US1635591A - Electric heater for fluids - Google Patents

Description

1927' J. H. VALIQUETTE ELECTRIC HEATER FOR FLUIDS Filed March 1. 1926 Attorney Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH MY VALIOUIT'I'I, O1 SPBUGII'IILD,

ELECTRIC HEATER FOB ILUIDB.

Application fled luck 1, 1950. Serial Io. 81,615.

This invention relates toimprovements in electric heaters for fluids, and particularly to heaters for radiators, .boilers, and the like. 2

An object of the invention resides in providing an electric heater of the character above stated which may be readily applied to a suitable fluid system in a manner that the heat from the heating unit contained in the device will efliciently circulate the fluid in the system, a socket in the device removably receiving the heating element so that it may be removed and replaced without interfering with the fluid in the system or the connection of the device therewith.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a device of this character wherein a header is adapted to assemble and mount all of the parts of the device, and fit- ,ting for attachment to a radiator boiler or the like to be heated, and which permits of the removal of the heating element and its support without interfering with the circmt connections between the device, and the fluid system to be heated thereby.

The invention further comprehends improvements in the details of construction and the relation of the parts which are more particularly pointed out in the following description and claim directed to a preferred form of the invention, it being understood, however, that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the drawing forming part of this application:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a radiator showing the application of the invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the heater with the end portions broken away and shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

The improved heater may be applied to radiators, boilers, or other fluid heating systems, but for the purpose of illustration, it is shown applied to a radiator 1 in Fig. 1, the improved heater being shown at 2.

This heater includes a header 3 in the form of a casting which is provided with a recessed end forming a fluid chamber 4 provided with a threaded seat 5 for receiving the threaded end of the main outer casing 6. One side of the header is formed with a cylindrical rojection 7 having a threaded opening 8 t erein communicating with the fluid chamber 4. The lower end of the main casing 6 is formed with a artial spherical end 9 terminating in a smafi cylindrical extension 10 havin the threaded bore 11 formed therein an communicating with the interior of the casing.

This threaded bore llis adapted to receive the nipple 12 shown in Fig. 1, and the threaded bore 8 is adapted to receive a nipple 13 also shown in Fig. 1, which serves to mount the heater on the radiator or other device containin fluid to be heated, in such a manner that the passage 12 from the nipple 13 through the casing will form one part of the fluid circulation circuit.

A tubular inner casing or heater casing 14 is mounted within the casin 6 and has the open end thereof mounted in the opening 15 in the header so that communication is obtained through the upper end portion of the header through the opening 15 for a purpose which will presently appear. The lower end of the casing 14 for the heater is closed and of conoidal form as indicated at 16 on both the interior and exterior thereof, so that the flow through the casing of the fluid will be around the heater casing and within the main casing 6. This flow will not be retarded on account of the construction of the lower end of the casing.

Adjacent the conoidal end 16 the heater casing is formed with an annular outwardl projecting flange 17 which is provided wit a plurality of radially extending arms 18 terminating in concentric relation with the surface of the casing 14 and adapted for slidable interfitting connection with the main casing 6 for centering the tubular heater casing in concentric relation within the main casing.

A suitable insulating body 19 is formed with a spiral groove 20 extending throughout the cylindrical surface of the same, for receiving the heating elements 21, the ends of which are molded in the body and extend outwardly from the upper end portion as indicated at 22. The lower end of the insulating body 19 is of conical form as indicated at 23 for substantially accurately fitting the lower conoidal end 16 of the heater casing, so that the body is centered within the heater casing by the cooperation of the conical end 23 with the end 16 in the heater casing.

The upper end of the insulating body is formed with a shoulder 24 from which extends ata ring projection 25 and an annular cap mem r 26 is threaded mounted in the opening 15 as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that the lower end will engage the shoulder 24, and will receive the tapered projection 25 so as to rigidly secure the insulating body in position within the heating casing. The tapered projection forms a means of centering' the upper end of the heating body in the casing. A plug 27 of suitable form receives the ends 22 of the wire and is formed of suitable insulating material to prevent these ends from coming in contact with the metallic cap 26, the plug being retained in the neck 28 formed on the cap by a suitable set screw 29.

With this construction, the header 3 forms an assembly and mounting for all parts of the device, in view of the fact that it mounts the main casing 6, the heater casing 14, and the cap 26 which together forms a means of retaining and assembling all of the parts in operative relation. The construction further provides for convenient attachment to any device containing fluid to be heated through the sleeves 7 and 10, so that the heater is supported on the radiator or other device containing fluid.

lVith the heater in this position, it will be seen that the removal of cap 26 from the header 3 will permit the removal of the body 19 and the heatin element, without in any way interfering with the fluid circuit or connection, or permitting the leakage of fluid from the radiator, boiler or the like. In this way, the heater element may be renewed or repaired in a most convenient manner. The formation of the body 19 with the conical end 23 and the tapered neck 25 will also provide for the centering of the body as well as the effective mounting within the heater casing by the application of the cap 26 without other especial centering means.

A further feature of this invention is the rovision of the annular flange 17 on the water casing of a predetermined size, according to the size 0 the heating device for limiting the circulation therethrough, by limiting the passage between the lower and the upper end of the main casing for the fluid so that only an amount of fluid may flow past the heater and be heated as will correspond to the capacity of the device for heating the fluid, so that the fluid leaving the upper end of the heater through the sleeve extension? will be effectively heated.

It will therefore be clear that a substantially simple device has been provided for connecting an electric heater with a suitable device containing fluid to be heated such as a boiler, radiator or the like, in which the fluid circuit through the heater is entirely separate from the heating chamber containing the heating elements, which is also removable without disconnecting the device from the boiler or radiator, or interfering with the fluid circuit therethrough.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is An electric heater for fluids, comprising a header, an elongated main outer casing removably connected at one end with the header, a heater casing mounted at one end in the header and having a closed free end of conoidal form, said header being formed with an openin registering with the heater casing, an insu ating body adapted for removable insertion through the opening in the header into the heater casing, said body having a conical end adapted to seat in the conoidal closed end of the heater casing, a cap mounted in said opening in the header and having engagement with the body for removably retaining said body in the heater casing, a heating element carried by the insulating body, and means for centering the heating body in the cap, said conical end on the heating body centering the opposite end thereof in the heater casing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH HENRY VALIQUETTE.

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