Flow heater
AssigneeHatco Corporation
InventorsAllan E. Witt, Kenneth Hays
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow heater for a sink heater or rethermalizing system is disclosed. The flow heater includes a flow tube in fluid communication with a fluid receptacle. The flow tube has a heating element that is in conductive communication with the flow tube and helically encircles the flow tube. Fluid flowing through the flow tube is caused by thermal siphoning effects. The flow heater system may be used for presoaking, soaking, or sanitizing dishware in a sink or for rethermalizing packaged foods.
Claims27
A flow heater system for heating fluid, the flow heater system comprising:
- a fluid receptacle;
- a flow tube in fluid communication with the fluid receptacle;
- and
- a film heating element in conductive communication with the flow tube.
A sink heater configured to heat and recirculate liquid in a sink, comprising:
- a flow tube having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the sink;
- and
- a film heating element configured to exchange heat with the flow tube,
- wherein fluid flow through the tube is caused by convection from the sink into the inlet and out of the outlet into the sink.
A method for heating liquid in a fluid receptacle, comprising:
- providing a flow tube in fluid communication with the fluid receptacle;
- providing a fluid in the fluid receptacle;
- providing a film heating element in conductive communication with the flow tube;
- controlling current through the film heating element;
- and
- creating a thermal siphoning effect in the flow tube.
A fluid heater, configured to heat and recirculate liquid in a fluid receptacle, comprising:
- a flow tube having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the fluid receptacle;
- a heating element configured to exchange heat with the flow tube;
- and
- a flow tube access port provided adjacent the lowermost portion of the flow tube, providing access to the interior of the flow tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.