosely arranged in the sleeve. In accordance with another embodiment, the at least one conductor forms the sleeve.

Abstract: A novel nozzle heater design, that facilitates fast thermal response on demand, to achieve rapid reduction in viscosity, allowing fluid to flow through the exit aperture of the nozzle with less pressure, reduced surface tension and elastic behavior at break off. A rapid cool down after a temperature spike alleviates problems associated with prolonged exposure of the fluid at temperature. Prolonged exposure manifests the following problems: volatiles are driven off, premature cross-linking is initiated and fluid in the heated region is subsequently ruined. The fluid path heater is designed to prevent the occurrence of these problems by virtue of the exceptionally fast thermal response rate. This heater design requires no fasteners and is simple to assemble; parts are held in place by inherent geometric relationships and connection to the nozzle hub is tool-less and self-compensating for tolerance variation in the nozzle hub to which it is connected.

Abstract: A heater is provided that has a temperature sensing control system which can be used for both temperature control and over-temperature protection against element burnout. The temperature control system is comprised of an inlet temperature sensing assembly positioned at the inlet to the heater element and an exit thermocouple positioned in the exit end of the heater element. The exit thermocouple may be used for control the heater temperature and provide over-temperature protection. The inlet temperature sensing assembly is used to detect low or no air flow conditions which could lead to heater element failure.

Abstract: A hybrid fuel vaporization system and an apparatus for producing power from a source of liquid fuel. The hybrid fuel vaporizing system includes at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end in fluid communication with the source of liquid fuel; a heat source arranged along said at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from a liquid state to a vapor state; and a vaporizing member having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface exposed to heat produced by the apparatus for combusting fuel, the vaporizing member positioned so that fuel exiting the outlet end of said at least one capillary flow passage impinges on the second surface, whereby a stream of substantially vaporized fuel is delivered for combustion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluid warming container (a.k.a., cassette) having an integrated heating element attached to the container, not the warming device as conventionally done. The heating element provides thermal energy to the fluid contained in the container. The fluid contained in the container is designed to be injected and/or delivered, eventually and normally immediately, into a patient.

Abstract: A pipe and a method of manufacturing same according to the pipe is formed, at least in part, with a tubular member formed of a plastic material, and dispersing a plurality of electrical current conductive materials in the plastic material for increasing the electrical conductivity of the tubular layer.

Abstract: An aquarium water heater includes a hollow heat-conducting internal tube with an electric resistance heater element and electrical connections disposed adjacent an outer surface of the hollow heat-conducting internal tube, a temperature thermal cut-out switch electrically connected to the heater element for overheat protection, and a heat-conducting, electrically insulating polymeric filler spaced between the internal tube and an external tube that circumscribes the internal tube and the heater element.

Abstract: A method of remediating deposits within a pipeline comprising inserting a removable smaller pipe within said pipeline, providing an electrically insulating coating on said smaller pipe, providing a contactor proximate said distal end of said smaller pipe to electrically contact said internal diameter of said pipeline, flowing an electrical current along the wall area of said internal pipe, through said contactor, and along the wall area of said pipeline to generate heat within said smaller pipe to remediate blockages within said smaller pipe.

Abstract: A liquid heating device includes a heater having its front and rear end respectively connected with two output terminals of a control circuit. When the control circuit is started, the heater will immediately generate high temperature to let the liquid inside heated up fast to a proper temperature, or boiled or converted into vapor, conforming to practicability.

Abstract: Electrical components projecting outwardly from the storage tank portion of an electric water heater are shielded from foam insulation material being injected into an insulation space between the tank and an outer jacket portion of the water heater by a hollow, open sided foam dam structure extending through a jacket opening and circumscribing the electrical components. Force exerting projections on the dam engage the interior side surface of the jacket and forcibly hold the inner side of the dam structure in sealing engagement with the tank. The projections also hold an outer side peripheral lip of the dam in a an outwardly and resiliently deflected orientation in which it is sealingly pressed inwardly against the outer side surface of the jacket around the periphery of the opening therein to prevent injected foam from being forced outwardly through the jacket opening.

Abstract: Electrical components projecting outwardly from the storage tank portion of an electric water heater are shielded from foam insulation material being injected into an insulation space between the tank and an outer jacket portion of the water heater by a hollow, open sided foam dam structure extending through a jacket opening and circumscribing the electrical components. Force exerting projections on the dam engage the interior side surface of the jacket and forcibly hold the inner side of the dam structure in sealing engagement with the tank. The projections also hold an outer side peripheral lip of the dam in a an outwardly and resiliently deflected orientation in which it is sealingly pressed inwardly against the outer side surface of the jacket around the periphery of the opening therein to prevent injected foam from being forced outwardly through the jacket opening.

