GB2135560A - Electric heating jacket for liquid containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A heat-insulating jacket (1) for use on a free-standing container of liquid, for example a demijohn for fermenting wine, has an electrical warming element (9) disposed between an inner layer of the jacket and insulating material contained therein. The warming element (9) is contained within a circumferential band formed by quilting the jacket. The element may be similar to those incorporated in electric warming blankets for beds. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Warming jacket This invention relates to a warming jacket, for example for use in warming fermentation vessel for home-brewing and wine-making.

Fermentation processes require the fermenting liquid to be maintained at a constant temperature in the range, for example, of 180 to 250C. Various devices are known for heating the liquid, such as immersible heating elements, heated pads upon which the vessel may be placed, and heating belts or bands to be secured around the vessel. One such belt is disclosed in British Patent Specification No: 1 599 759.

A problem which occurs with many of the known devices is that of maintaining the temperature accurately. In the case of the belt type of heater, the correct positioning of the belt is important, and much trial and error is necessary to achieve the correct position.

The present invention seeks to overcome this problem, and to provide a means of heating the vessel more uniformly and reliably.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a heat insulating jacket for use on a free-standing container of liquid, the jacket having an electrical warming element extending around a portion thereof so as substantially to encircle the container.

Preferably the jacket comprises a fabric tube having inner and outer fabric layers with a layer of insulating material therebetween. The tube is preferably quilted by sewing through the layers to form circumferential bands. The bands are suitably 25 mm wide, and the element is preferably located in the third band from the lowermost end of the tube, when the jacket is located on a free-standing vessel. The insulation material can be a sheet of bonded polyester fibres, for example, and a suitable thickness will be less than 1 mm, for example 0.5 mm. The inner and outer layers may be of a nylon textile fabric. The warming element may be of the type used in electric warming blankets for beds.

The jacket of the invention ensures optimum location of the heating element on the vessel and therefore consistent temperature control. The electricity consumption, at 9W for 1 gallon (4.5 dm3) demijohn sized jacket, will be less than, for example, a comparable warming belt, and the heat distribution will be more even.

Reference is made to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which: Figure 1 shows a jacket positioned on a glass winemaking demijohn; and Figure 2 is an enlarged section through a portion of the jacket shown in Figure 1, showing the warming element.

The jacket 1 is formed as a tube from two layers of a nylon textile fabric. The inner and outer layers 2 and 3 respectively (Figure 2), enclose a layer 4 of insulating material. The insulating material is a non-woven polyester fibre material 0.5 mm thick, and is held in place by circumferential lines 5 of stitching which form quilted circumferential bands 6 in the jacket. In the uppermost band 6a a pocket 7 is provided for a drawstring or an elastic loop to draw the tube inwards on to the neck 8 of the demijohn.

The warming element 9 is located in the third band 6b from the lowermost end of the jacket, at a mean distance of approximately 60 mm from the lowermost end. The element is in the form of a fine nickel-chromium wire spirally wound on to a glass fibre cord core and contained within a glass fibre sleeve 10 impregnated with a silicone rubber. The sleeved element is connected at each end thereof by a crimped connector to a respective conductor of a twin conductor insulated flex 11. The sleeved element passes around the jacket and then doubles back so that the connectors are located at one point on the circumference of the jacket. The doubled sleeve element passes within a larger outer sleeve 12, again formed of glass fibres and impregnated with silicone rubber, and this outer sleeve passes around the jacket in the space between the insulating layer 4 and the inner fabric layer 3.

It will be apparent that other arrangements of the element, for example passing spirally around the band 6b, may also be suitable. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the element has an outer insulating sleeve fitting closely over the inner sleeve 10 without doubling so that adjacent portions of the element do not lie sideby-side within a common outer sleeve.

It has been found that with an outside ambient temperature of 560F (1 3.30C), 4.5 dm3 wine in a glass demijohn was maintained at a stable temperature of 75 to 760F (23.90 to 24.40C), a suitable temperature for efficient fermentation.

1. A heat-insulating jacket for use on a freestanding container of liquid, the jacket having an electrical warming element extending around a portion thereof so as substantially to encircle the container.

2. A jacket according to Claim 1, which comprises a fabric tube having inner and outer fabric layers with a layer of insulating material therebetween.

3. A jacket according to Claim 2, wherein the tube is quilted by sewing through the layers to form circumferential bands.

