CA2039623A1 - Electric heater - Google Patents

Electric heater

Info

Publication number
CA2039623A1
CA2039623A1 CA 2039623 CA2039623A CA2039623A1 CA 2039623 A1 CA2039623 A1 CA 2039623A1 CA 2039623 CA2039623 CA 2039623 CA 2039623 A CA2039623 A CA 2039623A CA 2039623 A1 CA2039623 A1 CA 2039623A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
housing
elements
heat
electric heater
window
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2039623
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Brian Charles Jackson
Benjamin George Forty
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Techni Dry Ltd
Original Assignee
Techni Dry Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Techni Dry Ltd filed Critical Techni Dry Ltd
Priority to CA 2039623 priority Critical patent/CA2039623A1/en
Publication of CA2039623A1 publication Critical patent/CA2039623A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Electric Heater The heater is primarily intended for infra-red drying of travelling sheet material such as printed or lacquered paper. Parallel elongate heating elements are contained in a housing having a front window and a rear openable cover carrying a ceramic reflector behind the heating elements , which reflector also serves to insulate the cover against heat from the elements. End portions of the elements are supported in rearwardly directed clips whereby element removal and replacement can be readily effected at the rear of the housing. The clips are carried by opposed support bars which with adjacent side walls of the housing define cooling air ducts, the bars having openings for directing cooling air onto the end portions of the elements or to enable the latter to extend into the ducts for direct cooling. The front window is provided with air venting slots parallel with the heating elements and positioned opposite spaces between the latter. The elements and slots are inclined to the direction of travel of the sheet material.

Description

~3~

Title - ELECTRIC HEATER

Backqround of the invention The present invention relates to an electric heater for use, for example, in heat treating travelling sheet material such às printad or lacquered paper.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved electric heater or heater unit primarily for infra red drying purposes e.g. in continuous process operations such as the ink drying of printed or lacquered paper or other material as well as for other drying or heating purposes. The heater may also be used to heat treat a travelling tile or web of polymeric material.

Such heaters are required to have a high heat output such that the whole unit can become extremely hot with the result that servi~ing of the unit such as heating element replacement can be difficult and time consuming especially if prolonged cooling down is necessary.

Particular objects of the invention are to provide a heater capable of more efficient operation as regards heat output and drying action and also whereby the support structure or housing of the heater can be kept in a cooler condition to facilitate servicing and so reduce down time. These and other practical advantages will be apparent from the following disclosure.

Summary of the invention According to this invention an electric heater primarily for heat treating travelling sheet material such as printed or lacquered paper comprises a housing having side walls, a front wall having a window opening therein and a rear openable cover, said cover having mounted thereupon or adjacent to it at least one panel of 203~2~

heat insulating and heat reflecting material such as ceramic material within the housing; a window of heat resistant and heat transmitting sheet material such as quartz glass carried by the housing across said window opening, and support means mounted within the housing for removably supporting end portions of elongate electric heating elements between said panel and said window whereby in use heat emitted by the heating elements is reflected forwardly by said panel and also radiated forwardly directly from the elements through said window onto, material to be heat treated, said panel also serving to insulate the rear openable cover from heat emitted by the heating elements in order to facilitate heating element removal rearwardly from the housing and replacement therein on opening said rear cover.

Description of the drawinqs The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an infra red heater and in which:-igure 1 is a face view of the unit, partly broken away toreveal interior construction; igure 2 is a cross section taken on the line II-II of Figure 1 and on an enlaxged scale; igure 3 is a cross section similar to Figure 2 but showing an alternative arrangement of heater element mounting, and igure 4 is a detail cross sectional vîew of a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 3.

Like parts are referred to by the same or similar reference numerals through out the drawings.

Detailed descriPtion 2~3~2~

Referring to Figures l and 2 the heater unit generally comprises an array of spaced apart parallel elongate infra red heating elements l mounted by their end portions in a support structure in the form of a housing 2 which latter consists of a rectangular frame providing side walls 20 and also a front wall 24 having an opening 25 provided with a window 3 of quartz glass or other suitable heat re~istant and he~t transmitting sheet material for the passage of radiant heat from the elements 1. The housing has an openable rear cover plate 21 which may be removably secured to it such as by screwæ (not shown) or hinge mounted on it. The term "openable" used herein includes a cover which is removable from the housing and/or hinged or similarly mounted on it.

Each heating element l is preferably of short wave infra red operation for high heat output efficiency and in which the heat emitting electric conductor lO is contained co-axially within a silicon or other suitable tube 11 having a refl~ctive rear coating 12 and provided with a mounting and electrical connection terminal head 16 at each end.

