Patent · US Expired

Electric immersion heater with restricted heat-flow paths to the thermostatic control thereof

US5278941A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
13References
17Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 8, 1992
Grant dateJan 11, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 8, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B3/78
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electric immersion heater (10) is provided for heating fluids, such as water in a livestock watering tank. The electric heater includes a heater subassembly (26), a protective cover (39), and a power cord (21) having a power plug (24). The heater subassembly (26) includes a heating element (14) having first and second ends (16A and 16B) and a molded metallic case (12 or 12A) enclosing the heating element (14). The protective cover (39) encloses and hermetically seals the operative connection of a thermostatic switch (18), the first and second ends (16A and 16B) of the heating element (14), and first, second, and third conductors (22A-22C) of the power cord (21). The thermostatic switch (18) is bonded in heat-receiving proximity to the molded case (12 or 12A). Potting compound (38) disposed intermediate of the thermostatic switch (18) and the fluid to be heated is provided as a thermal barrier for restricting the heat flow from the fluid to the thermostatic switch (18). An elongated slot, recess, opening, or passageway (82) disposed in the molded case (12 or 12A) intermediate of the heating element (14) and the thermostatic switch (18), is provided as a barrier for reducing the r…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.