Abstract: A resistance heater for heating fluids including a fluid-permeable porous substrate. An electrically conductive porous thin film is deposited on the porous substrate. An electrical connector coupled to the thin film and adapted to provide an electrical circuit through said thin film to effect heating of said thin film in order to heat a fluid passing through the pours of the thin film and substrate. A method of making and using a resistance heater is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a system and method for exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, the system includes a heat exchanger, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, adapted to store heat energy, and to enable heat energy to be exchanged with the fluid to heat the fluid. The heat exchanger enables the fluid to rapidly attain and maintain a stable heated fluid temperature, and a stable fluid dispensing temperature. The system further includes a fluid inlet, for enabling the fluid to flow into the heat exchanger, and a fluid outlet, for enabling the heated fluid to flow out of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a channel therein, adapted to enable the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and to enable the fluid to be retained therein for efficient and effective heating of the fluid.

Abstract: An electric surface heating element is installed by direct application to the periphery of a cylindrical material pipe (13) of a hot runner nozzle (12). Said surface heating element consists of a ceramic dielectric layer (20) which is directly applied to the metal pipe (13) or to the wall (16) thereof, at least one layer (22) consisting of heating conductor strips (23) and an electrically insulating ceramic covering layer (24) which is applied on top of the latter. Film, or thick-coat screen printing technology are suitable as coating processes. However, thick-coat technology using round printing is preferably used for the layer construction as a whole. Alternatively, the ceramic dielectric layer (20) can be fixed to the periphery of the hot runner pipe (13) in the form of a prefabricated green film and subsequently baked.

Abstract: Process for the sterilization of a liquid or pasty product, according to which the product to be treated is circulated in a tubular exchanger at a speed greater than 5 m/s and in which the temperature rise of the product to be treated is obtained by the circulation of an electrical current through the wall of the tube or tubes of the tubular exchanger.

Abstract: Process for the sterilization of a liquid or pasty product, according to which the product to be treated is circulated in a tubular exchanger at a speed greater than 5 m/s and in which the temperature rise of the product to be treated is obtained by the circulation of an electrical current through the wall of the tube or tubes of the tubular exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an offshore installation including an oil/gas flowline umbilical installed between a platform—or a shore installation—and a sea bed based template and including an insulated electrical cable conductor connected in series with the steel oil/gas pipe to a power supply. The main features of the invention is that the far end interconnection between the cable conductor (or parallel cable conductors) and the pipe is grounded to seawater to provide a single point grounded system, such that all the current flows in the selected cable conductors, and the system has zero volts at the far end whereby no current is transmitted though the sea. The power supply is insulated from ground and the current is fed from the power supply through the pipe, and returns through the cable, whereby a voltage level of zero Volts is obtained at the far end where the system is grounded, and all the current is forced through the cable(s) and the pipe/flowline.

Abstract: According to the method for heating the paving screed of a road finisher, said paving screed including a heating means with several heat elements being supplied with electric power from a rotary current generator and being switched on and off by means of a control device, at least two of said heating elements are switched on and switched off periodically and alternatingly in dependence from the operation temperature of said generator and/or the operation temperature of paving screed components contacting paving material. Said heating means comprises in its control device a microprocessor management section with a program for alternatingly switching between heating elements in cycles under consideration of a predetermined combination of operational parameters.

Abstract: A thermostatic heating device for liquids, provided with a recirculation pump, comprising a heat-insulating dielectric material outer housing, a heat-conductive dielectric material inner casing, a resistive film interposed between said outer housing and said inner casing, and a tube of heat-conductive material positioned in the interior of said casing, said tube being lowerly open to house an impeller of a pump applied to one end of said cylindrical housing.

Abstract: Heating system for crude oil or other viscous fluids transporting metallic tubes having a thermal insulation, wherein a defined length of the said metallic tube acts as a heating element, which is electrically insulated by the tube insulation itself and whereby the metallic tube has connections with respective feeder and return cables at the beginning and at the end of the length of the tube defining the length of the heating element.

Abstract: A thermostatic heating device for liquids, provided with a recirculation pump, comprising a heat-insulating dielectric material outer housing, a heat-conductive dielectric material inner casing, a resistive film interposed between said outer housing and said inner casing, and a tube of heat-conductive material positioned in the interior of said casing, said tube being lowerly open to house an impeller of a pump applied to one end of said cylindrical housing.