The window 3 serves to protect the elements 1 especially from dust and in use it faces the paper P or other material which is to be subject to drying heat from the elements 1. To provide more uniformly distributed heat application the heating elements 1 are shown inclined relative to the window opening 25 and direction of travel T of the paper or the like or the parallel arrangement of the elements may be in chevron formation.

A ceramic panel 4 is provided behind the heating elements 1 in relation to the window 3 and is shown conveniently carried by the cover plate 21 by angle section mounting strips 42. The ceramic panel 4 not only serves to reflect heat from the elements 1 towards the window 3 and thus augment the direct radiant heat 2~3~23 i emission in the operative direction for greater heat output, but also serves as a thermal barrier to insulate the cover plate ; 21 from rearward heat emission from the elements 1 and the general high temperature conditions within the housing 2 about the elements 1. As a result the cover plate 21 is kept in a cooler condition and 80 cools down sooner for removal when it is required to gain access to the elements 1 for replacement purposes or to otherwise service the interior of the housing 2.

It is found that in addition to effective heat reflection and insulation properties, the ceramic panel 4 is highly heat resistant and does not tend to deteriorate under conditions of use in providing a long serviceable life.

In order to counteract the high temperature conditions in the housing 2 provision is also shown included for the admission of cooling air flow into the housing 2, the air flow being introduced therein from a chamber provided by a box 5 mounted on the side of the housing 2, the box 5 having an air inlet connection at 50 and communicating at 52 with a side duct 22 of the housing 2. Air flow from the duct 22 passes along further ducting 26 provided between flanges 61 of opposed support bars 6 for the elements 1 and adjacent side walls 20 of the housing 2. Openings 60 in the flanges 61 admit the air flow to electrical conductor connection at 16 to the elements 1 whilst a communicating duct 22' at the opposite side of the housing al~o assists the air flow.

The ducting 26 also accommodates wiring (not shown) to the elements 1 and distribution junction blocks for electrically connecting the elements 1 in parallel, cable connection to the wiring being introduced into the housing 2 by flexible tubular conduit 7 e.g. fxom a plug and socket connection (not visible) 2~?~ 3~

which may be conveniently carried by the box 5.

As indicated in Figure 2 the openings 60 in the flanges 61 enable wiring 8 to pass from the ducting 26 for connection to the element terminal heads 16. By maintaining the electrical connection to the elements 1 in a cooler condition, element removal and replacement is facilitated whilst deterioration due to heat of the insulation of the wiring is also minimised. It is also desirable that the texminal ends of the element tubes 12 are particularly subject to cooling air flow to minimise tube failure.

For readily removing and replacing each element, the head 16 at each end is received by a respective clip 9 mounted on a flange 62 of a corresponding support bar 6, the head 16 being shown in the form of a block of ceramic or other electrically insulating material having a metal outer sheathing 160 for ease of engagement with the clip 9 and disengagement therefrom. The open ends of the clips 9 are directed towards the rear cover plate 21 so that, on removal of the latter~ the elements 1 can be readily withdrawn rearwardly from the clips 9 or replaced in them.

The flanges 62 also serve to hold the quartz window 3 in place on the front wall 24, heat resistant resilient packing strips 23 being interposed between the frame wall 25 and window 3 and also between the latter and the flanges 62. As will be seen in Figure 2 each bar 6 is generally of L-form to provide the flanges 61 and 62 and also has a further flange 63 for securing it to th~
front wall 24.

In order to vent air flow from the housing 2, the window 3 is provided with openings shown in the form of slots 30 parallel with the elements 1 and positioned opposite spaces between ~he 2~3~

latter. The heated air flow vented in this way is thus directed in a correspondingly distributed manner onto the paper to assist the ink drying action whilst the outflow of air repels any dust tending to enter the housing 2 through the slots 30.

Referring to Figure 3 the flange 610 of each ~upport bar 6 is provided with openings in the form of gaps 600 through which end portions of a corresponding heating element tube 12 pass whereby the terminal head~ 16 and clip mountings 9 are situated in respective cooling air ducts 26 so as to directly and fully receive cooling air flow therein. For this purpose each flange 623 carrying the clips 9 is outwardly directed and as well as retaining the window 3 against the front wall 24 is also cranked against said wall and secured to it.

A modification of the above described arrangement is shown in Figure 4 in which the flange 623 is straight and spaced from the front wall 24 by a spacing bar 64 or other suitable spacing means.

In all the arrangements of the heater herein described the heating element 1 is closely situated to both the ceramic reflector panel 4 and also to the protective window 3 for efficient heat output as well as providing a compact arrangement having a minimum front to rear overall dimension. This is advantageous where limited space is available for installing the heater in position of use e.g. in a printing machine or associated paper output mechanism.

