US3069522A

US3069522A - Heater element for embedment in a mastic slab

Info

Publication number: US3069522A
Application number: US61298A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick W Jamison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-10-07
Filing date: 1960-10-07
Publication date: 1962-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-18

Description

Dec, 18, 1962 F. w. JAMISON HEATER ELEMENT FOR EMBEDDMENT IN A MASTIC SLAB Filed Oct. 7. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

INVENTOR, FREDERICK W. J

FlG A. BY 9 gg gj ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1962 F. w. JAMISON 3,069,522

HEATER ELEMENT FOR EMBEDDMENT IN A MASTIC SLAB Filed Oct. '7, 1960 7 P 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FlG.7

IN V EN TOR.

' FREDERICK w. JAMISON gwkcgh ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fifice 3,%;9,5ZZ Patented Dec. 18, 1962 sneasza TER ELEMENT FUR EMEEBE'EENT EN A MASTEQ SLAB Frederick W. Jamison, Garden City, Monroeviiie, Pa. (11% Coigate Drive, Pitcairn, Pa.) Fitted Get. '7, 19643, Ser. No. 61,298 1 Ciainr. (1. 21.9-4 .9)

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing heated surfaces primarily for the purpose of maintaining such surfaces free of ice and snow accumulation and with the surfaces being primarily of the type that constitutes steps, driveways and walkways although, not restricted to any specific use.

Basically, the invention contemplates the formation of a heater element embodying a predetermined length of Wire that is bent upon itself to form a plurality of equidistantly spaced flights that are supported and anchored against movement with respect to each other so that th entire assembly may be disposed as a heat producing element and that may be disposed in molded relation to a panel of cementitious material or, may be bodily placed upon a previously formed concrete surface, such as a driveway ribbon and then covered and bonded to the surface of the concrete by the application of the well known epoxy resin.

The invention readily lends itself to prefabricated structures, such as the conventional concrete panel or the heater element may be embodied within the concrete at the point of use. Basically, the invention proposes a heater element that is prefabricated into a relatively rigid grill having the terminal ends of the wires projecting from the tubes to be jointly soldered into a self-connecting connector device or, the wires may be extended outwardly for assembling the device in parallel with respect to a source of electrical energy.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated the preferred forms of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

in the drawings:

FEGURE 1 is a perspective view of a heater element constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2--2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified method of assembly of the heater element,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through a completed panel of mastic composition having the invention embodied therein,

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of the heater elements in the formation of steps.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a pair of heater elements that are disposed in end to end relation and forming a continuous heated surface for a driveway and,

FiGURE 7 is a diagrammatic illustration showing at least two heater elements arranged in parallel relation for forming a heated walkway.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a pair of spaced apart parallel and preferably plastic separators that are apertured at equidistantly spaced points throughout their length as indicated at 6 for the snug reception of plastic tubes 7. The tubes 7 extend a relatively short distance beyond the outer faces of the strips 5, as clearly shown. The tubes 7 constitute the guiding and threading means for electrical conductors 8. The conductor 8 of one unit, as illustrated in FIG URE 1 is initially threaded through an outermost tube 7,

bent upon itself at the opposite end of the tube and guided by any suitable form to constitute a loop 9 and then threaded through the next adjacent tube 7, where it is again directed over a suitable form or guide to form a second loop 9 at the opposite end of the device. This threading of the conductor 8 through the tube 7 will be apparent, since it is certainly desirable that the conductor 8, being the source of heat, must be continuous throughout the panel to be formed. The conductor 8 may be of any desirable type of conductor commonly employed in heaters or the like and the tubes 7 constitute a very desirabie means for forming the unit and also for maintaining the several flights of the conductor 8' in the accurate spaced apart relation, such spacing being determined by a size of panel or slab to be formed. In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1, the free ends of the conductor 8 are soldered or otherwise connected to a insulator type of self-threading connector 10, such as that illustrated in my co-pending application serial No. 20,916, filed April 8, 1960. The connector 10 however is of well known construction and has only been illustrated herein as being one desirable means of connecting several panel devices in parallel from the single source of electrical energy. The spacer strips 5 may be of any height and of course are dimensioned in accordance with the degree of spacing required for the heater element with respect to its particular application either into a mastic sin or panel or when laid directly upon a concrete sidewalk and covered by a suitable resin, such as epoxy.

