# US 10,801,388 B2 · Exhaust gas heating apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,801,388 B2 - Document ID: US10801388B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/132,462 - Filed: 2013-12-18 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Granted: 2020-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-18 - Assignees: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company - Applicants: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company - Inventors: David P. Culbertson; Richard T. Williams, Jr.; Christopher Meyers; Jeremy Ohse; Mark Everly; Roger Brummell; Gerald S. Jackson; Jake Spooler; James N. Pradun; Scott H. Boehmer; Mitchell T. Diaco; Robert K. Frake - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10801388B2 ## CPC - F01N 3/26: Construction of thermal reactors - F01N 3/027: using electric or magnetic heating means - F01N 13/008: {Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus (sensor arrangements for engine control F02D41/1439)} - F23G 7/063: {electric heating} - F23J 15/08: of heaters - F24H 3/0405: {using electric energy supply, e.g. the heating medium being a resistive element; Heating by direct contact, i.e. with resistive elements, electrodes and fins being bonded together without additional element in-between (F24H3/06, F24H3/08, F24H3/10 take precedence)} - F24H 9/1818: Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means - H05B 1/0236: {for vehicles} - H05B 3/44: heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material - F01N 2240/16: an electric heater, i.e. a resistance heater - F01N 2560/06: the means being a temperature sensor - F23G 2900/508: Providing additional energy for combustion, e.g. by using supplementary heating - F24H 2250/02: Resistances - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION - F23J: REMOVAL OR TREATMENT OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OR COMBUSTION RESIDUES; FLUES (combustion apparatus for consuming smoke or fumes, e.g. exhaust gases, F23G7/06) - F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A heating apparatus and method for use in an exhaust gas system is provided that includes a container body defining an exhaust gas pathway, a heater flange component attached to an exterior of the container body, and a heater assembly disposed in the exhaust gas pathway and secured to the heater flange component. The heater assembly includes at least one heater element, a bracket assembly that secures the at least one heater element in the container body, and a conformal bracket for securing the at least one heater element to the bracket assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heating apparatus for an exhaust gas system, the heating apparatus comprising: a container body defining an exhaust gas pathway; a heater flange component attached to an exterior of the container body, wherein the heater flange component and the container body define corresponding mating portions therebetween, the mating portions connecting the heater flange component to the container body; a heater assembly disposed in the exhaust gas pathway and secured to the heater flange component, the heater assembly including: at least one heater element; a bracket assembly that secures the at least one heater element in the container body; and a conformal bracket for securing the at least one heater element to the bracket assembly; a junction box mounted on the heater flange component, the junction box including one or more electrical terminals that connect the at least one heater element to a power source; and a perforated box assembly disposed between the heater flange component and the junction box to allow for air cooling of the junction box, wherein the perforated box assembly includes one or more side walls that have a plurality of holes defined therethrough, and the at least one heater element extends through the perforated box assembly to connect to the one or more electrical terminals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the heater flange component and the container body includes a plurality of tabs and the other one of the heater flange component and the container body defines a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of tabs, the heater flange component being attached to the container body by inserting the plurality of tabs into the plurality of holes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bracket assembly includes at least one post that secures the heater element to the container body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conformal bracket defines a U-channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conformal bracket is selected from the group consisting of a rivet assembly and a staple member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bracket assembly further includes a flow diverter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The heating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flow diverter defines a disc disposed at a middle portion of the post. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The heating apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a thermowell connected to the bracket assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The heating apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a temperature sensor disposed within the thermowell and exposed to exhaust gas. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one or more standoff tubes in the perforated box assembly for protecting a portion of the heater element extending therethrough. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the standoff tubes are brazed to the heater flange component using nickel or copper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container body comprises at least two separable container section components, and the heater flange component is coupled with the at least two separable container section components such that they form an external shroud that surrounds the one or more heater elements and establishes a pathway for the flow of exhaust gas through the heating apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heater flange component defines a plate portion, one of the mating portions extending from the plate portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The heating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the plate portion of the heater flange component includes two edges parallel to a longitudinal direction of the container body, the one of the mating portions extending from the two edges of the plate portion of the heater flange component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The heating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the one of the mating portions includes a plurality of tabs extending from the two edges of the plate portion of the heater flange component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container body defines two opposing edges extending along a longitudinal direction of the container body, the two opposing edges defining an opening therebetween, the heater flange component being disposed between the two opposing edges and covering the opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The heating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the corresponding mating portions are disposed along the two opposing edges of the container body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The heating apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the heater flange component includes a plurality of tabs disposed along the two opposing edges of the container body. ### Claim 19 A heating apparatus for an exhaust gas system, the heating apparatus comprising: a container body defining an exhaust gas pathway; a heater flange component attached to the container body along an axis perpendicular to the exhaust gas pathway; a heater assembly disposed in the exhaust gas pathway and secured to the heater flange component, the heater assembly including: at least one heater element; and a bracket assembly that secures the at least one heater element to the container body; a junction box mounted on the heater flange component such that the heater flange component is disposed between the junction box and the container body, wherein the junction box includes at least one electrical terminal that connects the at least one heater element to a power source; and a perforated box assembly disposed between the heater flange component and the junction box to allow for air cooling of the junction box, wherein the at least one heater element extends through the heater flange component and the perforated box assembly to connect to the terminals of the junction box. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The heating apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising a conformal bracket for securing the at least one heater element to the bracket assembly. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The heating apparatus according to claim 19, wherein one of the heater flange component and the container body includes a plurality of tabs and the other one of the heater flange component and the container body defines a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of tabs, wherein the heater flange component is attached to the container body by inserting the plurality of tabs into the plurality of holes. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The heating apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising at least one standoff tube disposed in the perforated box assembly to protect a portion of the at least one heater element extending therethrough. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The heating apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the standoff tubes are brazed to the heater flange component using nickel or copper.