Further in this regard the manner in which access can be gained into the housing 2 a~ the rear of the latter enables element replacement and/or other servicing to be readily carried out with reduced cooling down time and usually while the heater unit is 2 ~
;

in position of use in a printing machine or similar situation.
Furthexmore there i8 no need to dismantle the heater unit for such servicing.

Practical tests have established that an improved d~ying action is obtained with the above described heater and with a considerably reduced drying time e.g. of the order of 15 to 20 minutes. The reduced drying time also minimises the likelihood of fire breaking out in the paper or other flammable material at P. In fact in the drying of ink or lacquer printed on paper the infra-red emission of the elements 1 can be such as to effect rapid drying without adversely affecting the paper, whereas in the described embodiment a cooling air flow is introduced into the housing, it will be appreciated that a gaseous cooling medium consisting of a gas or gas mixture can be used. More particularly, it has been found that the use of an inert ga , normally nitrogen, is especially advantageous. Furthermore and whereas in the described embodiments of the invention the ceramic reflector 4 is secured to the removable cover plate 21, it is to be understood that the reflector 4 could be mounted adjacent to the cover plate 21 such as from side walls 20 of the housing 2 such as by suitable brackets.

Claims (10)

1. An electric heater primarily for heat treating travelling sheet material such as printed or lacquered paper comprising:-(a) a housing having side walls and a front wall having a window opening, therein;
(b) a rear openable cover provided at the back of said housing;
(c) at least one panel of heat insulating and heat reflecting material such as ceramic material mounted on or adjacent to said rear openable cover so as to be disposed within the housing when the cover is closed thereon;
(d) a window of heat resistant and heat transmitting sheet material such as quartz glass carried by the housing across the said window opening, and (e) support means mounted within the housing for removably supporting end portions of elongate electric heating elements between said panel and said window whereby in use heat emitted by the heating elements is reflected forwardly by said panel and also radiated forwardly directly from the elements through said window onto material to be heat treated, said panel also serving to insulate the rear openable cover from heat emitted by the heating, elements in order to facilitate heating element removal rearwardly from the housing and replacement therein on opening said rear cover.
2. An electric heater according to claim 1 wherein the support means includes clips for receiving end portions of the heating elements, the receiving ends of said clips being directed towards the rear openable cover for said heating element removal or replacement through the rear of the housing.
3. An electric heater according to claim 2 wherein the clips are carried by opposed support bars mounted on the front wall of the housing alongside the window opening therein.
4. An electric heater according to claim 3 wherein each support bar includes a flange having openings therethrough and disposed alongside and spaced from an adjacent side wall of the housing to define a duct therebetween for the flow of a cooling gaseous medium such as air or an inert gas (e.g. nitrogen) or a gas mixture to and through the openings in the flange to the heating elements especially in the vicinity of their mounted end portions.
5. An electric heater according to claim 3 wherein each support bar includes a flange having openings therethrough and disposed alongside and spaced from an adjacent side wall of the housing to define a duct therebetween for the flow of a cooling gaseous medium such as air or an inert gas (e.g. nitrogen) or a gas mixture said openings receiving end portions of the heating elements extending therethrough into the duct for direct cooling by the flow of said gaseous medium along the duct.
6. An electric heater according to claim 3 wherein each support bar is formed such as by a flange to retain the window of heat resistant and heat transmitting sheet material such as quartz glass in position across the window opening in the front wall of the housing.
7. An electric heater according to claims 4 and 6 wherein each support bar is of generally L-form in cross section to provide said duct defining flange having openings therethrough and said flange for retaining the window in position across the window opening.
8. An electric heater according to claim 1 wherein the supporting of heating elements in the housing in spaced apart substantially parallel formation is such that the elements are inclined to the direction of travelling movement of travelling sheet material to be heat treated relative to the heater for more uniformly distributed heat treatment of the sheet material by the elements.
9. An electric heater according to claim 8 wherein the window of heat resistant and heat transmitting sheet material such as quartz glass is slotted for distributed venting of gaseous cooling medium from the housing, the slots being substantially parallel with heating elements supported within the housing.
10. An electric heater according to claim 9 wherein each slot is positioned opposite a space between substantially parallel adjacent heating elements.
CA 2039623 1991-04-03 1991-04-03 Electric heater Abandoned CA2039623A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2039623 CA2039623A1 (en) 1991-04-03 1991-04-03 Electric heater

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2039623 CA2039623A1 (en) 1991-04-03 1991-04-03 Electric heater

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2039623A1 true CA2039623A1 (en) 1992-10-04

Family

ID=4147327

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2039623 Abandoned CA2039623A1 (en) 1991-04-03 1991-04-03 Electric heater

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2039623A1 (en)

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