In FIGURE 3, there has been illustrated a slightly modified form of the structure of Fi'GURE 1, here including spacer strips Iii, formed of plastic or any other nonconducting material and with one edge of the strips 11 being notched as indicated at 12 to receive the plastic tubes 13. The opening of the notch 12 is slightly smaller than the tubes 13, reauiring that the tubes be forced downwardly into the notches to have an interlocking engagement into the notches. The notches are of such depth that the tubes 13 will lie substantially flush with the upper edge of the strips 11. In all other respects the assembly will be substantially identical to that illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

In FIGURE 4, there has been illustrated a mastic panel or slab with the heater element embodied therein. While the heater element may be vertically spaced from the top and bottom surfaces of the slab 14, the slab may vary in thickness in accordance with a particular use and the

strips

5 or 11 may be disposed in the bottom of a metallic form or the like and the mastic mass poured thereover or, if the slab is to be relatively thick, it may become necessary to support the strips 5 at a predetermined elevation in the form so that the heater element will lie substantially close to the upper or trafiic surface of the slab. However, this is a matter of degree and may be varied in accordance with the usage of the device. It may be desirable that the heater element A be laid directly upon the exposed surface of a prebuilt concrete walk or the like and in such case, the concrete is thoroughly cleaned before placing the heater element thereon and then, with a suitable spray or troweling method, the well known epoxy resin may then be applied thereto, securely bonding the heater element to the old concrete surface and also encasing the heater element to a predetermined thickness above the concrete. In all cases, the conductor 8 is extended from the heater element in any desirable manner for connection to adjacent units either in series or in parallel.

in FIGURE 5, there has been illustrated a pair of heater elements A that are disposed in parallel relation and proportioned to constitute either molded'steps or a heated cover for previously built masonry steps. Each unit includes the strips 5, the tubes 7 and the conaces,

ductors 8. in the arrangement shown in FIGURE 5, conductors 8 of the units A are contin one and tle positive and negative leads of the conductors are electrically connected to a source of electrical energy, thus establishing a continuous uninterrupted heater for the several steps.

FEGURE 6 illustrates the means for assembling a plu rality of the heater units A in end to end relation as when constituting a heated surface for driveways or the like. While the r eater units A may be embedded into the mastic of the driveway at the time of construction, they can also be applied to the top of driveway ribbons of concrete that have been previously formed and will be anchored or encased in epoxy res n.

In FZGURE 7, there has been illustrated of heater elements A that are adapted to be in a manner to constitute a can" ous walkway. the

ergy as illustrated, is preferably along one side of the d walkway and the conductors having connection with the positive and negative sides of the source of electrical energy may be threaded in a continuous manner through t e several tubes '7. in this pa icular arrangement i, is contemplated that the heater units A. shall be embedded in the concrete forming the walk at the site of construction. It is also possible that the heater unit A be disposed upon a previously constructed sidewalk and bonded encased by the use of epoxy resin.

It will be apparent from the foregoing there has been provided a very simple a d economical method of forming a unit to be en d ed into a concrete panel or that also readily adapts itself to the application of the unit to a pre-bult concrete wall: or driveway by the use of the Well known epoxy resin. lhe use of the strips 5 and the tubes '7 present a relatively rigid unitary structure through whic. the wires 8 are threaded with the unit adapted to be produced and sold to manufacturers of concrete slabs or to others for the application of a heater element to the previously constructed tratfic bearing surfaces, such as the sidewalks, driveways or the like. While the unit A may be supported and molded directly into a mastic panel such as that illustrated in r l URE 4, it is also contemplated that the unit be disposed in overlying relation to a suitable insulating panel for retar mg the dissipation of heat downwardly so that great mass of the heat will be directed toward the surface of the panel where it functions to maintain the surface free of ice and snow accumulation. The application the heater units to an insulating board or insulating panel has been disclosed in my application above identified however, the device of this invention provides for its use either with or without an insulating support since adequate heat is generated and directed to the surface of the panel capable of retzuding the accumulation of foreign elements. Also the d my i vention, w re to secure by Letters Patent i A heater element embe .t into a mastic s that comprises a plura ity of relatively slender tubes of equal length, the tubes b ing connected adjacent their ends with spec r in manner are held in equidistantly sgaced parallel relation with the free ends of the tunes extending beyond the spacer strips. a cor.

to extend outwat a, the c the terminal ends of the conducsource of electrical energy, the said ti? being formed of a non-cor ctive mate upon their upper edge be points to receive the end p notches being reduced at per edge of the strips to ermit the tubes to have a snapping engagement into the notches so that the tubes unon their upper Si'ZESS are flush with the upper ed s of the s the tubes being formed of relatively thin .rc having an inner diarne er capable tree Sli ..g movement of the con ductor during the a sembly of the clen the said couductor when exten tube to the next for a My bent.