Apparatus and methods of making and using heater apparatus for heating an object having two-dimensional or three-dimensional curvature
US5714738A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 10, 1995 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 10, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05B2203/033
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The flexible insulated heater includes a heater mat surrounded by an insulation jacket. The heater mat is preferably made of two layers of fiberglass reinforced rubber sheets laminated together with resistive heater wires sandwiched between the laminated sheets. The heater mat is formed with a curvature and size to fit snugly around the peripheral surface of the pipe that is to be heated. A jacket of thermally insulative material, such as a polymer foam, is molded over the external surface of the heater mat. The insulated jacket holds the heat generated by the heater mat from escaping radially outward, and it protects against burns to persons who might touch the heater. The mat and the jacket are configured so that the heater has interfacing opposite edges and that meet and preferably touch each other when the heater is mounted on the pipe, but the combination of the mat and jacket have sufficient resilient flexibility to allow opening the heater by separating the edges enough to slip the heater over the pipe, whereupon the heater resumes its original inherent cylindrical shape when released. Snaps, Velcro.TM. fastening material straps, or other suitable fasteners can be used to se…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.