4. A jacket according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the warming element is located between the insulating material and the inner fabric layer.

5. A jacket according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the insulating material is bonded polyester fibre sheet material.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Warming jacket This invention relates to a warming jacket, for example for use in warming fermentation vessel for home-brewing and wine-making. Fermentation processes require the fermenting liquid to be maintained at a constant temperature in the range, for example, of 180 to 250C. Various devices are known for heating the liquid, such as immersible heating elements, heated pads upon which the vessel may be placed, and heating belts or bands to be secured around the vessel. One such belt is disclosed in British Patent Specification No: 1 599 759. A problem which occurs with many of the known devices is that of maintaining the temperature accurately. In the case of the belt type of heater, the correct positioning of the belt is important, and much trial and error is necessary to achieve the correct position. The present invention seeks to overcome this problem, and to provide a means of heating the vessel more uniformly and reliably. Accordingly, the present invention provides a heat insulating jacket for use on a free-standing container of liquid, the jacket having an electrical warming element extending around a portion thereof so as substantially to encircle the container. Preferably the jacket comprises a fabric tube having inner and outer fabric layers with a layer of insulating material therebetween. The tube is preferably quilted by sewing through the layers to form circumferential bands. The bands are suitably 25 mm wide, and the element is preferably located in the third band from the lowermost end of the tube, when the jacket is located on a free-standing vessel. The insulation material can be a sheet of bonded polyester fibres, for example, and a suitable thickness will be less than 1 mm, for example 0.5 mm. The inner and outer layers may be of a nylon textile fabric. The warming element may be of the type used in electric warming blankets for beds. The jacket of the invention ensures optimum location of the heating element on the vessel and therefore consistent temperature control. The electricity consumption, at 9W for 1 gallon (4.5 dm3) demijohn sized jacket, will be less than, for example, a comparable warming belt, and the heat distribution will be more even. Reference is made to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which: Figure 1 shows a jacket positioned on a glass winemaking demijohn; and Figure 2 is an enlarged section through a portion of the jacket shown in Figure 1, showing the warming element. The jacket 1 is formed as a tube from two layers of a nylon textile fabric. The inner and outer layers 2 and 3 respectively (Figure 2), enclose a layer 4 of insulating material. The insulating material is a non-woven polyester fibre material 0.5 mm thick, and is held in place by circumferential lines 5 of stitching which form quilted circumferential bands 6 in the jacket. In the uppermost band 6a a pocket 7 is provided for a drawstring or an elastic loop to draw the tube inwards on to the neck 8 of the demijohn. The warming element 9 is located in the third band 6b from the lowermost end of the jacket, at a mean distance of approximately 60 mm from the lowermost end. The element is in the form of a fine nickel-chromium wire spirally wound on to a glass fibre cord core and contained within a glass fibre sleeve 10 impregnated with a silicone rubber. The sleeved element is connected at each end thereof by a crimped connector to a respective conductor of a twin conductor insulated flex 11. The sleeved element passes around the jacket and then doubles back so that the connectors are located at one point on the circumference of the jacket. The doubled sleeve element passes within a larger outer sleeve 12, again formed of glass fibres and impregnated with silicone rubber, and this outer sleeve passes around the jacket in the space between the insulating layer 4 and the inner fabric layer 3. It will be apparent that other arrangements of the element, for example passing spirally around the band 6b, may also be suitable. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the element has an outer insulating sleeve fitting closely over the inner sleeve 10 without doubling so that adjacent portions of the element do not lie sideby-side within a common outer sleeve. It has been found that with an outside ambient temperature of 560F (1 3.30C), 4.5 dm3 wine in a glass demijohn was maintained at a stable temperature of 75 to 760F (23.90 to 24.40C), a suitable temperature for efficient fermentation. CLAIMS

1. A heat-insulating jacket for use on a freestanding container of liquid, the jacket having an electrical warming element extending around a portion thereof so as substantially to encircle the container.

2. A jacket according to Claim 1, which comprises a fabric tube having inner and outer fabric layers with a layer of insulating material therebetween.

3. A jacket according to Claim 2, wherein the tube is quilted by sewing through the layers to form circumferential bands.

4. A jacket according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the warming element is located between the insulating material and the inner fabric layer.

5. A jacket according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the insulating material is bonded polyester fibre sheet material.

6. A jacket according to Claim 5, wherein the insulating material has a thickness of less than 1 mm.

7. A heat-insulating jacket, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.