Abstract: A heating element made of metal mesh through which electric current may be passed to heat fluid passing through the mesh. The mesh is made of intersecting metal wires defining apertures though which the fluid to be heated passes. These apertures are made small enough to cause all the heating to be achieved by conduction and convection. Typical apertures sizes are 40 to 60 &mgr;m effective diameter.

Abstract: An intravenous fluid heater is provided that is dimensioned so as to be wearable adjacent a patient's intravenous fluid infusion situs. In one embodiment, the heater includes a heat exchanger for defining a flow path through the heater for fluid to be infused via the infusion situs. At least one controllable heating element is provided for heating the fluid in the flow path by heat conduction thereto through the heat exchanger. Sensors are included for sensing respective temperatures of entering and exiting fluids of the flow path. A controller controls, based upon the temperatures of the exiting fluids, heating of the fluid in the flow path by the heating element so as to cause the fluid in the flow path to be substantially uniformly heated to a desired infusion temperature prior to exiting the heater.

Abstract: A fluid transport assembly transports a fluid through a fluid conduit and maintains the fluid above a predetermined temperature. A fluid line carries the fluid therein. The heater assembly includes a body with a bore and two open ends respectively disposed at each end of the bore. The fluid line is disposed within the bore and contacts the body. The heater assembly further includes a heater and at least two electrical terminals connected with the heater. The heater is disposed within the body and each terminal extends from the body.

Abstract: A heated resin supply hose for supplying molten resin in a molding process, such as a RTM process, includes a removable inner core tube or conduit that can be readily removed from reusable supply hose components after each injection cycle to make a molded article. The reusable hose components include a core-receiving conduit for slidably receiving the core conduit and a heating element on the core-receiving conduit as well as additional hose component layers. The used core conduit having residual resin therein is removed from the core-receiving conduit and replaced by a new core conduit that is inserted in the core-receiving conduit in making another molded article.

Abstract: A process and device are used to weld plastic sheets with hot gas. Conventionally for welding with hot gas, the gas was conveyed over an electrically heated body. However, temperature fluctuations occurred that were difficult to correct and the result was a relatively high power consumption. In order to make a precise temperature guidance with a favorable efficiency possible, the gas is blown through a tubular heat conductor (10) with outlet openings (16) in its circumference wall and against a plastic sheet, and the tube body (10) is heated by an electrical current that is controlled by at least one temperature sensor exposed to the temperature of the tube body and/or the hot gas. Preferably, the tube body (10) itself is used as a temperature sensor, while its resistance, which changes with the temperature, is used to control the current intensity.

Abstract: A gas tube with heating apparatus. The gas tube is applicable in a chemical vapor deposition machine. The gas comprises a gas circulating tube and a coaxial gas tube invaginating a gas transporting tube therein. A heater is installed in the gas circulating tube, while the coaxial tube is covered by a thermal insulating layer. In addition, a control valve, a pressure gauge, and a particle trap are installed in a gas supplying tube connecting with the gas circulating tube.

Abstract: A melter and applicator (10) is shown for applying liquefied paving material to damaged pavement. The applicator (10) reduces the problems which occur due to the unintentional solidification of the paving material within the hose (74) of either the heated or unheated type. A cabinet (44) is provided which is selectively able to maintain the temperature of the unheated hose (74) during periods of non-use. In addition, a wand access port (100) is provided which allows either type of hose (74) to be run continuously, directing material back to a supply bin (26). In addition, a chimney (40) is provided which vents the by-products of combustion generated while melting the paving material. This chimney, (40) is fluidly coupled to the bin (26) which contains the paving material so that noxious fumes produced during the melting are drawn off.

Abstract: This invention is a heated corrugated (21) conduit (7) for use in a respiratory humidification system (5). A heater wire (20) within the conduit reduces the occurrence of condensation or "rain out". The heater wire is spirally wound in a helix or double helix with both ends of the wire available for termination at one end of the conduit.

Abstract: A heating pipe including a substantially tubular, electrically insulative inner element configured to allow flow of a liquid therethrough. An electric heating element in the form of a substantially flat ribbon of overheated amorphous metallic alloy is wound in a substantially helical pattern around the inner element. The helical pattern defines adjacent, electrically insulated windings. The inner element electrically insulates the heating element from liquid in the inner element. An electrically insulative outer element is provided for electrically and thermally insulating the heating element from the surrounding ambient environment.