Electric fluid flow heater with heating element support member

An electric heater to heat a flow of a fluid, comprising:

• at least one axially elongate jacket element defining an axially elongate jacket block having first and second lengthwise ends;
• a plurality of longitudinal bores or channels extending internally through the jacket block and being open at each of the respective first and second lengthwise ends;
• at least one heating element extending axially through the bores or channels and having respective bent axial end sections such that the at least one heating element emerges from and returns into adjacent or neighbouring bores or channels at one or both the respective first and second lengthwise ends, the at least one heating element and the jacket block forming a heating assembly;
• and
• a casing positioned to at least partially surround the heating assembly,
• wherein at least one support member is connected to or projecting from the casing to contact at least some of the bent axial end sections and inhibit axial and/or lateral movement of the at least one heating element relative to the jacket block and/or the casing,
• wherein the casing comprises an outer sheath and a plurality of spacers extending radially between the outer sheath and the jacket block, and
• wherein each of the plurality of spacers comprises a disc shaped member having a central aperture through which a part of the jacket block extends.

An electric heater to heat a flow of a fluid, comprising:

• at least one axially elongate jacket element defining an axially elongate jacket block having first and second lengthwise ends;
• a plurality of longitudinal bores or channels extending internally through the jacket block and being open at each of the respective first and second lengthwise ends;
• at least one heating element extending axially through the bores or channels and having respective bent axial end sections such that the at least one heating element emerges from and returns into adjacent or neighbouring bores or channels at one or both the respective first and second lengthwise ends, the at least one heating element and the jacket block forming a heating assembly;
• and
• a casing positioned to at least partially surround the heating assembly,
• wherein at least one support member is connected to or projecting from the casing to contact at least some of the bent axial end sections and inhibit axial and/or lateral movement of the at least one heating element relative to the jacket block and/or the casing, and
• wherein:
• the at least one jacket element comprises a plurality of jacket elements assembled together to form the elongate jacket block;
• the at least one support member comprises a plurality of rods and the bent axial end sections are positioned adjacent one another and are aligned into rows such that a respective rod of the plurality of rods extends through the bent axial end sections of each respective row;
• the casing comprises an outer sheath and the heater further comprises a plurality of spacers extending radially between the outer sheath and the jacket block, the spacers comprising central apertures through which a part of the jacket block extends;
• and
• the heater further comprising a plurality of brackets provided at one of the spacers at or towards the first lengthwise end of the jacket block such that the rods extend between the plurality of brackets and through the bent axial end sections of each row.