# US 10,375,768 B2 · Apparatus and assembly for heating pipes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,375,768 B2 - Document ID: US10375768B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/061,647 - Filed: 2016-03-04 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-05 - Assignees: Heat-Line Corporation - Applicants: Heat-Line Corporation - Inventors: Lorne R. Heise - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375768B2 ## CPC - H05B 3/82: Fixedly-mounted immersion heaters - H05B 3/04: Waterproof or air-tight seals for heaters - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A heater is provided for a waste water system comprising of a heating element encased in a protective pipe. The pipe is closed at one end and attached at the opposite end to an end cap that may be connected by a standard fitting to a sewer installation. The protective pipe is sealed to the end cap and the heating element is removable from within the protective pipe without adversely affecting the integrity of the installation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heating assembly for insertion in to a conduit of a water system consisting of a heating element, a protective pipe encasing at least part of said heating element, said protective pipe closed at one end and attached at the opposite end to a retainer dimensioned to be connected to a fitting of a water system, said protective pipe defining a chamber to contain said heating element and separate said heating element from said conduit, a bore extending through said retainer to receive slidably said protective pipe and permit longitudinal adjustment of said protective pipe relative to said retainer and thereby vary the length of protective pipe inserted in to said conduit, and a compressive clamp applying a radial force between said retainer and said protective pipe to cause said retainer to engage said protective pipe and inhibit relative movement between said protective pipe and said retainer and seal said protective pipe to said fitting, said heating element passing through said bore so as to be removable from within the protective pipe whilst maintaining the integrity of said conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heating assembly of claim 1 wherein said heating element is connected to a power supply adjacent to the opposite end of the protective pipe to said one end and the connection protected by a seal assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The heating assembly of claim 2 wherein said seal assembly includes a first seal to cover said connection between said power supply and said heating element and a second seal between said power supply and said protective pipe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The heating assembly of claim 3 wherein said protective pipe extends in said bore from one side of said retainer to the other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heating assembly of claim 4 wherein said first seal is located within said protective pipe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The heating assembly of claim 5 wherein said second seal is located on the opposite side of said cap to said one end of said protective pipe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The heating assembly of claim 6 wherein each of said seals includes a heat shrinkable sleeve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The heating assembly of claim 1 wherein said protective pipe is flexible. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The heating assembly of claim 8 wherein said protective pipe is a plastics material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The heating assembly of claim 9 wherein said pipe is formed from a high density polyethylene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heating assembly of claim 10 wherein said one end has a plug welded to said pipe to seal said one end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The heating assembly of claim 8 wherein said one end of said protective pipe is tapered. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The heating assembly of claim 1 wherein said heating element is flaccid and is a close fit within said protective pipe to be supported by said protective pipe. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The heating assembly of claim 13 wherein said heating element is a self-regulating heating cable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The heating assembly of claim 1 wherein said retainer is a push fit in said fitting to permit said heater assembly to be inserted in said water system without rotation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The heating assembly of claim 15 wherein said retainer is adapted to be mechanically secured to said fitting and selectively releasable therefrom. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The heating assembly of claim 1 wherein said retainer is releasably secured to said fitting to permit relative rotation between said fitting and said retainer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The heating assembly of claim 17 wherein said retainer is incorporated in to a strain relief assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The heating assembly of claim 1 wherein said protective pipe is locally reinforced in the vicinity of said retainer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The heating assembly of claim 19 wherein a sleeve is inserted within said protective pipe to resist radial loads applied to said pipe.