Patent · US Expired

Heat treatment apparatus and method of using same

US6441348B1 · kind B1 · utility

10Cited by
9References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 10, 2001
Grant dateAug 27, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 10, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61Q19/007
  • WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Apparatus for melting a solid mass of wax is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing having a base and a sidewall. A heating element is disposed inside the housing and positioned near the base for generating heat. A heat conducting plate is positioned above the heating element for conducting the heat from the heating element to melt a bottom surface of the solid mass of wax. A control circuit is provided for automatically controlling a temperature of the heating element. In operation, the apparatus performs a fast and efficient method for melting wax. A bottom surface of the solid wax mass is melted into a bottom layer of melted wax using the heating element. The heating element is shut off once the bottom layer of melted wax reaches a desired volume. A portion of the bottom layer of melted wax is transferred to a top surface of the solid wax mass to create a top layer of melted wax, so that a remaining core of solid wax mass is disposed between the top and bottom layers of melted wax. The remaining core of solid wax mass is then melted using latent heat in the top and bottom layers of melted wax, thereby to create a volume of melted wax at a usable temperature.

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