US2185594A - Immersion heater for bituminous materials and the like - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1940. G. P. KITTEL 2,135,594

IMMERSION HEATER FOR BITUMINOUS MATERIALS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

/wu Y @625 ATTORNEYS a. P; KITTEL Jan. 2, 1940.

IMIERSION HEATER FOR BITUMINOUS MATERIALS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1937 INVENTOR: eBJlv'ZteZ 6 30) 4 6M PW ATTQRNEYQ Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MIE-RSION HEATER FOR BITUMINOUS MA- TERIALS AND THE LIKE George 1?. Kittel, Englewood, N. J.

Application November 17, 1937, Serial No. 175,045

2 Claims.

0 introducing heat through a flue extending through the container which is removably bolted in place.

While greater efficiency is obtained from the flue type heating means, due to the more rapid heating and melting of the materials in proportion to the amount of heat expended, it has been open mainly to the objection that considerable difficulty is experienced in cleaning the flue and receptacle, due to the fact that materials of the character enumerated tend torapidly foul or coke the heating surfaces, and the labor involved in the. frequent removal of the flue for cleaning has proven such a disadvantage that its use has been materially limited and many have returned to the old practice of applying heat to the outside of ordinary containers.

The present invention comprehends an improved heating apparatus of the indicated character, either as a unit applicable to any type of receptacle for melting materials or in combination with a particular type of receptacle with means for detachably connecting the same thereto.

More particularly the invention is concerned with an immersion heater for melting bituminous materials or the like in an open top receptacle which is so constructed and arranged so as to facilitate and expedite the emplacement of the immersion heater within the receptacle and its removal from the receptacle whereby when separated the surfaces of the heater and receptacle may be readily cleaned and freed from the materated from the burner element and when removed from the receptacle.

With the above enumerated and other objects in view, the invention is set forth in greater detail in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, disclosing one way in which the invention may be carried into practice, while the appended claims cover variations or modifications falling within the scope of the invention. 30

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a heating apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken ap- 20 proximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. a

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the burner element used in conjunction with the heater.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, I0 designates a receptacle of the open top type adapted to receive the materials to be heated and melted and which may be provided with an outlet cock H for drawing off the melted material.

The apparatus for heating and melting the materials comprises a cover panel l2 of sheet metal which isadapted to be supported upon the upper edge of the receptacle adjacent to one end thereof. The cover panel is formed with a substantially central opening l3 from which a well l4 depends, the said well being open at the top and provided with continuous side walls l5 and a bottom Hi. The side wall facing the remote end of the receptacle Ill is formed with an opening H to which is attached one end of the tubular lead ii of aflue unit which extends horizontally therefrom towards the remote end of the receptacle, said lead having communication with the interior of the Well at its juncture therewith.

One or more reversely directed tubular flue leads IS, in the present instance two being shown, are connected to and communicate at one end with the remaining end of the flue lead l9 by branch conduits 20. The leads l9 extend towards the well HI and are provided with upwardly directed outlet terminals 2| which extend through openings in the cover panel l2. In order to space the flue leads and the bottom It from the walls of the receptacle so that the material being heated and melted will completely surround the heating apparatus in which it is immersed, feet 22 are formed on and depend from the flue leads i9.

The heating apparatus further includes a burner 23 of a type which projects a directed flame such as the vaporizing torch type, and which receives its fuel supply through a tubular conduit 24 extending upwardly therefrom, through the open top of the well It, the burner being provided with a supporting base 25 which is adapted to rest upon the bottom wall l6 of the well ll so as to project the flame through the opening l1 and longitudinally of the flue lead l8. The burner is, therefore, removably located within the well I4, which serves as a housing therefor, and may be separated from the remainder of the heating apparatus to facilitate handling of the device and cleaning of the same to free the surfaces of the material which adhere thereto.

In the present instance, the receptacle I0 is provided with inwardly projecting lugs 26 having threaded apertures for receiving the set screws 2! which are rotatably carried by the cover panel I2 thereby affording means for removably securing the heating apparatus in place within the receptacle. The set screws also serve as a means to rigidly impinge the feet 22 against the inner surface of the wall of the receptacle. If desired, the uncovered open top of the receptacle l0 may be closed by means of a cover member 30 having a flanged margin 3| fitting upon the upper edge of the receptacle I 0, while one of the flanged margins 3| rests upon the cover panel l2 and is slotted to receive the apertured lug 32 provided on the cover panel l2. In order to brace the cover panel, angle braces 33 may be provided which extend laterally and upwardly from opposite side walls i5 of the well It. To facilitate lifting and handling of the heating unit, a handle 34 is preferably provided on the branch conduits 20 which join and establish communication between the flue leads l8 and I9.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for heating and melting bituminous materials including in combination an open top receptacle for said materials, and a removable immersion heating unit comprising a cover panel provided with an opening and adapted to be supported on the top oi the receptacle adja cent one end thereof, an open top housing secured at its upper end to the cover at the opening and depending therefrom, a flue having a lead secured to and communicating atone end with the lower 5 portion of said housing and extending substantially horizontally towards the remote end of the receptacle, a pair of horizontally disposed reversely directed side leads communicating at one end with the remaining end of the first lead and extending substantially horizontally therefrom towards the housing, an upwardly directed exhaust terminal at the remaining end of each side lead extending upwardly through and secured to said cover panel, and a jet-type burner having a directed flame adapted to be positioned in said housing so that the flame is directed into and longitudinally of said first-mentioned flue lead.

2. Apparatus for heating and. melting bituminous materials including in combination an open top receptacle for said materials having a removable cover extending from one end towards and spaced from the other end of said receptacle, and a removable immersion heating unit comprising a cover panel provided with an opening and adapted to be supported on the top of the receptacle at and covering the uncovered end thereof, an open top housing secured at its upper end to the cover at the opening and depending therefrom, a flue having a lead secured to and communicating at one end with the lower portion of said housing and extending substantially horizontally towards the remote end of the receptacle, a reversely directed lead communicating at one end with the remaining end of the first lead and extending substantially horizontally towards the housing, an upwardly directed exhaust terminal at the remaining end of said reversely directed lead extending upwardly through said cover panel, a jet-type burner having a directed flame 0 adapted to be positioned in said housing so that the flame is directed into and longitudinally of said first-mentioned flue lead, and cooperating means provided respectively on said receptacle,

the cover therefor. and on the cover panel for detachably connecting the same in assembled relation.

GEORGE P. KI'I'I'EL.

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